The Hexagon: A Podcast For Singer-Songwriters

My guest this month is, the one-and-only, Mindy Smith.  She came by recently to talk through living an artist's life as a singer-songwriter.  We talk about her early days in Nashville, playing shows when sick, confidence and being open in the writing and recording process, finding compatible co-writers, and many other topics.

Mindy and her team are celebrating the 15th year anniversary of the release of her first record "One Moment More".  Through Vanguard/Craft Records, they are reissuing the album on vinyl for the first time.  Mindy is also selling an exclusive autographed coke-bottle-blue clear pressing of the record on her site, along with handwritten lyrics from any of her songs from the record.

Find out more about Mindy Smith:

https://mindysmithmusic.com/

https://open.spotify.com/artist/4QGC11o7gQR7MBEJ5cUMSv

https://www.facebook.com/mindysmithmusic/

https://twitter.com/mindysmithmusic

https://www.instagram.com/mindysmithmusic/

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyYlnheT_gH-V9tlSnIClXA

 

Songs of Mindy's featured in this episode:

• "If I Didn't Know Any Better" from Stupid Love 
• "Tennessee" from Long Island Shores
• "Come To Jesus" from One Moment More
• "One Moment More" from One Moment More

 

Thank you for listening!

All incidental music by host and creator, Jesse Correll.

www.jessecorrell.com

 

Support The Hexagon—help me keep this thing going.  There are several ways to support the show:

You can leave a review...This is very important to help spread the word:  iTunes or Stitcher

You can support financially on a monthly basis (for as little as $1 a month):  www.patreon.com/JesseCorrell

Or you can purchase a limited-edition Hexagon T-Shirt here.

My guest this month is Jake McMullen.  We talk about his recording and songwriting process, his focus on art above all else, and how covering a Robyn song gave him exposure.  We talk about this and many more things.  I hope you enjoy.

Find out more about Jake McMullen:

http://www.jakemcmullenmusic.com/

https://open.spotify.com/artist/0kBHkziT1rQpUBWW08p2dN

https://www.facebook.com/listentojakemcmullen

https://twitter.com/jake_mcmullen

http://instagram.com/jake_mcmullen

https://www.youtube.com/user/jakemcmullenmusic

Songs of Jake’s featured from his latest EP “Giving Up":

• Giving Up
• Falling
• Always -- from his first EP “Always”
• Dancing On My Own -- Robyn cover, from “Giving Up” played mid-way through the episode

Thank you for listening!

 

All incidental music by host and creator, Jesse Correll.

www.jessecorrell.com

 

Support The Hexagon—help me keep this thing going.  There are several ways to support the show:

You can leave a review...This is very important to help spread the word:  iTunes or Stitcher

You can support financially on a monthly basis (for as little as $1 a month):  www.patreon.com/JesseCorrell

Or you can purchase a limited-edition Hexagon T-Shirt here.

http://www.hexagonpodcast.com/episode/20-wilson-harwood

 

My guest this month is Wilson Harwood, singer-songwriter/producer/videographer/banjo player--and all around nice guy.  We talk about how he recorded and produced his latest record "Rooted In You" himself.  He also shares about starting a new production company, the side-hustles of a musician, his practice of using a Passion Planner, and meditation.  We talk about this and many more things.  I hope you enjoy.

 

Find out more about Wilson Harwood:

http://www.wilsonharwood.com/

https://open.spotify.com/artist/2AxBJJM4IPxwGDCOzKcMbn

https://www.facebook.com/wilsonharwoodmusic/

https://twitter.com/WilsonHarwood

https://www.youtube.com/user/musiclesson100/videos

 

Songs of Wilson’s featured (from his new record Rooted In You):

Feelin’ What I’m Feelin'

Skinny Dipping

Rooted In You

Big Smile

 

Thank you for listening!

 

All incidental music by host and creator, Jesse Correll.

www.jessecorrell.com

 

Support The Hexagon—help me keep this thing going.

www.patreon.com/JesseCorrell

 

To keep connected to The Hexagon:

https://www.facebook.com/HexagonPodcast/

https://twitter.com/hexagonpodcast

 

Email questions or comments to:

[email protected]

http://www.hexagonpodcast.com/episode/19-shannon-labrie

 

Find out more about Shannon LaBrie:

http://www.shannonlabriemusic.com/

https://open.spotify.com/artist/2hbQ7GP1FxLy7D8lRX2Kq7

https://www.facebook.com/ShannonLaBrie/

https://twitter.com/shannonlabrie?lang=en

https://www.youtube.com/user/shannonlabrie

 

Songs of Shannon's Featured:

I Remember A Boy  - from Just Be Honest

It’s Political - from War & Peace

Alcohol - from War & Peace

Heaven Crashed Down - from War & Peace

My guest this month is Shannon LaBrie, Americana Soul singer-songwriter.  We talk about how she's had songs on hold for many major artists, and has been courted by major labels.  She talks about how ultimately while in those holding patterns, she learned she had to get down and do the work for herself--choosing to be an artist over being a writer.  We talk about this and many more things.  I hope you enjoy.

Thank you for listening!

All incidental music by host and creator, Jesse Correll.

www.jessecorrell.com

Support The Hexagon—help me keep this thing going.

www.patreon.com/JesseCorrell

To keep connected to The Hexagon:

https://www.facebook.com/HexagonPodcast/

https://twitter.com/hexagonpodcast

 

Email questions or comments to:

[email protected]

http://www.hexagonpodcast.com/episode/18-sarah-clanton   Find out more about Sarah Clanton: http://sarahclanton.com/ https://www.patreon.com/SarahClanton https://www.facebook.com/SarahClantonMusic/ https://www.instagram.com/sarahcello/ http://twitter.com/sarahcellomusic https://www.youtube.com/user/cellotreearts   Songs of Sarah’s Featured: Hot To Touch  - from Middle Tree Studio Live EP Sweet Carolina - from Sarah Clanton EP Stormy Baby - from Middle Tree Studio Live EP Tequila - from Sarah Clanton EP   How She Chose Cello in 5th Grade   How attending The Swannanoa Gathering - Contemporary Folk Week kicked off her songwriting and confidence writing songs on the cello. https://www.swangathering.com/catalog/cf/contemporary-folk-week.html   Her journey with anxiety, how she learned to negotiate it by pushing through the nerves (repetition) and embracing her uniqueness—because “being human is weird”.   She signed a publishing deal with Writer’s Den this year.   When she first moved to Nashville, Sarah felt pretty blocked creatively.  A friend of hers, who goes by Danielle Ate The Sandwich, introduced her to the idea of trying to write an album in 24 hours.  She wrote 8 songs her first attempt in 2016.  Just write in the moment, use the first ideas because they’re often the coolest…the time for editing comes later. She’s gotten pretty serious about co-writing since moving to Nashville, discovering that she can write 8 songs in a night. http://danielleatethesandwich.com/   She teaches cello to people from 5 years old to 75.   She told me about her experiences with Folk Alliance International and Southeastern Regional Folk Alliance (SERFA).  She mentions her work with Kari Estrin. http://www.folk.org/ http://www.serfa.org/   She currently working on a new record—writing more than she ever has.  Living in Nashville has afforded her the opportunity to play with the best players.  She spoke about her work with Tom Shinness who was a mentor for her (he passed away earlier this year).  His passing was a reminder to her to truly live, and make time for what you love.   She spoke a bit about her experience with Patreon.  She describes the difference between a project-based site like Kickstarter, and an ongoing system for patrons to support your creative process in general.  As far as exclusives—figure out what your specific audience wants most.       All incidental music by host and creator, Jesse Correll. www.jessecorrell.com   Support The Hexagon—help me keep this thing going. www.patreon.com/JesseCorrell

 

Find out more about Whit at her website: http://whithill.com

She mentions early days singing back-up with Dick Siegel.  She also talks about her transition from being a dancer and choreographer (which she still does) into a singer-songwriter.

Songwriting is Whit’s favorite thing—she’d rather do that than anything else.  She says its like fishing…some days you drop a line in and see if anything is biting…and if it’s not, don’t take it too seriously…just come back tomorrow.  She also talks about her process of putting things aside (sometimes for months or even years) and picking it back up later, and all of the sudden the missing piece is there.

Whit talks about how Wilhagen’s was one of the ways she plugged in to the local songwriting scene early on.

https://www.facebook.com/Wilhagans-111596205547631/

Whit talks about a former dance student who came back into her life years later as a singer-songwriter, Dana Falconberry.  Watch Dana’s Tiny Desk Concert on NPR here:

http://www.npr.org/event/music/201517132/dana-falconberry-tiny-desk-concert

What does it mean to be a successful singer-songwriter?

Whit talks about her history with the Kerrville Folk Festival, each May in Kerrville, TX.  She won the New Folk competition in 2012.  She talks about the process of submitting, playing, and now supporting new finalists.

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

She talks about her approach to coaching other songwriters.  She also isolates a few key tenets for her in songwriting.  We discuss how critiques are crucial in getting even simple feedback — does this make sense to the audience?  Or offering a small tweak that could open a song up.

Where does Whit learn about songwriting now?

We discuss Object Writing.  Whit likes to begin a cowrite session with a object writing exercise.  It opens everyone up, and can spark interesting creativity.

Whit's memoir “Not About Madonna” is in part about, yes, that Madonna.  We talk about her early friendship with Madonna, and her process of writing the memoir.

To learn more about Whit as a songwriting coach, you can reach out to her at [email protected].

 

http://www.hexagonpodcast.com/episode/episode-17-whit-hill

Here's episode 16 of The Hexagon: A Podcast For Singer-Songwriters.  It's a podcast about 6 aspects of being a singer-songwriter today (songwriting, performing, recording, business, growth, and life).  This month, Jess Nolan and I sit down for a talk...we discuss some of the following, and a lot more.

• Writing with musicians that don't usually write
• Sequencing her first few tours
• Winning Lightning 100's Music City Big Break competition, being a finalist in the Road to Roo competition, and getting an Artist of the Week feature
• Stretching as a keyboardist -- taking solos when it's not comfortable
• Private vs Public Persona

Songs of Jess's Featured

(from her Strike A Match EP):

• Burn
• Change
• Stuck In Your Head
• Your Gravity

Influences:

• Carole King
• Sara Bareilles
• Alicia Keys
• Joni Mitchell
• Emily King
• Allen Stone

Other Things Mentioned:

Bruce Hornsby Creative American Music Program

http://www.miami.edu/frost/index.php/hornsby/

 

Craig Carothers

http://www.craigcarothers.com/

 

Road to Roo

http://lightning100.com/roadtoroo/

 

Music City Big Break

http://musiccitybigbreak.com/

 

Artist of the Week

http://lightning100.com/tag/local-artist-of-the-week/

 

Sound Emporium

http://www.soundemporiumstudios.com/clients/

 

Jess's Online Presence

http://www.jessnolanmusic.com/

http://www.facebook.com/jessnolanmusic

https://twitter.com/jessmnolan

http://instagram.com/jessmnolan

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHYR1ktoarVskHHZP1e4PqA

https://open.spotify.com/artist/0Jzzw8DkFO8mlK8ZqIJCNJ

 

http://www.hexagonpodcast.com/episode/episode-16-jess-nolan

Here's episode 15 of The Hexagon: A Podcast For Singer-Songwriters.  It's a podcast about 6 aspects of being a singer-songwriter today (songwriting, performing, recording, business, growth, and life).  This month, Kyshona Armstrong and I sit down for a talk...we discuss some of the following, and a lot more.

• Her time as a music therapist
• Tempering our emotions in song
• Lucky breaks and feeling blessed
• Keeping costs of a new record low

Songs of Kyshona’s featured:

• Same Blood - Single (Available on BandCamp)
• Do Nothing - from The Ride
• Cornelius Dupree - from Go
• The Best of You - from The Ride

 

Random Notes:

Shout out to Erica Hayes-Schultz, the DJ from Nashville’s WXNA 101.5FM’s Soul of the City show…every Thursday from 4-6PM CST (as of this taping).  Give love to this woman that gives love to local music!

 

Music Therapy - use of music to achieve non-musical goals

 

Jenn Bostic, who later co-wrote Kyshona’s latest record The Ride, played a part in Kyshona’s decision to move to Nashville on the day they first met.

 

Influences:

• Nina Simone
• Ruthie Foster
• Sam Cooke
• Otis Redding
• Rose Polenzani
• Anais Mitchell

 

Kyshona often feels the need to temper her emotions in song…to ease up the darkness, make a story more palatable.  She calls it putting a little sugar in anything she says, so that no one is alienated in the process.  She knows that how she communicates can impact future work in certain arenas.

 

She feels that on tour she needs to be aware of women, and women of color, who will come to that venue after her.  To be kind, and never give someone a reason to treat you negatively.  Can she teach someone in this moment.

 

The Bomb Shelter

Partly where she recorded The Ride…

http://bombshelterstudio.com

 

…and she also recorded some of the songs at Blackbird Studios.

https://www.blackbirdstudio.com/

 

She mentions an interview with Ann Powers for World Cafe

http://www.npr.org/sections/world-cafe/2017/03/23/521235898/world-cafe-nashville-kyshona

 

She also mentions an interview with Jewly Hight from Nashville Scene

http://www.nashvillescene.com/music/article/13057909/music-therapist-turned-singersongwriter-kyshona-armstrong-embraces-activist-role

 

Get in Touch with Kyshona:

• http://www.kyshona.com/
• https://www.facebook.com/kyshona/
• https://twitter.com/kyshona
• https://www.instagram.com/kyshona8/
• https://soundcloud.com/kyshona-armstrong
• https://open.spotify.com/user/129805678
• https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCXoi9immUyYw5oN1g6p1SA
• https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/go/id902713713

 

http://www.hexagonpodcast.com/episode/episode-15-kyshona

Here's episode 14 of The Hexagon: A Podcast For Singer-Songwriters.  It's a podcast about 6 aspects of being a singer-songwriter today (songwriting, performing, recording, business, growth, and life).  This month, Drew Kohl and I sit down for a talk...we discuss some of the following, and a lot more.

• Writes first thing in the morning…sometimes random, stream of consciousness.
• Important to write every day, waiting for inspiration limits output.  
• Ratio is 1 of 10 songs written are good…so daily practice gets to good songs more often.
• Sometimes write as quickly as possible (doesn’t even have to make sense) — to shake writer’s block.
• 30 “Solid Gold” Chord Progressions from American Songwriter Magazine: https://americansongwriter.com/2015/02/measure-measure-30-solid-gold-chord-progressions/
• Drew learns new chords from learning to play new covers.
• Uses https://evernote.com/  to organize catalog and song ideas.  Keeps things organized by genre, project, etc.  
• Drew mentions recording here: http://www.paulmoakmusic.com/the-smoakstack/
• Focus on making good content, audience and opportunity will come??
• Follow strategies of people at a realistic level, people whose career you respect
• You gotta find a good reason to write songs—outside of external validation
• Jesse mentions “Big Magic” by Elizabeth Gilbert: https://www.amazon.com/Big-Magic-Creative-Living-Beyond/dp/1594634726

Songs of Drew's featured in the episode:

• New Rain - from New Rain EP

• Who's Gonna Take You Home? - from New Rain EP

• Someone To Let You Down - from Sweetheart EP

• Is It You? — from Sweetheart EP

  Get in touch with Drew:   https://drewkohl.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrewKohlMusic/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/drewkohl     http://www.hexagonpodcast.com/episode/episode-14-drew-kohl

Here's episode 13 of The Hexagon: A Podcast For Singer-Songwriters.  It's a podcast about 6 aspects of being a singer-songwriter today (songwriting, performing, recording, business, growth, and life).  This month, Ethan Samuel Brown and I sit down for a talk...we discuss some of the following, and a lot more.

• How he met and selected his bandmates
• How to approach a booking agent
• Making a record, paying in trade (pros and cons)
• What is a good show and how to make the feeling last

  Songs of Ethan's featured in the episode:

• Back to Louisville - from Outset Lament (working title: available Fall '17)

• The Sailor — from Outset Lament

• My Gin Darlin' — from from Outset Lament 

  Get in touch with Ethan:   Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ethansamuelbrownmusic/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ethansamuelbrown/  Twitter: https://twitter.com/EthanSamuel  SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/ethansamuelbrown     http://www.hexagonpodcast.com/episode/episode-13-ethan-samuel-brown