A few things: 1. learning from my songwriting student; 2. learning from well-known successful artists; 3. digging in with my own music.

1. I was working with a songwriting student the other day and I felt like we were flying. She came to me with a strong foundation of a song prepared and we tweaked lyrics, bassline accompaniment, melodies, and the bridge section of the song. Time seemed to stand still as we sculpted the timing melodies folding into themselves and played with stretching and enunciating rhythms. Afterwards, I listened to the recording of our session and I felt the song pick me up as I floated down the street. I wonder if she felt the same. Maybe so!

2. I saw Nile Rodgers (the music producer behind so many famous hit songs) and the Flaming Lips in concert at OctFest in New York. Lessons: 1) Keep transitions between songs upbeat and quick. 2) It's cool to talk a little bit, but talking too much slows down the performance and people lose interest. 3) Experimentation with props and set design onstage is exciting, and also needs to have a lot of team support to make sure that it doesn't slow down a performance.

3. Weigh the cost-benefit of your projects. For example, I've have a few songs on this upcoming album (check out a video of a sneak peek of the songs here) where the hard drives got corrupted and it cost me a chunk of money to get the files back. I'd already spent a few thousand on producing the tracks almost to completion some time ago.


My music and my projects are my legacy. Every penny that I put into my passion is priceless, and another chunk of money spent just to access files will be forgotten (and earned back) in the long-run. I decided to go for it and invest, even though it scares me.

I'm anxious about opening up large session files and spending a lot of time organizing the sessions and trying my hand at finishing the production, as well as writing new vocal hooks to be like ear worms.

I used to work as an audio engineer apprentice at ishlab Studio in New York City under some badass engineers, and I have the foundational knowledge. Plus, I have the support of my current producer mentors. I've invested time, money, and energy into diving deeper into songwriting and developing my craft.

Still, resuscitating these songs that are already so far along and trying my hand at finishing the production feels like opening a big new can of worms and is a bit scary. BUT. I'm going for it.

As I mentioned in my email last week, I'm doing a lot of things differently these days, and I'm taking note that being uncomfortable means growth. It means new directions and new opportunities.

It means facing things that you know you're meant to do. If you have a hang up from the past where you feel resistant towards going for what you want, know that you're a different person now. In the present moment, you're ok. You have all the resources you need at your disposal to pick up where you are. It means going deeper towards it, rather than going another direction that's not your truth simply because you feel you don't know how to do what you want.

The how will show itself. If you simply do what you love to do, you'll receive the energy, motivation, and resources to see it through.

My question to you is: what is something that you really desire that you've been resisting? What one little step are you going to take today towards it?

I love and appreciate you so much.

Mad love. Wishing you inspiration and expansion. 

XO Mary Alouette

AKA Alarke

P.S. Click here to support my music on Patreon. 

P.P.S. Click here to learn more about voice, piano, guitar, and songwriting lessons with Set Your Life To Music.

Mary Alouette