Surviving the Music Industry

Waylon Payne is reflective, honest, and why should his latest record Blue Eyes, the Harlot, the Queer, the Pusher & Me be any different. Waylon is the son of outlaw country music so we revisit his childhood, his journey down the addiction road, and how sobriety with reconciliation leads to leaving it all on the table in his new album.

Eloise Alterman is more comfortable in the sadness rather than sitting in the joy of life for her creative output. The Other Side is a reflection of her heart and even headspace during a time where probably at a time would be one's low point but comes out on top. Eloise shares pivotal memories from her life in Detroit, a former self, and even discuss how loneliness became the emotion that would become embraced as a strength.

Sisters Rebecca and Megan of Larkin Poe get a few things out of the way in our conversation that most people and even fans get wrong. Getting the assumptions out of the way we visit the genesis of the band, and the work they put in. The lessons learned from greats like Elvis Costello set the bar for using history to push into something new. Then where does pushing boundaries and authenticity meet from their newest released album Self Made Man.

Thomas Csorba is permitting himself these days to live in rest and accepting not to feel the pressure of writing the next great American songbook. Able to set back with gratitude but also still feels the emotions during the release of his debut self titled album on September 25th, Thomas shares the process of working with Beau Bedford of The Texas Gentlemen, the Texas scene, and how to feed the creative output.

Phil Cohen of Blackout Balter can make you wonder what you're doing with your life. This MIT grad, former pro hockey player, former military man, and student of Mandarin rest assures us that it's a love of life. Something that fans love and takes to heart about the band. We get to know Phil, hear the inside feels from their debut LP Animals, and even how The Killers discovered the band and got involved with their music.

Gretchen Peters feels that 2020 is looking like a reprieve and also should have seen it coming from 2019. The acclaimed songwriter (Martina McBride's "Independence Day", Faith Hill's "The Secret of Life", Trisha Yearwood's "On A Bus To St. Cloud", and numerous cuts with Bryan Adams, film & TV, and others) sheds some insight from a MADMAN like childhood and also the secrets to the mysterious craft of songwriting. Her latest album, The Night You Wrote That Song: The Songs of Mickey Newbury is out now.

The dream for Hailey Whitters is a complicated idea wrapped with mixed emotions. Her breakthrough album The Dream explores these complicated emotions, but what happens when reality sets in when you constantly strive toward this idea of a dream? Women on the radio, family hardships, on the edge of quitting it all, and of course the complicated space where dreams collide with reality.

Joey Hendricks is one of the newest signings to Sony Music Nashville and admits with the "end of the world happening" that he is still excited for the future of his music. "Yours or Mine" is the latest single from this young Nashville talent. Instead of focusing on the negative and living with comparisons, Joey is celebrating with others joy and still working on himself at the same time.

In a time where we are the most connected and informed, Brandy Clark still can't understand how human rights can be misconstrued as divisive. After the release of her most personal album yet, Your Life Is a Record. We have a conversation to celebrate the album and share our feelings on today's political and social climate.

Optimistic in nature, but realizing how lucky he is. Mac McAnally shares some of his wisdom from his 6+ decades as a songwriter, producer, and session player. We hear stories from his early years recording songs for Hank Williams Jr., Roy Orbison, and others from Muscle Shoals' own Fame Studios. Memorable moments with Keith Whitely, Jimmy Buffet, and some legendary studio cats. Then the conflicts of personality and even obstacles of a seasoned songwriter still willing to face his fears.