About Me

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Nashville, TN, United States
My name is McLean Smith and I am an observer of life. I like to create music, capture experiences, and refine expression through my observations. To me, music is a feeling. It is something that captivates one in the moment and releases reactions unknown. It is something I wish to create for the rest of my life. It is something I hope to share with the world.

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Draft of Strongest Section of Paper

To learn more about the songwriting process, I decided to write my own songs and compare my modus operandi with my peers. I chose to write my own songs because I believed that my attempt at songwriting would provide valuable insights and further immersion into the subculture of Belmont songwriters.

The first song I wrote was entitled, “Why Did You Leave.” My inspiration sprouted from life’s uncontrollable circumstances in which people are torn apart. I decided to marinate on the aforementioned concept because I thought people could connect with life’s obstinate mutilation of individuals’ social conditions. After I selected the topic for my song, I ventured to the deep recesses of my mind and tried to create a title for my song. In the midst of avid concentration, I had a revelation to use the song as an informal address from a confused, deserted person to their undestined, desired lover that would provide some type of relief to the amorous confusion. I asserted that my song’s format would resonate with individuals because many people have been brutally hurt by their lovers’ unexplained departures and yearn for closure.

As I began to write, my mind fixated on the idea of an instantaneous object that would flee upon others' perception of its presence; I chose the wind. From that instance in my songwriting process, my lyrics started to flow continuously as if they were solely produced by the mere tactile stimulation of paper and pencil. As I concluded my song, I thought of the confused souls who are left with unanswered questions regarding their desired lovers. Thus, I decided to conclude my song with two questions that I thought said confused souls would have: "Where did you go? Why did you leave?"


Two days after my initial writing session, I recorded the backing track for my song and listened to the backing track as I read my song aloud. After practicing my song a few times, I made alterations to my lyrics to produce better flow and refine my expression.


The second song I wrote was entitled, “Sympathetic Oscillation.” In this song, I chose to ruminate on the perennial nature of love. Throughout my life, I have experienced long-distance relationships resulting in sporadic encounters which bring about sudden, overwhelming rushes of love. While the physical proximity of the two souls may influence their love for one another, their rendezvous produces enough satisfaction to commit to their relationship.

1 comment:

  1. This is great, but it is very wordy. I feel like you are talking above me instead of to me.

    "In the midst of avid concentration, I had a revelation to use the song as an informal address from a confused, deserted person to their undestined, desired lover that would provide some type of relief to the amorous confusion."
    This sentence really needs to be condensed. It is too descriptive.

    "While brainstorming, I came up with the idea of writing a song from a deserted person to their lost lover in an attempt to relieve their distress." Maybe try something like that.

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