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The Weight Behind the Power of Aretha Franklin's "Respect"

February 24, 2024

‍In the annals of music history, songs that have sparked as much cultural resonance and transformation as Aretha Franklin's rendition of "Respect" are unique to say the least. Originally written....

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IU's "The Winning" and H.E.R. 2024 World Tour

February 24, 2024

IU, South Korea's beloved singer-songwriter and actress, has once again captivated the hearts of fans worldwide with the release of her sixth mini-album, "The Winning."

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The 2024 Oscar Best Original Score Nominees: A Symphony of Talent and Legacy

February 21, 2024

The race for the Best Original Score at the 96th Academy Awards is diverse and compelling to say the least. This year's nominees have painted aural landscapes that are integral to the success of....

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Mariah Carey Masterclass Review: Vocal Production

February 19, 2024

The Mariah Carey Masterclass, aptly titled "The Voice as an Instrument," promises an intimate look into the artistry behind the iconic singer and songwriter's success. Mariah Carey begins the class...

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Shakira Unveils 'Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran': A Beacon of Empowerment and Personal Rebirth

February 16, 2024

In an era where the global music landscape continually evolves, few artists have managed to redefine their musical and personal journey as profoundly as Shakira. With the announcement of her...

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The Impact of Spotify's New Royalties Model on Music Creators

February 12, 2024

Spotify's upcoming overhaul of its royalties model marks a significant shift in the way the streaming giant compensates artists, aiming to funnel more earnings towards more popular artists, labels...

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How Tracy Chapman Wrote Fast Car

February 9, 2024

Tracy Chapman's "Fast Car" is not just a song; it's a cultural phenomenon that transcends its initial release. Its ascent to global acclaim was catalyzed by a pivotal moment: Nelson Mandela's 70th...

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How Tyla's "Water" is Making a Splash in the U.S. African Music Craze

January 29, 2024

‍The U.S. music scene has been captivated by the African music craze, and at the forefront is Tyla, a young South African singer whose song "Water" has taken the world by storm...

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Understanding Music Publishing for Music Creators

January 28, 2024

Understanding music publishing is crucial for artists looking to make their music a viable long-term career. This comprehensive guide explores the intricacies of music publishing and how it can...

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Maximize Your Music Royalty Earnings With Songtrust

January 28, 2024

Navigating the world of music royalties can be daunting, especially for independent artists and newcomers. Songtrust has emerged as a popular solution, favored by a range of artists from beginners...

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Rick Rubin's Tips for Creative Growth

January 27, 2024

Rick Rubin, a legendary music producer, is known not just for his exceptional work in the music industry but also for his profound insights into creativity and personal growth...

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Sonical.ly Masterclass Review: Nas Teaches Hip Hop Storytelling

January 23, 2024

ntroductionIn the ever-evolving landscape of music education, Nas' Masterclass emerges as a beacon for those intrigued by the art of hip-hop. Nas, a figure synonymous with lyrical finesse...

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Phoebe Bridgers: A Deep Dive into Songwriting

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Photo: Thetimes.co.uk

Phoebe Bridgers is an American songwriter, singer, and producer who has, in recent years, gained mainstream recognition with the release of her sophomore album “Punisher” in 2020. The following year, she was nominated for four Grammy awards, including “Best New Artist” and “Best Alternative Music Album.” Since then, the 28-year-old artist has collaborated with many other musical icons including Taylor Swift, Lorde, and the 1975, further establishing herself in the indie-rock/indie-folk genres.

What really makes Bridgers' voice stand out is her unique songwriting style. Through her lyrics, she is able to capture devastatingly vulnerable moments in her own life and translate them into songs relatable to millions around the world. In an interview with the LA Times, Taylor Swift, one of this generation’s most highly acclaimed singer-songwriters, talks about their collaboration and her appreciation for Bridgers’ music.

“I think that the specificity of Phoebe’s lyrics, and the vulnerability she expresses in her voice when she delivers them, is what makes her music so deeply impactful and moving for me as a fan. You feel like she’s reliving a precise memory or delivering a secret message to someone and you get the privilege to read it or hear about it.”

Bridgers first began writing music in her early teens, learning to play the piano and the guitar by 11, and joining various bands throughout high school. As her music has developed into her own distinctive style of sad ballads, her songwriting has become associated with unflinching honesty and melancholic melodies. But interestingly, the “Motion Sickness” singer has a different take on sadness. “I think sadness is very funny to me because it’s the least singular thing on earth, it's the human experience […] so I think taking it a little bit less seriously has always been funny to me.” She talks about adopting this mindset during her songwriting process: “I have like dissociative tendencies while writing. When I'm too emotional when writing it always ends up really bad, but when I'm a little bit more removed and not feeling it 100% while writing, just writing whatever comes. Those tend to be the heaviest songs”

The inspiration for her writing? Bridgers says that she often draws from very specific details in her own experiences. For instance, Bridgers recalls penning a lyric in her song “Garden Song,” that goes: “The doctor put her hands over my liver and told me my resentment’s getting smaller.”
“I just went to a nutritionist in Los Angeles who literally was like, ‘Oh, I sense that you’re less resentful.’ So I just said what was happening and people are like, “Oh my God, what planet are you on that you made that up?”

From there, Bridgers says she hand writes all her lyrics and then whisper sings them into her phone voice memos with her guitar. “I have a hard time typing them on a computer. Maybe it just doesn’t make me feel cool… and I write faster in cursive” she told the Rolling Stone Music Now podcast.

Bridgers shares that her songwriting is very a slow and deliberate process. “I have to love the last line to move on to the next line” and from there, the draft will go through rounds of revision by herself and editors. She also mentions learning some tips from longtime friend and bandmate Conor Obers for her most recent album: “I started writing with him and then adopted the way that he writes entirely. Literally, he has one page of lyrics, next to the new page of lyrics. So as he’s making changes, he’ll write completely different lyrics on the next page. And I did that for this whole record.”

Moving forward, Bridgers says she’s trying to challenge herself by writing happier songs while still staying true to her appreciation for honest lyrics. "I think that, like, peppy love songs get kind of a bad rap as being dumb. And I think my next challenge in my life is to, like, have a, like, way to write about happiness that doesn't make me cringe."