As we thought about how we would be missing family and friends that we would typically travel to and spend time with during this holiday, we thought of the millions of Baha’is around the world who would also be going through this same experience. Wanting to be with family, but unable or unsafe to get there.

To bring a little more warmth to this holiday we are launching are largest sale of physical media ever on 9 Star Media.

We are offering 30% off all CD’s, DVD’s Blu-Rays, and Audio Book CD Sets.

Not only that, but

we will gift wrap and ship them to your family or friends directly!

Thats right! Take advantage of this offer to get your friends, family and loved ones Baha’i inspired media for Ayyam-i-Ha. Shipped Directly to them, already gift wrapped, with a message from you!

Don’t do physical media? Want to send downloads? CLICK HERE for PHYSICAL GIFT CARDS that we will mail to your loved ones. For INSTANT DOWNLOAD GIFTS, click HERE to purchase a downloadable gift card which allows you to instantly send your family download credits.

HOW TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS OFFER:

Visit our store and look for the 30% off indicator beside the product option. Uncheck the ‘Digital Download’ option and select the physical product you wish to purchase and click ‘Add To Cart’.

In the checkout process, please add the shipping address where you want your gift shipped to in the ‘SHIPPING METHOD’ section. At the bottom of the checkout page, and insert the name of the person and any short message you want us to print and include in the comments box at the bottom of the checkout page and then click ‘CONFIRM ORDER’.

Thats it! We will process your orders and send out via USPS straight to your loved ones.

This sale is huge.. but will end at the start of the Baha’i Fast… so don’t delay!

The post Our Biggest Ayyam-i-Ha Sale Ever! first appeared on 9 Star Media.

9 Star:  Please tell us a bit about yourself and about how music plays a role in your life.

I was born in the US, raised in Kenya and my parents are from Iran. Growing up, I was surrounded by music. My father loved listening to jazz and classical music and my mother was a piano teacher. She played the most beautiful classical pieces on the piano. Music is, and always has been, one of the greatest joys of my life and being able to share my music with others is a blessing beyond description.

9 Star: How would you describe your music?

My music expresses the diverse cultures I’ve been exposed to growing up. I would describe my music as a mixture of New Age, Pop, and World music with influences from classical Western, African, Middle Eastern and Chinese traditions.

9 Star: What inspires you to create?

I believe that God inspires me to create. God is the Creator, and when we are engaged in the creative process we are manifesting that Name of God. Sometimes I hear a melody and simply must drop whatever I am doing and run to the piano in order to capture it! For me it is the most moving form of prayer — allowing the inspiration to flow through me and to bring me closer to God.

9 Star: What influenced you to make this record? Does the album have a central theme or message that you want to explore?

One of my previous albums, “Fire and Gold”, was on the theme of tests and difficulties. After completing that CD I was reflecting upon the need for detachment when going through the tests of life. So I started composing pieces based on passages from the Writings relating to this idea. But the more I read the Writings and reflected the more I realized that our tests are actually the greatest opportunities for us to grow spiritually. Ultimately the album was given the title “Infinite Bounty” to express the idea that all aspects of life, including its challenges, are gifts from the ocean of God’s bounty. So in this sense the album documents my own thinking and learning about the themes of tests, detachment and bounty.

9 Star: How long have you been in China? How has it influenced your musical creation or recording process?

My husband and I moved to Beijing in 1998 and have settled here ever since. Before that we lived in Hong Kong for 3 years and before that we were in California finishing up our education. Living in China has been an extraordinary learning experience in every way, but I would need a book to describe it all! One of the gifts of living in China has been the opportunity to work with extremely talented musicians that I would never have met otherwise. For example, one of the songs on ‘Infinite Bounty’ is a duet with my dear and talented friend, Cheng Lin, who is one of the most gifted singers I know. In addition, four members of the China National Symphony recorded strings for two of the pieces on ‘Infinite Bounty’.

9 Star: Please tell us a bit about your creation process.

Often when I sit at the piano, the urge to create is a powerful one. If I haven’t composed in awhile, the urge to create is even greater. I usually hear a melody and play a few chords on the piano to see how it will flow. Once I feel the direction of the song, I look for an appropriate quotation and begin to sing it as I play the piano. Im trying to see how the music can flow around the words as the Writings are always the primary focus of each of my pieces.

9 Star: Are you more of a collaborative creator.. or someone who looks within to find the creation?

Initially I work on my own, but once I have created a demo version of a song, I will work with a producer to arrange the song and craft the instrumentation and vision for the piece. If I am composing a duet, I will usually collaborate with the other musician from the start. It’s important to me that everyone involved is happy with the song and agrees with the direction and vision for the piece. There is a lot of consultation that takes place from the very beginning to the final stages of mixing. Many minds are definitely better than one as I love hearing the creative ideas of others throughout the process.

9 Star: Do you meditate? If so, did meditation influence your creative process?

Meditation is an important aspect of creativity, but I believe meditation comes in many different forms. Meditation, for me, can be just sitting at the piano and singing my prayers in the morning. It’s usually after I’ve sung a few pieces that my soul feels ready to create. It is difficult to describe what happens during that creative process. Something magical takes place, like a seed that has just been planted but yet starts to blossom immediately. It is often a rapid process of unleashing what’s in the soul and the moment it comes out… well, that feeling really can’t be equaled by anything else. For me that is a form of prayer. Those are the times I feel the most deeply connected to my Creator.

9 Star: I know there were several songs which featured artists from around the world.. how did you work with them? Did you get together virtually (Skype etc.) to consult?

My favorite pieces on the album are those that were recorded as duets with other musicians. I had an idea of who I wanted to collaborate with from the beginning of the album creation process. I was lucky that Nasim Ma’ani, who records with me on the Arabic/English duet, lives in Beijing so it was easy for us to work on that piece together in person. I also had the blessing of recording a duet with Cheng Lin on ‘We Must Look Higher’. I had asked her to record her erhu (A traditional Chinese 2 stringed violin) on the song, but she felt inspired to sing instead! Ali Youssefi and I have collaborated before and I love his style. He lives in Serbia and he was able to record his vocals there, and we were able to consult back and forth over the internet. Fiona Doomun-Rouhani and I collaborated on our first album in 1997 (‘Melodies of the Nightingale’). We have always wanted to record more together so I was so excited that she was able to find a great studio in California to record her vocals. Siria Rutstein and I have also sung before and I have always loved the tone of her voice. She was passing through Beijing visiting her parents so I seized the opportunity to record with her (I had sent her the song to practice before she arrived so that she could walk into the studio as soon as she arrived). And the youngest musician on the album (my daughter, Amelia!) sings with me almost every day. I was thrilled that she agreed to sing on this album as I have always wanted to professionally record a song with her. Most of the communication with these artists took place by email, Facebook chat, Whatsapp, etc. With the available technology these days and a great producer who can put it all together, so much can be accomplished from afar. Thank God for modern technology!

 9 Star: You have made about a half dozen albums before Infinite Bounty, how does this one differ and stand out from the rest?

This album has more collaborations than any of the others. It is also unique in that the CD comes with a small hard cover book adorned with beautiful, ocean-themed photographs against which the passages from the Writings are printed (the CD is housed in the back cover of the book). Thus the project was really two projects in one: to produce a music CD and to create a beautiful book of meditations for use at devotional meetings, Feasts, as well as for private reflection. I wanted the book to be a work of art in itself and a way for people to be able to reflect on the Writings while listening to the music.

9 Star: Tell us about your producer and production team.

I have had the good fortune of working with several talented producers in the past but before starting on this album I felt it was time to work with a new team to bring to the music a new dynamic. I prayed that I would find someone suitable for the project and was surprised and thrilled when a few days later I met “by chance” a producer at a friend’s concert. The whole thing happened in a most mysterious way and it was a huge confirmation that urgent prayers are always answered.

9 Star: You were able to record a full live string section for this record.. What was that like?

Much to my surprise we were able to have the quartet from the China National Symphony Orchestra record on 2 of my pieces. These musicians are of the highest caliber in China (concert master, principal cellist, principal violist). The first violinist had prepared the notation and printed the score. The other musicians in the quartet had not seen the music until the moment they sat down to perform it in the studio. They had not practiced the songs beforehand at all and once they recorded the pieces they played flawlessly… no mistakes whatsoever! They recorded it once again just in case we needed an extra take and the second time was just as perfect as the first! This experience was awe inspiring. I am so pleased that the string sections they recorded are on two songs ‘Behold Me’, which is a duet with my daughter, and a piece entitled ‘Detached From All Save Thee’. The opportunity to record these amazing musicians was definitely one of the unexpected treats in the making of this album.

9 Star: The secular world has a rich musical landscape.. but there are invariably influences that are sorely lacking.. how does your music fill that void?

When people I meet ask me what kind of music I compose and record, I tell them that there is a lot of noise and distractions in the world and that the goal of my music is to bring calm to the soul and a sense of peace to someone’s day. My instrumental piano album (‘Glimmerings’) has been playing on radio/TV all around the world and the emails I receive from people tell me how much they appreciate the beauty in the melodies and tranquility it brings to their lives. Many others write and share how listening to the Writings of Baha’u’llah and ‘Abdu’l-Baha set to music provides spiritual substance and solace to their hearts and souls. And one of the most touching compliments is from parents who tell me that their children have memorized all the prayers and Holy Writings on my CDs and have grown up with these Divine Words. Hearing these type of stories brings me the greatest joy.

9 Star: When you create music are you focusing more on the Baha’i community or outwardly?

I am mindful of making sure that the album is not boxed in or categorized even though there is a tendency to do so. I hope that my Baha’i friends will want to share it as a gift with their friends who are searching or open to receiving music that is of a more devotional nature. By bringing diversity to the music (there are Pop, New Age and Middle Eastern genres on the album) I hope that the larger community would be open to hearing it. I have considered tapping into the Christian market to see where it leads me.

9 Star: What affect would you like to see your music have on the listener? What would you like them to walk away with?

I hope that the music helps the listener draw closer to God, to feel more at peace with themselves. In our lives we all have tests and difficulties, and we all have challenges. The Holy Writings are the medicine that heals us, and provide the guidance and strength to forge ahead. I hope that by listening to the Words of Baha’u’llah set to music, souls will be touched by His Spirit and be uplifted and inspired when facing challenges in their lives.

9 Star: In a world, seemingly filled with so much darkness, what keeps you inspired?

Knowing that the world is going through its stage of turbulent adolescence helps me focus on the fact that it is a process leading to maturity. Having faith and centering my life around service allows me to concentrate on what I can do to contribute to the betterment of the world. In the moments that I feel more challenged to stay positive, I turn to music and composing music is the greatest healer. I channel the negative influences through my music and am always so moved by the inspiration that comes.

9 Star: What are three major things you learned in the process of creating this album that you could share with other aspiring musicians to help them overcome the same hurdles?

a. It’s easy to get carried away with perfecting a song and not knowing when to let go. It’s like a painting that one keeps working on improving. How do you know when it’s finished? Setting goals and deadlines helped me keep on track in order to finish the album in a timely manner. I was tempted to keep working on the songs so it was good practice to work on detachment instead.

b. Consultation has been a key to the success of making great music. I have worked with some incredible producers and musicians and being able to consult in a unified manner with the ultimate goal of creating beautiful music has always helped the process.

c. Being detached from the outcome of a song. Sometimes I have had a vision for a song but in the process of working on it, it changed quite a bit. Being detached from the outcome has helped me embrace some great ideas I would have otherwise missed. ‘Sweeten Their Souls’ is a great example. I had never thought of changing it up but the producer had the idea of making it into a band song. If I had held on to what I originally had in mind for the song, this piece would not have come to fruition in the way that it did and I love it!

9 Star: You have created something truly unique with “Infinite Bounty”. Could you tell us about the other albums have you produced and what are their themes?

The first album I produced was ‘Melodies of the Nightingale’ in 1997, which consists of Hidden Words and prayers. ‘Melodies of the Nightingale for the family’ followed a few years later with quotations and prayers for parents, children, pregnant mothers and infants.

‘Fire and Gold’, my third album, was released in 2007 and it set to music passages from the Writings about tests and difficulties, blending eastern and western musical styles. ‘Birds of Love’, released in 2009, is on the theme of love and marriage and comes with an elegant book of gold silk fabric with quotations about love from various poets, Holy Writings and cultural traditions. For 10 years my husband encouraged me to make an instrumental piano album. Finally in 2012 ‘Glimmerings’ was released and has been playing on the radio in many countries around the world. My sixth album, ‘Edge of Forever’, reflects a wider range of my musical influences with original lyrics. It is a collection of songs in diverse styles such as Latin, World, New Age, Pop, Middle Eastern and a little rock. The music depicts the soul’s desire to transcend the limits of the material world and to soar in the spiritual realm.

9 Star: Thank you for taking the time to do this interview… and for continually sharing your gift with the world. It is truly inspiring and uplifting.

You can read more about Elika on her blog: http://www.elikamahony.com

Click below to take a listen to the album and get your copy of ‘Infinite Bounty’ now!

Click Here to check out all of Elika’s albums on 9 Star Media.

The post Infinite Bounty: An Interview With Elika Mahony first appeared on 9 Star Media.

Be sure to check out Part 1 and Part 2 of this 3 Part series on songwriting.

Eric Harper destroys guitars. No, I don’t mean that in a ‘Jimi Hendrix – light it on fire and watch it burn’ sort of way, nor do I mean it in a ‘Kurt Cobain – Swing the guitar like an axe into the drum set’ kind of way either… Eric destroys guitars with his fingers. Literally. One look at his instruments makes you feel sorry for them… while simultaneously sparking a curiosity as to what kind of music leaves sawdust in it’s wake. Eric’s musical weapon of choice is Flamenco.. and he wields it well. 

His guitar playing and producing has graced several Baha’i albums that we love, and when we saw he was posting songs almost daily onto his ReverbNation page, we had to check it out. The songs are eclectic, as you would expect from someone who’s influences run from Heavy Metal to Flamenco. Some of his songs have lyrics, but many don’t. Eric doesn’t constrain his writing approach by requiring lyrics. His focus is to create a singularly massive music library for licensing to film and television. With the catalog of songs he has been developing as well as the songs he already has being placed, Eric is headed towards success. Sit back and enjoy our interview with Eric Harper and his song-a-day experience.

A Little Background:

How did you get into songwriting?
I got into songwriting as a natural desire to want to uplift people’s hearts. I started playing with music at the age of 7; mostly creating and experimenting with sound and notes, etc. When I picked up the guitar at age 12, I started learning other people’s songs so that I could get ideas for my own music. The first song I learned was ‘Stairway to Heaven‘ and immediately borrowed that chromatic descending harmonic structure from the first 3 chords in the song for my own music.

Who long have you been writing songs for?
I guess my first real song would have been composed around the age of 14. A full song with lyrics and all. It also happened to be the time that I realized that I have no talent for lyrics. HA! I can write a song in about 5-10 minutes but it might take me close to 6 months to churn out decent lyrics. Of course, if you’re a client and want something in one day I can always write about something meaningless like crickets, or chocolate frogs or teenage love.

Do you have any formal training?
Yes. I started taking piano lessons when I was seven… but that only lasted three months. (I didn’t really like my teacher.) After that, I studied drums for six years. (Ah, the marching band years! FUN!) When I was twelve, my Junior High School offered a guitar class so I picked up the guitar and started studying that as well. After the first year of classes my teacher sat me down and told me that if I just wanted to go off into a private room and practice she would give me an A for the whole year; She said she had nothing more she could teach me. Of course, I told my mom and she signed me up for private lessons with a guitar instructor named Craig Dell. The encouragement I received from my Junior High teacher and Craig Dell were the reason I stayed with guitar. At the age of fifteen my family moved to Portugal and I entered into the Conservatory of Music of Braga. Man, did they ever kick my arse! Never have I endured such intense study as I did there. I studied classical guitar for a couple years in the conservatory and then moved my studies to the Professional School of Music of Porto where I studied for an additional three years. After Portugal, I moved to Boston to continue my studies in music at Berklee where I majored in Film Scoring.

The Song-A-Day Challenge:

Tell us a bit about what made you decide to write a song a day?
Simple… Income. I have a family that I have to provide for and I’m the sole provider right now. If I don’t write, we don’t eat. I’ve been licensing my music for about five years, but nowhere near as aggressively as I am now. I had a couple experiences that changed my approach:

One: I got a nice fat check for one of my songs that played on ‘How I Met Your Mother’… and the song only played for 3 seconds.

Two: My buddy who’s been doing the Music Licensing thing for the past four years now has around 850 songs. He told me that last year he made a quarter of a million dollars in sales.

The last thing that helped me decide to pursue music licensing more aggressively is that I realized that it could actually help fund my true dream. (something super secret that is in the works) It took me a while to come to peace with the idea that my true dream probably wouldn’t be my main source of income. But once I did it was an easy jump into the music licensing boat.

What is your typical writing frequency?
I try to write a healthy balance of 22 songs a month. That way I can spend the weekends with the family. I try to start around 10 am and not go beyond 5 pm if I can help it.

When you write are you trying to achieve something or just seeing where inspiration takes you?
Both. Sometimes I have a goal in mind. Like, “Gee… I think today I want to write something like E.S. Posthumus.” Other days I just sit down and see where my fingers land on the fretboard.

When did you start your song-a-day challenge and how long are you going to go for?
I started in January of this year. (2013) And I’m up to 79 songs. I actually behind schedule because I’ve been called to travel for performances. This has taken me a bit off track, but my goal is 1000 songs in four years.

What does your typical writing process / schedule look like?
A CUP OF COFFEE A MUST!!! I can’t think without my cup-o-joe, so the first I thing I do is make myself a latte. I don’t even say good morning to my wife and baby boy until I have that coffee… Just kidding… That would be ridiculous! (No, really, I don’t say good morning to them.) Then I open up Logic Pro and start to build my idea from scratch. I usually get an idea right when I wake up, but if I don’t, I’ll pick up my guitar and noodle. If nothing comes from that, then it’s off to play video games! Yes, that’s right… video games. But I’ll only do that for about thirty minutes and then get back to the drawing board. If nothing comes to mind still, then I’ll jump-start the process by creating a generic flamenco tune.

What I’ve found to be most important is that I create something… regardless of quality. This is important for aspiring composers to understand. A composer cannot cannot CANNOT sit around and wait for inspiration to come. We have to be like those aggressive fisherman from Boston who go after the fish they want to catch. If they don’t go after the fish then they don’t get paid and that results in no income. It’s that simple. The universe is always asking “How serious are you about this?” And the response should always be “I’m dead serious”. By writing a song that I’m not inspired to write, it creates a certain kind of magnetism that draws the inspiration to me. Of course, having a good arsenal of theory in my belt helps greatly on those days when I’m just not ‘feeling it’. But from there, I find that inspiration starts to flow more and more fluidly. But I can’t stop; I always have to be writing. Every day. Every freakin day.

How does that process differ from your typical writing process?
Simple. Detachment. When I’m writing songs that I “care” about I tend to be too attached to the end result. I love the song too much. Love can actually deter you from finishing something. When you hate something it can do the same. With writing a song-a-day, you don’t have time to love or hate it. You simply have to get it done. No excuses. You’re detached from the loving or hating it. Which is actually one of the coolest things in the world. It’s very magical.

[quote] “O My brother! When a true seeker determineth to take the step of search in the path leading unto the knowledge of the Ancient of Days… He must so cleanse his heart that no remnant of either love or hate may linger therein, lest that love blindly incline him to error, or that hate repel him away from the truth.” – Bahá’u’lláh (Selections from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh p.192) [/quote]

Do you make lists of song topics which you choose from or do you just see how the day feels?
I make a list of song genres. I’m working on growing my Flamenco category right now and then off to more genres. Though if I’m randomly inspired to write a rock song I’ll go with it.

Do you co-write with others.. or is it strictly you alone?
I would love to because I think greater songs can come from people collaborating. But right now, with juggling family and the strict work schedule I have, there just isn’t time.

What has been the biggest challenge with the process?
Mixing and mastering. I’m not trained in either so I had to learn from scratch. The beauty of writing a song a day is that you learn how to do things really fast. If I can’t figure something out, there’s always a YouTube video out there with a wicked tutorial. Gotta love YouTube!

What was your biggest Ah-Ha moment during your song-a-day challenge?
Getting the kick to punch and the snare to not sound like poo. I still struggle with those two. It’s crazy how hard it is to get a kick to sound as punchy as the kick in ‘Gangnam Style‘ (for example). Sure, the song might be cheesy and silly but that kick sounds awesome!

How did writing a song-a-day affect your writing ability and/or process?
It’s taken the fear out of “I can’t do that” and turned it into “How can I do that?” One of the best examples was the song  “Pompeii” by E.S. Posthumus. I always loved that song but always thought I couldn’t write something like that. Then one day I woke up and thought “Why not?” So I did. Writing a song a day makes things not such a big deal. When things are huge in our minds it makes it hard to accomplish anything. But if you see hills instead of mountains then they’re much easier to overcome.

Was there any unexpected consequences?
Yes. Juggling family life and music life. It’s hard to put the creative mind down once it’s turned on. It just stays on ALL THE TIME and won’t leave me alone. When I’m done at 5 pm I do my best to be PRESENT with my family. That’s a very hard thing to do, as the inspiration (or Holy Spirit, whatever you want to call it) doesn’t care what you’re doing or how important playing at the park with your baby boy is. It’s just always on; Always communicating; Always sending new ideas. The good news is that, if an idea comes, I don’t have to stop what I’m doing anymore and rush to the studio to jot jot it down before I lose it. I simply tell the inspiration “Not now. I’ll come to you in the morning.” And if the inspiration isn’t there in the morning, tough. I still work.

How do you deal with burn out or writers block when you are on such a tight schedule?
Writers block and burnout to me are two different things. Writers block comes when I have no ideas. Burnout is the actual chemical affect from working too much. For writers block I use theory to get me out of tough corners. Theory can tell me to go from the minor 1st to the minor 6th and then to the dominant 5th for two beats. The rest is just mechanical. Last year I suffered majorly from burnout. I decided to quit music for a while and took up a job at Rogers (A local Canadian cellphone company) for ten months. That was a really good break. I had a great boss, made new friends, and had a great time while gaining new skills in sales! (something that I’ve never had… Though I actually still suck at sales. I mean, come on people. Do you REALLY need to buy the new Iphone 5 when you don’t even know how to text!?)

Engaging Your Community:

Why did you announce it to the world?
Because I, just like everyone else, am addicted to Facebook Compliments and Likes. Thus when I write a new song it gets upload to my Facebook and all my other social media sites and let the compliments roll in baby! (It’s vain. I know.)

Do you get your fans involved in the process?
I tried a little in the beginning (via Facebook, Twitter, and my Email List) The response time was a bit too slow to make it work. My process is so fast that there’s really isn’t enough time to get people’s help or assistance.

Do you share the songs as they are written?
I upload them daily as MP3s to my Reverbnation page which in turn uploads it to all my social media sites and my website. I don’t give the songs away for free but they are for sale for only $1.29 each and half of that goes to Half The Sky Movement which helps ‘turn oppression into opportunity for women worldwide’.

What has been the response so far?
The response had been great. Many people are sharing with their friends and more and more opportunities to perform have come about as a result. In addition, I’ve had more opportunities with shows and I just recently won a Oil Can Guitar from Bohemia Guitars. Pretty cool!

Are there any things you could do more effectively next time to engage your fans?
Yes. I could write my fans more often with my email list. But I’m just so busy I could probably use a secretary or something.

Closing Thoughts:

What have you gained as a result of this effort? Will you continue any aspect of the song a day writing process or schedule?
I think I’ve gained a better concept on how to produce. As well as what it means to go after inspiration and not sit around and wait for it. I think that’s what true spirituality is. It’s the going after it. The effort. I mean, isn’t that how dreams come to life; By us going after them and making an effort? A sincere, gut-wrenching, I think this going to drive me to insanity, effort.

What 3 pieces of advice would you give to those writers who might be looking to experiment with writing a song-a-day?
Write. Write and write. And start with writing 3 songs a day. That’s how I started.

Any other advice you can offer to songwriters who are still trying to develop the craft of songwriting?
Learn LOTS of covers so you can get ideas for your own music. Then go play those covers in pubs or bars or restaurants. Feel what it feels like to be ignored. Sorry, but food always trumps music… and then it’s sitting in front of them on their plates they’re not really interested in your heavenly soul-stirring music. It will toughen you up as well as give you an idea of which songs turn people’s heads and make them stop eating their sandwiches to listen to you. It will tell you which cover songs will earn you the best tips. From there, you can use that knowledge to write your own songs that turn people’s heads.

Also… Write. Write. And then write more. Through quantity you develop quality.

Where can aspiring songwriters find outlets to sell their music and start earning some royalty-based income?
Any Music Licensing company that offers NON-EXCLUSIVE deals. Do not sell the rights to your music. I repeat. DO NOT SELL THE RIGHTS TO YOUR MUSIC!!! A few companies that are non-exclusive that I write for are:

Music Dealers ( http://www.musicdealers.com/ )
Crucial Music ( http://www.crucialmusic.com/ )
Pump Audio ( http://www.pumpaudio.com/ )
Tribe of Noise ( http://www.tribeofnoise.com/ )

A huge thanks to Eric Harper for taking the time out of his busy schedule to do this interview. His experience, in a field, which few of us have had the opportunity to delve into, is immensely valuable. We encourage you to check out Eric’s reverbnation page and listen to the songs he is posting…. and if you like them.. buy them! Roughly half of the money from each sale goes to charity.

Check out Eric Harper’s albums on 9 Star Media or read more about him on his artist profile page.

Have you ever thought about finishing up some of your rough song ideas and submitting them for a music library? How many songs do you have sitting idly on your hard drive? Songs which didn’t quite make the cut? Leave a comment and let us know if this interview has given you any ideas… If so, share them! One lucky person who leaves a comment will receive a free download of Eric Harper’s newest release ‘Ribeira’.

The post Write Time – Part 3: An Interview with Eric Harper first appeared on 9 Star Media.

Robert is one of those songwriters we all dream of becoming. His ability to put pen to paper and turn ink to words invested with power and potency and then clothe them in a heartrending melody leaves us in awe… so when he announced that he was embarking on a song-a-day challenge for the month of May.. well, we had to see it unfold. And unfold it did. In the month of May he crafted a collection of compositions which are the makings for several albums. Poignant, passionate, and personal. There was no choice but to get in touch and get him to share a bit about the process with you. Sit back and enjoy our interview with Robert Gillies and his song-a-day-May adventures.

A Bit Of Background:

How did you get into songwriting?

I started dabbling in songwriting when I was 15. I was listening to a lot of Jurassic 5, High & Mighty, and Hieroglyphics, and I was so blown away by the word-play and delivery that I wanted to experiment and see if I could mimic it. It wasn’t until I was 19 and I was going through some pretty heavy things that it emerged as a true form of self-expression, a way of working through how I felt by getting it out through art.

When did you write your first complete song?
I wrote my first song in 2005, so we’re looking at almost 8 years.

Do you have any formal training?
Yes, both as a musician and as a songwriter. I started out with piano lessons when I was very small, trumpet lessons at 8, and I began to teach myself the guitar at 17. I was accepted to study at Berklee College of Music when I was 21, and studied both guitar and songwriting when I was there. It was an amazing experience.

When you write, are you trying to achieve something or just seeing where inspiration takes you?
A bit of both, unless I have a specific song topic in mind. I find that I generally start with the intent of just writing a song, almost like arriving at my workshop, getting my tools into order, and looking at a large chunk of marble. Sometimes the raw inspiration will tell you exactly what needs to be done with it, and sometimes you have to just start working to figure it out. It might start with an idea in the shower, some words and a melody that arrive and suggest a direction, or it might start out as me sitting down to work, and just writing, beginning with a stream of consciousness in writing.

What (technically) does your typical process look like?
I’ll generally try to have a specific place that I’ll write, at least once things really get moving. Things usually start as soon as I step in the shower, which means I shower pretty quickly as I’ll want to jump out and get the idea down ASAP. If things are a bit slow I tend to employ the Pomodoro Technique to put the pressure on (working in 25 minute blocks of time), but once the engines kick in, I’ll be in the song for as long as it takes – minutes, hours, even days. I’ve pulled so many all-nighters just to get something finished.

What did your songwriting frequency look like before you began your song a day challenge?
Before this month, it was fairly sporadic. I would go from 5-10 a month, to 5-10 a year. When I was most most focussed I was typically writing around 30 to 40 a year.

The Song-A-Day Challenge:

Tell us a bit about what made you decide to challenge yourself to write a song-a-day?
My friend, Danna Richards, invited me to join her in doing Song-A-Day May, along with several other writers. Danna made a name for herself on YouTube writing a song a day for an entire year. I was honoured to have been invited to be a part of it, so I jumped on board immediately.

What did you hope to gain from the process?
Initially, I was fueled by the prospect of the creative challenge; I thrive on challenges. But as I thought about it more, I realized that a project like this could have a major affect on me. Songwriting requires me to reflect on myself and the world around me, and I was going to be doing a lot of digging and contemplating. When you are reflecting that much, you can’t help but encounter an element of transformation.

How long will your song a day experiment last?
I started Song-A-Day May on May 1st, so I still have a few days to go. At this point I’m about 2 songs behind, so I have to play some major catch-up to finish on time.

How did the process differ from your typical writing process? (more than the fact that it happens in a day)
This month the focus has been on getting to the gist of a song as quickly as possible. If I have an idea already, or inspiration for a song, that’s great, but if I’m feeling a little dry I literally just start writing about anything. If I’m doing nothing it’s like standing still expecting to go somewhere. In this project it’s better to go anywhere than nowhere at all, better to write a song I don’t like than no song. One of my favourite methods of getting the creation station going is writing a silly song – one of my favourite silly songs so far is called ‘Things That I Can See From Where I’m Sitting’. It felt like a cop-out, but it got things going and turned out to be pretty funny.

Do you make lists of song topics which you choose from or do you just see how the day feels?
If there’s a topic that seems right for the day (Mother’s Day, a friend’s birthday, the Yaran), then I’ll focus on that. If not, then the mood of the day will take me along for the ride.

Do you co-write with others.. or is it strictly you alone?
I’ve collaborated with others both in writing and in arrangement. I wanted to do it to not only expand my own ideas as I realised I could get caught in a pattern, but it also helps take a little pressure off.

What has been the biggest challenge with the process?
The biggest challenge so far has been getting back into writing after feeling like I’ve burned out. It’s happened a couple of times – I’ve either completely spent myself emotionally, or invested a ton of creative energy into a recording, and I wake up feeling over it. It’s like running a marathon and hitting the wall. Totally exhausting.

What was your biggest Ah-Ha moment during your song a day challenge?
The biggest eureka moment that I can think of so far, off the top of my head, is when I came up with the final line of ‘Saviour in Late ’85’. Sometimes the final line or conclusion of a song will fall right into your lap, and it just feels so right. It’s hard to explain, but it really feels like a miniature revelation.

How did writing a song a day affect your writing or your writing ability and/or process?
It’s made me a faster and somewhat more effective writer. The whole process was like a bootcamp in songwriting. I’m also identifying patterns in my writing a lot faster, so I’m getting better at writing outside of my comfort zone and exploring new styles.

Were there any unexpected consequences?
Mental fog. Seriously, trying to play shows or interact with people this month has been pretty hilarious.

How do you deal with burn out or writers block when you are on such a tight schedule?
Dealing with burn out is a mixture of endurance and forgiveness. I have to be able to know when it’s right to keep writing, and know when I should take a break. In terms of writer’s block, I don’t believe in it. What studying songwriting has taught me, and what this month of songwriting has taught me, is that writer’s block is easily fought will a little detachment and the will to change creative directions. If I’m feeling stuck, I tend to find it’s because I’m trying to force something.

Engaging Your Community:

Why did you announce it to the world?
Firstly, I thought it would be a fun experiment for people to witness, something a little different. Secondly, I write songs for people to listen to, so I wanted people to know that they’d have something new to listen to each day. Lastly, it keeps me accountable. The more people are watching and engaging, the more it keeps me on task.

How are you promoting your song a day series? Do you get your fans involved in the process?
Though YouTube has been my main outlet, I been using Twitter and Facebook to promote the project. I try to get my friends and fans involved as much as I can, either by asking for ideas, words, or even for them to get involved by playing instruments along to the songs.

Do you share the songs as they are written?
Yep, through YouTube, daily. I toyed with the idea of using Soundcloud, but I wanted people to get as much of the experience as possible. I’m going to poll my fans at the end, asking them what their favourites are for putting together an EP.

What has been the response so far?
It’s been enormously positive. I’m seeing more engagement and conversations in each video and update than I have before. It’s been generating discussions on song topics, songwriting tips, and I’ve even had musicians/songwriters lending their feedback.

Are there any things you could do more effectively next time to engage your fans?
I think sticking to a timetable would help. That way there would be an expectation of material at a certain time of day, and a feeling of consistency.

Closing Thoughts:

What have you gained as a result of this effort? Will you continue any aspect of the song a day writing process or schedule?
I’ve definitely learned that I’m capable of turning out more material than I realised, and that it’s perfectly alright to write ‘bad’ songs along the way. In terms of continuation, I know I’d like to work on keeping up a weekly output for my fans.

What 3 pieces of advice would you give to those writers who might be looking to experiment with writing a song-a-day?
– Firstly: Write fearlessly. Don’t edit as you go, let the words flow out, even if you’re not immediately satisfied with the results. Judging your work before it’s even finished coming out is like judging a mine by it’s first cartload.
– Secondly: Start early in the day and take your time. That way you’ll have the idea rolling around in your mind even when you’re not directly focussing on the song.
– Lastly: Make sure you’ve planned to take enough time out of your day to make this project a success. Expect to have a reduced social life, but majorly increased brain activity. Seriously – it can get hard to slow your brain down after 3 weeks of solid songwriting.

Any other advice you can offer to songwriters who are still trying to develop the craft of songwriting?
If there’s one thing that’s really helped me get a big grip on writing, it’s been studying other people’s songs. That being said, there is a fine balance between learning about people’s writing and copying it. Learn how people achieve certain effects. If there’s a part of a song that makes you feel a certain way, try to figure out how the songwriter did it – what was the chord progression? What shape did the melody take? Was there a lot of rhyme, or was it fairly free flowing.

We want to thank Robert for taking the time to do this interview and to encourage you to check out his YouTube page. His song-a-day-May challenge resulted in so many great songs that we just couldn’t fit in this interview. You can find Robert Gillies YouTube page HERE and even though his SADM challenge is over, he has embarked on Tune-A-Tuesday-June… so you can keep listening to the fresh goodness.

Check out Robert’s debut album ‘Astronaut’ on 9 Star Media or read more about him on his artist profile page.

Next up, in part 3 of our three part series on songwriting, we profile another Bahá’í songwriter who has been using the strategy of writing a song-a-day for a whole different reason and with amazing results.

Which song of Roberts SADM series is your favorite AND why? Leave your comments below! One lucky person who leaves a comment will receive a free download of his debut album ‘Astronaut’!

The post Write Time – Part 2: An Interview with Robert Gillies first appeared on 9 Star Media.