Songs and Songwriting
I have and/or will help you write songs for your project which are not just special but also commercial, in all different musical genres: rock, pop, r&b, rap, classical, country, etc.
The goal – every single day – is to write something special and great but also commercial and current. This is the music business. It is our job to sell our songs, to have artists – ourselves or other people – record them, not to have them sit in our computers gathering digital dust.
I have been a professional songwriter, producer and performer for many years. I have numerous Academy Award, Grammy and Golden Globe nominations and hit songs under my belt. I know what it takes to write songs that not only move people but also move up the charts.
If you need songs, I have them, in all different genres: rock, pop, r&b, rap, classical, country, etc. If you need help with your songwriting, I will provide it in all areas: generating and developing ideas, lyrics, music, the difference between writing for yourself as an artist and writing for someone else, what makes a great lyric and melody and how to make collaborations work. I will show how you to avoid the common pitfalls of new and even established writers, such as lyrical cliches and “old” chord structures, and how to be ready when – as often happens – you are called upon to make changes to your music quickly, even in the studio while a song is being recorded. And always, we will keep our eyes on the ball of writing something that is not only great but also contemporary and commercial.
Remember – your family may hear your new song and say “we love it”. But standing out from all the other people whose families also love their songs is a whole different story. That’s where I can and want to help.
Production
Once you have the great song, you need to record and make it sound great! I will help you produce your master or master quality demo in a full-service professional recording studio in Los Angeles set in a beautiful and relaxed environment. You will benefit from the wide range of possible production approaches which I offer, from the simplest piano/vocal demo to the most elaborate full orchestral production. Take advantage of working with someone who can play, produce, arrange and engineer and will focus on making your vocals as beautiful and emotional as possible.
Once you have written the great and commercial song, then what? The next step, of course, is to record it as either a demo or a record. The song is only as good as its presentation – that is what people hear, and it has to be smoking. The arrangements, the vocals, the performances, the engineering and production quality – all have to work beautifully together to communicate your vision of your special song, and to scream “It’s a hit!!!”
That is where I come in. I have worked with David Foster in the studio, produced Ray Charles, done countless sessions with singers ranging from Whitney to Leann Rimes to Kimberley Locke to…Joey Lawrence! My two main goals in the studio are always 1)to make an artist sound as good as he or she can sound – and to be as much of an artist as he or she can be; and 2)to make the song sound as great as it can possibly sound.
I have a full-service professional recording studio in Los Angeles. It’s open, airy and comfortable, not dark, gray and depressing like so many “serious” recording studios. I program and play various instruments, and if I don’t play them, I have access to the best musicians in the world. I arrange, engineer and produce, with a special emphasis on making vocals as beautiful and emotional as possible. I can do anything and everything from the most simple piano/vocal demo to the most elaborate full orchestral production, in any and all musical genres: rock, pop, r&b, rap, classical, country, etc.
Let me help you make your music sounds as great as it possibly can!
Global Intensive Songwriting Workshops and 1-On-1 Writing and Studio Mentoring Sessions
At the weekend Intensive Songwriting Workshops and 1-On-1 Writing and Studio Mentoring Sessions which I co-founded with Debbie James and have been running all over the world – e.g. in Los Angeles (several times), Edmonton, London and (in 9/19) Florence, Italy – as well as over the internet, I help songwriters and artists take their writing to the next level. You will learn about all aspects of songwriting, including generating and developing great lyrics, music and tracks, the difference between writing for yourself as an artist and writing for someone else, and how to make collaborations work. We also talk about the music business: record deals, publishing, streaming (I developed a streaming app several years back), etc. and how to get that great, commercial song – and maybe yourself as an artist – out there into the world.
And of course…we eat. A lot. 🙂
Here is what some of the writers who have attended my workshops and mentoring sessions have had to say:
“Jud truly is an amazing talent. Really got a chance to take my time and play ALL my tunes. Jud was very patient, professional and most detailed with all critiques. To the point, no nonsense. Best OneOnOne Session with a Professional I’ve had EVER!!!”
“The Songwriters Retreat with Jud in Los Angeles was truly magical…an opportunity to workshop individual works in progress, as well as ample time to collaborate and co-write through highly creative impromptu sessions. As a leader, Jud brings a brilliant mix of seasoned expertise and heartfelt openness to the creative energy of the moment. He fosters a safe, comfortable, and warmhearted learning space… Highly recommended to anyone looking to establish, improve, or master their songwriting abilities!!!”
“Jud is an amazing teacher! He was able to listen to my songs and critique and give me some amazing pointers to make my songs more commercial friendly. Plus his knowledge of the business and getting songs placed was phenomenal! Was just an amazing experience.”
“I had an incredible experience at the workshop… Jud’s expertise, experience, and genuine desire to help songwriters grow and thrive in today’s world of music enriched everyone’s way of thinking, whether we were experienced or very new to the game. I highly recommend these experiences!”
Speaking
I bring my many years of experience in writing and producing songs for the stars to my speaking engagements. You will get the benefits of that experience in a variety of areas, some of which I will demonstrate in real time onstage and in which you will be invited to participate and “sing along”: writing a great and commercial song, producing records and demos – including the how-to’s of that puzzling first demo, breaking into and understanding the music business, etc. And through my “war stories” about the many great artists I’ve worked with, you will learn the life lessons I have taken with me and apply to everything I do.
Please reach out to me re any of the above: jud@judfriedmanmusic.com. For more info on my global Intensive Songwriting Workshops and 1-On-1 Writing and Studio Mentoring Sessions, visit www.globalsongwritersnetwork.com.
