Before shuttering their doors—and as they were monetary sponsors of [caedmonscall.net] for a time, we’ll miss them—Eb+Flo had worked with Eric to do a long interview with him. Eric kept the work, though, and has been publishing it. I especially enjoyed his writing on how he approaches songwriting, as well as the community of writers around him:

I’m a melody guy, so I spend a fair amount of time hammering those out, trying to keep them somewhat original (as much as is possible) and working to avoid the dreaded monotony of a similar sounding catalog. Hooks are an important component. Admittedly, I’m a sucker for a good old-fashioned pop hook, even if they emanate from the likes of various boy bands. After the melody my focus is the lyric. I don’t fancy myself a master wordsmith, but I simply cannot stand to be in the presence of throwaway lyrics. I have a really low tolerance for cheesy or trite content whether it’s an obviously overdone rhyme (love / above) or a writer who allows me no room to think and breathe inside their song. I value a good story. I don’t appreciate being told what to think, how to feel or how to act. I’m a fan of writers who use words to paint graceful pictures. There’s much more authenticity and vulnerability in hearing a well-told story than in receiving a command. God knows we all need stories to remind us of the truth.

The whole thing is worth checking out, and we also are owed another piece in the series.