Our annual Songwriting Competition is an opportunity for teens to demonstrate their incredible musical abilities as well as their writing craft—and to highlight how the two art forms often go hand in hand. "The best advice I can give to those who are nervous about showcasing their passion is that the receiver of your art is an extension of the piece," says Best Performance Winner Gaby Montiel. "Those who witness, who listen, who feel your music, they aren’t there to judge [...] they are there to see that within themselves."
Read on to learn all about the winners and their songwriting process!
Guest Judge Katherine Lynn-Rose loved how your winning song "blends together mythology, history, and fate". What was the starting point for writing it and how did you achieve this balance of storytelling?
We were reading the ancient historian Livy's account of the speeches given by the Roman general Scipio and the general of Carthage, Hannibal, before they fought one of the major battles in Rome. In Hannibal's speech, he talked a lot about Fortuna and chance, mostly to intimidate Scipio. Our teacher then initiated a discussion about Fortuna and what fate's role is in a game or a war, and how this would contrast with God's sovereign providence. That got me thinking about some mythological figures that try to defy their fate or take their fate into their own hands, and I first thought of Cassius from Julius Caesar. In the song, there's dialogue between Fortuna and Cassius, and Cassius claims he took what was rightfully his away from Fortuna, which is the authority over his life. In Julius Caesar, Cassius ends up committing suicide–taking his fate into his own hands. Then I thought of Icarus, who tried to defy his purpose as a human being and become something different. As humans, we can't decide what we are born as, so Icarus taking his life into his own hands and trying to become something he's not was also taking the authority from Fortuna, which didn't end well for him. It was one of those moments, I suppose, where the song just kind of came out.
Who are some of your biggest musical and/or writing inspirations?
I absolutely adore The Gray Havens and the Oh Hellos–some of my favorite narrative-storytelling bands. That and C.S Lewis is a huge influence, as well as Flannery O' Conner, Homer, Virgil, Dante, and the greatest story I could ever imitate, the Bible.
Photo credit: Justin Herrera
What was the process of writing your winning song?
I had the idea for Pearls months before it came into place. I was messing around on my piano and had just learned how to play Funny Honey from Chicago. I liked the sound of a simple, chromatic chord progression, and wanted to write a song around one of my own. However, I became very stuck with this chord progression for weeks, at a loss for inspiration and stuck with the pressure of trying to be unique. Because I had based the song on another’s sound, I placed the heavy burden of being completely unique onto my song, causing me to feel discouraged every time I tried to write it. That was when the image of a pearl necklace came to my mind. Usually, my song writing process is to start with lyrics, and then write the melody on top of them. However, because I had done the opposite with Pearls, I was working backwards. I knew I wanted to convey the imagery of a pearl necklace, but I did not know what I wanted that image to mean. It wasn’t until one of my closest friends was talking to me about how she always felt like an accessory in her own life, especially as a girl. We were talking about how societal pressures caused young women to feel like their only purpose was to act as rewards for men, and that finding an identity outside of our gender was almost an impossible feat. It was this conversation that pulled Pearls together. Like most of my other songs, Pearls was like a journal entry. However, the reason why I believe it resonated with people is because it was a journal entry that so many had to write. I wanted to capture this realization, and the defeat of this realization, along with the stirring anger to call out this behavior and force people to see that this is how many people are treated, not just in romantic relationships, but in everyday life.
What advice do you have for fellow songwriters who might be nervous to perform their work?
The best advice I can give to those who are nervous about showcasing their passion is that the receiver of your art is an extension of the piece. You aren’t giving something personal from yourself to another, you are making them a part of the artwork. Those who witness, who listen, who feel your music, they aren’t there to judge or to see a personal and vulnerable side of someone else. They are there to see that within themselves. Your art may feel like an opening to something that is purely you, and it is, because it is your creation. However, when you share it with other people, they aren’t there to take it and make your authentic self their own. They are there to accept whatever you give them and turn it into their own personal story. Art is building on one another, and once you realize that you aren’t writing songs to show to people, but rather to share with them, then it becomes easier to ease the pressure on your shoulders to feel like you need to be understood and perceived perfectly.
What do you enjoy about peer reviewing?
Peer reviewing others’ pieces is a fun and rewarding way for me to analyze different writing styles and recognize techniques I admire. It not only helps me discover elements I’d like to incorporate into my own work, but also allows me to provide thoughtful feedback that can inspire and support other writers. I genuinely enjoy leaving reviews, especially when I see how much it means to someone to receive comments, critiques, and praise. It’s one of the most fulfilling experiences a writer can have!
Are you working on any fun writing projects?
I’m currently writing an Italian-inspired fantasy novel called Living Magic, set in the 1800s! It follows a girl without magic in a world full of it, who enters the Arcane Prestidore’s renowned Mask dell’Occulto games, falls in love, and uncovers the living magic within herself. I’m about halfway through the draft, and while it’s been incredibly fun to work on, it’s also been pretty draining at times. I started the project around November of last year and I’m still going strong today!