• "The House of Belonging" by Choral Arts Initiative (Jeffrey Derus)
    May 22 2024

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    Today's episode I meet with Jeffrey Derus, our first featured choral composer! I think you'll find there is a lot in common with songwriting and composing choral works.

    This featured song is performed by Choral Arts Initiative, a small ensemble choir that I sing in that exclusively performs works by living composers. We recently released a #1 Classical Billboard charting album called "The Tapestry of Becoming," and this song "The House of Belonging" is the opener.

    This episode, Jeff talks about his creative process, collaborating with poets including David Whyte, the poet for this piece, navigating commissions, publishing, self-education, marketing strategies, and the significance of quality recordings in the contemporary music industry.

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    56 mins
  • "There's Nothing Left to Me" by Cogito
    May 8 2024

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    Meet Cogito!

    I met Cogito when she played as the featured artist for Lazy River Presents in LA. This song struck me as something special, and I think you'll agree!

    This episode we talk about the importance of recording the world around us as a songwriter, and how to connect our conscious and subconscious mind to make deep rooted art.

    Listen to "There's Nothing Left to Me":
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    45 mins
  • "Fade Away" by Kat Sophia
    Apr 24 2024

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    Today's episode features Kat Sophia! Kat Sophia is an Orange County / LA based artist. We talk about her journey in overcoming her "people pleaser" mentality and cultural blocks to pursuing a career as an artist.

    00:00 Introduction to the Song Saloon
    00:34 Kat Sophia's Musical Journey
    01:49 The Story Behind 'Fade Away'
    10:10 Songwriting Process and Inspiration
    16:12 Overcoming Personal and Cultural Barriers in Music
    20:09 Community and Affirmation
    28:10 Exploring Self-Indulgence and Connection Through Art
    33:44 Kat Sophia's Production Experience and Future Plans
    42:47 Closing Thoughts and Goodbyes

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    47 mins
  • "The Afterlife" by Mike McClellan
    Apr 10 2024

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    This episode of the Song Saloon features Mike McClellan, a Burbank-based songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist. McClellan shares insights into his approach to songwriting as a music producer, and why he writes while working so heavily in production. He discusses the impact of working on his song 'The Afterlife,' a piece inspired by the pandemic, highlighting the new life it took on post pandemic with its abstract and universal themes. Mike and Jordan exchange thoughts on the lyricism, melody, and the process of song creation, including working with unusual time signatures. We also chat about the shortcomings of streaming platforms, detailing Mike's experience with his music being removed from Spotify due to bot-generated streams and the lack of support from distribution and streaming companies. They conclude with a discussion on the importance of building genuine connections with an audience beyond streaming numbers. This episode offers a look into the complexities of modern songwriting, production, and navigating the digital music landscape.


    00:00 Welcome to the Song Saloon: Introducing Mike McClellan

    00:27 Getting to Know Mike: the Masterful Multifaceted Musician

    01:18 Balancing Songwriting and Production

    04:28 Exploring the Abstract in Songwriting

    05:51 Lyrics in 'The Afterlife'

    07:44 Live Performance

    11:04 Song Structure

    19:40 Exploring Musical Influences and Time Signatures

    20:35 "Comfortable" Writing Music

    21:42 The Maya Principle: Balancing Novelty and Comfort

    32:12 Building Your Fanbase

    37:58 Final Thoughts and Future Projects

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    42 mins
  • "Twin Flame" by Georgia Parker
    Mar 27 2024

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    This episode is with incredible Kent, England raised Los Angeles based artist named Georgia Parker on her song "Twin Flame." "Twin Flame" is a single off her upcoming album this year!

    Georgia's bio:
    Los Angeles based songwriter and storyteller from Kent, England, Georgia Parker places an emphasis on powerful vocal performances and poignant lyricism to draw out an emotive response from her listener. She has been releasing music and performing around the US since moving to the States at 18. Her unique tone and emotive delivery have proved to set her apart as an artist, akin to legends such as Joni Mitchell and Alanis Morrisette. She is currently finishing up an album to be released next year.

    This is one of my favorite live performances to ever grace the podcast, you don't want to miss it!

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    35 mins
  • "Glad You Hate Me" by Casey Conroy
    Mar 13 2024

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    In this episode of the Song Saloon, we explore the songwriting process and inspirations with indie pop singer-songwriter Casey Conroy, originally from Orlando, Florida. Casey discusses her journey in the music industry, her approach to songwriting, and the story behind her song 'Glad You Hate Me.' We talk about Casey's collaborative relationship with her partner and producer Willy, the importance of being authentic in the creative process, and staying emotionally connected to music through writing & recording.

    Listen to "Glad You Hate Me"

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    35 mins
  • "Rest of My Life (ROML)" by Jacob Khalil
    Feb 28 2024

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    Inside Story: The Making of 'Rest of My Life' by Jacob Khalil

    New York based artist Jacob Khalil discusses his song, 'Rest of My Life', explaining that it was created with the intent of engaging audiences in a sing-along during live performances, much like The Beatles' 'Hey Jude'. He also shares insights into the song's development and production, which included collaboration with a Los Angeles-based producer, Jacob Sigmund. Jacob Khalil discusses the extensive touring plans he has coming up and his emphasis on building a contactable fan base through an ever changing social media climate.

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    00:00 Introduction and Welcome
    00:28 Discussing Previous Podcast and Live Performance
    01:22 Introduction to 'Rest of My Life'
    01:29 The Inspiration and Creation of 'Rest of My Life'
    02:33 Engaging the Audience and the Power of Sing-along
    05:07 The Magic of Timeless Songs
    07:31 Live Performance of 'Rest of My Life'
    11:46 Post-Performance Discussion and Reflection
    13:21 The Production Process of 'Rest of My Life'
    16:47 The Importance of Loving Your Work
    18:28 The Value of Personal Connection and Email Lists
    20:02 Closing Remarks and New York Vibes
    20:29 New Year's Eve Experience in Times Square
    21:19 The Energy of Crowds and Shared Experiences
    21:42 New Year's Gigs
    21:55 Songwriting Process and Inspiration
    23:23 The Evolution of a Song's Hook
    24:25 The Struggle of Choosing the Right Melody
    28:06 The Importance of Authenticity in Songwriting
    29:05 The Journey to Finding One's Unique Sound
    33:26 The Quest for Authenticity in Music
    33:34 Upcoming Performances and Projects
    35:51 Closing Remarks and Goodbyes

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    40 mins
  • "Monsters Aren't Scary" by Fresh Hot Waffles
    Feb 9 2024

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    Meet Fresh Hot Waffles, the witchiest folk duo in the west! Fresh Hot Waffles consists of LA based artists Maddi Fraser and Ryan Spitzel.

    In this episode, the duo dives into their songwriting process and talk about how to stay inspired as a songwriter, and where they find inspiration. The discussion ranges from the challenges of writing upbeat songs, the influence of improv comedy and emotional experiences in lyric writing, and how to put the witchy in witchy folk!

    'Monsters Aren't Scary' is about choosing life and love over our shortcomings. Be on the lookout for their new EP this year!!

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    00:00 Introduction
    00:35 Meet the Band: Fresh Hot Waffles
    01:31 Discussing the Song 'Monsters Aren't Scary'
    03:44 Songwriting Process and Evolution
    04:58 Live Performance: Monsters Aren't Scary
    07:39 Post-Performance Discussion and Musical Influences
    10:21 Balancing Projects and Band Commitments
    12:55 The Band's Formation and Songwriting Collaboration
    19:40 Future Plans and Touring Aspirations
    25:34 Navigating Creative Blocks and Performance Anxiety
    28:33 Song Inspiration and Writing Techniques
    29:36 The Power of Community in Music
    29:56 WRITING LYRICS
    30:34 The Influence of Joni Mitchell
    31:56 The Art of Songwriting
    33:40 The Emotional Journey of a Songwriter
    34:00 The Challenge of Writing Upbeat Songs
    37:58 Emotions in Songwriting
    42:15 The Story Behind 'Monsters Aren't Scary'
    46:21 The Artwork of 'Monsters Aren't Scary'

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    59 mins