Daniel Siegel Loanso

  Heartbreak is the worst. It's chaotic and confusing, and much like a jump scare, it often comes when you least expect it. But what if heartbreak could also be a creative goldmine? Instead of self-indulgent wallowing on your couch, binge-watching sad rom-coms, Daniel Siegel Loanso suggests that creatives can channel that pain into something meaningful, maybe even beautiful? Step One: Feel The Feels  First, says Siegel Loanso , you must feel all the emotions: gut punches, spontaneous crying spells, and existential dread. Trying to bypass the grief only guarantees it'll sneak up on you later when you're, say, waiting in line for coffee and Joni Mitchell’s A Case of You starts playing. Don't fret. Let it wash over you. Journal it. Draw it. Compose strange poetry about how your heart feels like a deflated beach ball. Whatever your medium, give your discomfort a place to reside outside your body. Step Two: Uncover Your Medium Art isn't just oil paintings in museums or...

Success in the music industry used to be straightforward: secure a record deal, scale to the top of the charts, and bask in fame while dodging paparazzi. But in today's streaming-dominated, algorithm-driven landscape, those old markers of success have lost their sheen. But there is good news, says Daniel Siegel Loanso . Musicians now have more avenues than ever to define their own journeys—as well as their own versions of success. Relinquish the Billboard Fantasy According to Siegel Loanso , the days of measuring success purely by platinum records and sold-out arena tours are long gone. Of course, it's fantastic if that happens, but it's not the sole way to earn a living (or a legacy) in the music industry. Young singer/songwriters like Jacob Collier and indie bands on Bandcamp have forged loyal, sustainable fanbases without ever cracking the Billboard Hot 100. In a world where niche communities thrive, being the biggest is no longer the only way to win. Find Your Tribe In...

  Songwriting isn't rocket science. Instead, it's more like emotional alchemy. You're blending raw emotions with melody to create something that resonates in people's hearts (and playlists). What's the trick? Crafting tunes that make people say, "Wow, this song gets me." Daniel Siegel Loanso shares eight methods for songwriters to explore to write songs that connect with audiences. 1. Go with what you know Siegel Loanso reminds aspiring writers that great songs arise from great stories. Think of Someone Like You by Adele or Fast Car by Tracy Chapman. They're specific yet universal. Listeners relate to songs when they recognize themselves in the narrative. Write about love, heartbreak, triumph, or even that weird time at the DMV. Just make it honest. One tip: get specific, then zoom out. "The sunbeams pierced the cafe window as I realized I'd been ghosted" is more vivid than "I felt blue." 2. Emotional content Every memorabl...