Journey of a Song

"Tired of running for the heights and always wasting what is mine." How long should we "put in our dues"? How much sacrifice is good sacrifice, and when does self-sacrifice become toxic? In this episode, through the lens of singer-songwriter Carly Carroll's beautiful debut single, "Until It Goes Away," Emmeline and Carly tackle these questions and more. Carly (an alumna of Journey of an Artist) talks about taking risks in her career and how her new song served as internal motivation to make some hard choices. She also talks about the beauty of alone time, the need for space in one's creative life, and the opportunity to let a song really, truly develop organically.Emmeline and Carly also chat about being voice teachers and their teaching journeys.To learn more about Carly, or to follow her musical journey, visit her official website or follow her on Instagram. You can also stream her new single on Spotify and Apple Music.For behind-the-scenes info and more about Journey of a Song, follow @EmmelineMusic on social media or visit the Journey of Series official webpage. You can hear songs from previous episodes through the Journey of a Song Official Spotify Playlist.

"Take his wounds and mend his heart so he can learn to trust again." How can we use music to make sense of the things in the world that harm us or others? How can we use music to bring necessary, compassionate awareness to social problems?Can we do all of this with our music and still make music fun?In this episode, Emmeline sits down with Mason Adams of Mason Adams Project to answer these questions and more. They talk about arts education, the things they've seen as teachers, why music is such an uplifting processing tool, and how songs are great outlets! They also discuss the beauty of live gigs and why every Mason Adams Project show is completely and totally unique!To learn more about Mason Adams Project, or to follow their musical journey, visit their official website or follow the band on Instagram.For behind-the-scenes info and more about Journey of a Song, follow @EmmelineMusic on social media or visit the Journey of Series official webpage. You can hear songs from previous episodes through the Journey of a Song Official Spotify Playlist.

"This year, I'll pay attention to the weather, and feel the wind as it moves through a feather." Getting older is a real, relatable feeling--but how do we make peace with it? How do we learn to let ourselves off the hook, to worry less and care more, to be less restrictive and more exploratory? As we grow up, how do we keep that feeling of awe and discovery that we had as kids?In "Through A Feather," Hylan tackles these questions and more from the warm embrace of the ocean in Panama. In this episode, Emmeline and Hylan talk about how feeling small can be the best inspiration. They also talk about revisiting the places we loved as kids, about the importance of therapy for songwriters, and how music can be a place for us to ask the most pressing questions AND make peace with uncertainty. They also talk about their mutual love for the beach--and that super weird adult sensation of turning into your parents.To learn more about Hylan, or to follow his musical journey, find him on Instagram or listen to his music on Spotify. For behind-the-scenes info and more about Journey of a Song, follow @EmmelineMusic on social media or visit the Journey of Series official webpage. You can hear songs from previous episodes through the Journey of a Song Official Spotify Playlist.

"But I can't even ask if you think about me as much as I think about you." How can you process present absence? How do you handle the ambiguous end of a friendship? Is navigating the loss of someone you love a one-song or multiple-song journey? In her new song, "Think About You," the young, independent, country-folk artist Haven Victoria explores these themes and more!In this episode, Emmeline sits down with Haven for a candid, honest discussion about how we, as songwriters, can and often do use music as catharsis. Haven shares the difficult experience that inspired "Think About You"--and a few other songs on her forthcoming project!--and talks about the misconception that all "breakup" songs are about romance. Emmeline and Haven also talk about the cool, collaborative discoveries that can happen in the studio, the importance of leaning on other musicians to empower you and enhance your music, and the beauty of being able to--over time and with careful attention to detail--turn emotions into ear-worms. They also talk about following your own authentic journey as a songwriter--even if that means that your genre evolves!To learn more about Haven Victoria, or to follow her musical journey, find her on Instagram or visit her official website. For behind-the-scenes info and more about Journey of a Song, follow @EmmelineMusic on social media or visit the Journey of Series official webpage. You can hear songs from previous episodes through the Journey of a Song Official Spotify Playlist.

"Me pregunto dónde fue que yo fui mal?"Which serves a song better: spontaneity or meticulous planning? Straightforward or poetic lyrics? Layers of instrumentation or a sure and steady guitar?In this episode, Emmeline sits down with independent Latin pop artist Alex O'aiza to tackle these questions and more through the lens of his newest single, "YNMA." Alex shares his collaborative process--and brings his guitarist and dear friend Alex Whitcomb along for the ride! They also talk about prioritizing creative collaboration, cowriting with and without producers, approaching songwriting sessions in different ways, allowing yourself to be exploratory in composition and production, and trusting that--if you show up!--the magic will happen.For more information about Alex O'aiza, or to follow his musical journey, find him on Instagram and other social media sites as @alex_oaiza. For behind-the-scenes info and more about Journey of a Song, follow @EmmelineMusic on social media or visit the Journey of Series official webpage. You can hear songs from previous episodes through the Journey of a Song Official Spotify Playlist.

"California dreaming of my Texas hill country." How far should we go to chase a dream? Do we really need to run away to find ourselves? Where do we belong, and how can we truly find home?Independent, country-tinged singer-songwriter Paige Hill tackles these questions and more in her beautiful song, "Go West."In this episode, Emmeline sits down with independent, country-tinged, singer-songwriter Paige Hill to talk about "Go West" and Paige's new album, People & Places. They chat about navigating social expectations, the pressure we put on ourselves as women, the difficulty of letting go of (the illusion of) control, and how music allows us to find our truest feelings and our truest selves. Paige and Emmeline also discover a mutual love for the Enneagram and the divas of the 90s! (We’re looking at you, #WhitneyHouston and #CelineDion!) To learn more about Paige Hill, or to follow her musical journey, visit her official website or follow her on Instagram.For behind-the-scenes info and more about Journey of a Song, follow @EmmelineMusic on social media or visit the Journey of Series official webpage. You can hear songs from previous episodes through the Journey of a Song Official Spotify Playlist.

"If I got money every time you're on my mind, I swear I'd have more money than a single dime."Do lyrics need to rhyme? Can a song be both funny and profound? Is there a right way to build a composition?In this episode, Emmeline sits down with urban boy band, The Kid Brothers (TKB), to tackle these questions and more through the lens of their brand new single, "Divine." Comprised of Eddie, Shawn, and Sasha, TKB has been releasing fun, dance-able jams since 2021--but the release of "Divine" marks the beginning of a new chapter for the band. They talk about learning instruments from YouTube videos, using social media to connect with fans, and taking performance far more seriously than they take themselves. They also share some of the challenges of writing songs as a collaborative unit, and how they've learned to empower each other and play to each member's strengths. Plus, hear how one groovy bass line can be the beginning of the next summer hit--and why Sabrina Carpenter might be the inspiration behind "Divine."To learn more about The Kid Brothers, or to follow their musical journey, follow the band on Instagram or check out their official website.For behind-the-scenes info and more about Journey of a Song, follow @EmmelineMusic on social media or visit the Journey of Series official webpage. You can hear songs from previous episodes through the Journey of a Song Official Spotify Playlist.

"Thick skin, now healed." Midway through this episode of Journey of a Song, Cari Smith of Late to the Station leaned back on her stool and said, "The price I was paying internally [not to make music] became too high. I am here for a reason, and if I think this is it, to not do it would be an absolute waste."Emmeline invites you to scribble that down on a Post-It and tape it to your bathroom mirror to remind yourself that the only life worth living is one about which you're deeply passionate--which is, coincidentally, the root of her conversation with Cari and Paul Smith from the Americana group, Late to the Station.Here, Cari and Paul deconstruct their groovy jam, "Main Street Strut," as an ode to the genre and to the vocal swagger of legends like Chrissie Hynde. They also talk about their decision to make music professionally as fully grown adults, and all of the gifts music has brought into their lives--from the ability to be open to magic to the chance to fall in love.To learn more about Late to the Station, or to follow their musical journey, visit their official website and follow them on Instagram.For behind-the-scenes info and more about Journey of a Song, follow @EmmelineMusic on social media or visit the Journey of Series official webpage. You can hear songs from previous episodes through the Journey of a Song Official Spotify Playlist.

"I love how it feels to be wild." Can you really package a deep, meaningful message about the perils of conforming to social convention in a slick, spooky Halloween jam? Genre-bending, independent, Denton-based musical artist Brian Lambert says yes.Back for his second appearance on Journey of a Song, Brian chats with Emmeline about how an exploration of major chords turned into a well-crafted werewolf song with a message about creative empowerment. He also shares some of the lessons from his previous project--in which he wrote and produced one song each week for an entire year--and some of the aspects of the music business with which he's not only come to terms, but to which he's leaned in over the course of the past few months. They also talk about how songwriting inspiration can come from nerdy music theory ideas, and how the different connotations of the term "emotional manipulator" can apply to musicians.To learn more about Brian Lambert, or to follow his musical journey, visit his official website. You can also see the official music video for "Wild" here.For behind-the-scenes info and more about Journey of a Song, follow @EmmelineMusic on social media or visit the Journey of Series official webpage. You can hear songs from previous episodes through the Journey of a Song Official Spotify Playlist.

"Eyes of burgundy..." This line was in Dorian Marsh's head from the inception of his collaboration with guitarist Ian Ross Cohen. He liked something about the turn of phrase, something about the concept of elusive, alluring eyes that forced him to proclaim, "I love her so." Dorian didn't choose to sleep on the idea, though; he leaned into the unknown and went with it.In this episode, Emmeline sits down with singer-songwriter Dorian Marsh and guitarist Ian Ross Cohen to talk about the collaborative process, the joy of finding like-minded creatives on the internet, and the importance of taking the leap--even when we're scared! Dorian shares the story of how he and Ian connected, and Ian talks about how his confidence in Dorian ultimately helped Dorian to have confidence in himself. The two see "My Abilene Woman" as a stellar example of honesty, vulnerability, and creativity--not without fear, but with fear in the back seat, where it belongs.They also talk about finding inspiration in all kinds of art, and why genre can be difficult to pin down.For more information about Dorian Marsh, or to follow his musical journey, find him on Spotify and Instagram. For more information about Ian Ross Cohen, or to follow his musical journey, find him on Spotify or on Instagram. You can listen to their collaborative record, Meeting Place, here.For behind-the-scenes info and more about Journey of a Song, follow @EmmelineMusic on social media or visit the Journey of Series official webpage. You can hear songs from previous episodes through the Journey of a Song Official Spotify Playlist.

"If all I have is you, I'd be the richest girl in the room..." Sometimes, a song starts as a single idea with a slew of metaphors, laid neatly into a note on an iPhone. You don't need more ideas, or better words; you just need a friend to help you pare it down.For Americana artist Sarah Johnson, that's how her latest single--a love song, just in time for Valentine's Day--began. In this episode, Emmeline sits down with Sarah  to chat about her brand new song, "Lovinaires®." They talk about the different kinds of love that the song represents to Sarah, from love of audience and love of music to the more complicated love of life as a creative professional. Sarah shares the triumphs and struggles that she's faced in her intentional choice to pursue visual art and music and talks about the daily journey of making peace with those decisions. The ladies also talk about the terrifying joy of cowriting a song, the beauty in good collaborators, and the importance of knowing your strengths and weaknesses as an artist!To learn more about Sarah Johnson, or to follow her musical journey, visit her official website or follow her on Instagram. For behind-the-scenes info and more about Journey of a Song, follow @EmmelineMusic on social media or visit the Journey of Series official webpage. You can hear songs from previous episodes through the Journey of a Song Official Spotify Playlist.

"Is there any love after death?"  How can we move through grief? How can we honor our lost loved ones without allowing ourselves to be consumed by the past? How can we hold space for the memory of those we've lost and allow ourselves to live full, joyful, and meaningful lives?For indie rock artist Chloe Clemente, the struggle to answer these questions manifested in the powerful "Love Letters to the Dead." In this episode, Emmeline sits down with Chloe and her guitarist Joseph Lacy to talk about how Chloe turned a few chords and the tendency to dwell into a song about leaving in the past what is no longer meant for us. Chloe shares the deeply personal story behind her song, her ongoing mental health journey, and the people and affirmations that allow her to carry the light of her loved ones forward in a positive and meaningful way. We also get to meet Chloe's dog, Tex, and she gives a shout-out to Journey of a Song alum, Brianna Ruelas.To learn more about Chloe Clemente, or to follow her musical journey, visit her official website, or follow her on Instagram.For behind-the-scenes info and more about Journey of a Song, follow @EmmelineMusic on social media or visit the Journey of Series official webpage. You can hear songs from previous episodes through the Journey of a Song Official Spotify Playlist.

"We're running fast on streets with cracks in 'em." How do you grow older gracefully? Can you preserve a bit of childhood as adulthood looms? Can you ever run with childlike abandon as an adult? Does progress always come at a cost?In "Ms. Clavel," the thoughtful waltz from her new album, Wake, singer-songwriter Katherine Paterson poses these questions and more through the lens of a friendly childhood figure. Using literary allusions to Madeline, a scalar piano line that skips like water over stones, and the repetition of a familiar line--"That's all there is; there isn't anymore"--Katherine evokes the passing of time with a melodic simplicity that would make Joni Mitchell proud.In this episode, Emmeline and Katherine chat about growing older, holding space for sadness, how one marks the passing of time, and the challenge of painting portraits of the people we become when we're not looking (to borrow a phrase from Elaine Castillo). They also talk about their mutual love for Sondheim and the healing power of music. For more information about Katherine Paterson, or to follow her musical journey, visit her official website. You can also pre-save Wake on Spotify. For behind-the-scenes info and more about Journey of a Song, follow @EmmelineMusic on social media or visit the Journey of Series official webpage. You can hear songs from previous episodes through the Journey of a Song Official Spotify Playlist.

"What a beautiful day out here in the park." Inspiration for a song can come from anywhere around us is we stay open and curious. There's also a lot to be said for allowing oneself to surrender to a vibe.In this episode, innovative songwriter and producer Daniel Candiotta sits down with Emmeline to talk about how the gift of breadsticks one fateful day led him to compose an entire EP. He also discusses his goal of releasing one EP a week--a surefire exercise in home recording, music production, and accountability. Daniel shares how he combats perfectionism and how his experience of the studio and of putting music together has evolved over the years. Plus, hear his hilarious stories about the evolution of his brand new single, "Duck Pond Eyes."To learn more about Daniel Candiotta, or to follow his musical journey, visit him on Instagram, Spotify, and all over the web. For behind-the-scenes information and more about Journey of a Song, follow Emmeline on social media or visit the Journey of Series official webpage. You can also hear songs from previous episodes on the Journey of a Song Official Spotify playlist.For behind-the-scenes info and more about Journey of a Song, follow @EmmelineMusic on social media or visit the Journey of Series official webpage. You can hear songs from previous episodes through the Journey of a Song Official Spotify Playlist.

"Where does the wind take you?" Have you ever wanted something so badly, needed something so badly, that despite your best attempts, the need overtook you?  In the atmospheric, immersive "Ikarus," ¿Dónde está Alicia? explores Icarus's narrative from Greek mythology from this perspective of deep yearning.In this episode, Journey of a Song goes bilingual! Emmeline sits down with Javier Nunez of ¿Dónde está Alicia? to talk about functioning in two languages as a musician, the journey of therapy, and the difficult but rewarding path of self-knowledge. Javier also shares a bit about writing and recording with a band from a distance--from home recording techniques to the unexpected ways in which songs can evolve with outside input!To learn more about ¿Dónde está Alicia? or to follow their musical journey, visit the band on Instagram or on Spotify. For behind-the-scenes information and more about Journey of a Song, follow Emmeline on social media or visit the Journey of Series official webpage. You can also hear songs from previous episodes on the Journey of a Song Official Spotify playlist.For behind-the-scenes info and more about Journey of a Song, follow @EmmelineMusic on social media or visit the Journey of Series official webpage. You can hear songs from previous episodes through the Journey of a Song Official Spotify Playlist.

"Deep in the woods, things aren’t always what they seem..." Songs might usually have some sort of emotional impetus, some big feeling that catapults them into being--but not all songs start with a feeling. Not all songs are initially borne from that place deep down inside of us that says, "See me. Hear me. Know me."Some songs start, quite simply, with a prompt.In this episode, folk and Americana artist Baylist Laramore shares how his eerie, contemplative track, "Flashing Lights," came from the combined influences of a prompt from a writers' group and a book he couldn't put down. Baylis talks about coming to songwriting later in life, about the importance of finding a songwriting community, and how writing prompts and musical friendships have inspired him to keep writing, keep singing, and keep creating. He also discusses the beauty of the Kerrville Folk Festival!To hear more from Baylis, or to follow his musical journey, visit him online or on Instagram. For behind-the-scenes information and more about Journey of a Song, follow Emmeline on social media or visit the Journey of Series official webpage. You can also hear songs from previous episodes on the Journey of a Song Official Spotify playlist.For behind-the-scenes info and more about Journey of a Song, follow @EmmelineMusic on social media or visit the Journey of Series official webpage. You can hear songs from previous episodes through the Journey of a Song Official Spotify Playlist.

"You were the spark that set my world on fire." The best thing about songwriting is that it's honest. When we dig deep down to write from an authentic emotional place, songwriting always tells us the truth. Sometimes, it helps us find elusive truths. In Episode #36 of Journey of an Artist, Tony Mendoza shared the beautiful story of the magical love he shared with his wife, Angela. In this episode of Journey of a Song, Tony shares the song he wrote for Angela to commemorate their love story. He talks with Emmeline about how, when he began songwriting as a form of processing his grief, he expected to write sad songs...but the more he wrote, the more he realized  Jamie Anderson's truth that, "Grief is just love with no place to go." To learn more about Angela and Tony and their story, or to contribute to the scholarship fund in Angela's honor, please visit the official page for Angela's book, Dear Friends and Family. All proceeds from the sales, downloads, and streams of "Why I Love You" go directly to fund the next scholarship in Angela's name.For behind-the-scenes info and more about Journey of a Song, follow @EmmelineMusic on social media or visit the Journey of Series official webpage. You can hear songs from previous episodes through the Journey of a Song Official Spotify Playlist.

"I think I'll cancel my plans today, so I can drive and see your face." Sometimes, a song starts with a line. Sometimes, it starts with a melody. For Dallas-based singer-songwriter Remy Reilly, "What Do Ya Know" started with a vibe.She knew the sound she wanted, and she knew the collaborator she wanted: Jonathan Tyler of Jonathan Tyler and the Northern Lights. The two spent an afternoon in the studio trying to capture a dreamy, feel-good summer vibe and left with one verse in their pockets.Remy wrote the rest of the song on the car ride to that night's gig.In this episode, Emmeline and Remy talk about finding inspiration for new compositions, cowriting, the influence playing live can have on a songwriter, and much, much more! Plus, hear a cameo from Remy's pet parrot!To learn more about Remy Reilly, or to follow her musical journey, visit her official website. For behind-the-scenes information and more about Journey of a Song, follow Emmeline on social mediaor visit the Journey of Series official webpage. You can also hear songs from previous episodes on the Journey of a Song Official Spotify playlist.For behind-the-scenes info and more about Journey of a Song, follow @EmmelineMusic on social media or visit the Journey of Series official webpage. You can hear songs from previous episodes through the Journey of a Song Official Spotify Playlist.

"I'm gonna thrive, just because I'll fight." Maybe you need some encouragement. Maybe you need someone to remind you that you're not defined by your insecurities. Maybe you need to take a deep breath, screw up your courage, and invest in yourself.In her moments of doubt, Chloe Clemente wrote "Angels Cry"--and she wants her new single to be your motivation to become your best self.In this episode, Emmeline sits down with Chloe to talk about investing in self, the importance of education, the beauty of a supportive community, and the essential nature of vulnerability in music. Chloe shares the almost supernatural process by which "Angels Cry" was written and talks about how it chronicles her journey through depression. Emmeline and Chloe also discuss their mutual love of dogs--and how Chloe's dog accidentally made it into the final cut of "Angels Cry"!To learn more about Chloe Clemente, or to follow her musical journey, visit her on Instagram or check out her official website. For behind-the-scenes information and more about Journey of a Song, follow Emmeline on social media or visit the Journey of Series official webpage. You can also hear songs from previous episodes on the Journey of a Song Official Spotify playlist.For behind-the-scenes info and more about Journey of a Song, follow @EmmelineMusic on social media or visit the Journey of Series official webpage. You can hear songs from previous episodes through the Journey of a Song Official Spotify Playlist.

"Somehow I don't think you'll ever love anyone but you." How can you combine caustic wit and heartfelt honesty in a song? What do you do when you've got a story without a chorus? Can you write an authentic and meaningful song to a prompt?Douglas Allen has these answers and more.In this episode, Emmeline sits down with Douglas Allen to discuss his post-relationship anthem, "The Breakup."  Douglas shares the story behind the song, talks about song form, and discusses the importance of leaning into the mood each song presents. Emmeline and Douglas also talk about how the meaning of a song can change for the artist over time, and why interaction with listeners means so very much to songwriters.To learn more about Douglas Allen, or to follow his musical journey, visit his official website. For behind-the-scenes information and more about Journey of a Song, follow Emmeline on social media or visit the Journey of Series official webpage. You can also hear songs from previous episodes on the Journey of a Song Official Spotify playlist.For behind-the-scenes info and more about Journey of a Song, follow @EmmelineMusic on social media or visit the Journey of Series official webpage. You can hear songs from previous episodes through the Journey of a Song Official Spotify Playlist.