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PODCAST

What"s in a Song

This is a weekly podcast about the craft of songwriting hosted by Berklee College of Music Professor Scarlet Keys. She takes deep dive into the craft, technique and art of songwriting in conversations with eminent songwriters, producers, and other creatives asking questions only a songwriting professor would ask so listeners can walk away inspired and armed with clear and actionable tools and techniques they can apply to their songwriting.

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All Episodes

77:36

Taylor Swift's "Father Figure" The break down with...

What"s in a Song ·

2025/11/10

Send us a text In this episode, we break down Father Figure from Taylor Swift's record "The Life of a Showgirl". In this episode we look at: The chord progressionMelodic hooksRhetorical devicesGuitar voicingsThe stunning bridge and what the back ground harmonies are bringing to this section to make it so spectacularPhrasingProsodySign up for the Master class:The songwriting secrets of Taylor Swift Nov 18th: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1811786424969?aff=oddtdtcreator Support this podcast: h...

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82:38

Taylor Swift's Opalite - break down

What"s in a Song ·

2025/10/26

Send us a text Track32 on "The Life of a Showgirl" - Opalite I'm back with Forensic Musicologist Dr. Joe Bennett In this episode we look at: The chord progressionChord tensionsHarmonic rhythmBorrowed chordRhetorical deviceProduction To sign up with the virtual live master class "The Songwriting of Taylor Swift" with Scarlet Keys: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1811786424969?aff=oddtdtcreator Joe Bennett: To learn more about forensic musicology and professor Joe Bennett: https://j...

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82:50

Taylor Swift's "Elizabeth Taylor" - The break down

What"s in a Song ·

2025/10/13

Send us a text Track 2 on "The Life of a Showgirl" - Elizabeth Taylor I'm back with Forensic Musicologist Dr. Joe Bennett In this episode we look at: The chord progressionChord inversionsTensionsHarmonic rhythmPhrase lengthsMelismaWriting from a titleMelodic hooks To sign up with the virtual live master class "The Songwriting of Taylor Swift" with Scarlet Keys: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1811786424969?aff=oddtdtcreator Mailing list: https://www.scarletkeys.com/ Instagram: @scarle...

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53:57

Breaking down Taylor Swift's "The Fate of Ophelia"...

What"s in a Song ·

2025/10/06

Send us a text This is the first of a 12 episode series where Berklee College of music professor Scarlet Keys talks about each song off of the new Taylor Swift album "The Life of a Showgirl" searching for clues and signature moves that Swift uses as a writer to write songs that resonate with millions of listeners and pack stadiums. They are listening for literary devices, chord progression, ear worm, melodic hooks and theme. Scarlet wrote the course "The songwriting of Taylor Swift...

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63:16

It's never to late to become a songwriter with former...

What"s in a Song ·

2025/09/16

Send us a text About this weeks guest: Roger Brown is an American businessman, philanthropist, and academic administrator and former president of Berklee College of Music. Brown is also the co-founder of Bright Horizons and founder and chairman of the Salt Lick Incubator. He is most recently a grammy nominated songwriter!!! In this episode, Roger talks about becoming a songwriter later in life, writing the truth and retiring from Berklee and creating a company for emerging artists cal...

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63:30

From Buzz to Bond: Queen of PR Ariel Hyatt talks...

What"s in a Song ·

2025/08/12

Send us a text Today, Ariel Hyatt introduces the concept of the Three Communities every artist must understand: - **Ambient Fans** who are aware of you - **Engaged Fans** who pay attention and interact - **Superfans** who support, advocate, and stick with you over the long term. She talks about the power of the mailing list, gaining true fans and if you only have 10 min a day to market, how should you spend your time. To sign up for Scarlet's virtual Metaphor class: Monday...

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57:03

Imposter Syndrome (no more) with Dr. Jill Stoddard on...

What"s in a Song ·

2025/05/23

Send us a text To sign up for the online songwriting in process class: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1376858744569?aff=oddtdtcreator On today's show I have Psychologist Dr. Jill Stoddard So much of what goes into a song is the psychology of the songwriter. Mindset is so important to the creative. Today, Dr. Stoddard talks about how to work with our inner critic, why we have it, how to focus on meaning even when your critique is loud. She talks about how important self c...

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91:00

Writing songs for Social Change with Multi grammy...

What"s in a Song ·

2025/04/25

Send us a text In this episode, Mark Simos takes us through writing songs for social change, political protest, songs for that evoke empathy and songs of conscience. We talk metaphor, point of view and the most effective way to handle this delicate topic. We give you a song prompt and this episode is woven with songwriting crafts gems. Spotify songs for social justice: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0PigbEAOxbwXOwvHFsq1vZ?si=cc729ee146d54003 To join the weekly writing class: https://buymea...

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46:40

Creative agility and writing process with hit...

What"s in a Song ·

2025/02/22

Send us a text Upcoming classes: To sign up for the April 5th workshop: "The songwriting of Taylor Swift": https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1252499231919?aff=oddtdtcreator To support this podcast and membership: https://buymeacoffee.com/scarlet.keys Show take aways: Try writing a song using the words and rhythm of a nursery rhyme to try audio doodling in your melody.Write your chorus firstStart a song with the chorusYou need input for output: Go hear live music, new music, travel, try ...

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60:26

Music as medicine- The health benefits of listening...

What"s in a Song ·

2024/12/10

Send us a textIn this episode, I speak with Neuroscientist, author and musician Dr. Daniel Levitin on how music affects our health. From reducing cortisol to lessening the effects of Parkinsons and how we can use music as medicine! We talk science and his new book "I Heard there was a Secret Chord: Music as Medicine": Daniel Levitin's music:https://open.spotify.com/artist/7iRoKs96ka4AJPOA39VJj5?si=su7HYKBPT5y1LKw1ws5YfQhttps://www.daniellevitin.com/contacthttps://www.amazon....

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61:02

Singer/songwriter Jesse Terry - Writing great...

What"s in a Song ·

2024/11/01

Send us a textTo sign up for the November 16th virtual LYRIC WRITING WORKSHOP: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1070697919299?aff=oddtdtcreatorMy guest today is New England based singer/songwriter Jesse Terry.Before I introduce him I wanted to let you know that on Saturday Nov. 16th I am offering a virtual 3 hour songwriting workshop. There are a few spaces left and you can sign up through the show notes or on my website at scarletvkeys.comThis workshop will be very process oriented fo...

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67:46

Kylie Rothfield on writing process, craft, what she...

What"s in a Song ·

2024/09/23

Send us a textIn this episode, I talk with singer/songwriter Kylie Rothfield.She shares what she learned about singing and stage fright from Alicia Keys. We talk about what she learned from writing with some of the best writers in Nashville, song craft, process and so much more. This was a good one!Pre save Kylie's single coming out Sept. 27th here:https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/kylierothfield/never-loved-somebody?utm_campaign=website&utm_medium=Email+&utm_source=SendGr...

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62:43

Songs with a message, writing from your life with...

What"s in a Song ·

2024/09/08

Send us a textIn this episode, singer/songwriter Michael McDermott talks about writing process, writing from your life and shares new songs off his two new albums dropping Sept 13th.Join the "What's in a Song" membership community:https://buymeacoffee.com/scarlet.keyshttps://michael-mcdermott.com/homeMixed by Peter Sykes: https://www.petersykesmusic.com/Otto Gross: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMnxx19QD-vxD4wnYGTn3JwScarlet's website: https://www.scarletkeys.comScarlet's instagram: https:...

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72:24

What does AI mean for songwriters with award winning...

What"s in a Song ·

2024/08/26

Today I have Berklee Professor Ben Camp on the show discussing AI We talk about where it is now and what it means for songwriters in the future. We talk ethics, creativity, originality, works that are derivative and Ben takes a song we wrote together years ago and puts it through AI to demonstrate some of the current possibilities AI offers creatives.Ben Camp has taught songwriting to over 2,000 students at Berklee College of Music, and is a gold record awarded writer and producer. Ben'...

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54:22

Creating metaphors with Pat Pattison

What"s in a Song ·

2024/08/05

In this episode, Pat Pattison, author of "Writing Better Lyrics" walks us through step by step of how to find metaphors. This is the exercise I gave to writer Madi Diaz that she talked about in the previous episode.Pat talks about the difference between simile and metaphor for songwriters, passing metaphors and central metaphors and takes us through a song by Eli and Fur and Gillian Welch.https://www.patpattison.com/Mixed by Peter Sykes: https://www.petersykesmusic.com/Otto Gross: https://www...

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73:00

Madi Diaz on writing process, and the magic of...

What"s in a Song ·

2024/07/25

My guest today is one of my former students singer/songwriter Madi DiazMadi grew up in Pennsylvania where she was homes schooled by her mother and took piano lessons from her father at the age of 5.After high school, Madi was accepted to Berklee College of Music and met her first collaborator Kyle Ryan which led to her recording her first record skin and bones in Hawaii.Later, Madi went on to tour with the civil ward and Landon Pig. She was featured in Paste magazine as on of teh top te...

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22:25

What we can learn from Billy Eilish and Bonnie Raitt...

What"s in a Song ·

2024/07/09

In this minisode, I talk about writing melody and thinking of melody as the song's tone of voice.Auditioning melodies to make sure we pair the best notes with our most important words and the power of unstable notes in writing great melodies.To join my summer songwriting class "Writing Better Melodies" click here:https://www.eventbrite.com/e/melody-writing-intensive-tickets-943422099897If you sign up before July 15th, you will receive a free copy of my book "The Craft of Songwriting: Music, M...

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17:24

Minisode: Making time for your art and the myth of...

What"s in a Song ·

2024/06/12

"Inspiration is for Amateurs""Don't be 'a writer' but instead be writing." - Faulkner"Just begin and the mind grows heated; continue, and the task will be completed!”― Johann Wolfgang von GoetheTo join the "What's in a Song" community membership: https://buymeacoffee.com/scarlet.keysLink to song from band Corner Boy "Morning Morning": https://open.spotify.com/track/7wjyEuRd6pYN34BmVkOpa1?si=a25d393f73594a0bhttps://www.cornerboymusic.com/Mixed by Peter Sykes: https://www.petersykesmusic.com/Ot...

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68:33

Robert Ellis Orrall on writing with Taylor Swift, and...

What"s in a Song ·

2024/05/26

In this Episode, Robert Ellis Orrall talks about writing with Taylor Swift. What she was like as a young writer, how he set up the showcase that got her a record deal and shares two songs her wrote with Swift along with an original from his latest record.Upcoming workshop: Taylor Swift Master class this Tuesday May 28th: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-songwriting-of-taylor-swift-writing-great-melodies-tickets-907284772177Robert Ellis Orrall's website: https://www.robertellisorrall.com...

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8:05

One lyric writing technique Taylor Swift uses - Minisode

What"s in a Song ·

2024/05/13

The Yoda: Anastrophe: is the inversion of the usual order of words/clausesExample: Invisible String (gold is the color...red is the color...)Green was the color of the grass where I used to read in centennial parkTeal was the color of your shirt when you were sixteen at the yogurt shop - Invisible String“Long were the night when my days once revolved around you" - Dear JohnJoin the master class May 15th: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-songwriting-of-taylor-swift-master-class-tickets-8...

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23 results

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