Singer Songwriter | How to Write a Song, Make Music, Song Lyrics, Music Theory, Singing Lessons

115 | The Hardest Part of the Songwriting Process: Choosing What Belongs

Have you ever held onto a lyric, melody, or song idea simply because you've lived with it for so long?
In this episode, we're exploring a different stage of the songwriting process — not gathering inspiration, but choosing what belongs. I share the story of revisiting an old song and making one unexpected change that revealed a deeper, more honest version of the story it had been trying to tell all along.
We'll talk about why artistic growth isn't just about creating more — it's about developing the discernment to recognize what truly serves the song. Sometimes the hardest part of songwriting isn't writing the next line. It's having the courage to let go of something good so something truer can emerge.
Whether you're writing songs, making music, or simply learning to trust your creative instincts, this episode is an invitation to embrace the deeper work of choosing, revising, and telling the truth in your art.
In this episode, we'll explore:
the songwriting process beyond first drafts
editing and revising song lyrics
how to know what belongs in a song
creative discernment and artistic choices
telling the truth through songwriting
letting go of lyrics that no longer serve the song
trusting your creative instincts
why honesty leads to stronger songs
embracing revision as part of the creative process
Next Steps:
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114 | Try This 10-Minute Singing Practice When Your Voice Feels Tired

Feeling tired, stiff, or disconnected from your singing voice?
In this episode, I'm sharing a simple 10-minute singing practice I used after a long holiday weekend to reconnect with my voice—without forcing it, judging it, or trying to sound "better."
Instead of focusing on vocal technique or performance, this practice begins with noticing how your voice feels today, meeting it where it is, and allowing it to lead the way through humming, movement, improvisation, and familiar songs.
We'll explore:
how to reconnect with your singing voice in just 10 minutes
what to do when your voice feels tired or low-energy
why noticing your body's sensations can be more helpful than judging your sound
how improvisation and movement can help your voice open naturally
embracing your voice as it is instead of fighting against it
If your singing has been feeling stale, disconnected, or you're simply looking for a gentle way back into your voice, I hope this practice helps you rediscover the joy of singing—exactly as you are today.
<3 Lainey
 
Songs Mentioned:
Ain't No Sunshine by Bill Withers
Wade In The Water - Traditional African American Spiritual
 
Next Steps:
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Write Me: hello@reawakenyourvoice.com

113 | Can't Finish Your Song? Why Some Songs Take Years to Write

Have you ever had a song that stayed with you for years—but never seemed ready to be written?
In this episode, I'm sharing a personal reflection on a song I've wanted to write for a long time and what it's teaching me about the songwriting process, creative timing, and learning to trust inspiration instead of forcing it.
As America celebrates its 250th birthday, I've found myself returning to a creative desire that's been quietly living in me for years: to write a song that captures the beauty of home, freedom, and Americana summer nights. The inspiration is there. The imagery is there. But the song itself still hasn't arrived.
Rather than seeing that as failure or creative block, I'm learning to see it differently.
In this episode, we'll explore:
why some songs take years to write
trusting the timing of the songwriting process
the difference between creative readiness and creative pressure
how life experience shapes the songs we're meant to write
why you don't have to force inspiration to create meaningful work
If you've been waiting for the right words, the right melody, or the right time to finish a song, this conversation is an invitation to trust that some songs are written slowly—not because you're doing something wrong, but because they're still becoming.
<3 Lainey
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112 | Trying to Force Your Creative Process? There's Another Way

Trying to force your creativity to happen? There may be another way.
As artists, we often feel pressure to know exactly where we’re going. We want the finished vision, the clear plan, the perfect idea — and when we don’t have those things, we may assume we’re stuck.
But the creative process doesn’t always unfold in a straight line.
Sometimes the work is in the unknown.
In this episode, I’m exploring what it means to stop forcing an outcome and start trusting the creative process — allowing space for exploration, discovery, curiosity, and transformation.
I’ll share reflections from my own creative season of not knowing what my next project will be, and how I’m learning to embrace the adventure of creating rather than rushing toward the destination.
We’ll talk about:
outcome-driven creativity vs. process-oriented creativity
becoming comfortable with uncertainty
why the unknown is part of the artistic journey
how curiosity and exploration lead to meaningful work
trusting yourself when the path isn’t clear yet
If you’ve been waiting for clarity before you begin, this episode is an invitation to stay engaged with your creativity and let the process reveal what comes next.
<3 Lainey
Next Steps:
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Write Me: hello@reawakenyourvoice.com

111 | Rediscovering Your Singing Voice Beyond Practice & Performance

Have you ever felt disconnected from your singing voice—even though you still love to sing?
In this episode, we're exploring a different way of thinking about singing. One that goes beyond practice, performance, technique, improvement, and achievement.
I share reflections from my own creative life lately, including singing while doing dishes, gardening, playing with my children, and following little melodies as they appear throughout the day. These ordinary moments have reminded me that some of the most meaningful singing doesn't happen on stage or in a practice room—it happens in the midst of everyday life.
We'll talk about:
reconnecting with your singing voice
the difference between the critical ear and the creative ear
singing beyond practice and performance
overcoming perfectionism and self-judgment
finding more joy and play in singing
everyday singing as a creative practice
coming back to your "why" as a singer
If you've been feeling out of practice, disconnected from your voice, or unsure how to get back into singing, this episode offers a gentle invitation to reconnect with singing in a way that feels natural, meaningful, and alive.
<3 Lainey
Next Steps:
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Write Me: hello@reawakenyourvoice.com

110 | The Songwriting Process: Catching Song Ideas Before They Slip Away

Have you ever had a great song idea disappear before you had the chance to develop it?
In this episode, we're exploring an often-overlooked part of the songwriting process: capturing inspiration while it's still alive.
Building on last week's conversation about The Work Before the Work, we're talking about what happens when the first spark of a song finally appears. How do songwriters capture ideas before they slip away? What role do voice memos, notebooks, and unfinished songs play in the creative process?
I share reflections from revisiting old voice memos, rediscovering early versions of songs, and noticing how a single song idea can evolve over time—sometimes becoming something entirely different from where it began.
We'll talk about:
why songwriting inspiration is often fleeting
how to capture song ideas before they're lost
why unfinished songs still have value
how revisiting old ideas can unlock new creative possibilities
why song ideas evolve throughout the songwriting process
If you've ever lost a lyric, melody, or song idea you wish you'd held onto, these simple practices can help you capture inspiration and give your songs a chance to grow.
<3 Lainey
Next Steps:
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Write Me: hello@reawakenyourvoice.com

109 | Finding Inspiration as a Singer-Songwriter: The Work Before The Work

How do you find inspiration when you don't know what to create next?
As singer-songwriters, we often assume we need a clear idea, a finished vision, or a specific project before we can begin creating. But what if inspiration doesn't come from thinking harder about what to make?
What if it comes from paying attention?
In this episode, we're exploring the work before the work — the often overlooked phase of the creative process where artists gather clues, follow curiosity, collect observations, and remain open to inspiration before a song, project, or creative vision fully reveals itself.
I share some behind-the-scenes reflections from my own creative season of uncertainty, including revisiting unfinished songs, experimenting with new creative possibilities, and learning to trust the process before clarity arrives.
We'll talk about:
how to find inspiration as a singer-songwriter
the creative season before clarity
gathering creative clues and collecting ideas
why inspiration often follows engagement, not the other way around
living creatively with open eyes, open ears, and an open heart
overcoming the pressure to have everything figured out
trusting the creative process when you don't know what's next
preparing the soil before the song emerges
If you've been feeling stuck, uninspired, creatively restless, or unsure what project to pursue next, this episode offers a gentler approach: stay engaged, pay attention, and trust that something meaningful will emerge in its own time.
<3 Lainey
Next Steps:
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Write Me: hello@reawakenyourvoice.com

108 | Feeling Stuck With Your Singing Voice? Try This Creative Approach

Feeling stuck with your singing voice lately?
In this episode, we’re exploring a creative approach to reconnecting with your voice through curiosity, experimentation, vocal harmonies, and creative freedom — instead of overthinking, perfectionism, or trying to sound “perfect.”
I share some behind-the-scenes reflections from my own creative process lately, including experimenting with vocal layering, unfinished song ideas, singing with a different instrument, and how changing the creative environment can help the voice open up in unexpected ways.
If your singing practice has started feeling rigid, repetitive, creatively flat, or disconnected, this episode will help you reconnect with the playful, expressive side of your voice again.
We’ll talk about:
vocal freedom for singers and singer-songwriters
creative singing exercises
vocal harmonies and layered vocals
overcoming perfectionism in singing
how curiosity helps free the voice
reconnecting with your natural singing voice
using unfinished songs as creative playgrounds
creative approaches to your singing practice
how experimentation can unlock creativity and expression
Plus, I’ll give you a simple vocal exploration exercise you can try this week to help you reconnect with your voice in a more creative, alive, and pressure-free way.
<3 Lainey
Next Steps:
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Write Me: hello@reawakenyourvoice.com

107 | Songwriter's Block & Creative Burnout: How to Begin Again

Feeling stuck creatively? Struggling with songwriter’s block, creative burnout, or feeling disconnected from your music?
In this episode, we’re talking about how to begin again creatively — not through pressure, perfectionism, or forcing inspiration, but through play, curiosity, experimentation, and reconnecting with the desire to create.
I share some honest reflections about my own creative process lately, the idea of creating a tiny summer creative project, and why songwriter’s block may not actually mean your creativity is gone. Maybe the flow is still there — just buried underneath fear, overthinking, comparison, burnout, or the pressure to make something “good.”
We’ll talk about:
songwriter’s block and creative burnout
how to start writing songs again
reconnecting with your songwriting practice
overcoming perfectionism in creativity
why play and experimentation matter
creating without pressure
tiny creative projects as a doorway back into flow
how to rekindle your desire to create
This episode is for singer-songwriters, musicians, artists, and creatives who want to reconnect with their artistic voice and begin creating again from a place that feels alive.
Plus, I’ll guide you through a reflective exercise to help you imagine your own small creative project for this summer.
<3 Lainey
Next Steps:
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Write Me: hello@reawakenyourvoice.com

106 | When Your Creative Process Stops Feeling Alive

What do you do when the way you’ve been creating no longer feels alive?
In this episode, I’m sharing an honest reflection on creativity, artistic growth, and what happens when your creative process starts feeling stale — even when you still love what you do.
Lately, I’ve realized I’ve been spending so much time creating about music that I’ve started craving more space for my own songs, artistry, and creative process again. This episode is a conversation about creative seasons, outgrowing old rhythms, reconnecting with your artistic voice, and giving yourself permission to evolve as a singer-songwriter and creative.
If you’ve been feeling disconnected from your creativity, stuck in a creative rut, creatively burned out, or unsure how to reconnect with making music again, this episode is for you.
We’ll talk about:
creative burnout vs creative growth
outgrowing the way you create
reconnecting with your singing and songwriting process
allowing your creativity to evolve
making space for a new creative season
This is an artist-to-artist conversation about creativity, songwriting, and learning to create from a place that feels alive again.
Thank you for joining me on this infinite journey of becoming.
<3 Lainey
Next Steps:
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Write Me: hello@reawakenyourvoice.com