Songwriting 201 - The Profile Of A Hit Writer

In our first installment of this series, Songwriting 101, we explored the demographics and logistics of songwriting.  I used a song entitled “I Write The Songs” as a demonstration of the royalties and revenues that can be generated by a hit tune.  Before we move onto 201, I have some clean up and crow to eat.  As a storyteller, I often find that my excitement in finding a story distracts me from accurately telling it.  Specifically, when I found the back story on “I Write The Songs” written by Bruce Johnston, a long time member of the Beach Boys, it mentioned in one line his disclaimer that the song was not written about his band mate Brian Wilson.  Sadly, that one line was all it took for me to hastily craft the back story exchanging Bruce’s first name with Brian’s.  It was a junior varsity editing error that went unnoticed at the time of publication on Friday.  Imagine my surprise and then my complete embarrassment when THE Bruce Johnston tracked me down by phone on Sunday to point out the incorrect name.  He was actually very generous and despite the butchering of his name complimented the remainder of the article's content.  He even graciously agreed to an actual interview.  We will close out this series with an interview of this hall of fame rocker who does indeed write the songs.

Today we will profile another hit songwriter by the name of Ashley Gorley.  While you might not recognize his name, if you listen to country radio you will recognize his songs that play on a typically hour by hour basis.  In any given week, he will likely be a writer on 3 or 4 songs in the Billboard Country Top 10.  His bio is brimming with accomplishment:   Two time recipient of the CMA “Triple Play” award for having three No. 1 songs in one year, 15 No. 1 songs to date (possibly more – this bio is a couple of months old…), Billboard’s No. 1 Country songwriter of 2013,  2013 ASCAP songwriter of the year, and multiple Grammy and CMA nominations.  All totaled, he has had over 100 cuts by over 50 different recording artists including Carrie Underwood, Rascal Flatts, Luke Bryan and Brad Paisley.

I first met Ashley when he was a new graduate from Belmont University and began writing for a publishing company where I worked and wrote.  I remember this fresh faced kid from Kentucky who would vacillate from working on a country song one day with a cowboy from Texas to composing hip hop beats with college friends the next.  This depth and versatility serves Ashley well today as he navigates the various music styles that make up modern country. 

Ashley started early preparation for his profession like so many have with a passion for creative writing. 

“I loved creative writing; it was a life changer for me in middle school.  I had a great teacher who sparked an interest in me for words, writing short stories and poems even then.”

Although there was no specific songwriting degree program offered at Belmont University, Ashley majored in music business with an emphasis in publishing.  He took advantage of the extensive internship opportunities in the Nashville music culture very quickly.  He points out that this is really where he learned the "craft" aspect of songwriting as he worked in the infamous publishing company tape room making pitch tapes and cataloging. 

“While interning at a publishing company, I was able to watch songs go from work tape to demo to coming back and being pitched, held (a term used for when an artist chooses a song as a possible candidate for recording and “holds” it to prevent another artist from recording it until the holding artist either records or releases), cut or released.  I developed a gauge for a great song as I had to listen while making copies from beginning to end.  I could see the science aspect of how hits are crafted both from a writing standpoint to how they are pitched to artists.”

Gorley even went back to Belmont to give back to aspiring students teaching as an adjunct professor in the area of music business and publishing.  He carried that desire to mentor and nurture other songwriters a step further as he started his own publishing company.  He currently has three writers signed with plans to add more to the roster.  It’s refreshing to hear a certified hit writer revel in the success of his writers when they beat him out for a cut or see the single success happen for them. 

“I get to know my writers on a very personal life basis and coach them through the process of writing or celebrating their successes.  I want to grow that family of writers and rear of a different style of publishing company that’s even tighter knit than a corporate scenario.”

In the current country music scene, there is some sharp criticism of one particular style of song that is loosely called “bro-down” or “hick hop”.  It’s characterized by the blending of urban beats with country instrumentation and features lyrics about cruising, drinking, trucks or picking up girls in daisy dukes and boots.  It’s ironic that much of the criticism comes from artists who have nothing on the radio, songwriters who can’t write hick hop and can’t get cuts or music critics whose benchmark for country music died with Hank Williams.  What kind of quasi-investigative reporter would I be if I didn’t query Ashley about this criticism since he has written several hit songs that get bunched into this category?

“I write a lot of different songs with different writers and artists.  But many of the songs that we have written in the past few years are intentionally not meant to be deep.  They’re about having fun.  Music is a diversion for people just like movies.  You don’t want every movie to be an Oscar winning tear-jerker.  Sometimes you want to see a mindless action movie and relax.  Many of the music fans that are listening to these songs are living the life that we describe lyrically – they’re driving around after work, stopping at a bar to unwind with friends, dancing and having a beer.  They want a musical accompaniment for having fun and living life.”

It’s significant to point out that Gorley has a host of other songs that read like Oscar winning dramas forcing you wipe away a tear whether you have a heart or not.  A good writer is able to float freely between styles and cater to the demographic or the artist in mind.  Interestingly, when asked about his favorite writer or greatest influence, he’s hard pressed to name just one. He leans more toward songs that capture his imagination like a recent hit by Miranda Lambert, “The House That Built Me” (writers:  Tom Douglas and Allen Shamblin) or “I Drive Your Truck” by Lee Brice (writers: Jessi Alexander, Connie Harrington and Jimmy Yeary).

“Songs like these are awesome and I feel like I would never have thought of them.  Then I hear songs by pop guys like Max Martin (writer of hit after hit from ‘N Sync, Britney Spears and Backstreet Boys) that pay so much attention to melodic flow.  I try to weave all that together to craft my own songs.”

Gorley’s success has certainly put him into co-writing rooms with numerous hall of fame writers and artists.  He claims that it’s a humbling experience to know these writing masters have so much of a stronger composition and instrumental background (Gorley learned how to play enough guitar to be able to bring that to writing sessions).  But, these situations challenge him to bring his “A game” and be a better writer.

As to the best pieces of advice to the aspiring songwriter, Ashley offers this:

1.     There is no Junior Varsity Songwriting league.  You are in direct competition with every other songwriter in the world.  So try to raise that bar and bring your best.

2.     Try to write somebody’s favorite song whether it’s your mom, family, girlfriend or your pals back home.  Keep that distinction in mind when you are writing a song.

3.     Learn the difference between a good song and a great song.  You have to write a song that makes an artist feel like they absolutely have no choice but to record it.

4.     Life is more than writing songs.  Keep a balance in your life.

This last bit of advice is perhaps one of Ashley’s greatest personal priorities.  As a matter of fact, as I interviewed him, he was driving out of town for an outing with one of his children.  He says the demands are great and you’re always trying to keep songs out there.

“My goal is to achieve balance and not make this career my life.  I don’t want to be remembered as just the guy who writes catchy country songs; there’s a lot more to it.”

While Ashley does indeed craft a catchy country song, it’s inspiring to see a young man who has accomplished so much in a relatively short period of time still marvel humbly at the process and the privilege.  He might be one of the more balanced creative types that I’ve come across in this journey.

In the next installment of this songwriting series, we take a look at the process and technique that Ashley applies to his successful craft.  Until then, write wisely my friends!  Balance…

For examples of some of Ashley's hit catalog (all three week No. 1's):

Chris Marion is an American musician best known as a member of Little River Band and for his contribution to the gospel and country music industries. Although graduating college with a B.A. in Psychology, he is a classically trained pianist and has worked in the music industry professionally for over 35 years. As a resident of Nashville, he is involved in the recording industry working in the genres of Gospel, Country and Rock.  Since 2004, he has toured globally with the classic rock act Little River Band as a keyboardist and vocalist.  For more useless trivia and minutiae concerning Chris or to contact him directly, feel free to visit his personal website www.chrismarionmusic.com.