In a current interview on the Scars and Guitars podcast (transcribed by Ultimate Guitar), legendary Iron Maiden bassist and important composer Steve Harris supplied worthwhile insights into his songwriting course of and recommendation for aspiring musicians. When requested whether or not a pivotal second formed his strategy to writing music, Harris revealed that he does not dwell on particular influences or occasions. As a substitute, he permits his inventive course of to stream naturally with the feelings of the second.
“I’ve by no means actually analyzed it like that or thought like that. I simply write as I really feel on the time. That is why any album that we do, Maiden or no matter, it is only a assertion of the place you’re at that cut-off date,” Harris shared. “I do not are likely to look again on it and analyze it or something. It is solely once you kind of do interviews like this that you simply kind of kind of take into consideration stuff like that, actually.”
He emphasised the significance of writing from intuition reasonably than overthinking the method. In accordance with Harris, attempting too exhausting to keep away from repetition can stifle creativity, whereas trusting your instincts can result in extra real and assorted music.
“If you’re doing new stuff, you simply do stuff that you simply suppose feels proper. Sounds very basic, however actually, you do not wish to be attempting too exhausting to not repeat your self or repeat your self. You simply write with really feel and write no matter you suppose is finest on the time.”
“It is powerful. It is exhausting to elucidate, I believe, to anybody who has possibly not written a music but or has solely written one or two songs, maybe. I imply, clearly, Maiden‘s been round a very long time, and all of the completely different experiences that you simply expertise, and all the things, all that goes into your limits of the way you write and the place you’re at any explicit time” he defined.
Harris additionally supplied sensible recommendation for younger bassists trying to develop their distinctive sound. He inspired them to hearken to a variety of musicians reasonably than imitating only one.
“Properly, I will simply say to folks, hearken to as many individuals as attainable, and do not attempt to stylize your self on one particular person. Lots of people say to me, ‘Oh, I wanna play similar to…’ You should not do this,” Harris suggested, stressing the significance of creating a definite fashion to keep away from comparisons to others.
“It is best to simply hearken to a lot of completely different folks, and finally, hopefully, you may give you your personal fashion and sounds, in any other case, you are simply gonna get folks saying, ‘Oh, you simply sound like another person.'”
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