Beyond Notes Songwriting Clinic
Beyond
Notes
Using classic songwriting elements to make memorable songs
Writing songs
that people
remember
starts before the first note.
Melody and lyrics are the most valuable parts of any song — but they're only part of the picture. There are five essential elements in every great song that most writers overlook entirely. Understanding them is the difference between songs that blend together and songs that stick.
In this one-hour clinic, Brad Smith — guitarist and songwriter for Milwaukee indie rock band Kitty Soft Paw — shares the practical framework he's developed through years of writing, recording, and performing original music.
Whether you're just starting out or looking to shake up your approach, this session will give you concrete tools to bring to your next writing session.
Brad
Smith
Kitty Soft Paw · Milwaukee, WI
Brad Smith is the guitarist and a backing vocalist for Kitty Soft Paw, the Milwaukee-based indie rock band known for their hook-laden originals, tight harmonies, and genuinely memorable live shows. He's also the band's primary contact for booking and strategy — and the mind behind the T.R.A.K.T. songwriting framework he'll share in this clinic.
"If The Doors and Weezer had a love child, it would be called Kitty Soft Paw." — Urban Milwaukee
Kitty
Soft
Paw
Milwaukee's most intentionally fun indie rock band.
Formed in Milwaukee in 2019, Kitty Soft Paw is a 5-piece indie rock band that adds a creative punk-like twist to soulful originals and deep-cut covers. From mesmerizing, melodic journeys to high-energy shout-the-chorus rockers, KSP delivers hook-laden songs with tight harmonies, locked-in rhythms, and crowd-engaging antics. The band is releasing their first full-length album, Catalyst, in spring 2026.
KSP has performed at Summerfest's BMO Pavilion — the largest side stage — for five years running, were finalists in the 2025 Wisconsin Battle of the Bands, were joined on stage by Chad Smith of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, and have been featured as a cover story in Tosa Living magazine.
Visit kittysoftpaw.com →