HOW TO WRITE A SONG LIKE SZA | Alt R&B songwriting

Summary

In this video, the creator dives into the creative process of writing a song inspired by SZA's style, particularly her ability to blend emotional vulnerability with rapid, syncopated verses. The artist reflects on how SZA’s music feels like a freestyle with raw, wordy verses and simple, relatable hooks. The video includes the artist’s journey of experimenting with melody, lyrics, and vocal runs while trying to emulate SZA’s unique delivery. Ultimately, the creator shares an original track, 'Fool For You,' which encapsulates themes of infatuation, regret, and losing everything for love, in true SZA fashion.

Takeaways

• 😀 SZA's music is described as emotionally charged, with themes of toxic relationships, vulnerability, and personal growth.
• 😀 The speaker highlights how SZA's songwriting feels like freestyle rapping, with complex, rapid verses full of words and thought.
• 😀 SZA’s verses often feature syncopation and fast pacing, creating a sense of urgency and emotional depth.
• 😀 The writer notes the challenge of mimicking SZA’s style, especially her ability to condense complex emotions into rapid, word-heavy verses.
• 😀 The hook in SZA's music is typically simplistic, providing emotional clarity amidst more complex verses.
• 😀 The speaker admires how SZA integrates emotional runs and vocal flourishes at key moments to emphasize important lines.
• 😀 The songwriting process in the video draws inspiration from SZA’s approach, with the writer trying to freestyle melodies and verses to capture her raw emotional style.
• 😀 The song being written centers around a girl who is infatuated with someone outside of her current relationship, willing to sacrifice everything for that new connection.
• 😀 The repeated lyric “you make me wanna lose everything” encapsulates the main theme of the song: intense love that feels all-consuming.
• 😀 The speaker emphasizes the importance of learning from other songwriters and artists, even if the style isn’t directly replicated.
• 😀 The final product of the session is a song called 'Fool for You,' which explores the emotional conflict of desiring someone despite the consequences.

Q & A

What is the main influence behind SZA's songwriting style, according to the creator?

The creator notes that SZA's songwriting is heavily influenced by rap, as her verses are fast-paced, complex, and filled with syncopation, which makes her songs feel like a freestyle.

How does SZA's songwriting style challenge the creator's usual approach?

The creator usually writes with a lot of space and room to breathe in their songs, but SZA's verses are densely packed with words, creating a more fast-paced, overwhelming style that's challenging to replicate.

What is one of the key characteristics of SZA's hooks in her songs?

SZA's hooks are described as simplistic and straightforward, providing a contrast to her complex and rapid verses.

What unique vocal technique does the creator mention that SZA uses in her songs?

The creator mentions that SZA often uses vocal runs in her verses, adding emotional emphasis at specific moments in the song, which enhances the song's emotional impact.

What does the creator mean by saying SZA 'sings in cursive'?

The creator suggests that SZA has a unique, almost fluid vocal style, with a distinct accent that gives her singing an individual, expressive quality.

What challenge does the creator face in trying to emulate SZA's style in their own songwriting?

The challenge lies in trying to match SZA's rapid-fire, intricate verses while also keeping the emotional depth and distinctiveness of her style, something the creator doesn't naturally do in their own writing.

How does the creator describe the song they are working on?

The creator describes the song as being about a girl who is infatuated with a new guy, willing to risk her current relationship for him. The song conveys intense emotional conflict, reflecting SZA's lyrical style.

What is the thematic focus of the song 'Fool for You' that the creator is writing?

The song focuses on the internal struggle of being deeply infatuated with someone else, to the point of jeopardizing a current relationship and prioritizing the new connection, despite knowing it might lead to ruin.

How does the creator approach the songwriting process for 'Fool for You'?

The creator starts by writing words and freestyling melodies, trying to capture the emotion and structure of SZA's style. They use a mix of writing and instinctive vocal runs to create the song.

What does the creator say about their ability to mimic SZA's vocal style?

The creator humbly admits they cannot perfectly replicate SZA's unique vocal style or accent, acknowledging their own limitations in matching her signature sound.