Raw Songwriting

Robby Layton grew up wanting to sing like Peter, Paul and Mary and play guitar like John Fogerty. After stints in various bands in Texas, he finally settled in Colorado and continued his musical pursuits. Teresa Penbrooke grew up in Colorado playing clarinet and piano while listening to Roberta Flack, but stage fright kept her from chasing her muse until the rhythmic rowing on river trips inspired...

As early as Kindergarten, Alicia Stockman knew she had to be singer, but it took her 15 years before she really pursued it. Dabbling in angsty songwriting in her college years, she then formed Bonanzatown and paid her dues on the rock and roll covers circuit. Encouraged by fellow Utah musician, Elizabeth Hareza, Alicia enrolled in the Rocky Mountain Song School in Lyons, CO,  and quickly decided t...

After hearing “Roll with it” by Oasis, Dan Raza was struck with the musical bug. It started a journey delving into the classics of the 60s and 70s, and then the roots of those artists all the way back to the pre-war blues. Since then, Dan Raza has become one of the mainstays of the London singer-songwriter and folk roots scene.  His distinctive approach has won him a following across the UK and ab...

Originally lead guitarist/singer/songwriter with the early 80s NY punk band Tension Envelopes, Tim Byrnes played CBGBs about a minute after it meant anything. He then moved to Colorado in a successful attempt to get sober, then spent time in Flashback, a classic rock and country band for about 10 years. After reuniting with the Tension Envelopes many years later, Tim decided to start writing again...

Singer-songwriter Meg Braun grew up in Toledo, Ohio, and began singing with her family, in and outside of church. Braun moved to New York City where she started writing and honed her craft.  She played at and eventually ran the Tuesday Open Mic at the C-Note in the East Village, helped found both the Christopher Street Coffeehouse and  women’s songwriters collective called “Chicks with Dip”. Meg h...

Singer-songwriter Meg Braun grew up in Toledo, Ohio, and began singing with her family, in and outside of church. Braun moved to New York City where she started writing and honed her craft.  She played at and eventually ran the Tuesday Open Mic at the C-Note in the East Village, helped found both the Christopher Street Coffeehouse and  women’s songwriters collective called “Chicks with Dip”. Meg h...

In this round table discussion, Dave sits down with several veterans of Timmy Riordan's Fearless Songwriting Challenge. You'll hear Marci Geller's musical soundscapes, Brian Claflin's twisty word play, Vicki Pompea's emotional impact, and Timmy Riordan's vivid imagery; and you'll hear about how they wrote each of those songs in just one day! It's another raw and riv...

Colorado-based singer/songwriter Pamela Machala strikes an earthy yet elegant aesthetic balance with influences ranging from jazz and soul to musical theater and folk. Signatures of Pamela’s music include sprightly hooks, effortless vocals, subtly complex chord changes, feel-good funky grooves, and boldly vulnerable lyrics. The songs on her latest album "Something Simple," which would fit...

Maya Bennett finds her inspiration in the in-between moments. The ones when we feel most human. Her recent sophomore album "As the Pink Fades" explores her struggles with mental health, and where she fits into this world. Bennett's honesty has won her multiple songwriting awards through Swallow Hill and E-Town, and she's been praised by Denver's 303 Magazine for her live perfor...

Allie Chipkin, is a folk singer-songwriter based in upstate New York. Originally from Poughkeepsie, Allie studied Musical Theatre at The Boston Conservatory at Berklee. She went on to specialize in poetry at Skidmore College, where she began her professional songwriting career. Allie has released two solo records to positive critical acclaim, and her songs have been featured on radio stations acro...

David Burchfield writes American folk music that swaggers wildly through raw emotion within a meticulously written and arranged package. Burchfield’s literate lyrics meet emotive grace in nods to Jason Isbell, Mandolin Orange, and David Ramirez. There is a powerful candor in Burchfield’s writing – raw, emotive, and rich with details that bring the listener right into the scene of his passion. Solo...

Shanna in a Dress is your quirky best friend who refuses to wear pants. She says what everyone is thinking but no one else will say and you'll get an uncensored journey of clever humor and heartbreak with a hefty side of entertainment at her shows. She masterfully manages to take on complex subject matters with smart, yet accessible lyrics. Her songs are laden with clever wordplay and they del...

A pure voice is a rare find and Theresa Peterson has found hers, both as a singer and a songwriter. Her smooth tone echoes the ease of singers like Joni Mitchell and Alison Krauss, floating between octaves with melodies that stretch the line between old and new. Peterson's songs have been called "achingly beautiful" with themes that call up our deepest dreams and nostalgias. ​A native...

In this special birthday episode, regular host David Coile is put on the hot seat as guest host John Bunzli asks him about speed writing, writing by request, Halloween tunes, and co-writing. Get an in depth look into Dave's bittersweet, sardonic and sometimes silly style. It's another raw and riveting interview!

Dave spends a lot of time talking about the writing process every week, but he thought it would be fun to have an episode where the process is laid out in real time. Back in January, Dave did several Live Streaming Co-writes with some of his music friends. The idea was to write a song in two-hours-or-less, with an audience providing feedback and even suggestions. This session, with Nichole Wagner,...

As with many artists, Matt Tedder didn’t really start writing until he had a bad breakup. Then he couldn’t stop. He found his words would often be shaped by the music he was listening to, until they eventually became their own songs. In 2004, he was profoundly affected by the tsunami that hit Thailand, and then got really serious about songwriting. Over the last 20 years, he’s been in bands like C...

Denver singer-songwriter Barry Osborne plays post punk old time banjo. According to Marquee Magazine, Barry “takes the old-time clawhammer sound and blends it with his influences of early 1980s college rock." In 2018, he released his debut EP, “Back of the Title Page”; and in 2019, he was nominated for a Westword Music Award in the Folk/Bluegrass category. He has since joined forces with fiddl...

Antonio Lopez is a musician, composer, and the executive director of the nonprofit, Sound Bridge Music . He is a quiet man who has something to say. His music is like an onion: It has many layers, each one revealing something more. At the core, Antonio is a singer-songwriter in service to the song. His adept guitar work and composition skills are never used in a showy way, but rather like the spic...

Over the course of the last 30-odd years, Jay Stott has been a ski instructor, a fishing guide, brick layer, carpenter, hot tub technician, retail store manager, janitor, heavy equipment operator, house painter, vacuum cleaner salesperson, security guard, and even a bouncer for a strip club. Along the way, he's also drafted a couple of novels, and dabbled in print journalism, too. But he’s car...

Timmy Riordan makes tools and opportunities for writing songs available to songwriters. He is the catalyst and creator behind the Fearless Songwriting Challenge (which is to write seven songs in seven days) and each week he posts a savory new writing prompt, and simple, jargonless music principle on his blog, TimmyR.com. He loves supporting songwriters in the journey of honing their writing voice...

Timmy Riordan makes tools and opportunities for writing songs available to songwriters. He is the catalyst and creator behind the Fearless Songwriting Challenge (which is to write seven songs in seven days) and each week he posts a savory new writing prompt, and simple, jargonless music principle on his blog, TimmyR.com. He loves supporting songwriters in the journey of honing their writing voice...

Dave gathered up as many of his guests from last year to play their best songs written in 2020 and to talk about their goals for 2021. It's a freewheeling celebration of songwriting! For more music, check out: https://www.johnbunzli.com/ http://www.parryadams.com/ https://www.finnosullivanmusic.com/ http://www.putsiecat.com/ https://www.jeannemcadaramusic.com/ https://terrisunflower.com/ Pleas...

Jeanne McAdara writes songs from the perspective of her own experiences with—and compassion for—the tragic beauty of human frailty. Her lyrics remind us that even the best people sometimes do wrong in the quest to avoid facing down their fears, and they also remind us that even the worst people can find redemption if they have the courage to seek it. Through her poetic songs, her warm contralto vo...

In this special holiday episode, Dave is joined by two songwriters. Parry Adams' raw writing style, combined with her soulful voice and sound, deliver a strong shot of honesty. Her tender tone warms her candid manner, trading in harsh observations for sincerity and introspection. She may not always tell you what you want to hear, but <we know> you’re going to want to hear this. Just be c...

Finn O’Sullivan got her start performing Taylor Swift concerts in her bedroom while her parents were out. The Boulder, CO-based singer-songwriter picked up her first guitar at age 12 and hasn't put it down. In addition to guitar, Finn plays ukulele and piano, and her sound and style and voice have been compared to such artists as Regina Spektor, dodie, and Phoebe Bridgers. In 2016, Finn won th...