Chris DuBois: Hit songwriter and publisher shares writing strategies, Song outlines, inspiration and music biz

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 Chris DuBois is a songwriter and music publisher based out of Nashville.  He is co-owner of Sea Gayle Music with business partners Brad Paisley and Frank Rogers. 

Sea Gayle is one of the most successful independent publishing companies in all of music.  In 2010 and 2011, Sea Gayle was named ASCAP Country Publisher of the Year. It was the first time since 1982 that an independent publishing company had won that award. In 2009, Sea Gayle Music launched Sea Gayle Records as an imprint of Sony Music Nashville.

They have some of Nashville’s most successful roster of staff writer’s one of which was Chris Stapleton.

As a songwriter, DuBois has had more than 30 Top 20 singles including 17 songs that have reached No. 1. DuBois has been the recipient of over 30 ASCAP awards and in 2004 was named ASCAP Country Songwriter of the Year.[3] DuBois was also named NSAI Songwriter of the Year for 2010 and 2011.[4]

A few of these songs include:

Mud on the Tires: Brad Paisley

Your Man: Josh Turner

Buy me a Boat: Chris Jansen

You should probably leave: Chris Stapleton

 He has had songs recorded by artists such as:

Darius Rucker, George strait, Tim McGraw, Luke Bryan, Blake Shelton, Keith Urban, Chris Stapleton, Kenny Chesney, Adele, and Sheryl Crow to name a few.

In this episode Chris shares how he finds titles, inspiration, what he looks for in a writer to sign, we talk about revenue for writers, writing techniques, story songs, copywriting your songs and so much more!

Take aways:

• Identify the songs that give you chills
• Identify the moments in the songs that give you chills
• Then study what’s going on there melodically or lyrically
• Try to emulate what you’re hearing
• Try to write a song that sounds like a song you love
• Try the title game
• Write from a piece of art with a 500 word narrative
• Have an outline for your song 
• Think of a third layer

An exercise on finding song titles

Pick a piece of art

Write a written narrative on that pieces of art

500 word written narrative

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