"Always said that I'd get out; well, I'm a lot older now." In this episode, Emmeline sits down with Dallas-based singer-songwriter Stephen Like. He shares his beautiful ode to nostalgia, “Pass Through Town,” and indulges Emmeline in a discussion of how the “good old days” looked for him and how the idea of retrospection inspired many of the songs on his upcoming EP. He also shares a bit about his upbringing and his unconventional path to recording music. If you’re looking for encouragem...

"I know that you were kind, and that's more than some can say about their lives." In this episode, Emmeline sits down with the talented Christine Hand to talk about about her beautiful song, "Brother." They talk about the intricacies of grief, the weight of "supposed to," the way songwriting can help us process things that don't make sense, and how--sometimes--the hardest songs to write are the most important and impactful to share. Christine also shares about how mining one's life for song c...

In this episode, Emmeline sits down with Dallas-based singer-songwriter Jeffrey Michael Widman (again!) to get honest and vulnerable about mental health, simplicity in songwriting, and the value of honesty in meaningful art. They also geek out about their mutual love for Matt Nathanson as a songwriter, and Emmeline continues her mission to make sure that everyone in the world knows about the phenomenal Ani DiFranco. Lastly, Jeffrey talks about the importance of music in tandem with therapy as...

"Rescue me from what's inside my head." Sometimes, the most beautiful songs are the simplest, most honest songs. In this episode, Emmeline sits down with Georgia-based singer-songwriter and poet Thomas Hinds to talk about his sweet love song, "Favorite Hello." Thomas shares the evolution of the song from 4/4 to 6/8 time and even gives us an exclusive glimpse at two separate recordings! Emmeline and Thomas also discuss the importance of vulnerability in songwriting, the sacred bon...

"Welcome to level one, might seem impossible..." Is love an impossible endeavor in a largely digital age? How can we "level up" in a world that seems to suggest that finding a romantic connection is all about playing games? Can a songwriter keep a theme consistent through an entire 3-minute song? Dallas-based singer-songwriter Ren tackles these questions and more in the latest episode of Journey of a Song, featuring her song, "GameBoy"! She sits down with Emmeline to discuss their ...

"You're bruised, you're hurt, but you put it on me." How do you find the courage to identify and walk away from a toxic situation? Does every song have romantic undercurrents? How vulnerable is TOO vulnerable in songwriting? In this episode, Emmeline sits down with the phenomenal R&B songstress Rosy L to tackle these questions and more. They also discuss their shared love of live music--especially intimate, acoustic shows--and why the moments after a show are as magical as...

"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 s...

"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 su...

"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 ...

"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 ...

"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 priorit...

"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 navi...

"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" mar...

"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--...

"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 ...

"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 collabor...

"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 abou...

"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 tal...

"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 ...

"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 productio...