Blake Ian

Writing a Song

Mar 11, 2014

LH
Stage· 460 messages
Mar 11, 2014

Larry Hess and Blake Ian have been studying and practicing the art of writing songs for over 20 years. They first met as high school students and members of the punk band Timothy Grass in 1993. They have both been making music every since. The two will be discussing their favorite songwriters and the lessons they have learned as they hone their skills in the interest of mastering the art of the song.

Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:00 AM

Say hello Larry...
LH

Larry Hess · 1:00 AM

hello blake
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:00 AM

That's.... not what I said to say... but ok
LH

Larry Hess · 1:00 AM

sorry
LH

Larry Hess · 1:00 AM

i'm still learning
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:01 AM

So dude let's Tawk about songs... particularly writing em'
LH

Larry Hess · 1:01 AM

sure
LH

Larry Hess · 1:01 AM

where to start
LH

Larry Hess · 1:01 AM

did you write a song today?
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:01 AM

Well I thought we'd start with where we learned to write them first... Other writers
LH

Larry Hess · 1:01 AM

sure
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:02 AM

Do you have a singular songwriter who has influenced you or taught you more than any other?
LH

Larry Hess · 1:02 AM

probably different ones at different times
LH

Larry Hess · 1:02 AM

i think if i had to pick one over all it would be lou reed
LH

Larry Hess · 1:02 AM

for a million reasons
LH

Larry Hess · 1:03 AM

though he was amazingly inconsistent
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:03 AM

haha
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:03 AM

amazingly
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:03 AM

impressively inconsistant!
LH

Larry Hess · 1:03 AM

it really is impressive
LH

Larry Hess · 1:03 AM

but the way he frustrated his audience was part of his art
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:04 AM

Neil can do that too
LH

Larry Hess · 1:04 AM

totally
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:04 AM

though Neil can also just decide to get up there and give people EXACTLY what they want
LH

Larry Hess · 1:04 AM

yeah
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:04 AM

when he feels like it
LH

Larry Hess · 1:04 AM

he's sort of old cranky now
LH

Larry Hess · 1:04 AM

and makes old an cranky music
LH

Larry Hess · 1:04 AM

ha
LH

Larry Hess · 1:04 AM

that
LH

Larry Hess · 1:04 AM

that's what i thought last time i saw him
LH

Larry Hess · 1:04 AM

he jammed like a crazy person
LH

Larry Hess · 1:05 AM

but he knew people didn't want
LH

Larry Hess · 1:05 AM

fucking al gore was there
LH

Larry Hess · 1:05 AM

play the hits
LH

Larry Hess · 1:05 AM

ha
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:05 AM

hahah
LH

Larry Hess · 1:05 AM

but with lou
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:05 AM

Yeah its really the mood of the day for him... You might get ALL the hits acoustic and be in awe... .or you might get GREENDALE!
LH

Larry Hess · 1:05 AM

totallly
LH

Larry Hess · 1:05 AM

i mean greendale is amazing
LH

Larry Hess · 1:05 AM

the movie
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:05 AM

hahah
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:05 AM

no it isnt
LH

Larry Hess · 1:05 AM

the album
LH

Larry Hess · 1:05 AM

eh
LH

Larry Hess · 1:06 AM

again
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:06 AM

wow
LH

Larry Hess · 1:06 AM

amazing
LH

Larry Hess · 1:06 AM

in that it amazes
LH

Larry Hess · 1:06 AM

not that it is good
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:06 AM

thats so weird, I feel the exact opposite
LH

Larry Hess · 1:06 AM

you think it's unremarkable?
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:06 AM

I loved the record, until I saw the movie and then could never listen again
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:06 AM

cause I thought the movie was so terrible
LH

Larry Hess · 1:06 AM

i honestly don't remember much about the album
LH

Larry Hess · 1:07 AM

but i remember that the movie was all literal interpretations of the songs
LH

Larry Hess · 1:07 AM

like "Grandpa is sitting on the porch"
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:07 AM

haha yeah
LH

Larry Hess · 1:07 AM

and then you'd see that shit
LH

Larry Hess · 1:07 AM

there he'd be!
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:07 AM

Ok, lets bring it back to the songs
LH

Larry Hess · 1:07 AM

yeah
LH

Larry Hess · 1:07 AM

greendale can take you on a trip
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:07 AM

How about a first major influence? Do you remember hearing something at a young age and thinking wow I want to learn to do that!
LH

Larry Hess · 1:08 AM

not one particular songwriter, but mostly doo wop records that my dad had
LH

Larry Hess · 1:08 AM

which is something i think i really liked about lou reed's songs
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:08 AM

Right! your dad produced foo wop didn't he??
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:08 AM

yes Lou def has the soul of doo wop in him
LH

Larry Hess · 1:08 AM

he had a label later in the 60s, but he put out weird jazz
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:09 AM

haha Foo Wop... we should start that genre based off the autocorrect that just happened to me
LH

Larry Hess · 1:09 AM

foo wop is now my favorite kind of music
LH

Larry Hess · 1:09 AM

i'm really into that now
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:09 AM

Dave Grohl songs sung in Italian
LH

Larry Hess · 1:09 AM

haha
LH

Larry Hess · 1:10 AM

a lot of lou reed songs were totally doo wop songs
LH

Larry Hess · 1:10 AM

or foo wop
LH

Larry Hess · 1:10 AM

i found a reason is a great one
LH

Larry Hess · 1:11 AM

candy says
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:11 AM

I was just writing Candy Says
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:11 AM

One of the most beautiful songs in the land
LH

Larry Hess · 1:11 AM

totally
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:11 AM

OK so lets dissect a bit... what makes a song beautiful and how do you make one?!
LH

Larry Hess · 1:12 AM

i think personally that a song is beautiful when all of the elements come together
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:12 AM

Production included you mean?
LH

Larry Hess · 1:12 AM

absolutely
LH

Larry Hess · 1:12 AM

structure, lyrics, tone, vibe, production
LH

Larry Hess · 1:12 AM

energy
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:13 AM

Well you are a huge fan of music in general... fanatical. So that makes sense to me that you feel that way.
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:13 AM

of course there is no wrong answer its subjective
LH

Larry Hess · 1:13 AM

right
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:13 AM

but for me... a great song is right before production
LH

Larry Hess · 1:13 AM

and there's no perfect combination
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:13 AM

I see them as separate
LH

Larry Hess · 1:13 AM

i think a song can be great in spite of the production
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:13 AM

almost like best film vs best screenplay
LH

Larry Hess · 1:14 AM

yes
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:14 AM

★ Spotlighted from Joshua Ness

I think it's the hook that ultimately brings you back.

Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:14 AM

John Popper would agree Josh! ;)
LH

Larry Hess · 1:14 AM

but a great film is only a great film with a great sceenplay
LH

Larry Hess · 1:14 AM

you can have a great screenplay
LH

Larry Hess · 1:15 AM

but everything has to come together to be a great film
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:15 AM

Right so I guess to me a film is like a track, a song is like a screenplay
LH

Larry Hess · 1:15 AM

that seems like a better analogy to me
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:16 AM

Because there are great songwriters who just write songs, they make simple demos and pass them on for others to produce and perform
LH

Larry Hess · 1:16 AM

yes, totally
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:16 AM

but they were great songs at conception... or at least by the second trimester
LH

Larry Hess · 1:16 AM

ha
LH

Larry Hess · 1:16 AM

i think it can go both ways
LH

Larry Hess · 1:17 AM

i think that some songs succeed because they are so strong that the production is irrelevant
LH

Larry Hess · 1:17 AM

but i think they are taken to a higher level when it's really all put together
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:17 AM

Right
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:17 AM

also I have to say in opposition to my own point
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:17 AM

Some songs are MADE great in production for sure
LH

Larry Hess · 1:18 AM

well, i mean, you asked what i think is "beautiful" not everything i like
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:18 AM

I mean Daft Punk Random Access Memories is filled with songs that really didn't exist without production I imagine
LH

Larry Hess · 1:18 AM

yes
LH

Larry Hess · 1:18 AM

exactly
LH

Larry Hess · 1:18 AM

and i like that, but i don't think it's totally "beautiful"
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:18 AM

so some people use production as their instrument
LH

Larry Hess · 1:18 AM

yeah
LH

Larry Hess · 1:18 AM

and some people can put that together to make something completely beautiful
LH

Larry Hess · 1:18 AM

i need to flip a record
LH

Larry Hess · 1:19 AM

one sec
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:19 AM

So apropos...
LH

Larry Hess · 1:19 AM

sorry, poured a whiskey too
LH

Larry Hess · 1:19 AM

anyhoo
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:19 AM

Well on that flip of the record, lets move to our process...
LH

Larry Hess · 1:20 AM

do you write everything on acoustic?
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:20 AM

95%
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:20 AM

well as long as that includes Resonator and Uke
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:20 AM

as acoustic guitars
LH

Larry Hess · 1:20 AM

no, i don't think it does
LH

Larry Hess · 1:20 AM

i think the uke is it's own instrument
LH

Larry Hess · 1:20 AM

i've written a couple of songs on that
LH

Larry Hess · 1:21 AM

but mine isn't very good
LH

Larry Hess · 1:21 AM

the uke i mean
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:21 AM

I have written almost exclusively on Resonator or Ukelele for the past year
LH

Larry Hess · 1:21 AM

nice
LH

Larry Hess · 1:21 AM

i've been trying to write more on piano
LH

Larry Hess · 1:21 AM

but mostly I write on acoustic and drum machine now
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:21 AM

So do you most often start with the instrument?
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:21 AM

the chords
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:22 AM

or do you more often grab the instrument to get an idea down
LH

Larry Hess · 1:22 AM

depends. usually it starts with a melody
LH

Larry Hess · 1:22 AM

sometimes a guitar line or a beat
LH

Larry Hess · 1:22 AM

but usually i'll start singing something
LH

Larry Hess · 1:22 AM

figure it out on guitar or piano
LH

Larry Hess · 1:22 AM

get the beat down
LH

Larry Hess · 1:22 AM

finish the structure
LH

Larry Hess · 1:23 AM

finish the lyrics
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:23 AM

So you start singing something with no instrument in hand you mean?
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:23 AM

thats the more often scenario
LH

Larry Hess · 1:23 AM

yeah
LH

Larry Hess · 1:23 AM

definitely
LH

Larry Hess · 1:23 AM

i walk around the city singing like a crazy person
LH

Larry Hess · 1:23 AM

i don't care
LH

Larry Hess · 1:24 AM

so that's when i come with melodies or song ideas
LH

Larry Hess · 1:24 AM

subjects
LH

Larry Hess · 1:24 AM

lines
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:24 AM

I have done that, but less often... Though those do usually end up being keepers
LH

Larry Hess · 1:24 AM

then i come home and figure out the progression on something
LH

Larry Hess · 1:24 AM

yeah
LH

Larry Hess · 1:24 AM

those are my favorites
LH

Larry Hess · 1:24 AM

cuz i wouldn't sit at a guitar and thing
LH

Larry Hess · 1:24 AM

think
LH

Larry Hess · 1:25 AM

what's the most simple progression i can write
LH

Larry Hess · 1:25 AM

BUT
LH

Larry Hess · 1:25 AM

i'll be singing a melody and fall in love
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:25 AM

Mine usually come to me very similarly, but I am often just fiddling around with a guitar
LH

Larry Hess · 1:25 AM

and then when i figure it out it's the simplest thing
LH

Larry Hess · 1:25 AM

do you have subjects in mind? or do you write the song first and then fill it in?
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:26 AM

Well there is one specific element to all of what I consider my best songs
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:26 AM

and usually what others have the best reaction to as well
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:26 AM

and that is they come out in a single sitting in FULL
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:26 AM

sometimes in 20 minutes
LH

Larry Hess · 1:26 AM

totally
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:26 AM

like I heard the song
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:26 AM

as opposed to creating it
LH

Larry Hess · 1:26 AM

i'm with you on that
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:26 AM

it already existed somewhere else
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:27 AM

I don't mean like somewhere else on a record haha
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:27 AM

like somewhere ELSE
LH

Larry Hess · 1:27 AM

the ether
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:27 AM

yes
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:27 AM

★ Spotlighted from Joshua Ness

I just popped over to Calotype on Spotify. I'm digging it, Larry!

Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:27 AM

Calotype is awesome!
LH

Larry Hess · 1:28 AM

thanks joshua
LH

Larry Hess · 1:28 AM

and blake
LH

Larry Hess · 1:28 AM

ha
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:28 AM

Though I think my favorite song of Larrys is a different project of his
LH

Larry Hess · 1:28 AM

which one is that?
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:29 AM

Life of Crime
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:29 AM

If y'all have Spotify or iTunes out there... check out Life of Crime by Hunters, Run!
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:29 AM

one of Larry's bands
LH

Larry Hess · 1:29 AM

i like that song too
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:29 AM

That song really came together
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:30 AM

melody, lyrics, vibe, production
LH

Larry Hess · 1:30 AM

yeah, i like it
LH

Larry Hess · 1:30 AM

i still like to play it on acoustic
LH

Larry Hess · 1:30 AM

weird tuning
LH

Larry Hess · 1:30 AM

but very simple song
LH

Larry Hess · 1:30 AM

it's really a 2 chord song
LH

Larry Hess · 1:30 AM

and it is one i wrote in about 20 minutes
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:30 AM

Most of the best things are simple.
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:31 AM

nice! the 20 minute theory prevails
LH

Larry Hess · 1:31 AM

totally does
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:31 AM

Ok new question!
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:31 AM

I never heard of the twenty minute theory
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:32 AM

Well thats because you must have missed the first 10 minutes of the Tawk where we invented it!
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:32 AM

haha
LH

Larry Hess · 1:32 AM

haha
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:32 AM

dammit - i miss all the good stuff
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:32 AM

OK new question.... and I hope you agree here because I think its such an important thing that most people don't assume
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:32 AM

and very encouraging to those starting out
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:33 AM

to get a really good song out of you... How many shitty songs would you say you write?
LH

Larry Hess · 1:33 AM

about 100
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:33 AM

Nice.
LH

Larry Hess · 1:33 AM

maybe more
LH

Larry Hess · 1:33 AM

ha
LH

Larry Hess · 1:33 AM

but i write every day
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:33 AM

yeah me too
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:34 AM

and I think people assume that the great songwriters just sit down and nail it 9 our of 10 times
LH

Larry Hess · 1:34 AM

only ray davies
LH

Larry Hess · 1:34 AM

it's very challenging to everyone else
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:34 AM

Mark Kozelek has an interesting method
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:34 AM

he seems to throw nothing away
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:34 AM

haha
LH

Larry Hess · 1:35 AM

it certainly seems that way
LH

Larry Hess · 1:35 AM

bob pollard too
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:35 AM

and shows you all the writing he did, but on each album there is at least 1 song that is the most beautiful thing you have ever heard
LH

Larry Hess · 1:35 AM

yeah
LH

Larry Hess · 1:35 AM

it's a very hard thing to hit every time
LH

Larry Hess · 1:35 AM

what he does
LH

Larry Hess · 1:35 AM

it's sort of high risk/high return
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:35 AM

well put.
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:35 AM

I like the world of high risk high return in general
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:36 AM

So I suppose it makes sense I gravitated towards songwriting
LH

Larry Hess · 1:36 AM

totally
LH

Larry Hess · 1:36 AM

i guess you could have gone into drug dealing
LH

Larry Hess · 1:36 AM

but songwriting is good too
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:36 AM

well yeah... I mean I think I might have at one point
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:36 AM

haha
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:36 AM

right around the time I went into songwriting
LH

Larry Hess · 1:37 AM

hey, songwriting doesn't pay that great
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:37 AM

but songwriting stuck with me beyond high school
LH

Larry Hess · 1:37 AM

it's way more rewarding
LH

Larry Hess · 1:37 AM

can you picture a time when you wouldn't want to write songs?
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:37 AM

Nope
LH

Larry Hess · 1:38 AM

yeah, it constantly surprises me that that is the case
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:38 AM

Its for sure the first glimpse I ever got of doing something for the reward of doing it
LH

Larry Hess · 1:38 AM

absolutely
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:38 AM

which is a great macrocosmic lesson for life in general of course... but yeah music was the first clear example of it
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:38 AM

for me
LH

Larry Hess · 1:38 AM

makes sense to me
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:39 AM

Though in my early 20s Id say I was still chasing a result
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:39 AM

and reaching them at times too
LH

Larry Hess · 1:39 AM

i think a lot of things in my life and in music have changed since i started doing it
LH

Larry Hess · 1:39 AM

but
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:39 AM

but when I finally said... Ok I just want to DO this... and whatever comes out of it or doesn't, really doesn't rob me of any pleasure
LH

Larry Hess · 1:39 AM

yes
LH

Larry Hess · 1:40 AM

i think the joy i get out of it has never really changed
LH

Larry Hess · 1:40 AM

i feel compelled to do it
LH

Larry Hess · 1:40 AM

for no real "rational" reason
LH

Larry Hess · 1:40 AM

i think it's a positive compulsion to follow
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:41 AM

for sure... as opposed to say, Heroin
LH

Larry Hess · 1:41 AM

yes
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:41 AM

that is not a positive compulsion to follow
LH

Larry Hess · 1:41 AM

no
LH

Larry Hess · 1:41 AM

i think most compulsions are probably negative, but somehow artistic ones seem ok to me
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:42 AM

Hmm well I don't know, I think you can develop positive compulsions
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:42 AM

philanthropy, art, yoga, exercise
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:42 AM

these can be compulsions
LH

Larry Hess · 1:42 AM

they can be
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:43 AM

WE couldn't be further from the topic right now hahah. I'd say going off on tangents is a compulsion of ours.
LH

Larry Hess · 1:43 AM

haha
LH

Larry Hess · 1:43 AM

yeah, i was just going to start theorizing on the nature of philanthropy
LH

Larry Hess · 1:43 AM

sorry
LH

Larry Hess · 1:43 AM

songs
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:43 AM

haha
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:43 AM

but wait
LH

Larry Hess · 1:43 AM

but it all ties in
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:43 AM

lets go there with songs for a second
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:43 AM

yes
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:44 AM

Isn't there something very therapeutic and giving about writing songs
LH

Larry Hess · 1:44 AM

i think so
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:44 AM

songs by others certainly help me
LH

Larry Hess · 1:44 AM

i agree
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:44 AM

so my hope is that mine help others
LH

Larry Hess · 1:44 AM

that is the hope
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:45 AM

Life of Crime for instance.. the song of yours I mentioned.
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:45 AM

Which btw people can listen to here... http://open.spotify.com/track/47iZK4VJrcKajjCZDO56EN
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:45 AM

A song like that has an empowering quality
LH

Larry Hess · 1:45 AM

i
LH

Larry Hess · 1:45 AM

i'd like to think so
LH

Larry Hess · 1:45 AM

it helped me to write it
LH

Larry Hess · 1:46 AM

i like that it doesn't have to be specific
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:46 AM

There are certain songs that really fill you with energy, and without them you wouldnt feel as good, or take on the task at hand as well
LH

Larry Hess · 1:46 AM

totally
LH

Larry Hess · 1:46 AM

it's that connection
LH

Larry Hess · 1:46 AM

best thing ever
LH

Larry Hess · 1:46 AM

ha
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:46 AM

Im not sure what you meant by be that specific... but if its what I think. Thats another thing Id like to tawk about for a minute.
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:47 AM

Being non specific
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:47 AM

its such an important part of any kind of poetry or art in my opinion
LH

Larry Hess · 1:47 AM

well, i meant that it's not here is a song about a specific thing, i had that specific experience, so i relate and like it
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:47 AM

it needs to be able to be interpreted by many different people in many different ways, since we are all living different lives
LH

Larry Hess · 1:47 AM

right
LH

Larry Hess · 1:47 AM

i like decoding songs and i like to know songs origins
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:47 AM

One thing that drives me crazy... I used to see it a lot at open mice
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:48 AM

is when a songwriter will tell you the whole story of how the song came about
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:48 AM

the details of their life experience
LH

Larry Hess · 1:48 AM

yes
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:48 AM

and then play me the song
LH

Larry Hess · 1:48 AM

that ruins
LH

Larry Hess · 1:48 AM

it
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:48 AM

all chance for me to relate to that song is over
LH

Larry Hess · 1:48 AM

kills the mystique too
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:48 AM

but yes digging in after you love the song.. sure
LH

Larry Hess · 1:48 AM

some songs are specific pieces of art
LH

Larry Hess · 1:49 AM

i mean "heroin"
LH

Larry Hess · 1:49 AM

ok
LH

Larry Hess · 1:49 AM

but that's really high art
LH

Larry Hess · 1:49 AM

it's not just songwriting
LH

Larry Hess · 1:49 AM

mostly songs are what the listener makes of them
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:49 AM

right, but also addiction can be interpreted in many different ways, it can be a metaphor for so many struggles that are like addiction
LH

Larry Hess · 1:49 AM

yes
LH

Larry Hess · 1:50 AM

and the emotions involved in it are relative to other non-addictive emotions
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:50 AM

but when someone gets up there and says, my cat died last week, his name was roxy, and this is a song about him
LH

Larry Hess · 1:50 AM

that's why it's amazing
LH

Larry Hess · 1:50 AM

yes
LH

Larry Hess · 1:50 AM

no good
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:50 AM

and then the song starts and the first line is like "Roxy, I miss you"
LH

Larry Hess · 1:50 AM

heroin as a subject is used to convey a lot of things
LH

Larry Hess · 1:50 AM

the story of your cat
LH

Larry Hess · 1:50 AM

no so much
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:50 AM

I feel like I am not at all part of the experience
LH

Larry Hess · 1:50 AM

but also
LH

Larry Hess · 1:51 AM

some poor person had a cat named roxy
LH

Larry Hess · 1:51 AM

might really feel that one
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:51 AM

right, but thats it!
LH

Larry Hess · 1:51 AM

very specific
LH

Larry Hess · 1:51 AM

yes
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:51 AM

how many people are you going to help with that!?
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:51 AM

but wait don't misunderstand me
LH

Larry Hess · 1:51 AM

but could you imagine how much you HELPED THAT ONE PERSON
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:51 AM

I think that same song with those lyrics can help millions
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:52 AM

just don't sit there and tell me this just happened on Thursday to your actual cat!
LH

Larry Hess · 1:52 AM

hahah
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:52 AM

LOL
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:52 AM

that one person is like
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:52 AM

Holy shit! This dude writing a song about me?!
LH

Larry Hess · 1:52 AM

best song they ever heard
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:52 AM

we should research a stranger
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:52 AM

and write a song about their life
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:52 AM

and then just get them to hear it coincidentally
LH

Larry Hess · 1:52 AM

i like where you're going with this
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:52 AM

like make sure they are in a certain bar
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:52 AM

and we just start playing it
LH

Larry Hess · 1:52 AM

yeah
LH

Larry Hess · 1:53 AM

meet their friends and shit
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:53 AM

but they have never met either of us
LH

Larry Hess · 1:53 AM

get a backstory
LH

Larry Hess · 1:53 AM

i love this
LH

Larry Hess · 1:53 AM

blake
LH

Larry Hess · 1:53 AM

we need to
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:53 AM

that would actually be a funny show... like a hidden camera show
LH

Larry Hess · 1:53 AM

totally
LH

Larry Hess · 1:53 AM

make a youtube video about it
LH

Larry Hess · 1:53 AM

short film
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:53 AM

Man I hope no execs at ABC read this Tawk...
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:53 AM

though I guess for other reasons I hope they do!
LH

Larry Hess · 1:54 AM

shit
LH

Larry Hess · 1:54 AM

let's pretend that didn't happen
LH

Larry Hess · 1:54 AM

songs?
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:54 AM

OK - lightning round.
LH

Larry Hess · 1:54 AM

shoot
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:55 AM

First song you learned to play on guitar that you remember.GO!
LH

Larry Hess · 1:55 AM

mongoloid by devo
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:55 AM

haha what an answer!
LH

Larry Hess · 1:55 AM

ha
LH

Larry Hess · 1:55 AM

it was
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:55 AM

(mine is Five Years by David Bowie)
LH

Larry Hess · 1:55 AM

that was the first song i learned on drums
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:55 AM

Nice
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:55 AM

we should have played it together at that time!
LH

Larry Hess · 1:55 AM

yeah
LH

Larry Hess · 1:55 AM

why haven't we?
LH

Larry Hess · 1:55 AM

ha
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:55 AM

I don't know... lets do it
LH

Larry Hess · 1:56 AM

cool, let's make a date
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:56 AM

next 27 productions show case... which by the way is soon, Casella is on his way home for a couple of months. and Im sure Jake and Lee are down
LH

Larry Hess · 1:56 AM

ok
LH

Larry Hess · 1:56 AM

i'm down
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:56 AM

OK my lighting round consisted of a single question
LH

Larry Hess · 1:56 AM

yeah
LH

Larry Hess · 1:56 AM

not really a "round"
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:57 AM

Do you have a favorite song?
LH

Larry Hess · 1:57 AM

it changes every few weeks
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:57 AM

never heard of it
LH

Larry Hess · 1:57 AM

it's a good one.
LH

Larry Hess · 1:57 AM

ha
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:57 AM

★ Spotlighted from Becca Gambs

wish you were here

Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:57 AM

thats a good one Becca
LH

Larry Hess · 1:58 AM

this week it's "apology accepted" by the go-betweens
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:58 AM

unless you weren't answering the question Becca and you were just hitting on one of us...
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:58 AM

Ok we are going to wrap up soon, but I see a TON of quiet Tawkers in the audience... No questions??
LH

Larry Hess · 1:59 AM

you didn't say if you had a favorite song
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:59 AM

Oh... Well I had a go to answer for a long time... but now it may have shifted
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 1:59 AM

Into the Mystic to me is a perfect song
LH

Larry Hess · 1:59 AM

that's a great song
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 2:00 AM

★ Spotlighted from Rich Hagberg

What do you start with when you create a song?

Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 2:00 AM

Well Rich, its a great question and there is an in depth answer if you go back towards the beginning of the tawk... BUT
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 2:00 AM

to sum up. Larry often walks down the street singing like a crazy person, then gets home to get it down on guitar
LH

Larry Hess · 2:00 AM

pretty much
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 2:01 AM

I most often have a single line, lyric, or am fiddling with guitar and start to hear a melody
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 2:01 AM

I get songs stuck in my head. Does that ever derail you as a writer?
LH

Larry Hess · 2:01 AM

it does for me
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 2:01 AM

Emilie... I have TOTALLY written songs to realize halfway through that "Shit! this is already a song!"
LH

Larry Hess · 2:01 AM

i try to listen to jazz records when that happens
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 2:01 AM

Ah Jazz the great scrambler
LH

Larry Hess · 2:01 AM

yeah
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 2:01 AM

its like ginger in between sushi pieces
LH

Larry Hess · 2:01 AM

it gets those melodies out of my head
LH

Larry Hess · 2:01 AM

yes
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 2:01 AM

or like shaking an etch a sketch
LH

Larry Hess · 2:01 AM

yeah
LH

Larry Hess · 2:02 AM

makes you think about something else musically
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 2:02 AM

★ Spotlighted from Rich Hagberg

I think spring forward got the best of me.

Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 2:02 AM

Yeah a lot of todays tawks got moved because of this inane pointless thing we keep doing with our clocks even though it serves no purpose anymore
LH

Larry Hess · 2:03 AM

tradition is important blake
LH

Larry Hess · 2:03 AM

ha
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 2:03 AM

But back to the Jazz thing, thats interesting larry. For me I like to walk away or meditate
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 2:03 AM

Transition is important Larry... Which reminds me!
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 2:03 AM

(I have no follow up for that Joke)
LH

Larry Hess · 2:03 AM

oh well
LH

Larry Hess · 2:03 AM

next time
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 2:03 AM

well thanks for hanging y'all
LH

Larry Hess · 2:04 AM

lovely tawking to you blake
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 2:04 AM

and thanks for Tawking Larry Hess... Folks let me end by letting you in on something. Larry was one of my earliest influences.
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 2:04 AM

He was only a couple of years older than me... but when I heard his 4 track demos, it pushed me into feeling like I could do that
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 2:04 AM

So go listen to his music... Calotype and Hunters, Run!
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 2:05 AM

and if you get a chance, listen to some of mine too!
LH

Larry Hess · 2:05 AM

thanks blake.
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 2:05 AM

★ Spotlighted from Rich Hagberg

Blake, will you have a part 2?

Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 2:05 AM

Larry? Will we have a part 2?
LH

Larry Hess · 2:05 AM

sure, i can do that
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 2:05 AM

Sequels are always nice... Im sure we can make that happen
LH

Larry Hess · 2:05 AM

totally
LH

Larry Hess · 2:05 AM

just need a catchy tagline
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 2:05 AM

Revenge of the Songwriter
LH

Larry Hess · 2:05 AM

hahaha
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 2:06 AM

this time... its personal!
LH

Larry Hess · 2:06 AM

haha. don't get started
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 2:06 AM

Okaayyy
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 2:06 AM

Say goodnight Larry
LH

Larry Hess · 2:06 AM

goodnight larry
LH

Larry Hess · 2:06 AM

(see i learned something)
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 2:06 AM

?
Blake Ian

Blake Ian · 2:06 AM

Goodnight all! Til next time.