PODCAST · music
What's in a Song
by Scarlet Keys
This is a weekly podcast about the craft of songwriting hosted by Berklee College of Music Professor Scarlet Keys. She takes deep dive into the craft, technique and art of songwriting in conversations with eminent songwriters, producers, and other creatives asking questions only a songwriting professor would ask so listeners can walk away inspired and armed with clear and actionable tools and techniques they can apply to their songwriting.
Episodes
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Part 2 Taylor Swift "Ruin the Friendship" The music, Nashville tunings, copy right infringement
Send us Fan Mail In this episode Scarlet Keys is joined with Forensic Musicologist Dr. Joe Bennett. Joe breaks down the chords in this song and shares Nashville tunings for the guitar. Joe gets granular in this discussion as he compares Lenny Kravit's "It Ain't over 'til it's over" with "Ruin the...
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Part 1 Taylor Swift "Ruin the Friendship" - lyric techniques and the power of a great bridge
Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we talk about Taylor Swift's narrative and lyric techniques. We break down the bridge in the song "Ruin the Friendship" with a focus on lyrical techniques and a touch on melody. We talk about the power of a bridge and the alchemy this bridge has on the rest of…
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Diagnosing a song
Send us Fan Mail In this episode we talk about the critical thinking skills of a songwriter and the puzzle of the song. When your song feels like it's missing something or you might feel bored by your own song but don't know what to do to change it. After the song is written, it's important to…
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Taylor Swift's Eldest Daughter break down with Guest forensic musicologist Joe Bennett
Send us Fan Mail Welcome back to a new season! We are continuing on with the Life of a Show Girl interpreted with new up coming episodes. Today, I am joined with Dr. Joe Bennett as we break down "Eldest Daughter" by Taylor Swift. Songwriting retreats: Star Island In person songwriting retreat:...
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Taylor Swift's "Father Figure" The break down with guest Forensic musicologist Joe Bennett
Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we break down Father Figure from Taylor Swift's record "The Life of a Showgirl". In this episode we look at: The chord progression Melodic hooks Rhetorical devices Guitar voicings The stunning bridge and what the back ground harmonies are bringing to this section...
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Taylor Swift's Opalite - break down
Send us Fan Mail Track32 on "The Life of a Showgirl" - Opalite I'm back with Forensic Musicologist Dr. Joe Bennett In this episode we look at: The chord progression Chord tensions Harmonic rhythm Borrowed chord Rhetorical device Production Direct modulation To sign up with the virtual live master...
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Taylor Swift's "Elizabeth Taylor" - The break down
Send us Fan Mail Track 2 on "The Life of a Showgirl" - Elizabeth Taylor I'm back with Forensic Musicologist Dr. Joe Bennett In this episode we look at: The chord progression Chord inversions Tensions Harmonic rhythm Phrase lengths Melisma Writing from a title Melodic hooks To sign up with the...
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Breaking down Taylor Swift's "The Fate of Ophelia" with Musicologist Joe Bennett
Send us Fan Mail This is the first of a 12 episode series where Berklee College of music professor Scarlet Keys talks about each song off of the new Taylor Swift album "The Life of a Showgirl" searching for clues and signature moves that Swift uses as a writer to write songs that resonate with...
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It's never to late to become a songwriter with former Berklee College of music president Roger Brown
Send us Fan Mail About this weeks guest: Roger Brown is an American businessman, philanthropist, and academic administrator and former president of Berklee College of Music. Brown is also the co-founder of Bright Horizons and founder and chairman of the Salt Lick Incubator. He is most recently a...
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From Buzz to Bond: Queen of PR Ariel Hyatt talks about how to create real fans
Send us Fan Mail Today, Ariel Hyatt introduces the concept of the Three Communities every artist must understand: - **Ambient Fans** who are aware of you - **Engaged Fans** who pay attention and interact - **Superfans** who support, advocate, and stick with you over the long term. She talks about...
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Imposter Syndrome (no more) with Dr. Jill Stoddard on the inner critic, the wise mind and so much more
Send us Fan Mail To sign up for the online songwriting in process class: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1376858744569?aff=oddtdtcreator On today's show I have Psychologist Dr. Jill Stoddard So much of what goes into a song is the psychology of the songwriter. Mindset is so important to the…
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Writing songs for Social Change with Multi grammy winning singer/songwriter Mark Simos
Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Mark Simos takes us through writing songs for social change, political protest, songs for that evoke empathy and songs of conscience. We talk metaphor, point of view and the most effective way to handle this delicate topic. We give you a song prompt and this...
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Creative agility and writing process with hit songwriting Rodney Alejandro
Send us Fan Mail Upcoming classes: To sign up for the April 5th workshop: "The songwriting of Taylor Swift": https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1252499231919?aff=oddtdtcreator To support this podcast and membership: https://buymeacoffee.com/scarlet.keys Show take aways: Try writing a song using the…
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Music as medicine- The health benefits of listening to your favorite songs with Neuroscientist Dr. Daniel Levitin
Send us Fan Mail In this episode, I speak with Neuroscientist, author and musician Dr. Daniel Levitin on how music affects our health. From reducing cortisol to lessening the effects of Parkinsons and how we can use music as medicine! We talk science and his new book "I Heard there was a Secret...
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Singer/songwriter Jesse Terry - Writing great melodies and crowd funding
Send us Fan Mail To sign up for the November 23rd virtual LYRIC WRITING WORKSHOP: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1070697919299?aff=oddtdtcreatorhttps://www.eventbrite.com/e/1080037885389?aff=oddtdtcreator My guest today is New England based singer/songwriter Jesse Terry. Before I introduce him I...
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Kylie Rothfield on writing process, craft, what she learned from Alicia Keys about singing and stage fright
Send us Fan Mail In this episode, I talk with singer/songwriter Kylie Rothfield. She shares what she learned about singing and stage fright from Alicia Keys. We talk about what she learned from writing with some of the best writers in Nashville, song craft, process and so much more. This was a…
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Songs with a message, writing from your life with Michael McDermott
Send us Fan Mail In this episode, singer/songwriter Michael McDermott talks about writing process, writing from your life and shares new songs off his two new albums dropping Sept 13th. Join the "What's in a Song" membership community: https://buymeacoffee.com/scarlet.keys...
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What does AI mean for songwriters with award winning songwriter and Berklee Professor Ben Camp
Send us Fan Mail Today I have Berklee Professor Ben Camp on the show discussing AI We talk about where it is now and what it means for songwriters in the future. We talk ethics, creativity, originality, works that are derivative and Ben takes a song we wrote together years ago and puts it through...
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Creating metaphors with Pat Pattison
Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Pat Pattison, author of "Writing Better Lyrics" walks us through step by step of how to find metaphors. This is the exercise I gave to writer Madi Diaz that she talked about in the previous episode. Pat talks about the difference between simile and metaphor for...
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Madi Diaz on writing process, and the magic of co-writing
Send us Fan Mail My guest today is one of my former students singer/songwriter Madi Diaz Madi grew up in Pennsylvania where she was homes schooled by her mother and took piano lessons from her father at the age of 5. After high school, Madi was accepted to Berklee College of Music and met her…
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What we can learn from Billy Eilish and Bonnie Raitt about great melodies
Send us Fan Mail In this minisode, I talk about writing melody and thinking of melody as the song's tone of voice. Auditioning melodies to make sure we pair the best notes with our most important words and the power of unstable notes in writing great melodies. To join my summer songwriting class...
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Minisode: Making time for your art and the myth of inspiration
Send us Fan Mail "Inspiration is for Amateurs" "Don't be 'a writer' but instead be writing." - Faulkner "Just begin and the mind grows heated; continue, and the task will be completed!” ― Johann Wolfgang von Goethe To join the "What's in a Song" community membership:...
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Robert Ellis Orrall on writing with Taylor Swift, and writing process
Send us Fan Mail In this Episode, Robert Ellis Orrall talks about writing with Taylor Swift. What she was like as a young writer, how he set up the showcase that got her a record deal and shares two songs her wrote with Swift along with an original from his latest record. Upcoming workshop…
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Will Kimbrough: Writing techniques, guitar voicings and so much wisdom
Send us Fan Mail My guest today s an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer Will Kimbrough. As a producer, he has produced albums for Rodney Crowell, Todd Snider, Kim Richey, Garrison Star and Matthew Ryan to name a few. His songs have been recorded by Jimmy Buffett…
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Minisode - The impact and storytelling of NOUNS
Send us Fan Mail The storytelling effects of nouns. Mixed by Peter Sykes: https://www.petersykesmusic.com/ Otto Gross: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMnxx19QD-vxD4wnYGTn3Jw Scarlet's website: https://www.scarletkeys.com Scarlet's instagram: https://www.instagram.com/scarletkeysofficial/...
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Minisode: The song changing effects of good verbs
Send us Fan Mail In this minisode, I talk about the power of verbs and how they can do more than just their expected work but can help to tell your story, create characters and build metaphors. Mixed by Peter Sykes: https://www.petersykesmusic.com/ Otto Gross:...
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Singer/songwriter Ingrid Saga on jazz, Joni Mitchell's influence, guitar tunings and process
Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Ingrid talk about her influences, meeting her producer and shares three songs from her upcoming album. She talks about writing in opening tuning and writing process. https://www.instagram.com/ingridsaga/?hl=en Mixed by Peter Sykes…
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Aidan Laprete on finding your sound and gibberish as a lyric writing process
Send us Fan Mail In this Episode I talk with singer/songwriter/producer/actor Aidan Laprete about Voice lessons, finding your sound, and producing. He walks us through writing melody takes - gibberish to find melodies, turning mumbles into words and making it make sense and shares guitar voicings...
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Writing For T.V. and film and how a little bit of Woo woo can help us with Stuart Roslyn
Send us Fan Mail Stuart Roslyn is a composer, producer and musician specializing in original music for motion pictures and their trailers. He also creates unique soundscapes for network tv and big brand commercials. His career spans more than 20 years composing and producing many genres of music...
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The songwriting of Taylor Swift - Two things we can learn from the craft of her songwriting
Send us Fan Mail In this episode, I share a little peak into the craft and poetry of Taylor Swift's songwriting. We look at her choice of chord progressions and one way in to one of her epic bridge sections as well as her use of metaphor. You will walk away with a few tools from the woman…
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David Wilcox Part 2
Send us Fan Mail David Wilcox is an award winning and highly acclaimed American singer songwriter from Asheville North Carolina. His storytelling cuts deep into the soul and observes the human condition from both the nerve center and the outside looking in. He’s released more than 20 records and…
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David Wilcox on inspired writing Part 1
Send us Fan Mail David Wilcox is an award winning and highly acclaimed American singer songwriter from Asheville North Carolina. His storytelling cuts deep into the soul and observes the human condition from both the nerve center and the outside looking in. He’s released more than 20 records and…
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Part 3 Mark Simos: Reflecting on your writing and what you can learn from it
Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we break down co-writing and talk about reflecting back on process and what can be learned from taking pause and observing what went well and what you wish had gone differently making you a better writer and co-writer going forward. To purchase Mark's books:...
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Part 2 Hank Williams in Hell live co-write with Mark Simos
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of a two part series, Berklee Professor and Grammy winning writer Mark Simos and I try out his unique approach to writing using different chord configurations in a writing exercise he calls Hank Williams in hell. This is a live co-write so if you are curious about...
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Hank Williams in Hell exercise and live cowrite with Grammy winning songwriter Mark Simos
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of a two part series, Berklee Professor and Grammy winning writer Mark Simos and I try out his unique approach to writing using different chord configurations in a writing exercise he calls Hank Williams in hell. This is a live co-write so if you are curious about...
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Writing songs for film and t.v. with Grammy winning artist/producer Rich Jaques
Send us Fan Mail Today’s guest is grammy winning songwriter and producer Rich Jaques. Rich has had over 1500 songs placed on film and t.v. and is going to share today about his musical journey. Some key points: Follow the point of enthusiasm (follow your bliss) Finding your own path Notice what...
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Will Dailey: Genius marketing, the importance of narrative for your art, finding your instrument
Send us Fan Mail On today's show, I have singer/songwriter Will Dailey. In this episode, Will shares some brilliant marketing ideas and talks about: Tools: Try cutting something in half the chorus the bridge a bar a line do something upsetting to your cadence Great advice on writing your best…
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Prince's recording engineer Susan Rogers on authenticity, getting your best vocal performance and her new book "This is What it Sounds like"
Send us Fan Mail Today I have Susan Rogers who many of you know as Prince’s recording engineer. Today we talk about her new book “This is what it sounds like” and who we are as listeners, what Prince used to ask her to prepare for his writing sessions and insight into writing songs that appeal to…
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Paula Cole on her writing process, the books that have inspired her and what writing teaches her
Send us Fan Mail Grammy-winning artst Paula Cole has released seven solo albums of original songs. Cole has performed with icons in many genres of music, from Peter Gabriel to Dolly Parton, Herbie Hancock to Emmylou Harris, and Amy Lee of Evanescence to Burt Bacharach. Cole’s emotionally deep...
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Finding a title for your song - Minisode
Send us Fan Mail In this short episode, I talk about starting with an idea or emotion and one of my favorite ways to find a good title for your potential song. Sometimes, an idea just needs a great hook to hang our song on. Announcing my 6 week songwriting course starting June 20th and my weekend...
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Forensic musicologist Joe Bennett breaks down "If I were a fish" and talks about what constitutes copyright infringement
Send us Fan Mail In this episode, I talk with Dr. Joe Bennett First, we talk about what constitutes copyright infringement from the point of view of a forensic musicologist. Then, Joe dives into the analysis of "If I were a Fish" (pun intended) leaving everyone with some great new ideas to spark...
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Corook and Olivia Barton: Fame and the introvert and breaking down "If I were a fish"
Send us Fan Mail Today I am so happy to have Corook and Olivia Barton on the show. Corook is a multi-instrumentalist based in Nashville, Tennessee. they are signed to Atlantic Records, and thave toured with JP Saxe and Jukebox the Ghost. Today share my conversation with Corook and their partner...
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Robert Gillies on writing hit songs, 2 rules for every co-write, finding the best tempo for your song, his fav home recording mic,
Send us Fan Mail Robert Gillies is a hit songwriter and artist living in Norway. In this conversation we talk about finding the sweet spot of tempo for your song The 2 rules to start every cowrite with Working with Charlie Puth His fav microphone for home recording How our road to success can…
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Kieran Rhodes on being on America's Got Talent, the two chords he won't leave home without and what he learned from Randy Newman
Send us Fan Mail In this episode, I am talking with someone at the start of it all, Berklee student Kieran Rhodes. He shares his favorite songwriting tools that he learned from Billy Joel and Randy Newman, why his friends nick named him the V/V, his experience on being on America's Got Talent and...
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Vance Gilbert on how to be a great opening act, two great chords and his favorite vocal hack
Send us Fan Mail In today's episode, I talk with Folk artist Vance Gilbert on How to be a great opening act. Some show takeaways: Be yourself, you can be shy and confident, but be sure about what you’re doing Wood shed the music and rehearse so you are comfortable with your performance Work on…
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Prince Charles Alexander: The Evolution of Hip hop
Send us Fan Mail In this episode, I am talking to Prince Charles Alexander about the evolution of hip hop music, production and rap. Prince Charles is a sought-after recording and mixing engineer whose clients include Mary J. Blige, Destiny's Child, Faith Evans, P. Diddy, the Notorious B.I.G.,...
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Singer Songwriter and Berklee Prof George Woods: ADHD as a songwriting super power and the emotion of music
Send us Fan Mail George Woods is an amazing guitarist, singer and songwriter and Berklee Professor. In this episode George shares how ADHD is a superpower for songwriters, what chords and melody bring emotionally. He writes a song on the spot and talks about what theory really is and plays his…
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Kenny Werner Part 2: A meditation, more great insight and a live performance
Send us Fan Mail In this episode, I talk with Grammy nominated composer and award winning pianist, educator and author of the best selling book “Effortless Mastery” and “Becoming the Instrument” in part two of a great conversation. Find a place to sit and listen towards the end of the podcast for...
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Kenny Werner on Effortless mastery and being the instrument
Send us Fan Mail In this episode, I talk with Grammy nominated composer and award winning pianist, educator and author of the best selling book “Effortless Mastery” and “Becoming the Instrument”. Here are some episode takeaways: You don’t move forward unless you practice Let your arms defy…
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Eric Roberson: Finding ideas all around you, Saying no to doubt
Send us Fan Mail On today's show, Eric Roberson is back!! Eric is a 2x Grammy Nominated Singer/Songwriter/Producer/Artist/Entrepreneur. Winner of the 2012 Soul Train Music Award For Independent Artist Of The Year. Widely regarded as the "King Of Independent Soul/R&B". He was on Jimmy Fallon's…
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
This is a weekly podcast about the craft of songwriting hosted by Berklee College of Music Professor Scarlet Keys. She takes deep dive into the craft, technique and art of songwriting in conversations with eminent songwriters, producers, and other creatives asking questions only a songwriting professor would ask so listeners can walk away inspired and armed with clear and actionable tools and techniques they can apply to their songwriting.
HOSTED BY
Scarlet Keys
CATEGORIES
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does What's in a Song have?
What's in a Song currently has 89 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is What's in a Song about?
This is a weekly podcast about the craft of songwriting hosted by Berklee College of Music Professor Scarlet Keys. She takes deep dive into the craft, technique and art of songwriting in conversations with eminent songwriters, producers, and other creatives asking questions only a songwriting...
How often does What's in a Song release new episodes?
What's in a Song has 89 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to What's in a Song?
You can listen to What's in a Song on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts What's in a Song?
What's in a Song is created and hosted by Scarlet Keys.
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