I've LOVED collaborating online for over 15 years. My songs are licensed on hit TV shows like YOUNGER and in commercials in the US, Canada, and Europe. I make strong melodies, infectious hooks, and empowered lyrics. I won Grand Prize in the Nashville Songwriters Association (NSAI) Top 40 and awards in BILLBOARD and many world contests.
I live to write songs. My passion is to know you and your sound and create moving lyrics and wonderful vocal melodies to tell your story. I want to help you realize your full creative vision so you can get it out into the world. And I totally believe "We all are born artists, geniuses, miracles. Even if we are never told."
It's all about the song. We'll start with a heart-to-heart talk about the message and mood you hope to communicate. I am deeply empathetic by nature and care about what's on your mind about the song and life!
I'll craft the story, lyrics, and vocal melody to your existing track and record lead vocal & harmony for demo reference. Usually 2 rewrites/revisions within 7 days makes the magic. We'll split the writing & publishing share. You own your master SR for your future licensing income.
I can outsource "work-for-hire" vocals if you need them, male or female. An affordable, awesome, vocalist will be available within a week to 10 days.
About me: Early in life I became a professional actor on TV, commercials, and ultimately the NY stage. I love storytelling and as a songwriter I find it exhilarating to tell stories through a song. As a creative living in America, I learned resilience and resourcefulness, and I will never burn a bridge. I love POP music and work hard to write songs with depth, hooks, and heart.
Contact me through the green button above and let's get to work.
Credits
Languages
- English
8 Reviews
Endorse Gil Polk
I worked with Gil remotely from South Africa and co-writing a few songs and collaborating with other song writers and singers across the country. Apart from his stunning musical ability in songwriting and lyrics, he has strong administrative side, good communication skills, and worked great across time differences and other challenges. He is a great person to work with and I'm sure will be great in contributing to your project as well.
Gil and I go back quite a few years having written one particular song that went on to do some amazing things. I can honestly say that working with Gil, it is such a pleasure and everything is done with such ease that I am hoping to get back in the studio to write some more jams. He is wonderfully creative and his vocabulary is dense allowing him to make some clever lines without what seems much effort. He is a natural and highly recommend him for your projects.
I have written several songs with Gil Polk. Gil is a true professional in every step of the collaborative process. He is a truly gifted melody writer and lyricist. He will work and work until the song is right. Gil is also one of the most knowledgeable people that I know. He is quick to share advice if you ask for it and is a wealth of music business resources. Above all, Gil is an amazing and caring human being. If you work with him, consider yourself lucky.
Gil is such a skilled and powerful collaborator. I was lucky enough to work with him on several songs. He is a formidable top liner who pays attention to every detail in a melody- he uses every syllable in a lyric, note, and rhythm to tell the story of a song. He is also a talented song writer who writes deep songs straight from the heart. He is incredibly diligent, hardworking, and always goes the extra mile. My go to person for questions about the music business AND songwriting! Very lucky to have him in my network.
Awwww...When I think of Gil, I smile! :)) He radiates warmth, energy, enthusiasm, and has a vast and incredible knowledge of music and songwriting. It's so fun and easy to work with him! Along with another cowriter, we've cowritten 3 songs together, each one unique and extraordinary on its own. One of those songs was placed in 2 different commercials! Gil can work in many musical genres and with a wide array of song/lyrical themes. I cowrote of my deepest and most heartfelt songs with him. I've had such great experiences with Gil!
Gil is the complete package - he is incredibly talented, an absolute gem to work with and is one of the hardest working musicians in show business. He not only makes tracks sound better, he makes them sound their best. Gil always approaches the drawing board with an open mind and has a way of writing toplines that are unique yet relevant, catchy while being sophisticated, customized but current and will have everyone singing along after the first listen.
I had the honor and joy of working with Gil, once as a singer for hire, and once as a song collaborator. He is incredibly kind, talented, organized, and professional. It was a pleasure to work with him.
I've had the opportunity to work with Gil in the studio on multiple occasions/songs. He's an inspired song and top line melody writer and lyricist. Gil is always a joy to create with and a constant source of positivity and drive. He has a clear view of what he is creating and is the ultimate professional who will make sure the final song and production are of the highest quality on all levels.
Interview with Gil Polk
Q: What questions do you ask prospective clients?
A: What is on your mind about the message of the song? What are you thinking about these days. Do you have a reference song in a style you would like me to draw inspiration from? What is your time frame? Do you have particular words you need to have said in the lyrics? Would you like me to arrange a work-for-hire vocalist? If so, are you able to adjust the key of the track if needed? No is OK, just may dictate which vocalists are used.
Q: What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?
A: 1. Please have a reference song in mind, an example of the kind of song you would love this song to compete with or be in the same company as. 2. Let's talk together in depth about the meaning for the song and the message you want people to feel.
Q: Which artist would you like to work with and why?
A: Kelly Clarkson because of her passionate, infectious personality, and incredible vocals. David Foster for his brilliance of arrangement and production. Dan and Shay for the strengths of melody, theme, and overall greatness they bring to a song whether their own or for other artists, and having the incomparable Josh Groban sing any of my ballads would be over-the-top cool.
Q: Is there anyone on SoundBetter you know and would recommend to your clients?
A: Fawn Segerson as a female vocalist with class and a talented orchestral composer.
Q: What was your career path? How long have you been doing this?
A: Today music licensing mainly to TV and commercials is my main focus. As a professional actor and songwriter in New York City I learned it is crucial to build relationships, be resourceful, and never burn a bridge with anyone. I've been songwriting over 20 years. I won my first songwriting award from BILLBOARD WORLD CONTEST as one of the top 500 in the world. And then I jumped up and down... a lot : )
Q: Tell us about a project you worked on you are especially proud of and why. What was your role?
A: Our song COMMON GROUND may be used in a campaign to educate young people on equality and Reconstruction. That was a rare collaboration in which I composed 100% of the music to my co-writer's lyrics.
Q: What are you working on at the moment?
A: Licensing my songs to film, TV, and ads is an ongoing passion to help creatives in media fulfill their vision. I have different synch agents pitching my songs to various licensing opportunities.
Q: Analog or digital and why?
A: Digital provides unlimited flexibility and potential for sounds, effects, and mixing.
Q: What do you like most about your job?
A: Finding the words to say something in a new way is thrilling. And marrying those lyrics to a great melody is what keeps me going. The smiles on the faces of all involved and the laughter of satisfaction is what makes it all worthwhile.
Q: What questions do customers most commonly ask you? What's your answer?
A: Q. "What comes first, the lyrics or the melody?" A. Honestly it depends on many factors. If there is an existing musical track, that will most likely spark melodies before the words come. But if I am writing a song from scratch, the words around the idea, title, or theme may become lyrics themselves, or the sound of them and how they sing might (and usually will) influence the melody.
Q: What's the biggest misconception about what you do?
A: Ironically, some people elevate songwriting to seem like an unattainable talent or gift while others have the opposite view that songwriting isn't a serious career. I've experienced that songwriting is a craft and a buildable skill. Talent helps, but we are only successful when we work hard and treat people well.
Q: If you were on a desert island and could take just 5 pieces of gear, what would they be?
A: Solar charger, Focusrite Interface, MacBook Pro, Yamaha 88-weighted keyboard, Microphone
Q: Can you share one music production tip?
A: If you're actually releasing the song, hire MASTERING professionals who specialize in it. If LICENSING is your main goal, don't worry much about mastering because music editors will find it easier to do their thing during the project's post production.
Q: What type of music do you usually work on?
A: Pop music with empowering themes, Indie Pop, Power Pop, Singer-Songwriter with engaging, relatable themes.
Q: What do you bring to a song?
A: As an award-winning songwriter and actor, I've learned to create and feel strong stories with relatable themes. I won't stop until I write catchy, memorable melodies and lyrics that move people in their hearts and their gut. I'm resourceful and knowledgeable about publishing and song licensing if you need help there. I was voted "most kind" in school : ) and am passionate about manifesting your idea into the world.
Q: What's your 'promise' to your clients?
A: That I will listen to you and work with you heart-to-heart to create a mood and message that will move your listeners.
Q: How would you describe your style?
A: If my more mellow style had parents it would be something like Alicia Keys meets the Beatles. Or other times my poppier, bouncier vibe is like Katie Herzig meets James Taylor with claps, head bobs and lots of soul. I LOVE catchy hooks and STRONG melodies. I have an inherent folksy soul-music vibe to my more mellow pop, but my catchy pop can get you moving and hopefully inspires with empowering themes.
Q: What's your strongest skill?
A: Creating memorable, catchy hooks and melodies. And writing award-winning lyrics around meaningful themes.
Q: What's your typical work process?
A: 1. Let's talk about you and your motivations and feelings behind the music and the theme. Your thoughts about life in general inspire me. 2. I work through a flow of ideas, thoughts, storyline, to flesh out a strong lyric draft and marry a melody to the words. 3. I'll record initial vocal takes for your review to confirm the right direction or alter course. 4. Complete all revisions to your satisfaction. 4. Arrange top notch work-for-hire vocalist and facilitate delivery of the professionally recorded vox WAVs or AIFFs.
Q: Tell us about your studio setup.
A: DAW: LOGIC Pro X current version, Macbook Pro, Yamaha 88 weighted keys, Focusrite interface. Various microphones (dynamic and condenser), Prosonus Monitors, KRK headphones.
Q: What other musicians or music production professionals inspire you?
A: Writers: Alicia Keys, Billie Eilish and Finneas, Ed Sheeran, Christina Perry, Shane Macanally, George Michael
Q: Describe the most common type of work you do for your clients.
A: Topline your musical track by creating strong, memorable vocal melodies and harmonies and writing award-winning lyrics to help bring your full vision out into the world.
I was the Songwriter, Topliner, Lyrics, Music, and Melody co-writer in this production
- Top line writer (vocal melody)Average price - $150 per song
- Singer - MaleAverage price - $170 per song
- Singer - FemaleAverage price - $170 per song
Negotiable split of both publishing and writing. You own your Master SR.
Will Work-For-Hire for a premium. 7 days w/ 2 revisions. 14 days if vocalist is needed.
- Pencil and pad
- Yamaha 88 weighted keys
- LOGIC Pro
- Focusrite interface
- Pro Sonus monitors
- MacBook Pro
- condenser and dynamic mics.
10% Off Your First Song
