Songwriters on Process Conor Oberst (Bright Eyes)
Oct 31, 2025
Conor Oberst, the talented singer-songwriter behind Bright Eyes, shares insights into his creative process. He humorously calls himself a 'professional daydreamer,' revealing how mundane tasks spark his best ideas. He uses a unique two-column notebook method for drafting lyrics, blending polished lines with rough concepts. Oberst discusses the importance of solitude for reflection and how forgetting many ideas helps filter the gems worth pursuing. He also highlights how experiences from literature and art shape his songwriting, emphasizing the beauty in embracing self-doubt.
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Songwriting Springs From Daydreaming
- Conor Oberst says his songwriting stems largely from daydreaming and letting his mind wander away from daily pressures.
- He deliberately seeks space and distance to marinate on life rather than writing in emotionally heightened moments.
Remove Yourself To Recharge Creativity
- When life gets noisy, Conor relocates to quieter places to give his imagination room to work and collect material.
- Try creating physical distance or dedicated time when you need space to reflect and generate songs.
Songs Are Aggregates Of Small Artifacts
- Conor describes artistic synthesis as collecting small life artifacts into a mental "satchel" that later blends into songs.
- He treats songwriting as an aggregate of conscious memory and unconscious imagination working over time.
