Making of an Album Episode 2: Traditional Writing Techniques (Cosmic Bos Improv Music Podcast Season 4)

 Well hello dear friends,

Welcome to episode 2 of our Making of an Album series, this time (as you already know from having read the title of this blog) we tackle song writing, in particular, traditional song writing techniques.

Subscribe to our podcast on your preferred podcast platform Direct Podcast Page

Album artwork by Dayne Howcroft

Nick and Andy (Cosmic Bos) collectively have several hundred songs to their names, and here they breakdown the fundamentals of songwriting, examining structure and form, before writing a song in front of your very ears.

Visited several times throughout the episode, Nick and Andy sat over two sessions and wrote a song from start to finish. Here we try to show you the creative process in its raw state.

Nick and Andy also talk about the history of songwriting, as well as their own personal histories of songwriting, including several examples from their songbooks.

The first proper song you hear in this episode is Astral Underwear, a song that Cosmic Bos created using their new musical construction method, Improv Squared (More on this in the next episode).

In the middle of the episode you are treated to two songs from Andy and Nicks songbooks.

Love Defined is by Andy Jackson and is about his wife

Spontaneous Plan is by Nick Jackson and is about his wife

Both songs are available on Cosmic Bos From the Songbook (2020), and right here in youtube form too

Email cosmicbos@gmail.com with your favourite wife

The episode concludes with our other double A side single 'Forever Bruised', which is acoustically written music by Andy and Nick over a haunting poem by Dayne Howcroft.

This was a rollercoaster ride to make, and we loved it, hopefully there is something useful and insightful about our ramblings about writing songs, and we also hope that we have demystified the process a bit, and shown how really anyone could write songs if it was what they wanted to do. 

If you want to get involved in our musical shenanigans drop us an email at cosmicbos@gmail.com 

We also really appreciate feedback, and would love to hear your own songwriting stories, comment on this post or better yet, comment on the youtube video version of this episode so we can all share the musical love. 

Peace and infinite love

Cosmic Bos

Astral Underwear - Cosmic Bos Improv(Squared) (Official Music Video)

 Hello lovely friends,

Astral Underwear - Cosmic Bos

From the upcoming album

Improv Squared - Petit Champignon de Lumiere 

Andy and Nick created this song using improvisation layering, the beat, bass and synth were played in first round, then vocals and more synth, then backing vocals. Filming each round, the video was made by boxing up the performance and overlaying some stock footage.

The lyric was prewritten by Andy in the Book of Songs (or BoS as we call it) and it reads a little something like this...

ASTRAL UNDERWEAR

Artwork by Dayne Howcroft

Sitting still, at a desk, with a tie flopped on my chest
Counting seconds, lunchtime beacons, need the valuable rest
It’s hard on the knees, with legs lazy as these
Every movement, needs improvement, I won’t pass the test

But who cares?
The outside world is cruel and unfair
They stare
But no-one can see my astral underwear
I’m here
And simultaneously everywhere
I’m this
And everything else in between

Sit around, from sat to seated, shower, bed, repeat repeated
Counting days, rest is coming, long time been defeated
It’s hard on the head, cycling, work, home, bed
These energy levels are vastly depleted
Oh these energy levels are vastly depleted

But who cares?
The social world is cruel and unfair
Don’t share
Your invincible astral underwear
You’re here
Whilst simultaneously everywhere
Your you
And everything you ever want to do

While in astral clothing
Banish self loathing
Become anything you desire

Guarantee it will suit you
From flower to cashew
Be seagull, be water, be fire

Be anything you can desire
Be anything you can desire

...

Please like, share and subscribe

And if you would like to feature in an upcoming Improv Squared song, email us at cosmicbos@gmail.com for details.

Astral Underwear is paired with another song 'Forever Bruised' which is available on Spotify, Amazon etc. and will get it's own video treatment next weekend. It is quite the polar opposite as far as songs go, with a raw acoustic sound and powerful lyrics by Dayne Howcroft. 

Thanks for being awesome, we love ya

YouTube version for ya

Peace and infinite love

Cosmic Bos

P.S - Coming 1st March is the next instalment in our Making of an Album series, check it out.