Small Time Songwriter: Recent Episodes
Angel Corsi
You've heard all the music biz pods, and you know how hard it is to find your way when you're starting up and general advice is just too...well, general. That's why I decided to start a podcast about being a solo songwriter on a micro scale. I share my experience as I attempt to hammer out a happy existence through my songwriting. I'll discuss music bi and songwriting but also how to work through the micro scale! Things like evolving from open mic to headliner, and updates on my gigs, using social media or just staying inspired! It's the pod for the small timers on the way to the big time!
This episode I talk to my pal Ezekiel Rae a queer singer songwriter that helps to bridge the gap between an "artist identity" and personal self. Also, some gems about acceptance of yourself and how that can affect your approach to your music and your connection's with your fans no matter where you are in your trajectory.
Check out this interview with songwriter Christopher Morse who shares his story and philosophy of being kind to everyone because you never know who they might be in this business.
This episode I talk to my fellow folk singer Laura Marie about speaking up for yourself, telling truth in your music and a touch on the vast and diverse experiences of POC folk artists.
In this month's bonus episode, we revisit and follow up with Deborah Solo! She was an amazing guest and also spoke so highly about her bandmates, I didn't think to ask her about her own philosophy and herself as a small time songwriter. We dive deep and she shares candidly and we have a good laugh about songwriters being the best liars.
This month we chat with longtime songwriter, performer and visual artist Chris Taylor! Find Chris at christaylorworld.com
Deborah Solo is a singer songwriter from Denver who is a mother, a music teacher at the acclaimed Swallow Hill music school, writer and performing songwriter with her band Deborah Solo Trio. They released some singles, check them out, but in part 1 of this two parter we talk mostly life balance and gush over her bandmates and how it's vital as a small time songwriter to be true to yourself and your space and time.
Critique, being honest with yourself, write what scares you and songwriting competitions, who's it for, and who isn't it for? These are the questions answered to the best of Chris Moyse from Nahsville and I's ability. You're going to want to check this episode out.
Theme: Tina Van - www.tinavanmusic.com
Guest: Chris Moyse - https://www.chrismoysemusic.com/
Heyhey! Angel Corsi here to share an update on my own personal journey as a small time songwriter, it's mostly a ramble and always riding solo for bonus episodes.
This month's interview is with a young rising performing songwriter, frontperson and open mic host Sarah Garlick. She is a 20 something singer songwriter and performing artist that is in the midst of doing her part for her community in Colorado Springs with a lot community events including a stellar open mic at Ultra Flat Black Gallery. She also has a kick ass band and has a lot of solid advice for keeping the spirits high and motivation alive while dealing with mental health and obstacles.
This month, I sat to chat with songslinger and touring artist Jackson Emmer. He brought the kindness, I brought the goofy grumpy cat vibes. Check out the laughs, the stories and songwriting retreats!
A New Year and new format! Interviews every month and solo pod bonus episodes! Let's start with my pal Shawnee Kilgore from Austin,TX!
This week I talk to you about how I am attempting to find my "people" aka my songwriter community! Plus, I chat about hooking up with my local art center to take my first step in community building in my new town with songwriting workshops. Finally, I talk about my choice to jump into twitching? Twitchster? Twitcher? I joined TWITCH is what I'm saying for my Sunday Song Club.
Pontificating with no plan is what I do, but is who I am as an artist? I ask the question that we all ask after completing a project like an album or big show event or content hungry social media things...now what? I ponder my options, the perspective I have cultivated over the years being in front of the mic and behind the stage. It ends up with some fun ideas and announcements of a new collab I am having with the local non profit art organization!
Music theme by: Tina Van follow here @tinavanmusic on socials and tinavanmusic.com
This week I got updates on the new day for Small Time Songwriter + new format! I also chat about another songwriting meetup, my new album coming out in December and how I am going to approach the philosophy of being a songwriter in service and what that means to me, and what that might mean to you! Theme song is by Tina Van and you can find her on instagram: @tinavanmusic
Antonio Lopez is a singer songwriter from Longmont,Colorado. The coffee shop meetup, was bumping, so prepare your ears! We talk about his experience as a songwriter and performer, he shares what drives him, we trauma bond a tiny bit as POC members of a music culture, we talk allies and the new culture + the joys of choosing the listening room and house gigs and remembering to claim your own space in this folk music scene and never forget the joy and fun of being able to create music and art! It's a good one!
This week share a little update or two, expand on the process of being real with yourself and the journey from the songwriting pad to the stage + my favorite thing, I HEAR FROM YOU! Small timers share their big wins, their worries and their questions! I do my best as always to answer them and let you know you are not alone on this small time mail bag edition!
This week, I chat poetic with philophical about the different aspects of a songwriting community. Things I love about songwriter community, songwriter meetups and songwriting groups! Also, I share a few odd things I have run into in my life being a POC member of the folk scene. Just a touch, we don't get too heavy, it's mostly a fun and frantic ramble about some new and old experiences and my outlook on why it is so important to build an internal small time songwriter ecosystem. Enjoy!
Theme song by: Tina Van - follow on Instagram: @tinavanmusic
Oh, today is a doozy, I chat about the Mad Max desert that is trying to be a songwriter/artist on a platforms designed to crush art for commerce. Plus, I roast a followers guru for a bit...I speak for all of us small time songwriters and our frustrations when I say...Let's gooooo!
We covered so much in this hour, I skipped all the fodder and we jumped right in! Check out this interview with folk singer Heather Miller or as she has coined her genre "Coffee Shop Confessional". We talk everything from dealing with sexism on the micro scale, songwriting classes, the conference life in review, gigs, supporting other songwriters and mental health. It's a lot of ground so check it out! This week's theme music is by Tina Van @tinavanmusic on Instagram!
Solo pod! This week, I give you a life update juggling my songwriter life goals and my own personal goals. Remember that class called "arts & humanity" it's a little bit of an "my art & my humanity"-centric episode. I was in a bit of a fussy space and usually, when I am feeling complainy, the best thing for me, is to vent and complain a bit. So be my bartender and let me tell you some stuff that sticks in my craw. LOL I am just saying what a lot of you are thinking I am sure of it! PLUS New theme song fun! I am asking my friends to write jingles and songs in motif with the Small Time Songwriter life. This week's theme song is by one of my besties Tina Van! She is a pop songwriter and producer and for fun, she wrote a jingle that is full of funk and fun. Check out her regular tunes on tinavanmusic.com or find her on Instagram @tinavanmusic
This week is an interview with my friend Tara Craig, a singer songwriter from Washington, that currently lives on a small island, self produces her music and is releasing a new album in 2023! We talk about what drives her, why she creates art, winery gigs and the self release and self production headspace!
Small Time Songwriter is back in your life! I am coming at ya' with some real talk about my fear and self doubt about my upcoming solo effort. That's right, I am self releasing some music and it is as terrifying and brutal as you might think. My mind is a whirlwind, but in the end, it's about marching forward. As the boxer saying goes "it doesn't matter how many times you get hit, it's about moving forward." and I channel my inner Muhammad Ali to overcome my fears and self worth issues. Plus! A quick update on where the podcast is going in the future!
GEAR SPECIAL CONTINUES! We wrap up our special two part series for Small Time Songwriter Survival Kit by talking about the considerations and gear recs for Youtubing, Live Audio, Songwriting, Album Recording and Livestreaming! Plus, we even talk the easy tricks to keep the trips to the car and the stage to a minimum.
GEAR SPECIAL! That's right small timers, I am focusing on gear, letting you know what I use and what you should use for your Small Time Songwriter Surival Kit. We cover live performances, open mics, livestreaming, youtubing, songwriting, recording and more in this two part run down of things every small timer needs to have. We are talking desert island stuff, it goes into the weeds, so get ready, bring a notepad and write down the recommendations!
Well this week is a time crunch. I am finally in the process of moving to Colorado so amidst the chaos is a new pod on arguably the reason we are small timers in the first place. What is our message? What is the message? and what do we want to share with the world as messengers?
All right small timers, it comes to know surprise to you, that we are talking about the big news cycle item for artists and creators in the Gen X and Millennial group: Instagram! They have decided to fully commit to the teens and zoomers and are updating their app to be TikTok adjacent. I talk about the fears, the stress, the ridiculousness of the situation and being a little upset at the social media industry as a whole telling me that I am too old to be an artist with a social media presence. Ouch. That one hurt as much as my sciatica. I also, zero in on the real stuff, as in, real world actions and moments I can focus on during this confusing time, because if you have been watching the news...this is obviously the most important thing to ever happen in the history of things happening. heavy on the sarcasm
I say LIKE a lot this week. Like...a lot. And I do it because I am a bit nervous to be vulnerable, so if you can stand the amount of likes, and listen to what I'm saying here, it will be a good week to take stock of the gratitude you can find, and finish the damn song. I am keepin' it real with you small timers, I am having a tough week and it's not looking any easier and I am doing what I can to keep myself from falling down the pit of depression. Sorry it's not music business, but it's the real stuff.
On this very special episode of Small Time Songwriter, I do a zoom chat with my pal William Wallace. He talks about revving up his self promotion game, the way he got into the songwriter life, a bit about his process with co-writes and songwriting + a little bit about how sobriety has changed his outlook on the small time journey. Will also chats a bit about competing with dog for views and a few special guest whining from my dog Bill. Enjoy!
This week, I hear from you! It's like a small timer wellness check, listen to my thoughts on musings from artists doing their best to live their happy existence writing songs and performing them for audiences. We touch on subjects like "self-confidence", breaking writer's block, deciding if our worst song is our best song and general anxiety about "letting go" of our songs to be judged by the public.
This week we are deep diving in Social Media and how to use it in our Music Business. Small Timers, grab your notebook as I try to nervously to navigate the landscape and attempt to reframe my perspective with a new angle I can live with & a little philosophy. I hope hearing about my approach can work for you too! I even drop 5 ways to not lose your soul on social media for good measure.
This week it's all about the awkward truths about being an artist and investing your cash flow. I talk about my biggest decision, that is also the silliest mental wrestling match regarding "Should I buy merch for myself?". It's my view on what to do with my assets and I find myself reevaluating what's important to me and how much my art is worth.
This week, I am talking about my personal struggle with prioritizing where to put my time, energy and money when it comes to the small time songwriter life. I share thoughts on how things worked for booking gigs back when I was active and whether that still applies today. Finally, I make my case for creating a personal website in the age of algorithms and social media, share my social media followers update & give you a free title to your next song...maybe mine too.
www.angelcorsi.com
Instagram: @corsisongs
This week, I chat about who I am, where I am coming from and taking on the mantle of the Small Time Songwriter! I talk about what got me here, why I started this pod and what I am hoping to get out of the whole damn thing that I hope will help you too!