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Neel, Phil, and Alex

Alex Whorms writes her first original Christmas song

While some artists work to master their chosen genre and others may even manage to define one, Alex Whorms crafts music that is essentially a genre unto itself. Seated at her beloved keyboard, the young vocalist and composer flows freely and flawlessly between styles and sounds, gracefully blending classic singer-songwriter pop, jazz, soul, rock, classical, folk and almost anything else that strikes her fancy — all while investing everything with honest tales and authentic emotions drawn from her own life and experiences.… Read the rest

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Neel, Phil, Dave & Meghan

Writing in a blues band with Bywater Call

Filled with incredible vocals and musicianship often compared to the Tedeschi Trucks Band, Canadian Americana/Roots band Bywater Call has made their unprecedented mark on the Canadian and international Blues/Roots scene with their brand-new album, “Remain”. From explosive television performances to radio play across the country, their distinctive sound blending Rock, Americana, and Soul is highlighted by the explosive vocal talent of lead singer, Meghan Parnell, with a voice coined as one of the “best in Roots and Blues today” by European press, often compared to Susan Tedeschi.… Read the rest

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Neel, Phil, and Angela

Angela Saini on developing songs past their initial ideas

Indian-Austrian Canadian country folk-pop artist Angela Saini is all about second chances and empowering others. She uplifts and inspires audiences with sing-alongs and storytelling about courage and finding joy in surprising places. BBC Radio has called the positive and upbeat songstress “massively talented”.Read the rest

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Neel, Phil, and Mike

Songwriting Challenge 2022: The Hosts Revisit their Songs

We welcomed the return of our ex-co-host Michael Proudfoot, joining us to review our updated answers to the 2022 Songwriting Challenge.

We talked about:

  • Our new Songwriting Challenge webpage, featuring the original versions of our songs, plus listener song episodes
  • The Song Talk Meetup
  • Mashing up various styles and instruments
  • Reaching out to other songwriters to help make sure every lyric lands with the most impact (Neel would like to thank Sarah Peterson for her review of his lyrics and her great suggestions!)

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Phil and Neel

Songwriting Challenge 2022: Listener Songs Volume 2

On this special episode, we share the second batch (of three) of listener answers to our 2022 songwriting challenge to write a song with the title Why Do You Cry?

We talked about:

Download the lyrics for the songs:

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Neel, Mike, Phil, and Gilbert

Emotional songwriting with Gilbert Neal

This week, Gilbert Neal joined us again to talk about his latest album, and how he had to dig deep into himself to write the songs. We feature and talk about his new single Vapor Girl.

Now, in the wake of a pandemic that waxes and wanes but never quite vacates, Neal delivers the provocative and bitingly personal I’ll See You When I See You, an obliquely passionate salvo that feels alien yet warmly familiar.… Read the rest

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