22 Aug 2017

How to Write a Pop Song

From Afternoons, 2:19 pm on 22 August 2017
Godfrey de Grut

Godfrey de Grut Photo: twitter

Godfrey De Grut teaches popular music theory at the University of Auckland, covering composition, music theory and piano studies. He is also a music producer and songwriter.

As freelance session musician and arranger he has recorded and toured with artists such as Anika Moa, Brooke Fraser, Boh Runga, Scribe, Elemeno P, Hollie Smith, Nathan Haines, Tama Waipara and Gin Wigmore. He also played the saxophone in the Rodger Fox Big Band for 10 years, and won the 2002 APRA Silver Scroll with Che Fu for the song, Misty Frequencies.

He talks to us about songwriting, jazz, playing keyboards for Kanye West, and surviving in the New Zealand music industry.