Empty Mirror

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Tom Waits’ Influence On Modern Jazz

Robert Wright

Carlton Smith CD

When I first wrote about the influence that Tom Waits had on me as a songwriter (Introduction to Alchemy), I had one thing on my mind: publicity. When the idea for the second article (Applied Alchemy) … [Read more...]

A Study of Tom Waits through Cover Songs

Robert Wright

Tom Waits in Paris / photo credit: ntoper / flicker

When I wrote "Inherited Alchemy" my intentions were dualistic: to pinpoint the qualities Tom Waits held as a songwriter that were worthy of imitation, and flat-out, shameless hero-worship. Judging by … [Read more...]

Tom Waits’s Inspiration on Songwriting

Robert Wright

Tom Waits LP https://www.flickr.com/photos/zagrobot/3311079968/

As a songwriter, everything I hear is an influence, whether good or bad, loved or hated; it is "influential." In order to understand what has truly inspired a song, one should first look for the … [Read more...]

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Empty Mirror

Established in 2000 and edited by Denise Enck, Empty Mirror is an online literary magazine that publishes new work each Friday.

Each week EM features several poems each by one or two poets; reviews; critical essays; visual art; and personal essays.

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