Blake Ian

Host

Writing a Song

Mar 11, 2014·1,011 visitors

Larry Hess

Cohost

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 · 1:00 AM

Say hello Larry...

Larry Hess · 1:00 AM

hello blake

Blake Ian · 1:00 AM

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

Larry Hess · 1:00 AM

sorry

Larry Hess · 1:00 AM

i'm still learning

Blake Ian · 1:01 AM

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

Larry Hess · 1:01 AM

sure

Larry Hess · 1:01 AM

where to start

Larry Hess · 1:01 AM

did you write a song today?

Blake Ian · 1:01 AM

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

Larry Hess · 1:01 AM

sure

Blake Ian · 1:02 AM

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

Larry Hess · 1:02 AM

probably different ones at different times

Larry Hess · 1:02 AM

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

Larry Hess · 1:02 AM

for a million reasons

Larry Hess · 1:03 AM

though he was amazingly inconsistent

Blake Ian · 1:03 AM

haha

Blake Ian · 1:03 AM

amazingly

Blake Ian · 1:03 AM

impressively inconsistant!

Larry Hess · 1:03 AM

it really is impressive

Larry Hess · 1:03 AM

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

Blake Ian · 1:04 AM

Neil can do that too

Larry Hess · 1:04 AM

totally

Blake Ian · 1:04 AM

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

Larry Hess · 1:04 AM

yeah

Blake Ian · 1:04 AM

when he feels like it

Larry Hess · 1:04 AM

he's sort of old cranky now

Larry Hess · 1:04 AM

and makes old an cranky music

Larry Hess · 1:04 AM

that

Larry Hess · 1:04 AM

that's what i thought last time i saw him

Larry Hess · 1:04 AM

he jammed like a crazy person

Larry Hess · 1:05 AM

but he knew people didn't want

Larry Hess · 1:05 AM

fucking al gore was there

Larry Hess · 1:05 AM

play the hits

Larry Hess · 1:05 AM

Blake Ian · 1:05 AM

hahah

Larry Hess · 1:05 AM

but with lou

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!

Larry Hess · 1:05 AM

totallly

Larry Hess · 1:05 AM

i mean greendale is amazing

Larry Hess · 1:05 AM

the movie

Blake Ian · 1:05 AM

hahah

Blake Ian · 1:05 AM

no it isnt

Larry Hess · 1:05 AM

the album

Larry Hess · 1:05 AM

Larry Hess · 1:06 AM

again

Blake Ian · 1:06 AM

wow

Larry Hess · 1:06 AM

amazing

Larry Hess · 1:06 AM

in that it amazes

Larry Hess · 1:06 AM

not that it is good

Blake Ian · 1:06 AM

thats so weird, I feel the exact opposite

Larry Hess · 1:06 AM

you think it's unremarkable?

Blake Ian · 1:06 AM

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

Blake Ian · 1:06 AM

cause I thought the movie was so terrible

Larry Hess · 1:06 AM

i honestly don't remember much about the album

Larry Hess · 1:07 AM

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

Larry Hess · 1:07 AM

like "Grandpa is sitting on the porch"

Blake Ian · 1:07 AM

haha yeah

Larry Hess · 1:07 AM

and then you'd see that shit

Larry Hess · 1:07 AM

there he'd be!

Blake Ian · 1:07 AM

Ok, lets bring it back to the songs

Larry Hess · 1:07 AM

yeah

Larry Hess · 1:07 AM

greendale can take you on a trip

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!

Larry Hess · 1:08 AM

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

Larry Hess · 1:08 AM

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

Blake Ian · 1:08 AM

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

Blake Ian · 1:08 AM

yes Lou def has the soul of doo wop in him

Larry Hess · 1:08 AM

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

Blake Ian · 1:09 AM

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

Larry Hess · 1:09 AM

foo wop is now my favorite kind of music

Larry Hess · 1:09 AM

i'm really into that now

Blake Ian · 1:09 AM

Dave Grohl songs sung in Italian

Larry Hess · 1:09 AM

haha

Larry Hess · 1:10 AM

a lot of lou reed songs were totally doo wop songs

Larry Hess · 1:10 AM

or foo wop

Larry Hess · 1:10 AM

i found a reason is a great one

Larry Hess · 1:11 AM

candy says

Blake Ian · 1:11 AM

I was just writing Candy Says

Blake Ian · 1:11 AM

One of the most beautiful songs in the land

Larry Hess · 1:11 AM

totally

Blake Ian · 1:11 AM

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

Larry Hess · 1:12 AM

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

Blake Ian · 1:12 AM

Production included you mean?

Larry Hess · 1:12 AM

absolutely

Larry Hess · 1:12 AM

structure, lyrics, tone, vibe, production

Larry Hess · 1:12 AM

energy

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 · 1:13 AM

of course there is no wrong answer its subjective

Larry Hess · 1:13 AM

right

Blake Ian · 1:13 AM

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

Larry Hess · 1:13 AM

and there's no perfect combination

Blake Ian · 1:13 AM

I see them as separate

Larry Hess · 1:13 AM

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

Blake Ian · 1:13 AM

almost like best film vs best screenplay

Larry Hess · 1:14 AM

yes

Blake Ian · 1:14 AM

★ Spotlighted from Joshua Ness

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

Blake Ian · 1:14 AM

John Popper would agree Josh! ;)

Larry Hess · 1:14 AM

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

Larry Hess · 1:14 AM

you can have a great screenplay

Larry Hess · 1:15 AM

but everything has to come together to be a great film

Blake Ian · 1:15 AM

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

Larry Hess · 1:15 AM

that seems like a better analogy to me

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

Larry Hess · 1:16 AM

yes, totally

Blake Ian · 1:16 AM

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

Larry Hess · 1:16 AM

i think it can go both ways

Larry Hess · 1:17 AM

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

Larry Hess · 1:17 AM

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

Blake Ian · 1:17 AM

Right

Blake Ian · 1:17 AM

also I have to say in opposition to my own point

Blake Ian · 1:17 AM

Some songs are MADE great in production for sure

Larry Hess · 1:18 AM

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

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

Larry Hess · 1:18 AM

yes

Larry Hess · 1:18 AM

exactly

Larry Hess · 1:18 AM

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

Blake Ian · 1:18 AM

so some people use production as their instrument

Larry Hess · 1:18 AM

yeah

Larry Hess · 1:18 AM

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

Larry Hess · 1:18 AM

i need to flip a record

Larry Hess · 1:19 AM

one sec

Blake Ian · 1:19 AM

So apropos...

Larry Hess · 1:19 AM

sorry, poured a whiskey too

Larry Hess · 1:19 AM

anyhoo

Blake Ian · 1:19 AM

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

Larry Hess · 1:20 AM

do you write everything on acoustic?

Blake Ian · 1:20 AM

95%

Blake Ian · 1:20 AM

well as long as that includes Resonator and Uke

Blake Ian · 1:20 AM

as acoustic guitars

Larry Hess · 1:20 AM

no, i don't think it does

Larry Hess · 1:20 AM

i think the uke is it's own instrument

Larry Hess · 1:20 AM

i've written a couple of songs on that

Larry Hess · 1:21 AM

but mine isn't very good

Larry Hess · 1:21 AM

the uke i mean

Blake Ian · 1:21 AM

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

Larry Hess · 1:21 AM

nice

Larry Hess · 1:21 AM

i've been trying to write more on piano

Larry Hess · 1:21 AM

but mostly I write on acoustic and drum machine now

Blake Ian · 1:21 AM

So do you most often start with the instrument?

Blake Ian · 1:21 AM

the chords

Blake Ian · 1:22 AM

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

Larry Hess · 1:22 AM

depends. usually it starts with a melody

Larry Hess · 1:22 AM

sometimes a guitar line or a beat

Larry Hess · 1:22 AM

but usually i'll start singing something

Larry Hess · 1:22 AM

figure it out on guitar or piano

Larry Hess · 1:22 AM

get the beat down

Larry Hess · 1:22 AM

finish the structure

Larry Hess · 1:23 AM

finish the lyrics

Blake Ian · 1:23 AM

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

Blake Ian · 1:23 AM

thats the more often scenario

Larry Hess · 1:23 AM

yeah

Larry Hess · 1:23 AM

definitely

Larry Hess · 1:23 AM

i walk around the city singing like a crazy person

Larry Hess · 1:23 AM

i don't care

Larry Hess · 1:24 AM

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

Larry Hess · 1:24 AM

subjects

Larry Hess · 1:24 AM

lines

Blake Ian · 1:24 AM

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

Larry Hess · 1:24 AM

then i come home and figure out the progression on something

Larry Hess · 1:24 AM

yeah

Larry Hess · 1:24 AM

those are my favorites

Larry Hess · 1:24 AM

cuz i wouldn't sit at a guitar and thing

Larry Hess · 1:24 AM

think

Larry Hess · 1:25 AM

what's the most simple progression i can write

Larry Hess · 1:25 AM

BUT

Larry Hess · 1:25 AM

i'll be singing a melody and fall in love

Blake Ian · 1:25 AM

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

Larry Hess · 1:25 AM

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

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 · 1:26 AM

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

Blake Ian · 1:26 AM

and usually what others have the best reaction to as well

Blake Ian · 1:26 AM

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

Blake Ian · 1:26 AM

sometimes in 20 minutes

Larry Hess · 1:26 AM

totally

Blake Ian · 1:26 AM

like I heard the song

Blake Ian · 1:26 AM

as opposed to creating it

Larry Hess · 1:26 AM

i'm with you on that

Blake Ian · 1:26 AM

it already existed somewhere else

Blake Ian · 1:27 AM

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

Blake Ian · 1:27 AM

like somewhere ELSE

Larry Hess · 1:27 AM

the ether

Blake Ian · 1:27 AM

yes

Blake Ian · 1:27 AM

★ Spotlighted from Joshua Ness

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

Blake Ian · 1:27 AM

Calotype is awesome!

Larry Hess · 1:28 AM

thanks joshua

Larry Hess · 1:28 AM

and blake

Larry Hess · 1:28 AM

Blake Ian · 1:28 AM

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

Larry Hess · 1:28 AM

which one is that?

Blake Ian · 1:29 AM

Life of Crime

Blake Ian · 1:29 AM

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

Blake Ian · 1:29 AM

one of Larry's bands

Larry Hess · 1:29 AM

i like that song too

Blake Ian · 1:29 AM

That song really came together

Blake Ian · 1:30 AM

melody, lyrics, vibe, production

Larry Hess · 1:30 AM

yeah, i like it

Larry Hess · 1:30 AM

i still like to play it on acoustic

Larry Hess · 1:30 AM

weird tuning

Larry Hess · 1:30 AM

but very simple song

Larry Hess · 1:30 AM

it's really a 2 chord song

Larry Hess · 1:30 AM

and it is one i wrote in about 20 minutes

Blake Ian · 1:30 AM

Most of the best things are simple.

Blake Ian · 1:31 AM

nice! the 20 minute theory prevails

Larry Hess · 1:31 AM

totally does

Blake Ian · 1:31 AM

Ok new question!

Blake Ian · 1:31 AM

I never heard of the twenty minute theory

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 · 1:32 AM

haha

Larry Hess · 1:32 AM

haha

Blake Ian · 1:32 AM

dammit - i miss all the good stuff

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 · 1:32 AM

and very encouraging to those starting out

Blake Ian · 1:33 AM

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

Larry Hess · 1:33 AM

about 100

Blake Ian · 1:33 AM

Nice.

Larry Hess · 1:33 AM

maybe more

Larry Hess · 1:33 AM

but i write every day

Blake Ian · 1:33 AM

yeah me too

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

Larry Hess · 1:34 AM

only ray davies

Larry Hess · 1:34 AM

it's very challenging to everyone else

Blake Ian · 1:34 AM

Mark Kozelek has an interesting method

Blake Ian · 1:34 AM

he seems to throw nothing away

Blake Ian · 1:34 AM

haha

Larry Hess · 1:35 AM

it certainly seems that way

Larry Hess · 1:35 AM

bob pollard too

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

Larry Hess · 1:35 AM

yeah

Larry Hess · 1:35 AM

it's a very hard thing to hit every time

Larry Hess · 1:35 AM

what he does

Larry Hess · 1:35 AM

it's sort of high risk/high return

Blake Ian · 1:35 AM

well put.

Blake Ian · 1:35 AM

I like the world of high risk high return in general

Blake Ian · 1:36 AM

So I suppose it makes sense I gravitated towards songwriting

Larry Hess · 1:36 AM

totally

Larry Hess · 1:36 AM

i guess you could have gone into drug dealing

Larry Hess · 1:36 AM

but songwriting is good too

Blake Ian · 1:36 AM

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

Blake Ian · 1:36 AM

haha

Blake Ian · 1:36 AM

right around the time I went into songwriting

Larry Hess · 1:37 AM

hey, songwriting doesn't pay that great

Blake Ian · 1:37 AM

but songwriting stuck with me beyond high school

Larry Hess · 1:37 AM

it's way more rewarding

Larry Hess · 1:37 AM

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

Blake Ian · 1:37 AM

Nope

Larry Hess · 1:38 AM

yeah, it constantly surprises me that that is the case

Blake Ian · 1:38 AM

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

Larry Hess · 1:38 AM

absolutely

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 · 1:38 AM

for me

Larry Hess · 1:38 AM

makes sense to me

Blake Ian · 1:39 AM

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

Blake Ian · 1:39 AM

and reaching them at times too

Larry Hess · 1:39 AM

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

Larry Hess · 1:39 AM

but

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

Larry Hess · 1:39 AM

yes

Larry Hess · 1:40 AM

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

Larry Hess · 1:40 AM

i feel compelled to do it

Larry Hess · 1:40 AM

for no real "rational" reason

Larry Hess · 1:40 AM

i think it's a positive compulsion to follow

Blake Ian · 1:41 AM

for sure... as opposed to say, Heroin

Larry Hess · 1:41 AM

yes

Blake Ian · 1:41 AM

that is not a positive compulsion to follow

Larry Hess · 1:41 AM

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

Blake Ian · 1:42 AM

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

Blake Ian · 1:42 AM

philanthropy, art, yoga, exercise

Blake Ian · 1:42 AM

these can be compulsions

Larry Hess · 1:42 AM

they can be

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.

Larry Hess · 1:43 AM

haha

Larry Hess · 1:43 AM

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

Larry Hess · 1:43 AM

sorry

Larry Hess · 1:43 AM

songs

Blake Ian · 1:43 AM

haha

Blake Ian · 1:43 AM

but wait

Larry Hess · 1:43 AM

but it all ties in

Blake Ian · 1:43 AM

lets go there with songs for a second

Blake Ian · 1:43 AM

yes

Blake Ian · 1:44 AM

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

Larry Hess · 1:44 AM

i think so

Blake Ian · 1:44 AM

songs by others certainly help me

Larry Hess · 1:44 AM

i agree

Blake Ian · 1:44 AM

so my hope is that mine help others

Larry Hess · 1:44 AM

that is the hope

Blake Ian · 1:45 AM

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

Blake Ian · 1:45 AM

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

Blake Ian · 1:45 AM

A song like that has an empowering quality

Larry Hess · 1:45 AM

i'd like to think so

Larry Hess · 1:45 AM

it helped me to write it

Larry Hess · 1:46 AM

i like that it doesn't have to be specific

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

Larry Hess · 1:46 AM

totally

Larry Hess · 1:46 AM

it's that connection

Larry Hess · 1:46 AM

best thing ever

Larry Hess · 1:46 AM

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 · 1:47 AM

Being non specific

Blake Ian · 1:47 AM

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

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 · 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

Larry Hess · 1:47 AM

right

Larry Hess · 1:47 AM

i like decoding songs and i like to know songs origins

Blake Ian · 1:47 AM

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

Blake Ian · 1:48 AM

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

Blake Ian · 1:48 AM

the details of their life experience

Larry Hess · 1:48 AM

yes

Blake Ian · 1:48 AM

and then play me the song

Larry Hess · 1:48 AM

that ruins

Larry Hess · 1:48 AM

Blake Ian · 1:48 AM

all chance for me to relate to that song is over

Larry Hess · 1:48 AM

kills the mystique too

Blake Ian · 1:48 AM

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

Larry Hess · 1:48 AM

some songs are specific pieces of art

Larry Hess · 1:49 AM

i mean "heroin"

Larry Hess · 1:49 AM

but that's really high art

Larry Hess · 1:49 AM

it's not just songwriting

Larry Hess · 1:49 AM

mostly songs are what the listener makes of them

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

Larry Hess · 1:49 AM

yes

Larry Hess · 1:50 AM

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

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

Larry Hess · 1:50 AM

that's why it's amazing

Larry Hess · 1:50 AM

yes

Larry Hess · 1:50 AM

no good

Blake Ian · 1:50 AM

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

Larry Hess · 1:50 AM

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

Larry Hess · 1:50 AM

the story of your cat

Larry Hess · 1:50 AM

no so much

Blake Ian · 1:50 AM

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

Larry Hess · 1:50 AM

but also

Larry Hess · 1:51 AM

some poor person had a cat named roxy

Larry Hess · 1:51 AM

might really feel that one

Blake Ian · 1:51 AM

right, but thats it!

Larry Hess · 1:51 AM

very specific

Larry Hess · 1:51 AM

yes

Blake Ian · 1:51 AM

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

Blake Ian · 1:51 AM

but wait don't misunderstand me

Larry Hess · 1:51 AM

but could you imagine how much you HELPED THAT ONE PERSON

Blake Ian · 1:51 AM

I think that same song with those lyrics can help millions

Blake Ian · 1:52 AM

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

Larry Hess · 1:52 AM

hahah

Blake Ian · 1:52 AM

LOL

Blake Ian · 1:52 AM

that one person is like

Blake Ian · 1:52 AM

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

Larry Hess · 1:52 AM

best song they ever heard

Blake Ian · 1:52 AM

we should research a stranger

Blake Ian · 1:52 AM

and write a song about their life

Blake Ian · 1:52 AM

and then just get them to hear it coincidentally

Larry Hess · 1:52 AM

i like where you're going with this

Blake Ian · 1:52 AM

like make sure they are in a certain bar

Blake Ian · 1:52 AM

and we just start playing it

Larry Hess · 1:52 AM

yeah

Larry Hess · 1:53 AM

meet their friends and shit

Blake Ian · 1:53 AM

but they have never met either of us

Larry Hess · 1:53 AM

get a backstory

Larry Hess · 1:53 AM

i love this

Larry Hess · 1:53 AM

blake

Larry Hess · 1:53 AM

we need to

Blake Ian · 1:53 AM

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

Larry Hess · 1:53 AM

totally

Larry Hess · 1:53 AM

make a youtube video about it

Larry Hess · 1:53 AM

short film

Blake Ian · 1:53 AM

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

Blake Ian · 1:53 AM

though I guess for other reasons I hope they do!

Larry Hess · 1:54 AM

shit

Larry Hess · 1:54 AM

let's pretend that didn't happen

Larry Hess · 1:54 AM

songs?

Blake Ian · 1:54 AM

OK - lightning round.

Larry Hess · 1:54 AM

shoot

Blake Ian · 1:55 AM

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

Larry Hess · 1:55 AM

mongoloid by devo

Blake Ian · 1:55 AM

haha what an answer!

Larry Hess · 1:55 AM

it was

Blake Ian · 1:55 AM

(mine is Five Years by David Bowie)

Larry Hess · 1:55 AM

that was the first song i learned on drums

Blake Ian · 1:55 AM

Nice

Blake Ian · 1:55 AM

we should have played it together at that time!

Larry Hess · 1:55 AM

yeah

Larry Hess · 1:55 AM

why haven't we?

Larry Hess · 1:55 AM

Blake Ian · 1:55 AM

I don't know... lets do it

Larry Hess · 1:56 AM

cool, let's make a date

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

Larry Hess · 1:56 AM

i'm down

Blake Ian · 1:56 AM

OK my lighting round consisted of a single question

Larry Hess · 1:56 AM

yeah

Larry Hess · 1:56 AM

not really a "round"

Blake Ian · 1:57 AM

Do you have a favorite song?

Larry Hess · 1:57 AM

it changes every few weeks

Blake Ian · 1:57 AM

never heard of it

Larry Hess · 1:57 AM

it's a good one.

Larry Hess · 1:57 AM

Blake Ian · 1:57 AM

★ Spotlighted from Becca Gambs

“wish you were here”

Blake Ian · 1:57 AM

thats a good one Becca

Larry Hess · 1:58 AM

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

Blake Ian · 1:58 AM

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

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??

Larry Hess · 1:59 AM

you didn't say if you had a favorite song

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 · 1:59 AM

Into the Mystic to me is a perfect song

Larry Hess · 1:59 AM

that's a great song

Blake Ian · 2:00 AM

★ Spotlighted from Rich Hagberg

“What do you start with when you create a song?”

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 · 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

Larry Hess · 2:00 AM

pretty much

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 · 2:01 AM

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

Larry Hess · 2:01 AM

it does for me

Blake Ian · 2:01 AM

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

Larry Hess · 2:01 AM

i try to listen to jazz records when that happens

Blake Ian · 2:01 AM

Ah Jazz the great scrambler

Larry Hess · 2:01 AM

yeah

Blake Ian · 2:01 AM

its like ginger in between sushi pieces

Larry Hess · 2:01 AM

it gets those melodies out of my head

Larry Hess · 2:01 AM

yes

Blake Ian · 2:01 AM

or like shaking an etch a sketch

Larry Hess · 2:01 AM

yeah

Larry Hess · 2:02 AM

makes you think about something else musically

Blake Ian · 2:02 AM

★ Spotlighted from Rich Hagberg

“I think spring forward got the best of me.”

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

Larry Hess · 2:03 AM

tradition is important blake

Larry Hess · 2:03 AM

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 · 2:03 AM

Transition is important Larry... Which reminds me!

Blake Ian · 2:03 AM

(I have no follow up for that Joke)

Larry Hess · 2:03 AM

oh well

Larry Hess · 2:03 AM

next time

Blake Ian · 2:03 AM

well thanks for hanging y'all

Larry Hess · 2:04 AM

lovely tawking to you blake

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 · 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 · 2:04 AM

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

Blake Ian · 2:05 AM

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

Larry Hess · 2:05 AM

thanks blake.

Blake Ian · 2:05 AM

★ Spotlighted from Rich Hagberg

“Blake, will you have a part 2?”

Blake Ian · 2:05 AM

Larry? Will we have a part 2?

Larry Hess · 2:05 AM

sure, i can do that

Blake Ian · 2:05 AM

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

Larry Hess · 2:05 AM

totally

Larry Hess · 2:05 AM

just need a catchy tagline

Blake Ian · 2:05 AM

Revenge of the Songwriter

Larry Hess · 2:05 AM

hahaha

Blake Ian · 2:06 AM

this time... its personal!

Larry Hess · 2:06 AM

haha. don't get started

Blake Ian · 2:06 AM

Okaayyy

Blake Ian · 2:06 AM

Say goodnight Larry

Larry Hess · 2:06 AM

goodnight larry

Larry Hess · 2:06 AM

(see i learned something)

Blake Ian · 2:06 AM

Goodnight all! Til next time.

Forum · 40

Forum· 40 comments

1,011 visitors

Tawkers AdminMar 5, 2014, 10:09 PM

Welcome to the comment section of the Tawk, where audience members can share their thoughts about the main conversation happening on the left. Don't by shy! Entering questions and comments is the only way to get the attention of the two Hosts on stage!

Jordan BirnbaumMar 10, 2014, 8:19 PM

cool subject!

Joshua NessMar 11, 2014, 1:14 AM★ Spotlighted

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

Joshua NessMar 11, 2014, 1:27 AM★ Spotlighted

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

Becca GambsMar 11, 2014, 1:50 AM

LOL at blake

Becca GambsMar 11, 2014, 1:53 AM

i will write one really great line and then the next one is like..."i miss my cat rox

Becca GambsMar 11, 2014, 1:53 AM

and im like dmmnn that sux lol

Becca GambsMar 11, 2014, 1:55 AM★ Spotlighted

wish you were here

Rich HagbergMar 11, 2014, 1:59 AM★ Spotlighted

What do you start with when you create a song?

Emilie AdamsMar 11, 2014, 1:59 AM★ Spotlighted

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

Emilie AdamsMar 11, 2014, 2:00 AM

Like does a tune or lyric get so stuck in your head that you just keep finding yourself in the same place?

Rich HagbergMar 11, 2014, 2:01 AM★ Spotlighted

I think spring forward got the best of me.

Rich HagbergMar 11, 2014, 2:01 AM

I read through, but is there a preference that you have where you like to start?

Rich HagbergMar 11, 2014, 2:02 AM

I like to start with a melody or riff

Rich HagbergMar 11, 2014, 2:03 AM

I admit I was thrown, the talk said 9pm

Rich HagbergMar 11, 2014, 2:03 AM

tawk

Rich HagbergMar 11, 2014, 2:04 AM★ Spotlighted

Blake, will you have a part 2?

Joshua NessMar 11, 2014, 2:04 AM

Thanks, Blake and Larry!

Rich HagbergMar 11, 2014, 2:04 AM

Thanks Blake and Larry!

Rich HagbergMar 11, 2014, 2:05 AM

Sweet.

Rich HagbergMar 11, 2014, 2:05 AM

LOL

Rich HagbergMar 11, 2014, 2:07 AM

Goodnight!

Becca GambsMar 11, 2014, 2:45 AM

ya sorry guys, i was late, had technical issues and this tawk did not work out for me lol. Try again next time.

Rodrigo A. BartelsMar 12, 2014, 1:49 PM

Nice tawk!

Mike DwornikMar 12, 2014, 11:39 PM

Sorry I missed this one, guys. The puter was down. Hope too catch you next time.

Rodrigo A. BartelsMar 13, 2014, 5:25 AM

Hello!

Jenna LucasJul 6, 2014, 5:11 PM

c jJul 13, 2014, 3:37 PM

mustafa barberJul 22, 2014, 12:35 AM

mustafa barberJul 22, 2014, 12:36 AM

Guido BlacuttAug 2, 2014, 2:03 AM

Guido BlacuttAug 2, 2014, 2:04 AM

Yoooo

Guido BlacuttAug 2, 2014, 2:04 AM

Whats goodington

Guido BlacuttAug 2, 2014, 2:05 AM

Like my guitar?

Guido BlacuttAug 2, 2014, 2:06 AM

Whats up jenna

Guido BlacuttAug 2, 2014, 2:08 AM

Yooooo

Guido BlacuttAug 2, 2014, 2:08 AM

Fakes

lakin StanleySep 16, 2014, 2:54 AM

I love to write songs but I'm bad at it