In the past we’ve talked about setting constraints on your songwriting in order to get songs done. In similar fashion we’ve covered how this process has been put into real world usage via Jonathan Coulton’s Thing-A-Week project .

One of the latest to put this method of songwriting to work for them is Ari Hest, who we’ve covered from time to time - including the interesting thing he did when he was dropped from his record label - Apple’s Garageband saved his life.

On the “52 Project” web page, Ari writes:

“When I got out of my record deal this past summer, I decided it was time to try something a little different. It feels great to be an independent artist again, and I’m more inspired than ever to write and record. I was looking for a new way to present my music.

“So my manager and I came up with the idea of a project which we’re calling “52″. Starting January 7th, 2008, I’ll be releasing one new, original song every week for a year through a new ‘52′ website.”

If you’ve done the math, you’ll realize Ari is in the home stretch  of his 52-week project. Each week Ari releases a new song in good quality mp3’s (128kbps), high quality mp3’s (32kbps), and lossless .flac files.

Once ‘52′ is complete, Hest will invite fans to choose their 12 favorite tracks…those songs will then be remastered and released as Ari Hest’s next studio CD, in early ‘09. Until then, Hest remains on tour, with upcoming dates to include Solana Beach/San Diego, Los Angeles, Vienna Va, Portland and Seattle. (Source: AllAboutJazz)

It’s not a free project. It does require a subscription to the 52 Project. Potential members can subscribe at any number of levels on the 52 Week Project Subscription page, starting at $20.

As Jonathan Coulton, Ari Hest, Bishop Allen, and others have shown, adding these hard deadlines (or constraints) has strengthened their songwriting in ways they never imagined. There is also a book based on adding constraints to your songwriting, titled “The Frustrated Songwriter’s Handbook“.

Like Ari mentioned in the quote above, the exercise in constrained songwriting made him write songs from the gut, as opposed to over thinking the concept and execution - which often results in a songwriter getting nothing done.

Most important, the question should be asked - Has this project helped Ari grow as a songwriter? In an recent interview, he discusses this very subject:

“I think my instincts are getting better. I used to spend a lot more time rewriting material because the first thing that came out was usually missing something, but knowing I don’t have a lot of time to rethink or expand on it has made me hypercritical of my initial ideas. As a result I’ve tossed a few ideas along the way that weren’t as well thought out.” (Source: Metromix)

Give it a try. Next week we’ll be releasing a “2009 Songwriting Resolutions” article, and perhaps with the New Year many of us songwriters will add some constraints to our songwriting and get some songs done.