Discover your song DNA

An illuminating exercise from song-writing camp

A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure and privilege of attending Big Bend Songwriting retreat, in Hinton, West Virginia.

It was wonderful to be surrounded by other songwriters of different skill levels and experience, to learn songwriting from professional songwriter Shane Adams, and to toast s’mores and make music together by the campfire.

I’m writing today to share the exercise Shane asked us to do the first night, which I found so simple and so interesting.

Each of us has a unique song DNA

“Each of us has a unique song DNA,” Shane explained, that first night. “All the songs that we’ve loved and listened to in our lives.” He asked us to make two lists, 10 songs from childhood, and 10 songs from adulthood.

He defined childhood to mean roughly until high school. I interpret the end of childhood to mean: that point in life when music all of a sudden means something different. Does a particular moment or time come up for you? It’s different for each person. For me, this was the end of high school. Before, I listened to the same few songs, loved them, listened to them intensely. There was one night, for instance, where a friend and I stayed up all night, first singing all of Rent acapella then singing it through AGAIN with the soundtrack. I remember laughing and grinning as much my cheeks hurt the next day. After high school, my relationship with music changed. I was still in choir, but generally, music was more functional. I used it for studying, mostly. I had other things to think about.

Making these two lists gives us a glimpse of our own song DNA.

My childhood song DNA, for instance, is an embarrassing mix of mostly musicals and Disney. I found myself reflecting on questions such as: which was more formative, Circle of Life or I Just Can’t Wait to be King? (It was Circle of Life). No-brainers included the beginning village song from Beauty and the Beast (little town, it’s a quiet village…” and that melancholy broadway belter for unwanted girls and wannabe middle school broadway stars everywhere, On My Own. But also a few weirdos from my parents, like Sing by the Carpenters and Wake up, Little Susie by the Everly Brothers.

Intrigued? Here is the exercise for you, spelled out more concisely (I feel like I’m writing one of those long ass recipe posts that people scrolllllll through to finally get to the recipe lol).

THE “DISCOVER YOUR SONG DNA” EXERCISE:

1. Make a list of 10 songs you’ve loved in childhood.

2. Make a list of 10 songs you’ve loved in adulthood.

3. Look at the lists, noticing any patterns, and seeing yourself with this new lens.

4. (Optional) Share with someone and maybe encourage them to do the exercise too so you can learn about them?

What’s on your list? I’d love to know.

Please reply or comment below!

JOY

Ps: one of our classmates found that almost all the songs on his list started with the chorus, which was also the name of the song, first. How weird is that? Like Old Man River and Hit the Road Jack. 🤭🤔

PPS: whacha listening to today?