Songwriter Snack Time with Brandon Williams
Brandon Williams is such a gifted musician and songwriter. He plays almost any instrument you can think of and has a very unique tone of voice. All of that combined with his passion and love for songwriting is so powerful.
Brandon Williams is such a gifted musician and songwriter. He plays almost any instrument you can think of and has a very unique tone of voice. All of that combined with his passion and love for songwriting is so powerful.
In this episode of the Songwriter Snack Time podcast we sat down to hear more about his music journey and also talk about his songwriting process.
At the end of the episode he performs “Prodigal” live. It’s such a great song puts his own spin on the story of the Prodigal child. Prodigal is the one of 11 songs on a project just released called REBEL HEART.
Find Brandon online at www.BRANDONWILLIAMSMUSIC.com and stream the new album today!
Songwriter Snack Time with Chris Garcia (Hiraeth Music)
Chris Garcia is a singer/songwriter in Houston Texas. He is the lead guitar player and front man for Houston band Hiraeth.
The band is fairly new and hasn't released anything official yet but they are hard at work practicing and writing. Chris is primarily a neo-soul bluesy guitar player. That's his main bread and butter. When that combines with the other band members rock flavor you have a very interesting combination that will draw you in. We can't wait to hear more from them.
Chris Garcia is a singer/songwriter in Houston Texas. He is the lead guitar player and front man for Houston band Hiraeth.
The band is fairly new and hasn't released anything official yet, but they are hard at work practicing and writing.
Chris is primarily a neo-soul bluesy guitar player. That's his main bread and butter. When that combines with the other band members’ rock flavor, you have a very interesting combination that will draw you in. We can't wait to hear more from them.
In this conversation Chris tells us how music really brought him through hard times in his life. It's his coping mechanism for things he goes through in life. So, most of his songs he describes as "sad" songs.
Not only did we relate to each other because we both have a love for Goldfish (that's his favorite snack!), but we also share a passion for John Mayer's music.
Here are the top 3 things I picked up from my time with Chris:
1.Making a band work takes intentionality
Chris and his band rehearse every Thursday night and have been for a while. He talks about how he wants people to know that they are serious about their sound the first time they see them live. You have to take things seriously if you want results.
2.It doesn't matter if others don't like my music; it wasn't made for you...it was made for me.
One of the powerful parts of the interview Chris says, “I make music for me…I don’t make it for you…if you like it, cool. If not, no worries. I didn’t make it for you.” I think this is a powerful concept for us who create music and really any kind of art. Who do you make it for? Whose opinions you do let control you?
3.Music helps us through life's difficulties
Chris’ father committed suicide when he was 7. It was an extremely hard time for him and his family. But music was his coping mechanism. It’s what got him through and kept him from making excuses, he says. It’s a powerful moment that really made me think about the power of music.
Sitting down with Chris was a pleasure that really encouraged me. I will continue to follow him and his music. Can't wait to see where his road leads him. This show, although I capture it on video, is primarily an audio podcast show. Search for “Songwriter Snack Time” on your podcast app of choice and subscribe to catch all the episodes.
If you would like to work with me on your music project, I’d love to hear from you. Use the discount code “Snack Time” and get 15% off our first project together.
Musicians In Minivans Eating Tacos with The Rise of the Broken
Being an artist or songwriter, wherever you are from, is hard. It's especially hard without a community of people. This community I’m talking about could be other songwriters or other people that bring skills to help you as a songwriter.
I am a producer and sound engineer. I make music, mix and master records. My goal is to work for an artist to make their music the best it can be. So this show idea came out of a desire to connect with more artist, in Houston specifically, and to learn from each other.
Being an artist or songwriter, wherever you are from, is hard. It's especially hard without a community of people. This community I’m talking about could be other songwriters or other people that bring skills to help you as a songwriter.
I am a producer and sound engineer.
I make music, mix and master records. My goal is to work for an artist to make their music the best it can be.
So this show idea came out of a desire to connect with more artist, in Houston specifically, and to learn from each other.
This week I got to eat tacos with Kevin Rodriguez. He's the lead singer and songwriter of a band called "The Rise of The Broken."
We talk about a ton of great things that will be helpful to songwriters out there. Here is a list of most important topics we discuss:
We have to put in the work
Post content that shows your personality
There is no 1,2,3 Formula for Success
Gear is important but it's not ultimate
Kevin is in the middle of recording his next album. But you can listen to THROUGH FREQUENCIES anywhere music is streaming.
Search for band name "The Rise Of The Broken."
EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS
Use the discount code “Snack Time” and get 15% off our first project together.
Songwriter Snack Time with Bonner Rhae Rhoden
Bonner Rhae Rhoden is a singer/songwriter in Houston Texas. She released 2 singles in 2019, “Trail of Dust” and “Together” and is working toward releasing more songs in 2020.
When Bonner was young her mother made her take piano lessons for six years. A little later she was inspired to pick up a guitar when she saw Taylor Swift perform. It was inspiring for her to see a woman playing and singing. She tried to learn as many Taylor Swift songs as possible….
Bonner Rhae Rhoden is a singer/songwriter in Houston Texas. She released 2 singles in 2019, “Trail of Dust” and “Together”, and is working toward releasing more songs in 2020.
When Bonner was young her mother made her take piano lessons for six years. A little later she was inspired to pick up a guitar when she saw Taylor Swift perform. It was inspiring for her to see a woman playing and singing. She tried to learn as many Taylor Swift songs as possible.
After that she couldn’t get enough, and in high school she had her first unplanned public performance that ended in a standing ovation at a school music competition.
After high school she kept writing and performing, but after a while it became something that got put on the back burner. For whatever reason she just felt like she needed a break. She went for about 5 years without singing or writing. It was a long time. But one morning she just woke up with a realization that she needed to pursue music.
Spurred on by her husband’s encouragement, she felt like the time was now to really pursue her music opportunities and see where the road would take her.
She respects the art of songwriting and even has a daily 10 minute writing practice where she picks a single word and writes ideas and different phrases and concepts that relates to the word.
Here are the top 3 things I picked up from my time with her:
1. Passion over Business
Bonner doesn’t neglect the business side of being an artist. In today’s artist environment it’s important to realize that you do have to treat yourself as a business. But business is not what started our journeys. It was the passion for music. It’s the way it makes you feel and how you can impact others. This comes through 100% with Bonner and her her music.
2. Songwriting As A Skill
It’s easy to think that some people are gifted from birth and some aren’t. The truth is, songwriting is a skill that has to be developed. Like anything else, the more time you put in the stronger you will become. Bonner always believed that she was talented, but she also recognized that it will take work to become the kind of storyteller she wants to be with her songs. This means that her songs are good now, of course, but with this kind of work ethic the songs she’ll write five years from now will be even better.
3. Keep Your Goals Simple
There is nothing wrong with big goals. But Bonner teaches us that having simple goals can give you the little inspiration to keep going. To impact one person would be worth it for Bonner. You don’t need to fill stadiums and impact the world. Some of us will (I hope you do) but what if you just inspire the next girl to pick up a guitar and write songs. Would it be worth it? Bonner says it will.
Meeting Bonner Rhae and sitting down with her to hear her story was a joy and the very reason I started this podcast show called “Songwriter Snack Time.”
As a music producer and engineer I find myself in the middle of projects that have a wide range of styles. Some think this is a negative. But I see it as an asset.
There may indeed be some types of music that I wouldn’t fit well with and some that I gravitate more toward but what moves me most is authenticity and passion. If your music is inspiring and authentic I’d love to hear from you.
Use the discount code “Snack Time” and get 15% off our first project together.
Without Good Songs Production Is Nothing: (Songwriting for Connie Sue Tuck)
Recently, I was able to work for a client who is not only a client but also a part of our family. Connie Cassell Tuck (goes by “Connie Tuck” on iTunes) is a songwriter who lives in West Virginia. Connie is an experienced writer who penned a song that later became titled “Just What A Smile Can Bring.” I love working with lyricists and songwriters to help them take the words they have written and put music and melody to them.
Recently, I was able to work for a client who is not only a client but also a part of our family. Connie Cassell Tuck (goes by “Connie Tuck” on iTunes) is a songwriter who lives in West Virginia.
HOW A SONG STANDS
Connie is an experienced writer who penned a song that later became titled “Just What A Smile Can Bring.” I love working with lyricists and songwriters to help them take the words they have written and put music and melody to them.
What I’ve learned is that a song will stand or fall on whether the song is written well and if it has a compelling message.
Production and recording is always secondary to whether or not the song is actually a good song. If it’s produced well but lacks songwriting depth it might make a small splash, but it will very easily drift off into obscurity.
When I saw the lyrics for Connie’s song, it got me excited because I felt like it was written well and was very honest and real. Below are the lyrics to the chorus.
It communicates the idea that we all don’t have to do something big in the world but we can all do little things that make a big difference. Like a smile you might casually give to someone you interact with during the day, those little moments can have a profound impact and shouldn’t be underestimated.
Chorus:
When you go to bed at night do you know that you helped someone
Do you know you did all you could do and left no one out
You don’t have to give money or worldly things
Do you realize just what a smile can bring?
ENHANCING THE SONG
When I submitted the demo to Connie, I never expected to be the featured artist on the track. I always assume and expect the songwriter to bring in a vocalist or for us to look for one together. But after hearing the demo (just acoustic and vocals), Connie said she thought I did an amazing job and knew that I had to be the one to sing the track.
I hesitated for a little bit because I actually don’t have any of my own music (my voice) out publicly. I consider music production and writing my main skills and singing not as much. I’ve typically always outsourced that.
Connie pushed me to expand my comfortability, and I am really glad she did. It forced me to be vulnerable and to step out and grow.
As we built the track, we really wanted to enhance the mood and vibe of the story the song was telling. It has these really intimate moments and then really builds into a full last chorus. It is very acoustic and piano driven and finding the right instrumentation balance was key.
One of the things that I am very proud of is the vocal production on this track. We brought in a good friend of ours, Nina Grace, to do the background vocals on the chorus and we couldn’t be more happy about it.
There are so many layers and textures, especially in the last chorus, that just soloing the vocals at the end was really moving to me. All of the parts really compliment each other, and the vocal layering really took this production to the next level.
There must be elements in songs like this that keep the song engaging and interesting to the ear. That way you don’t lose the audience along the way.
This was our first song to create for Connie, and I’m very excited about helping her, as a songwriter, to get her songs into the world in order to ‘bless people’ (her own words).
The song can be streamed on all major music channels and you can purchase the track and support Connie on iTunes.
I got to sit down with Connie when she came to visit and we talked about her song and our process. Check it out:
Josh is the Audio Producer & Recording Engineer at One Fifty Music. He is co-founder of One Fifty Media House (an audio and video production team). If you have any audio or video needs reach out to us here. Let's create!
New Single for James Garland: Songwriting Is The Key
I have a long history with Country music. Growing up in south Houston, we grew up around one of the largest rodeos in the country. Therefore, in our family van, if we weren’t listening to contemporary Christian radio we were definitely listening to country. Back then it was artist like Garth Brooks, Clint Black and Brooks and Dunn, etc.
I have a long history with Country music. Growing up in south Houston, we grew up around one of the largest rodeos in the country. Therefore, in our family van, if we weren’t listening to contemporary Christian radio we were definitely listening to country. Back then it was artist like Garth Brooks, Clint Black and Brooks and Dunn, etc.
Turn on the country radio these days, and you will hear a very different type of country. Not bad in my opinion (others disagree), but not the same as my country roots.
The new country is almost too mixed with Pop and Rock (and shall I say even rap) to be recognized as truly classic country. Therefore, when I met James and heard about his vision to put out a new sounding classic country song, I really resonated with that.
SONGWRITING IS THE KEY //
I work with a lot of different clients, and I even write songs myself. What I keep coming back to over and over again is that a good song starts with good songwriting. It’s just true.
Since this first single, James and I have been working on more of his music, and with each song I keep thinking, “wow, this guy can really write some great songs.”
In country music, I think more so than other genres, each song tells a story. From verse one to the final chorus, the story unfolds and connects all the way through. James lives and breathes that framework and every song has a consistent flow.
James’ songwriting skills really came alive when I created his chord/lyric sheet. That is something I do for most of my clients. It helps us all know how the song is laid out. The artist can take it after our project is done and it is an helpful thing to have if it is needed in the future (like submitting for a copyright). So with every chord/lyric sheet I create for James the more I’m impressed with his songwriting skills.
Chord Chart and Lyric Sheet for a new song called "Tailgate for Two"
PRODUCER // AKA THE COACH
James has a group of guys that he plays with often, including electric guitarist David Gan. David, in particular, has incredible country chops and really makes up a big part of James’ sound.
I’m a musician first before I’m a producer or engineer, so I’ve been very impressed with David’s work on this single.
James has a very particular vision for each song we work on, and I feel like my job was just to give him the options for him to say yes or no to.
James, David, and I would sit in the studio together playing with different drum beats, and James would give me approval once we started finding things he liked. Same thing when bassist Travis LeBanc came in. I gave a little direction and helped get the best performance possible. Often times as a producer, I feel like a music coach, just helping and guiding the musicians along. James knows what he likes, and I’m glad we were able to achieve that in this first song.
VOCALS // DEEP AND STRONG
James has a very deep, Johnny Cash type voice. I really tried to find the right EQ on his voice that would draw out and emphasize the unique characteristics of his voice. On this particular song, James had been singing through a harmonizer pedal live, and he decided to bring it into the studio. We added it to the intro of the song and during the chorus’ to give it a unique quality.
MUSIC // OPPORTUNITIES //
James released this song, and not soon after, he was on his way to take his single to the local Conroe radio station. He talked to the local DJ there and submitted his song in a competition.
The song later aired on local radio.
David later talked about that moment of people commenting about this new song all the while not knowing it was David and James’ band. Pretty cool moment to know the work we did was standing up in the market. It is a testimony, I believe, to the strong songwriting and staying true to James’ roots.
MORE CLASSIC - NEW COUNTRY TO COME //
Because of this first single (the first recorded song James has ever released), there has a been a lot of local buzz. Everywhere he plays, he’s hearing really great things. Because of all of the positive feedback and opportunity he has gotten from that one song, James has come back to One Fifty, and we are currently working on a full length project soon to released.
You never know what one piece of music, one song, can do for you, and I’m excited to see James grow and mature over time. It is cool to partner with him, and I hope that he has a lot of success.
The songs come from his life and are real and authentic to who he is.
You can check out James' website over at www.JamesGarlandMusic.com.
You can stream "My Next Mistake" from there or you can find it on iTunes and all other digital stores.
If you like classic country with a modern sound, you will love James Garland music.
FULL SINGLE:
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