MasterClass

St. Vincent Teaches Creativity and Songwriting

Explore your creative process and embrace vulnerability with St. Vincent, the Grammy-winning, genre-defying artist and performer.

Where to Watch MasterClass • St. Vincent Teaches Creativity and Songwriting

16 Episodes

Meet Your Instructor: St. Vincent a.k.a. Annie Clark
A1
Meet Your Instructor: St. Vincent a.k.a. Annie ClarkAnnie Clark, who performs under the name St. Vincent, welcomes you to her class. She shares an overview of what she’ll teach you, including songwriting, guitar and performance tips, and how to approach the world as a creative person.
Nun Mode: Discipline in the Creative Process
A2
Nun Mode: Discipline in the Creative ProcessAnnie shows you how joy and discipline can converge in your creative practice.
Every Song Needs an Epiphany
A3
Every Song Needs an EpiphanyLearn how Annie creates emotional journeys in songwriting. She also explores songs by Nirvana and Leonard Cohen that have been important to her.
Basic Tools for Bedroom Composing
A4
Basic Tools for Bedroom ComposingAnnie shows you the setup she uses to write and record most of her music before she enters a professional recording studio.
“Savior” Songwriting Demo: Early Sketches
A5
“Savior” Songwriting Demo: Early SketchesAnnie introduces you to the earliest version of her song “Savior,” which she wrote in her bedroom when she was 16. Over the next lessons, she’ll take you through each step of the songwriting process.
“Savior” Songwriting Demo: Finding the North Star
A6
“Savior” Songwriting Demo: Finding the North StarAnnie walks you through the chord progressions of “Savior” and explains what she means by “proof of concept.”
“Savior” Songwriting Demo: Rewriting, Revising, and Refining
A7
“Savior” Songwriting Demo: Rewriting, Revising, and RefiningFind out the question Annie asks herself while editing, and see how she expands her sound with collaborators and embraces counter-melodies.
“Savior” Songwriting Demo: Final Mix
A8
“Savior” Songwriting Demo: Final MixWatch Annie in the control room, where she puts all the pieces together using studio tools and shows you how the track became what it is today.
Fear, Shame, and Humiliation
A9
Fear, Shame, and HumiliationAnnie shares her strategies for engaging the world as a creative. Learn how to embrace fear and metabolize shame in order to do your best work.
Seizing Opportunity
A10
Seizing OpportunityAnnie reveals her influences and evolution as an artist, touching on key moments like learning about the music business while touring with her Uncle Tuck and Aunt Patti.
Case Study: Writing a Theme Song
A11
Case Study: Writing a Theme SongAnnie breaks down the film and the song “The Nowhere Inn” while in the recording studio. Hear how she created the theme song for her new film, from original concept to the effects she used in the studio.
Tuning In to the World Around You
A12
Tuning In to the World Around YouAnnie believes that musicians can engage with different modes of expression, including fashion, art, dance, and design. Learn how to be open to the world around you and draw inspiration from unlikely places.
Notes on Guitar: Tone
A13
Notes on Guitar: ToneAnnie talks about how good tone is good technique and how tone works in her songs “Surgeon” and “Rattlesnake.”
Notes on Guitar: Tunings and Techniques
A14
Notes on Guitar: Tunings and TechniquesAnnie shares her approach to tuning and creating memorable textures for the guitar.
Out of the Studio, Onto the Stage
A15
Out of the Studio, Onto the StageLearn how to deliver an unforgettable live performance. Get concrete tips, including when to eat before performing and why you should be gracious on stage.
Closing Thoughts
A16
Closing ThoughtsAnnie wraps up her class with parting words of advice and some thoughts on the gift of music.