Whether you’re a novice, or the expert…a recording artist or a budding musician, the Ottawa Regional Writers Group Songwriting Sessions are every minute worth your time to check out. Formed by North Easton in August, 2014, the group serves as the Ottawa chapter of the Songwriters Association of Canada, and holds its workshops on a monthly basis. They are held at 6:30pm, the last Tuesday of every month, at the Sandy Hill Community Centre, and the cost is simply a donation of whatever one can spare, to help cover the room’s rental fee. The program is designed to provide a series of specific songwriting lessons, and a network of fellow writers, lyricists, and composers. It is also designed to keep members informed about issues and changes in the music industry, while establishing unity among songwriters everywhere.
I attended the 12th and latest session, entitled, “The Road Ahead”, which covered aspects of taking a plan of action in setting goals, and moving forward as a songwriter. There were roughly 20 participants seated in a few semi-circular rows while Easton took the helm at the front, facing the crowd. He gave a preliminary talk on categorizing one’s material, in whatever stages of readiness they happen to be in, along with the importance of documenting ideas right away, getting organized, setting goals, helpful songwriting programs/apps, and prioritizing distraction-free time for composing by making appointments with oneself.
This was followed up by a Q&A period, and later with either actual performances or mp3 audio clips of those who sought constructive advice on their compositions, some also provided listeners with printed lyrics to follow along. Easton would give his assessment of the song, and provide suggestions, guidance, helpful hints, and improvements before he opened up the floor to do the same. I was impressed by the wealth of talent in the room, along with the shower of support for one another. Attendees ranged from artists in various degrees of dabbling with ideas, to those with full-on compositions.
“Songwriting is an unleashing of what’s inside of us. These workshops provide a safe environment to convey that creativity. I like to look into the thought process of writing a song – navigating the storyline, word changes, words that work in phrasing, etc. How to polish up a song, parts to hone in on, simplify and captivate…you want to grab the listener’s attention. It’s important to find the heart behind the voice – you have to believe it when you deliver it.”
Rockland’s, North Easton, who has literally penned well over 1,000 songs himself, has seen success as a songwriter with former band, Garrity, his current band, My Favourite Tragedy, and as a solo and collaborative artist. His efforts over the past 20+ years have earned him multiple songwriting awards, radio airplay, TV appearances, feature length film/television series song placements, and a continuously growing network of professional musicians and music execs. Outside of composing, whether he is filming a video, teaching a class, performing or blog writing, Easton is a man whose mind and creativity are always in constant motion. His ability and heartfelt desire to share the wealth of his experience and knowledge, led him to put together these songwriting sessions:
“I looked into the SAC and noticed there wasn’t an Ottawa chapter, so I applied for the job. I enjoy giving back in a way that keeps me sharp in what I like to do. I get a kick out of seeing other writers that are anxious…watching those light bulbs turn on. To be a good writer, you’ve got to work on educating yourself in order to nurture your writing ability. Writing is an extension of your personality… something you have to go inside yourself to find. The themes for each session get people to come back, knowing you‘re going to leave with a new lesson.”
The next session, entitled, “Making Sense of it All”, will be held on Tues. Nov. 24, 6:30pm at the Sandy Hill Community Centre. It will focus on tapping into the senses and uncovering new ways to unlock lyrics that are not only original and strong, but are incredibly relatable to the listener. Those that are interested in joining the Ottawa Regional Writers Group can do so by requesting to join their Facebook page, or by contacting North Easton at North.easton@hotmail.com.
