Best Matt Arata Podcasts (2024)

1
Tony Arata: Because Kevin Did It 43:50

7M ago43:50

43:50

Tracking down songwriters for this podcast can be challenging. Publishing companies don’t return your email. A songwriter doesn’t return your email. Publishing companies really don't return your emails. But, just when you think it’s time to hang it up, the universe throws you a bone and you get a random email from a podcast listener named Keith, ho…

1
Johnny Bulford: Musical Pharmacist 3:54

8M ago3:54

3:54

If the name Johnny Bulford sounds vaguely familiar, then maybe you used to watch the Colgate Country showdown, a country music talent show sponsored by the toothpaste company. In 2008, he won it and was given a $100,000 check by the evening’s host, Leanne Rimes. But here's the thing: The Showdown was a singing competition...and as much as Johnny lo…

1
Sherri Austin: It's a Jobby, Not a Hobby 39:16

8M ago39:16

39:16

When you think country music and Australia, the first person who comes to mind is that guy married to Nicole Kidman. But he wasn’t the first. He was beaten to the states by a then teenage girl, who arrived here in the 1980s with her parents. But her first job wasn’t singing, or writing. It was as a character on an iconic 1980s TV show. If you remem…

1
Matt Butler: Reckless Son 36:59

12M ago36:59

36:59

The goal of most performers is to be so good, their audience is captivated. A captive audience. But ...what if your audience has no choice because they're literally captive? This episode’s guest isn’t really Country. He’s more folk, or Americana, or whatever you want to call it. I just think he's amazingly talented, with a fascinating story to tell…

1
What's This? A Bonus Episode? With a DRUMMER? 29:37

1y ago29:37

29:37

A drummer? On a podcast about songwriting? What is this abomination?? Truth is, it's not an abomination at all! An aberration, maybe but a cool one. Or at least, I think it is. I hope you do too. No, the format of Write You a Song isn't changing. I simply had the opportunity to interview a professional Nashville drummer named Will Johnston, whom I …

1
Ray Fulcher: Writing Stuff To Be Proud Of 44:54

1y ago44:54

44:54

Ray Fulcher had no plans on ever becoming a songwriter or a singer. Teaching and coaching. THOSE were his plan. But they got set aside one fateful night Ray went to a club in his college town and saw a young country artist named Eric Church. Seeing and hearing Eric lyrics lit something inside Ray, and that flame was helped along by a second inciden…

1
Jordan Fletcher: Stupid Optimism 36:12

1+ y ago36:12

36:12

Florida native Jordan Fletcher was a drummer. Is a drummer. Still. But, his hands are usually busy with an acoustic guitar these days. Jordan came to Nashville to play drums but somewhere along the way, he discovered he was pretty good at writing songs. And singing them. And thanks to what he calls some “stupid optimism”, he decided to go all in as…

1
Luke Laird: When The Redneck Angels Sing 54:04

1+ y ago54:04

54:04

It’s truly amazing how one simple, polite gesture can utterly change a person’s life. As a teenager, songwriter Luke Laird took a family vacation to Nashville. And even though he was already deeply interested in music, he had no idea somebody like him, a young man from Pennsylvania, could do it for a living...until the writer of one of country musi…

1
Drew Parker: Looking For Those High Five Moments 46:53

1+ y ago46:53

46:53

they say 3 of the most disruptive things a person can go through in life are a job change, a move, and a new child. Drew Parker had 2 of those 3 things happen on the same day his first song went to #1. Drew's initial country music dream didn't actually include songwriting. He wanted to perform. But it was a chance meeting with another young, unknow…

1
Jeff Stevens: A Guy Who Believes In His Gut 48:00

2y ago48:00

48:00

Starting in the mid-80s, Jeff Stevens has written some monster country hits, including songs that could fairly be called classics- Carrying Your Love With Me from George Strait, for example. But, as his career has gone on, he hasn’t just gone back to the same well again and again and as such, some of his more recent stuff has actually gotten blowba…

1
Kent Blazy: The 26th Time Is The Charm 1:01:42

2y ago1:01:42

1:01:42

The podcast is back after a three month hiatus and what a great guest to return with. Kent Blazy was a young songwriter in Nashville but didn't have enough hits to quite make ends meet. So he opened a recording studio and recruited a stable of demo singers who would go on to become some of the biggest stars of 1990s country music and beyond: Joe Di…

1
Walker Hayes: Swinging For the Fences 1:07:41

2y ago1:07:41

1:07:41

If you listen to this podcast at all, then you’ve heard Walker Hayes' name dropped by a few other writers who’ve collaborated with him- Nicolle Galyon, Josh Jenkins, to name two. There’s a lot of respect in Nashville for him, especially since he’s been there since the early 2000s. But all this time he’s been mostly under the radar. Heck, at one poi…

1
Josh Jenkins: Surrender To The Musical Gods 40:07

2y ago40:07

40:07

If you’re at all familiar with the ocean, you’ll know that while most swells on a given day will be roughly the same size, every once in a while that pattern gets upset when, out of nowhere, a wave twice the size of the others, or even greater, suddenly appears. They’re called rogue waves and while they don’t happen very often, and they can’t be pr…

1
Jimmie Allen: Do The Stuff You Don't Want To Do 34:53

2+ y ago34:53

34:53

This month’s guest has wasted little time making the most of his growing career. It hasn’t been that long since he was literally living out of his car on the streets of Nashville. His debut single shot to #1 in November 2018. His 2nd single also went to number 1 and as I put together this podcast, his 3rd single has cracked the top 10. He’s also wo…

1
Don't say no: Steve Dorff 36:56

2+ y ago36:56

36:56

This month's guest didn't set out to write some of country music's most romantic ballads. But then...Clint Eastwood called. There is no doubt Steve Dorff is talented beyond measure. But how he found country music - or rather, how country music found him- is a tale all to itself. Sit back and enjoy the incredible story of an incredible artist: compo…

1
Patience, Thick Skin, Big Heart: Ashley Gorley 1:05:42

2+ y ago1:05:42

1:05:42

If you were to take just the number 1 country songs Ashley Gorley has written and, supposing their average length is, say, 3:30... played them back to back to back... you’re gonna be listening for just over 3 hours. With his current tally of #1 songs at a ridiculous 51, Gorley seems to have a gear nobody else has. The awards he’s won and honors he’…

1
Making Mom Proud: Matraca Berg 43:41

2+ y ago43:41

43:41

This month’s guest, Matraca Berg, grew up in a musical family. Her mother Icee Berg (yep, real name!) was a songwriter and session singer who at first wasn't crazy that her daughter wanted a career in country music but later became her best teacher. Her stepfather, Dave Kirby, was a songwriter whose credits include the Gene Watson classic I’ve Got …

1
Tommy Lee James: "Up Tempo, Positive Never Really Worked For Me" 59:47

2+ y ago59:47

59:47

Over 30 years in ANY business is impressive but in the world of songwriting, it's especially notable....even more so when that writer is still very much at the top of their game. Tommy Lee James was the "bigshot songwriter" our last guest, Ross Copperman, talked about. Ross grew up in the same town as Tommy Lee, and drew inspiration from his succes…

1
Ross Copperman: You Have To Win Every Time 48:44

2+ y ago48:44

48:44

30 number one singles as a writer and a producer...six of which he wrote in 2015 alone. He’s been nominated for and won multiple BMI, CMA and ACM songwriter awards He works with the biggest names in Nashville, including songwriters like Shane McAnally and Josh Osborne, and artists like Dierks Bentley, Brett Eldredge, Jake Owen and Darius Rucker. He…

1
Niko Moon: Kicking The Ball Down The Field 39:00

3y ago39:00

39:00

Singer/songwriter Niko Moon has one foot in the country, and one in the city. He can write as traditional a country hit as anyone (Zac Brown Band's "Homegrown", for example), and he'll show off his Atlanta hip-hop influences on his solo hits, like "Good Time". And while traditionalists may cluck at his more progressive tendencies, Niko himself make…

1
Not Paper Airplanes: Nicolle Galyon 57:25

3y ago57:25

57:25

Sometimes in life, you have to find out what you don’t want to do, before you figure out what you do wanna do. And that’s definitely part Nicolle Galyon's story. Originally planning for a career in artist management, Galyon moved to Nashville to attend Belmont University. But, she took an interest in the artist/creative side after attending a few s…

1
James T Slater: Never Stop Being Curious 51:54

3y ago51:54

51:54

"There's nothing like this town. Songs are in the air". That's how James T Slater sums up Nashville, where he's made his home and his living for past 15+ years. Before that though, he lived and worked in a lot of places- and not necessarily places you'd consider "country": Panama. L.A. Switzerland. He wrote a hit song for a European group and playe…

1
John Rich: The Wizard Of Honky Tonk Oz 35:30

3y ago35:30

35:30

"As long as you've got a pencil and a blank sheet of paper, you're still in the game". Singer/songwriter/producer/entrepreneur/opinionated son of a gun John Rich has been at the top of his game for going on two decades now. But before that, he was adrift, between gigs and without a record or publishing deal. But, with a pencil and a lot of blank sh…

1
Aimee Mayo: Talking To The Sky 52:12

3+ y ago52:12

52:12

If Aimee Mayo had never become a successful Nashville songwriter, her story would still be worth telling. Growing up in a dysfunctional family in Gadsden, Alabama, Aimee dreamed of a life beyond constant personal chaos and somehow, against all odds, she achieved it. Her book recounting that journey, "Talking To The Sky: A memoir about living your b…

1
Granger Smith: A Lot More Than a Guy Named Earl 32:09

3+ y ago32:09

32:09

Surprise! This is the first extra Write You a Song podcast that is actually a full interview. Granger Smith's image is that of a good ol' country boy- he's got songs galore about pickups and dirt roads. And, of course, he's got his comic alter-ego, Earl Dibbles Jr. But Granger is a lot more than that. He's a bright, creative, enterprising (Yee Yee …

1
Adam Hambrick: Small Batch Songwriting 48:02

3+ y ago48:02

48:02

Growing up in Corinth, Mississippi, country singer/songwriter Adam Hambrick loved to sing, but held himself back from the spotlight because he felt that kind of modesty was more in line with the roots and values of his small-town, and the people who lived there. It wasn't until he went to college that he started to assert himself as a musician and …

1
TerryMcBride: Play Somethin' Country 51:30

3+ y ago51:30

51:30

In the 1990s and early 2000s, no other songwriter collaborated with Brooks and Dunn more than Terry McBride. He even became Ronnie Dunn's travel pal, riding from gig to gig on various tours on Ronnie's bus. Together, they came up more than 20 songs, some of which became stone-cold classics, including Play Somethin' Country and Cowgirls Don't Cry. A…

1
Tia Sillers And Shannon Labrie: Firewalkers 52:22

3+ y ago52:22

52:22

Little different episode this month. For the first time, there are two guests. One is a recently-nominated Nashville Songwriting Hall of Fame candidate who wrote one of the most inspiring songs ever recorded, Tia Sillers. And the last 15 minutes or so, we welcome a young singer-songwriter named Shannon LaBrie, with whom Tia collaborated on a new al…

1
Mom, Metal and Country Music: Devin Dawson 54:06

3+ y ago54:06

54:06

Singer/Songwriter Devin Dawson's debut album, "Dark Horse", was one of the most critically acclaimed country albums when it was released in 2018. Although it yielded only one top ten hit, "Put It All On Me", the album's daring mixture of country, rock, americana and even 70s songwriter pop was something different, and introduced a new, gutsy songwr…

1
Rodney Clawson: "Dare To Suck" 52:49

3+ y ago52:49

52:49

Rodney Clawson is one of the most unusual country songwriters to guest on Write You a Song. He's also one of the most successful. A farmer in Texas most of his life, songwriting was never even a consideration until one day he got a call from a friend who'd moved to Nashville. Annually, he writes about 160 songs but claims he only gets "10-12 good i…

1
Brett Eldredge: The Heart of the Heartland 33:13

4y ago33:13

33:13

In 2017 Singer/songwriter Brett Eldredge was at the top of his game. 5 #1 songs, several more in the top 10, a massive and entertaining presence on social media, TV appearances, Christmas albums and then .... he shut it all down. For 3 years he worked on refocusing his life and somewhere during that process, a new album started to come together, on…

1
Paul Overstreet: Who Cares What 'They' Think 55:00

4y ago55:00

55:00

Paul Overstreet. There really doesn't need to be any further explanation. Paul. Overstreet. See our website for privacy information.By Write You A Song

1
Jessi Alexander: Decatur County Red 50:36

4y ago50:36

50:36

Songwriter Jessi Alexander joined us during the 2nd week of the Covid 19 quarantine- which also happened to be the week when her solo album dropped. Busy homeschooling her kids and trying to promote a new record, she still found time to talk on the podcast about smash hits she's written for others, including Drive Your Truck for Lee Brice, Mine Wou…

1
Drew Kennedy: Music You're Invited To Find 50:46

4y ago50:46

50:46

Texas singer/songwriter Drew Kennedy is a bit of a departure from the normal line-up of commercially successful country songwriter guests on this podcast. But just because he hasn't had a mainstream radio hit yet doesn't mean he isn't talented, successful or without fans. He's an Americana troubadour, and more than happy to share his tales from the…

1
Neil Thrasher: New Again 47:52

4y ago47:52

47:52

Songwriter Neil Thrasher discusses hits he's written for Reba, Jason Aldean, Rascal Flatts and others and talks about staying relevant and why, 25 years into his career, it all feels new again. See our website for privacy information.By Write You A Song

1
Marv Green: Words Inspire Melody 44:03

4y ago44:03

44:03

In an easy, laconic style that you'd expect from someone born and raised in Southern California, songwriter Marv Green (Amazed, Shotgun Rider, True, Creepin') talks about journeying from the laid-back life of a west coast beach town to becoming one of Nashville's most in-demand writers. As with any good story of success, there's talent, hard work, …

1
Lindsay Ell: Long Road To The Starting Line 39:03

4+ y ago39:03

39:03

Even though she's only 30 years old, Lindsay Ell has spent most of her life getting to the point she's at right now: poised to take the next step as a singer, songwriter and pretty sick guitar player. Deviating from most previous podcasts, this interview focuses on an artist who only recently had her first #1 single ("What Happens In A Small Town" …

1
Shane McAnally: Authentic and Real 48:39

4+ y ago48:39

48:39

If country music's songwriting community has one common denominator, it could very likely be Shane McAnally. With over 40 #1 songs since breaking through in 2010 with Kenny Chesney's Somewhere With You (which he co-wrote with JT Harding), McAnally has emerged as gifted a writer and producer as Nashville has ever seen. Seemingly without effort, he n…

1
BobDipiero: "It's a fine line between stupid and 1/2 million dollars" 54:29

4+ y ago54:29

54:29

Bob DiPiero is a genuine Nashville songwriting legend, with over 1000 songs recorded, not to mention dozens of top tens and number ones. In this episode of Write You a Song, the Songwriting Hall of Famer shares his journey from Midwest rock n roller to the guy to the guy who wrote some of the most biggest, most iconic country songs of the past 40 y…

1
Brandy Clark Follows Her Arrow 40:57

4+ y ago40:57

40:57

Singer/songwriter Brandy Clark has released 2 critically acclaimed albums and scored a handful of hits writing for other artists, including Kacey Musgraves. But she hasn't yet had the widespread commercial success other songwriters have had, and believe it or not, that's just fine with her. See our website for privacy information.…

1
Country Music Highway: Josh Osborne, A Writer's Drive For Success 53:07

4+ y ago53:07

53:07

A Grammy, a CMA, an ASCAP and a Music Row Award...plus numerous #1 and top ten hits...those are just at the tip of songwriter Josh Osborne's resume iceberg. One of the most sought-after songwriters in a city full of them, Osborne's road to success wasn't easy or quick. But along the way he learned a lot, and he's never stopped learning. In this pod…

1
Episode 11: Kelley Lovelace, Four Bars And The Truth 42:36

4+ y ago42:36

42:36

Kelley Lovelace is best known as Brad Paisley's longtime songwriting collaborator and yes, they've written a lot of hits together. But Brad is just one of several artists who've benefited from Kelley's skills. Jason Aldean, Carrie Underwood and Joe Nichols have all scored #1 songs thanks to Kelley. This month, he shares his journey becoming one of …

1
Chris Janson, "Certified Weirdo" 31:51

5y ago31:51

31:51

He calls himself a "certified weirdo", and while, yes, that might be true, Chris Janson is also, without a doubt, a certified musical genius: at age NINE he learned to play music in less than a week... and he's been doing it ever since. He's written some pretty huge songs, too, including "I Love This Life" for Locash and "How I'll Always Be" for Ti…

1
Episode 9 JT Harding 41:53

5y ago41:53

41:53

A famous biological father (whom he'd never met until he was grown) is just one of the many fascinating things about this month's guest, JT Harding. Listen as he talks about that, his many hits (including "Somewhere With You" for Kenny Chesney and "Sangria" for Blake Shelton) and what it was like to be an assistant in his early years to ... Marilyn…

1
Episode 8 Lee Thomas Miller 44:41

5y ago44:41

44:41

Songwriter Lee Thomas Miller shares the stories behind hits like The Impossible, You're Gonna Miss This and what it's like to write with artists such as Brad Paisley and Brothers Osborne. Also, in a special extra episode segment at the end of the main interview, Mr. Miller also discusses the issue of songwriter royalties and copyright laws and the …

1
Episode 7 Liz Rose 35:10

5y ago35:10

35:10

From helping a young Taylor Swift find her voice as a songwriter, to soaring success writing songs for Little Big Town, Gary Allan, and others, Liz Rose has one of the most unique songwriter stories you'll ever hear, not the least of which is--she doesn't play music. Hear one of the more unlikely Nashville success stories from one of country music'…

1
Girl Going Somewhere: Ashley McBryde 39:21

5y ago39:21

39:21

Eric Church called her a "badass". Eric Church is right. Recently nominated for a Grammy and up for two awards at the Academy of Country Music awards next month, Ashley McBryde might be one of the most exciting new country singer/songwriter you haven't yet heard of. But if you have heard of her, You know what we're talking about. She's smart, funny…

1
Write You A Song Episode 5 Brett James 40:20

5y ago40:20

40:20

Songwriter Brett James talks about writing hits with Carrie Underwood... and what makes her such a creative songwriter in her own right. He also shares stories behind hits like "Man I Want To Be", "Something in the Water" and how a night out in the Islands with Kenny Chesney led to writing two number one singles, back to back. If you're an aspiring…

1
Write You A Song Episode 4 Brice Long 33:22

5+ y ago33:22

33:22

With huge hits for artists like Jon Pardi, Randy Hauser and Gary Allan, you might think a songwriter can sit back a little and enjoy their success. Not so, as Brice Long explains in this episode of Write You A Song. Growing up on a farm in Kentucky--plus years of grinding it out by writing album cuts for artists like George Strait and Randy Travis-…

1
Write You A Song, Episode 3, Tim Nichols 35:22

5+ y ago35:22

35:22

So you think songwriting sounds like a pretty great gig, eh? It is, but are you up for the challenges? Songwriter Hall of Famer Tim Nichols (Live Like You Were Dying, Heads Carolina, Tails California, I'm Over You, I Only Want You For Christmas) shares the joys and the challenges of songwriting, and why your previous success does not necessarily gu…

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