Preloader - circular wedges
Updating profile...
Limited time offer - Buy 1 Get 1 FREE Copyright Certificates available here

Singer-Songwriter meets Lyricist

--- A Successful Collaboration on Verse-Chorus ---

We're proud of all the collaborations Verse-Chorus has created. Recently, we spoke to two of our members, James Hampton and David M Murray, who have collaborated on a number of songs together from opposite sides of the world.

James Hampton, Singer-Songwriter from Australia:

Writing lyrics has always been challenging for me, so I decided to try Verse-Chorus as a way of networking with lyricists. With the help of Verse-Chorus I met a talented lyricist named David- who lives on the other side of the world to me!- We’ve since written several songs together. His lyrics really appeal to me, as they are poetic and whimsical.

Our writing process is simply done via email. David sends me a set of lyrics, and the words inspire the music. Sometimes I have suggested a theme for some lyrics, and David will write something in that vein. I have found Verse-Chorus to be a useful networking tool, and recommend it to anyone seeking a collaborator.

David M. Murray, Lyricist from the United States:

As a lyricist, I sometimes have to work hard to carve out the necessary time to write. Nurturing my creativity and using my time effectively is paramount to my serenity. So, when I get on the computer, I wanna write! I don’t wanna be hunting the globe over to find suitable collaborations.

That’s why I couldn’t do what I do, without Verse-Chorus! I get directly to those people that are closely aligned to my writing style… AND to the people looking for me, too! No matter what musical level you’re on, start and end with Verse-Chorus, you’ll be glad you did!

James Hampton
James Hampton
David M Murray
David M Murray
We asked David more about his collaboration experience...

What made you choose James as your collaborator?

The lengthy “description” that James used on Verse-Chorus sold me on him as a person that I could connect with. Providing the important info to help members decide if you’re right for them is paramount! I was looking for someone who had previously recorded, his quote “I had an overactive imagination as a kid” (That’s me!) I was not looking for a garage musician. James is in the business of making music and he’s easy to do business with. We respect each other’s talents. A well written advert is a great start and identifying the potential collaborator by age also helps.

How did you go about communicating with each other once you had connected on Verse-Chorus?

Should have done Zoom, but simply did email. It worked fine.

Can you describe the process of your collaboration?

I have a “Lyrical Wish List” that I ask potential collaborators to fill out. The toughest part of long-distance collaboration for me is in choosing lyrical samples to share. Even with the “Wish List” it’s hard to know what someone else will like? That’s when patience comes in with your fellow collaborator.

Did you find it easy to collaborate from a distance?

Once a mutual trust and respect is established, it’s easy. We discussed who did “what” and then only offered opinion if invited. We do, on occasion, get into each others venue, especially when James is trying to fit lyrics. I have to be ready and willing to edit, revise, extend to make it right.

Have you played your song to anyone else and what did they think?

I have 3 people that have creative appreciation for wordsmithing. I run everything by them. Most often the lyrics stay the same, but every now and then they make the flow better or help to clarify something that I thought was clearly understood. I share the finished product with about 25 associates and friends.

If it's finished, are you pleased with the final song?

I spend a good deal of my time researching before I choose someone to collaborate with. That always pays off in the final product. I’m delighted with everything that James has done.

Have you learnt any lessons about collaborating?

I’m in Massachusetts and James is in Victoria, Australia. He’s 14 hours ahead of me. The massive time difference slows our process down, but we’ve learned to work around it. And besides, working with James is well worth it!

Is there anything you would do different in a future collaboration with James?

Yeah, I wish I would have found him on Verse-Chorus sooner!

How many songs have you collaborated on that are finished?

I’ve lost track of the number of songs we’ve written together – maybe between 7 – 10.



Sign up to Verse-Chorus