Songwriter Soup
Songwriter Soup is a frank discussion about how to make it in the music industry as a songwriter. It takes grit and a lot of patience, but also sound financial advice.
Laura Veltz is a Four-time Grammy-nominated songwriter and is teaming up with Tracy Hackney, a seasoned financial advisor for musicians, to bring you the tips and tricks of the industry. Joined by host and producer, Kevin Sokolnicki, the trio has interviews with some of the most prominent and up-and-coming songwriters and artists in the music industry.
Songwriter Soup airs every Monday where you get your podcasts.
26
Mike Elizondo: What Hospitality, Humility & Cur...
Songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist, Mike Elizondo ("In da Club" 50 Cent, "The Real Slim Shady" Eminem, "Cowboy Casanova" Carrie Underwood, The Encanto Soundtrack with Lin-Manuel Miranda) is simply synonymous with modern music.
83 min
27
(Song)writer's Block, Suffering for Your Art & ...
What’s blocking you? This week, the trio discusses this ironic possibility: it might be that you’re taking this dream job a little too seriously. We all do it! At all stages, in fact. Take breaks, change the subject, nerd out on other people’s hits, or do songwriter exercises— Laura discussed many of her favorite ways to shake her brain loose.
68 min
28
Jessie Jo Dillon: Fomo, Envy & The Joy of Writi...
On this week’s episode, Laura, Tracy & Kevin sit down with one of Laura’s best friends, critically acclaimed hit songwriter, Jessie Jo Dillon (“10,000 Hours” Dan & Shay, Justin Beiber, “Halfway To Hell” Jelly Roll, “Lies, Lies, Lies” Morgan Wallen).
69 min
29
Millions Of Ways A Perfect Song Can Die (That H...
Songwriters always blame themselves (or the song) when something stops the process of it becoming a hit. But does it have anything to do with the song? Most of the time, IT DOES NOT.
78 min
30
Allison Veltz Cruz: Sisters, Dusty Prayers & Wh...
Laura’s sister and fellow hit songwriter, Allison Veltz Cruz (“Prayed For You”Matt Stell, “Somebody Like That” Tenille Arts, “Let Your Boys Be Country” Jason Aldean) joins the trio for a candid conversation about the sisters’ unique childhood and what lead them to songwriting after their family band broke up.
69 min
31
Season Three-ever begins! Let's Talk Commercial...
Kevin, Laura and Tracy delve into the initial humility that it takes to learn the craft of commercial songwriting by unlearning how you did it before. Ouch! It takes a minute and it feels weird for a bit, but it gets better!
61 min
32
Ashley Gorley: In A League Of His Own
Ashley Gorley has a literal bajillion hits. He’s also got a thriving publishing company in Tape Room Music.
71 min
33
STEALING! How To Fix A Small Problem Before It ...
What is stealing anyway? In the songwriting world, there are a million ways it can happen.
64 min
34
Emily Weisband: Breaking Up With Your Soul Suck...
Emily Weisband (“Thy Will” Hillary Scott, “Boy With Luv” BTS, “Can’t Break Up Now” Old Dominion & Megan Moroney) is one of those people who just billows talent.
89 min
35
The Money Episode: To Spend Or Not To Spend (Mo...
So, you just scored your first hit song! Time to buy a boat, a big house and that Rolex you’ve been eyeing, right? Not so fast.
55 min
36
Joe Ragosta: You Know, Elvis Didn’t Write That
Joe Ragosta scored his first big hit (“Need A Favor” Jellyroll) just a few weeks before this episode was recorded.
70 min
37
Habits Scale Up! The Basics of Managing Money A...
Laura, Tracy and Kevin expand on the idea that even if you have a publishing deal, you're still very much the sole proprietor of your own business.
54 min
38
Kelly Archer: Canadian Nice With An Excellent B...
Kelly Archer (“Sleep Without You” Brett Young, “Wild As Her” Corey Kent, “Somebody Else Will” Justin Moore) explains what it’s like to write songs in Nashville before and after becoming a U.S. Citizen. Tricky!
92 min
39
Award Show Ashmord Shmow… Let's Talk About Exp...
This episode highlights one of the easiest ways to ruin what could otherwise be a really fun and fulfilling career choice: expectations.
63 min
40
Jordan Schmidt: From Salad Boy to Nashville Hea...
Jordan Schmidt ("wait in the truck" HARDY & Lainey Wilson, "God's Country" Blake Shelton, "What Ifs” Kane Brown) talks to Laura and Tracy about his journey from producing rock bands in Minnesota, to getting in on the ground floor of Florida Georgia Line’s publishing company, Tree Vibez Music, all the way to writing smashes for Jason Aldean, Blake Shelton and Kane Brown
60 min
41
We're Back! Let's Get Into Publishing Deals
Laura, Tracy and Kevin kick off Season 2 by diving head first where we left off in season one: publishing deals.
53 min
42
Lori McKenna: Stumbling Into Greatness, Mother ...
Lori McKenna became a songwriter almost by accident. In this episode she joins Laura and Tracy to talk about her super unusual entrance into the Nashville music scene. Lori details how Faith Hill heard and recorded several of her songs before she had a publishing deal, how she balances living in Boston and working in Nashville, and why no expectations are the best expectations.
53 min
43
You Don’t Suck, It Just Takes A Minute
Big Machine Music general manager (and Laura’s publisher) Mike Molinar joins the podcast to talk about his philosophy on songwriter-publisher relationships. Mike shares his advice to young songwriters, the nitty-gritty of publishing deals, and how understanding the structure of those deals is the vital to your success.
67 min
44
Luke Dick: There’s Nobody Like Luke Dick
Luke Dick joins Laura and Tracy for a candid and sprawling look at money, songwriting, creativity and family. Luke’s winding path has led him through academics, warehouse jobs, an artist deal, songwriting, producing, and movie-making.
58 min
45
How To Break Up With A Co-Writer
Break-ups are never easy, especially when it comes to co-writing. This week, our hosts examine the reasons it may be necessary to say goodbye to a collaborator and how to do it with care. The trio also talks about the virtues of Nashville’s even split policy, writing non-exclusionary lyrics...
62 min
46
Andy Albert: Determination, Drive & The Infamou...
This week, Laura and Tracy are joined by songwriter Andy Albert. He details his humble beginnings in Nashville living with multiple roommates in a run-down house, struggling to get a publishing deal and nearly throwing in the towel.
60 min
47
My Heroes Waited Tables Too
This in this episode, Laura, Tracy and Kevin continue down the path of the new-to-town songwriter. The trio digs into the importance of giving and receiving criticism, the beauty of an imperfect writers round performance and the many virtues of cowriting.
67 min
48
Luke Laird: Beatboxing, Songwriter Rounds & Qua...
In this episode, Laura and Tracy sit down with songwriter, producer and publisher Luke Laird. Luke talks the magic of writers’ rounds, being reluctant to ask for help, letting go of jealousy and the nitty gritty details of his early publishing deals. Laura also shares the story of a pivotal moment that lead to her being a songwriter.
59 min
49
DON'T Fake It Til You Make It
In this episode, Laura, Tracy and Kevin dive deep into the first chapter of a songwriter’s career. They discuss the no-no’s that tempt young songwriters like sliding into hit songwriters’ DMs, meeting with a publisher before they’re ready and spending money they don’t have.
71 min
50
Jimmy Robbins: Record Deals, Old Lady’s Attics ...
Jimmy Robbins’ career in music has been a winding road. From getting signed to a record deal at 17, to making jingles to afford Christmas gifts, to scoring five #1 hits in 18 months, to becoming a publisher, his path has been anything but typical.
63 min