Blog
The Importance of Authenticity in Christian Songwriting
There is a common misconception surrounding Christian songwriting, suggesting that mastering various tips, tricks, and shortcuts can allow one to avoid the necessary effort of learning how to create impactful songs that resonate with people. However, this belief overlooks the significance of cultivating a genuine and profound inner world that serves as a source of inspiration for songwriting
In my opinion, relying solely on tips and tricks is not enough for a dedicated Christian songwriter. It is important to have a deep connection with God and a rich inner life to draw inspiration from. By having this strong spiritual foundation and honing your songwriting skills, you won't need to resort to shortcuts. The ability to write well with clarity and confidence will always be readily available when you feel the presence of the Holy Spirit guiding you.
Image credit goes to Laura E. Partain
The prevailing digital culture, characterized by fast-paced consumption and instant gratification, has influenced our thinking patterns to resemble a microwave mentality. It leads us to believe that we can possess the capabilities of CHATGPT or AI, expecting that with just a few prompts, we can effortlessly generate a mind-blowing song in less than three seconds.
However, based on what I have observed, the songs that have a lasting impact on the world are not created by writers who rely on shortcuts or quick fixes. Instead, they are skilled practitioners of the art of Christian songwriting, effectively communicating profound messages through their music. These individuals did not simply attempt to write a song on a whim and accidentally create masterpieces like "Amazing Grace," "In Christ Alone," or "10,000 Reasons."
Before the arrival of the prominent figures, they were already dedicated to studying and striving for excellence in their artistic field. They were consistently learning how to skillfully combine meaningful lyrics and captivating melodies to create impactful compositions that could deeply touch and resonate with audiences. Their aim was to create something emotionally compelling, something that had an indescribable but undeniable "WOW" factor that could be felt upon hearing it.
According to professional golfer Gary Player, the more he dedicates time to practicing, the more fortunate he becomes in his performance.
These individuals are not seeking free Christian songwriting workshops or giveaways for personal gain. They are dedicated and ambitious songwriters who are already actively engaged in their craft, continuously learning and honing their skills in poetic and lyrical techniques. These are the determined individuals, both men and women, who are investing their time and effort to create music at a much more elevated and serious level compared to the majority of aspiring writers who are not willing to put in the same amount of dedication and commitment into their work.
We have great respect for individuals such as Matt Redman, Matt Maher, Lauren Daigle, and the Gettys for their incredible impact on Christian worship songwriting. It's hard to imagine where we would be without Chris Tomlin's powerful rendition of "Amazing Grace/My Chains Are Gone." However, it's important to remember that these songwriters have dedicated many years to perfecting their craft and have faced numerous challenges in order to improve their songs and ministries.
No one becomes skilled at creating catchy song titles or hooks overnight, and this applies to everyone, including the up-and-coming artist Katy Nichole signed with Centricity Music. Katy has been sharing her songs since she was fourteen, and even though her hit "In Jesus' Name (God of Possible)" may give the impression of an overnight success, it is far from the truth. Katy has been working hard at her music for years, and we congratulate her on her achievements.
Tips for Cultivating a Fulfilling Inner Life as a Christian Songwriter
As a Christian songwriter, there are numerous approaches you can take to nurture a deep and gratifying inner life. Here are three key factors to consider while striving to enhance and convey your faith through your music.
Make your well-being a priority. In our fast-paced and busy lives, it's easy to neglect taking care of ourselves. However, it's important to remember that while we should still care for and serve others, we need to also make time for rest and rejuvenation. Taking care of ourselves is essential for maintaining a healthy inner life, which is closely connected to our physical well-being and the care we give to our external life.
Nurture your intellect. Many Christian songwriters tend to overlook the importance of intellectual growth and assume that focusing on Bible study, prayer, and singing worship songs is enough for a fulfilling spiritual life. However, the most skilled songwriters understand the significance of delving deep into various sources of knowledge. They recognize that without immersing themselves in profound ideas and concepts, it is impossible to create remarkable lyrics. If you have not engaged in extensive reading since college or even high school, rediscovering the joy of reading is essential. Merely relying on news from television networks or cable channels to satisfy your curiosity and reinforce your biases is insufficient. If you aspire to write something impactful and timeless, it is imperative to nourish your mind with exceptional literature, poetry, and other inspirational works.
Disconnect from negativity. The content on cable news is driven by the need for higher ratings, often resorting to fear mongering. Even channels that claim to have a Christian focus thrive on angering viewers in order to keep them engaged and watch the sponsored advertisements. Talk radio, shock jocks, and conservative pundits also rely on building ratings and sponsorships for their shareholders. However, the constant stream of negativity they spread is detrimental to your spiritual well-being and creativity. I suggest taking a break from consuming any type of news for a few weeks and instead spend that time in quiet reflection, focusing on the love and goodness of God. You may find that this shift in mindset leads to an overflow of positivity in your music. Negativity steals your joy and increases feelings of fear and anxiety. It's important to take a break and replenish your heart and mind with the spirit of Jesus once again.
Christian artists and songwriters such as Nichole, Tomlin, Redman, Maher, and many more, are able to create music from a place of abundance in their connection with God. However, their achievements can also be attributed, to some extent, to their expertise in composing Christian songs. I am reminded of the words of Australian golfer Gary Player, who famously said, "The more I practice, the luckier I get."
While you are progressing in your Christian songwriting ministry, it is important to remember to constantly nurture your inner life as you enhance your songwriting abilities. The world is in need of something fresh, daring, courageous, and freeing from you, rather than just repetitive phrases and concepts that have been heard for many years.
Please consider sharing this article with your friends. If you have any thoughts or comments, feel free to leave a reply. Additionally, you can save your name, email, and website in this browser for future commenting purposes.
Use the method "getElementById" to find the element with the ID "ak_js_1". Then, set the attribute "value" to the current timestamp using the "getTime()" method of the Date object.
Categories:
– Filed Under
– Follow us
– Browse More Posts
– Popular Posts
– Get Started
– Popular Podcasts
– Features
– About
– YOUR COURSEs
– Sign Up Today For Our Free Pro Songwriters Top 10 Tip Sheet