What's in a Song

By: Scarlet Keys
  • Summary

  • This is a weekly podcast about the craft of songwriting hosted by Berklee College of Music Professor Scarlet Keys. She takes deep dive into the craft, technique and art of songwriting in conversations with eminent songwriters, producers, and other creatives asking questions only a songwriting professor would ask so listeners can walk away inspired and armed with clear and actionable tools and techniques they can apply to their songwriting.
    © 2024 What's in a Song
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Episodes
  • Music as medicine- The health benefits of listening to your favorite songs with Neuroscientist Dr. Daniel Levitin
    Dec 10 2024

    Send us a text

    In this episode, I speak with Neuroscientist, author and musician Dr. Daniel Levitin on how music affects our health. From reducing cortisol to lessening the effects of Parkinsons and how we can use music as medicine! We talk science and his new book "I Heard there was a Secret Chord: Music as Medicine":

    Daniel Levitin's music:
    https://open.spotify.com/artist/7iRoKs96ka4AJPOA39VJj5?si=su7HYKBPT5y1LKw1ws5YfQ

    https://www.daniellevitin.com/contact

    https://www.amazon.com/Heard-There-Was-Secret-Chord/dp/1324036184/ref=sr_1_1?crid=274VRU3KC3Q2Y&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.5IaZHwLTgwh8-AzCAHt3kPDTjEUUDj8oH7KYdhuKtZU8XWjEBPwfWA2yUYORIZ_itvi4tir_1TPCxuwyfK5XhOgIuWi6s06iC9NL3rlr-0S7HxC5Dhb2zElgfXUKl9fq5hukodT71mwY0kfSQfodgZvyabALJAoj0-7dbUmqsXQpzu5Vcq8ecsXDWAOC9uUgfRz9X35zmy3J08juQ3Qua_O5xLXVEks31MwO7kqidw0.izSDOoW9LvNCZ-lOnOMvJqL_cNZZlqR5IfpZ0pimcqM&dib_tag=se&keywords=music+as+medicine&qid=1733872553&sprefix=music+as+medicine%2Caps%2C200&sr=8-1

    Mixed by Peter Sykes: https://www.petersykesmusic.com/

    Otto Gross: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMnxx19QD-vxD4wnYGTn3Jw

    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-Songwrihttps://www.amazon.com/Craft-Songwriting-Music-Meaning-Emotion/dp/0876391927/ref=sr_1_1?crid=119TH6YQTH349&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.GwjMoShoQQ4LkwVcPHTP5IsFQanO1VPyx1zz3Bb4-7Ffl9gB95Og0_jt8TG-PMDAg4o3Q2vuEwWCma8wUo-DHpR6mFM_eZ6d07zqSbtlMiP1zBKXa2KP6P0g3jksVGTLOkWjxCsHAiNyGUQGHdxttbW_gEag07lREzcDa6Gvc2aN6DYqIurxcLK-xNKq52dS8bK9mDf-I3NHkS_Eu9WuhM7i1cIed4EMOhKHAgQpccs.KkFHodeEgcHLFavSPdmBuI0yXDQ5mWY3pbRLlxJi5lk&dib_tag=se&keywords=the+craft+of+songwriting&qid=1733872594&sprefix=the+craft+of+songwritin%2Caps%2C148&sr=8-1

    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



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    1 hr
  • Singer/songwriter Jesse Terry - Writing great melodies and crowd funding
    Nov 1 2024

    Send us a text

    To sign up for the November 23rd virtual LYRIC WRITING WORKSHOP:

    https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1070697919299?aff=oddtdtcreatorhttps://www.eventbrite.com/e/1080037885389?aff=oddtdtcreator

    My guest today is New England based singer/songwriter Jesse Terry.

    Before I introduce him I wanted to let you know that on Saturday Nov. 16th I am offering a virtual 3 hour songwriting workshop. There are a few spaces left and you can sign up through the show notes or on my website at scarletvkeys.com

    This workshop will be very process oriented focused on lyric writing.

    You will be doing a lot of small writing exercises to sharpen your lyric writing skills. We will work on metaphor, avoiding cliche’s and literary devices used by some of the best writers.

    Today we will talk about his writing process, crowd funding an album with your super fans and some of the reasons he writes such beautiful melodies. He’s going to play a few song off of his new record Arcadia, released Oct. 4. And this might just be his best record yet.


    It’s rooted in rhythmic rock & roll and sharp songwriting, Arcadia marks a turning point in Jesse Terry's career. It's the seventh original album from an award-winning musician who's spent much of the past decade on the move, playing 150 shows annually, bouncing between solo performances and full-band gigs. Arcadia captures both sides of that musical personality, finding room for amplified anthems one moment and intimate moments the next, showcasing just how wide Terry's reach can be. Arcadia is layered with dueling electric guitars, stacked vocal harmonies, and heartland hooks, all supplied by instrumentalists like Ethan Ballinger (Miranda Lambert, Lee Ann Womack), Ross McReynolds (Katie Pruitt, Becca Mancari), Sam Howard (Molly Tuttle, Joy Williams), Juan Solorzano (Ruston Kelly, Parker Millsap), and Danny Mitchell (Rodney Crowell, Anderson East). It's a big, bold sound — the sort of record that begs to be played in the car, windows rolled down, driving down the fast lane toward some new horizon. At the center of that sound is the craft Terry has been sharpening since his years in Nashville, back when he composed songs for others as a staff writer on Music Row. A grand-prize winner of the John Lennon Songwriting Contest, Terry established himself as a top-shelf.

    Jesse's new record: https://open.spotify.com/album/5lpXAMZDC4hqAU0t2AV29Z?si=SpFXPTHsSL-BidKeOtVbgg

    https://www.jesseterrymusic.com/

    Become a podcast member:
    Join the "What's in a Song" membership community:
    https://buymeacoffee.com/scarlet.keys



    Mixed by Peter Sykes: https://www.petersykesmusic.com/

    Otto Gross: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMnxx19QD-vxD4wnYGTn3Jw

    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-Songwri

    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



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    1 hr and 1 min
  • Kylie Rothfield on writing process, craft, what she learned from Alicia Keys about singing and stage fright
    Sep 23 2024

    Send us a text

    In this episode, I talk with singer/songwriter Kylie Rothfield.

    She shares what she learned about singing and stage fright from Alicia Keys. We talk about what she learned from writing with some of the best writers in Nashville, song craft, process and so much more. This was a good one!

    Pre save Kylie's single coming out Sept. 27th here:

    https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/kylierothfield/never-loved-somebody?utm_campaign=website&utm_medium=Email+&utm_source=SendGrid


    https://www.instagram.com/kylierothfield/


    When one hears Kylie Rothfield‘s voice, there is no denying the timeless, raw sense of emotion in her delivery. Crafting songs that combine elements of soul, blues and pop, Kylie’s music is unique, honest, and expressive. Although her vocal ability is undeniable, she is also an accomplished self-taught guitarist, sponsored by Epiphone guitars and fully capable of supporting her captivating live show as a solo acoustic performer or with a full band. It’s no wonder she caught the ears of Alicia Keys, who described her as “a blossoming, powerful flower with so much heart, so much talent, so much emotion and vocal power”.


    In July of 2015, Kylie signed a publishing deal with Terrorbird Media and Elephant Lady Records/Kyle Andrews. Together, they had 5 placements on national television in their first year together (NBC, E!, ABC, MTV).


    In September of 2016, Kylie was selected to be on The Voice (NBC). She was chosen by Alicia Keys, who coached her throughout the season, and carried her through to the Top 20 Live Shows in November. Her performance of "Hound Dog" in the knockout rounds garnered attention by many media outlets and was called the "dark-horse breakout performance of the season". Guest advisor Faith Hill said “Kylie absolutely blew me away. She interprets songs like a true artist and she could sing ANYTHING”

    She has over 1 million combined streams on Spotify & Apple Music from recent independent releases and was recently featured on NBC's Songland S2 (06/08/2020), working with Ester Dean, Ryan Tedder, and Shane McAnally to pitch a song she wrote to Tony and Grammy-winning artist Ben Platt.



    Most recently, in 2024 Kylie signed a management deal with Arianna Soto and a record deal with new label, DVG Records. She is currently in the process of recording a full-length album that is set to be released in spring 2025.

    Become a podcast member:
    Join the "What's in a Song" membership community:
    https://buymeacoffee.com/scarlet.keys



    Mixed by Peter Sykes: https://www.petersykesmusic.com/

    Otto Gross: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMnxx19QD-vxD4wnYGTn3Jw

    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



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    1 hr and 8 mins

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