The Art of Noise: Conversations with Great Songwriters

The Art of Noise offers an unprecedented collection of insightful, of-the-moment conversations with twenty-seven great British songwriters and composers. They discuss everything from their individual approaches to writing, to the inspiration behind their most successful songs, to the techniques and methods they have independently developed to foster their creativity.

Musician-turned-author Daniel Rachel approaches each interview with an impressive depth of understanding—of the practice of songwriting, but also of each musician's catalog. The result is a collection of conversations that's probing, informed, and altogether entertaining. The collected experience of these songwriters makes this book the essential word of songwriting—as spoken by the songwriters themselves.

Contributors include:Sting * Ray Davies * Robin Gibb * Jimmy Page * Joan Armatrading * Noel Gallagher * Lily Allen * Annie Lennox * Damon Albarn * Noel Gallagher * Laura Marling * Paul Weller * Johnny Marr * and many more

"Impeccably researched, thoughtful, and well-angled . . . the essential word on classic British songwriting." — Mouth magazine

"Revelations abound. Rachel, an informed and inspired interviewer, brings keen insight and steady focus to every part of this journey of discovery, gently enabling each subject to expound in depth on the mechanics behind the magic. His appreciation of songwriters and their songs permeates these pages with delight. This is a must for all songwriters and lovers of song." —Paul Zollo, author of Songwriters on Songwriting