Colorado singer-songwriter Dave Tamkin recently released his new album, Live at eTOWN, a seven-song collection that showcases his unique rhythmic-acoustic style and unabashedly honest lyrics in a space where he performs best: a live setting. Ahead of a busy November, Tamkin kindly took the time to answer his Essential 8 where he spoke about the album, offer up some touring tips, let us in on his favorite audio books, discuss failure as success, and more.


Why did you choose to anchor the album with the songs you did?
I wasn’t aware that this Live at eTown EP was being recorded at the time of the performance. A friend told me later that eTown records all their shows. So out of the 10 + songs I performed that night, these 7 songs were the ones I was most proud of. I was able to introduce a new song while rounding out songs from the last two releases. I felt good on stage that night and the audience supported me with every song. I’m proud of the performance and wanted to share it. I hope people can feel like they were right there when they listen to it and connect with the songs.

What’s the best advice you have ever gotten from another musician?
“Slow down and I can’t understand what you’re saying.” It’s two things that multiple musicians have told me over the years. Ha! When I was living in Chicago the music I played was always competing against a bar audience. Yes, they were there to support us and have a great time but it wasn’t so much about the songs as it was about the groove and getting people into the party atmosphere. That could have been self-imposed but it’s what influenced me a lot. Play fast and ask questions later. As my surroundings changed in Colorado, I met more songwriters that played at venues that allowed a pin drop to be heard between verses and choruses. The listening audiences influenced me to be clear with my lyrics and to slow down. Hopefully it’s made me a better songwriter.

What’s the best advice to give to a musician just starting out?
Never stop creating or learning how to be better at your art. Play something new every day. Sing something new every day. Learn your favorite songs. Take time to journal when you are not playing or singing. If you never stop learning and creating, your ego won't have time to take over.

Nashville TN based and Macon, GA Native Molly Stevens grew up singing in church and at many revivals led by her grandfather, a celebrated preacher around the Southeast. Growing up in Macon, Stevens never knew a time when southern rock or soul wasn’t floating through the air. She studied theatre in college and moved to New York City shortly thereafter with acting aspirations. It wasn’t long, however, until she realized music was her true passion. Armed with a vintage 1950s Gibson acoustic given to her by her grandfather shortly before he died, she moved to Nashville in 2009 intent on turning her passion into a career.

This past September, she released her new EP, Here & Now Vol. 1, and here she answers her Essential 8 plus where she talks about her grandfather, the album, Chick-Fil-A, and much more!
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Did you have a musical mentor? If so, who was it and how did they influence you?
My grandfather was my musical mentor. He played guitar and left me his old 1958 Gibson when he died. I take it everywhere with me.

With any particular song, was there an “a-ha” moment when you knew the song was completed and perfect?
My tune "Just Hold On" had that feeling. Once we got the melody down it all made perfect sense and fell into place.

Is there a story behind your album’s title?
Why did you choose to anchor the album with the songs you did?- Of course there is a story. There always is. Here and Now is a mantra I try to live by. Staying present and just taking things one step at a time. It's a lyric in my tune Just Hold On and it just felt right to name the album Here and Now Vol. 1

Where do you draw inspiration from when writing?
Life experiences. All day long. My emotions, feelings, thoughts. I always write what I'm feeling.

When/where do you do your best writing?
In the studio with Whitney Dean. He and I get the mood set right and magic happens there for me.

Do you write about personal experience, the experience of others, observations, made-up stories, something else or a combination?
I almost always write about personal experiences.

What’s the best advice you have ever gotten from another musician?
"There is room for all of us. Don't compare and try to be like other artists. Just be you."

What’s the best advice to give to a musician just starting out?
One day at a time. And be authentic.

What’s your favorite/”go-to” food on the road?
Chick Fil A of course :)

Singer, songwriter and bandleader Ryan Montbleau released his new live album, Woodstock Sessions, on October 26th. Recorded in December 2017 at Applehead Recording in Woodstock, New York as a part of Woodstock Sessions’ ongoing live-in-studio releases, the album features selections with special guests Tall Heights and is the best showcase yet of the New England-based musician’s mastery of acoustic songwriting and performance developed over a successful fifteen-year career.

‘Woodstock Sessions’ includes several of Montbleau’s most well known songs from over six different previous releases, in addition to three previously unreleased tracks: “Looking Glass,” “The Country and the Town” and “Help Me," and marks the beginning of a new era of Montbleau’s career, which both continues to grow while coming full-circle; Montbleau having recorded some of his earliest records at this very same studio in upstate New York.

Here, Ryan answers his Essential 8 where he speaks about Martin Sexton, songwriting, loneliness, shares a special gift from a fan, and much more.

Did you have a musical mentor? If so, who was it and how did they influence you?
Martin Sexton.  When I was first starting out I got completely taken by his music and then when I started looking into him I got swept up in how he built his career and who he was.  He's done it on the road, one room at a time.  That, combined with the brilliance of his music and his talent has made him a beacon for me.  Years later when I first got to tour with him, his preparation and focus on how to make each night great... that blew me away.  And he's out there killing it now, sounding better than ever.
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When/where do you do your best writing?
Maybe it's because I spend so much time driving, but I tend to get some good writing done in the car.  I remember reading Bob Dylan say something about writing best while moving?  Maybe it has to do with that too.  But I'll pull up one of the zillion unfinished ideas in my head or on my phone and I'll chip away at a line here, a line there.  For me songs tend to come slowly over time.  And I'm ok with that.  I tend to keep working constantly, little by little, not putting too much pressure on it but still doing the work.

Do you write about personal experience, the experience of others, observations, made-up stories, something else or a combination?
Generally a combination of all of those things, although it would depend on the song.  If some detail works from my life, I use it, but ultimately I'm trying to find the truth in the song.  I can embellish, make up a story or a character, anything can work.  But it's interesting, sometimes the best way to tell the truth is to tell a story.  My job is not to tell everyone what's going on with my life.  My job is to paint a musical picture that the listener can walk into and come to their own insights.  That's the plan anyway!

Currently based in Brooklyn, Lauren Jaimes released her debut EP, Here to Stay, this past August. Blending Nashville sound with big city living, the album combines elements of Country, Americana, and Indie pop. Her dreamy vocals and thoughtful lyrics find purpose in the framework of a narrative, and her passion for storytelling finds life in catchy hooks and memorable melodies.  Here Lauren answers her Essential 8 where she talks about her Dad, inspiration, Kacey Musgraves, and more!

​Did you have a musical mentor? If so, who was it and how did they influence you?
My Dad was a missionary and musician in South America for about fifteen years. I grew up listening to him play guitar and sing almost every single day.  He gave me my first guitar when I was about 9 years old and I started writing songs around then too, not really knowing at the time how much I would fall in love with making music. Without him, I don’t know if I would have ever picked up a guitar. He is my mentor, my cheerleader, and my biggest fan.

Where do you draw inspiration from when writing?
When writing, I tend to draw inspiration from real life events, whether they be from my own experiences or from the experiences of friends, family, or even strangers. I love the country genre because it’s truthful and authentic, and I constantly strive to create music that tells a story.

What has been your biggest struggle so far?
My biggest struggle so far has been my battle with stage fright. For a very long time it was the only thing standing in the way of me being able to share my music. My boyfriend Forrest was the one who gave me the courage to get on stage and has been the biggest influence in my success so far. He helps me tweak my lyrics, runs through my set with me, and comes to every show. He also designed the “Here To Stay” EP and all of the merch on my website! Without him this album would have never been possible, and while it took a lot of courage at first, I’m now performing all over NYC and loving every second of it. I still get nervous before a show but finding my voice has made all of the butterflies worth it!

On January 18th, Tyler Hilton will be releasing City on Fire, a 13-track album that’s deemed the most personal yet for the singer-songwriter. Recently, Billboard debuted the title track, which addresses the turmoil resulting from the latest election. And while the song showcases Hilton's folkier side, the album also features synth, acoustic, and island vibes. Ahead of the release, Hilton answered his Essential 8 where he spoke about his uncle, Tommy Hilton, chasing a mood, touring in the RV, and more.

​Did you have a musical mentor? If so, who was it and how did they influence you?
My uncle Tommy Hilton is an incredible guitar player, was signed by George Harrison to Dark Horse Records, toured with Fleetwood Mac and Donovan. He and our close circle of family friends were always playing, writing, recording when I was growing up. They loomed so large for me growing up, I was a sponge around them. They’d let me sit in with them, sing harmonies, get me on stage. He produced my first record when I was 15, and things he taught me about finding the vibe of a song and getting inside and finding the space in the music still stay with me. I try to make a point of seeing him live any time he’s playing in LA still, I always walk away with something. My co-producer on a lot of the record, Jaco Caraco, grew up close to my uncle as well. We geek out watching him play. A lot of my love of Native American music and traditional American folk comes from him.

Do you write about personal experience, the experience of others, observations, made-up stories, something else or a combination?
I don’t write anything specific consciously. I’m always chasing a mood, I want to surround it with music and a script so you can return to that mood by singing, like a road map back to that moment. When it comes time for specific imagery, there’s more of my reality than anything. But that becomes mixed in with legends and day dreams. Songwriting at its best for me is like dreaming when I sleep, it’s based in reality but can go wherever it needs to.

What’s the best advice you have ever gotten from another musician?
Listen to the whole song when u play, not just your part. It’s good life advice too. It’s helps to see where you fit in the whole.

An award-winning musician, actor, and screenwriter,  Jennifer Porter is a musician’s musician. Having sung with Classical and Jazz Orchestras, including the world famous Glenn Miller Orchestra, and smaller combos including her own quintet, Jennifer is also an accomplished Blues pianist who has played with C.J. Chenier, Nathan and The Zydeco Cha-Chas, and Ils Sont Partis. To date, she has recorded 7 albums and will be releasing her newest, These Years, recorded with legendary producer Jay Newland, December 7th. Ahead of the release, Jennifer answered her Essential 8 and spoke about songwriting, collaborating, working in the garden, and more! 
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Why did you choose to anchor the album with the songs you did? 
I saw this album as being centered around love and relationships in all of their complexity, rawness, and beauty, including one’s relationship to oneself -- the most complex, raw, and potentially beautiful of all!

When/where do you do your best writing?
When I am completely alone. If I think anyone can hear me, even someone I trust and love, I feel inhibited. I also tend to be more inspired at night, or in the early morning hours.  Stereotypical, I know! I also, at least so far, can’t set aside a designated time to write songs. I can when I am composing a film score, or when I write screenplays, but songs build up in me for a while. It is literally a physical sensation -  a feeling of pressure from inside to out in my solar plexus, chest, and head.  Eventually, when I am alone, the song practically erupts onto the keyboard, and from there onto manuscript paper, and I often feel like I didn’t write the words, the song did. That doesn’t mean that I don’t struggle over lyrics, or deliberately work them out from time to time, but often the syllables just seem to form out of the music.
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What’s the best advice to give to a musician just starting out?
Listening to others is important, but listening to your gut is of far greater importance. Just make sure it is your gut, and not a bruised ego! This requires a painfully honest assessment, sometimes! : )

Born into a musical legacy -- her father Larry Brown once played in The Association and Smothers Brothers before joining Engelbert Humperdinck in the ‘80s, where he met and forged a romantic relationship with her mother Anne Murray Brown -- Pruitt embarks on her own with new single (her first in five years) “High in the Valley.” 

“I had written down that song title a few years ago. It was such a part of me at one point to feel like I was trapped in this hopelessness of being so close to what you want in a way but so far away,” she says of the song, written with Joseph Holliday and Kenny Fleetwood. The singer, who is currently working on new music, took some time to answer her Essential 8 where she talked antique malls, Kacey Musgraves, Wanda Jackson, and more!
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What’s the best advice you have ever gotten from another musician?
Not from a musician, but from my radio promoter Karen Durkot on my radio tour five years ago. One day she told me "ALWAYS wear the high heels". Read as deep into that as you will. 

What’s your favorite venue and why? 
Not a venue per se- but after playing a really fun show at West Virginia's Mountain Stage in 2013, the Mountain Stage house band invited us to their favorite post-show dive bar. And it was a DIVE. Their resident band was this incredible blues band of old dudes, and somehow my band and I ended up sitting in with them a playing a few tunes. We have no photos or videos from that night, but it was just the best time ever and I will never forget it.

What’s your dream venue and why? 
The floating barge at the famous and classic Tiki bar the Tonga Room in San Francisco. It's a pool in this giant room with a barge with a house band. The room has a "storm" every hour or so. It's all of my kitsch fantasies come to life. If you're not familiar--google it--it's worth checking out. 
 
Is there anyone you would love to collaborate with? 
Kacey Musgraves. Neil Sedaka. Quentin Tarantino. 

Austin-based singer-songwriter and guitarist Jeremy Nail continues to forge his trail of meaningful songs in the world as he morphs joy, pain and poison into grace and artistry on his new record, Live Oak. Released on August 17, 2018, the ten-song project was deemed “Pastoral and poetic...reflective and resilient, breathing in life’s landscapes, literal and figurative, and exhaling a peaceful sense of place" by the Austin Chronicle's Kevin Curtin. Here, Nail answers his Essential 8 where he talks about songwriting, his must-have albums for the road, Neil Young, and more.

Where do you draw inspiration from when writing? When/where do you do your best writing?
Life experience. Things I see or hear that compel me. Other writers and poetry.
At my kitchen table, any time of day.

Do you write about personal experience, the experience of others, observations, made-up stories, something else or a combination? 
Every song I write has some combination of all of the above.

What’s the best advice you have ever gotten from another musician?
Don’t ever stop and keep what is special about your writing and music. Don’t let anyone take that away.

On her new album, Here Comes Trouble, Austin’s Kendall Beard continues in the proud tradition of country artists like Loretta, Dolly, and Miranda — females who aren’t afraid to show their strength. Or their vulnerability. On thirteen tracks, Beard fuses country and pop, with an occasional push into rock territory, that will definitely grab the listener. Of the new album, Beard says she wanted to cut loose. “It’s about breaking free in the moment and coloring outside of the lines, going against the grain. I wanted to put something out that was a bit edgy; something that would stir up some talk.”

Here, Beard answers her Essential 8+ where she talks about the album, how she spends her days off, the importance of staying true to yourself, and much more!

Did you have a musical mentor? If so, who was it and how did they influence you?
I was in a development deal from age 15-18 in Philadelphia PA. During that time I got to meet and work with so many different song writers, including writers for Boys II Men. They taught me the groundwork for writing a good song. I don’t think Id be where I am now without that foundation!

With any particular song, was there an “a-ha” moment when you knew the song was completed and perfect?
"Here Comes Trouble" and "Broken Angel" were the most challenging songs to write on my album. I went back to the drawing board multiple times. "Broken Angel" I wanted to have a lot of biblical and moral references. I think I knew it was where it needed to be once I knew the references that I had created accurately portrayed the story I was trying to get across.

Is there a story behind your album’s title?
“Here Comes Trouble” is kind of like “My Story” with performing music. It's what I feel and what everyone else to feel when I get on stage. It's about having fun and cutting loose...maybe breaking a rule or two.  Life is heavy. It gets us down and sometimes we need to have an opportunity to loosen up, party, and stir up some trouble!

Why did you choose to anchor the album with the songs you did?
I wanted this album to be a bit edgy. I wanted to color outside of the lines. My first album was very predictable.  I have grown a lot since then and this album is not so cookie cutter country girl. I wanted it to reflect how I've grown and changed. 

Formed in November 2017, Hengistbury launched their debut single "What Folks Don’t Know" to widespread acclaim and had featured live performances on the likes of Russell Hill’s Country Music Show, Off the Record, The Music Scout, UK Country Music, Craving Country, and more. Now, the duo are preparing for the release of their debut album, Add Another Minute (October 19th) and here, Jess and Pete answer their Essential 8 where they talk about the album, their must have album, Instagram Live!, and more.


Is there a story behind your album’s title?
We wanted the album to be named after one of the lines in one of the songs. Our songs are about real things and so this felt like an appropriate way to name the record.
Taking a step back from that, we chose the line ‘Add Another Minute’ as we felt it reflected our mood when creating the album. We live in a very disposable culture and the latest listener behaviour reports suggest a growing trend where listeners consume music in playlists and often don’t even listen to whole songs. Our album was crafted as a whole record (there are even a few songs we recorded that we felt didn’t fit properly and so didn’t make the final cut) and so we hope that our audience might take a little more time to experience the complete arc of the record as well as just the singles.

What’s the best advice you have ever gotten from another musician?
My [Pete's] dad is an amazing musician and when I was growing up he told me that it’s always better to play a simple part perfectly, than to play something flashy poorly. 

What’s the best advice to give to a musician just starting out?
Play as much as you can with other people, don’t trust your innate rhythm and learn to play with real drummers. ​