In this part of the globe, the idea of a musician employing the services of a songwriter is usually met with scorn. For many, there is a conception that artistes who make use of songwriters are either lazy or not talented. While for the most part, every musician is a songwriter, there are a lot of factors that go into the process of making music. Below are five reasons why your favourite artiste might need a songwriter.
- Songwriting Is A Distinct Part of The Music Process: One thing that a lot of music consumers fail to understand is that songwriting is separate from performing. It is a different step in the music-making process that stands alone, just like recording, production, engineering, and marketing are. Following this line of thought, a musician may need the services of a songwriter, in the same way, they need a producer.
- Writer’s Block: Songwriting like every form of writing comes with writer’s block, and this affects musicians at different points. Davido in his Bounce Radio chat with Ebuka admitted, that he was struggling to write a hit for quite a while. He disclosed that it took the help of Tekno, who helped with his smash hit “If”, for him to bounce back. This move birthed one of the best singles run that the industry has ever seen, with Davido going on to drop “Fall”, “Fia” and “Like Dat”, all in quick succession. This example shows that sometimes, a bit of help is needed to get an artiste back on track.
- Expression: Sometimes, an artiste might find it difficult to express a particular thought in lyrics. At times like this, working with a songwriter to capture such an idea always does the trick. It could also be that there is a need to pen lyrics in a different language. In both cases, the best form of expression can be found in using the help of a songwriter.
- A Better Fit: It is as simple as a musician being a better fit for the song sometimes. There have been several instances when artistes pen a song and decide to pass it on to another artiste because they believe that they would perform it better. This could be because of the theme of the song, the vocal texture, or even the star power required to pull it off.
- Not Every Great Songwriter is A Great Performer: Some individuals write the most beautiful songs but do not have what it take to make them hits. Working with a great performer is the best bet in such cases. This type of situation represents a win-win for both parties and helps the industry grow.
Overall, acknowledging a songwriter is not something to undermine a musician’s artistry with. As a matter of fact, it shows that they are intentional about their art and only want to put out the best material.