Who do you TRUST for quality, constructive, critical musical feedback?

I spoke with a client the other day who mentioned that although his latest song had a bit of appeal to his friends, overall they don’t seem very enthusiastic about his music. His songs simply aren’t very well received by them.

I empathized immediately. Over the years, my closest friends never really seemed to care whether I had a performance or a song release unless it was already part of a high-profile project — Rent, The Lion King. Anything else I personally produced was simply not that interesting to them. It was not their taste, or not worth spending the money to see or support it.

I used to feel offended and hurt. I have come to learn that it is absolutely their prerogative to support my creative endeavors — or not to. Their lackluster response simply let me know that they were not my core audience, nor were they songwriters or musicians who could reflect a helpful professional opinion.

So who can you trust?

A key moment for me was realizing I had to put more thought into the music — beyond the artistry of it.

Become very clear about who you are seeking to serve, song by song. Writing for bold women who want to dance is very different from writing a song for my grandpa.
What do you hope to accomplish? Will they dance, meditate, put it on during dinner, cry, or laugh?
Get the right critical listeners. With a quality listener you can ask, “Did I accomplish what I desired?”

Who are your good listeners?

These listeners don’t have to love your style, but they can understand the goal of the song and speak constructively about what is working. They have the musical vocabulary and the ability to actively listen for three minutes. They can tell you how the song makes them feel — and, hopefully, why.

This is especially helpful when my own ears have heard the song so much that I can no longer hear it objectively. Fresh ears act as a reset.

My personal go-to is other songwriters whose work I respect. A mentor’s bird’s-eye view of your journey can be very helpful too.

Where are your good listeners?

Look for musical community at FAWM, your local songwriter’s association, Nashville Songwriters Association International, or reputable songwriting groups. There are also paid listening services if you need them.

Pro tip: If you participate in any songwriting retreat — virtual or in person — you will often end up with at least two trustworthy songwriters. That’s really all you need. They can be your extra ears, and you can be theirs.

TLDR: Know who you are seeking to serve. Know what you desire to accomplish. Then get constructive feedback into the right listener’s ears.

Peace & blessings — write on.

— Racquel