A Q&A with Squeeze’s Chris Difford

Chris Difford Turns Workshop Leader and Creates Vast Army of Supersongwriters

Chris Difford Turns Workshop Leader and Creates Vast Army of Supersongwriters

By Paula Carino

After practically defining the new wave genre in the ‘80s and, with partner Glenn Tilbrook, writing some of the classic pop songs of the late 20th century, Squeeze’s venerable co-songwriter Chris Difford went the solo route, with detours into film scoring and the occasional Squeeze reunion.

However, many people don’t know about his sideline as a songwriting workshop facilitator. For the past several years, Difford has run reasonably-priced, week-long intensives in exotic locales for small groups of songwriters who want to hone their craft. Participants spend all day writing in dyads and trios and perform for each other at night, with Difford acting as mentor, coach, MC, and sometimes chef.

(For the latest info on upcoming workshops, stay tuned to Difford’s website.

One “graduate” of Difford’s program is guitarist Adam Levy, a four-time participant, who found the process helpful in making the transition from go-to sideman to the stars (Norah Jones, Roseanne Cash) to singer-songwriter in his own right. Immediately on completing his first week-long retreat with Difford, he booked himself an inaugural solo gig at New York City club the Living Room.

“It’s not so much that Difford’s weeks changed my interests from playing to singing,” says Levy, “It’s more that once I’d made my first moves in that direction, Difford and the other writers I met gave me more confidence, more inspiration, and more tools to work with as a writer.”

New Yorker Amber Rubarth was so inspired by her time with Difford that she’s starting up her own series of workshops in January 2010.

“I was skeptical,” she says, “before doing the workshop about how valuable a song can be when it is forced out in 24 hours, especially as a co-write with a total stranger. Now, I’m a believer. When you give yourself space from distractions, put some good food in your stomach, and throw yourself fully into creating a song, magical things happen.”

Songwriter Jenn Clapp has done two Difford retreats, and calls them “some of the best times I’ve ever had,” and values the friendships she’s struck up with fellow writers as an enduring benefit of participating. She advises future retreaters to “bring a mini-guitar you can stick in the overhead compartment. And your party hat!”

American Songwriter chatted briefly with Difford about his retreats:

AS: How long have you been giving these secret workshops?

CD: My workshops actually began 17 years ago when I got bored of going to workshops that were dominated by publishers. My workshops are open to all: good, bad, and amazing. The writers seem to gel and I don’t know how, it must be love…

So how does it work?

The only process in the week is that people fall into groups of three–they go off to write and I swan around waiting to hear the freshly born songs. Like chicks they tweet. I have a great time and so does everyone! I’m so lucky to have such great friends.

My understanding is that partnering is an important aspect of your workshops…

I like to work in a partnership, because I love to bounce ideas around, from words to music. It’s a truly magical process and I’m not sure how it really works, but it seems like everyone I work with is up for the same risk-taking, the same joy-making, and the inner rooting that needs to take place to discover the songs we all sing.

You clearly believe that a song can be written in a brief, barn-raising period of time. How long does a typical Chris Difford song take from conception to fully-formed creation?

My songs are simple and do not take too long–about an hour tops. Then I might tinker at some later stage, but normally I keep to the original script…There are no rules in writing. It comes and you must go with it, like a wave, you surf when the peak comes to you. It’s a real gift. I feel lucky enough to accept its wonder.

Looks like you’re busy these days–when is your next workshop?

The next one is coming up in 2010, details to follow shortly on my website…

Have you considered writing a book or releasing a video about your songwriting intensives?

There is no book…but will be by this time next year!