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

97 | When Can You Call Yourself a Singer Songwriter?

At what point are you “allowed” to call yourself a singer-songwriter?
Is it after you finish your first song?Release music publicly?Perform for other people?
Many artists carry a quiet belief that they’re not a real singer-songwriter yet — that they need to be better, more confident, or further along before claiming that identity.
In this episode, we explore the journey of becoming an artist and the internal shift that happens when you start taking your creative voice seriously.
We talk about:
• Why so many artists hesitate to call themselves singer-songwriters• The invisible rules that keep people waiting for permission• How identity grows alongside practice, not after perfection• The role of curiosity, exploration, and consistency in the creative journey
If you’ve been writing songs, exploring your voice, and wondering when you’re “allowed” to claim the title of singer-songwriter, this episode is for you.
Becoming an artist isn’t a single moment — it’s a practice.
 
<3 Lainey
 
🎤 Want personalized support?My one-hour Vocal Breakthrough Sessions help singer-songwriters move through creative blocks, build confidence in their voice, and deepen their songwriting practice.
You can learn more at:reawakenyourvoice.com/coaching
 
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96 | Not Finishing Your Songs? 3 Reasons Singer-Songwriters Get Stuck

You start songs all the time.But finishing them? That’s where things fall apart.
If your voice memos are full of half-written lyrics and abandoned ideas, you’re not lazy — and you’re not untalented. In this episode, we explore three common reasons singer-songwriters struggle to finish their songs: perfectionism, lack of creative systems, and hitting a skill edge.
Because sometimes the problem isn’t motivation.It’s protection.It’s disorganization.It’s growth.
If you’re ready to move from scattered ideas to steady creative momentum, this conversation will meet you exactly where you are.
<3 Lainey
🎤 Want personalized support?My one-hour Vocal Breakthrough Sessions help singer-songwriters move through creative blocks, build confidence, and reconnect to their voice.
Book Yours Here: reawakenyourvoice.com/coaching
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Write Me: hello@reawakenyourvoice.com

95 | The Quiet Artist: You Want to Be a Singer-Songwriter – But You're Still Hiding

You say you want to be a singer-songwriter. You want to share your voice, write your own songs, and be heard.
So why are you still hiding?
In this episode, we’re talking about the quiet fear that keeps so many aspiring singer-songwriters small — the fear of being seen, of sharing unfinished work, of letting your real voice be heard.
If you struggle with vocal confidence, hesitate to share your music, or feel stuck in perfectionism, this conversation is for you.
We’ll explore:• Why hiding feels safer than expression• How fear of being seen shows up in your singing voice• The subtle ways you may be shrinking your artistry• And how to begin building creative confidence — one small step at a time
You don’t need to be fearless to become an artist.You just need to be willing.
<3 Lainey
If you’re ready to stop hiding and start sharing your voice with more confidence, my one-on-one Vocal Breakthrough Sessions are designed to help you do exactly that.
Book Your 1:1 Coaching Session Here:
reawakenyourvoice.com/coaching
Write Me:
hello@reawakenyourvoice.com

94 | You Don't Have to Feel Ready: Begin Where You Are as a Singer Songwriter

You think you need more confidence.More training.More certainty.
But what if beginning is what creates those things?
In You Don’t Have to Feel Ready: Begin Where You Are as a Singer-Songwriter, I’m sharing honest stories from my own path — recording before I felt prepared, stepping into rooms that scared me, saying yes before I knew how.
We’ll talk about why waiting keeps artists stuck, how readiness is built through action, and gentle ways to start singing and writing songs from exactly where you are today.
If perfectionism or self-doubt has been keeping you on the sidelines, this episode will help you move.
And if you’re craving support, my free live songwriting workshop is happening today. Come begin with us.
<3 Lainey
Register for the FREE, LIVE Songwriting Workshop happening TODAY (February 17th @ 1PM EST) --> singersongwriterworkshop.com
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Write Me: hello@reawakenyourvoice.com

93 | Why Singing Feels Vulnerable (and How to Build Confidence in Your Voice)

Singing can feel incredibly vulnerable.
Your voice isn’t just an instrument — it’s part of your body, your history, and your identity. So when you share it, of course you can feel exposed.
In this episode, we explore why singers and songwriters struggle with fear, self-doubt, and perfectionism, especially after criticism or difficult experiences.
And we talk about how confidence is really built:
not by pushing or pretending you’re fearless,but through small, safe moments of letting yourself be heard.
You’ll learn practical, compassionate ways to rebuild trust in your voice, expand your comfort zone, and return to singing from a place of authenticity and creative flow.
If you’ve loved singing but felt afraid to share your voice, this episode will help you find your way back.
<3 Lainey
Next Steps:
Join the Free Live Songwriting Workshop on February 17th: singersongwriterworkshop.com
Book a Coaching Session: reawakenyourvoice.com/coaching
Visit the Website: reawakenyourvoice.com
Write Me: hello@reawakenyourvoice.com

92 | When We Pull Away From Our Creativity – and How to Return to Making Music

Have you ever noticed yourself pulling away from your creativity — even though making music is something you love?
In this episode, we explore why singers and songwriters disconnect from their creativity, voice, or songwriting practice — and why this distance is often a form of self-protection, not failure.
We’ll talk about the vulnerability of making music, the pressure to “do it right,” and the quiet ways perfectionism, overwhelm, or life changes can cause us to step back from our creative selves.
Most importantly, I’ll share gentle, grounded ways to return to making music without forcing inspiration or waiting to feel confident first. This isn’t about discipline or fixing yourself — it’s about rebuilding trust with your voice and your creativity.
If you’re a singer-songwriter who’s been feeling disconnected, stuck, or unsure how to begin again, this episode is for you.
<3 Lainey
P.S. Ready to Turn Your Ideas Into Songs?
✨ Join my FREE, LIVE Songwriting Workshop!
In this one hour workshop, we’ll explore simple, supportive ways to start writing songs (again) — no pressure, no performing, just space to reconnect.
🗓 Tuesday, February 17th at 1pm Eastern🎶 Register now at singersongwriterworkshop.com

91 | Song Lyrics or Melody First? 5 Ways to Start Writing a Song

Do song lyrics come first — or does the melody lead the way?The truth is, songs don’t begin in just one way.
In this episode, I walk you through five common “doorways” into songwriting — simple, human starting points that can help you move past the frozen feeling of “Where do I start?” We explore how songs can begin through lyrics, melody, rhythm, harmony, or listening to what’s already stirring beneath the surface — and how finding your doorway can make songwriting feel more natural and less intimidating.
If you’ve been searching for a simple way to start writing songs, this episode offers a clear framework you can return to again and again — without pressure, rules, or overthinking.
<3 Lainey
P.S. You're Invited to Join Me for a FREE Live Songwriting Workshop --> 
🎶 Free Live Songwriting Workshop
Learn how to turn your ideas into songs in this FREE workshop with Lainey
Tuesday, February 17th10AM PST / 11AM MST / 12PM CT / 1PM ESTLive on Zoom
Register at singersongwriterworkshop.com

90 | Listening for a Song: A Different Kind of Ear Training for Singer Songwriters

Songwriting isn’t about coming up with ideas — it’s about learning how to listen.
In this episode, I’m sharing a different kind of ear training for singer-songwriters: one that helps you recognize song beginnings as they’re already forming — where listening becomes the skill that guides everything else.
We’ll talk about the subtle ways songs often arrive: a line that won’t leave you alone, a sound or melody fragment, a feeling that hasn’t found words yet — and why learning to listen for these beginnings can change the entire songwriting process.
Rather than forcing a song into shape, this episode explores how to notice what’s already present and stay with it long enough for the song to reveal itself. This is ear training for the creative process — grounded, embodied, and accessible, even if you feel stuck or unsure where to begin.
If songwriting has ever felt intimidating, overwhelming, or overly technical, this conversation offers a simpler starting place: attention, curiosity, and trust.
Listening is where the song begins.
 
<3 Lainey
 
Next Steps:
Book a Coaching Session: reawakenyourvoice.com/coaching
Join the Newsletter: reawakenyourvoice.com/insider
Visit the Website: reawakenyourvoice.com
Write Me: hello@reawakenyourvoice.com

89 | Vocal Play: A Gentle Doorway Into Songwriting

What if you didn’t have to think your way into songwriting — but could play your way in?
In this episode, I explore how vocal play can become a gentle doorway into songwriting, whether your songs begin with words, melody, or something in between. Instead of focusing on performance or “getting it right,” we look at how letting the voice explore can lower pressure, reconnect you to emotion, and help songs begin to take shape naturally.
You’ll learn:
why singing doesn’t have to mean performing
how vocal play supports the songwriting process
a simple practice for turning journal lines into song ideas
how singing, songwriting, and creativity are deeply connected
This episode is for singer-songwriters who feel stuck, overthink their songs, or want a more embodied, intuitive way to write music.
If you’re longing to reconnect with your voice — and let songwriting feel more alive and possible again — this episode is for you.

88 | Too Many Ideas? The Power of Choosing One Creative Practice for the Year Ahead

If you’re heading into the new year feeling creatively overwhelmed — with too many ideas, unfinished projects, and uncertainty about where to focus — this episode is for you.
So many singer-songwriters struggle not because they lack inspiration, but because choosing one direction feels risky. What if you pick the wrong project? What if you lose momentum? What if you don’t follow through?
In this episode, we explore a gentler, more sustainable approach to creative focus: choosing one creative practice instead of forcing yourself to commit to a specific outcome or project.
Rather than asking, “What should I make this year?” we shift the question to, “What is asking for my devotion?”
You’ll hear:
Why having too many ideas can create creative paralysis
The difference between choosing a project and choosing a practice
How focusing on one creative practice builds clarity, consistency, and trust
A guided listening exercise to help you tune into what wants your attention right now
How devotion to practice can naturally support songwriting, singing, and creative momentum
This episode is an invitation to slow down, listen inward, and release the pressure to have everything figured out. You don’t need to chase every idea — you only need to choose the practice that can hold them all.
If you’re craving creative clarity without burnout, and focus without force, this conversation will meet you right where you are.
 
<3 Lainey
 
Related Episodes:
85 | A Creative Year-End Ritual for Singer Songwriters: Reflect, Renew, and Reconnect with Your Voice
35 | Renew Your Artistic Vision in the New Year with This 5-Step Creative Exercise for Singers & Vocal Artists
 
Next Steps:
Book a Coaching Session: reawakenyourvoice.com/coaching
Join the Newsletter: reawakenyourvoice.com/insider 
Visit the Website: reawakenyourvoice.com
Email Me: hello@reawakenyourvoice.com