This post is just as much a tutorial for myself as it is for you. Those of you who have heard our music will know that we don’t generally adopt lyrics as a rule. There is more than one reason for this. Firstly, I’m just not good at writing lyrics. There is also the fact that instrumental music is abstract in nature. That is the way I like it. It leaves you to imagine whatever you want in the music without being dictated. In today’s post, HXX shows you how to develop deeper meaning in your lyrics.
Who is Hxx?
Hxx is a Zimbabwe-born rapper who has lived in Montreal since age one. Therefore, he won’t remember Zimbabwe and his whole life in America.
Rap and hip-hop get a negative press as music that fuels crime and disorder. The artists who make this music are seen as rubbish and inferior to those who can play an instrument well. However, it is essential to note that rap and hip-hop take a lot of skill and experience to get right. Therefore, you should never consider it inferior to your music.
Hxx loves to put a lot of thought into his music, and he manages this by looking at all the ways in which he can say something and then make the most of the results.
How to Develop Deeper Meaning in Your Lyrics: How does Hxx do it?
Hxx shows us that the best way to write lyrics is to look at all of the ways something can be said. We learn that looking outside the box is an excellent strategy for learning more about how to develop deeper meaning. What can you see in your music? Is anything else happening in the picture? What colours are the different elements? Is the sky red? Is the grass green or yellow? Who is there? What are they saying and/or doing? How does that add meaning to the song?
Hxx writes about personal experience. What emotions is he feeling from the lyrics? How can he convey those emotions through the songs?
How many different ways are there to say something? For instance, how many different ways are there for a guy to tell a girl that he loves her?
How to Remember Those Lyrics in the Future?
Hxx keeps a notebook handy for times when inspiration comes to mind. Whoever you are, as an artist, you will always find inspiration from time to time. As an abstract musician, I always find that. My keyboard is next to my bed. Therefore, in the middle of the night, I will get up and play a few keys if something comes to mind. I can then write it down before I get back into bed.
In the past, I have left it until the morning. In that case, I nearly always forget what I was playing in the night. Therefore, writing it down and making a note is your best option. Some of you may have a spouse or a partner. I have a wife, and she has to put up with it. She doesn’t favour me playing music at night, but that is precisely what I need to do. Therefore, I do it.
Hxx’s Best Advice on How to Develop Deeper Meaning in Your Lyrics and Getting It Perfect
Just as we say in the UK, “practice makes perfect”. Therefore, if you do something enough times, it becomes near perfect enough. Your audience doesn’t notice your mistakes. If you make any mistakes, you become the only person who sees them. This makes you feel accomplished and confident.
What Should the Audience Feel When the Artist is Performing?
Hxx tries to instil all of the emotion in the audience through the lyrics. What does the audience think and feel? How should they react? Do the lyrics convey any emotion? What does the vocalist want the audience to feel?
As far as Hxx is concerned, it is all about connecting with the right crowd. He explains that he doesn’t want any old crowd to like his music, just the people he has associated with. Hxx also explains that he appreciates feedback from the audience. Who heard the song? What did they think of the song? Did the music help them in any particular way?
How to Develop Deeper Meaning Through Beliefs, Folklore, etc.
Do you have any beliefs that you want to share with your audience? What is your religion? How does that impact your life? What does it mean for you as a person and as a musician? Do you believe in any folklore or superstition? You can use any of these to create a deeper meaning for your music.
Further Advice on How to Develop Deeper Meaning in Your Lyrics
Hxx also advises you to be yourself. Don’t try and be someone else. Be cool and open with others you are trying to work with because nobody cares about who you are. The only thing that people want to know is whether you can do what you say you can do. Therefore, don’t big yourself up when you know you can’t match that skill or experience level. Don’t brag about yourself if it’s true, especially if you are making it up. They may ask you to fulfill what you are saying, and then you look like a dick. It’s just not cool.
How to Develop Deeper Meaning in Your Lyrics – Conclusion
Now that you have more idea on how to develop deeper meaning in your lyrics, it’s your turn to have a go at writing something. What have you learned today? Have you been inspired by anything in the post? Does your music need lyrics? Have you ever considered rapping?
Thanks, go to the LandR YouTube Channel for the inspiration for this post. Please consider subscribing to the L and R channel and supporting their vital work further.
If you have enjoyed today’s post and want to learn more about future posts, you can find them here or in the list below. Thank you so much for reading this post.
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