Today's episode is about simplifying your art into small choices. I talk a bit about one of my favorite movies of all time and about how terrible I was in art class as a child. I hope it helps you in some way. If you'd like to subscribe to the mailing list you can go here: https://toolsofsongwriting.com/ All of the songs in this episode of the podcast are available here: https://sincerelyiris.com/ Photo by Jon Tyson ..read more

Tristan Dougherty is a folk musician in Richmond, Virginia, whose songs combine meditative, finger-style guitar playing with warm, illuminative lyrics. He's been a huge support to the Richmond, VA songwriter community over the past few years.  On today's show, he provides some great insight into the songwriting process. https://www.tristandougherty.com ..read more

Today's songwriting tips come from one of my favorite books of all time by Austin Kleon called "Steal Like an Artist" I grew up thinking that artists were just completely original and if you borrowed anything from anyone you weren't a real artist. This book argues that there's a correct way to do it. Austin says that if you borrow from many different places then you can really stumble upon something brand new. Setting up these parameters can really lead you to some great ideas that are unique to you. Steal Like at Artist by Austin Kleon Austin's Blog Tools of Songwriting ..read more

Today I have a very special guest on the show.  I'm here with Richmond, VA musician Mackenzie Roark. Mackenzie has a  cool country sound in the vein of songwriters that I've always admired like Lucinda Williams, Gillian Welch, Whiskeytown, and Bob Dylan, and classic singers like Patsy Cline and Hank Williams. She's part of Vocal Rest Records also based here in Richmond. She recently released her album "Rollin' High, Feelin' Low." To hear more of her music head over to: https://mackenzieroark.com ..read more

In today's episode, I talk about my writing process and the idea of being creative in an analog vs digital way. They're both useful, but I've found, that when I sit down at the computer the ideas can just dry up. Very quickly. I hope you enjoy the episode. More interviews coming soon! If you'd like to subscribe to the mailing list you can go here: https://toolsofsongwriting.com/ All of the songs in this episode of the podcast are available here: https://sincerelyiris.com/ Photo by Gritt Zheng ..read more

In today's episode, I talk about the amazing book "Mindset: The New Psychology of Success" by Carol Dweck. I think some of the ideas in that book can be really helpful when you're writing songs. Here is the infographic that I currently have hanging on my wall: https://www.mindsetworks.com/science/Impact If you'd like to subscribe to the mailing list you can go here: https://toolsofsongwriting.com/ All of the songs in this episode of the podcast are available here: https://sincerelyiris.com/ Photo by David Matos  ..read more

On today's show, we have my friend, Mitchel Evan. He's a Richmond, VA musician who plays solo and with his band Mitchel Evan and the Saboteurs. Mitchel shares some really great insight into his writing process and his journey as a songwriter. I hope you enjoy the episode. He and the band have a brand new album coming out very soon. http://www.mitchelevanmusic.com/ https://toolsofsongwriting.com/podcast ..read more

On today's show, we have my friend, Judith Avers. Judith is one of my favorite people and has really helped me out over the years. Not only in songwriting, but in how to navigate the music business. She's played music all over the place and has even opened up for another one of my favorite songwriters, Josh Ritter. Today we zone in on her songwriting and how her songs have evolved over the last few years. Judith is just as honest in real life as she is in her music. I hope you enjoy the interview. www.judithavers.com ..read more

Jeremy Davis fronts the Charlotte, NC band Elonzo Welsey. I lived in Charlotte for 5 years and Elonzo Wesley was one of my favorite bands from that city. Jeremy's soulful southern voice reminds me a little bit of My Morning Jacket with a hint of Bob Dylan during his "Nashville Skyline" phase. Having said that, he and the band truly have a sound all their own. Elonzo Wesley Tools of Songwriting ..read more

The resistance is a term from one of my favorite books The War of Art by Steven Pressfield. I was looking at my bookshelf the other day and this book popped out, like it has countless times before. A big part of songwriting is just getting out of your own way. Steven gives the thing that's standing in our way a name. He calls it "The Resistance." It's just those distractions, bad habits, cellphones...really anything that distracts us from doing our work. Check out the War of Art here: War of Art Tools of Songwriting ..read more