After trying valiantly, but only moderately successfully to voice my disatisfaction with songwriting being described as ‘communication’, I feel I’ve little choice but to leave you with the thoughts and comments that other’s have sent me:
T.C.Elliot, whose songs can be heard here and here, said:
To me a rock or a carving or a beautiful sunrise is nothing if it does not communicate something more than what it is…What makes a picture of a sunset art instead of a document of a particular time and place? Does it communicate something more to you than merely a photographer was here at such and such time/place?
You wrote, “but I’m not sure that’s really what art does. ” and I think I agree. The purpose of art is not to communicate. It’s intention is not to communicate. A person does not get on the phone just for the act of communicating. But without communication that phone serves no purpose. For me for an object to be art it must have a message
Neil, who is also known as Lemonstar (listen to his music here) said:
Communication and expression. Thinking about my relationship with the music writing process and my motivation for trying to be creative I’ve come down to the following view. For me, generally, time spent writing music = time for reflection =(i.e. this leads to) therapy ( resolution) = motivation (action) = purpose (happiness). Often I’m helping my self to make sense of what I think or feel – I’m trying to communicate (talk) with myself first.
Nolan from the Charming Youngsters, on the other hand (who by the way have a song that begins ‘I knew a dinosaur that followed me home from the grocery store) said:
Arguments can be made for and against both sides. I know that personally, I’ve written from both approaches. However, the music I record and perform live is there to communicate, whereas the expressive music is mostly for myself.
These replies got me thinking about my own songwriting and why I do it. It’s been a long time since I felt the need to write directly about my feelings or use songwriting as a kind of therapy. However, my music does mean a great deal to me, and I certainly feel compelled to write.
Why do you write? Is it to express yourself? To communicate with others? A mixture of the two?
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