This episode of the Song Saloon features Mike McClellan, a Burbank-based songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist. McClellan shares insights into his approach to songwriting as a music producer, and why he writes while working so heavily in production. He discusses the impact of working on his song 'The Afterlife,' a piece inspired by the pandemic, highlighting the new life it took on post pandemic with its abstract and universal themes. Mike and Jordan exchange thoughts on the lyricism, melody, and the process of song creation, including working with unusual time signatures. We also chat about the shortcomings of streaming platforms, detailing Mike's experience with his music being removed from Spotify due to bot-generated streams and the lack of support from distribution and streaming companies. They conclude with a discussion on the importance of building genuine connections with an audience beyond streaming numbers. This episode offers a look into the complexities of modern songwriting, production, and navigating the digital music landscape.
00:00 Welcome to the Song Saloon: Introducing Mike McClellan
00:27 Getting to Know Mike: the Masterful Multifaceted Musician
01:18 Balancing Songwriting and Production
04:28 Exploring the Abstract in Songwriting
05:51 Lyrics in 'The Afterlife'
07:44 Live Performance
11:04 Song Structure
19:40 Exploring Musical Influences and Time Signatures
20:35 "Comfortable" Writing Music
21:42 The Maya Principle: Balancing Novelty and Comfort
32:12 Building Your Fanbase
37:58 Final Thoughts and Future Projects
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