DAY- 201-203

Fantastic couple of days!  Check out Chase Likens' lyric video for "Caught In A Storm" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BoK35zZsBYc  The song is being picked up and played by stations all over the country.  Everyday I hear about another station that's starting to play it.  Fingers crossed I hear it randomly in the car one day.  I've always fantasized about that moment...the one in which you hear your song on a major radio station for the first time while driving in the car.  Have you ever seen "That Thing You Do" with Tom Hanks!?  There's a scene in that movie that depicts exactly what I'm talking about.  Even if I'm not the artist singing the song, it's just as special for me to know a song I wrote is touching so many other people.

Brief overview of the week...

Had a KILLER demo session at Jason Garner productions yesterday.  AJ Engstrom came in to sing a song I wrote with Jon D'Agostino and Adam Searan of Demolition Music Publishing.  Jon, Adam and I wrote the song in Key West, literally while hanging on the beach, riding scooters, and getting ready in the room.  I'm not kidding about writing while riding scooters.  We seriously we're writing at every stoplight we hit. Lol!

Today, I'm heading over to hit songwriter, J Fred Knobloch's studio to record vocals on a new song we wrote.  It's a tug-on-your-heart-strings, love in jeopardy,  type song in the vein of Cassadee Pope's "Wasting All These Tears".  We're having the super-talented, Molly Hunt record the vocals.  Can't wait!

I'm heading right now.  Stay tuned for more!

DAY - 200

What an awesome week!  I capped it off with a writing session in the heart of music row at Demolition Music Publishing.  The session was with writer and president, Jon D'Agostino and for the first time, Jason Eustice.  Jason was one of the first writer's signed to Demolition.  He's an incredible singer and a fantastic songwriter.  If you ever get the chance to check him out... do it!   In no time at all, we made some great head way on a killer new song.  Good feeling about this one.  

The show at Belcourt Taps last night was amazing!  Big props to Shane Barrett Music LLC and Proverbs 12:10 Animal Rescue for organizing the event!   Scot and Suzie Sax, Thomas Tillman, Jason Eustice, Adam Searan and Jane Bach played to a packed house and shared some killer new music.  

Can't unveil too many details, but I got the word last night that a couple of my new songs are being pitched to some major artists.  Fingers crossed we get some BIG bites.   Stay tuned!

Hope you have a great Memorial Day weekend!   

Cheers!

DAY - 197-199

The past few days have been a whirlwind of meeting new people and making new music!  On Tuesday, I wrote a new song with Kirk Penney and Vanessa Bransan.  Yesterday, I wrote another one by myself and this morning I finished a killer new pop song with Molly Hunt and Cheyenne Medders.  Definitely a productive week so far!

The writer's night on Monday was a blast! (Refer to DAY - 196)  It was the first time I played Belcourt Taps.  It's really cool little venue with good drinks and great sound!   It was awesome to play along side Alex Seier, Justing Trimble and Lance Carpenter. (who all shared some amazing songs)   Not to mention, we had a sweet crowd who came out to catch the show!  Here are some pics...

Speaking of Belcourt Taps, that's exactly where I'll be tonight!   I'm not playing tonight, but I'm going to support the Proverbs 12:10 Animal Rescue Benefit.  The night will be hosted by Nashville song plugger/publisher, Shane Barrett Music and a lot of my co-writers will be performing including, Scot Sax, Adam Searan, and Jason Eustice.  Also performing tonight is Scot's wife Suzie Sax,  hit songwriter, Jane Bach as well as Thomas Tillman of SB21 Music.  Definitely going to be a great night of music and networking.

More to come.  Stay tuned!!

DAY - 196

I'm looking forward to playing tonight at Belcourt Taps in Nashville!!  The writer's round is from 9:30-11pm.  If you're in town, come hang!   I'll be sharing the round with Alex Seier, Justin Trimble and Lance Carpenter.  Promises to be a great night of music!  I'm pumped to play some new tunes and meet some new people.

I'm going to practice!

 

DAY - 195

Happy Friday!  And a beautiful Friday it is.  Just capped off a productive week with a killer writing session with the amazing, Scot Sax.   Scot and I cranked out a new tune...full song and demo track ....in a little over 2 hours.  No joke!  Scot works fast.  Great energy and good vibes makes for some really cool music.  Look forward to posting the finished product when we're done!

The Bronze Radio Return show last night was absolutely killer!  Again, if you've never seen or heard these guys you NEED to check 'em out!  www.bronzeradioreturn.com   

In other news, I was just invited to play a very cool writer's night!  New co-writer, Alex Seier (refer to yesterday) put together an evening of super-talented writer's to perform at Belcourt Taps in Nashville and he invited me to join!  The show is at 9:30pm this Monday night and it's featuring Alex Seier, Justin Trimble, Lance Carpenter and myself.   I've heard all of these writers/artists play and trust me, it's going to be an awesome night of future hits!  If you're in town, come hang!

Have a great weekend!

DAY - 193+194

Great couple days of music!  Apologies for the laundry list.  I'm in a bit of a hurry!

1) Wrapped up a brand new demo, courtesy of Jason Garner Productions.  A super-fun, rockin'-good-time of a song I wrote with Jon D'Agostino.  I can't express how pumped I am about it.  Can't wait to post for your listening pleasure and start pitching.  

2) Went to Soulshine last night in Midtown to see Chase Likens perform a showcase for William Morris Agency.  He played "Caught In A Storm" to packed house and they LOVED it!!  It was pretty surreal.  "Caught In A Storm" hits iTunes on May 21st.  Just saying ;)

3) Had a great writing session today with new co-writer, Alex Seier.  Alex is a very talented artist and songwriter.  We had a killer write today.  Looking forward to working again soon!  Check out Alex's stuff www.alexseier.com

4) Tonight, Sue and I are going to see our good friends, Bronze Radio Return rock the Exit/In.  Having had 50 placements of their music in TV and Film this past year, the boys are killing it!!  Can't wait to see the show and catch up.  If you've never seen or heard Bronze Radio Return.  Check them out!!
www.bronzeradioreturn.com

DAY - 188-192

The Key West Songwriter's Festival was awesome!  I went down with Demolition Music Publishing President/writer, Jon D'Agostino and DMP writer, Adam Searan.  Not only did we have an absolute blast, but we wrote two new future hits ;) and met a ton of talented writers and industry folks.   What an amazing little adventure.  BIG thanks to Jon and Demolition Music Publishing for making the trip incredible.  Over the next week, I'll be following up with all the new contacts and cool people I met.  I've realized that the "follow up" is just as important as the initial introduction.

Jon D'Agostino, Adam Searan, Me

View from the writer's room (aka Southernmost Hotel)

Had an awesome write today with artist/songwriter Vanessa Bransan.  We started and finished a killer bluesy, r&b, type country song in about an hour!  Looking forward to demoing this one soon.

Crazy busy week ahead.  More to come. Stay tuned!

DAY - 187

Running last minute errands and getting everything ready for Key West.  My flight leaves at 8am and gets in at 3pm.  7 hours total! So many layovers :(  

Just wanted to leave a message if you're checking in daily...  I might not be posting updates while I'm there.  However,  I'll be sure to post a big update in detail when I get back.

Stay tuned and have a great rest of the week!

DAY - 186

What a beautiful Monday.  80 degrees and almost no humidity!

(Shameless plug alert)
Despite the amazing weather, "Caught In A Storm" hits country radio stations and iTunes TODAY!! :) Call in and request, "Chase Likens' new single, Caught In A Storm"!

I'm not subbing today and I don't start teaching at School Of Rock until 4:15pm so I figured I'd take advantage of the time to do some decent networking.  I did a bit of research this morning and stumbled across a publishing company I was not aware of.  I found Zavitson Music Group (ZMG) owned and operated by president, Russ Zavitson.  The publishing company has a stable of great writers and has had recent cuts by Thompson Square, Rodney Atkins, Chris Young, Dierks Bentley and Reba McEntire.  Today, I reached out to the VP of Creative, Eric Hurt.  I was especially interested in the company when I read that ZMG is expanding into TV/Film, Pop and Rock markets.  Eric is the talented individual responsible for heading up this expansion.  Needless to say, he's someone I personally would love to connect with.

In other news:
The Lifetime Network began airing "A Daughter's Nightmare" this past weekend, featuring my song, "Must Be Saying Yes"!  (written with Kirk Penney)  

DAY - 185

Happy Friday!  

Today, I spent my free time scheduling meetings/writes for next week and the following as well as planning out the itinerary for the BMI Key West songwriter's festival.  So many amazing shows, so little time!  That many talented people playing at one time in one place is crazy!  My co-writer, Jon D'Agostino sent me the show itinerary and it's staggering.  Jon and I have a skype write later today so we'll probably solidify some plans.

 Hope you have a fun/relaxing weekend ahead of you.  More to come. Stay tuned!

DAY - 184

Today, I reached out to Celia Froehlig, VP or Publishing at Black River Entertainment.  I have been in touch with Celia since last March and I drop her a line every now and then to stay on the radar.  I sent her an email today to say hi and give an update.  Black River is both a label and publishing company.  On the label side, they have artists such as Kellie Pickler and Craig Morgan, and on the publishing side they have some great writers, including Josh Osbourne (Merry Go 'Round, Come Over, Drunk Last Night, etc.)

That's pretty much all I have time for today.  Off to teach at Pro Music Academy.  Stay tuned!