On Listening

By Matthew Wilson

When I first became involved in songwriting communities, I

was mostly interested in sharing music. I wanted to hear

what other people were making, too, but I hadn't thought

much about what listening itself could mean to a

songwriter.

FAWM began to change that for me. Someone would take

the time to listen to a song I'd made and leave a thoughtful

observation. They might notice a lyric or a small detail in

the arrangement that I hadn't expected anyone to catch. I

remembered those comments, sometimes long after I'd

moved on to another song.

It made me think about how I listened to other people's

work. I didn't always need to have advice, and I certainly

didn't need to know more about music than the person

who made it. Often, I could simply say what I heard and

what stayed with me.

That understanding followed me into Songwriting Monthly.

People share songs at different stages, and not everyone

is looking for the same kind of response. I've learned to

pay attention to what someone is asking for before I

comment. Sometimes a question opens a conversation.

Sometimes a few sincere words are enough.

I still enjoy talking about songwriting and production. But I

don't want the technical details to crowd out the person

who decided to share something. Making a song can be a

private experience right up until the moment someone

else hears it.

I'm not always as attentive as I'd like to be. There are days

when I don't have the energy to listen carefully, so I wait

until I do. I'd rather give a song my attention than rush

through it just to leave a reply.

I used to think participation meant having something of my

own to contribute. These days, I know I can take part by

making time for somebody else's music. That's a part of

community I hadn't expected to value quite so much.

Creativity, Identity & Belonging

This essay is part of a collection exploring creativity, identity, mental health, uncertainty, music, and community.