At this year’s Litfest, students had the opportunity to hear from songwriter and performer Benji Haris, who presented a session called The Power of Songwriting: How to Write Songs That Matter. His presentation focused on how music can be used as a form of storytelling and how meaningful songs are created.

One of the biggest points Harris talked about was authenticity. He explained that the most powerful songs usually come from real emotions or personal experiences instead of trying to write something that simply sounds impressive. According to Harris, listeners can tell when a song is genuine, and that honesty is what helps people connect to both the artist and the message behind the music. I loved his points about authenticity because music is never as good as when the artist actually loves what they are singing about.

Harris also walked the audience through his songwriting process and explained how important it is to focus on what you want to say before thinking about rhyme or melody. He discussed how strong songs often begin with a feeling or message, and then the music is built around that idea. This helps the song feel more meaningful rather than just putting words together that fit a tune.

During the presentation, Harris performed one of his original songs for the audience. Hearing him play live helped show how personal experiences can be turned into something that other people relate to. It demonstrated how songwriting allows artists to take individual emotions and turn them into stories that connect with a wider audience. His song was very well performed and helped bring the audience together. 

He also talked about the importance of simplicity in songwriting. Songs can lose their impact when they become too complicated or filled with unnecessary lyrics. Harris encouraged students to focus on clarity and intention, reminding everyone that simple lines are often the most memorable and meaningful.

Overall, Harris’s presentation gave students a better understanding of how songwriting works and why it matters. By focusing on honesty, emotional connection and clear messaging, he showed how music can be a powerful way to tell stories and share experiences.