Daily Tips #3

Just wanted to throw a couple tips out there to help you guys out! 

01. If you're a songwriter and accustomed to a certain style, don't be afraid to branch out and explore! 

For me, I can't even count how many times that I've changed styles over the course of my songwriting. Well, I probably could, but that's besides the point, aha. When I was younger, I would listen to every single genre, every song, and watch every music video. Since dancing was my first musical passion, during the times I would listen to a song, I would never care about the genre, because I never thought that I would ever portray writing in a single genre of music one day. My mind was very open.

That's why I was so surprised that after I would write poems, I dove right into writing rap material. I would try to write a rap song, after every poem I wrote. 

(Not to say the raps were that good either, aha). 

 

Me (Julian Wilson) standing outside my High School

However, after my first, original song "Don't Run" was recorded and released, my entire outlook on writing music changed. It's as if I went through a metamorphosis. It actually felt amazing. Since "Don't Run" was a rock song, after its release, it managed to open my eyes to a whole new world, (not an 'Aladdin' reference...or was it? =P). 

Very soon after that, I found myself being able to write both rap and rock material for music. After that, I even started to dive into writing different styles of both rap and rock, as well.

It just goes to show that sometimes through experience, it can change your life for the better. Just remember, if you're accustomed to listening to a certain genre, or writing songs a certain way, remember that if you take a risk you don't think you should take, it can end up being a gift, rather than a curse. That's the one thing that everyone should take from this Draftboard post! ^^

Sincerely,
Julian.

"Don't Run"

Hello all,

This marks a very special post, for Draftboard. In this post, I am going to explain the full story of my original song, "Don't Run," and how it was important in helping me to create this website and blog. Will you read the whole thing? I hope so. ^^

This was the recording room/booth at Noe1Studios.

In 2011, and 2012, a lot of memories were 'produced' in the room, posted above. That room is where I first had my experiences recording in a studio, and where I experienced what it finally felt like to hear your own voice, to the point where you question it, and don't believe that it's actually yours. 

I recorded a couple covers in the studio, like "My Girl" by the group 'The Temptations,' and "Bigger Than Love" by the band 'My Favorite Highway.'

However, even though having those experiences were more than I could ever imagine, I've always wanted a song that I could call my own. Sort of like, "Yeah, I wrote that song." In October of 2011, I had mentioned to my music mentor, Scott McIntosh, that I actually wrote my own lyrics, and sang my own songs. He thought it was pretty cool, but we were just beginning as mentor and student, so he wanted to give me time to grow and really see if I could be up to the challenge of writing and recording my own song.

After I recorded multiple covers with the help of mentor Scott, and crew, including my friend and sound engineer, Rebecca Suss, in March 2012, I finally asked the question to Scott. 

"Scott, just wondering, is there a chance that I can write and record a song before my internship ends?

My music mentor Scott McIntosh (right).

Scott with open arms, agreed to the request, and told me, "Sure, we can try it. Let's see what you got."

I was so excited for the challenge that I began writing the song that same day. In the beginning of the process however, there were a couple problems. One was that I've always wanted to title a song of mine, "Late To Fate," and I had written a rap that was named under that title. Both of us, my mentor and I didn't really want to pursue rap for my first song. I knew that despite how much I loved how it came out, I would have to change it to a rock-oriented format. 

As it goes, I reformatted "Late To Fate" from a rap, into a rock song. I really liked how it came out, and so did Scott. Also, at this point it was vastly different from how "Don't Run" was in the end. 

However, there were still a couple problems with the layout of the song, lyrically. First off, Scott confirmed that it was too long of a song (which it was...like seven minutes long!). Scott expressed to me that he thought I should change the title from "Late To Fate," to "Don't Run."

After hearing that, I really did not know what to do. I loved that title, and for some reason (a reason I still don't know today), I've always (and still) wanted a song of mine, named "Late To Fate." However, I knew Scott knew what he was talking about, so I changed the title to "Don't Run," and after one last rewrite, the song permanently became "Don't Run."

I wasn't bitter towards the decision at all, but even happier than I was before, because I knew that a song of mine was IN THE WORKS. A feeling that I still can't even begin to describe today. We were finally on the road with recording "Don't Run." We needed two female singers as recruits to sing back up, and I asked my friends Tori Dougherty, and Jenna Frisolone, to help me out. When they agreed to be on the song, my heart literally overflowed with joy. I was so happy.

Me singing into the mic one day, at Noe1Studios, =P.

It took us three total days, to record "Don't Run" at Noe1Studios, the studio located in North Bellmore. After we finished recording the song, we put finishing touches on it and mastered it for release. It was copyrighted, and I showed the song for the first time in front of 40+ students and adults in one of my classes, during my senior year of High School, on May 7th, 2012. 

The day after, I released the song to the world of social media on May 8th, 2012, to sites such as YouTube, Twitter, and Facebook. People heard it out, and really liked how it sounded. I didn't think twice about what "Late To Fate" was meant to be, because the only thing that mattered now was what "Don't Run" became. 

To this day, I don't regret anything, because it was the creation of "Don't Run" that led to me writing more songs, singing more, becoming more thankful of my family and friends, and inspiring me to create this website. 

That's the quick story of "Don't Run" (Quick?! Are you kidding me?!). Yeah, I know, =P, but I really appreciate those of you who read this entire post. Thank you so much. That will be all. =)

Who knows? I still might write "Late To Fate" as its own song, but we'll see where the future takes me, aha. However, I have a feeling that I'm not yet done with "Don't Run." Meanwhile, another part of me says I'm not done with "Late To Fate" either. Hah, well what can I really say? Songwriting is funny. =P

Till next post! =D. Thanks for reading!
   
Sincerely,
Julian.

Ready to Write Our Lives!

Hello everyone,

My name is Julian Wilson, and I am a singer-songwriter! Lately I've been wondering about something. I've heard a couple times throughout my life (even though I'm only 19, haha), that music is the closest thing we have to a 'universal language.'

Universal?! (That means all of the galaxies right?)

Well, not quite. Not universal in terms of milky ways and stars across the horizon, but more so in connectivity. Not only as musicians, actors, and athletes, but as people. We always find ourselves looking to connect with one another. For little young me (see what I did there), I found a way to stretch that connection, a little bit less than two years ago. 2012, marks the year when I became a 'full-time' songwriter, and when I wrote and recorded my first song, "Don't Run."

Oh yeah, I got the sign! That's right, =p

However, this blog is not about the journey of one song. It's not about the journey of my time being a songwriter. This blog is about how I want to help others, through my songwriting, and help to build a community that is based off of a foundation of speaking out about yourself, and most importantly not being shy to bring something that you have made to the table. 

Welcome to Draftboard, everybody!

I will explain the rundown of Draftboard in the next post, but for now, sit back, relax and enjoy the song that drove me to 'draft' this site up, "Don't Run." Located in the link below.

 "Don't Run" / DON'T RUN

Till next time, peace out my drafters!

Sincerely,
Julian.