Growing up in Los Angeles was a great experience.  As a full-fledged LA girl I have had the pleasure of meeting and working with some of the most talented and inspiring people on the planet. My music experiences have brought me great inspiration and aspiration, and have influenced my growth and path as a person and an artist, positively affecting both my music and fashion career.

I am always looking for the next great musical experience and welcome inquiries through my manager, Larry Rudoph to collaborate with me on your next project.  

I want to thank all the great musicians out there who have helped guide me as a young singer songwriter and performer and offer the following tips from a great article for anyone who looks to follow a similar path.  

10 Must-Read Tips for Aspiring Singer-Songwriters

By Suzy S.

1. Find your inspiration

Look into your own life, your surroundings, and people that you look up to in order to find your muse for writing lyrics. Find a subject you are passionate about, whether it’s set to a love ballad or an up-tempo dance song. Think about what kind of music really speaks to you, and what other listeners will relate to.

I encourage you to listen to other artists and different genres of music, but stay true to yourself and be original! Never copy another singer-songwriter’s style or lyrics.

2. Write everything down

Once you have found your inspiration, keep some sort of journal. You never know when lyrics may come to you — you could be on the subway, at a park, or in school, and you don’t want to forget what comes to you!

Also, I suggest having some type of recording software to record what comes to you, such as with the voice memos on your cell phone, or with GarageBand on your computer. If you keep singing a chorus or melody line over and over your head, record it as soon as you can so you don’t lose it!

3. Shape your song

Now it’s time to start crafting your song! Most successful songs have 2-3 verses and 2-3 choruses. Anything less or more than that may be a challenge.

Make sure there is a story in your song, and that you have some sort of point coming across. What do you want people to feel and think when they hear your songs? While there is no absolute right way to write a song, many people start out with writing meaningful lyrics, and then putting chords or melody to the words. Or you can do it the other way around, writing a beautiful melody and chord progression, and coming up with the lyrics last. Either of these approaches is acceptable.

4. Test your songs out live

So, you think you have your song completed and ready to put out there? I suggest performing your song live — at an open mic or a talent show — to get all the kinks out, and to see how an audience reacts to it. Or you may want to start out simple by playing it for your friends and family, since performing original material in front of a live audience can be nerve-wracking!

5. Try recording your song

After you’ve been performing the song for a few months, it’s time to record your song! First, decide if you want to book a session in a recording studio or take a stab at recording in a home studio with the equipment you have. With technology today, it’s easy to record your own songs with the right computer software

Having a recording of your song, even if it is just a demo, will open many doors, especially if you want to become a singer-songwriter for your career. You can publish your song on YouTube, iTunes, or Soundcloud so potential fans, other artists, and established people in the music business can have access to your songs.

6. Collaborate with others

It’s fun to collaborate and write with other musicians! Sometimes writing lyrics may be your strongest skill, while it may be a weak point for someone else who is better at writing the instrumental part. Many famous singers collaborate in this way, including Elton John and Bernie Taupin, Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice, and Ashford & Simpson.

By collaborating with others, you may find someone that truly understands your music perspective and where you want to take your music, which can be an important asset for you in your career as a singer-songwriter. Of course, make sure you discuss splitting any profits 50/50 or come to an agreement in writing if you plan to distribute your music professionally.

7. Copyright your music

Getting a copyright for your music is crucial as a songwriter, and should not be overlooked! I recommend registering your song as soon as you have the final version of it written and recorded. You can do so easily online here at the U.S Copyright Office.

For a small fee you can register any songs that you have written, by submitting lyrics and a recording of your work of art (can be a demo). Once you have paid the fee and submitted your original materials, you then own the copyright to your song, and no one can use it without your permission. If you don’t register your works with the U.S Copyright Office, someone could steal your lyrics or your melody line, and make a whole new recording without your permission or having to pay you any royalties.

8. Look into Performing Rights Organizations

Once you have submitted your works to the U.S Copyright Office, I recommend joining a Performing Rights Organization (PRO). ASCAP, SESAC, and BMI are organizations that will collect any monetary royalties on your behalf and distribute them to you in a fair and organized way.

You may be earning royalties if you have songs on the radio, TV, YouTube, Spotify, or iTunes. Each time your song plays in a public place you are entitled to royalties. Some PROs are free to join while others have a joining fee, so do your research to see what’s best for you.

9. Consider writing for others

Being a songwriter doesn’t mean you have to write songs just for yourself. Some of the best singers in the world prefer to write songs for others. This could mean writing a song for the opposite gender, a song in a different language or a different genre, or a song that is too high or low for your vocal range. It’s perfectly normal to be a songwriter for other artists: Lady Gaga, Sia, and Bruno Mars all started out this way!

10. Pitch your music

Once you are confident in your original song, it’s time to pitch your music to the industry! This is not easy and won’t happen overnight, but with technology today, you do have an advantage of getting your music heard and seen by important music industry professionals.

One way is by submitting your music online to a music catalog. Many TV shows and commercial companies will look through these production libraries to find songs for their needs, and yours could be exactly what they are looking for! Do your research with these, as some have fees associated with signing up, while others are free.  In major cities, there are also major networking events where artists can pitch their songs in person to companies like MTV and VH1 for a small fee.

Being a singer-songwriter myself, I hope that these strategies will help you create your songs and bring them to life for yourself and others to hear! Good luck!

Best,

Nikki ☺

If it’s not too much to do the things that you do

Don’t you know 

Don’t you know 

That it’s not that easy 

Take your time to please me 

Let you know

Let you know 

I need the river to flow to the place we go 

And there is no turning back 

I may have been a little lost 

Baby now I’m found and I need to tell you that 

Never there’s a day that goes by that I don’t think about you in some way 

Never there’s a day that goes by that I don’t think about you in some way 

So save me save me it’s you and no one else

I don’t want to go nowhere 

Save me save me it’s you and no one else 

I don’t want to go nowhere 

This is it this is it this is it I’m telling you 

This is it this is it this is it I’m telling you 

If we both hold on tight we can make this world right 

Don’t you know don’t you know 

That it’s not that easy take your time to please me 

Let you know let you know 

I need the river to flow to the place we go and there is no turning back 

I may have been a little lost baby now I’m found and I need to tell you that 

Never there’s a day 

That goes by when I don’t think about you in some way 

Never there’s a day that goes by that I don’t think about you in some way 

So save me save me it’s you and no one else 

I don’t want to go nowhere 

Save me save me it’s you and no one else 

I don’t want to go nowhere 

This is it this Is it this is it I’m telling you 

This is it this is it this is it I’m telling you 

Give me all you got, it feels like heaven 

All my wicked thoughts, I’m forgiven 

I believe and you proved yourself 

I received and I kissed your mouth 

I can see you got angels wings made for me 

Just me 

Like a shot of heaven, we ride this high 

You’re my lucky seven, I roll that dice 

My mind is level, I won’t think twice 

You can tell that devil, he’s mine 

I’m on that love overdose, I’m on that love overdose 

I’m on that love overdose, I’m on that love overdose 

We on that love overdose, We on that love overdose 

We on that love overdose, I’m on that love overdose

Let’s fall in love tonight

Babe we could get so high

With you I can’t deny

Let’s fall in love tonight

Babe we could get so high

With you I feel so fine

Vrs.2

Give me all I need it last forever

Falling to my knees we come together

I believe and you proved yourself 

I received and I kissed your mouth 

I can see you got angels wings made for me

Just me 

Like a shot of heaven, we ride this high 

You’re my lucky seven, I roll that dice 

My mind is level, I won’t think twice 

You can tell that devil, he’s mine

I’m on that love overdose, I’m on that love overdose 

I’m on that love overdose, I’m on that love overdose  (I won’t think twice) 

We on that love overdose, We on that love overdose 

We on that love overdose, I’m on that love overdose  (We ride this high) 

Let’s fall in love tonight

Babe we could get so high

With you I can’t deny 

Let’s fall in love tonight

Babe we could get so high

With you I feel so fine (I won’t think twice) 

Let’s fall in love tonight

Babe we could get so high

With you I can’t deny (We ride this high) 

Let’s fall in love tonight

Babe we could get so high

With you I feel so fine