This week the crew is joined by ABSOLUTE LEGEND, artist and GRAMMY-winning songwriter Natalie Hemby (Kacey Musgraves "Rainbow", Miranda Lambert "White Liar", Little Big Town "Pontoon"). The crew dives into that [very real] post-number-one depression, choosing family over touring, and getting pigeonholed as a songwriter. Natalie also shares the story of passing up writing "Shallow" with Lady Gaga and how she may be the only artist who doesn't want her own music to be "too successful."

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Alysa Vanderheym (Rolling Up The Welcome Mat & Patterns Kelsea Ballerini, “Lose Somebody” Kygo & OneRepublic, “Hold On Me” Jelly Roll) gets into some big fat topics on the pod this week.

The discussion covers craftsmanship, critical acclaim and the risks and advantages of artists who veer away from the radio and towards a finer art.

The juiciest part of this episode BY FAR is when the crew talks about points, fees, the risk of sending around your production stems, and how easily songwriters get blacklisted for asking for things like participation in income streams aside from copyright royalties.

This episode is chock full of sensitive and delicate topics, ones you’ll want to know more about before you’re in the middle of these dramas yourself.

Knowing is truly half the battle, so let’s educate ourselves, kids! 

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Matt Dragstrem (“I’ll Name The Dogs” Blake Shelton, “What My World Spins Around” Jordan Davis, “Just To Say We Did” Kenny Chesney) is a guy you’d meet at a party and find out years later, he wrote all of your favorite country songs.

Songwriter Soup is proud to platform the least braggy writer in all of music row and discuss his journey from Starbucks to staff writer and how someone without that self promotion bug makes they’re way thru this business successfully. We cover the value of noodling, keeping it light and staying the course.

Enjoy this episode of Songwriter Soup!

Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/6OsHLYFgEqY

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Tayla Parx (“7 rings” & thank u, next” Ariana Grande, “High Hopes” Panic! At The Disco, “Like JENNIE” JENNIE) joins the crew this week and this episode covers a LOT— the LA style publishing deal compared to a Nashville style deal, how to tailor your business set up to fit your life and lifestyle, and how to approach mentoring with the aim to better the culture and leave something sustainable behind. Tayla is a one and only human and a big picture thinker. Lots to learn here guys! Enjoy.

Watch and subscribe on YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@SongwriterSoupPodcast

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Ok, strap in guys, this will be the most entertaining episode of Songwriter Soup so far, and maybe forevermore. Laura’s prediction for future Songwriter Of The Year, Thomas Daniel, is on the podcast this week, representing (for now, and not for long) the middle class songwriter.

By that we mean, Thomas is fully in the meat of ‘publishing deal land’ and hasn’t had that first big hit… YET (absolutely inevitable). His questions and perspectives help fill in some very crucial blanks in the Songwriter Soup ecosystem, and the trio is so grateful and happy to discuss them.

This episode covers a ton about mentorship, particularly why hit songwriters sign up and coming songwriters, and how they maybe, kinda, sorta shouldn’t necessarily do that. It also addresses the future of the songwriting industry and the importance of financial literacy at all stages of the career.

Enjoy this episode and prepare for sore abs, Thomas is one funny MFer.

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Ryan Hurd (“Heartless” Diplo feat. Morgan Wallen, “What My World Spins Around” Jordan Davis, “What If I Never Get Over You” Lady A) sits with the Songwriter Soup trio to talk brass tacks music industry business.

Ryan describes the justifiable lure of releasing your own music exactly the way you like it, but helps fill in some blanks about how complicated, time consuming, FREAKING expensive and not-at-all-casual it is to switch from songwriter to artist.

This episode breaks down so much of the nitty-gritty ins and outs of record deals, merch & touring and pulls back the curtain on the fiscal balancing act that is “doing an artist thing.” A MUST LISTEN if those words are in your periphery.

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Grammy-winning songwriter and artist Brandy Clark (“Mama’s Broken Heart” Miranda Lambert, “Follow Your Arrow” Kacey Musgraves, Shucked on Broadway) has carved out one of the most respected careers in modern music.

Brandy joins the Soup crew for a heartfelt conversation about trusting your instincts, recognizing those life-changing moments, and choosing purpose over pressure. From the Music Row to Broadway, this conversation weaves through the highs, the pivots, and the magic that comes with creating songs that truly mean something.

00:00 Introduction

01:20 Brandy Clark's Songwriting Journey

09:27 Some Love for Lindyville 

27:59 Writing 'Follow Your Arrow', Appreciating Kacey Musgrave's

35:54 The Value of Music: Personal Impact vs. Mass Appeal

36:55 Balancing Creativity and Commercial Success

37:46 Iconic Songs

43:29 The Impact of Overworking Arists

46:39 The Joys and Struggles of Touring

01:01:25 SHUCKED!

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Grammy winning hit songwriter, Shane McAnally (“Body Like A Back Road” Sam Hunt, “American Kids” Kenny Chesney, “Fancy Like” Walker Hayes) has achieved every imaginable accolade and is seen by the community (and most certainly, this Songwriter Soup crew) as one of the greatest songwriters of this era.

The trio sits down with Shane for a candid conversation about how addicting the mountain top is, and how gratitude and service can hit like dopamine, if you allow yourself to pivot towards them. Enjoy this episode!

Watch the full video & subscribe on YouTube: https://youtu.be/LSrAa7-AV9c

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Carrie Karpenin (“High Road” Koe Wetzel & Jessie Murph, “The Man That Came Back” Jessie Murph, “People Vs. Maryanne Sue” Devon Again) sits down with the SS crew this week to discuss the journey for girls in boy spaces (behind drum thrones and producer seats), the thrill and exhaustion of being a touring musician, and letting your cowriters remind you who you are.

This episode covers the risk tenured writers take when lobbing well-placed insults at a newbie and the pain that can cause, how softness is an asset, and how important “taste” is when it comes to making music. Enjoy our conversation with the delightful, Carrie K!

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The songwriting community lost one of its finest. Hall of Fame Songwriter, Brett James (Jesus Take The Wheel” Carrie Underwood, “On My Way To You” Cody Johnson, “Mr. Know-It-All” Kelly Clarkson) was known by so many of us as a remarkably open and loving human.

He was a fierce songwriter rights advocate, and one of the biggest contributors to the American Songbook in this era. His accomplishments as a songwriter span decades and reach heights we all dream of, but pale in comparison to his kindness. May we all be remembered this way. This episode originally aired on September 9th, 2024.

We’re re-releasing this episode of Songwriter Soup this week to celebrate the life of our dear friend, Brett James.

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