Singer/Songwriter Devin Dawson's debut album, "Dark Horse", was one of the most critically acclaimed country albums when it was released in 2018. Although it yielded only one top ten hit, "Put It All On Me", the album's daring mixture of country, rock, americana and even 70s songwriter pop was something different, and introduced a new, gutsy songwriter not afraid to address the vulnerabilities and challenges of being someone off to the side...the Dark Horse. Since then, Devin has toured with Tim McGraw, helped co-write one of 2019's biggest hits, Blake Shelton's God's Country, and along with fellow young songwriters like Hardy and Mitchell Tenpenny, is on the forefront of a new generation of country singer/songwriters who are poised to shift Nashville in a new direction, while still respecting its longstanding traditions. **Heads up: this particular podcast contains a few mild curse words**

Singer/Songwriter Devin Dawson's debut album, "Dark Horse", was one of the most critically acclaimed country albums when it was released in 2018. Although it yielded only one top ten hit, "Put It All On Me", the album's daring mixture of country, rock, americana and even 70s songwriter pop was something different, and introduced a new, gutsy songwriter not afraid to address the vulnerabilities and challenges of being someone off to the side...the Dark Horse. Since then, Devin has toured with Tim McGraw, helped co-write one of 2019's biggest hits, Blake Shelton's God's Country, and along with fellow young songwriters like Hardy and Mitchell Tenpenny, is on the forefront of a new generation of country singer/songwriters who are poised to shift Nashville in a new direction, while still respecting its longstanding traditions. **Heads up: this particular podcast contains a few mild curse words**

You know their words and melodies, but maybe not their names: Write You A Song features country music’s most successful songwriters talking about their craft with host Tom Mailey from Bonneville radio station New Country 105.1 KNCI in Sacramento. Tom is a country radio veteran with over 30 years of experience in Seattle and Sacramento, and has always been a song lyric junkie. He hopes this podcast will shine a spotlight on the talented men and women who, mostly behind the scenes, write the songs that become part of our lives. (Follow Tom on Twitter at @kncitom, Instagram at @tomailey or on Facebook at facebook.com/kncipatandtom)

You know their words and melodies, but maybe not their names: Write You A Song features country music&rsquo;s most successful songwriters talking about their craft with host Tom Mailey from Bonneville radio station New Country 105.1 KNCI in Sacramento. Tom is a country radio veteran with over 30 years of experience in Seattle and Sacramento, and has always been a song lyric junkie. He hopes this podcast will shine a spotlight on the talented men and women who, mostly behind the scenes, write the songs that become part of our lives. (Follow Tom on Twitter at @kncitom, Instagram at @tomailey or on Facebook at facebook.com/kncipatandtom)

Write You A Song Podcast

Write You A Song

Singer/Songwriter Devin Dawson talks about songwriting and what it's like being a younger songwriter in Nashville

Mom, Metal and Country Music: Devin Dawson

When you think country music and Australia, the first person who comes to mind is that guy married to Nicole Kidman. But he wasn’t the first. He was beaten to the states by a then teenage girl, who arrived here in the 1980s with her parents. But her first job wasn’t singing, or writing. It was as a character on an iconic 1980s TV show.

If you remember The Facts of Life, think back to the final season and a character named Pippa McKenna.

Pippa was played by Sherri Austin...who would do a little more acting in LA before moving to Nashville in the mid 1990s. In 1997, she signed a recording deal and got some airplay on country radio, including a sad but beautiful ballad called Streets of Heaven that, in 2003, became her biggest hit. But her first love- more than acting, more than singing, was writing, which she continued to do even as she left Nashville for a time in 2005 to sing on the stage in New York city. Returning to Nashville in 2011, she released another album, Circus Girl, which displayed her full talent as a singer/songwriter. But, as Austin will explain, she was drawn more towards writing and performing, and since then has become one of country music’s most respected writers. 

When you think country music and Australia, the first person who comes to mind is that guy married to Nicole Kidman. But he wasn’t the first. He was beaten to the states by a then teenage girl, who arrived here in the 1980s with her parents. But her first job wasn’t singing, or writing. It was as a character on an iconic 1980s TV show.
If you remember The Facts of Life, think back to the final season and a character named Pippa McKenna.
Pippa was played by Sherri Austin...who would do a little more acting in LA before moving to Nashville in the mid 1990s. In 1997, she signed a recording deal and got some airplay on country radio, including a sad but beautiful ballad called Streets of Heaven that, in 2003, became her biggest hit. But her first love- more than acting, more than singing, was writing, which she continued to do even as she left Nashville for a time in 2005 to sing on the stage in New York city. Returning to Nashville in 2011, she released another album, Circus Girl, which displayed her full talent as a singer/songwriter. But, as Austin will explain, she was drawn more towards writing and performing, and since then has become one of country music’s most respected writers.

Songwriter Sherrie Austin shares her journey as an actor, performer and, ultimately, songwriter and Nashville business woman

Sherrie Austin: "It's a Jobby not a Hobby"

If the name Johnny Bulford sounds vaguely familiar, then maybe you used to watch the Colgate Country showdown, a country music talent show sponsored by the toothpaste company. In 2008, he won it and was given a $100,000 check by the evening’s host, Leanne Rimes. 

But here's the thing: The Showdown was a singing competition...and as much as Johnny loves to sing- and is good at it – his real passion is in songwriting. A passion he got from listening to the songs of his country music idol, Garth Brooks. And his songs do have a certain “Garthiness” that he’ll explain. So, rather than pursue a singing career, Johnny went to Nashville and started his journey as a songwriter - thanks in no small part to the security a check for $100,000 will give a guy. The result? Radio smashes like Lonely Eyes for Chris Young and Woman Like You for Lee Brice, and keen insight into the creative process that he shares on this month's episode

If the name Johnny Bulford sounds vaguely familiar, then maybe you used to watch the Colgate Country showdown, a country music talent show sponsored by the toothpaste company. In 2008, he won it and was given a $100,000 check by the evening’s host, Leanne Rimes. 
But here's the thing: The Showdown was a singing competition...and as much as Johnny loves to sing- and is good at it – his real passion is in songwriting. A passion he got from listening to the songs of his country music idol, Garth Brooks. And his songs do have a certain “Garthiness” that he’ll explain. So, rather than pursue a singing career, Johnny went to Nashville and started his journey as a songwriter - thanks in no small part to the security a check for $100,000 will give a guy. The result? Radio smashes like Lonely Eyes for Chris Young and Woman Like You for Lee Brice, and keen insight into the creative process that he shares on this month's episode

Songwriter Johnny Bulford talks about writing hits for Chris Young and Lee Brice

Johnny Bulford: Musical Pharmacist

The goal of most performers is to be so good, their audience is captivated. A captive audience. But ...what if your audience has no choice because they're literally captive? 

This episode’s guest isn’t really Country. He’s more folk, or Americana, or whatever you want to call it. I just think he's amazingly talented, with a fascinating story to tell.

I heard about Matt Butler one morning when I heard an interview with him on – full credit here – NPR. They were talking to him about his music, and also his one man show, Reckless Son, which is based on his experiences performing to the incarcerated, first in upstate new york and now, at prisons all over the country. His story drew me in. His songwriting and singing hooked me. His catalogue isn’t large. He’s never had a "hit" record. But his story is unique and perfectly illustrates the power that music, and art, can have when used for something more than just putting gold records on a wall.  

Not that there’s anything wrong with that! But that’s not what matt chooses to chase. He is one of those artists who is inspired by something else, something deeper and seemingly less tangible. and I was curious to find out why. And how.  

I hope you are too. 

The goal of most performers is to be so good, their audience is captivated. A captive audience. But ...what if your audience has no choice because they're literally captive? 
This episode’s guest isn’t really Country. He’s more folk, or Americana, or whatever you want to call it. I just think he's amazingly talented, with a fascinating story to tell.
I heard about Matt Butler one morning when I heard an interview with him on – full credit here – NPR. They were talking to him about his music, and also his one man show, Reckless Son, which is based on his experiences performing to the incarcerated, first in upstate new york and now, at prisons all over the country. His story drew me in. His songwriting and singing hooked me. His catalogue isn’t large. He’s never had a "hit" record. But his story is unique and perfectly illustrates the power that music, and art, can have when used for something more than just putting gold records on a wall.  
Not that there’s anything wrong with that! But that’s not what matt chooses to chase. He is one of those artists who is inspired by something else, something deeper and seemingly less tangible. and I was curious to find out why. And how.  
I hope you are too.

Singer/songwriter shares his unique story, which includes performing for prisoners at jails and prisons across America.

Mom, Metal and Country Music: Devin Dawson

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