The 7 in 7 songwriting exercise is now complete, and I can rest a little bit. That was honestly one of the toughest things I’ve ever done. It was both mentally, and physically draining, but taught me a lot about my creative process and how I need to work in the future.
On Monday evening, a number of friends who participated in the experiment (Aaron Ivey, the guys in Courrier, and my best friend Chris) all gathered to share a few of their songs and to talk about the process. It was really great to see what everyone came up with under the constraints, and it was encouraging to hear everyone’s feedback as you played your song. There were some great songs written, and more than anything we all share this new bond after having gone through the grueling process together.
The experiment really taught me that I can push myself harder, and can accomplish a lot in a short amount of time. I will often put things off when they feel too overwhelming, but the 7 in 7 made me stay on task. It was a self-made pressure cooker. On top of it all, I also wanted to reveal my songs to all of you. This added another level of pressure, as I had to not only complete something for the sake of completing it, but had to really create something that would be respectable. It was quite a challenge.
I want to thank you all for following along as I worked through the past week. It was really encouraging to have you communicate with me during the creative process. It also energized, and motivated me to not give up, and to create something worth listening to.
I also need to thank my wife for allowing me to participate in such a time consuming project. Everyday after work, I came home and locked myself in the studio until the middle of the night. She would often even encourage me to keep at it. So for all of you looking for a spouse, that’s the example for what a good spouse will be. They will want you to go after what you love.
I believe I will release the songs for you to download in the next couple days, but they will only be available for a limited time.
So check back!
