When we think of collaborations in music, legendary songwriting teams come to mind. Keith Richards and Mick Jagger; Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice; one-off collaborations like Kanye West and Paul McCartney—the list goes on…
“People also like partnerships because they can identify with the drama of two people in partnership. They can feed off a partnership, and that keeps people entertained. Besides, if you have a successful partnership, it’s self-sustaining.” — Mick Jagger
These guys have created epics together. And who knows—maybe they wouldn’t have been able to do it alone.
Today, you don’t have to see someone face to face to be able to work together. In fact, it’s never been easier to collaborate. Thanks to technology, you can easily look outside your social circle, outside the boundaries of your local scene. Limitations are gone. Musicians can make music—any time, anywhere.
So, yes, we think you should give this online songwriting collaboration thing a try. There must be some good reasons why so many songwriters in the past chose not to work alone, and here are a few we can think of:
1. Imagine the possibilities
Collaborations open doors to completely new and unique ideas you may never have otherwise thought of. Two minds are better than one!
Embrace the unexpected—fresh and different perspectives can get the creative juices flowing.
2. Less pressure, more creativity
One edge we have today over the songwriting teams of the past is technology. Online collaboration means there’s no need for face to face communication. You can write when you feel inspired—anywhere, any time—and still share your ideas with your co-writer(s).
3. Step out of your comfort zone
We all tend to be creatures of habit—we stick to what we’re good at. What we’re used to doing. The problem is, your material can also become equally predictable.
A collaborator can propel you to greater heights. Stepping out of your comfort zone is a great way to improve on a personal level, or discover something new about yourself.
You may find yourself working on a song in a genre you’d never have dared to try before.
4. One man’s trash is another man’s treasure
Musicians can be especially critical of themselves. The fear that someone may not like what we create holds us back, and potential ideas get choked by our own insecurities. A co-writer sees things from a different perspective. With their help, maybe your “bad” ideas won’t seem so bad any more.
5. Constructive feedback
Get constructive feedback when you work together. Collaboration keeps each other in check—when one strays away, the other pulls them back.
6. It’s fun!
Enthusiasm is infectious. Creative ideas get bounced around. People get excited by ideas. And watching something grow and evolve is great fun. You’ll be thrown a curveball every now and then, but again, that’s what keeps things interesting, right?
Yes, you can’t resist the allure of collaborating—we know. That’s what we’re here for—to give you the tools, and a community of musicians to help you do just that.
Go ahead—make some music. Together.
