Here's episode 12 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, Mary Bragg and I sit down for a talk...we discuss some of the following, and a lot more.

• How Mary treats her career and work-load as if she is signed to a publisher, scheduling writing sessions every day, and sometimes twice a day.
• Being part of a songwriting community and getting song critiques...
• Making her latest record Lucky Strike.

  Songs of Mary's featured in the episode:

• Bayou Lullaby - from Lucky Strike (available May '17)

• Think About Me — from Lucky Strike

• Drifter's Hymn — from Lucky Strike

• Treehouse (Home) — from Edge of This Town (Available Now) 

  Get in touch with Mary:   http://marybragg.com/ https://www.facebook.com/marybragg https://www.youtube.com/user/marybraggmusic https://twitter.com/marybragg   http://www.hexagonpodcast.com/episode//episode-12-mary-bragg    

Here's episode 11 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, Doug Summers and I sit down for a talk...we discuss some of the following, and a lot more.

• Co-writing sessions with some songwriting greats, including Roger Cook, Johnny Christopher (who wrote "Always On My Mind"), and Gary Nicholson.

• Recording with the original members of Wilco, and the Memphis Boys.
• How important it is to have the right representation
• Reporting songs played at gigs to your PRO--so that you get paid.

 

Songs of Doug's featured in the episode:

• Everything Ah Ha Ha - from Lots of Luck

• Reality Hit Me — from Lots of Luck

• Stop and Smell the Roses — from Lots of Luck

• Long Time Waiting — from Lots of Luck

  Some of Doug's Influences--from the Influences Spotify Playlist:

• I’ll Fly Away - Gillian Welch & Alison Krauss

• Always On My Mind - Willie Nelson

• In Spite of Ourselves - John Prine

• Blue Veins - Jack White (The Raconteurs)

• Linda On My Mind - Conway Twitty

Check those playlists out here.     Get in touch with Doug:   http://rednoterecords.com/main/ https://www.facebook.com/Lucky-Doug-Summers-266040493415027/ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbd8jN73tWJpoBmKyLpli4Q   http://www.hexagonpodcast.com/episode//episode-11-lucky-doug-summers    

Check out episode 10 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, Yosi Mesbah and I sit down for a talk...we discuss some of the following, and a lot more.

• The War of Art by Steven Pressfield

• For more information about this incredible book, check out the recap video by Philosophers-notes here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YWy5o1YRNfo

• Do we have boundaries about how far we’ll go in a song?

• How do you frame your work during performances through banter?

• Working with Parker McGee on Cellar & Sky

• Do what you’re good at, and delegate everything else.  You have to ask for help—or at least accept when someone offers to help.

   

 

Songs of Yosi's featured in the episode:

• Thoughts of You -- from Troubadourial Walkabout Live From The Road
• My Dreams -- from Cellar & Sky
• Letters -- from Troubadourial Walkabout Live From The Road
• Conversation -- from Cellar & Sky

  Songs Yosi is listening to lately--from the Endorsements Spotify Playlist:

• Twenty One Pilots - Stressed Out
• Sunshine Anderson - Heard It All Before
• Richard Hawley - For Your Lover Give Some Time
• Stromae - Formidable

Check those playlists out here.     Get in touch with Yosi:   https://yosimesbah.bandcamp.com/ https://www.facebook.com/YosiSongs/ https://www.youtube.com/user/Y1S4M7/videos?sort=dd&view=0&shelf_id=0 https://twitter.com/yosimesbah   http://www.hexagonpodcast.com/episode//episode-10-yosi-mesbah    

Check out episode 9 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).  Kiely Schlesinger and I had a great chat...we talked about some of the following, and a lot more.

• Co-writes
• How We Choose The Right PRO
• Playing Covers/Building Chops
• Her Inspiration For Writing Disappear with Jon Latham 
• Fluctuating Between Feeling Proud and Shitty About Our Music
• Building Our Own Community
• Feeling Supported By and Being Supportive To Other Singer-Songwriters
• Dealing With Lyme Disease - Keeping Energy Up
• Choosing Recording Team That Is Invested/Interested In Your Music
• Identifying & Maximizing Fanbase
• Staying Motivated In a Sea of Other Singer-Songwriters
• How Every Action Shapes Who We Are
• Kiely’s Experience with Depression
• Setting the Stage For Wellness 

 

Songs of Kiely’s featured in the episode:

• Disappear
• Slow n' Low Rock'n Rye
• Caroline's Corner Cafe 

  Songs Kiely is listening to lately--from the Endorsements Spotify Playlist:

• Andy Shauf - Hometown Hero
• Villagers - Everything I Am Is Yours
• Ben Kweller - Old Hat

Check those playlists out here.     Get in touch with Kiely:   https://soundcloud.com/kiely-schlesinger https://www.facebook.com/kielyschlesinger/ https://twitter.com/KielyClaire     http://www.hexagonpodcast.com/episode//episode-9-kiely-schlesinger    

Check out episode 8 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).  Kira Small and I talked about so many things--from using personal turmoil as inspiration for cathartic work, to what it's like to plan an album release tour, to creating a synergistic blog to coincide with an album release, to her work as a session vocalist--and so much more.

 

Songs of Kira’s featured in the episode:
3AM Firestarter Attention Cover My Mirrors   An article about the East Nashville Song Salon: http://americansongwriter.com/2014/07/role-models-amy-speace-jack-hardy/   Neilson Hubbard http://www.neilsonhubbard.com   Joshua Britt http://www.joshuabrittart.com/music-videos/   Stacie Huckeba http://www.staciehuckeba.com   12 South Music https://12southmusic.com   Acapella App https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2015/nov/27/the-internet-is-obsessed-with-this-new-acapella-app   Get in touch with Kira:   http://www.kirasmall.com https://www.facebook.com/KiraSmallMusic/ https://twitter.com/kirasmall https://www.instagram.com/kirasmall/   Buy her latest album 3AM:   http://www.kirasmall.com/store/3am

 

Check out episode 7 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).  Georgia English and I talked about the various ways she approaches songwriting (as well as how songwriting theory can sometimes get in the way of the natural flow of songwriting), her recent tour and collaborating with a booking agent, teaching others the craft of music, and more.

 

Some other things we mentioned:

 

Leesta Vall Booking

http://leestavall.com

 

All You Need To Know About The Music Business

by Donald Passman

 

Georgia mentions some teachers she worked with in the past:

Paul Rishell and Annie Raines (in Boston area)

Dave Ricketts (in San Francisco area -- not Seattle, as mentioned in the audio)

 

Check out episode 6 of The Hexagon: A Podcast For Singer-Songwriters.  It's a podcast about 6 aspects of being a singer-songwriter today.  Peter McKeown (also known as Woodferd) and I talked about a songwriters collective he started called The Yacht Club, busking in Chicago, Sofar Sounds, why he chose not to release his last EP digitally, how restringing his guitar in a new way helped him grow as an artist, and more.

Some other things we mentioned:

Dan Wilson's commencement address:

http://danwilsonblog.blogspot.com/2009/05/commencement-speech.html

"The Artists Way" by Julia Cameron

His recent show I mention at the end of the episode:

https://soundcloud.com/eastsidestorytn/east-side-storytellin-88-barry-jones-woodferd-02

Check out episode 5 of The Hexagon: A Podcast For Singer-Songwriters.  It's a podcast about 6 aspects of being a singer-songwriter today.  Aaron Berg (also known as Mountainwalker) and I discuss the importance of community (find one, or make one), going against the grain as an artist, his love of hip-hop, building your fanbase, and challenges with depression and anxiety, and so much more.  Come listen and tell us what you think of the episode.  Join the conversation!

 

http://www.hexagonpodcast.com/episode//episode-5-aaron-berg-aka-mountainwalker

Check out episode 4 of The Hexagon: A Podcast For Singer-Songwriters.  It's a podcast about 6 aspects of being a singer-songwriter today.  Jeremy Nash and I discuss the repetitive spell a new song casts, starting a songwriting club to spur new songs, the "chicken and egg" aspects of booking shows, the role of the producer in his first two albums, how a new guitar can change your confidence as a performer and writer, and so much more.  Come listen and tell us what you think of the episode.  Join the conversation!

 

http://www.hexagonpodcast.com/episode//episode-4-jeremy-nash

Check out episode 3 of The Hexagon: A Podcast For Singer-Songwriters.  It's a podcast about 6 aspects of being a singer-songwriter today.  Caleb Hawley and I discuss performance anxiety, the personal nature of his songwriting, the importance of staying present while performing, maximizing his recording budget, his 360 deal, and so much more.  Caleb was very authentic and shared so much with us in this episode--trust me you'll want to hear it.  Join the conversation!

 

Show notes at: 

http://www.hexagonpodcast.com/episode//episode-3-caleb-hawley