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www.writeawaymag.co.ukwww.writeawaymag.co.ukIssue 39March 2022March 2022T The Lyric Writers Magazinehe Lyric Writers MagazineALSO INSIDEALSO INSIDE::THE KILLERS, THE SMITHS, FLORENCE & THE MACHINEARCTIC MONKEYSPLUS A SELECTION OFAMAZING INDIE ARTISTSWrite Away Magazine Write Away Magazine Dedicated To Promoting Dedicated To Promoting YOU !!!YOU !!!Featuring:SUZIE GRAHAMPatsy Cline Tribute Artist& OriginalSongwriterVOTED 4th IN ISSAPROMOTERAWARDS JANUARY 2022

02 www.writeawaymag.co.ukContentsWRITE AWAY MAGAZINEWRITE AWAY MAGAZINEIssue 39 | March 202206 Trevor Dimoff Lyric Writing Games08 Daryn Wright Lyric Evaluation 18 of 5010 Simon WrightBeginners Guide12 Jane ShieldsVocal Tips14 Rachel Walker MasonAsk The Judge 16 Clare Steffen Gain A Victory18 Frank Westcott Vegas Interview20 Jane ShieldsImagery In Lyrics22 MFWPR Do It With Love24 MFWPR Realize The Reason26 MFWPR War, It’s A Bad Thing28 MFWPR Ad29 752.2 Hit Maker RadioFeatured Artist30 Suzie Graham 30 Suzie Graham My Music My Music32 Suzie Graham32 Suzie Graham My Music My Music34 Modern Age Music Ad 35 TV AP PEARANCE OFFER36 Clayton SaundersBSM - By Vanessa Bourne40 Steve Larkin Candlelight42 Annemarie Picerno I Thank God For This Moment44 Studeo Silence46 Helen FlunderWonder Of You48 Zandra Arnold Living Water Flow50 Gary Vaughan Waltz You ‘Cross Texas52 Love Itoya Reminiscing You 54 Emily ColeSober56 Stephen BoltonPink Was Her Pride58 Hayley McKay Find Myself In A Song60 The KillersMr Brightside62 Florence & The MachineCosmic Love64 The SmithsThis Charming Man66 Arctic Monkeys Flourescent Adolescent68 BSM - Geoff Williams BSM - Bailey Perrie70 ISSA AWARDS 2022ISSA AWARDS 202272 BSM - Gene Bradley FiskBSM - Vanessa Bourne74 Simon Wright AdTrevor Dimoff Ad76 BSM - Clayton SaundersBSM - Gene Levi78 Featured Artists SongsFeatured Artists Songs80 Featured Artists SongsFeatured Artists Songs82 Featured Artists SongsFeatured Artists SongsFeaturesPromotionsAdvertisments Notable LyricsWrite Away MagazineThe only lyric writers magazine you’ll want to read...

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02 www.writeawaymag.co.ukSUBSCRIBE TODAYGet WRITE AWAY delivered to your inbox every month completely freeCLICK HERE OR GO TO: wwwwriteawaymag.co.ukWRITE AWAY Monthly MagazineEDITOR:Jane ShieldsREGULAR WRITERS:Trevor DimoffDaryn WrightSimon WrightRachel Walker MasonClare SteffenFrank WestcottJane ShieldsMusic For Wold Peace RecordsBlue Shamrock Music752.2 Radio.comTO CONTACT WRITE AWAY:EMAIL:[email protected]:www.writeawaymag.co.ukWRITE AWAY - THE ONLYLYRIC WRITERS MAGAZINE YOU’LL WANT TO READ...Editors Words...Hi readers, this month I’m still feeling so chuffed at winning 4th place in an ISSA poll for promoter of the month. I’d like to offer my sincere thanks to everyone who voted for Write Away. It’s never easy producing months pass by, I’m always this magazine alone, but you all happy to hear from readers make it worthwhile.I’m always seeking new regular writers to give you all the very best content I can, if you’d like to contribute a songwriting related article each month you’re most welcome to join my team. Next month I’m introducing a fantastic musician who is going to become a regular writer.This month I’ve found a teriffic bunch of indie artists all promoting their songs for your listening pleasure. I urge you to check out the links on each post and to give them some support.Write Away is evolving as the who might have hints/tips on improvements, or even some new content. Don’t be shy, tell me if you have an idea, Please check out Music For World Peace’s articles especially. They are a great team who have a mission to influence planetary change through music. Check them out, maybe you have a song/lyric that would fit their worthy cause?Stay safe wherever you are,Jane xxTO ADVERTISE IN WRITE AWAY MAGAZINE OR COUNTRY MUSIC EXPRESS MAGAZINEPLEASE EMAIL [email protected] REQUEST A MEDIA PACK

www.writeawaymag.co.uk 03ARTICLE SUBMISSIONARTICLE SUBMISSIONWRITE AWAY MAGAZINEWRITE AW AY MAG AZINETo submit articles for inclusion in a future issue of Write Away Magazine I need the following information emailed please to: [email protected] (Please title email Write Away)This should arrive no later than 24th of the month for inclusion in the following months issue released on 04th of month.An original written lyricA write up around 200 words on the inspiration for the songA bio of your music career to dateSeveral good quality images to accompany your articleAn uploaded link to your song (NOT MP3)Any website/social media/music platform links you wish to includeARTICLE SUBMISSION ARTICLE SUBMISSION COUNTRY MUSIC EXPRESSCOUNTRY MUSIC EXPRESST To submit articles to Country Music Express firstly your article needs to relate to County/Western/Folk music old or new, we cover all genres of Country music.We are happy to promote new releases and to forward MP3’s from articles included in each issue to radio stations for them to select tracks to play.You do not have to send a lyric, I will email you accurate requirements dependent on the article you wish us to submit, and we require all info by 15th of each month of issue release date which is 25th of the month.

06 www.writeawaymag.co.ukWant to Play a Game?Like to write a piece of song in 5 minutes? Spin a story into a song? Turning a new phrase by rewriting some tired clichés? Perhaps find new rhymes for your lines? Or transform a scene into the basis for a new song of your own?Here are five types of lyric writing games to help you find the fun in songwriting. Why build your skills with exercises when you can do it while playing?1. BrainstormingWrite as many ideas quickly as you can… words, fragments and phrases, not lines or rhymes. Don’t edit or judge the ideas, just write them as they come. Once you can turn off your internal editor, every idea is a “yes” even if it feels off topic. Get your ideas out of your head and onto paper so you can play with them. Try it once a day for a week or more. Years ago, I practiced it for 10 minutes a day for two months making surprising improvements to the change in the speed and quality of my writing.Brainstorming can feel awkward at first, it’s hard to write down “bad ideas.” You’ve trained your whole life to get the right answer and write down only the “best ideas” you can so it feels like a mistake to write down a bad idea. Remember that a series of bad ideas can lead to a brilliant one! While you’re brainstorming don’t think, just write.Brainstorming: Game Set your phone countdown timer for 5 minutes Write ideas for possible song titles. Stop, pick the best. Brainstorm for another 5-10 minutes. Take 2 minutes to make note of your most promising ideas.Brainstorm Ideas for your Song: GameChoose a song you’re writing and brainstorm ideas about the: Story in the song Main character Details of the situation Conflict in the song and how you could resolve it2. Write a StoryThe second biggest challenge in lyric writing is organizing your ideas so they make sense. The easiest way to use a story. Songs are stories too! Your brain loves to recognize patterns, especially the beginning, middle and end of a story. When you write the story you want to tell in your song, it’s easier to write the lyrics for the second verse or the bridge. You stay focused so you know what to write next and don’t waste time trying to fix a broken song later.Make a game of it and see how quickly you can find the story in a song you’re listening to, or to write a story for the new song you’re thinking about writing.Find Stories in Songs: GameAnalyze the story in songs you love. Write down a sentence or phrase for each song section. Don’t just think about it, write down the stories. Look for similar patterns in different songs and in different get.Write Your Own Stories: GameWrite a simple story in point form and write your song around it. Change this outline if you think of better ideas as you’re writing the song. This story outline focuses your efforts rather than limiting your creativity.3. Twist a ClichéDon’t be boring, rephrase tired clichés! Breathe new life into tired, overused clichés so your listener is surprised when you don’t finish the overused expression the way they expect. Turn your phrase upside down to spin your lyrics into gold.Brainstorm a List of Clichés: GameBrainstorm some clichés, especially ones you commonly use in conversation. Google “common clichés” or similar terms to find more to add to your list. Then write variations of the clichés, new ways to phrase or frame them to change the meaning or make the expression fresh. Bonus, use some of your twisted clichés to start a new song.Find Clichés in Hit Songs: GameStart and keep a list of clichés you notice in hit songs (include the title, artist and songwriter(s) so you can find the cliché again). Include clichés in the media, video or print, or from your daily life. Does the cliché help or hinder the songwriter’s expression?How does the songwriter twist the cliché to change it’s meaning?Find Clichés in Your Songs: GameReview your own songs and make a list of the clichés. Are there any patterns in your writing? Can you twist them to add surprise or make your lyrics more meaningful?4. Rhyme FindRhyming seems simple, but choosing obvious rhymes sounds boring and your lyrics sound amateur or cheesy. Make a game of it by trying to find as many rhymes as you can. Don’t forget to use slant rhymes (a near rhyme with a similar, not exact ending… read Slant Rhymes for a detailed explanation and examples). Keep a list of great rhymes you hear in songs you love… you can use them for inspiration when you need it.Rhyme Find: GameChoose a word at the end of a line in a song you’re writing. Set a timer for 2 minutes and write down as many rhyming words as you can. Then choose three relevant words and create a line for each. Pick the best for your song.lyric writing games - bt trevor dimo

TREVORDIMOFFWEBSITE:https://epicsongwriting.com/write-away/SOCIAL MEDIA:https://bit.ly/instagram-epic-songwritinghttps://bit.ly/epicsongwrit-ing-facebookMUSIC PLATFORM:https://bit.ly/EpicSongWrit-ing-YouTubewww.writeawaymag.co.uk 07 Find More Rhymes: GameWhen you have a line to rhyme, instead of choosing one word to rhyme with it… find at least 3 rhyme words. Write a rhyming line for each word and pick the best to use in your song.For a year, I challenged myself to come up with at least 5 rhyming lines before choosing the best line for a song. It helped me find better rhymes, faster. I started using more internal rhymes and new rhyme schemes, like AAXA, using the same rhyme sound more than the usual twice in a section.5. Steal a SceneThere’s an old songwriting cliché: “Show don’t tell” that is a reminder for songwriters to make their lyrics immediate. It’s more interesting for your listeners to feel like they’re in the action as participants instead of spectators. Why watch a show if you can be in it?Steal a Scene: GameDescribe a scene in point form. Borrow one from a song, movie, book or real life moment in your life. Use interesting details and imagery to describe how the scene looks, sounds, smells, tastes and feels. Use your work as a basis as a starting point for or to add more details to your own song.Write a Scene: GameDescribe a scene from your imagination in point form. Use interesting details and imagery to describe how the scene looks, sounds, smells, tastes and feels. Use your work as a basis as a starting point for your own song.Make a Scene: GameTake a song you’re working on and imagine a scene, emotional situation or setting where the action happens. Brainstorm a description, use detail, metaphors and imagery. Add the most interesting details to your lyrics so your audience can imagine the scene in your song.Lyric Writing Games: SummaryPlay with lyric writing, don’t take it too seriously. Find the fun and explore possibilities. Even if it doesn’t make it to the final draft of your song, your explorations give you more options for your songwriting and sharper your lyric writing skills. I could’ve called these games “exercises” but it didn’t sound as interesting and you’d be less likely to try them out!Further ReadingSlant Rhymes Explained in 4 Minutes, EpicSongWriting.comRhyme Crimes, Write Away, August 2021, pp6-7.7 Ways to Make Lyric Writing Easier, Write Away, June 2020, pp6-7.Cliché, wikipedia.orgTrevor Dimoff is a songwriter and songwriting teacher at EpicSongWriting.com and a regular columnist at Write Away. Connect with him through the links in the sidebar. Click here to enter your name and email address to get How to Write a Song Chorus… in 10 minutes you can learn a simple, repeatable songwriting process to write the lyrics and music to a song chorus!off, epic songwriting

Lyric Evaluation Series 18 - 50By Dar n righty W08 www.writeawaymag.co.ukHello readers. We are in a series of questions that help us to evaluate our lyric creations. After you complete a set of lyrics, you should go through a check list, and determine the overall score for your lyrics. There are fifty questions you should be asking yourself during this evaluation stage, and scoring each answer from zero to two. A perfect score is 100. A desired score is 80 and above. A score less than 80 means you need to score better on other areas of your song to compensate for the lack of good lyrics, or refine and rewrite the lyrics you have.The first set of five questions involved the THEME, and the second set of seven questions involved the lyric FORM. The set of questions we are discussing is the LYRICS themselves. reason, I recommend you ask strangers to give you feedback Keep in mind music does not need to follow any set pattern or rules, however, if it fits in a genre or sub-genre, that genre or sub-genre will dictate what rules the songs will need to follow to be considered a part of that group.Last month we asked if the title or the hook was memorable.This month, we are asking if the opening line is strong, and grabs the listeners attention.The purpose of the opening line is to set the scene for the lyric, lead into the second line, and command a need to hear the second line.When pitching your song to an artist, publisher, or record company, you normally have 30 seconds to make an impression, and to convince them the song is worth continuing to listen to it. The longer your intro into the song, the harder that will be to do it with lyrics alone. This means the music must be good enough to get them to the lyrics, but that is a subject for another day. I am merely pointing out how important it is to have a superb first line, especially if your intro music is nearing the 30 second mark.What makes a first line interesting may vary from each listener, therefore we should always aim to have the first line be interesting to the majority of the listeners. I will give a few examples of great opening lines.From The Sound Of Silence, “Hello darkness, my old friend. I’ve come to talk with you again.” In this example, the listener wants to know why darkness is his friend, and why they would be talking to the darkness. From Renegade, “Oh, mama, I’m in fear for my life from the long arm of the law.” Why are they afraid? What did they do to make themselves fear for their life? Unanswered questions make good reasons to keep the listener attached.From Sweet Child Of Mine, “She’s got a smile that it seems to me, reminds me of childhood memories, where everything was as fresh as the bright blue sky.” Who is this girl? What kind of childhood memories did he have?Saying too much in the first line is normally not a good idea. It is difficult to be interesting if the first line tells the story before the verse has a chance to say it. This would be like someone telling the you what happens at the end of a movie you were about to watch.This may be difficult to evaluate on your own, and for that after hearing the first line only. For this, you should ask a stranger to listen to the first line. After the first line, do they have unanswered questions? Do they want to know more?It is time to evaluate your lyrics against this question. Being honest with yourself will help improve your writing skills.If the listener is not interested in hearing the second line, score a 0. If the listener thought the first line was kind of interesting but it did not leave any unanswered questions, score a 1.If the first line was intriguing, and the listener wanted to know more about it, score a 2.A score of less than two should indicate the first line may not be strong enough to keep the listener interested in hearing more, which may require a rewrite to fix that.Whatever your evaluation, keep track of the scores and continue evaluating with all 50 questions before rewriting your lyric. This is a great way to see your strong points and your weak points, allowing you to focus on what you need to improve on in the future, whether it is in rewriting lyrics or writing new ones.Use your own good judgement, and be honest with yourself when scoring. You have 32 more questions to go. I will see you next month for question 19.Happy evaluating.Written by Daryn Wright

DAR NYWRIGHTALBUMS:Dancing Naked In The RainVictim Of The RainI’m CertifiableWEBSITES:darynwright.comreverbnation.com/darynwrightSOCIAL MEDIA:FACEBOOKDarynWright’sWritersBoxMUSIC PLATFORMS:www.reverbnation.co/daryn-wrightDAR N RIGHTY WI’M CERTIFIABLEYou may order any of the images pictured above for only $10 for 8 x 10’s or $20 for full size 16 x 20’sYou can also purchase my latest album ‘I’M CERTIFIABLE’for only £15 plus shipping and handling costs. Please Google shipping and handling costs or request a quote from me at:Daryn Wright’s Financial ManagerWayne Henderson JrPO Box 306Whitney TX 76692You can listen to Daryn’s music, including tracks from ‘I’M CERTIFIABLE’ www.reverbnation.com/darynwrightand alsowww.darynwright.com

10 www.writeawaymag.co.ukV O C A L T I P SV O C A L T I P SSinging Tips From Famous SingersThe vocal habits of famous singers are very revealing. They can come from training, individual idiosyncrasies or familial habits. And there are many tips we can learn from these positive singing styles.However, even if you have good technique, the voice has limits. Like the body, if you force it beyond its limits it will break down. But with labels, managers, venues and audiences relying on artists coming up with the goods (for financial and practical reasons), the pressure can cause famous singers to push it too far.Adele, Leona Lewis, Luciano Pavarotti, Joss Stone, Meghan Trainor, Jess Glynne and Freddie Mercury have all experienced nodules or complete voice loss due to overuse. In some cases, this has resulted in a full tour being axed and major gig cancellations.Good Singing PostureTake a leaf out of Katy Perry’s book by adopting aligned posture. who also requests a bottle of red wine)This is one of the first things covered in a singing lesson. Stand with a straight spine, feet hip-width apart and a long neck. Your head resting in a neutral position at the top helps airflow and supports the sound.The trend for posing often involves overarching the back or slouching to look cool. These affect your long term physical health, along with your singing. So don’t pick up this bad habit.Taking Singing LessonsThere are as many untrained singers in contemporary music as trained ones. This is in contrast to classical, opera and musical theatre, where it’s almost unheard of for a singer to succeed without having a decent amount of training behind them.Rihanna has fantastic vocals, but these went untrained until she began recording. Ariana Grande is also self-taught but was exposed to a lot of music as a kid, enabling her to develop strong musicality. Selena Gomez isn’t known for her perfect vocals, but she knows how to make the most of what she has and choose songs to suit her. And Justin Bieber’s rhythm comes from having drum tutoring as a child. But all of these singers had to take lessons further down the line to rectify issues. So a top tip is to start now.There are plenty of big names who – while they may have been born with incredible voices – have been taking singing lessons for years. This is an excellent habit to adopt. These include:Celine DionAdeleBjörkLady GagaBeyoncéAdam LambertPharrellJustin TimberlakeJosh GrobanVocal training is important at any stage in your career. You may have a naturally amazing voice, with a huge range and an innate ability to breathe well. But take those vocals on an international tour with jet lag, high energy shows and intense schedules and it’ll put everything you’ve got under strain. Similarly, recording day after day, for very long hours, through colds and fatigue, will place your throat, larynx and vocal folds under pressure.Training gives you the tools to protect and strengthen these muscles, so they can withstand being overworked. It also helps you recognise when you need to rest.Vocal Hydration For SingersWhat you consume has a big impact on vocal and physical health. It also affects elements of your image. This is something the stars know only too well. Drinking lots of water at room temperature it’s a pillar of the vocalist’s foundation. Take a look at the beverages found on famous singers’ riders.Aquafina water (Beyonce)12 Small bottles still spring water at room temperature (Adele – 6 Vitamin water zero. Throat coat, Twinnings Chamomile, PG tips and Mint medley tea (Katy Perry)A smoothie station. Organic ginger and lemongrass tea and honey (Lady Gaga)12 litres of Fiji Water (Mariah Carey)Good Singing Habits Of Famous ArtistsLike hydration, a proper diet will help your vocals no end. We’re often asked what singers should eat. And a balanced range of nutrition is the key.Good nutrition for singersHere’s The Food These Artists Enjoy In Their Dressing Rooms…Beyonce: Juicy Baked Chicken: Legs, wings and breast only (heavily seasoned with fresh garlic, season salt, black pepper, and cayenne pepper, steamed garlic broccoli, lightly seasoned green beans, lightly seasoned steamed spinach.Alicia Keys: Three cans of white tuna, 10 Nutri-Grain Bars, 6 packets of Quaker Oats Instant Oatmeal (brown sugar and apple cinnamon), assorted fruit platter with strawberries, seedless red grapes, bananas, mango, blueberries, cantaloupe and raspberries.Grace Jones: Two dozen Findeclare or Colchester oysters on ice (unopened), two sashimi and sushi platters and a fruit platter.Jack White: 12 chicken wings with sauce, a bowl of fresh home-made guacamole, hummus & pita chips. NO bananas.Madonna: Vegan foods prepared by a personal chef.

www.writeawaymag.co.uk 11Vocal Habits Of Famous Artists It’s common these days, for singers to get spotted on social media, particularly YouTube, or via a streaming service. This is often at a young age, with no management and without a label providing artist development and singing lessons. As a result, there are many artists in the industry who have developed bad habits that haven’t been ironed out. Some of these habits become their USPs (unique selling point) so form part of their image and vibe. But other vocal habits of famous singers land them in big problems, resulting in the cancellations of whole tours and recordings.The number of effects used in the editing, mixing and mastering process has increased dramatically over the years, particularly in genres such as electronic dance music. Reverb, compression, EQ, pitch correction and autotune are the most commonly used in a recording studio. And these can often disguise bad habits lurking behind the recording.Poor Singing HabitsThere are many practices in modern music that are not defined as traditionally ‘good’ singing. Many artists get away with a lot, due to having a fantastic image, super songs and an engaging performance style. What constitutes ‘good’ singing can also be subjective – what one person enjoys another will not. It can, therefore, be more helpful to think of becoming a healthy singer – one who can stand the test of time without having vocal issues further down the line.Some genres of music – namely country and pop – can suit a nasal style of singing for example. It’s not a total no-no. However, it must be kept in check, not only for the benefit of the listener but to avoid vocal damage and access a more open sound when required. If you are singing through your nose, it often follows that there may be tension elsewhere. And tension is always a bad sign for the singer.Just to prove that even the biggest selling artists of our time aren’t perfect, let’s take a look at some imperfect vocals.Famous Pitchy SingersTaylor Swift is often known to sing flat or to be pitchy. In some live shows, she’s even gone off-key. It can be tricky when performing with loud backing as it can throw you off the melody line and mess up your tuning.Many pop songs are actually quite difficult to sing, with awkward intervals and pitches. Add into this, that singers often struggle to hear their backing, or themselves and it can result in otherwise strong artists going off-key.Jessie J, Katie Perry and Christina Aguilera have all been guilty of this. But in their defence, singing with an earpiece while performing a dance routine is very challenging and takes real skill.What Does It Mean When A Singer Is Pitchy?While this isn’t a great habit, it’s sometimes a minor issue for famous singers. This is due to autotune and other vocal effects balancing out pitchiness.Off-key is more serious than being off-pitch. If you’re off-pitch, you’re in the right ballpark in terms of the notes, just not quite hitting the spot on. Off-key means, you’re out on the entire melody. It’s rare to hear a famous singer off-key. Yet there are many who are ‘pitchy’, although this is often corrected by autotune.Madonna is one of the biggest names in the business, with a career spanning five decades. Yet she’s often deemed to be pitchy, and sometimes even out of tune when singing live. She has taken lessons, but as she waited till she was a long way into her journey as an artist to begin vocal coaching, many of her habits were ingrained. However, it’s possible that her distinct sound may have been ironed out by too much training. It would be hard to describe her as a good singer from a technical perspective, yet she’s the queen of pop. This just goes to show how crucial image, marketing, attitude and performance can be and how it can weigh over your vocals.Singing In TuneStars like Madonna are incredibly rare. Don’t assume that you can get away with occasionally singing off the note and make it big. If you struggle to sing in tune, this is something you must rectify if you plan on becoming a professional. Consistently singing out of tune is more than just a habit, it’s a considerable problem.Every famous singer is capable of singing in tune. The only ones who become known for singing out of tune, are the X-Factor rejects, and their fame is always very fleeting. But there are also many artists who sometimes go out of tune.Have you recognised any of the good vocal habits of famous artists in your own life and practice? If not, it’s time to work on making some changes, especially if you’re experienced hoarseness or strain. If you can’t afford a coach, you can use YouTube, apps or our many advice articles to help you improve, last and soar as a singer.

12 www.writeawaymag.co.ukWrite Your First Ever Lyrics -Absolute Beginner’s GuidePeople get turned onto music every year and it’s not surprising that people want to try their hand at writing a song. For some that might mean picking up a guitar and learning a few chords. For many, however, the starting point will be to sit down with a notepad to try to write some lyrics. So let’s look at some of the things to consider when writing your first ever lyrics.First things first – decide what you want to write aboutSitting with a completely blank notepad (or computer screen) is difficult enough, but it’s doubly difficult if you don’t know what you’re going to write about. So my first tip is to jot down an idea for a theme or topic that you’re going to concentrate your first verse is 4 lines long, your writing efforts on. It would make sense as well to write about something you’re passionate about, whether that’s a song about love, injustice, a favourite place.Brainstorm your chosen topicChoosing a topic gives us something to focus on but it can be helpful to do some further brain work before we start to commit lyrics to paper. If you have a pretty clear idea about what you want your lyrics to cover, then write down a short summary of what they are going to convey. That might be as simple as ‘Boy meets girl and falls in love. But girl doesn’t know boy exists’.Alternatively, you can just jot down as many words and phrases as come to mind when you think about easy to sing. The lyrics are :the topic you’ve chosen to write about. Give yourself 15 minutes and capture everything that pops into your head. Don’t self censor at this stage – no idea is a bad one. Staying with the idea of a song about love you might end up with a list of words and phrases that include thins like ‘crush’, ‘school dance’, ‘already taken’, ‘it’s better to have loved but lost’, etc. Some of the phrases that you capture might end up in your lyrics, but the main thing here isthat your brain is starting to turn over ideas to help you create your song.Know a little bit about song structureThe main thing when creating a first lyric is simply to get something written, so I wouldn’t recommend that a budding lyricist reads reams of theory about song structure. Doing so may just scare you off even attempting a first set of lyrics! But it is useful to know a little bit.There are lots of different ways that lyrics can be constructed but here are the 3 building blocks of them that I think are all you would need to begin with:1. Verses. These tell the story. A key thing about them is that each verse is sung to the same repeating music within the song. This means that if then all the verses should be 4 lines. And line 1 of verse 1 should be a similar number of syllables to line 1 in verse 2, and the same for all the other lines.2. Chorus. The chorus sums up the main point that the song is trying to convey, and should do so in a catchy and memorable way. One of the biggest choruses that I can think of is from Bon Jovi’s big hit, ‘Living On A Prayer’. The verses tell us the story of Tommy and Gina, the song’s protagonists. We hear how much in love they were but how times have got hard and put a strain on their relationship. The theme of the song is how they need to stick together and that they can come out, still in love, on the other side. The chorus is huge and memorable and Woah, we’re half way there Woah, livin’ on a prayer Take my hand, we’ll make it I swear Woah, livin’ on a prayer3. Bridge. I see a bridge as an additional way to progress the story of the song. So your verses plus the bridge (if you choose to have one) tell the story, and the chorus reminds us what the main point of the song is. You could just tell the story entirely through verses (and many songs do) but an advantage of a bridge is that you’re not tied to the same structure that each verse needs to conform

www.writeawaymag.co.uk 13SIMON WRIGHTWEBSITE:http://lyricslinger.co.uk/?fbclid=IwAR3kh-BM2--mVw_RuNp-M1u6CEKwXgBXr_PVAF-hKkdX1hL93ndKQtfJOG-jImcSOCIAL MEDIA:https://www.facebook.com/TheLyricSlinger/https://www.facebook.com/TheLyricSlinger/to. A bridge can also be a great way to introduce a change of direction in a song. If we go back to the idea of a song about love, maybe the early verses have explained how you love the girl or boy but they’re not interested. Then something happens that changes things. That change of circumstance can be told through the bridge.Write some words and have funThe most important part of lyric writing is having fun. So get some words written, play about with them, and see what cool rhymes and interesting lines you can come up with. Like any new passion, It’s going to take time to hone your skills but keep practicing, and make sure you’re writing for enjoyment.Top 5 other lyric writing tipsI’ve been taking part in a songwriting challenge called FAWM (February Album Writing Month) recently, which has been great fun. I asked a few people on that site what advice they would give to newbie lyric writers, and I’ve picked out 5 tips:1. Don’t overcomplicate things. A simple Verse,Verse, Chorus, Verse, Verse, Chorus structure is fine. As are four line stanzas where the ends of the 2nd and 4th lines rhyme.2. Sing the lyrics after you’ve written them. This will help you gauge whether they are singable, and may lead you to identify tweaks that will improve them.3. Near rhymes are just as effective as perfect rhymes. And give the illusion you’re not rhyming at all. You can use online rhyming dictionaries to identify all the rhyming options.4. If you get writer’s block take a walk but bring a notepad or your phone with you. Inspiration for lyrics often doesn’t come when we’re sitting at a desk willing it to spring forth!5. Be compassionate to yourself! Don’t get down if you feel your early lyrics aren’t masterpieces. Everyone writes some bad lyrics. The trick is to learn and continuously improve.You could also try setting yourself a set amount of time to write a lyric. Deadlines are often a great motivator. I’ll probably touch upon that topic in next month’s article!About Simon WrightSimon is an Irish lyric writer who lives in Scotland. He collaborates with musicians across the world to turn his lyrics into songs. Check out his website and follow him @TheLyricSlinger on Twitter, and on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/TheLyricSlinger/

14 www.writeawaymag.co.ukask the juask the juRecipient of a prestigious British Citizen Award for contribution to the arts, named “a songwriting expert” by BBC Radio Four’s Today Programme and described as “one of the most talented songwriters in the industry” Rachel Walker Mason is a multi-award-winning musician currently writing publisher for exploitation of the songs. The publisher songs with Grammy winners, Billboard Hot 100 artists, alumni from The Voice UK and American Idol, Emmy winners, Oscar nominees, MOBO Award nominees and Independent Country Music Association Awards winners. Named a Woman Of The Year 2020, the only British musician to be inducted into the Indie Music Hall Of Fame, and hailed “an inspiration” by Prince Harry, Rachel is the only musician to have been crowned Freelancer Of The Year and to be given a Community Champion Award for her work creating the international arts festival Unlock Your Talent during the coronavirus pandemic which garnered worldwide acclaim for its support and fundraising for mental health. She is also the youngest person to be made a Fellow of the London College of Music by Professional Achievement. A highly regarded songwriting and vocal judge, Rachel was a judge for NTA nominated Sing: Ultimate A Cappella on Sky One and is a judge for the UK Songwriting Contest, the World Choir Games, Talent Is Timeless and the Intercontinental Music Awards.Q: WHAT IS A PUBLISHING DEAL?A: In general terms, a typical publishing deal involves the assignment of some part of the ownership of your songs to a publishing company in exchange for a share of the royalties received by the can also provide co-writing opportunities based on industry relationships and pitching opportunities by members of the publishing company’s staff, known as song pluggers.Q: IS OBTAINING A PUBLISHING DEAL A GOOD THING?A: For most songwriters in the early stages of their careers, the idea of being hired as a staff songwriter for a publishing company is close to the Holy Grail, but it’s essential that you understand what you’re giving up as well as what you stand to gain by signing over partial (or complete) ownership of your copyrights to a music publisher.For most songwriters in the early stages of their careers, the idea of being hired as a staff songwriter for a publishing company is close to the Holy Grail. It represents that coveted prize of industry recognition and validation of your talent along with a gateway to cuts, movie placements and number of other exciting possibilities. However, keep in mind that wanting or entering into a relationship with a publisher in order to simply validate your talent is probably not the best approach. As with any business relationship, it’s essential that you, as the songwriter, understand what you’re giving up as well as what you stand to gain by signing over partial (or complete) ownership of your copyrights to a music publisher.Q: HOW TO I WRITE SONGS THAT ARTISTS ARE LOOKING FOR AT THE MOMENT?A: a good way is to subscribe to tip sheets, also known as pitch sheets. They are directory listings of artists who are looking for songs to record. They list out the type of songs they need, who to get in touch with, and usually a few details about the project. While a bit pricey, tip sheets can be a great way to get your first cut as a songwriter. Consider signing up for a subscription with RoxFax (Nashville’s tip sheet

RACHELWALKERMASONWEBSITES:http://rachelmasonmusic.com/https://www.lyricallight.co.uk/https://www.listenincolourar-tistmanagement.co.uk/SOCIAL MEDIA:FACEBOOKTWITTERINSTAGRAMMUSIC:YOUTUBESPOTIFYSOUNDCLOUDudgeudgewww.writeawaymag.co.uk 15for indie and major country artists), SongLink (an international tip sheet), or Taxi (for artist cuts and film/tv placements).Q: WHAT DOES A MUSIC SUPERVISOR DO?A: A music supervisor is somebody with a broad and encyclopedic music expertise and a sophisticated knowledge of music licensing and negotiation. Typically, a music supervisor proposes previously recorded songs to the director or producer of a film, advertisement, television show, trailer, promo, video game, or any other form of visual media. A music supervisor will usually act as a liaison between the creative and business ends of the process. Once a song is approved, they approach the rights holders of that song to seek permission to license (usually creating master recording licenses and synchronisation licenses) and to work out the financial details of the song’s us-- Multi-award-winning musicianWinner of Album Of The Year 2020www.rachelwalkermason.comwww.lyricallight.co.ukwww.listenincolourartistmanagement.co.uk

16 www.writeawaymag.co.ukGain A Victory© An Vedi & Clare SteffenBackground on How the Lyric Came About:When we define success through material gain, we fall prey to greed and hatred. This song was written to remind us that when we compromise, we gain a victory because everyone can succeed. If we support and encourage one another, rather than ensembles, and individual instruments. As a singer-songwriter, compete, we all win. The message of the song is to consider taking a first step in being the one who redefines the meaning of success. The world can be a harsh place, but if we treat one another with love and grace, we can all shine and gain a victory. Clare Steffen is a Psychologist, University Professor, Published Author, Vocalist and Musician. She spent ten years early on in her career working as a music therapist offering music as a means to healing for the elderly, disabled, and veterans. After thirty years of working as a psychologist, in 2019, Clare returned to writing music. She started the Round The Globe Project that has allowed her to write songs with individuals in over 24 countries from around the world.To date, she has co-written 27 albums through this project. These songs are Indie, Jazz, Folk, Folk Rock, Christmas, and World songs and each one invites the listener to hear the message in the music. Dr. Steffen has won several awards for her music co-writes in many different genres through The Akademia, and in 2021 won The Rising Star along with her co-writer, Paul DeMarco. Always interested in culture, her songs will bring a fusion of sound that represents the richness of countries from around the world. Clare also has a close partnership with an individual in Nashville, TN and they have co-written six albums, and are currently working on a seventh album, that offer Country, Americana, Bluegrass, Celtic, Christmas, and Christian music.Clare Steffen writes songs that offer encouragement and healing. Clare has blended her musical and lyrical writing skills to focus on creating songs that address issues of social justice, relationship concerns, and the human experience. Dr. Steffen is a published author and enjoys bringing a multi-media approach to healing through print, sound, and visual effort.An Vedi has won about 20 international awards and contests as violinist, composer, chamber music performer, singer-songwriter, musicologist. She’s only recipient from Russia of the Elward Elgar Medal (2019, the UK). An graduated from the Moscow Conservatory and Post-graduate studies with honors. She has been performing on stage for over 25 years. She’s Memberof BMI, International Singer-Songwriters Association, Indie Collaborative, International Society for Jazz Arrangers and Composers, International Association for Music and Medicine, Boston New Music Initiative, the National Union of Composers, Musical Explorers by Carnegie Hall (2020-2021, 2021-2022). She’s also Grammy(R) balloted artist and LIT Talent Awards Judge. As a violinist, she has over 700 works in my performing repertoire. As a composer, she has composed over 100 works for orchestra, choir, chamber she wrote over 300 songs. Since 2018, She’s conducting master classes for young musicians according to my individual method, which has been approved by music teachers from schools, colleges and universities. As well as, she actively collaborates with members of the Recording Academy, as well as Grammy-nominated and winning artists.Round The Globe (RTG), is a specialty music project started by Dr. Clare E Steffen, Ed.D, ND, CADCII, ICADC, CNP, CMH, BCC, NCC, BCHC. In 2019, she started this special project to bring healing messages of love, hope and encouragement. There are over 300 songs and 25 albums, co-written by Clare Steffen in the Round The Globe collection of music. Thus far, she has cowritten songs with musicians from North Wales, Argentina, Nigeria, South Africa, Israel, Sri Lanka, Serbia, Bulgaria, Yugoslavia, Macedonia, Mexico, Brazil, Switzerland, Argentina, Ukraine, Malaysia, Greece, Ireland, The United Kingdom, The Netherlands, Venezuela, China, Canada, and the United States. These songs and other RTG songs are played on IHeart Radio, Drooble, Pandora, Spotify, and are available on ITunes, Apple Music, Google Play, and various other sites.Clare is also recording traditional folk songs, and hymns that are part of this intention to bring hope to the world.

CLARE STEFFENWEBSITES:roundtheglobe.hearnow.comnashvillecountry.hearnow.comSOCIAL MEDIA:https://www.facebook.com/groups/816150559202923https://www.facebook.com/groups/667290803766398https://www.facebook.com/groups/667290803766398MUSIC LINKS:https://open.spotify.com/artist/257ls-SADSxsEiUfweyMiyChttps://open.spotify.com/artist/5fP2b-zLkcOKJC0CFYVl1lGhttps://www.iheart.com/artist/round-the-globe-33786674/https://www.iheart.com/artist/nash-ville-country-33405516/https://www.pandora.com/station/play/4598961676853122181https://www.pandora.com/sta-tion/play/4595277947827852421www.writeawaymag.co.uk 17GAIN A VICTORY© An Vedi & Clare SteffenV1The world can be a hard placeBut it’s also surprisingWith love, kindness, and graceWe begin compromisingSo we all gain a victoryV2If we buy into the rat raceAll we see are ways to competeWe’re all caught up in the chaseLiving life without a heartbeatNo one gains a victoryChorusHow do we define successIf it’s about who gets aheadIt’s time to make a changeWhat’s the cost of this progressWhen greed and hatred is spreadEverybody feels strangeJust let your hearts, lead your livesThen we can gain a victoryV3You know we have to startBut it may take a little timeLet’s take the first step and do our partOur cause is right and goal is sublimeOur cause and goal is right and sublimePause a moment and ask ourselvesChorusHow do we define successIf it’s about who gets aheadIt’s time to make a changeWhat’s the cost of this progressWhen greed and hatred is spreadEverybody feels strange Just let your hearts lead your livesThen we can gain a victoryGain a victoryFollow this link to listen...

18 www.writeawaymag.co.ukI Am Proud Of This! A Vegas Interview! ~ On Writng, Life & Music ~This interview in the video below is from Las Vegas. It is about my lifetime of writing & music. Igniting in you some dormant flames, waiting to be This video was released January 8th, 2022 and done from Las Vegas to me here in Canada, just north of Toronto. It includes thoughts and stray items about my creativity, my process, my writing and music. FUN to say the least. LIFE-AFFIRMING to say more. And enlightening to see the trajectory of my creative life. How solid it was, even when I was doubting myself. I hope it will inspire you. Give you hope. Belief. IN YOURSELF. HOPE! Most of all, the interview was engaging, especially during these times Fun, eh! we have all been in the last couple of years. Special to do. Grateful. Maybe that is what work, OUR WORK-work, should be it music, lyrics, or prose or ????... are: always be. SPECIAL. When it is special, SPECIAL TO US, part of our life-stream’s-fulcrum, to mix a fine metaphor, we see what parts-&-arts make OUR-CLOCK TICK-TOCK-HAPPILY-THRU-TIME. Our life-teeter-totter. So to speak. To happily throw in another mixed-metaphor-into-the-mix-&-indulge-hyphen-itis too! Which I LOVe to do. That, hyphenate to get a sales of my 1980’s book SO YOU WANT TO BE A rhythm-flow of words, like in a song or lyric. SO I-I-I WRITER. DO ! ! ! Hyphenate-THAT-IS! FOR YOUR GIGGLE, which has nothing to do with this article, but is fun & worth a giggle, if it makes you so-smile-away-that-way. AND FIND SOME JOY. That is what it is all about in the end. Joy. Of the inner kind. Of the outer kind. YOUR GIGGLE #1: “A MATHEMATICIAN who discovers a bunch of 10’s jumping around erratically calls them???? Hyper-TENs-ion!” [F.W. 21st Century] My beginnings, middles and still somewhere in there after the middle, is all here. There! In the video. For you. For me. NO END IN SIGHT! YET! Glad about that. Engaging too, I hope it is for you. That rhymes. re-born, crystalized in thoughts emerging then flying from your fingertips-heart-&-brain, whichever works in your creativity of the moment. It takes both, heart & brain, to bring creativity fully to the fore. Fingers help too. May what is in YOU become. Here is the interview’s video on You Tube from Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.A. Very cool that. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yckj7i8AuRU . Some maybe-worth-sharing-highlights standing out for me, and maybe having use for you & your work, 1] NEVER DENY the Magic of the Universe and its ‘poetential’power in your life and work. For example the Paris occurrence described in the video interview. *Spelling of ‘POETential’ intended. 2] NEVER DISCOUNT OPPORTUNITY as experienced with the British Columbia, Canada 3] THE SEEDS ARE PLANTED EARLY even if we didn’t know it at the time, as witnessed in my childhood awe of writers, their imaginations and ability to create book-things. 4] WHAT IS IN YOU IS YOU. Do it YOUR WAY, as in my Vegas-written stories. And their later publication. Here’s a link to one story mentioned in the interview & written at the Wynn in Las Vegas. LAST MAN STANDING: https://frankwestcottpoet.com/last-man-standing-~-story Here’s another link to a story mentioned in the

FRANK WESTCOTTWEBSITES:www.FrankWestcottPoet.comWRITERS’ UNION OF CANADA PROFILE:https://www.writersunion.ca/mem-ber/frank-westcottYOU TUBE CHANNEL:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4_XDUNt7DVv0w7gZ8hkQlAFACEBOOK:https://www.facebook.com/frank.westcott.9/REVERBNATION:https://www.reverbnation.com/control_room/artist/5158327/songswww.writeawaymag.co.uk 19interview & written at Parasol Down at the Wynn in Las Vegas: IT WAS A DARK DAY ~ NOT A STORMY NIGHT ~ IN TUCK-TEA-TEE-UCK-TUCK https://frankwestcottpoet.com/it-was___-~-vegas-story 5] BE WHERE YOU WORK BEST, & IF NOT… WORK YOUR BEST WHERE YOU BE. Some after-thoughts. We always look for direction. How to do what we want to do. But at the end of the day, this one, it is all we got, it is all up to YOU how YOU do it, what YOU DO to DO WHAT YOU DO, and in the end, if you have SATISFIED YOUR SOUL, YOU WILL BE CONTENT… with YOUR PRODUCT. And that is ENUFF. THE MOST IMPORTANT THING. IF you write, create, for mega-sales, then find a way to do that. Does it feed your soul that way. NOPE. NOT NECESSARILY. But it might. And it might feed your family. That is okay & important too! *Simple as that. * ABOUT ME… FRANK! aka GRAMPA FRANK! Bin writing professionally since 1975. Sing, play… instruments. Write songs. Love my grandkids. Love nature. Hike. Think. Enjoy… this life thing we are on! Do yoga. Write. Sometimes do karate… but my way now. Read. Perform. Smile. Visit: www.FrankWestcottPoet.com

20 www.writeawaymag.co.ukAs a songwriter, you’ll engage more with your listener if you employ the practice of “show, don’t tell” with your lyrics.Simplicity in the writing of lyrics is a key part of making a powerful connection to a listener. But simplicity is not equivalent to being humdrum. On the contrary, a simple lyric — one that uses common, “everyday words and phrases, should make use of poetic devices that engage the listener.Imagery is a powerful tool for lyricists. To use imagery means to include words and phrases that tap into and stimulate our physical senses. By using the right words or turns of phrase, a good lyricist can how lonely he is without his girl. But the simple scene create a multitude of emotions and reactions in the listener.Imagery can refer to use of metaphor (“Fly me to the moon/ Let me play among the stars”), but can also create a picture in the listener’s mind by playing with sounds. To create a lyric which describes how uncomfortably hot a sunny day is, you might try to assemble words that start with an “s” – simulating the hiss of something cooking. “Sizzle”, “scorching”, “searing”, “sweltering”, etc.When used well, imagery makes us feel something, not just process it with our minds.The most powerful part of imagery is the economy of its use. With very few words, you can create many images. In that sense, well-placed imagery allows a lyricist to manipulate an audience. It is manipulation of the best kind.Imagery is hard to teach, and hard to learn if it’s not coming naturally to you. But that’s certainly not to say that you cannot improve your ability to use imagery. The most important part of learning is to find examples of good songwriters’ use of imagery, and then write those words down, save them, and read them often. Let those good examples teach you.Considering nicely constructed metaphors is an obvious use of what I’m talking about, but here’s a more poignant use of imagery – poignant because of it’s simple directness:Take a look then listen to the song.The screen door slamsMary’s dress wavesLike a vision she dances across the porchAs the radio playsRoy Orbison singing for the lonelyHey that’s me and I want you only…Thunder Road” – Bruce Springsteent’s a simple scene that he has set here. But it’s also powerful, and the setting is clear, you can practically hear the screen door slamming, so powerful are the images that those simple phrases conjure up. He might have started this verse with a lyric that says he sets does more than convey an emotion. It creates a setting that the listener can actually see.It can be even simpler. In “Hotel California”, the line “I saw a shimmering light” tells us more than the fact that there’s a light ahead. It’s shimmering because we’ve already been told that the setting is a desert, and lights will shimmer in the waves created by heat. So the audience actually feels the heat implied in that line.As you write your lyrics, consider these thoughts: 1. Always use simple, everyday words that would occur in casual conversation.2. Beyond the meaning of the actual words you’re using, what else are your words doing? Are you engaging the audience’s senses? If you’re writing about a winters day, can they feel the cold? Can they hear the snow underfoot? Can they smell the fireplace?3. Create word lists to help. There are many ways to convey a thought and make a listener feel something, so write and rewrite lines of lyric until you get something that creates a powerful image with few words.4. Remember that lyrics need to be supported by the chords, melodies and instrumental choices you make. No one aspect of music works in a vacuum. All song elements are partners.Using Imagery To Create Emotion And

www.writeawaymag.co.uk 21JANESHIELDSWEBSITES:www.writeawaymag.co.ukwww.countrymusicexpress.co.ukSOCIAL MEDIAhttps://www.facebook.com/jane.shields.906/https://www.facebook.com/CMEMagImagery is a writing technique used to paint clear, vivid pictures of a scene using overly-descriptive words and figurative language.In a way you can say you’re creating mental pictures of events you’d normally experience and process intuitively...but it’s a bit more than that.The mental picture you’re painting in your lyric isn’t frozen in time, but is alive and active and moving. Imagery immerses you into a moment in time as if it were happening to you in real-time.There are many different forms of imagery you can create in your lyric, but the point of the technique is that it specifically deals with appealing to one or more of your five senses:SightSoundTasteTouchSmellLikewise, you want your audience to see, smell, touch, taste and remember something they’ve read or heard...and then ask themselves, “what does it all mean?”.Here’s some poetry and music for you to read/listen to which should give you a good idea of how important imagery really is as a tool for your lyrics.From Popular PoemsWilliam Wordsworth - “I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud” Robert Browning - “The Laboratory” T.S. Eliot - “The Wasteland” Edgar Allan Poe - “The Bells”From Popular SongsImagery is used across many genres in music but country songwriters are notorious for using this writing technique in their song lyrics.Faith Hill - “The Secret Of Life”Blake Shelton - “Austin”Halsey - “Is There Somewhere”Frank Ocean - “Forrest Gump”Taylor Swift - “All Too Well” Connection In A Lyric

22 www.writeawaymag.co.ukDo It With LoveDo It With Love© Marilyn Rogers and Mike TurnerMarilyn Rogershttps://musicforworldpeacerecords.com/marilyn-rogersThat little riff was in my head for years. It could be applied to kind of music or anything you want to say. I just loved it. So I threw it out at Mike that day. Anyone could have walked into the office and I would have been very embarrassed. I have never seen it until now. That’s how I roll. I think I forget half the songs that I have in my head.Mike Turnerhttps://musicforworldpeacerecords.com/mike-turnerMarilyn is a very prolific songwriter - she’s always got something in the works. We were preparing a “Write Away” article on her debut song with the label (“Too Much Love”), and she sent me a short video clip of one her ideas: singing a hook, “How do you do that” in a kind of jazz-influenced descending scale. I liked it a lot - it immediately made me think of all the problems in the world that contribute to war, things like poverty and hate, and it’s consequences, like death and homelessness and suffering, and asking, ‘how do you solve those problems?’ And the answer to the question, “How do you do that?”, seemed to be in Marilyn’s first song: you do it with love. From there, the song just kind of fell out lyrically. Melodically, I wanted to keep the jazz influences and descending scale of Marilyn’s initial video - I later joked with her that when I did the demo I was channeling LeonRedbone. The fact that both Marilyn and I sing in lower registers was a factor - neither of us thoughtwe’d be recording it, but it just seemed to fit the overall vibe. Soren did a great job wrapping all those ideas up in her vocal performance. “Do It With Love” was a very nice sophomore entry on the label for Marilyn as a writer, as well as a very nice debut for Soren on the label as both vocalist and for the cover art.Soren Panckerihttps://musicforworldpeacerecords.com/soren-panckeriWhen my producer offered me the song I did it all on a whim. At a young age my music teachers told me I would be pretty good at jazz or blues music. Now I see that potential being explored to the utmost as one of my strong points. Some of the vocal techniques used in this song influenced my current vocal performance

www.writeawaymag.co.uk 23MUSIC FORWORLD PEACERECORDSWEBSITE:https://musicforworldpeac-erecords.com/homeSOCIAL MEDIALFACEBOOKTWITTERLABEL PRESIDENTTAYLOR SAPPEwww.taylorsappe.comBobby Tiberihttps://www.bobbytmusic.com/Taylor SappeDO IT WITH LOVE© Marilyn Rogers and Mike TurnerVerse 1: Look all around us There’s war, misr’y, strifeMen and women dyin’ CHIL- dren victimizedMust end their suff’rin Help them to surviveGive ‘em a secure world Where they’ll live peaceful livesChorus: How do you do that? How do you do that?How do you do that? You do it with loveVerse 2: Forgive each other TURN the other cheekWorld gets inherited By the gentle and meekReach out your hand To those who’re in needCare for one another In both word and in deedChorus: How do you do that? How do you do that?How do you do that? You do it with loveYou do it with loveBridge: Let’s make a vow In this time and placeTo build a new world For the whole human raceLet’s come together There’s work to be doneTo bring lasting peace To everyoneChorus: How do you do that? How do you do that?How do you do that? How do you do that?How do you do that? You do it with loveYou do it with love You do it with loveDo It With LoveFollow this link to listen...

22 www.writeawaymag.co.24k22 ww w .wr i t e awaym a g.co.uRealize The ReasonRealize The Reason© Taylor Sappe TAYLOR SAPPEhttps://musicforworldpeacerecords.com/taylor-sappeI originally wrote this song in 2005 to be performed in a benefit concert for the victims of Hurricane Katrina.  I performed the song at the concert and released it on streaming platforms and CD.In 2021 I ran across a CD with the song on it.  I thought “It wouldn’t take much to modify these lyrics to turn it into a song for world peace.”  Most of the lyrics had already fit that theme.I modified the lyrics accordingly and created new music tracks for it, but had difficulty finding the right artist to record it.  Then I met TaNayha through Danny DeMelfi, owner of DeMelfi School Of Music in Hazleton, Pa., USA.TaNayha was perfect for the song.  I changed the instrumentation to better fit her style, and got Bobby Tiberi to record a tasty guitar solo, and released it on Music For World Peace Records. At this link you can listen for free, share it with your friends, and/or make a donation and download a CD quality wave file.  TANAYHA https://musicforworldpeacerecords.com/tanayhaAfter I heard the song, I immediately knew that it was a great fit for my voice! The song was everything that we are about at music for world peace. Bobby laid down an amazing guitar solo and then it started to come together! I especially was drawn to recording it because of the lyrics that “with love we’ll have peace on earth”. Love makes each day worth living and that’s the greatest single thing that each of us can do to achieve world peace: Simply be loving and kind. Listen to the song for free, share it, make a donation and get a CD quality .wav file download here: https://musicforworldpeacerecords.com/realize-the-reason

www.writeawaymag.co.uk 25MUSIC FORWORLD PEACERECORDSWEBSITE:https://musicforworldpeac-erecords.com/homeSOCIAL MEDIALFACEBOOKTWITTERLABEL PRESIDENTTAYLOR SAPPEwww.taylorsappe.comBobby Tiberihttps://www.bobbytmusic.com/Taylor Sappewww.writeawaymag.co.uk 23REALIZE THE REASON© Taylor Sappe VerseGazing through the glass of our world window,As he watches people passing byEveryone will take it all for grantedAs another tear falls from his eyeChoruswith Love we’ll have peace on earthBuilding us a better paradisewith Love in times like thiswe Realize the reason we’re aliveVerselet’s Talk about a world in mass destructionHow we kill good people in a warEvil may rise to power this timeLater we’ll be knockin’ down it’s doorChoruswith Love we’ll have peace on earthBuilding us a better paradisewith Love in times like thiswe Realize the reason we’re aliveInstrumental on ChorusVerseEarthquake, cyclone and tsunamiCall to open up our hardened heartsCome together all to help each otherBringing everyone a brand new startChoruswith Love we’ll have peace on earthBuilding us a better paradisewith Love in times like thiswe Realize the reason we’re aliveChoruswith Love we’ll have peace on earthBuilding us a better paradisewith Love in times like thiswe Realize the reason we’re aliveFollow this link to listen...

26 www.writeawaymag.co.ukk22 ww w .wr i t e awaym a g.co.uWar, It’s A Bad ThingWar, It’s A Bad Thing© Taylor SappeTAYLOR SAPPEhttps://musicforworldpeacerecords.com/taylor-sappeIn 2013 I was pondering domestic altercations, which led me to think about how minor altercations escalate into full blown wars. Then my thoughts turned to the war in Afghanistan, the invasion of Iraq under the guise of weapons of mass destruction, which were never found. I thought about the innocent people who died and what their surviving families must have gone through losing people they love, losing their homes, losing limbs, all for a lie, and by people who were supposed to be there to “save them from tyranny”.My thoughts then turned to Vietnam and how a “fight against communism” was really a fight for oil reserves, just like the fight in Iraq to serve the interest of billionaires.Like any frustrated musician, I had to turn my frustrations into a song, and wrote this one. Not really having an outlet for it at the time, the song sat for a few years. I wasn’t interested in releasing it into the mainstream because it wasn’t relevant at the time. It was only a vehicle to release my frustrations about how greedy politicians are allowed to decide the fate of their countries, and ultimately, the fate of the world.When Music For World Peace Records was founded in mid 2020, it became an outlet for this type of song. I revisited the song and did some touching up, but it still needed a good strong mean sounding electric guitar. I had recently connected with an old friend from my college days (43 years later), Bobby Tiberi. He was just the right person to add the wicked guitar licks the finishing touches the song needed.BOBBY TIBERIhttps://musicforworldpeacerecords.com/bobby-tiberiBobby Tiberi is a graduate of Berklee College of Music. He also has a Master’s Degree in music from Western Connecticut State University. After college, Bobby played in all original rock bands in highly regarded clubs in Greenwich Village and in New York City. This also included some local airplay on radio stations in the area. The next phase of Bobby’s professional musical journey was vast experience as a bandleader, songwriter, arranger, lead and rhythm guitarist as well as lead and back up vocalist. He toured most of the United States for several years, playing many of the best showrooms in the country..Upon returning home to the NY area from touring the United States, Bobby Tiberi quickly gained the reputation for delivering high quality musical entertainment for many prestigious clubs, organizations, corporations and fundraisers in the Tri State area.Stream the song for free, share it, make a donation and get a CD quality .wav file: https://musicforworldpeacerecords.com/war-it-s-a-bad-thing

www.writeawaymag.co.uk 27MUSIC FORWORLD PEACERECORDSWEBSITE:https://musicforworldpeac-erecords.com/homeSOCIAL MEDIALFACEBOOKTWITTERLABEL PRESIDENTTAYLOR SAPPEwww.taylorsappe.comBobby Tiberihttps://www.bobbytmusic.com/Taylor Sappewww.writeawaymag.co.uk 23WAR, IT’S A BAD THING© Taylor Sappe VerseDeath and destructionThere’s no glory in being a hero.Serving corruptionGive up your life and get zero.ChorusWar is not a good thing. It’s a bad thing.War is not a good thing at all.People die, the innocent sufferWar is not a good thing all.VerseAre you a believer?Are you a man or are you a mouse?Take me to your leader.Let’s put an end to it now.ChorusWar is not a good thing. It’s a bad thing.War is not a good thing at all.People die, the innocent sufferWar is not a good thing all.BridgeBombs fall and your sisters and brothersDie for damned money grubbersChorusWar is not a good thing. It’s a bad thing.War is not a good thing at all.People die, the innocent sufferWar is not a good thing all.Follow this link to listen...

MMusic For World Peace Records is an indie record label producing original music to promote world peace and love, and oppose war and violence. Listen to our releases on major streaming platforms and at our website:www.MusicForWorldPeaceRecords.com and on Twitter @MusicForWorldP2www.facebook.com/MusicForWorldPeaceRecords/Holding Strong- Tiff Maley InaBow Your Head - Ronn Van EttenBetter World - Narboth MatholeBring Us World Peace - Alycia CatizoneIn My Dreams- L&M Project BandOne Song At A Time- Alycia CatizoneAct Of Love, Act Of Peacee - Ronn Van EttenHold On - Bobby TiberiI Stand For You - Alycia CatizoneSoldier - Alicia CatzioneMatthew Mark Luke & John - L&M Project BandFill The World- Kellie L NiederhelmanDo It With Love - Soren PanckeriCommon Ground- S Nyhoff & J BurdetteLive Again - Soren PanckeriHarmony Bound - Bobby TiberiStand Up Stand Tall - SullieWishing You Home - TaNayhaA Bridge - Steve NyhoffColors And Hues - Mike TurnerEnough Is Good - JM de RamosNaked - David Philip IrelandLove Will Save The World - TaNayha/MTurnerChristmas Truce - Chimes & NashPeace Unending - TaNayhaBitter - S NyhoffWar, It’s A Bad Thing - Taylor SappeRealize The Reason - TaNayhaMUSIC FOR WORLD PEACE RECORDSMUSIC FOR WORLD PEACE RECORDS



30 www.writeawaymagco.ukIntroducing Suzie GrahamIntroducing Suzie GrahamFirst off, tell me about yourself?My name is Suzie Graham and I’m a Patsy Cline Tribute artist from Glasgow. I have always sung in bands since I was about 15 however, was always told I had a “country twang” even when I sang in rock bands. I now work as a Patsy Cline tribute singing in pubs, clubs, hotels etc all over Scotland and the UK.So what made you want to be a Patsy Cline tribute artist?I’ve been listening to Patsy since as far back as I remember after being introduced to her by my mother Benedetta when I was around six years old. In school, all my friends were listening to dance music and I was trying to teach them Patsy’s songs and getting them all to slap their thighs. It was other people who told me I sounded like Patsy and I should do the tribute to her which is an honour for me also being a fan.How do you get In to doing tribute acts anyway?Tributes seemed to be the popular thing and as I was already a full time singer, I gave Patsy a go about 5 years ago to an amazing response, again a great honour for me to have an appreciative audience singing along with songs Lounge on the Saturday night where I sang we all love. I especially love that I bring back so many memories for others of their mothers and grandmothers playing Patsy records. I also made a Facebook page (www.facebook.com/patsyclinetribute) where a comment was left by Randy Dick (Patsy’s son) telling me I did have a gift to sound like his mother and he appreciated played a lot of other venues across W.V, V.A, that. We’ve been Facebook friends since for about 5 years now.A related question, do you feel it’s more important to have the look or sound down when tributing someone?Definitely the sound. I had some western outfits numerous radio and TV interviews in the foufrom eBay and a dodgy wig when I first started out before my amazing Auntie Anna who at 85 is a dressmaker, made me my first costume the same as Patsy’s which her mother made for her.You mentioned you’ve toured in the states with your act, would you like to tell me a bit more about that?I had been talking to a lady in Texas “Terri Sharp” who had written songs for Don McLean. She had a record company and was interested in getting me over where she said Patsy was Queen there and that she thought it sounded like I was channelling Patsy. Terri suddenly passed away in Dec 2015 and in 2016, I was contacted by Joltin’ Jim McCoy (who was a disc jockey known for discovering Patsy when she was 14 years old). J was asked if I would come play at his venue in West Virginia “The Troubadour” home of the West Virginia country music hall of fame. He also remained friends with Patsy all her life and was a pallbearer at her funeral. He also remained friends with Patsy’s husband Charlie Dick who passed in Nov 2015. Jim had been running an annual “Patsy Cline celebrations” event at The Troubadour for 53 years since her death. I played at the last one in the Troubadour “I Fall to Pieces” while holding Jim’s hand and on the Sunday at the Troubadour Park, a large outdoor open event with other artists celebrating the life of Patsy Cline. There, I first met Patsy’s daughter Julie. I P.A and M.D – Patsy’s old stomping ground including “The Moose Club” Patsy had sang in and met many of her friends, one in particular, a lady called Anna Louise who is now a friend of mine, showed me a letter Patsy had written to her saying “this singing lark ain’t for me” among other engrossing things and I did r

www.writeawaymag.co.uk 31SUZIEGRAHAMSOCIAL MEDIA:https://www.facebook.com/patsyclinetributehttps://twitter.com/patsyclinesuzieMUSIC PLATFORMS:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpbiWp_NETVohLjIUgTA_Bg

32 www.writeawaymag.co.ukIntroducing Suzie GrahamIntroducing Suzie Grahamstate region known as the Eastern panhandle. I visited Patsy’s grave and her old house in Winchester, Virginia which is now a museum and recreated a picture of Patsy sitting in the porch on a glider which was taken to the Patsy Cline museum in Nashville shortly after. Jim sadly passed away while I was there and I attended his wake. In 2018, I was contacted again by the new owners of the Troubadour who were going to carry on the traditions of the Patsy Cline Celebrations and wanted me back to country music, not particularly so much a fan of do the first one since Jim’s passing. Again, Patsy’s daughter Julie came along and I played venues all over this time visiting 6 states over 5 weeks in August and September this year. My partner Derek and I are now going to make it an annual thing as I have been asked to do the Troubadour again in 2019 along with the Funny Farm and other venues I originally played at including the Elks Club, The Moose Club and the VFW (Veterans For War). I’ve also had interest from the P.A Opry who do a show with an eight piece band and a new venue in Boonsboro, Maryland which seats 750 people!What’s your favourite song or album from Patsy Cline?My favourite song is a song called “When I Get Through With You” as there is a line in the song where Patsy sings “Suzie will have to go”….When I was about six years old, my mother was playing this song singing along “Suzie will have to go” whilst pointing at the ceiling where my bedroom was implying that was my time for bed, but I remember jumping up and down on the couch screeching “no, no I have to hear the next song” and that’s when I got hooked on Patsy Cline records. I remember going with my paper round money when I was about 10 to the Barras to find my very own cassette tapes. I also love Patsy’s gospel songs which she is also said to have favoured.And in general what other music do you like?I have an eclectic taste from Bob Marley to Pink Floyd to Simon and Garfunkel to Madonna! I like most styles of music apart from heavy metal, I actually do a bit of rapping too! When I lived in London in my twenties, I was in a band UK Cartel and recorded an R’n’B track! I like the old the new stuff, I like classic timeless stuff….like Patsy!Finally, do you have any new gigs coming up?Yes, I’ve been asked to perform some original songs in the Fort Theatre in Bishopbriggs, Glasgow on Saturday 30th April with the amazing live band Jim Jack, John Graham, John Thomson, Willie Gamble and David Thomson. It’s also 59th anniversary of Patsy’s passing 5th March 1963.

www.writeawaymag.co.uk 33SUZIEGRAHAMSOCIAL MEDIA:https://www.facebook.com/patsyclinetributehttps://twitter.com/patsyclinesuzieMUSIC PLATFORMS:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpbiWp_NETVohLjIUgTA_Bg

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EXCLUSIVETV APPEARANCEOFFERFOR OUR READERS WRITE AWAY MAGAZINEWRITE AWAY MAGAZINEC COUNTRY MUSIC EXPRESSOUNTRY MUSIC EXPRESSTEAM WITHGETHSEMANE ON TVGethsemane On TV’ has been Nominated for a prestigious Antenna Award. Our Show airs every Sunday, Monday, Thursday & Saturday in Australia, America and around the World. This half hour show will feature just ONE Guest Artist each week as I want to give the Guest Artist maximum time in the Spotlight.Your Appearance will include 2 songs plus a reasonable introduction of you introducing yourself to the show (about 2-3 minutes) or possibly an interview. I’ll need 3 High Quality Videos in Widescreen format (Landscape). One would involve your introduction and the other two would involve your singing (performing) - for example, in front of the mike at home or on stage (lip-syncing to your own song is ok too), but please NO Youtube promo/movie style clips). The idea is as though you’re appearing live in the Gethsemane on TV studio and thereby exclusive to the show.Feel free to perform Country, Gospel, Rock n Roll, Reggae, Originals, etc and promote your merchandise, CD’s, gigs, contact and anything you fancy. I’ll need the videos asap – basically the earlier I get them the quicker you can be featured. Season 1 is already full-up.*Note* Please don’t forget to mention the Show and the Host in your introduction. For example: “Great to be on The ‘Gethsemane On TV’ Show – Blah Blah Blah (except without the blah blah)” Looking forward to hearing from you. Email”[email protected] Ring 0404875 647 if you have any queries.& &





WEBSITEhttps://claytonsaundersmusic.com/SOCIAL MEDIATWITTERhttps://twitter.com/Clayton91649798Music Platforms:BLUE SHAMROCK MUSIC LINK TO MUSIChttps://blueshamrockmusic.com/?s=Clay-ton+Saunders&post_type=product&type_aws=true



40 www.writeawaymag.co.ukI wrote Candlelight for my best friend Gordon after a long conversation, his brother took his own life a long time ago after a struggle after losing his girlfriend to suicide. I guess we all struggle at times and find it hard to talk, Gordon wrote thoughts on paper and gave them to me to see if there was something in them and just maybe find a song ,, I knew Patrick well so used that to be honest Since lockdown came i moved all my work in to my in my approach to the lyrics and read between Gordons words and came up with CandlelightMy journey into music is a simple one, i was looking for a hobby to do in my mid 40’s and tried many things from Golf, remote controlled planes and then saw a guitar for sale in the metro centre with a small amp and CD of how to play ... i was addicted straight away . I was playing live nine moths later at open mic nights and writing immediately though the songs where not good, i set up a covers band called EAST COAST MAINLINE with my amazing drummer and friend Joe Moździerski and met a couple of great musicians online and it ran for six years and it was unbelievable and exciting and we played everything from one guy in a bar to main stage at Richmond Live 2018 in front of thousands, but sadly due to internal fires it became hard work and I shut it down in 2019 and set up The Steve Larkin Project and now I only do original work. home studio and went online and the journey has been unbelieve ever since .... Radio play everyday somewhere in the world and busy working on my next 2 albums for late 2022/23 .. I have 2 songs in a film which is still in the negotiation stage but coming together well ... being a songwriter is a challenge but worth it if you apply the effort #itsnotaboutthemoney is my moto.The key to success is to work with the right people and that goes down every path but the main one is a quality Producer and mine is ANDREW FLY and this working relationship is just a pleasure, because he gets my songs and lyric ideas and is not scared to tell me if he thinks I missed something in the melody.CandlelightCandlelight © Steve Larkin

STEVELARKINWEBSITE:https://www.thestevelarkin-project.com/SOCIAL MEDIA:https://www.facebook.com/thestevelarkinproject/https://www.instagram.com/the_steve_larkin_pro-ject/MUSIC PLATFORMS:https://www.instagram.com/the_steve_larkin_pro-ject/There’s been a light That i needed to see Flickering warmth and strengthDeep down to comfort me There’s been words in my head I needed to say Just scraps bits of paper I couldn’t throw away Listen to your worries Chorus Now you can stand in the corner Just thinking Nobody sees you But you know to me I will always see ... your Candlelight Lifes a journeyOf many roads Some of us walk alone Wherever it goes I know you walk by my side You bring strength to my wings Your the guide to my feet Your in every word iI sing Chorus Now you can stand in the corner Just thinking Nobody sees you You know to me I will always see ... your Candlelight Middle Eight I’ll carry your burden I will loosen up the weighti will guide your path I will open the gate I want to be your Candlelight i want to brighten up your day You know i can take them away Chorus X2 Now you can stand in the corner Just thinking Nobody sees you You know to me I will always see ... your CandlelightIf they seem confused If they don’t understand I will just say You had to go and hold her hand Outro So don’t stand in the corner Thinking Nobody sees you Because .. You know to me I will always see ... your CandlelightFollow this link to listen...CANDLELIGHT© Steve Larkinwww.writeawaymag.co.uk 41

42 www.writeawaymag.co.ukI Thank God For This MomentI Thank God For This MomentAnnemarie Picerno Featuring Matt BarfieldAnnemarie Picerno, award winning entertainer, multi genre singer, songwriter, and filmmaker, teams up with Nashville singer - songwriter Matt Barfield, who has performed music ranging from rock to country. Together they join voices in a romantic and powerful duet mixing gospel, country, and blues, celebrating the blessing of life long love.Annemarie Picerno is a Grammy member, Americana Music Association member, and Indie Collaborative Artist. She is a Josie Music Award Winner for her hit song “Bonfire” along with being presented in 2019 and 2020 The Gran Royale Music Award, Holland Red Carpet 2020 Female Entertainer of Year, and a 2019 LDM Radio Music Award. She has performed in theater, bands in every musical genre, comedy shows, film, radio and television and is a popular radio host on several specialty featured radio stations. Her music videos are seen by millions on Bongo Boy TV and also on Rebel TV Productions, Roku and Apple Tv channels. select releases of her hit songs can be found on the popular Bongo Boy Records albums. She has topped numerous Top 40 indie radio charts with her powerful voice and harmonies in country, rock, pop, blues, and American Roots. For her latest single, “JUST BE KIND,” Annemarie Picerno has teamed up with renowned Nashville producer Bob McGilpin who has produced 13 of Annemarie’s radio releases. Her music video COLOR BLIND released to television to much acclaim for her powerful message relayed in various characters portrayed and stunning visuals. Bob McGilpin’s first release was 1978’s “Superstar” on Butterfly records which became a Billboard hit along with “Sexy Thing” and “When You Feel Love.” He had multiple major label record deals with Casablanca, RCA, and Butterfly/MCA and landed three #1 hits on the coveted Billboard Dance Charts. Together, Annemarie and Bob make a great team in their multi genre musical collaborations.

www.writeawaymag.co.uk 43ANNEMARIEPICERNOWEBSITE:https://annemariepicerno.com/homeSOCIAL MEDIA:https://www.facebook.com/anne-mariepicernohttps://twitter.com/amplified-sound?fbclid=IwAR1nXvEfgvx-IMFLJT5JovTt8zIGdFbmmz6ULX-1BneHrGhrBnHKEt8pyOl6Ihttps://www.instagram.com/anne-mariepicerno/?fbclid=IwAR1XNuH-jebTF6b0hrCi-Ki58S9m_ArThjgDP-MoGVGQ_rI31cXol3ND0CppYMUSIC PLATFORMS:https://www.reverbnation.com/am-plifiedsound?fbclid=IwAR1UN4tuL-RCY4yIhu8GNbl_cvu-1xCO1vrdb-PbT0PSkv81vNKMjF4FwlDcQhttps://www.youtube.com/user/am-plifiedsoundhttps://open.spotify.com/artist/3kEgN4KdpREgbH-0KIks3VP?fbclid=IwAR2lcChq2m-KhpbGXy6eprSpalB1ZBO5_3l2PLz-7tuj-kD52bH6Kw5HKyzX0I Thank God For The Moment© Annemarie PicernoI Thank God For This MomentHe’s Shining his Light....on our LoveA precious gift in this Life... From Heaven aboveGiving me you...I thank God For This Moment.A long time ago...I was losing hopeLoneliness rained down on me. dark on the roadThen you smiled... a radiant lightI couldn’t be blind to your love....you gave me life.I Thank God For This MomentHe’s Shining his Light....on our LoveA precious gift in this Life... From Heaven aboveGiving me you...I thank God For This Moment.You were music to meMaking a single note... a symphonyRaising our voices....giving thanks and praiseWe found a life long love...for all of our days.And I Thank God For This MomentHe’s Shining his Light....on our LoveA precious gift in this Life... From Heaven aboveGiving me you...I thank God For This Moment.Giving me youGiving me youGiving me youFor the rest of my daysFollow this link to listen...

44 www.writeawaymag.co.ukSilence© StudeoWhen Jeremy and Christine Stork first joined forces (both in life and music)in the late ‘70s, they had no idea what the future would bring many years later, when they formed Studeo. Bringing a wealth of talent and decades of experience, Studeo’s songs are as refreshingly real as their love for the music and one another is enduring. Following 2017’s release of three EPs.Studeo signed with Bongo Boy Records. Studeo’s first release through Bongo Boy Records was their song “Our Perfect Place to Be” on the compilation CD, “Love Is”. In August of 2018, the label released the duo’s first full-length album, “These Are Our Days”, and in 2019 the second album, “You’re The One” was released. Studeo released their next album, “Dancing On The Beach” in April 2020 and then their next EP “The Storm” was released in August of that year. 2021 saw the album “Life’s A Journey” which was released in May ..... Their current album, “Silence” was released in November 2021......Silence:(Produced by Bongo Boy Records) -“ the outcry of mother earth our planet as she is not heard. Before it is too late let us work it out. Find the answers only something we humans can find..”. Australia’s multi award winning duo, Studeo, are songwriters who have based most of their songs on their life experience and travels. This pattern has obviously been restricted since the Covid 19 pandemic hit in 2019. “Silence” is one song that was written at home during the pandemic and focusses on man’s impact on our environment. One of the positives from the covid lockdown was that it allowed us time to focus on projects. This song looks at the turmoil caused by the key global issues of today, such as global warming, the covid 19 pandemic. The music video for Silence includes footage of the aerial video of the power station in Copenhagen, Denmark, which is one of the most beautiful and stylish power plants in the world. Eco green energy. AWARDS:• World Artist/Duo of the year 2017 in the Josie Awards in Nashville • Jazz/Blues Song of the Year honours at the 2018 Josie Awards• Duo of the Year in both the Josie Music Awards and the ISSA Music Awards in Atlanta, 2019• The Akademia’s (Los Angeles) premier award, the “Executive Award” in 2019 as well as the “Vision Award” in 2020• The “Red Carpet Music Awards Holland” 2020 in the Jazz Category and 2021 in the Best Orignal Christmas Song Category..• The Intercontinental Music Awards, Best of Australasia (Jazz) with our song “Secret Hideaway”.• There were more awards honours for Studeo including the Global Music Awards and Clouzine International Music Awards up to November 2021. • In 2018, 2019 and 2020 Studeo was accepted by The Recording Academy for the first round voting ballot in the 61st, 62nd and 63rd Grammy Awards® FYC.Studeo continues to expand their musical and signwriting horizons, turning their life experiences and world travels into songs which take us tonew heights and in exciting new directions, covering the best of contemporary musical spheres.

www.writeawaymag.co.uk 45SILENCEStudeoVerse 1Lately I’ve been finding it so hard, trying to get through to you,Get my message through to you,Feels like we got lost along the way,Everytime I bring it up, you just turn awayChorusOnly silence, just deafening silence,Not a sound or a word to be heard,Only silence, through the silence,I can hear your thoughts loud and clear....Verse 2Suddenly a thought just crossed my mind,You’ve just got to work it out, got to let you work it out,The answer’s only something you can find,You just shut me out, time after time, after time....ChorusOnly silence, just deafening silence,Not a sound or a word to be heard,Only silence, through the silence,I can hear your thoughts loud and clear....BridgeThrough the power of silence,Thoughts echo through the wind,Help me to understand,But where do we begin.....SoloOutro/ chorusFeels like we got lost along the way,Everytime I bring it up, you just turn away,turn away....All I get is silence, just deafening silence,Not a sound or a word to be heard,Only silence, through the silence,I can hear your thoughts loud and clear....Only silence, just deafening silence,Not a sound or a word to be heard,Only silence, through the silence,I can hear your thoughts loud and clear....Only SilenceFollow this link to listen...STUDEOWEBSITE:https://www.studeomusi-caustralia.com/SOCIAL MEDIA:https://www.facebook.com/Studeo.music101MUSIC PLATFORMS:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCy_qV1oYq3dt346josU5lDAhttps://open.spotify.com/artist/046EZRISm134ffL-MulDmgwhttps://www.reverbnation.com/studeo

46 www.writeawaymag.co.ukWonder Of You© Helen FlunderI am a ‘mature’ musician, professional since 2013 and am also a songwriter, recording and producing my own songs with my partner. I am not really of the country genre but I have many influences within my songs including classical, folk, blues/country and prog. I always like my lyrics to be meaningful and my songs are very varied.I am a piano addict and teach piano as part of my work alongside doing music sessions with vulnerable people.I have songs about love, loss, dementia, bed socks, pylons, (this is a love song to pylons!) trains and some historical songs including one about a 400 year old pub in our small town that was pulled down to become a supermarket, unearthing a Roman burial ground in the process.I have been enjoying playing piano since I was 4 and although I taught music within my primary school teaching career, I took the plunge, in 2013 and went professional as a musician. It has been a steep but wonderful learning curve. A life that includes teaching piano, doing music sessions with awesome privilege. a huge variety of people, songwriting, recording, piano gigs, accordion gigs, folk bands, cover bands, gigging with several original bands playing music I have written or co-written… is a lucky one!I love seeing a 6 year old piano pupil’s delight at the printed version of their song they have composed. Equally satisfying, seeing a mature student’s pride, discovering that you’re never too old to enjoy playing piano. I also love my work in care homes… using piano accordion for this, means I can find out requests, change lyrics to fit the occasion and best of all make eye contact, it is so rewarding. Giggles and tears.I am particularly lucky to have studio facilities at home. I have a new solo album and singles available on most online platforms including bandcamp as well as an album with The Keyhouse, a duo with my partner Brendan Perkins.My songs have varied subjects, from love, loss, dementia, pylons, bed socks and I would say my musical influences are diverse, including Chopin, Bach, Queen, folk, Meatloaf and songwriters such as Boo Hewerdine and Martyn Joseph. My genre is sort of folky, classical, bluesy, soundtrack-y with an occasional ‘proggy’ burst…!Music is best when egos are left behind. Sharing music is an ‘Wonder of You’ was written in response to seeing my dad and others struggle with the onset of dementia. I wanted to ask people to see the whole person and each individual, wonderful life story, not just who they thought they saw in front of them.

They said you don’t rememberSaid you don’t know meThat your memoriesKeep fadingLike the lightsOn a Christmas treeBut I knowThey don’t rememberThey never even knewThe life, the lovesThe wonder of you Who do you see before you?A lady looking at the floorShe hums to herselfSome nonsense As you walk by her open doorNothing much to noticeShe had so much to saySo much forgottenFades awayThey said you don’t rememberSaid you don’t know meThat your memoriesKeep fadingLike the lightsOn a Christmas tree But I know they don’t rememberThey never even knewThe life, the lovesThe wonder OF youo you see before you?A man on the benchBy the lakeHe hums to himselfSome nonsenseFeeds the birdsWith crumbs of cakeNothing much to noticeHe had so much to saySo much forgottenFades awayThey say I can’t rememberSay it isn’t meMy memories have fadedLike the lightsOn a Christmas treeYou know they don’t rememberNow there’s only youThe life, the lovesThe wonderI knewNothing much to noticeI had so much to saySo much forgottenFades awayFollow This Link To Listen.www.writeawaymag.co.uk 47HELENFLUNDERWEBSITE:https://www.youtube.com/HelenFlunderMusicSOCIAL MEDIA: https://www.facebook.com/helenflundermusicMUSIC PLATFORMS:https://helenflunder.bandcamp.com/?fb-clid=IwAR3iFSbmZH-HlkznTMrEzIRn_pt-6aaMOQvhL5wJSz4u-JAFSO0A9-D2B6T8chttps://www.youtube.com/user/RockhenpfWONDER OF YOU© Helen Flunder

48 www.writeawaymag.co.ukJOANIELEEDSAs a young girl between 19-25 years old, I found myself going in the wrong direction, in places I never should have been. I had feelings of worthlessness and loneliness. I knew there was something more to life than what I had experienced. No matter what, I always believed in God. My mother made sure we went to church every Sunday.I could not miss it unless I was ill. Each night before bed I always prayed the ‘Lord’s Prayer.’One Sunday I went to church, the choir sang to the glory of God. The preacher preached the word of God with such power that it touched my heart. I heard him say “it’s time to come back to God, let him save you and fill you back up again with living water.”I rose from my seat and made my way to the Altar, crying and saying I want to be saved, I want more of God. Fill me up Lord. I’m thirsty and hungry, I’m running for my life Fill me up! This is my testimony!Zandra Arnold is a minister and contemporary gospel artist, singer and songwriter. Zandra was born in Rochester, PA and moved to Dayton, Ohio with her family. During her formative years she developed a deep love for singing and sang in her church choir, alongside Dottie Peoples at the famed Mt. Moriah Baptist Church in Dayton. Exodus Ministries in Dayton is where she currently is a member. Mrs. Arnold has been a member of various gospel singing groups over the years. She began writing her own music because she knew just what she wanted to sing about. She has captivated audiences while performing on stages and venues around the country. Her spiritual and powerful voice is distinct as it is unique. Her aspiration as an artist is to reach and to inspire, and to give hope, while achieving billboard recognition.She has won several song writers awards and multiple radio awards for her music from radio stations around the country. Her single “restored” was sampled by former First Lady Michelle Obama and received a “mention” by the former first lady in September 2014. In 2019, Zandra was the ‘ISSA Emerging Artist of the Year’ for her song, “The wait is over.” In 2020, she was awarded the ‘ISSA Single of the Year’ for her song, “Work on Me.” In 2021, Zandra was the ‘International Singer-Songwriters Association’ winner of the ‘Gold Record Award’ for her music.To her credit Mrs. Arnold has released a number of singles and a full CD. The gospel, soulful voice of the great Vickie Winans has been a great influence to her.Living Water Flow© Zandra Arnold

www.writeawaymag.co.uk 49ZANDRAARNOLDWEBSITE:https://zandrazl.wixsite.com/zandraarnoldmusicSOCIAL MEDIA:https://www.facebook.com/zan-drazl/abouthttps://www.instagram.com/ladyzz8/https://twitter.com/zandraar-nold1MUSIC PLATFORMS:https://music.apple.com/us/art-ist/zandra-arnold/923551245https://www.reverbnation.com/zandraarnold“Living Water Flow”© Zandra Arnold I was lost withinGod came and pulled me inI was thirsty and hungry for the living wordI decided to make him my LordLiving Water Flow in meLiving Water Flow in meI was so blind but now I seeby his blood I was set freeHe picked me up and turned me aroundPlaced my feet on solid groundLiving Water Flow in meLiving Water Flow in meIf you find yourself in a dry placeCall on the name of Jesus He will fill you upLiving Water Flow in our praiseLiving Water Flow in our worshipCall on the name of Jesus He will fill you upLiving Water FlowFollow this link to listen...

50 www.writeawaymag.co.ukMy name is Gary Vaughan...(songwriter, & vocalist), from The Big Sky Country....In 1959, I started learning to play lead guitar, with another young man (rhythm guitar, & vocals), that had my same interest in music. Being raised in rural Montana, our interests were mainly of the country genre’. He and I played together in a five-piece country band throughout high school, then continued on during our college years. In 1966, I played in a contemporary jazz duo, comprised of my lead guitar, and a drummer. When the drummer moved to the west coast, I hooked up with a three-piece rock group. In 1967, I married, and started a three-piece country group, in Havre, Mt. My new bride, learned to play bass guitar, and performed with our group. in 1968, my wife and I moved to Billings, Mt., where I have lived since that time. Once we settled in Billings, we put together a four-piece country group, where my wife performed as a drummer. We played many private partys, and in the country bars, and honky-tonks in the Lower Yellowstone Valley, and in the Billings,Mt. area. On a number of occasions, we ventured into northern Wyoming to perform, as well...In 1981, my wife was troubled with some breathing issues, and because smoking in the honky-tonks was allowable at that time, we were forced to give up live performance in the bars, and dance halls. While recuperating from major surgery in 2009, I learned to play the keyboard, and it was at that time, that I began composing lyrics, and creating the melodies on the keyboard. I have, in that period, (2009-2021), composed, approximately sixty (PLUS) songs. I have had only ten songs produced in a semi-professional manner. I write, sing, and record in my ‘’Home Studio’’... I then enlist the musical, and audio engineering talents of Mr. Lou Gimenez (The Music Lab- Elmont, NY)....Lou creates the instrumental track that you hear on my songs, then mixes and masters the production. The song that I submit for this article is one of that collection: (‘’BURNIN’ YOU BAD’’’-The Album)....A ten song collection of Traditional Country, & Light Country Rock...My songwriting efforts are meant to be an attempt to support, and encourage the continued appeal for Classic, and Traditional Country Music. II certainly appreciate the opportunity given to me by JANE SHIELDS, administrator of: ‘’ WRITE AWAY’’ magazine. It is an exceptional service that she performs for Independent, and ‘’Unsigned’’ Artists. I hope that you might search for, and listen to: (‘’BURNIN’ YOU BAD’’-THE ALBUM), on my YOUTUBE channel, in the future. The song I present to you in this issue is: ‘’WALTZ YOU ‘CROSS TEXAS’’, an original Traditional Country song. I thank you for listening, and I hope you might enjoy the many informative articles that Jane Shields presents in her magazine....sincerely, Gary Vaughan.I’d Waltz You ‘Cross Texas© Gary Vaughan