***** Update *****
It’s on iTunes and CD Baby
***** End Update *****
As a songwriter one of the best things you can do is get your songs out there for people to hear. Eventually you will find someone that can help you bring them to the commercial world. One of the genres in the music world that still heavily relies on songwriters is Country. Most Country artists still don’t write most of their songs. The epicenter of Country music is Nashville, so it can be said that in Nashville the songwriter is king. Reality is competition is fierce. Not to mention that anything you write is in contention with those have already had big hits and a track record.
One such songwriter that crossed my path is Kevin Fisher. I occasionally play songwriter showcases or songwriters in the round as they’re known. For me it’s just a fun way to play my songs a little differently than I normally would. See I’m an artist writer, meaning I perform that which I write. If you’re an avid listener/reader of Single of the Day you’ll probably say, but you talk about co-writing; it’s true I co-write as well, mostly for others. Bending back on my track, I have performed at the Martini Blues several times at a thing called the backporch where Anna Marie puts on a songwriters showcase.
Over the course of those showcases I’ve had the opportunity to perform with some amazing writers. I remember my first one that I did. After the first round of songs that I was part of I made the comment to the audience that I felt like a child in the heavy weight division of songwriting. That made everyone laugh. Truth was, I was night and day different in style. The other three guys Dee Biggs, Warren Sellars and James Gray where all Country and Americana whereas I’m Alternative Rock. That didn’t prevent the audience from enjoying what my songs were. Dee, Warren and James have all had some success with getting their songs placed with artists.
Another evening that I was invited to involved Warren Sellars, James Gray, Kevin Fisher and myself. This time around it was a bit intimidating to be on the stage as Kevin is a songwriter who’s had some hits and at least 10 or 12 song placements that have scored really well. Meaning, he’s got a track record. Prior to our round we were back stage where again I felt like the red headed step child. I kinda knew Warren and James, but not Kevin. In the green room they were discussing helping each other out on songs they were planning to play. At some point I asked James if he would play a rhythm guitar part on one of my songs and he agreed. Whew, I felt a little relieved that he accepted. As I was showing him the simple two chords and rhythm to play, both Warren and Kevin offered to jump in as well. Even better. I explained that I’d cue them in the show for when to play.
I was last to go in the round and to have to sit through those guys and their amazing songs, well I’ll say so much runs through the mind when you’re hearing an audience recognize a radio hit and you’re on the stage with the guy that wrote wondering if you’re going to touch that same audience with what you wrote. We get through the first several songs for each of us and now it’s my final turn. The song I’m doing is Days of Our Lives and it’s the one where Warren, James and Kevin are going to join in. We get to the solo and they all come in on cue, I play through the solo and cue them out. I hit the bridge of the song where this huge wave of I don’t even know what to call it feeling washes over me and I’m transported to an entirely different level of music satisfaction as I’m blasting out the rest of the song. The round ends and the audience clapping for all of us. Woo Hoo.
While attempting to field questions from audience people, and those wanting to purchase a CD all as I’m working on putting my guitar away, Kevin comes over to me to tell me he would like to get my contact info before I get off the stage in order to co-write with me. Of course I’d be happy to do that. That’s like music to a musicians ears to hear something like that, especially coming from someone who has a bit of a leg up in the songwriting world. Who here reading this now thinks I said no? Duh, of course I gave him my contact info. Unfortunately to this date our schedules haven’t corresponded enough to get time to write together yet. Hopefully it will happen before too long.
Fast forward a bunch of months and about two weeks ago Warren and Kevin made a rare Los Angeles appearance for a songwriters night. I decided to go. That night I heard Kevin play the song you’re listening to now. I figured that’s a cool song, I’d like to feature it on the blog. So I chatted with Kevin and he got me a copy of it so I could play it for you. And here you have it. I do have to say that I really like the song, but I much preferred how it comes off he performs it live. It works great in that environment. I’ve no doubt Kevin will score more cuts and probably some serious hits as well in the future.
As for getting a hold of this song, well, it’s not on iTunes or CD Baby just yet. You’ll have to contact Kevin through his website and bug him about getting a copy of the CD this song is on. I know he’ll be happy to fulfill your request.
*** Update ***
Seems it helps to chat with the artist, the song and CD are available on iTunes and CD Baby, thus ignore my last statement in the blog post. Kevin has informed me of where to find it and you can own it easily! Get it.