Our next Songwriting Sprint is coming up, and I thought I’d share one of the 4 prompts from the current 8-Week Sprint. You’re welcome to try this yourself, and if you want the structure, support, and accountability of deadlines, feedback, and community—join us for the August Sprint!
Listen Like an Anthropologist
Prompt
You are going to use active listening as a guide into your own songwriting for the next project.
Go and listen to the Number #1 song today in your genre (or a genre you like, or would like to try writing in, or even simply the #1 song charting in your country). As you listen, note down anything you notice that makes the song work, with the goal of collecting a list of techniques you could try in your own song.
You don’t need to use them all; let them be a menu of options you can choose from, though your goal is to try one that you’ve never deliberately used before.
For example, the #1 song today in Australia is ‘stupid song’ by Olivia Rodrigo. Here are some of my notes:
- Starts with really simple acoustic piano (simple chords, not complicated). Drums only come in Verse 2 (after Vrse, Pre, and Chorus).
- Chorus melody is high note – almost like a pedal note
- Verse melody in two halves, with repeating motif: AAA AAA (same motif repeats with minor variations) – very distinctive v-shaped motif
- Fast lyric delivery from pre-chorus into Chorus
- Cool stripped back bridge, with stabs of full instrumentation
- Song form: V – P – CH – V – P – CH – B – P – CH (classic pop song form)
- Opening lyrics set up specific place, time, situation, and emotional theme: “New York City”, “love is a cage”, “all the girls at this party”, “my friends are smoking blunts in the bathroom.”
- By contrast, lyrics in Pre and Chorus are a string of metaphors: “I’m a car…I’m a heart made of wax…I’m a thread on your shirt”.
- POV: Direct Address
Extra Thoughts
When we do this, we’re ‘listening like an anthropologist’, which is one of the most important mindsets to adopt as we learn the craft, and add tools to our toolbox.
Listening like an anthropologist asks us to listen with curiosity rather than judgment. To listen to what others are listening to, and to simply ask, “Why do millions of people love this? What can I learn from this? And what tools or techniques can I adapt into my own writing?”
Write 4 new songs in just 8 weeks — without waiting for inspiration.
Next Sprint: 9 Aug- 4 Oct 2026
Creative prompts to spark ideas.
Simple deadlines to keep you moving.
A supportive songwriting community writing alongside you.
Registration closes 6 Aug ET.
The Songwriting Sprint gives you the structure, accountability, and momentum to stop overthinking and start finishing songs — consistently.
