Do you realize the magic you're creating? Many of us have felt a profound, almost indescribable connection listening to your lyrics. We've experienced feelings we never knew we had. And in this very first Substack post, you've offered us a glimpse—a peek into the beautiful process where words become the music that lives in our hearts. This is so much more than fun; this is pure magic.
When I was in college, I wrote a short fiction story based on "To The Dogs or Whoever." That song and album was such a pivotal experience for me, I loved reading this!
I love that the “about” in the creative process can emerge so late in the game—if I can use your metaphor—like it’s the beast under the water that was releasing the bubbles to the surface. Does the underwear make sense? Not at first. And maybe not upon completion. But this isn’t an article for the Times you’re writing. It doesn’t matter as long as it does indeed match the mood and the rhythm and shape of the song. I find even in writing non-fiction, the same happens.
I am new to this whole Substack thing, and what better way to get acquainted than to open my mind to lots of words from one of my favorite co-inhabitants of this crazy world. I can’t wait to find out what’s in store!
Fascinating, Josh. Thank you for sharing this! I once asked you about writing Wings, and you shared with me that it was one of the first times you tried letting images simply come to you and recording them as they did. I love, now, having a little more about this process and how I might be able to incorporate it into my own writing.
This is the best. I feel like it’s re-unlocking creative energy I haven’t felt in years.
That album holds a special place for me. It was the first of your albums I heard and it resonated deeply. “The Temptation of Adam” remains my absolute favorite song of all time to this day.
Looking forward to hearing the full Honeydew album soon too!
I was literally driving to work listening to this and hoping for a documentary to understand you more and the writing process. Love this type of insight.
Thanks for sharing that first deep dive technique. Though it feels more like a clever advice to listen to whatever/whoever is calling to get to the essence of something, that will eventually reveal itself.
Also, maybe as a conincidence, “Iris” has both a mystic background to the historical greek goddess that inpersonificates the rainbow and the iris within the human eye is also called “rainbow skin”…and the rainbow is the visible light and colour spectrum that remains a fragile and temporary gateway throughout the invisible world.
The first time I did listen to the song was around daybreak in the car on the sloppy highway to a canoe trip on Lake Superior…there was a rainbow for sure 😉
Love this! Knowing how one of my favorite songs (love them all but some tend to rise to the top like cream) came into being makes it even more of a fave!
Do you realize the magic you're creating? Many of us have felt a profound, almost indescribable connection listening to your lyrics. We've experienced feelings we never knew we had. And in this very first Substack post, you've offered us a glimpse—a peek into the beautiful process where words become the music that lives in our hearts. This is so much more than fun; this is pure magic.
You have beautifully expressed what I feel too. Many of these songs have made me feel like a changed person after listening to them.
When I was in college, I wrote a short fiction story based on "To The Dogs or Whoever." That song and album was such a pivotal experience for me, I loved reading this!
I’m gonna try the Iris method now. Thanks for sharing Josh.
Good luck! Don’t editorialize at first! Let the crazy stuff pile through!
I love that the “about” in the creative process can emerge so late in the game—if I can use your metaphor—like it’s the beast under the water that was releasing the bubbles to the surface. Does the underwear make sense? Not at first. And maybe not upon completion. But this isn’t an article for the Times you’re writing. It doesn’t matter as long as it does indeed match the mood and the rhythm and shape of the song. I find even in writing non-fiction, the same happens.
No doubt! “Sense” in the world is usually a much deeper fish than it may appear from the surface!
I am new to this whole Substack thing, and what better way to get acquainted than to open my mind to lots of words from one of my favorite co-inhabitants of this crazy world. I can’t wait to find out what’s in store!
Me too!
What an amazing peak behind the creative curtain!
Fascinating, Josh. Thank you for sharing this! I once asked you about writing Wings, and you shared with me that it was one of the first times you tried letting images simply come to you and recording them as they did. I love, now, having a little more about this process and how I might be able to incorporate it into my own writing.
"I thought I heard somebody calling" is a fantastic refrain, a wonderful little bit of mystery.
I'm a particular fan of the live version of this from Iveagh Gardens. I'll return to the version posted here for sure. Thanks Josh!
This is the best. I feel like it’s re-unlocking creative energy I haven’t felt in years.
That album holds a special place for me. It was the first of your albums I heard and it resonated deeply. “The Temptation of Adam” remains my absolute favorite song of all time to this day.
Looking forward to hearing the full Honeydew album soon too!
I really like this kind of stuff !
One of my favorite songs. Love hearing about the writing process, adds another dimension when listening again (and again, and again…)
I was literally driving to work listening to this and hoping for a documentary to understand you more and the writing process. Love this type of insight.
Side note. Please come to Austin
The songs that you list as having been written using this method are among my favourites Josh!
Thanks for sharing that first deep dive technique. Though it feels more like a clever advice to listen to whatever/whoever is calling to get to the essence of something, that will eventually reveal itself.
Also, maybe as a conincidence, “Iris” has both a mystic background to the historical greek goddess that inpersonificates the rainbow and the iris within the human eye is also called “rainbow skin”…and the rainbow is the visible light and colour spectrum that remains a fragile and temporary gateway throughout the invisible world.
The first time I did listen to the song was around daybreak in the car on the sloppy highway to a canoe trip on Lake Superior…there was a rainbow for sure 😉
Love this! Knowing how one of my favorite songs (love them all but some tend to rise to the top like cream) came into being makes it even more of a fave!
Really enjoyed reading this and learning more about your creative process, thank you!