Surviving the Music Industry

Closing 2019's new episodes with country music artists Drew Baldridge and SixForty1. I'm introduced to Austin and Brooks, and their new music. Then Drew shares a look at his newest music as well as a couple of life updates. Together, Austin and Brooks, may not have made sense in the world of fraternity life. But finding common ground, they became SixForty1. We sit down to get to know the guys and talk about writing songs. The differences, the common themes between rap, country, and pop. We...

Talking with one of the good ones, Tebey. Country music artist-songwriter behind songs from One Direction, Cher, FLORIDA, and others. Tebey shares his new music ("The Good Ones" w/ Marie Mai) and his up and down journey to a healthy life. Tebey is a Canadian artist, producer, and songwriter currently residing in Nashville, TN. He has secured three #1’s as a writer - a #1 Billboard US single with Justin Moore’s “Somebody Else Will”, a #1 in Canada with Gord Bamford’s “Dive Bar”, and his...

The Wal-Mart Illuminati, Nash-vibes, the music, and careers of artist Judy Blank and Jeremy Stover. Judy just released, Morning After and shares what has led up to new music. Then Jeremy shares his career and journey as a writer, producer, and now turned publisher behind songs like "How I'll Always Be", "Small Town USA", "Plastic", and others. Judy Blank is still based in the Netherlands but is making waves in the states as an Americana artist. Morning Sun, was released a year ago and has...

Drums, ice cream trucks, and looking at the lives of session elitist Greg Morrow and social media drummer, educator, Tim Buell. Tim steps in to talk about how he went from touring drummer to social media educator/influencer in the world of drums. You've heard Greg's drum work from ZZ Top, Luke Bryan, Kacey Musgraves, and more. We sit down to take a reflective look at how Greg came to be, and what he thinks has changed in the world of session playing. Tim Buell has toured with Gloriana,...

Vapes, teeth falling out, and music with songwriter Jessie Jo Dillon and The Ballroom Thieves' Martin Earley. Martin shares some political views and new music, "Love Is Easy". Jessie is the writer behind Dan+Shay's, "10,000 Hours", Cole Swindell's, "Break Up In The End", and Maren Morris', "Rich". The Ballroom Thieves are Callie Peters (vocals, cello), Martin Earley (guitar, vocals), and Devin Mauch (percussion, vocals). Mixed with lush reverbs, strings and melodic harmonies you can easily...

Van living, relationships, podcasting, and the lives of producer/songwriter Seth Mosley and frontman Clinton Clegg. Clinton talks The Commonheart's songs and sound. Then Seth, host of Made It In Music Podcast and owner of Full Circle Music, shares his path to award-winning music and some industry insight from his experiences in podcasting. Clinton Clegg, frontman with dynamically expressive pipes that effortlessly traverse bluesy pleading, and honeyed balladeering. Jumps in to share the...

Songwriter for Gary Allen, Chris Stapleton, Blake Shelton; Kendell Marvel releases his second studio album Solid Gold Sounds. Produced by David Ferguson and The Black Keys' own Dan Auerbach. We talk about "Shameless" moments and ageism becoming all too real for today's legends. Kendell Marvel is a native of Southern Illinois. He moved to Nashville at 28, shifting his goal of being an artist to raising his family while working as a songwriter (sounds way to familiar). Marvel’s writing...

Producing and writing some of the biggest tracks and records of 2018-19, listening to the universe, and breaking down the music of Ian Fitchuk. Starting in Illinois, we work on the life and ideas of Ian all the way up to Kacey Musgraves', Golden Hour's success and beyond. Ian Fitchuk's credits range from co-writing hits with Kacey Musgraves' to playing any instrument in the studio with major and indie acts. Presently his studio work ranges from singer-songwriter and Americana, to pop,...

ACM Guitarist of the Year and Americana Musician of the Year, a new album called West, and becoming an American citizen with Jedd Hughes. We finally meet up with Jedd after a reschedule because he had to take his Citizenship Test. We sit down to talk sobriety, beating the music school system, and rediscovering your identity after life's turbulent twist and turns. The story of Jedd is one of redemption, tests, and second chances. Originally from Quorn, Australia, Jedd made the move to...

Billy Strings shares his idea of home and journey so far in our conversation. All before the launch of his latest album, Home. Pre-order and stream the record on September 27th. Billy Strings has already put a lot of his life in his songs. His music touches from substance abuse, poverty, and the characters that intertwine in life. Billy spent most of his time bouncing in-between Michigan and Kentucky, but he really found his community in Traverse City Michigan. There he was introduced to...

A look at Country-Rap in the early days, scaling a record company when the industry was heading toward a tailspin, and forward-thinking with Average Joes Entertainment and Hideout Pictures CEO, Shannon Houchins. An early entrepreneur, Shannon was hustling movies and music at an early age. How'd he do it? Selling contraband (bubble gum) at school funding his first camera. Then what does every film need? Music- which started Shannon's career in the music industry. His first big break was a...

Making it happen when an entire world is telling you it's not going to happen with Crowd Surf co-founder and co-host of the podcast "How I Got Backstage", Jade Driver. We talk about digital strategy and what's really popping in 2019. Social media marketing, crisis management, finding yourself as an artist, but most importantly we talk about mental health in the landscape of working in the industry. The history of Jade has a pattern of making it happen and passion. I also found that Jade...

Outlaws, renegades, peyote trips, and new music with one of the fathers of Outlaw Country, Chris Gantry. Chris takes us through his life with Kris Kristofferson, Shel Silverstein, hit songs, and peyote trips. Chris' latest project, Nashlantis is out now and available to stream everywhere. Chris Gantry is noted as being one of the founders of Outlaw Country. In a time where rhinestones and "flowers" were happening in country music. There was a crew of artists and writers that simply wanted...

Car crashes, talking hits, and learning life lessons with the songwriter of "Wild Thing", "Angel of the Morning", Chip Taylor and London based artist Belle Mt.. Chip is the creator of timeless hits spanning 5 decades and Belle Mt. shares the origin or his latest release "Origins". Belle Mt. (bell-mont) is songwriter Matt Belmont that just released the video for "Origins" but also it's the first single of 2019 (produced by Grammy award-winning producer Femke Weidema). This London-based...

Sam Bush takes us deeper into his side of the history of bluegrass, the state of the genre, and as we reflect on past projects. Sam came in to promote his latest music, "Stop The Violence", as well as setting the record straight on some of the details of his story. If you've seen the documentary Revival: The Sam Bush Story. You've gotten a taste and understand the life of Sam. In this episode, we actually go beyond the movie and tap into what happened in some of the pivotal moments of...

Life in a box, sobriety, and reflecting on being famous and if that is success with Smithfield and Griffin House. Jenn and Trey of Smithfield come to talk about their newest EP, We Make Our Own and the past year of their radio tour life. Then Griffin talks about his music, movie, and his latest record Rising Star. SmithField was founded in 2011 of Trey Smith and Jennifer Fielder. Spending most of their journey as an independent duo, they began hitting their stride after releasing, "Hey...

Sliding in DM's, the fast track to becoming an artist, and new music with Jordan Davis and Tyler Dial. Jordan Davis takes us back to his home state of Louisiana and reflects on the past year on the release of his highly acclaimed breakout record, Home State. But first, Tyler Dial jumps in to talk about his latest single release, "About Last Night" and social media etiquette. Jordan Davis is a Shreveport-born, Nashville songwriter. Armed with two back-to-back #1 songs (“Singles You Up” and...

The creative headspace, bro's ruining dates, and new music with Clare Bowen (ABC's and CMT's Nashville) and Caroline Spence. Caroline and I tap into her latest release, Mint Condition. Then Clare shares thoughts on cancer, living in Australia, the LGBTQ community, her TV experience, and releasing her self titled debut album. Having won numerous songwriting awards, it's safe to say Caroline Spence is a songwriting wizard. Caroline and I share a fellow songwriting acquaintance and then soon...

Birds, mustaches, loneliness, and vulnerability versus ambiguity in songs with Ivory Layne and Matt Lorenz of The Suitcase Junket. Matt was rounding up his promotional tour for his latest record Mean Dog, Trampoline and we talked exhaustion and avoiding awkward interactions. Then Ivory Layne sits down to share the ideas of her songwriting and her journey. Matt Lorenz's follow-up to 2017’s Pile Driver, Mean Dog, Trampoline takes its title from a lyric in “Scattered Notes From A First Time...

Weird highway moments, rescheduling, and producing with Justin Osborne of Susto and writer/producer Casey Brown. Justin popped in after releasing Ever Since I Lost My Mind to talk about the record and current life. Then writer/producer Casey Brown talks life after school producing for Russel Dickerson, Laura Story, Megan & Liz, Secret Nation, and more. Justin Osborne is the frontman of Susto. The name Susto describes an intense fear understood as a condition of the soul––an ongoing,...