Ep. 9 – “NASHVILLE” STEVE REMPIS: Taking the Leap to Launch a Professional Music Career
05/01/12 • 161 min
The Songwriting Podcast is a monthly music podcast where three hosts revel in the technical and creative aspects of the craft of songwriting, with the help of guest songwriters or some other music industry professionals.
Episode 9 features our honorary fourth co-host — the author of our Moving to Nashville segment, “Nashville” Steve Rempis.
In this genuinely inspiring episode, Steve talks about Taking the Leap to Launch a Professional Music Career, as well as other, related topics, such as: How do you know when you’re ready to pursue a full-time music career? How do you know if you’ve “got what it takes” to become a professional musician? Should you move to Nashville, New York City, Los Angeles or some other place to launch your career? What happens if you never “make it”? Steve also teaches about making your music interesting, as well as many other topics.
Nashville Steve also debuts his brand new song on The Songwriting Podcast — “A Little Behind” — and he gives some insights into his method and inspiration for writing it.
Find Steve Rempis and all his important links here:
And of course, this episode also features specialty segments, such as our Send Your Song segment, where we discuss Cole Hansen’s songs, “Tightrope Walker” and “The Home I Build.”
Cole Hansen on Soundcloud
Cole Hansen on Facebook
Next Month’s Send Your Song Submission: Bryan Odeen’s “Be More.” Feel free to contact us about sending your song at [email protected].
Steve also talks about what’s coming up on his next few Moving to Nashville segments. And naturally, we have more of Don’t Do the Dumb Things That Jason Did (because there’s never any shortage). This month Jason lists 8 dumb things that you should never do during live performances. And we have this month’s segment of Mesake’s Tunes, where Mesake debuts the first verse and chorus that he has ever written!
And Grant Adams returns for this episode, brining you Grant’s Rants ... and Raves (with a new theme song by Nashville Steve Rempis).
Grant’s Rant: Kid Rock’s song “All Summer Long” (and everything else he’s done). Here’s a song that takes samples from “Sweet Home Alabama” for the chorus, and “Werewolves of London” for the verses. Yet, amazingly, the lyrics of the song are about his good old days in northern Michigan! How did this happen? If I knew the record execs who actually gave Kid Rock the permission to bastardize these classic songs, I would order them tarred and feathered. Take note, dear listeners, this might just be one of the worst songs that has ever been recorded. Remember, as a word of warning, the music you listen to affects the music you write.
If you feel like you’ve been bad and need to abuse yourself in some little way, go to TheArtistDen.com and listen to the Kid Rock set. You can listen to him perform his songs live and do mediocre versions of some of the great classic rock songs you’ve grown up with.
On the other hand, if you feel like rewarding yourself, go to the same Web site and skip to Iron & Wine, which takes me to my raves.
Grant’s Raves:
Iron & Wine – The albums have a sweetness and introspective quality to them. Sam Beam has become one of today’s greatest songwriters and storytellers. His lyrics can even be read as poetry. Listen to them in an entirely new light as he guides an 11-piece band and plays most of the songs from the latest album.
Gotye – Some friends of mine drove over 1,000 mile...
The Songwriting Podcast is a monthly music podcast where three hosts revel in the technical and creative aspects of the craft of songwriting, with the help of guest songwriters or some other music industry professionals.
Episode 9 features our honorary fourth co-host — the author of our Moving to Nashville segment, “Nashville” Steve Rempis.
In this genuinely inspiring episode, Steve talks about Taking the Leap to Launch a Professional Music Career, as well as other, related topics, such as: How do you know when you’re ready to pursue a full-time music career? How do you know if you’ve “got what it takes” to become a professional musician? Should you move to Nashville, New York City, Los Angeles or some other place to launch your career? What happens if you never “make it”? Steve also teaches about making your music interesting, as well as many other topics.
Nashville Steve also debuts his brand new song on The Songwriting Podcast — “A Little Behind” — and he gives some insights into his method and inspiration for writing it.
Find Steve Rempis and all his important links here:
And of course, this episode also features specialty segments, such as our Send Your Song segment, where we discuss Cole Hansen’s songs, “Tightrope Walker” and “The Home I Build.”
Cole Hansen on Soundcloud
Cole Hansen on Facebook
Next Month’s Send Your Song Submission: Bryan Odeen’s “Be More.” Feel free to contact us about sending your song at [email protected].
Steve also talks about what’s coming up on his next few Moving to Nashville segments. And naturally, we have more of Don’t Do the Dumb Things That Jason Did (because there’s never any shortage). This month Jason lists 8 dumb things that you should never do during live performances. And we have this month’s segment of Mesake’s Tunes, where Mesake debuts the first verse and chorus that he has ever written!
And Grant Adams returns for this episode, brining you Grant’s Rants ... and Raves (with a new theme song by Nashville Steve Rempis).
Grant’s Rant: Kid Rock’s song “All Summer Long” (and everything else he’s done). Here’s a song that takes samples from “Sweet Home Alabama” for the chorus, and “Werewolves of London” for the verses. Yet, amazingly, the lyrics of the song are about his good old days in northern Michigan! How did this happen? If I knew the record execs who actually gave Kid Rock the permission to bastardize these classic songs, I would order them tarred and feathered. Take note, dear listeners, this might just be one of the worst songs that has ever been recorded. Remember, as a word of warning, the music you listen to affects the music you write.
If you feel like you’ve been bad and need to abuse yourself in some little way, go to TheArtistDen.com and listen to the Kid Rock set. You can listen to him perform his songs live and do mediocre versions of some of the great classic rock songs you’ve grown up with.
On the other hand, if you feel like rewarding yourself, go to the same Web site and skip to Iron & Wine, which takes me to my raves.
Grant’s Raves:
Iron & Wine – The albums have a sweetness and introspective quality to them. Sam Beam has become one of today’s greatest songwriters and storytellers. His lyrics can even be read as poetry. Listen to them in an entirely new light as he guides an 11-piece band and plays most of the songs from the latest album.
Gotye – Some friends of mine drove over 1,000 mile...
Previous Episode
Bonus – LIFE IS HARD: Internet Marketing and Recording on a Budget
The Songwriting Podcast is a monthly music podcast where three hosts revel in the technical and creative aspects of the craft of songwriting, with the help of guest songwriters or some other music industry professional.
But this show is a BONUS episode featuring a lecture-style interview with a songwriter duo called Life Is Hard, consisting of Robert Iutzwig and Tim Marshall.
Life Is Hard has one of the best examples of a professional online presence that we’ve seen from indie musicians who aren’t funded by the marketing muscle of a major label. So, The Songwriting Podcast asked these experts to teach us all about Internet Marketing and Recording on a Budget.
In fact, Life Is Hard was kind enough to prepare a very valuable, 16-page PDF document from their lecture notes, which also include various links. Click here to download Life Is Hard’s Indie Artist Guide to Music Marketing.
And as always, we took some time to play a song by Rob and Tim called “Red Rocks.” They explain their songwriting process for that tune afterward.
LIFE IS HARD Links (See what we mean?) :
last.fm (indie radio)
Radio Indy (indie radio)
IM Radio (indie radio)
... And we think they have even more, but you get the point. Life Is Hard is working hard and doing their Internet marketing right.
Your hosts are Craig Tovey, Grant Adams (though he’s absent during this episode) and Jason Pyles. The Songwriting Podcast posts new episodes on the first day of every month — and we’ll be posting Episode 9 here on May 1.
And here is a list of some other links referenced during this episode:
The Dave Eaton Element’s Bandcamp Page
Pomplamoose’s YouTube Music Video for “Bust Your Knee Caps”
A MUST-READ Article on Pomplamoose by the Houston Press
Kawika Heftel at Heftel Studios
Book recommendation:
Next Episode
Bonus – GLEN PHILLIPS: A Songwriter’s Songwriter
The Songwriting Podcast is a monthly music podcast where three hosts revel in the technical and creative aspects of the craft of songwriting, with the help of a guest songwriter or some other music industry professional.
But this show is a BONUS episode featuring a 70-minute interview with singer-songwriter Glen Phillips, who is the frontman of the ‘90s alternative rock band, Toad the Wet Sprocket, and he’s a successful solo artist, as well.
Glen talks with us about his songwriting process; which instruments he prefers to write on; how songs were written as collaborations in Toad — including some background info on the writing of “Walk on the Ocean” and “I Will Not Take These Things for Granted.”
Glen also talks about what he values in a co-writer; whether he finds it easier to write for an assignment; the background for his collaboration with John Askew on “Secrets of the New Explorers” and “Remote Tree Children.” We also ask Glen for his thoughts on writing lyrics and avoiding cliches.
Toad fans will be interested in hearing Glen briefly speak about the new album that Toad the Wet Sprocket is working on, and the style and flavor of the new songs he’s been writing for that album. Oh, and we include a speed round of about 20 random questions on Glen’s various preferences that aren’t necessarily musically related.
And as always, we play an entire song by our guest. Glen chose his song, “Rise Up,” and he shares a very personal story behind the writing of that song.
This bonus episode also features two guest hosts and songwriters, Bill Barnes and Chris Barragan — along with your usual hosts, Craig Tovey and Jason Pyles. And Grant Adams graciously agreed to sit out during this show, since we had so many interviewers. Thanks, Grant. We owe you.
Links from this episode:
Purchase Music: Glen Phillips on Bandcamp (also see Jason’s recommendations below)
Glen on Twitter: @GlenPhillips
See Glen perform live: Tour Dates
Watch Bill Barnes sing “Walk on the Ocean” with Glen Phillips at the Club Cafe in Pittsburgh, Pa., Summer 2006.
A must-own recommendation from Jason: Glen’s “Abulum” DVD. (This features live, solo-acoustic performances and interviews. Buy it!)
Toad on Twitter: @ToadWetSprocket
Glen’s favorite Toad album: Dulcinea
Jason’s favorite Toad album: Pale
Other Glen Phillips CDs that Jason recommends:
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