Capturing emotion for better vocal lines. (Vocals).(Brief Article)

How do you write your vocal lines?

Most times it's a trial and error kind of thing. I find that when you're knocking around with a riff, and you're just sort of humming along, whatever the first thing that pops into your head is usually the template of where you go from there. I guess it's kind of like whatever feels natural will end of being the first sort of step. I find that you know when you come up with a guitar riff or you come up with a little thing here and there, but it's really going to be about the melody at the end of the day. It's going to he about the hook and the chorus and the lyric that's going to make the difference. So I usually try to follow my gut on what sounds good -- follow your gut and follow your ear. I don't think I go against that very often. Usually the melody sort of presents itself. I suppose it's a lot like looking at a hunk of rock and saying 'I'm going to make a beautiful woman out of that.' So a lot of those artists, I suppose, they look at hunks of marble and just sort of release the statue within -- the inn er beauty. I find that's the same way with me. It's not just myself that's coming up with a guitar riff--it's anybody. I've written with a number of people where it's sort of my role to come up with a vocal line.

What generally comes first for you? This would vary from song to song obviously, but do you usually come up with a vocal line and then the lyrics, or write lyrics and just try to find something that fits them?

You know generally there's no real rule because there are things, that even today, that we have a very solid idea of what I want for the melody of this song. I just haven't committed to what the actual lyric will be. A lot of times I find the music opens the door to the melody, and then the melody itself. It presents itself and then you tap into the lyric. That's not to say that ...