In this episode of Road Dog Royalty, host Caitlin Evanson sits down with drummer and producer Nick Buda to trace a remarkable journey from Cape Town, South Africa, to becoming one of Nashville’s most respected players behind the kit. After moving to Nashville as a teenager, Nick spent countless hours practicing before eventually studying at Berklee College of Music and building a career that would take him from life on the road to some of the biggest recording sessions in Music City.

Nick's playing can be heard across an incredible range of records and artists, including Taylor Swift, Dolly Parton, Lionel Richie, Jewel, Martina McBride, Michael W. Smith, and many more. His work with producer Nathan Chapman helped put him behind the kit on Taylor Swift's early records, including Taylor Swift, Fearless, Speak Now, and Red. Fearless would go on to win the Grammy for Album of the Year, with Nick's playing becoming part of songs and recordings heard around the world.

But Nick's career has never been about simply playing the biggest or loudest part. His philosophy has always centered around playing for the song listening to the artist, understanding the emotion of the lyric, and knowing when the best musical choice is sometimes the simplest one. That approach has carried him from Nashville studios and the Grand Ole Opry to television stages and, more recently, stadiums behind Kenny Chesney.

In this conversation, Nick opens up about the realities of becoming a professional musician, making the transition from touring drummer to sought-after session player, recording Taylor Swift's early albums, finding your own sound, and what decades in the music business have taught him about taste, preparation, relationships, and longevity.

Whether you're a drummer, songwriter, producer, touring musician, or simply fascinated by the people behind the records you love, this episode offers a rare look at what it actually takes to build a lasting career in music.

Welcome to Road Dog Royalty, where artists share the stories you don't hear in the music.


#NickBuda #RoadDogRoyalty #TaylorSwift #NashvilleMusic

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In this episode of Road Dog Royalty, host Caitlin Evanson sits down with singer-songwriter Emily West to trace the journey from small-town Iowa to the national stage. Emily made her home demos at a local studio as a teenager before moving to Nashville, where she landed a publishing deal with Warner-Chappell and eventually signed with Capitol Records Nashville. Her debut single "Rocks in Your Shoes" broke into the Top 40, and she went on to release the Keith Urban duet "Blue Sky," a fan favorite that spent thirteen weeks on the charts.

Emily's path has taken her well beyond country radio, from an acting turn on ABC's Body of Proof to a run on Celebrity Apprentice, and ultimately to America's Got Talent, where she captivated audiences all season long and finished as the runner-up in Season 9. That performance opened the door to a new record deal with Sony Masterworks and her album All for You.

In this conversation, Emily opens up about reinventing herself across genres and formats, the vulnerability of performing live on national television, and what it's taken to build a career on her own terms in an industry that's always changing. Whether you're an artist chasing your own breakthrough moment or just love hearing what happens behind the music, this episode is full of honesty, resilience, and hard-won perspective from a true road dog.

Welcome to Road Dog Royalty, where artists share the stories you don't hear in the music.

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In this debut episode of Road Dog Royalty, host Caitlin Evanson sits down with multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, producer, and touring veteran Nathan Barlowe to uncover the unseen stories behind a remarkable music career.

From fronting the pop-rock band Luna Halo signed by Rick Rubin, to writing songs recorded by artists like Taylor Swift, Steven Tyler, Keith Urban and Newsboys, and even inventing his own electronic instrument (“The Phantom”), Nathan’s journey is anything but typical. Along the way he’s earned three top-10 Billboard dance singles, a Grammy nomination, a CMA Touring Musician of the Year award, and hit songs featured on TV shows, movies and major commercials. 

In this episode, Nathan shares the real-life road tales, the challenges of evolving as an artist, the lessons learned behind the scenes, and the moments that shaped the musician — and person — he is today. Whether you’re a touring artist yourself or just love the creative journey, this conversation is full of raw insight, hard-earned wisdom, and unforgettable stories from life on the road and in the studio.

Welcome to Road Dog Royalty — where artists share the stories you don’t hear in the music.

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