CHARLOTTETOWN, PEI, Canada -- Writing a successful song requires sprinkling in luck and magic dust. Along with flawless crafting, songs need the right style at the right time and must reach the “right” ears.

Aspiring singer-songwriter Amy-Kathleen (Kat) Argent knows plenty about what must go right and how much could go wrong. “The most difficult thing is the aftermath of writing what you think is a hit and then having it sit forever on a shelf due to bad-timing or not fitting into today’s popular music that gets all the radio play,” she said.

By day, 28-year-old Amy works as a nanny and with children at a daycare. “I love children. This fall, I’ll teach daily music classes with them,” she said.

A songwriter for nine years, Amy has sung for much of her life. “A song could take five minutes to write, or it could take a month, depending on the mood and the ideas at hand,” she said.

“It’s a pity that lyrics are missed so much of the time. Usually, the words to songs are the last part of the puzzle for people. Whether a song is catchy or not, if the words are incredible, then it should be given a chance.”

But even songs not yet wildly popular can create emotional, almost magical, moments. “The first time I sat down and played my song, ‘The Enemy’, and my father joined in and started to play along, I started to cry,” Amy said. “It was overwhelming to think that I’d started with a blank paper and a guitar, and here was someone else playing what I’d created!

“I’m quite proud of the ‘The Enemy’. It was one of my first completed songs, and I worked exceptionally hard to lyrically express the anger of a failed relationship.”

All the times,
I let you kiss me,
All erased,
And now you’ve ditched me.
I shouldn’t even care.
The evil’s no longer
Lurking in the air….
Ooh, ooh, ooh.
The enemy, that’s what you are.
Psychological warfare,
You’ve gone too far.
You’ve aimed too high.
I saw the red light.
You’ll never hit the bull’s eye.
From “The Enemy”, Amy Argent, 2006

Amy recorded her first original-song demo in 2006. Last year, she ventured to Vancouver to explore new material and the music scene. After returning to PEI, she worked on a debut album, Psychological Warfare, for release soon.

“Writing songs isn’t as incredibly difficult as people think,” Amy said. “It’s writing good songs – that’s the trick.

“For me, great lyrics are essential. I usually start with poetry that I turn into lyrics and then add the music later. Sometimes a catchy tune gets ingrained in my head and fits well with previously written words. You also need great flow of music. A catchy melody line helps too.

“Sometimes people write great songs in the wrong era. A song written today that may have been magic years ago doesn’t fit into today’s popular music.

“Many bands almost follow a pattern that leaves songs somewhat similar and repetitive. I hope my songs have enough of a new flavor to be accepted and embraced.”

Success takes luck. “You need to be in the right place at the right time,” Amy said. “There’s so much talent and so many great songs that never emerge. I know lots of terrific musicians who just missed chances due to funding or other issues.

“Sometimes the wrong people hear your stuff and judge your talent by their tastes. It’s all tough. I hope the right people will hear my songs -- people who’ll embrace them and see the effort and hard work I’ve put into them.”

Born in Charlottetown, Amy arrived ready to rock. Her dad Tony wrote songs and played guitar for several bands. Her mother Shirley sang backup vocals for April Wine and Crowbar.

In 1999, Amy formed her first band soon after learning to play guitar and starting to write songs. By 2003, she formed half of Donovan and Amy, an acoustic-rock duo with Donovan Morgan, who sings for the bands Flush and Lenore.

The next year, Amy joined COMA, a Guns N’ Roses tribute band. She sang backup on parts of Connecting Dots, a 2006 album by Chamberlane. Then came more backup vocals, this time for another band, Molotov Cocktail.

Amy’s father influences her. “Together, we’ve worked on a blues song called, ‘I Was Wrong’,” she said.

According to Tony, “It started with a chord structure I had wandering in my head. Amy put melody and lyrics with it, and voila, a song.”

I was wrong, once again.
Heartache in tow, I exit broken.
Another scar, left upon my soul….
My greatest success hasn’t happened yet.
The pavement to my new life hasn’t set.
Love has fulfilled me, love has left me alone.
Let mirrors reflect, I now stand on my own.
From “I Was Wrong”, Amy and Tony Argent, 2008

“It’s very rewarding to be known as a singer and songwriter,” Amy said. “Few satisfactions can trump performing a song you’ve written, hearing someone else perform it or realizing that listeners love it.”

Of course, Tony offers valid advice. “Being a musician is rewarding and challenging as a career progresses,” he said. “It can become easier or more difficult, but with hard work, perseverance and Lady Luck, Amy will achieve some, if not all, of her goals, maybe more. I wish her all the necessary luck.”

As for breaking into the big time, ideally that’s still ahead. “Dreams are all we have to get us through the tough times,” Amy said. “By dreaming, we keep hope that the dreams will come true if we hang on long enough. If necessary, I’ll hang onto my dreams forever. They may change sometimes, but big ones always remain.”

For more information: www.myspace.com/amyargent

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