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.
1
REPLAY: 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.
68 min
2
Episode 26: What Lifelong Hospitality, Humility...
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
3
Episode 25: (Song)writer's Block, Suffering for...
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
4
Episode 24: Fomo, Envy & Protecting The Daily J...
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
5
Episode 23: Millions Of Ways A Perfect Song Can...
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
6
Episode 22: Sisters, Dusty Prayers & Why Nashvi...
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
7
Episode 21: Season Three-ever begins! Let's Tal...
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
8
Episode 20: A League Of His Own: An Interview w...
Ashley Gorley has a literal bajillion hits. He’s also got a thriving publishing company in Tape Room Music.
71 min
9
Episode 19: STEALING! How To Fix A Small Proble...
What is stealing anyway? In the songwriting world, there are a million ways it can happen.
64 min
10
Episode 18: Breaking Up With Your Soul Sucking ...
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
11
Episode 17: The Money Episode: To Spend Or Not ...
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
12
Episode 16: You Know Elvis Didn't Write That: A...
Joe Ragosta scored his first big hit (“Need A Favor” Jellyroll) just a few weeks before this episode was recorded.
70 min
13
Episode 15: Habits Scale Up! The Basics of Mana...
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
14
Episode 14: Canadian Nice With An Excellent Blu...
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
15
Episode 13: Award Show Ashmord Shmow… Let's Tal...
This episode highlights one of the easiest ways to ruin what could otherwise be a really fun and fulfilling career choice: expectations.
63 min
16
Episode 12: From Salad Boy to Nashville Heavy H...
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
17
Episode 11: We're Back! Let's Get Into Publishi...
Laura, Tracy and Kevin kick off Season 2 by diving head first where we left off in season one: publishing deals.
53 min
18
Episode 10: We Can Write Another Song Tomorrow:...
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
19
Episode 9: 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
20
Episode 8: You Can’t Write Your Haircuts Off: A...
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
21
Episode 7: 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
22
Episode 6: Don’t Order The Seafood Tower: An In...
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
23
Episode 5: 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
24
Episode 4: I Could Dunk In High School: An Inte...
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
25
Episode 3: 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