Songwriter Soup

Artist and genuine songwriter advocate, Ashley McBryde (“Girl Goin Nowhere”, “Martha Divine,” “Bible and a .44”) pulls up some couch this week to bring a massive, unfiltered perspective to the pod. We go everywhere in this one—from Ashley's early days running loss prevention at Guitar Center and getting paid in chicken strips for writers' rounds. We discuss the difference between an artist and a s...

Ben Johnson (“All The Way” BigXThaPlug & Bailey Zimmerman, “TRUCK BED” Hardy, “Dying Man” Morgan Wallen) is on the pod this week to discuss family, outliers, finding co-writers and lawyers. We cover some new territory as it pertains to picking lawyers. We have sadly noticed how often the first lawyer you pick is a name you got from the person you actually negotiate against. We’re too trusting,...

This week, the Songwriter Soup crew interviews Lauren Hungate (“Holy Smokes” Bailey Zimmerman, “Break First” Tucker Wetmore, “The Aftermath” Carter Faith). We jump around from being a mom & songwriter at the same time, the ideal ballad to bop ratio, social media (friend or foe), discovering artists at the ground floor only to watch them end up in fancier rooms and how to handle that with poise...

Laura collected, sifted, and solicited and we have  round of listener questions we’ll be addressing this week. We cover the most asked questions like how to get some decent song feedback, and where not to go for that. We discuss being socially awkward while networking, which feels like a curse for... some of us. We also discuss the delicate nature of songwriters existing in other parts o...

Mike Robinson (“ For The Rest Of Your Life ” - Teddy Swims, “ Umbrella ” Fitz and The Tantrums, “ 4runner ” Brenn!) joins the Songwriter Soup trio this week to discuss how being a no-brainer hit songwriter still involves a load of patience while you wait for the proof (a big ol fat hit) to show up. Mike shares his approach on his career as he makes his way through-continue to show up, kick as...

The crew is joined by Austin Goodloe (“ Dandelion ” Ella Langley, “ Rocky Mountain Low ” Corey Kent & Koe Wetzel, “ I Can’t Love You Anymore" Ella Langley & Morgan Wallen) to discuss the difference between confidence and cockiness, obsession with music, and not letting tenure spoil the magic of this crazy career. Austin shares stories about how Jelly Roll helped get him signed to a publish...

Producer and songwriter David Spencer parks it on the Soup couch this week, bringing a massive amount of cross-genre perspective, jumping from Christian radio hits like Katie Nichole’s " In Jesus Name " to producing a viral TikTok pop smash for Neoni, and even helming Jo Dee Messina’s highly anticipated upcoming return album. But before the chaotic six-week perio...

This week the trio sits down with the tallest man to ever enter the Songwriter Soup lair: producer and songwriter Paul DiGiovanni (“How Not To” Dan + Shay,  "The Ones That Didn’t Make It Back Home” Justin Moore, “Lose You” Jordan Davis). Paul’s journey is a masterclass in the winding road of the music industry, traversing from the height of 2000s emo with Boys Like Girls ("The Great Esca...

This week we host songwriting couple (each a BMI Songwriters Of The Year of years past), Nicolle Galyon & Rodney Clawson. We cover the importance of acknowledging your “money scripts” - those things you knew to be true about money when you were a kid that you dragged into your adulthood. We also touch on that moment when success as a songwriter becomes a temptation to delve into different side...

Producer and songwriter Gabe Simon (“Stick Season” Noah Kahan, “Blue Banisters” Lana Del Ray, “The Man That Came Back” Jessie Murph) shares his journey from driving Uber while on a publishing deal to producing career-defining records for Noah Kahan, Dermot Kennedy, and Lana Del Rey. This conversation explores the financial realities of the music business, the importance of community over competiti...

Trio de Songwriter Soup delve into art/business relationships and more on today’s episode. When it comes to a songwriter’s relationship with an artist, what is loyalty exactly? Is it a good thing? Is it a bad thing? Man, it sure can get tricky as people come and go (and come and go again). Holding too tightly and/or getting one’s feelings hurt can do damage, internally and externally. Let’s talk a...

Dave Cohen (“Pray Hard”BigXThaPlug & Luke Combs, “Home” BigXThaPlug & Shaboozey, “Good Day For Living” Joe Nichols) is a previously full time touring musician, 5-time Academy of Country Music and 6-time Music Row Award-winning producer and multi-instrumentalist who pivoted to songwriting in recent years. There is so much to learn from Dave regarding expanding your toolbox, being a good col...

This week the crew is joined by ABSOLUTE LEGEND, artist and GRAMMY-winning songwriter Natalie Hemby (Kacey Musgraves "Rainbow", Miranda Lambert "White Liar", Little Big Town "Pontoon"). The crew dives into that [very real] post-number-one depression, choosing family over touring, and getting pigeonholed as a songwriter. Natalie also shares the story of passing up writing "Shallow" with Lady Gaga a...

Alysa Vanderheym (Rolling Up The Welcome Mat & Patterns Kelsea Ballerini, “Lose Somebody” Kygo & OneRepublic, “Hold On Me” Jelly Roll) gets into some big fat topics on the pod this week. The discussion covers craftsmanship, critical acclaim and the risks and advantages of artists who veer away from the radio and towards a finer art. The juiciest part of this episode BY FAR is when the crew...

Matt Dragstrem (“I’ll Name The Dogs” Blake Shelton, “What My World Spins Around” Jordan Davis, “Just To Say We Did” Kenny Chesney) is a guy you’d meet at a party and find out years later, he wrote all of your favorite country songs. Songwriter Soup is proud to platform the least braggy writer in all of music row and discuss his journey from Starbucks to staff writer and how someone without that se...

Tayla Parx (“7 rings” & thank u, next” Ariana Grande, “High Hopes” Panic! At The Disco, “Like JENNIE” JENNIE) joins the crew this week and this episode covers a LOT— the LA style publishing deal compared to a Nashville style deal, how to tailor your business set up to fit your life and lifestyle, and how to approach mentoring with the aim to better the culture and leave something sustainable b...

Ok, strap in guys, this will be the most entertaining episode of Songwriter Soup so far, and maybe forevermore. Laura’s prediction for future Songwriter Of The Year, Thomas Daniel, is on the podcast this week, representing (for now, and not for long) the middle class songwriter. By that we mean, Thomas is fully in the meat of ‘publishing deal land’ and hasn’t had that first big hit… YET (absolutel...

Ryan Hurd (“Heartless” Diplo feat. Morgan Wallen, “What My World Spins Around” Jordan Davis, “What If I Never Get Over You” Lady A) sits with the Songwriter Soup trio to talk brass tacks music industry business. Ryan describes the justifiable lure of releasing your own music exactly the way you like it, but helps fill in some blanks about how complicated, time consuming, FREAKING expensive and not...

Grammy-winning songwriter and artist Brandy Clark (“Mama’s Broken Heart” Miranda Lambert, “Follow Your Arrow” Kacey Musgraves, Shucked on Broadway) has carved out one of the most respected careers in modern music. Brandy joins the Soup crew for a heartfelt conversation about trusting your instincts, recognizing those life-changing moments, and choosing purpose over pressure. From the Music Row to...

Grammy winning hit songwriter, Shane McAnally (“Body Like A Back Road” Sam Hunt, “American Kids” Kenny Chesney, “Fancy Like” Walker Hayes) has achieved every imaginable accolade and is seen by the community (and most certainly, this Songwriter Soup crew) as one of the greatest songwriters of this era. The trio sits down with Shane for a candid conversation about how addicting the mountain top is,...

Carrie Karpenin (“High Road” Koe Wetzel & Jessie Murph, “The Man That Came Back” Jessie Murph, “People Vs. Maryanne Sue” Devon Again) sits down with the SS crew this week to discuss the journey for girls in boy spaces (behind drum thrones and producer seats), the thrill and exhaustion of being a touring musician, and letting your cowriters remind you who you are. This episode covers the risk t...

The songwriting community lost one of its finest. Hall of Fame Songwriter, Brett James (Jesus Take The Wheel” Carrie Underwood, “On My Way To You” Cody Johnson, “Mr. Know-It-All” Kelly Clarkson) was known by so many of us as a remarkably open and loving human. He was a fierce songwriter rights advocate, and one of the biggest contributors to the American Songbook in this era. His accomplishments a...

Grammy Award winning songwriter and producer, Jordan Reynolds (“Tequila, “Speechless” Dan + Shay & “10,000 Hours” Justin Bieber & Dan + Shay), joins the Songwriter Soup crew to discuss a songwriter’s search for a hero, A.I., studio aesthetics, and the subtle care that comes from making a slow cup of coffee for cowriters. Jordan, a music row staple and everyone’s favorite conversationalist,...

Two time BMI songwriter of the year, Jesse Frasure (“Halfway To Hell” Jelly Roll, “Dirt On My Boots” Jon Pardi, “Marry Me” Thomas Rhett) closes out the spring season, as always, joined by the Songwriter Soup trio. This episode includes a candid conversation about the highs, the lows, the ease, the difficulty, and the jealousy that come standard with all of our songwriter dreams. Jesse opens up a c...

You might recognize today’s Songwriter Soup guest’s name and voice—Rob Ragosta (“Need A Favor” & “Winning Streak” Jelly Roll) is the brother of previous SS guest, Joe Ragosta! On this episode the group talks about family, community and how important the maintenance of both can help keep your head on straight through the ups, downs, highs and lows of the songwriter grind. It also covers the del...