Songwriters discuss the vision, inspiration and creative process of their songs.

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2020/12/1/4/b82cee5a-910c-4ae9-89d8-b53abc9a935d_bandits_on_the_run_-_love_in_the_underground_interview.mp3

Love In The Underground by Bandits On The Run was written by the Bandits - Adrian Enscoe, Regina Strayhorn and Sydney Shepherd and produced by William Garrett.

Love In The Underground by Bandits On The Run

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2020/11/22/23/d63f69a9-1709-484f-ba12-84f3bc6340f6_stephanie_lambring.mp3

Stephanie Lambring moved from Seymour, Indiana to Nashville in 2006 and began performing as a teenager and released her first record when she was 22. She soon signed to a music publishing contract with BMG Chrysalis and later Carnival Music and spent 5 years on Music Row writing songs. After burning out on the Music Row grind of writing songs for others to sing, she stepped away from music. After a long break, Stephanie rediscovered her songwriting muse again, this time on her own terms, and has released a critically acclaimed album, Autonomy. Her new album features songs with serious themes that force the listener to confront “uncomfortable truths.” She shares the backstory of this album and its songs with us including “Daddy’s Disappointment,” “Mr. Wonderful,” “Joy of Jesus,” “Pretty,” “Birdsong Hollow” and “Fine.”

Stephanie Lambring

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2020/11/2/2/ff7b44ca-5460-4309-92a6-3df67c2b5d52_chanman.mp3

Peter “Chanman” Chandler is a singer, songwriter, guitarist, and bandleader living and performing in Jackson Hole, Wyoming for over 20 years. He performs as the frontman/guitarist of the 9 piece roots reggae band <a href="http://www.chanmanrootsband.com/" rel="nofollow">Chanman Roots Band</a>, and in the <a href="https://www.jacksonhole.com/blog/15659-2/" rel="nofollow">Tram Jam</a> band. A perennial winner of the Best Musician of Jackson Hole Award, Chanman&#39;s music has appeared in ski movies including &#34;Blinded by the White&#34; and &#34;Swift. Silent. Deep. The Story of the Jackson Hole Air Force”. Chanman has opened for The Wailers, Damion Marley, The Violent Femmes, Robert Cray, Leon Russell, Robert Randolph and the Family Band, Greg Brown, The Skatalites, Los Lonely Boys, The Tamlins, and many others. The Chanman shares his creative songwriting process on his songs “Ski’s Boots Poles,” “Ski When Its Time,” “New Uprising,” “Always,” and “Just An Illusion.”

Peter "Chanman" Chandler on Backstory Song

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2020/11/1/23/002f00ba-7c3c-4cc3-af5b-f145194dcd9b_belinda_gail.mp3

Belinda Gail was raised on ranches in Nevada’s Carson Valley and in the California Sierra Nevada foothills near Sequoia National Park.  She began singing and writing western songs from her personal experiences growing up in this farm country.  In 1996 she went on her first tour as an opening act and she has not stopped.  Since then, she has been named seven times as the Female Performer of the Year by the Western Music Association.  She was recently listed as one of the top 50 Country and Western Entertainers of all time by American Cowboy Magazine in their collector edition entitled “Legends.” Her endearing and high energy performances have earned her the deserved nickname as “America’s Western Sweetheart.”

Belinda Gail Interview on Backstory Song

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2020/11/1/23/10acf9a6-704e-401c-8613-dee049ff9f6c_alright_alright.mp3

China and Seth Kent are the wife and husband who lead the band Alright Alright out of Denver, Colorado.  Their marriage has produced a unique musical alchemy.  China plays keys and Seth plays guitar and they are complemented by lush instrumental arrangements created by China.   Their vocal harmonies combine Seth’s folky warmth and China’s lush alto to convey a range of emotions and feelings.  Their first album Nearby generated strong critical buzz and their live performances have generated a loyal following.   They share songwriting duties and write songs both individually and collaboratively. On their new album, Crucible, produced by Ben Wysocki drummer for the band The Fray, they write very personal songs inspired by autobiographical episodes.https://www.alrightx2.com/home

China and Seth Kent of Alright Alright Interview on Backstory Song www.backstorysong.com

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2020/11/1/2/2839ec3c-948b-44b5-81a3-8ef0457fd2ea_tammy_rogers.mp3

After learning classical violin as a child, Tammy Rogers became a successful touring musician and session player for Trisha Yearwood, Kieran Kane of The O’Kanes, Emmy Lou Harris, Dolly Parton, Buddy Miller and many other Nashville legends.  After releasing two critically acclaimed solo albums, Tammy found her muse playing and writing songs for The Steeldrivers, a group of legendary, off-the-charts gifted Nashville session musicians. The Steeldrivers’ style is categorized as Bluegrass for the Grammy Awards, which they have won for Best Bluegrass Album for The Muscle Shoals Recordings in 2016, but their style has also been called Soul-grass, Rock-grass and R&amp;B-grass.  It is more than just Bluegrass.https://thesteeldrivers.com/https://www.facebook.com/thesteeldrivers/https://www.instagram.com/thesteeldrivers/https://twitter.com/SteelDrivershttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_SteelDrivers

Tammy Rogers - The Steeldrivers Interview on BackStory Song www.backstorysong.com

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2020/11/1/2/dfe50c30-9968-4f12-b2f2-c04b409db58f_steven_wells.mp3

Steven Wells is the singer/songwriter leader of the band Ghostowne which he formed in 1999. They have released seven albums and have been playing music in bars and honky-tonks inspiring audiences to drink and dance for over 20 years. His country twang music blends country, southern rock, Americana and roots rock while telling blue collar stories of everyday struggles. His songs celebrate the toils, tribulations and sweat of working people while celebrating the hard earned desire to blow off steam in the camaraderie of fellow revelers.<a href="https://www.facebook.com/GHOSTOWNE/?__xts__%5B0%5D=68.ARBuLPk1zcHRG-BZvQacSfv2eESnnV0GQmcThJlkiZDvu4CqbUEGYdPfu9zLajLGmrBs3JXrFj4pyxsqx6AJ0xneii-P9g-VnM3arE2rIae3JkiRQTlupE5qcif3_BkKsPu3IedbHdbx-1RG3AlAtOD_7UyVPKv7vP4h5w_G0awsP0nOUKRrNMKCyf0I2khwgkdUDMfIBZ9XTbBfjVLCG1qX1sTPDcaNo-udJ_25vG5ChS9GpbKQg90bcgrkWsJYxUnsUU3bw_xdojBLShfbAn_5gRfKjfHGhn8" rel="nofollow">https://www.facebook.com/GHOSTOWNE/</a>https://www.instagram.com/ghostowne_band/https://twitter.com/Ghostownehttps://ghostowne.com/

Steven Wells - Ghostowne Interview on BackStory Song www.backstorysong.com

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2020/11/1/2/d32a9685-ed78-42d5-8178-15954b4f7084_steve_seskin.mp3

Nashville Songwriter Hall of Famer, Steve Seskin has written seven Number One Country songs, including Grammy-nominated “Grown Men Don’t Cry,” (Tim McGraw) and “Don’t Laugh at Me,” (Mark Wills) winner of the Nashville Songwriters Association and Music Row Magazine Song of the Year.  Steve’s songs have been recorded by legends like Tim McGraw, Neal McCoy, John Michael Montgomery, Kenny Chesney, Collin Raye, Peter Frampton, Waylon Jennings, Alabama, Mark Wills, and Peter Paul and Mary.  Other Seskin hits include: “Wrong” (Waylon Jennings),&#34;I Think About You&#34; (Collin Raye), &#34;Life&#39;s A Dance&#34;, “If You&#39;ve Got Love&#34; (John Michael Montgomery), a&#34;No Doubt About It,” “For A Change” (Neal McCoy) and &#34;Daddy’s Money” (Richochet). Steve’s song “Don’t Laugh At Me” was recorded by Peter, Paul and Mary and became the impetus for the Operation Respect project, a curriculum designed to teach tolerance and anti-bullying in schools.  This program has been implemented in more than 30,000 schools and Steve has performed in countless elementary schools in support of the program.  https://www.steveseskin.comhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Seskinhttps://www.instagram.com/lazylittlepunk/https://www.facebook.com/steve.seskin.9

Steve Seskin Interview on BackStory Song www.backstorysong.com

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2020/11/1/2/474e3956-4180-40ff-b7be-5bd8e83af2bc_stephen_kellog.mp3

Stephen Kellogg is an American singer and songwriter who has released 17 albums and performed more than 2000 concerts in 21 countries. He founded the band Stephen Kellogg and the Sixers in 2003 and the band has been on hiatus since 2012 but Stephen cannot stop writing and performing.  His two recent albums, South, West, North, East, and Objects In The Mirror have received strong critical acclaim. Rolling Stone said &#34;Objects In The Mirror captures the talent, spontaneity, and humanity of Kellogg&#39;s songwriting... refreshingly free of pretense and studio polishing&#34; and the sound was &#34;...like John Prine fronting The Heartbreakers.&#34; He’s received the Armed Forces Entertainer of the Year award, had his work nominated for a Grammy and he has delivered a TEDx Talk “I Can’t Get No Job (Satisfaction)”.  He lives in New England with his wife, four daughters and their cat, Holly.<a href="http://www.stephenkellogg.com/" rel="nofollow">www.stephenkellogg.com</a><a href="http://www.instagram.com/stephen_kellogg" rel="nofollow">instagram.com/stephen_kellogg</a><a href="http://www.facebook.com/stephenkelloggmusic" rel="nofollow">facebook.com/stephenkelloggmusic</a>

Stephen Kellogg Interview on BackStory Song www.backstorysong.com

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2020/11/1/2/59a4a64d-48ce-48a5-947e-b68dce1912a7_ron_artis.mp3

To say that Ron Artis II plays music from his heart and soul would be a bit of an understatement. With his family upbringing and incredible early success, you may even say it has been preordained. So how does one of the great musical talents of his generation come seemingly out of nowhere? Well, that part of the mystery is easy to solve. He’s been paradise’s best kept secret for years and now he’s finally making big waves on the mainland and beyond.<a href="http://www.ronartisii.com/" rel="nofollow">www.ronartisii.com</a><a href="http://www.instagram.com/ronartisii" rel="nofollow">instagram.com/ronartisii</a><a href="http://www.facebook.com/ronartisiiandthetruth" rel="nofollow">facebook.com/ronartisiiandthetruth</a>

Ron Artis II Interview on BackStory Song www.backstorysong.com

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2020/11/1/2/0211bc62-c465-49d2-8948-8591ee688513_roger_murrah.mp3

Nashville Songwriter Hall of Famer, Roger Murrah was named by BMI the 1988 Songwriter of the Year and the 1980s Songwriter of the Decade.  He has written 10 #1 country songs and 44 top 40 songs.  At least nine of his songs have received over one million radio airplays and his cross-over smash hit, “We’re In This Love Together,” co-written with Keith Stegall and recorded by Al Jarreau has received over 3 million radio spins and counting.  His #1 hits include “Don’t Rock The Jukebox” by Alan Jackson, “Southern Rains” by Mel Tillis, “High Cotton” by Alabama, and “If I Could Make A Living” by Clay Walker which he discusses in this episdoe. His songs have been recorded by the royalty of country music including Waylon Jennings, Alan Jackson, Alabama, Conway Twitty, Barbara Mandrell, Ronnie Milsap, Kenny Rogers, Patty Loveless, and Wynonna.   Born and raised in Alabama, Roger has a star in the Walk of Fame at the Alabama Music Hall of Fame.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roger_Murrahhttp://coltonent.com/roger-murrah/

Roger Murrah Interview on BackStory Song www.backstorysong.com

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2020/11/1/2/517b8ae2-e483-42a5-9878-b4e9e90a2cd1_robyn_cage.mp3

Robyn Cage’s powerhouse vocals and impassioned live performances have enthralled audiences nationwide, from Boston’s Symphony Hall, to thousands at outdoor festivals, to the prestigious and intimate singer-songwriter circuit in NYC. Born in the Utah desert, she went on to graduate from The Boston Conservatory and become an accomplished actress in NYC, where her performances earned praise from The New York Times and Variety. When Robyn’s interests turned to creating her own original music, she migrated back to her desert birthplace to record with Grammy-nominated producers Dan Burns (Michelle Branch) and Darryl Neudorf (Sarah McLachlan, Neko Case). Cage’s debut album Born in the Desert was named one of the 35 Top Albums of 2015 by I’m Music Magazine and topped the list of 25 Best New Music Critiques of 2015 by Music Connection Magazine. Her sophomore album Slow The Devil was named Best Indie Album of 2018 by Scorpius Magazine.

Robyn Cage Interview on BackStory Song www.backstorysong.com

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2020/11/1/1/ec22c7ab-6414-429b-a6d5-65ff19b129a5_rick_gerber.mp3

Rick Gerber is the multi-instrumentalist singer songwriter frontman of the five-piece genre-bending outfit Badfeather. His songwriting combines blends classic rock, soul, extensive jam-band excursions and some country folk and funk. His songwriting features personal stories and a wide ranging vocal style from rough hewn, rock growls to tender soulful ballads. His band delivers an accomplished, rounded assortment of tasty guitar solos, funky keyboard lines, and driving rhythms.https://www.facebook.com/badfeathermusichttp://www.badfeathermusic.com/https://www.instagram.com/badfeathermusic/https://www.facebook.com/rick.gerber.984

Rick Gerber of Badfeather Interview on BackStory Song www.backstorysong.com

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2020/11/1/1/ccc13e58-30f1-4453-a172-d5bcc0e3e404_rain_phoenix.mp3

Rain Phoenix and longtime collaborator, Kirk Hellie, created her 2019 solo debut, River, a musical exploration of homage to her late brother, River nearly three decades earlier. The passage of nearly three decades finally unlocked the creative floodgates for Rain Phoenix to craft River on her LaunchLeft label. The singer, songwriter, activist, actress, and philanthropist first re-visited her earliest foray into music as one-half of Aleka’s Attic alongside late big brother River Phoenix. From there, she derived the strength, soul, and spirit to forge a body of work that not only serves as a totem to his legacy, but also illuminates the bold breadth and beauty of her own artistry. On the 25th anniversary of his death in October 2018, she made the decision to release the Time Gone, boasting two unreleased tracks from Aleka’s Attic - “Where I’d Gone” and “Scales &amp; Fishnails” - alongside her first-ever solo composition “Time is the Killer” featuring Michael Stipe of R.E.M. River flowed out of this.<a href="http://www.instagram.com/rainjphoenix" rel="nofollow">instagram.com/rainjphoenix</a><a href="http://www.twitter.com/@rainjphoenix" rel="nofollow">twitter.com/@rainjphoenix</a><a href="http://www.facebook.com/rainjphoenix333" rel="nofollow">facebook.com/rainjphoenix333</a>

Rain Phoenix & Kirk Hellie Interview on BackStory Song www.backstorysong.com

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2020/11/1/1/6b916996-c6fb-4e08-b32f-96c0d425206c_jagertown_preston_creed.mp3

Preston Creed is the lead singer, guitarist frontman and songwriter for the country rock band, Jagertown. The son of two musicians, Preston, began making music when he was a toddler. With five albums out, his songs feature strong approachable, storytelling about the American life. His bandmates deliver a feel-good, party time energy on his southern rock songs. Preston writes songs that are both drawn from personal experiences and observations of the life on the road in a non-stop touring band. Preston talks to Back Story about “Rearview,” “Blame It On The Wine,” “Old Flame,” and “Falling On The Blacktop.”https://www.jagertown.com/https://www.facebook.com/jagertownhttps://www.instagram.com/jagertown/https://twitter.com/Jagertown

Preston Creed of Jagertown Interview on BackStory Song www.backstorysong.com

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2020/11/1/1/cba6884d-e7e8-4cdd-a0a0-a6064d5008fd_phillip_white.mp3

An Alabama native, White moved to Nashville in 1992 and notched his first breakthrough hit in 2000, when White co-wrote “I&#39;m Movin&#39; On” with D. Vincent Williams, which appeared on Rascal Flatt’s debut album. The song became a No. 1 hit and was named Song of the Year by both the Academy of Country Music Song of the Year and the Nashville Songwriters Association International. In 2003, White co-wrote the Reba McEntire hit “I’m A Survivor” which also became the theme song for Reba’s self-titled hit TV show. White’s impressive list of co-writes include such hits as Neil McCoy’s “Billy’s Got His Beer Goggles On”; Blake Shelton’s “Nobody But Me”; Scotty McCreery’s “The Trouble With Girls”; Darius Rucker’s “Lost In You” (co-written with Rucker and Mark Nesler); and, as featured on the Act of Valor soundtrack, “The Best I Can” co-written and performed by Jake Owen and “Whatever Brings You Back” co-written by Ronnie Bowman and performed by Wynonna Judd.https://www.facebook.com/phillip.white.923https://www.instagram.com/phillipwhitemusic/

Phillip White Interview on BackStory Song www.backstorysong.com

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2020/11/1/1/24ce9cb0-589c-44b7-b362-d9485c609939_phil_barker.mp3

Phil Barker is the lead songwriter and mandolin player for the bluegrass band, Town Mountain.  The band formed out of the top bluegrass jammers in the legendary Asheville, North Carolina scene.  Town Mountain combines a raw soulfulness with plenty of swagger to create a completely unique, contemporary modern sound rooted in bluegrass traditions.  Their music has garnered over 6 million Spotify streams and lead to steady bills on the top tour festivals.  Their rocking, honky tonk live performances bring out their unique combination of bluegrass mixed with country, old school rock n roll, and boogie woogie flavorings and have attracted a strong following.  Phil shares the back story on “Law Dog,” “Diggin On The Mountain Side,” “Ruination Line,” “North of Cheyenne,” “You Can’t Win Em All,” and “Daydream Quarantina.”

Phil Barker - Town Mountain Interview on BackStory Song www.backstorysong.com

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2020/11/1/1/ce90a6b4-217f-43a9-9e28-c9490f15ddd0_linda_perry.mp3

2015 Songwriter Hall of Fame Inductee Linda Perry rose to fame out of the late 1980s San Francisco club scene with the band 4 Non Blondes where her breakout song What’s Up became an international hit.  Following a solo career, she shifted to songwriting primarily for others and her songs have achieved five Number Ones.  Her songs have been recorded by an incredible roster of singers and bands but in particular, she has written chart topping hits for Pink, Christine Aquilera, Gwen Stefani, Alicia Keys, Courtney Love, Celine Dion, Kelly Osbourne and many others.  In this episode of Back Story Song, Linda shares her stories on the songs “What’s Up” by 4 Non Blondes, “Let’s Get The Party Started” by Pink, “Beautiful” by Christine Aquilera, “Perfect Stranger” by Cheap Trick, “The Thing About Love,” by Alicia Keyes and “It Fucking Hurts,” by Linda Perry’s Deep Dark Robot.

Linda Perry Interview on BackStory Song www.backstorysong.com

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2020/11/1/1/e8dce8f6-7979-4817-b804-7c0ea9cfc254_layng_martine_part_1.mp3

Nashville Songwriter Hall of Famer, Layng Martine, has written 15 Top 40 Country hits including two Number 1 songs: Billy Crash Craddock’s “Rub It In” and Elvis Presley’s final Number 1 hit, “Way Down”. His songs have been recorded by music legends Jerry Lee Lewis, The Pointer Sisters, Ray Stevens, Trisha Yearwood and Reba McEntire. His song, “The Greatest Man I Never Knew,” recorded by Reba was nominated for a Grammy for Best Country Song in 1992. The Pointer Sisters’ “Should I Do It” crossed over into the pop charts Top 20 for Layng in 1981. His memoir, Permission To Fly, is available on Amazon.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Layng_Martine_Jr.

Layng Martine Interview on BackStory Song www.backstorysong.com

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2020/10/31/22/7db942b0-59e1-4049-9a75-cf189dbaf624_kent_blazey.mp3

Nashville Songwriter Hall of Famer, Kent Blazy, has written 16 Country Top 40 hits including 4 Country Number One songs, but his road to songwriting success was not easy. Inspired by Bob Dylan and Roger McGuinn of the Byrds, he fronted his own touring band in the mid-70s, when after winning a Nashville songwriting contest and he moved there and had an initial hit with Gary Morris “Headed For A Heartache.” After numerous artists recorded his songs without cracking the Top 40 in the 80s and contemplating quitting the songwriting business, he teamed up with a “demo” singer named Garth Brooks and they wrote “If Tomorrow Never Comes,” “Somewhere Other Than The Night,” and “Ain’t Goin Down (Til The Sun Comes Up)” all of which Garth sang and took to #1. Kent never thought about quitting songwriting again.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kent_Blazyhttps://www.facebook.com/kent.blazyhttps://twitter.com/BlazyKent

Kent Blazy Interview on BackStory Song www.backstorysong.com

Songwriters discuss the vision, inspiration and creative process of their songs.