Between playing regular gigs at a North York bar and the writing and re-writing of an epic project, Toronto musician Darryl Costello always finds time to use his skill as a songwriter to brighten the lives of children.

Darryl is one of 120 songwriters around the world who write personalized songs for chronically and terminally ill children and young adults as part of a charity called Songs of Love. Over 15,500 children have received songs as part of the charity since its inception in 1996, and over the past couple years, about 30 of them have come from Darryl.

I spent an afternoon with him to watch and record how he writes a song. Continue reading to see and hear an audio slideshow of the process.

Darryl went on to say:

There couldn't be a charity that is more perfect for what I can do... it gives the musician an opportunity to utilizes his talent in a way that is very real and palpable.

I work on a number of different things in music, but this charity enables me to do children's songs. I don't go to the bar and play children's songs, I go to the bar and play different types of songs so this enables me to keep on my toes and keep sharp. Ultimately I think it's good for you as an artist to do a lot of different things.

Earlier this year one of Darryl's songs was selected for a thirty second television spot advertising the unicef tap project.

To find out more about the charity, visit the web page at Songs of Love.

Photos and audio by Joseph.