Moleskine a songwriter's best friend.

[ifingers]

I just wanna thank my lovely <a href="http://www.mojolondon.co.uk/genre.php?varGenre=2">Moleskine notebooks</a> for providing a safe haven for my lyrics and song ideas. Last night I was again up to the early hours of the morning - thrashing out a new song idea. Luckily I had my trusty Moleskine to reach for and just start streaming my subconscious onto it's waiting pages. Using a pencil (thanks for the tip Maggie - ink fades - pencil will always remain) I scribbled my lyrics feverously onto it's proven archival quality sheets of paper. OK I could have used any bit of paper - but if I did I would probably end up losing it, or my 3 year old daughter would use it in one of her projects. She often uses my Moleskines for drawing too - which makes them even more valuable.

So thanks Mojo for turning me onto these funky black notebooks (and thanks for employing me for all these years too!)

If your in the UK you can buy the complete range of Moleskine from Mojo with free UK delivery and even if you live on the other side of the world, but want to send one as a great gift for a special friend or relation in the UK (or any other part of the world) they'll gift wrap it for ya for free too!

<a href="http://www.mojolondon.co.uk">Mojo</a> - Your Lifestyle Shop

<a href="http://www.mojolondon.co.uk/genre.php?varGenre=2">Moleskine with free delivery in the UK</a>

And hey - if Moleskine are good enough for Chatwin, Hemingway, Van Gogh, Matisse and <a href="http://www.macidol.com/jamroom/bands/62/">Maggie Osterberg</a> - then they are plenty good enough for me!

ps: Thank you Mojo for being so understanding about MacIDOL!

Rich

[maggieo]

Thanks for the shoutout!

I think that's the first time my name has been mentioned in such august company!

[ifingers]

<b>"OK Rich but why should a song writer use Moleskine when any notebook would be just as good?"</b>

1 The paper is acid free and a proven means of archiving your work.
2 Moleskine were used by many famous writers and artists - it's great to feel part of that tradition.
3 They are available in two sizes - the right size for your pocket or desk.
4 They have a neat elastic enclosure to help keep other related notes safe.
5 They have an expandable inner pocket for loose notes and clippings.
6 They look incredibly cool and sophisticated.
7 Moleskine are thread bound to help keep your valuable work safe.
8 Chances are none of your friends or colleagues will have one which makes them stand out and less prone to be taken by others mistakingly.
9 The black cover is a timeless and understated statement.
10 They give your work a permanent and memorable home - you will be less prone to losing your priceless notes, lyrics, ideas and memoirs.

<b>"OK but why not use a PDA or even a iPod to store my songs?"</b>

PDA's and iPods can be incredibly useful and powerful. They will never replace the longevity or reliability of pencil and paper. Paper has been found dating back over 2200 years ago - chances are your PDA or iPod will not last that long. Your Moleskine requires no batteries, it's hard drive will not fail and will not be obsolete when you replace it with the next generation PDA or iPod.

Often you will replace data on your PDA or iPod with your latest work. This is fine, keeps your life less cluttered and organised - but what if you want to go back and see some of those changes? You might need to prove it in a case of copyright infringement:

I have been trying to prove the copyright to a song that I wrote. The song has been recorded and released by a former global number one artist. He even got his friend Paul Weller to add some guitar and keyboards on the track! I am not having an easy time proving my copyright. I am almost unknown as a songwriter.

The Musician's Union have been very helpful and supportive in my claim - and my brother's (who co-wrote the song) music publisher are also now involved in sorting this problem out. I now know how important it is to catalogue your work. To show exactly how the song idea developed, keep all the rough drafts and mark changes with dates. If you co-write then make sure they sign any work and write out any verbal agreements NOW - just because your best friends - doesn't mean you'll always stay that way.

Luckily in my case I had the dates listed in an old diary of when we actually recorded the song in a large studio. This session was well after the date of my original first drafts and recordings and the subsequent demos by me and the 2 co-writers who later joined the project. This was the first time the singer - who later claimed my song, first sang on it, in this studio session. Although he never wrote a note - he released the song as a charity single and later it appeared on a "best of" album of his former band.

I never received any credit or acknowledgment for writing the song - I had originally written the complete first verse, melody line and even the song title! The singer stated he was cowriter of the song on the sleeve notes of the "best of" album.... One of the most valuable pieces of evidence I have is my diary. I have times, dates and notes made when we did the major studio session. Along with engineers names etc which may be priceless if this does go to court. If I had written dates beside any music and lyrics I wrote for the song - then this would have been again very valuable - although not proof that I indeed did play a major part in it's writing.

I am just driving a point home here - copyright theft does happen - and could happen to you!

So write everything down - verbal agreements are not enough. If your country has a copyright service - use it. If not seek professional advice from a respected music lawyer or organisations such as the Musician's Union in the UK or similar. If all you can do is send your work to yourself by registered post in a sealed envelope - do it! It may not be all the proof you need but may help you if you do get bitten by a musical predator in the future. The music industry has a notorious history of shady deals and even shadier characters - it's up to you to protect yourself.

That's why when it comes to my notes, lyrics and songs - I can always trust my <a href="http://www.mojolondon.co.uk">Moleskine</a> - I won't trust anything else!

Copyright © Richard Senior All rights reserved
London
30th July 2004 5:30pm

[ifingers]

Thanks for the shoutout!

I think that's the first time my name has been mentioned in such august company!

My pleasure Maggie - you're one of the greats!

(and I am forever in your debt for the pencil tip)

[Kenny D]

Good to hear other music makers are using these, too. I use the music notation ones for music ideas all the time.

They are well designed and classy, IMO!

-Kenny D