For a long time I’ve been hiding behind other peoples work. I was the one behind the scenes turning their musical dreams into reality but now, I have really turned a corner in my own development and have realised that I have something worthwhile to give and I should do it under my own name.

It’s all about taking ownership of what I do.

This personal development has been the reason why I havent posted on this site for quite a while. I burnt myself out concentrating on being all things to all people without taking the time out for me and my art, my music, my creativity. Corey Stewart Online is now that outlet.

I still work as a professional musician, I still (attempt to) write songs but I’m much happier now with what I’m doing and where I’m at in life. I’m recording my first CD which is something I would not have contemplated even three months ago.

I think it’s about time I said it like it is. I am me and I’m proud of what I do. My journey starts now, I’ll see you all over at Corey Stewart Online.

Peace,

Corey

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In the song I try to conceptualize the feelings of nervousness and anxiety I was going through at the time.

Having your words and actions questioned by your partner all the time was not a pleasant situation to be in however, in saying that I’ve learned a lot about myself in the process.

Here is the song for your listening pleasure…

Shadows
©  C. Stewart 1999

It’s only one word
That’s all that I ask of you
I don’t ask for much
But it seems like that I’ve asked for the world

You say that it’s okay
And everythings forgiven now
But no matter what you say
It never fits with what’s in my mind

I’m walking away, walking in circles
Looking through windows
A prisoner of my own mind
Can’t you see the tears in my eyes?
I’m trapped in this lifetime, it’s never-ending
Due to my sorrow
Shadows and lifetimes
Can’t you see the tears in my eyes?

My smile has disappeared
It’s been replaced by all my fears
Fears I’d thought were gone
But now have come to haunt me again

I dare to say a word
Just in case you hear me wrong
It’s still the common thing
Even though we are apart

I’m walking away, walking in circles
Looking through windows
A prisoner of my own mind
Can’t you see the tears in my eyes?
I’m trapped in this lifetime, it’s never-ending
Due to my sorrow
Shadows and lifetimes
Can’t you see the tears in my eyes?

**************************************************

Of course, any comments or feedback is most welcomed.

Until next time, happy writing,

Corey Stewart
Singer/Songwriter/Musician

MySpace | Facebook | Twitter

Keywords: songwriting, songwriter, songwriting tip, songwriting help, songwriting idea, songwriting blog, corey stewart

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The music we played wasn’t the acoustic singer/songwriter stuff that you can listen to on my Music page however, this song demonstrates how one idea and a bassline can be transformed into something special with the right players at your disposal.

And I must say, I’ve been very fortunate to have played with some really talented players. The kind of players that you learn things from every time you jam with them.

Orangutang existed between 2004-2006 and was comprised of:

• CS – Bass, Vocals
• Ross Neilsen – Guitar
• Leo Auri – Keys
• Jarrad Payne – Drums

Honey Child
(C.Stewart) © 2005

You are the one that makes my heartbeat race
You make my mind go all over the place
You are the one that makes my life complete
I love you baby from your head to your feet
I’m mesmerized by your eyes of blue
You know that I’ll do anything for you
I like the way you look I like your style
You got a body that just drives me wild

You’re my honey child
Honey Child
You’re my honey child
Honey Child

I feel obliged to absolutely say
I think about each and every day
And every time you come home at night
I wanna be there just to treat you right
I’m a better man for being with you
You give me all the strength to do what I do
How many times can I show you my love?
I wanna let you know that once is never enough

Chorus

Instrumental

One and one is two I know
The good and bad go with the flow
My life is yours and yours is mine
Together ’till the end of time
One and one is two I know
The good and bad go with the flow
My life is yours and yours is mine
Together ’till the end of time

Chorus

**************************************************

Have a listen, give feedback if you so desire, let me know what you think but most importantly… Enjoy!

Until next time, happy writing

Corey Stewart
Singer/Songwriter/Musician

Keywords: songwriting, songwriter, songwriting tip, songwriting idea, songwriting help, songwriting resource, songwriting blog, songwriting zen, corey stewart

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Well, I’ve been going through my songwriting archives and old demo recordings and I’ve found some songs to put up on Songwriting Zen. This is the first of many.

The song is called “Billboard Angel” and I wrote it with a good friend of mine Jeff Smith. The song focuses on a guy in love with a woman on a billboard and his struggles with his emotional connection to her.

This song is a great example of collaboration at work. I came up with the musical idea and a bit of a melody but the “guy falling in love with a billboard angel” was Jeff all over.

Even though we wrote it in 2002 it’s still one of my favourite songs to play live.

Enjoy…

Billboard Angel
(C.Stewart/J. Smith) © 2002

I always look to you when I’m feeling down
And you’re eyes follow mine as I move through town
It’s hard not to notice when your thirty foot high
It doesn’t worry me if you’re selling a lie

Some people think that you have the answer
To every single need
Others say that you’re an intrusion
But they don’t understand, can’t you see

You’re a particular kind of lady
Who’s not at all afraid to show her wares
To anyone who is passing
A user-friendly product with drams to share

I feel like that I know all about you
I read it in the papers and magazines
Of your holidays in Majorca
I see it so clearly in my sleep

When I’m home at the end of the day
And the lights go out at night
I caress the very thought of you
I know it sounds wrong but it feels so right

Chorus

You overlook this city, like an angel
I know you’re watching over me
One day I’ll reach the stars, and touch you on the way
I like to think its destiny

I wonder how long you’ll be up there
Before you’re replaced by another girl
I know I can’t buy what I’m feeling
Even with all the money in the world

**************************************************

Feel free to critique, give feedback or post comments.

Until next time, happy writing,

Corey Stewart
Singer/Songwriter/Musician

Keywords: songwriting, songwriter, songwriting tip, songwriting idea, songwriting help, songwriting resource, songwriting blog, songwriting zen, corey stewart

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Before

After

The main reason for cutting it all off was that I was just over it. I was over how it made me feel when I looked in the mirror or when I saw myself in a photo.

The long hair was becoming “old hat”.

As soon as my hair came off I immediately felt so much better about myself. I literally had a weight lifted off my shoulders (there was a lot of hair that come off) and I felt free. I also noticed that with my new found freedom, a new sense of creativity was appearing before me.

I even wrote a new song for FAWM.

This experience has taught me first hand that the muse loves to call on people who feel good about themselves. I suppose this makes the muse feel welcome.

This is another example of how the smallest changes make the biggest differences.

Oh, about the song. It’s called “Hear You Scream” and it’s about a friend of mine who is living a life he doesn’t want to live in, but won’t speak out about it.

It was sparked by a line that popped into my head as I was strumming the verse chords “But who am I to judge you on why you choose to live this way”.

It’s amazing what comes out when you open the door to let the muse in.

Keywords: fawm, songwriting, songwriter, songwriting tip, songwriting idea, songwriting help, songwriting blog, songwriting resource, songwriting zen, corey stewart

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After getting my home office/music room set up the way I wanted, my next step is to reformat both my admin and audio computers.

I have been very busy over the last few days but now I’m at the stage in which I can start working and creating again.

Another resolution I made for 2009 was to attempt to use open source software as much as I can in my working and creative life. I’ve installed Kubuntu on my admin system and Ubuntu Studio on my audio system.

Kubuntu is working fine and I now have my computer looking like an open source version of my old Windows XP install however, what I’m most keen to have a closer look at is Ubuntu Studio.

Ubuntu Studio is a stand alone audio, graphics and video suite that is 100% open source.

It’s its own operating system with a very long list of features and programs included in the package. I promise I’ll keep you all informed on my progress, learning and using Ubuntu Studio.

The reason why I’m telling you this is because, through changing my work/creative environment and now completing the computer reistallations I’ve given myself a new lease of creativity and freedom.

I’m excited again and ready to get back into writing songs again with much gusto.

The old adage of “a change is as good as a holiday” rings very true in my life at the moment but to achieve the same effect in your songwriting process doesn’t mean you have to make any drastic changes.

In her article “Time For Change – Expanding Your Songwriting Process” Andrea Stolpe says that changing your songwriting process often is important because “keeping the ideas fresh and flowing often requires a lot of flexibility. It’s easy to suddenly find ourselves in a dead space, a plateau where all the shimmer is gone from our ideas”

Some recommendations she makes are:

• If you write music first, try words first (and vice versa)
• Try writing on piano instead of guitar
• Let your musicality take over
• Write little motifs, and songwriting ideas
  
• Get out of your comfort zone

Just as changing my whole way of doing business and being creative (new environment/new operating system) has sparked inspiration and excitement you too can give yourself and your songwriting a fresh start just by doing something a little different.

Inspiration through change. Hmmm, has a nice ring to it.

Until next time, happy writing,

Corey Stewart
Singer/Songwriter/Musician

Keywords: kubuntu, ubuntu studio, open source, songwriting, songwriter, songwriting tip, songwriting idea, songwriting blog, songwriting resource, corey stewart

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As mentioned last year in my post “My Plans For 2009″ I moved my external office back home again. I took last week out to do it and finished everything by the weekend.

What a load off my mind.

Why did I do this? Well, I needed the change and even though I was able to seperate work and home by having an external office, I realised that my work (singer/songwriter/musician/webdev/blogger) was doing things that I love to do and therefore, my work is my life and not external of it.

I found that after a while, working away from home made me feel isolated from my homebase and the demarcation between worklife and homelife became a hinderence to my creativity and not the enhancement that I wanted.

I also realised that being creative requires a commitment from me to being present in my life. My previous work situation prevented this from happening. Some songwriters work well in an external office environment but I don’t, and it took me just under a year to figure it out.

Living and working at home has made writing songs a lot easier. Already I’ve started to pick up the guitar again and noodle around some songwriting ideas. I feel more inspired by being at home, work seems less functional and more holistic and creative.

For me, writing songs isn’t something that I can clock on and off to. Songwriting is my life and my life starts from the security and comfort of home. I’m glad I’ve figured this out now because I just know that great things are going to be happening this year.

A secure and comfortable creative environment can only lead to inspired output. Even though I may from time to time, travel into uncharted territory and steer myself out of my comfort zone in my quest to be as present in my life as possible, it’s good to know that I can always come home at the end of the day.

Home maybe where the heart but for this songwriter, it’s also where the muse lives.

Have a great 2009.

Until next time, happy writing,

Corey Stewart
Singer/Songwriter/Musician

Keywords: songwriting, songwriter, writing, songwriting tip, songwriting blog, songwriting idea, songwriting resource, songwriting zen, corey stewart

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I do this every year and I always get a little excited at this time because I love the thought of starting a new year with a clear slate.

Looking back I realised that I used 2008 as a year of establishing some sort of foundation for my songwriting/online music marketing activities. All was going pretty well until about July when the wheels started to fall off the wagon.

This is where I started taking too much on. This was the beginning of burn-out.

Here are 12 things I did in 2008:

1. (Feb) Shifted home office to external office
2. (Feb) Started the original Songwriting Zen Blog
3. (Apr) Started building a Songwriting Studio
4. (Apr) SCALA’s FOOM Songwriting Competition
5. (May) Songwriting Zen Forum launched
6. (May) Present Songwriting Zen Blog launched
7. (May) I’m interviewed on SongCatcher radio program
8. (Jul) Co-ordinator of the Sing Out Songwriting Project
9. (Jul) Sunday Singer/Songwriter Showcase commences
10. (Jul) I accept the 50/90 challenge
11. (Sep) I moved house
12. (Nov) Sing Out 2008 finished

No wonder 2008 seemed like a blur. Now onto 2009.

One of the first things I’ll be doing is shifting my external office back to a home office. Even though I enjoy the office environment I love my home environment even more and besides, not paying two lots of phone and internet charges will make the bank balance look a little better.

I’m almost ready to roll out another free eReport for you all. It’s called “11 More Ways To Eliminate Writers Block FOREVER!” and the title really says it all.

Other services I’ll be wanting to roll out in 2009 are:

• Song Feedback/Critiques
• Songwriting Coaching
• Songwriting Workshops

I want to be expanding my song collaboration network as well as the Open Mics plus the Singer/Songwriter Showcase concept. Maybe then I might find some time to write that Songwriting Zen book and record songs for my first CD release as well.

Watch this space…

Until next time, happy writing,

Corey Stewart
Singer/Songwriter/Musician

Keywords: songwriting, songwriter, writing, songwriting zen, songwriting tip, songwriting idea, songwriting blog, songwriting resource, corey stewart

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I know it’s been a long time between drinks and for that I sincerely apologise. I had to take some time off because I just burnt myself out and I couldn’t physically keep up with all the demands I was putting on myself.

You see, I have a problem with saying “no” to things and because of this, I stretch myself and my resources to the very limit and burn out to an inch of my life in the process. My two month “break” was the end result of one of these episodes.

How could this happen? Well, in my case I didn’t know I was burning out until I was in the middle of it. I’m not very good at catching myself out early enough, but I am learning.

Boy, am I learning!

The reason why I’m telling you this is that, because of what has happened I’m forever reminded that being a songwriter is more than just being able to write songs. It’s also about being able to function as a whole creative being.

Having a healthy mind, a healthy body and a healthy creative space goes a very long way in having healthy, creative outcomes. Being able to balance your creative life between work, family, partner, friends and is vital in maintaining some sense of clarity of purpose and sanity.

Sadly, I was lacking in all of these areas and I suffered for it.

I have spent the last couple of months purging a lot of activities from my life and/or finishing up some projects in which I had inadvertently bitten off more than I could chew. I’m happy to say that I’m feeling a lot better now and I’m feeling like writing again.

I did miss posting to Songwriting Zen over the last couple of months but at the same time I just couldn’t bring myself to do so. Until now.

I have learnt a lot of lessons of late and I’ll be posting them here from time to time. One of the biggest lessons I’ve learnt is that I can’t be all things to all people. It’s ok to say NO.

As songwriters, we need to be true to ourselves in what we do and that means if we have to say NO to something in order to maintain that truth then, so be it.

Don’t do what I did and wait until it’s too late.

Until next time, happy writing,

Corey Stewart
Singer/Songwriter/Musician

Keywords: songwriting, songwriter, writing, songwriting zen, songwriting tip, songwriting idea, songwriting blog, songwriting resource, corey stewart

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It’s been a full on month with moving house and all but I’m glad to say that everything is returning back to some sort of normality (whatever that is).

The house looks great, feels very comfortable and the space… Well, let’s just say that I’m feeling very content at the moment. I even picked up the guitar and started writing something for the first time in a long while.

Living in a nice space certainly increases your ability to be inspired.

Now with the move complete I’m now ready to get back into songwriting, blogging and just getting on with what life deals for me. Expect more posts from now on.

Until next time, keep on writing,

Corey Stewart
Singer/Songwriter/Musician

Keywords: songwriting, songwriter, writing songs, songwriting tip, songwriting idea, songwriting help, songwriting zen, songwriting blog, corey stewart

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