Isn’t it funny how life never seems to turn out quite the way you expect? Steve Poltz is a Canadian native, one who lived in San Diego for years and years. He’s had success in the past as a singer’s songwriter, penning hits for other musicians, including, most famously, Jewel.

One thing he’d never do, he vowed, was move to Nashville, Tennessee. And yet…that’s exactly what he did, just over a year ago now. He couldn’t resist the pull of this magical, musical town, he says, and it turned out to be a good move. Songs are everywhere, he says, just floating in the air and waiting for you to reach out and grab them.

One of those guys who can talk for hours about anything and everything, Poltz shared the stories behind some of the songs on his newest recording, Shine On, during an exclusive session we recorded at the 2019 30A Songwriters Festival in Florida.