How Songs Are Made

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Hello fellow songwriters, I’m Trey Xavier and this is the How Songs Are Made podcast. You may know me from the Gear Gods YouTube channel or my band In Virtue. And on this show, I’ll be talking to notable musical artists to learn about their songwriting process, how it is that they go from a seed of an idea to a full-blown song arrangement, and all the steps in between. I’m here to bring the songwriting wisdom of the masters of the craft to you directly, and to get the most usable advice from them to make you the most effective songwriter you can be. There are some other podcasts out there about songwriting, but this is the only one focused on finding out the HOW - the real techniques and creative process that real successful songwriters use to write their best songs. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Trey Xavier


    • Aug 2, 2023 LATEST EPISODE
    • monthly NEW EPISODES
    • 1h 24m AVG DURATION
    • 36 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from How Songs Are Made

    Cole Rolland

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 2, 2023 64:11


    Trey Xavier talks to Cole Rolland about his songwriting process and his new song "Echo."Listen to "Echo" on YouTube.Join the Gear Gods public DISCORD server.Follow Gear Gods:►Website: http://geargods.net►Facebook: http://bit.ly/GGFBPAGE►Twitter: http://bit.ly/GGTWEETS►Instagram: http://bit.ly/GGIGBB Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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    David Ellefson (Dieth)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 5, 2023 72:59


    David Ellefson joins Trey Xavier to talk about Dieth's debut album To Hell and Back. Join the Gear Gods public DISCORD server.Follow Gear Gods:►Website: http://geargods.net►Facebook: http://bit.ly/GGFBPAGE►Twitter: http://bit.ly/GGTWEETS►Instagram: http://bit.ly/GGIGBB Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Per Nilsson (Scar Symmetry)

    Play Episode Listen Later May 17, 2023 62:55


    Per Nilsson joins Trey Xavier to talk about the process for writing the new Scar Symmetry album The Singularity (Part II - Xenotaph), out June 9th on Nuclear Blast.Pre-order/pre-save the album: https://scarsymmetry.bfan.link/xenotaph.ydeJoin the Gear Gods public DISCORD server.Follow Gear Gods:►Website: http://geargods.net►Facebook: http://bit.ly/GGFBPAGE►Twitter: http://bit.ly/GGTWEETS►Instagram: http://bit.ly/GGIGBB Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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    DAATH

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 22, 2023 111:14


    Eyal Levi of DAATh joins the podcast to discuss reuniting the band with a new lineup and the songwriting process for "No Rest No End."Sponsored by: DistroKid (join and get 7% off your first year!)Join the Gear Gods public DISCORD server.Follow Gear Gods:►Website: http://geargods.net►Facebook: http://bit.ly/GGFBPAGE►Twitter: http://bit.ly/GGTWEETS►Instagram: http://bit.ly/GGIGBB Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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    Visions of Atlantis

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 22, 2023 124:48


    Michele Guaitoli and Clémentine Delauney join Trey and Alex on the first episode of season 2 to discuss their album Pirates. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Lacuna Coil

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 16, 2022 53:35


    Lacuna Coil joins Trey Xavier to discuss how the band writes their songs. In Virtue Hyperfollow: https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/invirtue/screamSponsored by: DistroKid (join and get 7% off your first year!)Join the Gear Gods public DISCORD server.Follow Gear Gods:►Website: http://geargods.net►Facebook: http://bit.ly/GGFBPAGE►Twitter: http://bit.ly/GGTWEETS►Instagram: http://bit.ly/GGIGBB Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Jinjer

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 2, 2022 55:10


    Eugene Abdukhanov, the bassist for Jinjer, joins Trey Xavier to discuss how the band writes their songs. Sponsored by: DistroKid (join and get 7% off your first year!)Join the Gear Gods public DISCORD server.Follow Gear Gods:►Website: http://geargods.net►Facebook: http://bit.ly/GGFBPAGE►Twitter: http://bit.ly/GGTWEETS►Instagram: http://bit.ly/GGIGBB Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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    Lorna Shore

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 26, 2022 60:30


    Adam De Micco from Lorna Shore joins the podcast to talk about Pain Remains. Sponsored by: DistroKid (join and get 7% off your first year!)Join the Gear Gods public DISCORD server.Follow Gear Gods:►Website: http://geargods.net►Facebook: http://bit.ly/GGFBPAGE►Twitter: http://bit.ly/GGTWEETS►Instagram: http://bit.ly/GGIGBB Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Andy Gillion

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 19, 2022 97:16


    Andy Gillion joins the podcast to discuss his songwriting process and his new album Arcade Metal. Sponsored by: DistroKid (join and get 7% off your first year!)Join the Gear Gods public DISCORD server.Follow Gear Gods:►Website: http://geargods.net►Facebook: http://bit.ly/GGFBPAGE►Twitter: http://bit.ly/GGTWEETS►Instagram: http://bit.ly/GGIGBB Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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    John Petrucci

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 12, 2022 31:39


    John Petrucci joins the podcast for a quick chat about his songwriting process. Sponsored by: DistroKid (join and get 7% off your first year!)Join the Gear Gods public DISCORD server.Follow Gear Gods:►Website: http://geargods.net►Facebook: http://bit.ly/GGFBPAGE►Twitter: http://bit.ly/GGTWEETS►Instagram: http://bit.ly/GGIGBB Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Charlotte Wessels

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 5, 2022 68:43


    Charlotte Wessels joins the podcast to discuss her songwriting process and how it differs when writing solo versus writing with others. Check out Charlotte's Patreon. Sponsored by: DistroKid (join and get 7% off your first year!)Join the Gear Gods public DISCORD server.Follow Gear Gods:►Website: http://geargods.net►Facebook: http://bit.ly/GGFBPAGE►Twitter: http://bit.ly/GGTWEETS►Instagram: http://bit.ly/GGIGBB Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Amaranthe

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 7, 2022 125:04


    Elize and Olof from Amaranthe join Trey Xavier to discuss how the band writes songs, their ability to keep working on new music, and much more. Sponsored by: DistroKid (join and get 7% off your first year!)Join the Gear Gods public DISCORD server.Follow Gear Gods:►Website: http://geargods.net►Facebook: http://bit.ly/GGFBPAGE►Twitter: http://bit.ly/GGTWEETS►Instagram: http://bit.ly/GGIGBB Our GDPR privacy policy was updated on August 8, 2022. Visit acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Sean Ashe

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 24, 2022 100:17


    Sean Ashe joins Trey Xavier to discuss making guitar music melodic again, imposter syndrome, and much more. Check out Sean's video for "Tangerine Dream."Sponsored by: DistroKid (join and get 7% off your first year!)Join the Gear Gods public DISCORD server.Follow Gear Gods:►Website: http://geargods.net►Facebook: http://bit.ly/GGFBPAGE►Twitter: http://bit.ly/GGTWEETS►Instagram: http://bit.ly/GGIGBB Our GDPR privacy policy was updated on August 8, 2022. Visit acast.com/privacy for more information.

    Revocation

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 17, 2022 117:41


    Dave Davidson from Revocation joins the podcast to talk about the band's upcoming album, his music knowledge, and more.Check out Revocation: https://www.revocationband.com/Check out Trey's new song presave: https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/treyxavier1/backSponsored by: DistroKid (join and get 7% off your first year!)Join the Gear Gods public DISCORD server.Follow Gear Gods:►Website: http://geargods.net►Facebook: http://bit.ly/GGFBPAGE►Twitter: http://bit.ly/GGTWEETS►Instagram: http://bit.ly/GGIGBB Our GDPR privacy policy was updated on August 8, 2022. Visit acast.com/privacy for more information.

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    Nik Nocturnal

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 20, 2022 101:24


    Nik Nocturnal joins the podcast to talk about how he writes songs and how the methods differ between projects. Sponsored by: DistroKid (join and get 7% off your first year!)Join the Gear Gods public DISCORD server.Follow Gear Gods:►Website: http://geargods.net►Facebook: http://bit.ly/GGFBPAGE►Twitter: http://bit.ly/GGTWEETS►Instagram: http://bit.ly/GGIGBB See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

    Interloper

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 22, 2022 107:23


    What is Interloper doing that makes their music SO interesting? Andrew Virrueta and Miles Dimitri Baker join the podcast to answer that crucial question!Sponsored by: DistroKid (join and get 7% off your first year!)Join the Gear Gods public DISCORD server.Follow Gear Gods:►Website: http://geargods.net►Facebook: http://bit.ly/GGFBPAGE►Twitter: http://bit.ly/GGTWEETS►Instagram: http://bit.ly/GGIGBB See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

    Jason Richardson

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 15, 2022 118:04


    Jason Richardson joins the podcast to discuss how he writes songs. He dives into the collaboration process, how he uses pop structure, and much more. Sponsored by: DistroKid (join and get 7% off your first year!)Join the Gear Gods public DISCORD server.Follow Gear Gods:►Website: http://geargods.net►Facebook: http://bit.ly/GGFBPAGE►Twitter: http://bit.ly/GGTWEETS►Instagram: http://bit.ly/GGIGBB See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

    Rohan Stevenson (I Built The Sky)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 8, 2022 72:12


    Rohan Stevenson of I Built The Sky joins the podcast to discuss how he writes songs, why having fun is the main priority, and much more!Check out The Quiet Place Away: https://listen.ibuiltthesky.com/tqpa Sponsored by: DistroKid (join and get 7% off your first year!)Join the Gear Gods public DISCORD server.Follow Gear Gods:►Website: http://geargods.net►Facebook: http://bit.ly/GGFBPAGE►Twitter: http://bit.ly/GGTWEETS►Instagram: http://bit.ly/GGIGBB See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

    Tom Englund (Evergrey)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 1, 2022 71:28


    Tom Englund joins the podcast to discuss how Evergreen songs are made. You won't want to miss out on the valuable nuggets of wisdom in this one!Sponsored by: DistroKid (join and get 7% off your first year!)Join the Gear Gods public DISCORD server.Follow Gear Gods:►Website: http://geargods.net►Facebook: http://bit.ly/GGFBPAGE►Twitter: http://bit.ly/GGTWEETS►Instagram: http://bit.ly/GGIGBB See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

    Sahil Makhija (Demonstealer)

    Play Episode Listen Later May 18, 2022 80:44


    Trey Xavier sits down with Sahil Makhija, aka The Godfather of Indian Metal, to talk about his band Demonstealer and how he writes songs. Sponsored by: DistroKid (join and get 7% off your first year!)Join the Gear Gods public DISCORD server.Follow Gear Gods:►Website: http://geargods.net►Facebook: http://bit.ly/GGFBPAGE►Twitter: http://bit.ly/GGTWEETS►Instagram: http://bit.ly/GGIGBB See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

    Hellis

    Play Episode Listen Later May 11, 2022 77:56


    Trey Xavier sits down with Hellis, who won a Gear Gods contest, to talk about his songwriting process.Sponsored by: DistroKid (join and get 7% off your first year!)Join the Gear Gods public DISCORD server.Follow Gear Gods:►Website: http://geargods.net►Facebook: http://bit.ly/GGFBPAGE►Twitter: http://bit.ly/GGTWEETS►Instagram: http://bit.ly/GGIGBB See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

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    Justin McKinney (The Zenith Passage)

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 28, 2022 102:27


    Justin McKinney joins Trey Xavier to talk about his songwriting process for The Zenith Passage. On this episode: The snowball effectIncorporating metal with other genresDealing with emotions through musicAnd much more!Sponsored by: DistroKid (join and get 7% off your first year!)Join the Gear Gods public DISCORD server.Follow Gear Gods:►Website: http://geargods.net►Facebook: http://bit.ly/GGFBPAGE►Twitter: http://bit.ly/GGTWEETS►Instagram: http://bit.ly/GGIGBB See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

    Myrone

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 20, 2022 81:06


    Trey Xavier is joined by Myrone to talk about his songwriting work and his solo project. Check out some songs Myrone has worked on: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0chizW91EIZAvPc4XkCks8?si=0ff8759888e74e26&nd=1Sponsored by: DistroKid (join and get 7% off your first year!)Join the Gear Gods public DISCORD server.Follow Gear Gods:►Website: http://geargods.net►Facebook: http://bit.ly/GGFBPAGE►Twitter: http://bit.ly/GGTWEETS►Instagram: http://bit.ly/GGIGBB See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

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    Monuments - "In Stasis"

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 13, 2022 112:54


    Andy Cizek and John Browne from Monuments join Trey Xavier to discuss their album "In Stasis."On this episode:Writing from promptsCutting what doesn't workPop song structure is superiorAnd much more!Sponsored by: DistroKid (join and get 7% off your first year!)Join the Gear Gods public DISCORD server.Follow Gear Gods:►Website: http://geargods.net►Facebook: http://bit.ly/GGFBPAGE►Twitter: http://bit.ly/GGTWEETS►Instagram: http://bit.ly/GGIGBB See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

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    Sarah Longfield - "Tosia"

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 6, 2022 94:34


    Talking to Sarah about her new album "Tosia" and why she used synths instead of guitars.Sponsored by: DistroKid (join and get 7% off your first year!)Join the Gear Gods public DISCORD server.Follow Gear Gods:►Website: http://geargods.net►Facebook: http://bit.ly/GGFBPAGE►Twitter: http://bit.ly/GGTWEETS►Instagram: http://bit.ly/GGIGBB See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

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    TETRARCH - "Unstable"

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 30, 2022 73:52


    Trey Xavier is joined by Diamond and Josh from TETRARCH to discuss how they made "Unstable."On this episode:How the band uses demosWorking with Dave OteroAnd more!Sponsored by: DistroKid (join and get 7% off your first year!)Join the Gear Gods public DISCORD server.Follow Gear Gods:►Website: http://geargods.net►Facebook: http://bit.ly/GGFBPAGE►Twitter: http://bit.ly/GGTWEETS►Instagram: http://bit.ly/GGIGBB See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

    Bad Wolves - "Dear Monsters"

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 23, 2022 128:38


    Doc Coyle and John Boecklin join Trey Xavier to discuss how they wrote their album "Dear Monsters."Some of the topics discussed include:Why lyrics are subjectiveThrowing ideas around to see what sticksWriting lyrics lastAdvice from Billy JoelSponsored by: DistroKid (join and get 7% off your first year!)Join the Gear Gods public DISCORD server.Follow Gear Gods:►Website: http://geargods.net►Facebook: http://bit.ly/GGFBPAGE►Twitter: http://bit.ly/GGTWEETS►Instagram: http://bit.ly/GGIGBB See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

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    Arjen Anthony Lucassen - "Star One"

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 16, 2022 78:32


    Trey Xavier sits down to talk to a longtime songwriting hero of his, Arjen Anthony Lucassen of Star One and Ayreon about their new album "Revel In Time."Sponsored by: DistroKid (join and get 7% off your first year!)Join the Gear Gods public DISCORD server.Follow Gear Gods:►Website: http://geargods.net►Facebook: http://bit.ly/GGFBPAGE►Twitter: http://bit.ly/GGTWEETS►Instagram: http://bit.ly/GGIGBB See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

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    Allegaeon - "Damnum"

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 9, 2022 90:42


    Trey Xavier talks to Allegaeon about how they wrote their album "Damnum."Sponsored by: DistroKid (join and get 7% off your first year!)Join the Gear Gods public DISCORD server.Follow Gear Gods:►Website: http://geargods.net►Facebook: http://bit.ly/GGFBPAGE►Twitter: http://bit.ly/GGTWEETS►Instagram: http://bit.ly/GGIGBB See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

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    Will Putney (Fit For An Autopsy) - "Oh What the Future Holds"

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 2, 2022 73:43


    Trey Xavier sits down with Will Putney to discuss how Fit For An Autopsy made "Oh What the Future Holds."Sponsored by: DistroKid (join and get 7% off your first year!)Join the Gear Gods public DISCORD server.Follow Gear Gods:►Website: http://geargods.net►Facebook: http://bit.ly/GGFBPAGE►Twitter: http://bit.ly/GGTWEETS►Instagram: http://bit.ly/GGIGBB See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

    The Agonist - "Days Before The World Wept"

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 23, 2022 100:58


    Trey Xavier welcomes The Agonist to the podcast to talk about how they made "Days Before The World Wept."Sponsored by: DistroKid (join and get 7% off your first year!)Join the Gear Gods public DISCORD server.Follow Gear Gods:►Website: http://geargods.net►Facebook: http://bit.ly/GGFBPAGE►Twitter: http://bit.ly/GGTWEETS►Instagram: http://bit.ly/GGIGBB See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

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    Carcosa - "Anthology"

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 16, 2022 114:29


    Trey Xavier welcomes Carcosa to the podcast to talk all about the songwriting process for their album "Anthology."Sponsored by: DistroKid (join and get 7% off your first year!)Join the Gear Gods public DISCORD server.Follow Gear Gods:►Website: http://geargods.net►Facebook: http://bit.ly/GGFBPAGE►Twitter: http://bit.ly/GGTWEETS►Instagram: http://bit.ly/GGIGBB See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

    Dean Lamb and Oli Peters (Archspire) - "Bleed the Future"

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 9, 2022 102:09


    Dean Lamb and Oli Peters of Archspire join the podcast to talk about the writing process for the songs on the band's 4th album "Bleed the Future."Sponsored by: DistroKid (join and get 7% off your first year!)Join the Gear Gods public DISCORD server.Follow Gear Gods:►Website: http://geargods.net►Facebook: http://bit.ly/GGFBPAGE►Twitter: http://bit.ly/GGTWEETS►Instagram: http://bit.ly/GGIGBB See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

    Brody Uttley (Rivers of Nihil) - “The Work”

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 2, 2022 93:40


    Brody Uttley from River of Nihil joins the podcast to discuss how the band wrote their 4th album “The Work.”Sponsored by: DistroKid (join and get 7% off your first year!)Join the Gear Gods public DISCORD server.Follow Gear Gods:►Website: http://geargods.net►Facebook: http://bit.ly/GGFBPAGE►Twitter: http://bit.ly/GGTWEETS►Instagram: http://bit.ly/GGIGBB See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

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    Matt Heafy (Trivium) - “In The Court Of The Dragon”

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 26, 2022 34:54


    On this first episode of How Songs Are Made, Trey Xavier sits down with Matt Heafy of Trivium to discuss writing the band's 10th album "In The Court of the Dragon."Sponsored by: DistroKid (join and get 7% off your first year!)Join the Gear Gods public DISCORD server.Follow Gear Gods:►Website: http://geargods.net►Facebook: http://bit.ly/GGFBPAGE►Twitter: http://bit.ly/GGTWEETS►Instagram: http://bit.ly/GGIGBB See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

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    Introducing How Songs Are Made

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 19, 2022 1:14


    Hello! I'm Trey Xavier, you may know me from my YouTube channel Gears Gods or my band In Virtue. I'd like to introduce you to How Songs Are Made. And on this show, I'll be talking to notable musical artists to learn about their songwriting process, how it is that they go from a seed of an idea to a full-blown song arrangement, and all the steps in between.If you're in a band or you want to write songs more seriously, this show is for you! I'm here to bring the songwriting wisdom of the masters of the craft to you directly, and to get the most usable advice from them to make you the most effective songwriter you can be.There are some other podcasts out there about songwriting, but this is the only one focused on finding out the HOW - the real techniques and creative process that real successful songwriters use to write their best songs.Be sure to subscribe in your podcast app of choice! See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

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