I am working on a new album of songs. I am taking it back to the old school Minneapolis Sound. Feel Good, Pop, Dance, Funk. I am working on quite a few songs right now. I wanted to share a new one I just sang and mixed today. It is called, “Law of Attraction” Check it out:
“Law of Attraction” written and produced by Chad Shank. ©2013 Chad Shank, Rowley Street Music, BMI
Life gets crazy sometimes and certain things kinda fall to the side. That is what happened with me. I wanted to apologize to my regular readers for not posting new songwriting tips, ideas and tricks for a couple months. Life has been crazy. So where the heck was I?
I got a new day job that is pretty intense, and the learning curve is steep. It is in a completely different industry than I have ever worked. At the end of the day, my mind is fried. I pretty much crash and veg every night. So that means no songwriting, no blog posts, and not a lot of interaction with all of you. I am sorry about that.
Things are looking up! I have just scheduled a 3 part songwriting class in Hastings, MN in January! I am also getting bitten by the songwriting bug again! I haven’t written for 2 months, almost 3. I think I may be a bit rusty. I know that some of you have been in this boat before. I have gotten emails from people saying they don’t have time to write. I usually preach that you have to make time to write….which is true….but sometimes you can only do so much, and writing isn’t on the list. So now I have to get back up on the horse and start riding this thing again. I will try to chronicle my latest songs and processes on this site, so you can maybe get some kind of inspiration or new trick.
How have you pulled yourself out of a songwriting rut? I’d love to hear from you…
~ Chad
For 3 weeks, starting on October 18, 2012, I will be teaching a songwriting class in St Louis Park, MN. If you are a songwriter, this is a great, affordable course that will give you the inside scoop on how you can improve your writing. Here is the course description:
Are you a songwriter? Do you write lyrics? Do you struggle with writer’s block or not knowing what to write about? Want to write better songs? Join us for an in-depth look at what makes hit songs work, and explore topics like object writing, point of view, rhyme scheme, building contrast, and writing from your senses. Songwriting is a mix of craft and art. Many times it starts with inspiration to get a rough draft, but how do you make your song shine? You’ll leave with the tools to start writing better songs that touch people. Instructor Chad Shank is a songwriter and producer with over 15 years experience. His songs have been used on TV shows on MTV, CMT, HBO, Hallmark, WE TV, NBC, Discovery and others. No specific music skills are required. Open to students ages 16 and up. Bring a notebook.
So it is official. I am becoming a performing songwriter, again. I write a lot of songs, but I rarely perform my songs live….let alone accompany myself while doing it. But a little challenge never hurts anyone. I have an opportunity to perform 5 to 6 of my songs on a cable access show that is produced by the Minnesota Association of Songwriters. I have not performed live for a few years. So. I am excited and nervous at the same time.
Most people would dig out songs they already have and perform those…..not me. Nope. I have decided I want to write 6 brand new songs that I can perform live, and have it taped for broadcast. Yes, a challenge considering that the taping is on September 18. Today is July 28, so I have to much over a month to write 6 new songs, practice them, and rock them out in front of a camera.
I am going to use my keyboard, and I may make some tracks to play along with, so I have a rhythm section. Since I am a producer, I think of songs in full arrangements, so just vocals and keys is not my first choice….but that may also be a fun challenge. I am also going to record the songs I write and release them as an EP.
I picture this EP and these songs to be like Rascal Flatts meets Michael Jackson meets Gavin DeGraw meets funk and dance. Hybrid music of my influences and different than anyone else that is going to be on the same show. I will try to chronicle my progress and songs on this blog. I want these new songs to be original lyrically, and have catchy grooves and great melodies. I want these songs to help me grow as a writer. I will post video and let you know when my performance is going to air.
Chad
I had fun giving myself a songwriting assignment last week. It kind of forced me to write a new song that I may not have written. As I have said before in previous posts, my internal songwriter is very lazy. Weekly assignments are one way I can kick its ass. 
This week my assignment is a bit less involved than last week. So here it is….My new assignment due by next Sunday :
Write a song MELODY FIRST in the C DORIAN MODE.
The C Dorian scale includes the notes: C, D, Eb, F, G, A, Bb, C – - So that is the scale I am going to base this week’s song on. I have no clue what the song is going to be about, but I have to come up with the melody first, which is not super easy for me. I will probably play a melody on the keyboard and record it and listen to it over and over. It should inspire something. Stay tuned for the song that results this week! If you write your own song, feel free to post it too! ~~ Chad
This week I gave myself a songwriting assignment. I posted that assignment here. I started off following my own assignment pretty closely….but then the song kinda of took a few different turns. Mainly in the number of lines in the sections and where in the measures the melody starts. Anyway, what came out was the start of a song called, “Human.” It probably needs some work, but the whole point of these assignments and exercises is to keep myself writing. Not every song is going to be a smash hit, but even the not-quite-there songs are very important, because you don’t reach the gold without digging for it. So this is my songwriting ‘digging’ this week….. ~~ Chad
Human
by Chad Shank
He has beach blond hair with darker streaks
And he moves like a breeze across the beach
The sand sticks to his sweat
Beads of water on his skin
He’s free as the Caribean sun sets
Chorus:
He feels Human
In this place he likes to find his joy
Where he feels Human
Away from the stress
Away from the noise
He feels Human
Sometimes he paints to forget the pain
With a brush in his hand in a different state
Emotions on the page
Feelings in the scene
Art is what takes him away
CHORUS
Bridge:
He lets himself go
Lost in the taste, touch, sight, sound and smell
Where he can find himself
Find himself again
Chorus Repeats
Chords:
Verse: ||Cm |Cm |Ab |Ab |Cm |Cm |Fm |Fm ||
Chorus: ||Ab |Bb |Gm |Gm ||
Bridge: ||Bb Fm |Ab ||
©2012 Chad Shank
Here is another song that I wrote. Check it out, it is called, “The Past I’m Running From” ~~ Chad
The Past I’m Running From
by Chad Shank
On wet gravel
A tear slips down my face
I push the pedal
And try to drive this hurt away
The sky is black
The rain it pounds
I’m not sure where I’m going now
So I just drive away
Make my escape
But I’m haunted
By choices made and my mistakes
I’m trying to find some answers
Speeding down this dirt road
Struggling
With the Past I’m Running From
Ugly demons
Staring at me from the backseat
‘Cause I hurt the
One closest to me
I cheated
And I told some lies
And now I’m in this storm tonight
CHORUS
Bridge:
From the bottom of my heart
I never meant to tear our world apart like this
Lost out on these muddy roads
The first and last place that I should go is to you
CHORUS
©2012 Chad Shank, Rowley Street Music
People usually understand the idea of a songwriting class, or seminar…but I find that, at first, my clients are a little confused by 1 on 1 songwriting lessons. They understand piano and guitar lessons, but maybe not quite songwriting lessons…..Doesn’t everyone know how to write songs? You just write. Well….yes and no. We all have been listening to songs since our parents played or sang us lullabies. Songs are not in short supply. We hear them all the time. We know what great songs sound like, so we can write them, right? You do hear them, but do you really know what is going on mechanically with the lyrics, melody and harmony that make it a great song?
In my songwriting lessons, it is my goal to share with you the knowledge and know-how to write better songs than you have ever written. Songs that people not only like, but LOVE. Songs that connect and get people emotionally….and maybe even financially invested in you. (Insert smiley faces and dollars signs)
How can I teach that? Well in my lessons, I break down songwriting concepts into very basic and fundamental theories and ideas. Some of those concepts are hidden in plain sight, we hear them subconsciously and don’t really know what is happening….but what if you DID know what was happening and could do it on purpose? THAT is what songwriting lessons are about. We will look at your current writing….or maybe you haven’t written yet, but want to know how. We will break it into very simple, yet powerful chunks and nurture your creative songwriter.
So right now I am offering anyone who emails me, and lives in the Minneapolis or the Twin Cities area a free 1 hour songwriting lesson/coaching session. Yes, I said, if you live in Minneapolis, I will meet with you in-person and give you a free 1 hour lesson/session. That is worth $60! —- WAIT….but what if I DON’T live in Minneapolis? Well for you guys, I am offering a free song critique. I will critique one of your songs and give you some pointers on how to make it better. That is a $20 value….FREE.
All you need to do is EMAIL ME. Also be sure to follow this site and sign up to get my email updates….I am working on booking some new songwriting classes, workshops, and I am working on some new songwriting E-Books!
~ Chad
There used to be a time when all I thought about was being a big pop star. It was only a matter of time before the world saw my talent and I would be rich a famous. I just thought that all I needed to do was record a demo in my bedroom and send it to labels and someone would scoop me up and make me famous. I’d never have to work and I would get to travel the world.
Well….the older I get, and the more I know about the big time music biz, the less that matters to me. I am now getting to a place where I make music and write songs because that is what I love. I love the process. I love the feeling I get when I write a decent song or cut a pretty good demo. I also like the fact that I have developed my own music business by helping other songwriters and singers. They hire me for my talents. I can do something they can’t, so they give me money to help them. It means a lot that they see enough value in what I do to hire me. That feels pretty close to what I imagined being rich and famous feels like. I get to make new friends, make new music and make some money. That is all pretty sweet. So as the new year starts, i want to focus on making music. I want to write songs that I like and not worry about whether they will be liked by the masses. I want to sing my songs. I want to have other people sing my songs. I want to finish the projects i have in the works with my great clients. Most of all, I want to enjoy the process and the experience. That is where success comes from.
- Chad
The actual magazine has been out for a couple weeks, but you can now read the article that features me and C-Sharp Productions in More magazine. You can read the story and my quotes.
If you want to buy the April Issue of More Magazine, Helen Mirren is on the cover.
Tonight I am off to Saint Paul for the Minnesota Association of Songwriter meeting. — Chad
