Rustic Songbird

In the final episode of the Rustic Songbird Podcast, host Lydia Walker and podcast manager DarleneRaye wrap up the 100th episode of the podcast and talk about highlights of creating the show. This collection of podcasts will be archived on www.rusticsongbird.com as a resource for independent musicians to learn more about the music industry.

In this solo episode of the Rustic Songbird Podcast, host Lydia Walker shares resources for independent musicians to find ways to do what they love and make music their career. Learn how to discover opportunities in the music industry and go pro.

In this episode of the Rustic Songbird Podcast, host Lydia Walker interviews Nashville entertainment attorney Shawn Thompson, about registering copyrights for your songs. Learn how to copyright a song online and make sure your original music is protected. Shawn Thompson is an entertainment attorney specializing in copyright, trademark, and contract review. She has represented a broad spectrum of music clients from Lynyrd Skynyrd to St. Vincent to Bassnectar, as well as Grammy winning music producers. She lives in Nashville with her husband and son.

Want to learn how to build real connections with people in your career? In this episode of the Rustic Songbird Podcast, host Lydia Walker interviews Bill Zufelt, about how to be more resourceful as a musician and the best way to use the connections you have to create a thriving network for life.

In this episode of the Rustic Songbird Podcast, host Lydia Walker interviews Tubebuddy’s Rob Balasabas, about how to grow your music YouTube channel. You’ll learn how to set up a solid cover song strategy to rank in YouTube search and get more views on your videos.

In this solo episode of the Rustic Songbird Podcast, host Lydia Walker teaches ways you can make songwriting a habit. While you may agree that being consistent as a writer and getting the practice in will help you get better over time, it’s easier said than done. So Lydia breaks down some small shifts that you can make to add songwriting into your routine.

In this episode of the Rustic Songbird Podcast, host Lydia Walker interviews worship singer Tobias, about his plan to release a song every month in 2021! They talk about the strategy for releasing singles and share ideas for ways to build your audience as an independent musician.

In this episode of the Rustic Songbird Podcast, host Lydia Walker interviews Emmalee, about her experience auditioning for NBC’s The Voice, what it was like being on the show, and working with Kelly Clarkson as a coach on #TeamKelly. Emmalee shares about her new music coming out, and what she’s learned from singing on national TV.

In this episode of the Rustic Songbird Podcast, host Lydia Walker interviews living legend Dave Clark, about how he built a long term songwriting career. Dave shares stories from his journey as a writer, and encouragement for writers who want to make music their career. 

In this episode of the Rustic Songbird Podcast, you’ll hear clips from the top downloaded shows of 2020, and some of our favorite memories on the podcast this year. Enjoy this collection of the best of 2020 and this year in review on the show! Thanks for listening. Have a happy New Year!

In this episode of the Rustic Songbird Podcast, host Lydia Walker and podcast assistant DarleneRaye celebrate the end of 2020, and talk about how the show has grown over the last year. They share some behind-the-scenes stories of planning the podcast episodes, and a sneak peek of what to expect going into the new year.

In this episode of the Rustic Songbird Podcast, host Lydia Walker interviews Christa Wells, about ways to cover the costs of recording your music by crowdfunding. They talk about the benefits of using Patreon as a musician, and also some ideas for how to run a successful crowdfunding campaign. Learn how to communicate with your audience to build a raving fan base that wants to support you.

In this episode of the Rustic Songbird Podcast, host Lydia Walker interviews Stephanie Ann Bagley, about how to predict the profitability of your music business for 2021. Stephanie is a faith and business coach who teaches money principles with joy and enthusiasm. She specializes in helping creative mompreneurs start and scale their business and have fun along the way!

In this episode of the Rustic Songbird Podcast, host Lydia Walker interviews Damian Keyes, about the strategies behind releasing music as an independent musician. He shares what’s working now, and how to set up your music career for success in the digital age. 

In this episode of the Rustic Songbird Podcast, host Lydia Walker interviews Bryan Boliver, about the process of recording song demos, and shares tips about working with a producer. If you’ve thought about getting demos done for your songs, this will help you think through what your next steps might be. 

Are you confused about the process of publishing your own songs, and wondering how that is supposed to work? In this episode of the Rustic Songbird Podcast, host Lydia Walker interviews TC Courtney, who has years of experience working at one of the top performing rights organizations, BMI, and also works in publishing for Big Machine Records. TC breaks down how the publishing side of things works, to help you keep your songs organized and make sure your music is registered correctly.

In this episode of the Rustic Songbird Podcast, host Lydia Walker interviews Mella Barnes from the blog Mella Music, about how to become a full time session musician. Making a living in music can sometimes feel out of reach, so they talk about practical ways to actually get paid to make music your career.

In this episode of the Rustic Songbird Podcast, host Lydia Walker interviews Jason Roy, lead singer of Building 429, about the path to becoming one of the top bands in Contemporary Christian Music. They talk about what Jason’s journey has looked like so far as a songwriter, musician, and how his faith has impacted how he views true success.

Wanna know how to show up as your true self in your songwriting? In this episode of the Rustic Songbird Podcast, host Lydia Walker interviews Roz Welch, about her songwriting journey, and how to write songs that come from the heart. 

Learn what it takes to release your own music online as an independent musician. Lydia Walker teaches about the next steps to take after you’ve recorded your songs, and shares tips for how to plan a successful music release.

In this episode of the Rustic Songbird Podcast, host Lydia Walker interviews Katherine Forbes, about how to stay consistent in your music career. They talk about ways you can promote your music and build an audience by showing up consistently without burning yourself out.

In this episode of the Rustic Songbird Podcast, host Lydia Walker interviews Chelsea Amber, about collaborating with other musicians. Learn about reaching out to similar artists, and creating fresh and fun music together to build your audience.

In this episode of the Rustic Songbird Podcast, host Lydia Walker interviews Allison Brost, about going through a season of loss, and how songs that she has written have ministered healing to her as well as others. They talk about the healing power of music, and how writing through times of grief or loss can be therapeutic and help to process difficult seasons of life.

Have you wondered how to get your songs featured on TV and in movies? In this episode of the Rustic Songbird Podcast, host Lydia Walker interviews Heather Evans, about her experience getting TV placements with her songs. Heather shares advice for beginners about how to start pitching your songs for sync licensing. 

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to work for a record label? In this episode of the Rustic Songbird Podcast, host Lydia Walker interviews Ellen Hogan, about moving to Nashville to be in the music industry and her experience working for a record label. Ellen is also the co-host of a podcast for musicians called Beyond Broke And Hungry. Listen in to hear her story, and advice for how to overcome the stigma of the starving artist by becoming truly successful.

Have you dabbled in writing songs but you’re ready to learn more? In this episode of the Rustic Songbird Podcast, host Lydia Walker interviews Sarah Spencer, founder of SongFancy, about the best songwriting tips for beginners who are just getting started writing their first songs or writers who want to brush up on the basics. 

In this episode of the Rustic Songbird Podcast, host Lydia Walker interviews Randy Cox, about his legendary career as one of the most remarkable music publishers in the history of Contemporary Christian Music. He also mentors and coaches songwriters to dive deeper into the craft of rewriting their songs, and guiding them to become ready for a publishing deal.

In this episode of the Rustic Songbird Podcast, host Lydia Walker interviews singer and speaker Brittany Batson, about learning to live out your true purpose as a musician. They talk about discovering your unique spiritual gifts and walking out your specific calling in life. 

In this episode of the Rustic Songbird Podcast, host Lydia Walker interviews Grant Norsworthy, who is a speaker and teacher who has had success in music and now has a passion for mentoring and training worshipping musicians.

Are you passionate about making music and want to explore different ways to use your skills? In this episode of the Rustic Songbird Podcast, host Lydia Walker interviews Nashville hit songwriter and producer Shay Watson, about being a multifaceted musician and building a successful songwriting career. They talk about how the music industry is changing, and what the songwriting opportunities may look like in the future.

What would you do if a song you wrote went viral? In this episode of the Rustic Songbird Podcast, host Lydia Walker interviews sister duo Camille & Haley Harris, about their experience and advice about when your songs go viral. They share about how to deal with negative comments, and not taking criticism personally when you stand up for something you believe in.

In this episode of the Rustic Songbird Podcast, host Lydia Walker interviews Kyla Simone, who is a singer/songwriter, recording artist and founder of Girls & Guitars Official. She has recently hosted a series of virtual concerts called “6 Strings Of Hope”. Girls & Guitars also provides opportunities for online music education, special events and is building a community of like-minded musicians to mentor the next generation of female guitarists.  

In this episode of the Rustic Songbird Podcast, host Lydia Walker interviews Haylie Allcott, about writing songs based on scripture, and her experience using the method of psalming. They talk about starting from a place of worship, and how new sounds and songs can come from your personal worship time with the Lord.

In this episode of the Rustic Songbird Podcast, host Lydia Walker interviews Hanna Freeman, and they talk about trusting that God is in control of the details of our lives. As a Christian songwriter facing the changes in the music industry, Hanna shares about the importance of depending on God now and moving forward.   

In this episode of the Rustic Songbird Podcast, host Lydia Walker interviews Krista Francis, about the 30 Day Girls With Guitars Challenge for girls of all ages to finally pick up the guitar and learn to play!

Are you passionate about making music, but questioning the next step you should take? In this episode of the Rustic Songbird Podcast, host Lydia Walker shares the mindset and practical advice about figuring out the next step in your music career. By beginning with the end in mind, you can reverse engineer what it will take to reach your goals, and Lydia applies that concept to being an independent musician. If you have big dreams, but wondering what to do next is holding you back, this episode is for you.

Do you feel overwhelmed or confused when it comes to what to do with your songs once they’ve been written? In this episode of the Rustic Songbird Podcast, host Lydia Walker interviews Holly Salazar, about what you need to know when it comes to the admin side of releasing your original songs. Holly shares tips for how to make sure you’re legally covered and your songs are protected. You’ll also learn how to make sure you’re set up to get paid for your music.

Do you want to expand your network and collaborate with other musicians? In this episode of the Rustic Songbird Podcast, host Lydia Walker interviews Jonathan Warren, about networking with other musicians and collaborating with artists. Jonathan shares insights as an instrumentalist who has performed with many other musicians. Learn the common courtesies, what’s working now in the music industry, and how to build relationships with other musicians for life.

Do you say yes to everything, and don’t know where to draw the line? In this episode of the Rustic Songbird Podcast, host Lydia Walker interviews Natalie Runion about setting your goal, priorities and boundaries as a creative person. Natalie shares great advice for anyone who’s feeling burned out and has a hard time saying no. 

Wanna know the pros and cons of songwriting with others? In this episode of the Rustic Songbird Podcast, host Lydia Walker interviews Lara Marriott, about the difference between writing songs alone and writing with others. If you’ve been thinking about songwriting with other people, but not sure how to start or what to expect, Lara shares what she loves about writing alone as well as her experiences co-writing with others.

In this episode of the Rustic Songbird Podcast, host Lydia Walker interviews Amy Savin, about leading a congregation by example, and the servant heart of a worship leader. Amy is a recording artist and songwriter with a heart for God and connecting others to God through music. Her story will inspire you to dig deeper and to serve from a place of humility and wonder.

 With all the changes happening around the globe, what will the music industry look like moving forward? In this episode of the Rustic Songbird Podcast, host Lydia Walker interviews Katie Zaccardi, about the importance of innovation during this time of massive shifts in the music industry. They talk about the current struggles musicians are facing, and how they can move forward to create a successful future for their career.

In this episode of the Rustic Songbird Podcast, host Lydia Walker interviews Kristen Kieckhaefer about how she got creative during quarantine, and performed virtual concerts for senior citizens to brighten their day.

Do you feel hesitant about starting a new season of life with new opportunities and a lot of unknowns? In this episode of the Rustic Songbird Podcast, host Lydia Walker interviews Jenna Grace May, about coming out of a season of isolation and moving into a new season with a peaceful mindset. They talk about ways you can grow through new opportunities by using what you learned in the previous season.

Have you been thinking about learning to produce your own music at home? In this episode of the Rustic Songbird Podcast, host Lydia Walker interviews Rachel Barrentine, about becoming a music producer and building a home studio. They talk about the basics of getting started producing your own music, and what to expect during the process of learning this new skill.

How would you like to take your storytelling skills to the next level? In this episode of the Rustic Songbird Podcast, host Lydia Walker interviews author Hannah Conway, about practical advice for storytelling and character development in your writing. She shares great resources for building your writing skills, and talks about how your own personal journey can impact your characters in your story.  Hannah and Lydia also talk about how using the Enneagram can keep your specific characters consistent, and help you relate to other types of personalities.

Are you a worship leader or on the worship team at your church, and wanting to learn more about how to best serve your congregation? In this episode of the Rustic Songbird Podcast, host Lydia Walker interviews Heather Lawrence, about serving the church as a worship leader and the importance of having a heart of service and leadership. Heather shares her experience of moving away from her religious background and discovering her personal relationship with God in a deeper way. They also talk about developing a heart of worship and wonder that overflows in a corporate worship setting.  

 Want to learn how to create regular video content that actually looks and sounds high quality? In this episode, host Lydia Walker shares basic tips for how you can get started making great videos. If you’ve dabbled or even if you’re just starting out creating videos, this is the perfect place to start. You will learn how to set yourself up for success with basic filming, editing and tips for how to promote and share your videos.

Wanna know how to get your music in front of more people? In this episode of the Rustic Songbird Podcast, Lydia Walker interviews Angela Mastrogiacomo, about the best ways you can get press for your music, and spread the word to find new fans. Learn how to professionally pitch your music to publications, and actually be featured! Join Angela’s free video training series for building your audience: https://www.subscribepage.com/growyouraudience

 Are you ready to take the plunge from songwriting alone to writing songs with others? In this episode of the Rustic Songbird Podcast, Lydia Walker interviews Deanna Porterfield, about how to get started co-writing, and how to find other co-writers. Deanna shares from her experiences in Nashville songwriting sessions, and the common etiquette to keep in mind if you’re just getting started.

Want to learn to use your voice to connect the feeling of your songs to your audience? In this episode of the Rustic Songbird Podcast, Lydia Walker interviews vocal coach Tiffany Vanboxtel, about how songwriters can learn to sing with emotion. If you’ve written songs and want your passion to come through when you perform, you will learn some great tips for using your voice to get the message across to your listeners.