Raw Songwriting

In this excerpt from the upcoming Raw Songwriting Critique Circle (S4E2), Timmy Riordan, Terri Sunflower and Dave discuss the improvised bridge from John Linn's work in progress "Where You Belong".

H grew up singing and playing piano, having been pushed onto a church stage at 5 years. At 15, she started teaching herself to play guitar. After college, she followed a boyfriend to Oaxaca, Mexico, but left him when she was recruited to play in a band. After a couple years, she traveled back to the U.S. and performed in bars and restaurants– including a stint as a cabaret singing server– while preparing for grad school. Her education, marriage and motherhood prompted a long hiatus from music, but after a cancer scare, lost work, divorce and other life events, H found new inspiration in song. 

After meeting her partner Britton at an open mic, they formed Naked Dawn, a drum and guitar duo that performs bi-lingual music pulling from traditional Oaxacan music, along with folk, blues, and cabaret. H’s songs emphasizes the romantic over the cynical, and she believes that nothing is too dangerous to talk about. She believes in living juicy, loving hard and laughing lots, and that passion is ever present in her songwriting.

Find more of H and Naked Dawn's music on Facebook and Instagram.

On the upcoming Season 4 debut episode of the Raw Songwriting podcast, H, lead singer-songwriter for the duo Naked Dawn, talks about how writing in Spanish is different than writing in English.

Dave regathered some of his best guests from last year to play and talk about the best songs they've written in 2021. It's a freewheelin' celebration of songwriting!

For more music, check out:

Bill Nash at http://putsiecat.com/

Trey Roque at https://www.treyroque.com/

Roger Heathers at https://rogerheathers.bandcamp.com/

Timmy Riordan at https://timmyr.com/

Barry Osborne at https://www.barryosbornemusic.com/

Terri Sunflower at https://terrisunflower.com/

Brian Claflin at https://www.brianclaflin.com/

John Bunzli at https://www.johnbunzli.com/

Dave is joined by returning guests Teresa Storch & Peter Lacis, and John Linn, as well as first-timer Valerie Bhat. They talk about writing songs that risk offending people, ask if a song can be too sad, and how to keep track of unfinished song ideas. Plus, they debut four new Christmas tunes! It's another raw and riveting discussion about song craft!

For more music, check out:

https://teresastorch.com/

https://www.johnlinnmusic.com/

http://www.valerie-music.com/

Roger Heathers returns with updates on "Ouija Board," his Challenge song from episode 22 of season 2, as well as an overview of his new album "Y2K". It's another raw and riveting discussion about song craft!

For more music, check out https://music.youtube.com/channel/UCMWT-STlMV6__aqrLNXWw8A

Though Micki Balder’s been dabbling with music her whole life, it wasn't until 2018 when a friendship's moment of truth unveiled itself in the middle of a Denver coffee shop. She walked home, wrote a song, and has been writing ever since, now a regular at local music venues around her Colorado home. Micki writes from a place of vulnerable storytelling, with people and relationships at the core of her music.

She's been compared to modern folk bands like The Weepies and Mipso, along with classic songwriters like Joni Mitchell and Paul Simon, but she draws inspiration from all over the spectrum — the swing and soul music of her lindy hop days, the earthy folk of Gregory Alan Isakov and Mandolin Orange, the candor and dry humor of John Craigie, or the heartbreak of Sara Bareilles, to name a few. 

Micki Balder is a folksy singer-songwriter writing sad songs for happy people (and ever so occasionally, happy songs for sad people!). Her music is born from a life-long desire to be a character in a musical, unapologetically singing her feelings for the world through simple and poignant lyrics.

Dave sat down with Micki to talk to her about her writing process, alternatives to bridges, using a non-musical friend for creative support, and more! Plus, we each debut a new song. It's another raw and riveting discussion about song craft!

For more music, check out https://mickibalder.com/

The driving force behind Parry Adams' music is her voice; her tender tone warms her candid manner, trading in harsh observations for sincerity and introspection. Her raw writing style combined with her soulful sound, deliver a strong shot of honesty. Parry Adams may not always tell you what you want to hear, but we know you’re going to want to hear this. Just be careful if you’re asking for break-up advice or how your new haircut looks.

Dave catches up with Parry, who appeared in both the Xmas and New Year's Roundtables in season one, to talk about a brand new song and find out about her other recent musical adventures. Along the way they talk about studio recordings, developing songs with your voice and more! It's another raw and riveting discussion about song craft!

For more music, check out http://parryadams.com/

Dave catches up with Vicki Pompea, one of his guests from Episode 15 of Season 2, to hear her talk about a new song she's recently written and what other musical adventures she's been having. Along the way, they talk about writing outside of your usual style, using mentors to support your writing, and the positive energy of Steve Poltz. It's another raw and riveting discussion about song craft!

For more music, check out https://vickipompea.com/

Born into a musical family, John Linn was exposed to the sounds of the Weavers, the Kingston Trio, Woody Guthrie and other folk music royalty playing around the family piano. At the age of 19, he picked up a guitar, but it wasn’t until his early 30s when he started writing songs. After easing into the open mic scene in Massachusetts, he was encouraged by a guitar teacher to take his music more seriously. Since then, he’s gone on to become a mainstay in the Washington, D.C. Americana scene, playing both solo and fronting the folk-rock band After The Flood, while also acting as a creative coach, guitar teacher and all-around community resource. 

John has released a solo album “Illinois 14” and an eponymous album with After The Flood that got to #7 on the national folk radio charts. He’s played the Rocky Mountain Folks Festival and the D.C. State Fair. After writing extensively over the pandemic, he has an album in the works tentatively called “Sinners and Saints”

John Linn’s writing vibrates with the tones of hidden struggles and triumphs. Whether you hear stories of growing up on the prairies of the Midwest or of the sweet disappointments of love, John’s music will leave you with a sense of the depth and mystery of human experience, with its often hidden joys and tragedies. Often drawing on spiritual themes, John uses vivid imagery and carefully crafted lyrics to paint the pictures of the ordinary lives of people you see everyday.

Dave sat down to talk to John about musical Rorschach tests, writing historical songs, and how to get addicted to finishing things. Plus, we each debut a new song. It's another raw and riveting discussion about song craft!

For more music, check out https://www.johnlinnmusic.com/music