Author: joekirkpug

As a staff writer for EMI, a member of The Civil Wars, and now the owner of his own independent label, he’s seen a lot. John Paul White stops by to share his wisdom on creativity and performance. Plus, Brendan Anthony- the head of the Texas Music Office- stops by at the start of the… Read more

The Killers frontman discusses a meteoric rise to prominence in his early 20s, the feeling of responsibility that he’s developed toward music, and writing songs on the dodgy upright piano in his house instead of the baby grand in his studio. Read more

The Ohio native discusses her passion for classic country, capturing the vitality of live performance on a record, and her habit of constantly collecting material for writing. Read more

This lyric-driven Bluegrass outfit discusses the perils of booking their own shows, signing with Yep Roc, and the art of arranging a band around great songs. Read more

The hardcore troubadour talks about his early days in Nashville as a staff writer, empathy as the essential goal of the songwriter, and gratitude for the job he loves. Read more

The troubadour from Idaho discusses getting his break in Ireland, early years of van touring in the States, and writing on an empty stomach. Read more

The creative force behind The Autumn Defense and a longtime member of Wilco discusses growing up in a musical household, playing punk bars in the American south, and locking himself in the studio to get a song finished. Read more

Born and raised in Austin Texas, Alejandro Rose-Garcia is an internationally celebrated songwriter and performer. He sits down to discuss his upbringing in a theatrical household, learning to record on a shoestring, and walking away from a budding film career to dedicate himself to music. Read more

The frontman for Delta Spirit and now a formidable solo artist talks about playing music in the church, pulling a full “Tony Clifton” at the Casbah in San Diego, and how fatherhood has informed his latest album. Read more

The Texas songwriter and bandleader discusses dropping out of high school to play music, his passion for idiosyncrasy when it comes to band members, and his regimented writing process. Read more