FEBRUARY 8, 2007

DESCRIBE YOUR WRITING PROCESS. IS THERE A FORMULA YOU'VE DISCOVERED THAT'S WORKED BEST FOR YOU CREATING HITS?

I've never really had a formula for writing.

I didn't get into writing as a profession initially, I got into it cause I loved reading and writing short stories, so it was a natural next step to tell stories with songs once I learned the guitar when I was 16.

In fact, the first song I ever wrote ended up becoming my first hit - "Who Will Save Your Soul" - and it sure surprised me because I never even thought about or knew what a hit was when I wrote it.

To me writing a song is about telling the truth. Even today as my education and experience with music has grown, I still try to look at writing as fun and not a job - my philosophy is to write as much as possible. The more you write the less pressure you feel. When I make a record I have more songs than I need and never have the pressure of trying to write a "hit".

The only time the process changes for me is when I am writing for someone else - then it's more of a job, with a certain direction or mark to hit. But even then I still believe in trying not to follow what's on the radio, but coming up with something that sounds different and interesting. It's a fun job!

Past Entries:

• (2/2) YOU'VE HOSTED FOUR SHOWS NOW, WHAT HAS SURPRISED YOU MOST ABOUT YOUR ROLE AS HOST? WHAT HAVE YOU LIKED AND DISLIKED?
• (1/25) THE CONTESTANTS REALLY SEEM TO TAKE THE JUDGES' COMMENTS TO HEART. IF YOU WERE COMPETING, WOULD YOUR RESPONSE BE THE SAME OR WOULD YOU HAVE A DIFFERENT STRATEGY?
• (1/18) WHAT PIECE OF ADVICE CARRIED YOU THROUGH THE TOUGHEST TIME IN YOUR CAREER? WHO GAVE IT TO YOU? HAVE YOU PASSED IT ON TO THE ELIMINATED CONTESTANTS?
• (1/11) WHAT'S YOUR OUTLOOK FOR THE NEW SEASON?