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Upcoming classes:

To sign up for the April 5th workshop: "The songwriting of Taylor Swift":

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1252499231919?aff=oddtdtcreator

To support this podcast and membership:

https://buymeacoffee.com/scarlet.keys

Show take aways:

• Try writing a song using the words and rhythm of a nursery rhyme to try audio doodling in your melody.
• Write your chorus first
• Start a song with the chorus
• You need input for output: Go hear live music, new music, travel, try new things, read...

ABOUT TODAY'S GUEST:

Rodney Alejandro

Grammy nominated artist/songwriter/producer Rodney Alejandro stands as a formidable polymath whose talents span an impressive array of roles both on stage and in the studio.

Renowned for his dynamic passion for music, Alejandro has excelled as a
musician, arranger, songwriter, producer, music director, executive, and educator,
establishing himself as a linchpin in the entertainment world.
In one of his eras, Alejandro dazzled audiences worldwide as the keyboardist and music director for the international pop band, The Script.

His innovative arrangements transformed the band’s hits into captivating live experiences, weaving emotional
narratives that swung from exhilarating highs to poignant lows, leaving concert-goers spellbound.

Alejandro’s illustrious career as a live performer includes collaborations with an array of music legends. From the Latin rhythms of Mañá, and Chucho Valdez y Irakere to the soulful strains of Stevie Wonder and Labrinth, to the rock prowess of Roger Daltry and Bunburry, his diverse collaborations have cemented his reputation as a versatile and sought-after talent.
Before joining The Script, he had already made a name for himself behind the scenes.

His songwriting and production prowess has earned him accolades across multiple genres, including English, Latin, and Asian music markets. He has contributed to multiple Grammy and Latin Grammy nominated projects and earned a Billboard Latin Pop Album of the Year, along with numerous gold and platinum certifications.

In the studio, Alejandro's versatility shines through, with his fingerprints on projects ranging from R&B giants like Ray Charles and The Tempatations, to Latin superstars like Kumbia Kings and Olga Tañon, Zydeco royalty Sean Ardoin, and rock legend Sammy Hagar.

His contributions have spanned various projects showcasing his ability to adapt
and excel in diverse musical settings.
Alejandro’s talents extend to television and film as well, where he has composed and produced music for acclaimed shows such as "The Shield" (Golden Globe winner for Best Drama Series), “Thief,” and “The Ellen DeGeneres Show”(Latin Theme).

His work has also enriched the soundtracks of programs like CBS’s “The Unit”, HBO’s “Pee-Wee Herman's Broadway Special” and “Smallville.”

His current era has been thirty plus years in the making. Although he initially deferred college to pursue a major record deal, he later attended San Jacinto Junior College, followed by Berklee College of Music, where he graduated summa cum laude with dual majors in Contemporary Writing and Product

Scarlet's website:

https://www.scarletkeys.com

Scarlet's instagram: https://www.instagram.com/scarletkeysofficial/

To purchase Scarlet Keys' book "The Craft of Songwriting:

https://www.amazon.com/Craft-Songwriting-Music-Meaning-Emotion/dp/0876391927/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2PP55NU6E9ST6&keywords=the+craft+of+songwriting&qid=1659573139&sprefix=the+craft+of+songwritin%2Caps%2C153&sr=8-1

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In this episode, I speak with Neuroscientist, author and musician Dr. Daniel Levitin on how music affects our health. From reducing cortisol to lessening the effects of Parkinsons and how we can use music as medicine! We talk science and his new book "I Heard there was a Secret Chord: Music as Medicine":

Daniel Levitin's music:
https://open.spotify.com/artist/7iRoKs96ka4AJPOA39VJj5?si=su7HYKBPT5y1LKw1ws5YfQ

https://www.daniellevitin.com/contact

https://www.amazon.com/Heard-There-Was-Secret-Chord/dp/1324036184/ref=sr_1_1?crid=274VRU3KC3Q2Y&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.5IaZHwLTgwh8-AzCAHt3kPDTjEUUDj8oH7KYdhuKtZU8XWjEBPwfWA2yUYORIZ_itvi4tir_1TPCxuwyfK5XhOgIuWi6s06iC9NL3rlr-0S7HxC5Dhb2zElgfXUKl9fq5hukodT71mwY0kfSQfodgZvyabALJAoj0-7dbUmqsXQpzu5Vcq8ecsXDWAOC9uUgfRz9X35zmy3J08juQ3Qua_O5xLXVEks31MwO7kqidw0.izSDOoW9LvNCZ-lOnOMvJqL_cNZZlqR5IfpZ0pimcqM&dib_tag=se&keywords=music+as+medicine&qid=1733872553&sprefix=music+as+medicine%2Caps%2C200&sr=8-1

Mixed by Peter Sykes: https://www.petersykesmusic.com/

Otto Gross: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMnxx19QD-vxD4wnYGTn3Jw

Scarlet's website:

https://www.scarletkeys.com

Scarlet's instagram: https://www.instagram.com/scarletkeysofficial/

To purchase Scarlet Keys' book "The Craft of Songwriting:

https://www.amazon.com/Craft-Songwrihttps://www.amazon.com/Craft-Songwriting-Music-Meaning-Emotion/dp/0876391927/ref=sr_1_1?crid=119TH6YQTH349&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.GwjMoShoQQ4LkwVcPHTP5IsFQanO1VPyx1zz3Bb4-7Ffl9gB95Og0_jt8TG-PMDAg4o3Q2vuEwWCma8wUo-DHpR6mFM_eZ6d07zqSbtlMiP1zBKXa2KP6P0g3jksVGTLOkWjxCsHAiNyGUQGHdxttbW_gEag07lREzcDa6Gvc2aN6DYqIurxcLK-xNKq52dS8bK9mDf-I3NHkS_Eu9WuhM7i1cIed4EMOhKHAgQpccs.KkFHodeEgcHLFavSPdmBuI0yXDQ5mWY3pbRLlxJi5lk&dib_tag=se&keywords=the+craft+of+songwriting&qid=1733872594&sprefix=the+craft+of+songwritin%2Caps%2C148&sr=8-1

Scarlet's website:

https://www.scarletkeys.com

Scarlet's instagram: https://www.instagram.com/scarletkeysofficial/

To purchase Scarlet Keys' book "The Craft of Songwriting:

https://www.amazon.com/Craft-Songwriting-Music-Meaning-Emotion/dp/0876391927/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2PP55NU6E9ST6&keywords=the+craft+of+songwriting&qid=1659573139&sprefix=the+craft+of+songwritin%2Caps%2C153&sr=8-1

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To sign up for the November 23rd virtual LYRIC WRITING WORKSHOP:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1070697919299?aff=oddtdtcreatorhttps://www.eventbrite.com/e/1080037885389?aff=oddtdtcreator

My guest today is New England based singer/songwriter Jesse Terry.

Before I introduce him I wanted to let you know that on Saturday Nov. 16th I am offering a virtual 3 hour songwriting workshop. There are a few spaces left and you can sign up through the show notes or on my website at scarletvkeys.com

This workshop will be very process oriented focused on lyric writing.

You will be doing a lot of small writing exercises to sharpen your lyric writing skills. We will work on metaphor, avoiding cliche’s and literary devices used by some of the best writers.

Today we will talk about his writing process, crowd funding an album with your super fans and some of the reasons he writes such beautiful melodies. He’s going to play a few song off of his new record Arcadia, released Oct. 4. And this might just be his best record yet.

It’s rooted in rhythmic rock & roll and sharp songwriting, Arcadia marks a turning point in Jesse Terry's career. It's the seventh original album from an award-winning musician who's spent much of the past decade on the move, playing 150 shows annually, bouncing between solo performances and full-band gigs. Arcadia captures both sides of that musical personality, finding room for amplified anthems one moment and intimate moments the next, showcasing just how wide Terry's reach can be. Arcadia is layered with dueling electric guitars, stacked vocal harmonies, and heartland hooks, all supplied by instrumentalists like Ethan Ballinger (Miranda Lambert, Lee Ann Womack), Ross McReynolds (Katie Pruitt, Becca Mancari), Sam Howard (Molly Tuttle, Joy Williams), Juan Solorzano (Ruston Kelly, Parker Millsap), and Danny Mitchell (Rodney Crowell, Anderson East). It's a big, bold sound — the sort of record that begs to be played in the car, windows rolled down, driving down the fast lane toward some new horizon. At the center of that sound is the craft Terry has been sharpening since his years in Nashville, back when he composed songs for others as a staff writer on Music Row. A grand-prize winner of the John Lennon Songwriting Contest, Terry established himself as a top-shelf.

Jesse's new record: https://open.spotify.com/album/5lpXAMZDC4hqAU0t2AV29Z?si=SpFXPTHsSL-BidKeOtVbgg

https://www.jesseterrymusic.com/

Become a podcast member:
Join the "What's in a Song" membership community:
https://buymeacoffee.com/scarlet.keys



Mixed by Peter Sykes: https://www.petersykesmusic.com/

Otto Gross: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMnxx19QD-vxD4wnYGTn3Jw

Scarlet's website:

https://www.scarletkeys.com

Scarlet's instagram: https://www.instagram.com/scarletkeysofficial/

To purchase Scarlet Keys' book "The Craft of Songwriting:

https://www.amazon.com/Craft-Songwri

Scarlet's website:

https://www.scarletkeys.com

Scarlet's instagram: https://www.instagram.com/scarletkeysofficial/

To purchase Scarlet Keys' book "The Craft of Songwriting:

https://www.amazon.com/Craft-Songwriting-Music-Meaning-Emotion/dp/0876391927/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2PP55NU6E9ST6&keywords=the+craft+of+songwriting&qid=1659573139&sprefix=the+craft+of+songwritin%2Caps%2C153&sr=8-1