Finding Inspiration to Write Great Songs: Lessons from “Despacito” and Beyond

🎶 The “Despacito” Story: A Real-Life Example

Remember that little song called “Despacito” by Luis Fonsi?

It didn’t just fall from the sky one day.

The original idea for “Despacito” sat unfinished for over two years before it was finally completed, recorded, and released.

When it finally came together, it became one of the biggest global hits of all time—proof that even your “stuck” ideas have life inside them.

Inspiration isn’t always instant. Sometimes, the songs that change everything just need time—and persistence.

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Recently someone asked me, “How do you find the inspiration to write so many songs in such a short amount of time?”

I thought about it for a moment—and realized it’s a great question, because songwriting isn’t always fluid.

Writer’s block is more common than you think. It can strike at any time, triggered by something small or something massive. Sometimes it lasts minutes, sometimes hours, and sometimes it lingers for months—or even years.

I’ve fallen victim to it many times, including earlier this year. And the truth is, today’s music scene is more competitive than ever. Anyone can write and release music—good, great, or bad. That means staying fresh, creative, and inspired isn’t just helpful; it’s essential if you want your songs to cut through the noise.

I wanted to share a few techniques that have helped me keep moving, even when inspiration feels miles away:

1. Write to Piano or Guitar Loops

90% of the songs I write begin with simple piano or guitar loops. Starting with a bare musical foundation gives you the freedom to create strong melodies and emotional storytelling without getting lost in heavy production.

Your song becomes vulnerable—and that’s where the magic happens.

Focus on lyrics, focus on the story, focus on the soul of the song.

Production and genre can always come later.

One of my favorite tools for this is Splice.com, where you’ll find amazing royalty-free loops. Drag a few into your DAW, and you’ll be surprised how quickly inspiration strikes.

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2. Use Word Resources to Refresh Your Language

One of the biggest challenges in songwriting today is finding new ways to say old things.

That’s why I often lean on tools like a dictionary, a thesaurus, and ChatGPT to spark new ideas.

ChatGPT has become an incredible resource for brainstorming unique words, discovering fresh phrases, and exploring new lyrical angles.

Whether you need alternative ways to express an emotion, find better rhymes, or simply reword a tired line, ChatGPT can help unlock new directions you might not have thought of.

The right word—or the right twist on a familiar phrase—can transform an ordinary song into something unforgettable.

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3. Study the Hits

I constantly dissect and study hit songs, both from today and from past generations.

Ask yourself:

• Is it the infectious hook that makes this song stick?
• Is it the wordplay in the verses?
• Is it the melody repetition that buries itself in your head?

Hits have patterns—not formulas to copy, but blueprints to learn from.

Understand song structure, repetition, hook construction—and find ways to make it your own.

Learning from greatness helps you get closer to creating it yourself.

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4. Keep Writing—No Matter What

This one seems obvious, but it’s the hardest of all.

When you feel uninspired, the last thing you want to do is write—but keep writing anyway.

You might only capture a melody fragment today or scribble down a random chorus idea tomorrow. That’s okay.

Every unfinished song idea is a future piece of a bigger puzzle.

In my catalog, I have hundreds of unfinished ideas. Some turn into songs months—or even years—later.

Sometimes the bridge you’re missing today is hidden in a hook you wrote two years ago.

Final Thoughts

If you’re feeling stuck, you’re not alone.

Every songwriter faces the same hills and valleys.

Trust the process. Stay consistent. Keep writing.