Writing About Creativity, Music, Self-Doubt, and the Path Forward
The Real Reason You're Not Making More Music (It's Not What You Think)
My friend Gary has more musical skill than most people develop in a lifetime. And he still can't find time to make his own music. Sound familiar? Here's what I've learned about the real bottleneck — and a simple exercise that shows you the truth.
You Have the Right to Sing
I was the kid the choir teacher told to stop singing. For a long time, I believed them. I shouldn't have. Singing is a birthright, not a talent you either have or don't — and it's time to take yours back.
Interview with Drummer KJ Sawka: Finishing Music, Supportive Systems, and Coaching Artists
Drumming phenom KJ Sawka is in the gym before most people are awake and still gets to his studio by 7AM. I've known KJ since the nineties, when we were both on the Seattle drum scene. What I didn't know until recently is that we've both ended up in the same place: coaching other artists through the creative process.
Parlor Tricks and Player Pianos: Why AI Music Still Needs the Human Soul
We’ve reached a point where "perfect" music can be conjured from a text prompt. But is it actually fun? From the player piano to the "AI Drummer," I’m exploring why the flawless output of tools like Suno can’t replace the messy, human fingerprints that make music breathe. Because at the end of the day, we don’t just want to hear a song—we want to hear what another human has survived.
What the World Actually Needs from Your Art (Hint: Not Approval)
What the world needs is evidence that somebody has gone on a journey inside themselves." Michael Shrieve shares the advice he’d give his younger self about trust, fearlessness, and the true job of an artist.
Songwriting with Eno: 20 Lessons on Art and Focus
Last year, I witnessed Brian Eno’s process firsthand. These 20 lessons on focus, "composting" bad ideas, and breaking the rules of art are still unfolding in my work today.
Doubt Riding Shotgun: Free Ebook & Audiobook
Doubt will always ride with you. The trick is not letting it grab the wheel. That’s the heart of Doubt Riding Shotgun—how to keep moving toward the things that matter, even when your fear insists you shouldn’t.
Riding With Doubt: A Conversation on Creativity with The Creative Download Podcast
In this heartfelt conversation with Christy Bruneau and Chelsea Nettleton from The Creative Download, I share my journey from drummer to songwriter, how I learned to live with self-doubt as a “noisy passenger,” and why it’s never too late to make meaningful art.
Andrea Stolpe on Finding Your Sound and the Courage to Keep Going
Songwriter and educator Andrea Stolpe shares her journey from Berklee to Nashville publishing deals to founding the Emerging Musicians Coalition. We explore her three guiding principles—Prosody, Momentum, and Restraint—and why feeling is the true compass for every songwriter.
100 Songs or Bust: A Songwriter’s Journey
I’ve now released 21 songs toward my 100 Songs or Bust goal. What started in 2023 with just three tracks has grown into a steady flow—7 songs in 2024 and even more in 2025 (including a couple still to come). Each release has been its own snapshot of where I was in that moment, from grief and doubt to love, irony, and collaboration.