What I’ve learned and am learning as a career artist and songwriter in Nashville.
Deep Work This was my introduction to Cal Newport. In March 2024, I changed much of my work behavior based on this book. Learn more. Profit First Don’t let the title fool you. It’s not “profit over people” or anything like that. I took over our finances in September without even knowing our bank account […]
For Songwriters: Top 3 Books I Read in 2024 Read More »
Just the other day, I had an opportunity to arrange a song for a commercial. As I thought about how the opportunity actually came to me, I had to go back fifteen years. It was a relationship made that long ago, which was yielding results now. That’s how long some opportunities take. The groundwork is
Sustaining a Career Read More »
I stumbled upon this YouTube video. It caught my attention because it seemed off-brand for Elliott Smith: the dark, brooding artist on a couch at six a.m. with a puppet behind him (not Sesame Street) and the host of America’s Funniest Home Videos. Huh? It made more sense when I saw the date. It was
Lessons from Elliott Smith’s Appearance on a Tacky Morning Show Read More »
I was at the age when all your friends start getting married. It seemed as if every other month I was performing “I Will Be Here” by Steven Curtis Chapman, while a bride and groom lit the unity candle. Their pacing always much faster than rehearsed due to nerves and the unnatural activity of lighting
Confessions of an Extremely Moderately Successful Singer-Songwriter Read More »
I wasn’t just interested in recording “I Love Rock N Roll” because I liked the challenge of reinterpreting it. I also recorded it because I knew my publisher controls the copyright. Back in 2020, they gave me a list of popular songs they can clear for licensing. I scanned through them and picked several that
The Art and Science of Choosing Cover Songs Read More »
I was on my way to meet my friend Claire for our cowriting session one day when I drove past a billboard for Grey Goose vodka. The sign said, “Fly beyond.” Before I go any further, did you know titles are not copyrighted? Copyright law sees titles as too short and vague to be copyrighted.
A Lesson in Copyright Law from Grey Goose Vodka Read More »
“Do you ever worry about burnout?” Theo S. Hi, Theo. That’s a great question. Burnout is something I think about a lot because I’ve had to deal with it over the course of my career, especially during my early days here in Nashville. In 2012, when I signed my first publishing deal, my calendar began
AMA: “Do you ever worry about burnout?” Read More »
In this week’s issue I share…
1) That time (last Thursday) when my Instagram post about our family’s number one rule went viral.
2)Austin Kleon on parenting as an artist.
3) What are the steps from honing your craft to having a career?
3 on Thursday – 8/10/23 Read More »
In this week’s issue I share…
1) A Trick for Singing in Tune (with stage fright)
2) Forgiveness_MIX6: New Secret Song for Patrons Performance
3) On Songwriting: Let People Put You in a Box
3 on Thursday – 4/13/23 Read More »
In this week’s issue I share…
1) Mental Health: A Helpful Tool My Therapist Taught Me
2)”Liver and Onions”: Live Performance
3) Home Recording: 7 Gear Recommendations
3 on Thursday – 4/6/23 Read More »