Christian songwriters from Hillsong Australia, including Ben Fielding and Reuben Morgan, shared some of their writing secrets and how they find inspiration for their songs in a recent Hillsong blog.
Morgan says the simplest songs are actually the hardest to write. "Often the simplest songs represent the most amount of work. It can take a lot of work to make something feel simple and flow well. Some songs come in an instant and others take longer," he says.
Each writer has his or her own style as well. Some prefer a direct and systematic approach to songwriter, while others let their creative juices control their writing, he says.
For Fielding, the first thing he asks himself before coming up with the right words for a song is, "What is the key message of this song?" After finding the right answer to the question, he aligns everything with the message.
As for Ben Hastings, he prefers to start with a thought or title. Ideally, Hastings prefers to have a couple lines of lyrics that he really loves, and he'll pepper it with more. "That helps me to frame everything else around that one main idea," he explains.
Morgan says he is used to writing songs for a congregational setting.
He says it's actually his love for God that enables him to finish writing songs.
"I need a lot of endurance to get a song over the line sometimes, but my passion for worship within the church is always enough to motivate me. Seeing people's lives impacted pushes me to write for church specifically," he says.
Morgan says songwriters like him have to keep up with the church's sound, so they can't be too lenient and keep pushing songs that they have grown accustomed to writing.
"You have to be willing to keep moving and growing yourself. I am constantly re-looking at the way I approach the craft as the church progresses. Invest into yourself, read, listen, go to concerts, and collaborate with new people and stay true to yourself," he advises aspiring songwriters.
