John Linn - S3E4 Raw Songwriting

Born into a musical family, John Linn was exposed to the sounds of the Weavers, the Kingston Trio, Woody Guthrie and other folk music royalty playing around the family piano. At the age of 19, he picked up a guitar, but it wasn’t until his early 30s when he started writing songs. After easing into the open mic scene in Massachusetts, he was encouraged by a guitar teacher to take his music more seriously. Since then, he’s gone on to become a mainstay in the Washington, D.C. Americana scene, playing both solo and fronting the folk-rock band After The Flood, while also acting as a creative coach, guitar teacher and all-around community resource. 

John has released a solo album “Illinois 14” and an eponymous album with After The Flood that got to #7 on the national folk radio charts. He’s played the Rocky Mountain Folks Festival and the D.C. State Fair. After writing extensively over the pandemic, he has an album in the works tentatively called “Sinners and Saints”

John Linn’s writing vibrates with the tones of hidden struggles and triumphs. Whether you hear stories of growing up on the prairies of the Midwest or of the sweet disappointments of love, John’s music will leave you with a sense of the depth and mystery of human experience, with its often hidden joys and tragedies. Often drawing on spiritual themes, John uses vivid imagery and carefully crafted lyrics to paint the pictures of the ordinary lives of people you see everyday.

Dave sat down to talk to John about musical Rorschach tests, writing historical songs, and how to get addicted to finishing things. Plus, we each debut a new song. It's another raw and riveting discussion about song craft!

For more music, check out https://www.johnlinnmusic.com/music