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Girl Authority Interview
What do the GA girls look for in a hit song? I sat down with Zoe, Gina, Kate, Tarr, Crystal, and Carly to find out! Maeve Kaplan Taylor: You guys have a cool mix of famous covers and original songs. Where do you find inspiration for your lyrics? Zoe: Inspiration for songs can come from anything—nature, friendships, or something that happens at school. If you think about it, songs are written about all kinds of things. Gina: We like to sing about things we are experiencing; everyday life and especially about things we like to do together. Carly: Usually from what I want to be when I'm older and my dreams for the future. * MKT: How do you put that special Girl Authority twist on songs – even ones you didn’t write? Gina: We listen to the original recording a few times but then we fool around with the melodies and harmonies and change things so that they suit our own voices. Also, when we are in the recording studio, we are allowed to try things in multiple different ways (called "takes").Then, when we are editing, we can listen to all the different versions and choose the ones we like. Tarr: I add some sort of message about girl power or staying true to yourself. * MKT: Wow! Nine girls singing one song. How do you all cooperate when writing or recording a song? Kate: We take turns talking, and we work together. Zoe: We cooperate by respecting and helping each other. We don't put anyone down if they're having a hard time learning something, and we compliment and encourage each other. Crystal: We usually go around a circle and take turns contributing ideas. * MKT: How do you choose who sings each song? Kate: Whoever brings the most individuality to the song usually sings it. Tarr: If someone’s personality fits the song, she’ll usually sing it. I am Rock-n-Roll girl, so I love rock music. I usually sing rock songs like Wild Side. Crystal: I am Country Girl and I LOVE country music, so I choose country songs to sing. *MKT: OK, so how does a song go from an idea to actually being on one of your CDs? Gina: When we receive a song, we are all given copies to listen to at home. We'll then usually talk about who would sound good on what parts. Sometimes, we audition the parts if we're not sure, but since we've been singing together for so long we know each other’s voices pretty well, we're pretty good at pairing voices with vocal parts. We then rehearse the harmonies and the solos. After that, we go into the studio and put down vocals over the track. Then, the producer and engineer mix and master the songs. Crystal: We do lots of listening and working on harmonies to put into the song. The band records the instrument parts, then we record vocals, then it is edited, mixed, and mastered. * MKT: Sounds fabulous! What are your favorite topics to sing about? Kate: Having fun and being with friends! Zoe: Favorite topics to sing about are things we like! I love to dance, so I like our song Rhythm of the World. I also like being with the GA girls, so it's always fun to sing Let's Get Together and We are Family. Gina: I like to sing about being self-confident and being a powerful girl. For example, my solo on the first album is called Beautiful. My favorite lyrics in that song are 'Words can't bring me down.' My solo on the second album is called Here to Stay. I really like the chorus of that song that goes: 'I’m gonna keep on / I’m-a do my own thing / We all got a song that we’re meant to sing / And no matter what people say or might think / I ain’t goin’ no place - no I’m here to stay.' Carly: I love to sing about relationships and situations in everyday life. * MKT: I love that song, too, Gina! How do you know if a song is going to be a hit? Kate: If it gets stuck in my head that's a good sign! Zoe: I think a song will be a hit if it's really catchy. If I can't stop singing a chorus or if it's always going through my head, then I bet other people will really like it, too. Tarr: If it makes me want to dance or sing! * MKT: What are some essential elements to a song you love? Gina: It has to have a really catchy chorus and lots of places for cool riffing and runs. Crystal: Lyrics that kids can understand and relate to. * MKT: I totally know what you mean, Crystal. Do you guys have any favorite songs by other artists? Kate: Bleeding Love by Leona Lewis. Zoe: Right now, I really like Taylor Swift. Her melodies are so catchy, and I like her lyrics, too. Gina: I pretty much love all songs by Christina Aguilera. I'm also into Paramore right now, which is a little edgier than the pop music I usually listen to. Crystal: I love anything by Rascal Flatts or Miley Cyrus. Carly: I happen to love Broadway music and soft rock, for example artists such as Colbie Caillat and Sara Bareilles. * MKT: Awesome! Can you share any other song-writing tips? Kate: The second you think of a song, write it down! Zoe: Just keep listening to songs you like. Think about why you like them and what makes them good. Gina: When you brainstorm, just jot down a lot of thoughts—whatever comes to mind. You have plenty of time to edit later, so it's good to start out with lots of material to choose from. Carly: When you write music, it is always great to write about your own experiences, because then the songs will mean so much more to you. |
