The Story in a Song: Finding the Feeling

Workshop 4: Do it for the Vibes

It’s Week 4 of The Story in a Song workshop — the final instalment of my four-part love-letter to music and writing!

If you’re just joining in, or haven’t had a chance to try the rest of the workshops, you can find them all here:

• Intro Exercise (FREE): I Bet You Think This Song is About You

• Week 1 (FREE): The Story in a Song — Melodic Narratives

• Week 2 (🔒): The Story in a Song — Building Character

• Week 3 (🔒): The Story in a Song — This is the Place

Take your time and dip in and out as you like. All the workshops will be available to paid subscribers anytime (and there are a heap of exercises and playlists to keep you occupied).

So. Let’s get into workshop #4:

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The Feeling in a Song

So far we’ve looked at borrowing story structures, characterisation and settings from songs — layering up the details, expanding on a concept or premise, and following our own train of thought in response to musical narratives.

This week, we’re going to open our ears to something a little bit more abstract. Because sometimes a song is less of a story and more of a vibe. Sometimes its inspiration lies in the emotion it evokes or the atmosphere it encapsulates.

Sometimes, it’s all about the feels.

To quote myself from Workshop #1:

“Some songs are an expression of feeling, from celebration to catharsis. Some songs explore complex thoughts and emotions that we may continue to struggle to process, even as the music gives us comfort. Some songs give us meaning, or send a message, or give us a brief insight into someone else’s soul.”

Music is inherently emotional. And personal. We all have songs that connect with our own unique experiences of love and loss. We listen to music to relax, to let out some rage, or match to a sensitive mood.

Songs can bring up memories or remind us of a particular person. Songs can haunt us, energise us, and sometimes even provoke totally unexpected feelings (I may have cried a few times because of songs on this week’s playlist).

And sometimes none of this has anything to do with the ‘story’ in the song. Music can work spectacular magic in bringing those emotions to the surface on its own — the swell of an orchestra; the edge of a voice; the thud of a backbeat; the echo of a sweet harmony; the silence before the drop; the minor fall and the major lift…

Music can build a whole entire vibe — with or without words — and that’s where we’re going to find the inspiration for a story this week.

Now let’s get listening (and writing):

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A VIBES Playlist

This week’s playlist contains a collection of songs that focus on a particular emotion, create a tangible atmosphere, or otherwise bring some serious vibes to the table.

As always: listen to as much or as little as you like. Skip, shuffle, cherrypick, or make your very own playlist. Take your time, enjoy the music, and see where your imagination takes you. And as you do, try to zone in on the feeling and atmosphere and mood of each song…