Songwriting in a Capitalist Environment

If you have ever worked as a songwriter in a city like Nashville or Los Angeles, then you are familiar with how typical capitalist structures have impacted the creative experience. Daily sessions are customary. Songwriters churn out hundreds of songs that are thrown into the waste bin each year. Nashville writers in particular often work until 5pm, a sharp cutoff. Christmas vacation extends from December into the first week of January or later until everyone comes back to do it all again. A 9 to 5 worker mentality is just as common in songwriting as it is in other industries.

This type of routine can be beneficial to a songwriter or artist, especially when they’re just starting to sharpen their craft. But, over time, this type of work schedule can drain us of inspiration. Like most workers in Western Capitalist society, songwriters are prone to burnout and work-based exhaustion. These feelings can induce writer’s block and make us feel negatively about our output. We might even question our capabilities if we can not able to churn out songs like a machine.

After years of reflection, I can confidently say that these norms need to be reevaluated. An American work ethic and the act of creation are not always good bedfellows. The creative process requires rest, relaxation, time to explore, time to think and reflect. Often times, a spark of inspiration is the culmination of many hours spent doing literally anything besides being actively creative. Those things are hard for us to square away in a culture where we are constantly bombarded with messages about productivity.

I’m hopeful that this mentality will change. Songwriters and artists deserve the proper time and space to meditate on the messages that they want to put out into the world. I encourage you all to go easy on yourselves as you set up schedules to write. Remember that, even when you are struggling to write, you are still a writer.