07.12.07 Shogcast Episode Two
Shlogcast is the audio companion to this blog (whatever that means) and episode TWO is up on iTunes now.
I wrote my first country song not long ago. (Stop laughing. Seriously. Stop it.) After we finished the tune, I whipped out my handy dandy recorder and made a quick “work tape” of one of my co-writers singing the song. Then, I left the recorder on - I thought in “pause” - and hung out talking with these two writer guys about how to get better at writing country music. When I got home I realized the recorded song file was almost an hour long and I was bummed I’d have to spend time editing it down to just the song part I wanted.
But when I started editing I realized I had captured something pretty cool - at least to me: three writers, with about 40 years of writing experience between us, talking about country music, Christian music and commerce. Now, because none of us knew we were being recorded, things got pretty candid. The whole conversation had to be edited down to less than fifteen minutes for this episode of Shlogcast, mostly me talking but, I promise you, these guys had loads to say. And I still left some good stuff from them in. Good stuff like this little sample…
shaunfan said:
Great podcast again Shaun. I’ve gotten to listen to it a couple of times now and I really like the candor. Every podcast I listen to (too many by the way) is way too rehearsed as though they are waiting for the studio audience to laugh when they hold up the applause sign. Other than Ed Robertson from Barenaked Ladies, you are the only other musician I’ve heard that really speaks his mind and has a natural wit.
You are in very good company in my opinion. By the way, although I’m not a huge country music fan myself, over time “Need You More” has become one of my top 3 favorite songs by you and Ed Robertson also wrote one country song called “For You” which is one of my top 3 favorite BNL songs. Check it out for inspiration or whatever. He talked about in a podcast how Ricky Skaggs called him after they performed the song on Letterman and that was a highlight for him.
Regarding episode 2, just like in Star Wars you built on episode 1 but changed up the format which I liked. As for the comments by Brian and Don, I felt they really hit on some key points that should be helpful in your songwriting. I’m looking forward to episode 3!