Episode 6: Write Me A Genre

35 min • 20 mars 2025

Welcome to the sixth episode of Write Me A Song: A Songwriting Podcast with Edward Randell and Olivia Rafferty! Thanks for joining us on this journey so far. Take a listen to this week’s songwriting challenge and don’t forget we’d love you to get involved too! Scroll down to read this week’s homework and the submission link.

🎵 Episode 6: Write Me A Genre

This week Edward presents Olivia with a list of genres:

1. Great American Songbook

2. Math rock

3. Disco

4. Sea shanty

5. Ska-punk

6. Trip-hop

They pick one at random and Olivia has to write a song in that genre (she’s crossing for fingers for no sea shanties!).

Listen to the episode to see what she has to write!

🎹 Your Songwriting Homework!

1. Take a look at the of six genres above or write your own numbered list of six random genres.

2. Roll a dice — whatever genre it lands on, that’s the music you are now going to immerse yourself in for the week, until you write your new song!

3. When you first listen to this new genre, write down your impressions. What instruments are used? What rhythms does it feature? What are the lyrics about? What are common motifs used in the songs? Notice the ‘furniture’ of the genre.

4. Take three things (at least one musical and one lyrical) from this list and use it to write a song, inspired by the genre. It’s all about how your natural songwriting process is affected by these variables.

5. Record a demo and send it in!

Upload your song to be featured on the podcast or newsletter below:

Share Your Work

📚 Episode References

🪩 Our Write Me A Song Disco Playlist!

💻 Nahre Sol ‘As Digested By a Classical Pianist’ Videos

💻 BBC’s Disco at the Proms 2024

💿 Stream/buy Olivia’s new album

🎟️ Tickets for Edward’s String Quartet Show on 3rd April

🎸 Find Us Elsewhere…

* Listen to Edwards’s music

* Sign up to Edwards’s newsletter