I’ve had an iPad for almost two months now, and I think my favorite use for it is songwriting.
Obviously the iPad is not a necessity (especially for songwriting). However, if you’re a writer on the fence about whether or not to purchase one, or you already have one and are looking for ideas on how to use it, maybe this post can be of service.
There is a myth in music that the most talented people work alone, and for the longest time, I bought into it. I would hear John Mayer talk about sitting down and writing one of his biggest hits in an hour. I would read liner notes of artists playing almost every instrument on a record, and I thought that was the pinnacle of success in artistry.
For me, that was a really discouraging way of thinking. I’ve wasted so many hours sitting in my room by myself trying to write a great song or produce an amazing track. While I can create things on my own, I do it better with other people involved, and it’s more fun. Still, I thought going it alone was the way it was supposed to be.
Last year, one of my favorite Nashville bands tweeted a link asking for help in making their next album. I was taken to a site called Kickstarter which allowed me to give support to the band in exchange for a reward. I chose the reward that gave me a copy the album when it was completed. I would have purchased it anyway, so giving the money in advance to insure that the album was made was a no brainer.
Fast-forward to today, and seeing kickstarter funds being advertised on Facebook and Twitter seems like an every day occurrence. I’m worried that people are becoming jaded with the site and losing interest in supporting great art.
In light of this, I want to share why I believe in Greg Wells’ project so much and want to see it made.
I’ve known Greg for over 2 years, and have seen his heart for leading others to know Christ through music. This spring we began talking about making an EP as the next step for him and his ministry. He had a vision for the message he wanted to convey about the Lord and an album seemed like the best way to help share that.
He came up to Nashville early this fall to begin the writing process for this EP. I am so excited about the songs that we (along with Brian Yak, Matt Armstrong, Brett Rutledge, and Jeromy Deibler) wrote. I love the truths that they speak about Christ. They are truths that I want to be reminded of. They’re truths that I really want to share.
I don’t just want to see this album created because I’ll be producing it. I want to see it made because I believe in it. I want to share these songs with you. So please, consider donating. You can pledge $10 and get a digital download of the album before it’s available anywhere else. You can think of it as a preorder, but it will help us actually be able to create the EP.
We’ve put a lot of work into this project so far, and desperately want to see it completed. This can only happen by the generosity of friends, family, and even you kind strangers out there. We so appreciate all of the support. You can click the title of this post to be taken to Greg’s kickstarter.
Thanks
For the past few days, Greg Wells has been in town from Atlanta to write for his upcoming EP (that I’ll be producing). He was completely new to the co-writing process, and it was a blast to watch him really get into it.
We wrote with 3 of my really talented friends (as well as just the two of us), and when he left this morning, we had 3.5 songs that we hadn’t had 2 days before. I am super excited about these songs and this EP, and can’t wait to get them tracked. Be on the lookout for the Kickstarter Campaign coming soon. You will be hearing a lot about it from me.
Thank you once again to Boski, Matt, and Brett. You guys are incredibly talented songwriters, and it was so much fun to get to work with you.
My buddy James Sweeting and I are in the middle of writing a song. I don’t wanna give it away completely because I’m really excited about the song. However, it’s too good not to share a little bit. So here’s just a small sample of the groove.
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