Song Revolution with John Chisum

Latest Episodes:

GINNY OWENS: A Blind Chick with an Instant Pot® Oct 21, 2017

Show notes

Ginny Owens became a household name as the Gospel Music Association's 2000 New Artist of the Year. Growing in notoriety as both a singer and a songwriter, winning 3 Dove awards and multiple ASCAP Awards along the way, Owens has sold over a million records over the course of her career. A top performer on the Christian radio charts with hits like "If You Want Me To," "Free" and "I Wanna Be Moved" among others, Owens has released no less than 11 full albums and 3 EPs, and her music has also impacted mainstream audiences at Lilith Fair, the Sundance Film Festival and the White House.

In this episode, John Chisum has a chance to dig into the real life inspirations and struggles of this singer-songwriter who just happens to have been completely blind from three-years old. Despite this lifelong challenge, Ginny Owens has managed to capture a loyal audience with her soulful, yet-pop-oriented vocal style and songwriting and shows no signs of slowing down.

In this warm and often funny episode, John & Ginny cover everything from touring and songwriting to Ginny's cooking with the Instapot® and Ginny shares valuable songwriting insights for every aspiring Christian songwriter.

Connect with her at ginnyowensmusic.com, on Twitter @GinnyOwens, and on Instagram @blindchickphotog.

For more information visit www.nashvillechristiansongwriters.com and join the Successful Christian Songwriters Group on Facebook!

Be sure to join NCS MEMBERSHIP today at www.nashvillechristiansongwriters.com for the finest songwriter resources, coaching, inspiration and information!

JARED ANDERSON: Desperation Band, New Life Worship, and Songwriting Oct 14, 2017

Show notes

Jared Anderson did not always see himself writing worship music.The career of one of the most distinct voices in modern worship - with songs like "Glorified," "Amazed," and "Rescue" widely sung in churches around the world - almost never happened.

In fact, Jared considered distancing himself from worship music entirely, but always felt a pull to write something for the church. "God revealed to me, and it was a slow process, that worship isn't just a genre of music," he explains. "Worship songs are prayers. We're reciting the word of God back to him, and pretty soon we're not just reciting it or singing it, we're living it."

In this episode, John Chisum uncovers the spiritual and musical motivations of Anderson, one of the seminal songwriters and worship leaders of Colorado Spring's New Life Fellowship, alongside key influencers Glenn Packiam, Jon Egan, the Desperation Band, and others.

Jared talks candidly about his classical piano background and all the hidden hours in the practice rooms at Oral Roberts University, contrasting them with his transition into a very public ministry with New Life and beyond. The first worship song he ever wrote, Rescue, launched his career and has led to more than a decade of worldwide impact in writing and ministry. What he describes as "something going on behind my back" as he continued to write songs like Amazed and Great I Am mushroomed into not only greater notoriety and accolades, but into greater conflict as Jared wrestled with his own inner motivations and sudden success.

At times both funny and raw, Jared's transparency and humility are evident throughout this interview and songwriters will find his insights on songwriting invaluable.

You can connect with Jared at jaredanderson.com, on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/jaredandersonmusic, on Twitter and Instagram @jaredanderson.

For more information visit www.nashvillechristiansongwriters.com and join the Successful Christian Songwriters Group on Facebook!

Be sure to join NCS MEMBERSHIP today at www.nashvillechristiansongwriters.com for the finest songwriter resources, coaching, inspiration and information!

TONY WOOD: Twenty-Nine #1 Songs and Counting Oct 07, 2017

Show notes

By all accounts, Tony Wood is the epitome of successful Christian songwriting. Take five minutes now to read the following list of artists who've recorded his songs and then ask yourself if Tony Wood might not have something very valuable to say to you about how to craft songs that span genres, styles, and even generations.

With over 700 songs recorded in the Christian music marketplace, Tony Wood songs have been recorded by Point Of Grace, Michael W. Smith, SELAH, 4-Him, Sandi Patty, Natalie Grant, Avalon, Ginny Owens, Mark Schultz, Brian Littrell (of the Backstreet Boys), Matt Redman, KUTLESS, Steven Curtis Chapman, Chris August, Mark Hall (of Casting Crowns), Group 1 Crew, Big Daddy Weave, Pocket Full of Rocks, FFH, Mandisa, Chris Sligh, Mark Harris, Francesca Battistelli, Colton Dixon, Nicole C. Mullen, Larnelle Harris, All Star United, Building 429, Jason Crabb, Joy Williams, Hawk Nelson, Jaci Valesquez, 33 Miles, Steve Green, PASSION, Gaither Vocal Band, Phillips, Craig & Dean, Royal Tailor, About A Mile, Petra, 7eventh Time Down, Kari Jobe, Anthony Evans, Wayne Watson, Meredith Andrews, Kim Hill, the Museum, Oak Ridge Boys, Don Moen, Rush Of Fools, Kathy Troccoli, Lincoln Brewster, OBB, Moriah Peters, Matt Wertz, Mike Donehey (of Tenth Avenue North), 1 Girl Nation, Aaron*Jeoffrey, Sidewalk Prophets, Guy Penrod, Booth Brothers, Cindy Morgan, Mark Lowry, Geoff Moore, Greg Long, Ricky Skaggs, Travis Cottrell, Kerrie Roberts, Clay Crosse, Scott Krippayne, Talley Trio, Bob Carlisle, Nichol Sponberg, Bill Gaither, Babbie Mason, Christy Nockels, Ian Eskelin, Steve Camp, Jonny Diaz, Russ Taff, Gold City, Ray Boltz, Jill Phillips, Paul Baloche, Aaron Shust, Leeland Mooring, Rob Mathes, Wayne Haun, Michael English, BarlowGirl, Sheila Walsh, Warren Barfield, Joseph Habedank, I AM THEY, Amber Nelon Thompson, Ronnie Freeman, TaRanda Greene, Brian Free and Assurance, NEWSONG, Susan Ashton, Veritas, Jim Brady Trio, Jody McBrayer, Matthew West, Tim Rushlow, Jessica Simpson, All Things New, Todd Agnew, Ronan Tynan, Legacy Five, Janet Paschall, Nelons, OBB, Kim Boyce, Gary Chapman, the Martins, Charles Billingsley, Russ Lee, Michael O'Brien, GLAD, First Call, Imperials, Karen Peck & New River, TRUTH, Alisa Turner and even more…

If you're not impressed with that list, you're listening to the wrong podcast.

In this episode, John Chisum has a fun and very valuable conversation with Tony about his humble beginnings and the leap of faith that brought him to Nashville with no connections, no guarantees, and only the faith that God had called him to become a Christian songwriter. Tony shares candidly about the long journey through trials and setbacks that required a lot of tenacity and faith for him to "make it" years after he settled here with his first song being recorded, as well as his uncertainty that the "next song will ever come."

You can read more about Tony Wood on his website at tonywoodonline.com and follow him on Twitter and Instagram @tonywood_exit71.

For more information visit www.nashvillechristiansongwriters.com and join the Successful Christian Songwriters Group on Facebook!

Be sure to join NCS MEMBERSHIP today at www.nashvillechristiansongwriters.com for the finest songwriter resources, coaching, inspiration and information!

JOHN CHISUM: Tapping Into Your Most Powerful Song Ideas (Part 4) Sep 30, 2017

Show notes

Many aspiring songwriters wonder why their songs aren't having the impact they desire. Is this you? After all, you've felt the inspiration of the Holy Spirit to write down your thoughts, feelings, and passionate worship for God. Maybe you've felt driven to share a part of your story that is difficult, but you feel the need to help others through what you've been through, so you're risking the vulnerability to put it in a song. But… *cricket cricket*... no one seems to care.

What now?

The truth is that there are thousands of Christian writers wanting to write about their passion for God and share their stories. How do you manage to stand out above the noise and have anyone pay attention? Here's another truth: The effectiveness and impact of your song is directly tied to the quality of your original idea, no matter what the subject matter, and the hook/title that becomes your "North Star" that guides you through the process of actually crafting the song from beginning to end.

In this final in a four-part series, learn how to power up your songs immediately by increasing the quality of your ideas and following your "North Star hook" as John shares:

Understanding the difference between the "essence" of an idea and an actual hook
Why spending more time on your ideas pays rich dividends
The importance of identifying the best hook to run with (the "North Star hook" concept)
Examples of great North Star hooks others have crafted into hit songs
Finding great ideas for songs and hooks
Exactly how to let the North Star hook guide you through the process of writing the song
The power of Word Clusters and how to use them

Use the principles in this episode to craft your own North Star hooks and sail safely into port with your next powerhouse song.

For more information visit www.nashvillechristiansongwriters.com and join the Successful Christian Songwriters Group on Facebook!

Be sure to join NCS MEMBERSHIP today at www.nashvillechristiansongwriters.com for the finest songwriter resources, coaching, inspiration and information!

TERRANCE MCCOY: From Laid Off to New Music Artist Sep 23, 2017

Show notes

So, how does one go from being laid off and barely scraping by to a new high-quality EP release? In this episode, NCS songwriter, Terrance McCoy gets real about sleeping on a blow-up mattress in a house he was painting to becoming a brand new music artist releasing his first EP on September 29th.

A graduate of the NCS "boot camp" program called "Mastering the Art & Craft of Christian Songwriting," Terrance shares the good, the bad, and the worst as he struggled to grow in his songwriting and lay everything he had on the line to become the songwriter he knew he was called to be. And, somewhere in the process as he became willing to admit that he didn't know everything there was to know about crafting great songs, Terrance discovered an even greater calling… his own call to Christian music artistry that has resulted in this new EP entitled "Transparency."

A fitting debut title for Terrance, "Transparency" embodies his own struggles for purity, faith, and the authenticity required to make the true Gospel of Jesus Christ known to a dying world. Dedicating his music to the homeless and broken, Terrance McCoy's music has a raw, earthy quality with direct and powerful messages designed to connect with even the most hardened heart.

We hope you enjoy this episode and the samplings of Terrance's great new songs. You can connect with him at terrancemccoymusic.com or on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

Songs used in this podcast are from Terrance McCoy's debut EP "Transparency" available September 29 on iTunes. The ebook "Seven Proven Strategies to Write Better Songs Now and Stand Out in a Crowded Songwriting Marketplace" is available at nashvillechristiansongwriters.com.

For more information visit www.nashvillechristiansongwriters.com and join the Successful Christian Songwriters Group on Facebook!

Be sure to join NCS MEMBERSHIP today at www.nashvillechristiansongwriters.com for the finest songwriter resources, coaching, inspiration and information!

JOHN CHISUM: Tapping Into Your Most Powerful Song Ideas (Part 3) Sep 16, 2017

Show notes

Many aspiring songwriters wonder why their songs aren't having the impact they desire. Is this you? After all, you've felt the inspiration of the Holy Spirit to write down your thoughts, feelings, and passionate worship for God. Why isn't anyone listening and how can you step up to really fulfill your call to write impactful songs for Jesus?

In this episode of The Song Revolution Podcast, veteran worship songwriter and teacher, John Chisum, opens up the topic of originality, pointing you to one of the most essential elements a successful songwriter has, the ability to tap into a higher level of originality and creativity in their writing.

Learn how to increase listenership and song impact as John shares:

Why you should "zig" when everyone else is "zagging"
How cloning other successful artists and songwriters is the "kiss of death"
How to celebrate your uniqueness and use it to build a successful songwriting career
What Einstein and Steve Jobs had to say about creativity and how it can help you discover deeper creativity in your life and songwriting
Where to find deeper creativity in your life and tap into it for better songwriting
Discover new freshness in your songwriting
The power of ruthlessly self-editing your lyrics
How to scope your lyrics and power them up through originality
Growing as a songwriter by investing in originality first
And more!

This is the third in a four-part podcast series. The final episode will cover: Letting Your "North Star" Hook Guide You Through the Songwriting Process

For more information visit www.nashvillechristiansongwriters.com and join the Successful Christian Songwriters Group on Facebook!

Be sure to join NCS MEMBERSHIP today at www.nashvillechristiansongwriters.com for the finest songwriter resources, coaching, inspiration and information!

SANDRA MCCRACKEN: Unfiltered Inspiration Sep 09, 2017

Show notes

Unless you're familiar with the Reformed University Fellowship and Indelible Grace Music, you may have missed the incredible gift that is Sandra McCracken. The quintessential independent artist, Sandra hasn't gone the way of being signed to a record company, but has released twelve recordings to date and has garnered a loyal following the world over for her folk-driven music rooted in Gospel hymnody. She's also had songs recorded by All Sons & Daughters, Caedmon's Call, Audrey Assad, and used on ABC's Grey's Anatomy.

In this informal, but profound conversation, John Chisum delves into the spiritual, theological, and musical motivations behind Sandra's soulful, organic sound and many valuable insights into her life, ministry, and songwriting process, including:

Discovering deeper worship in the dorm rooms at Belmont University
Her resistance to "commercializing" the Gospel in music distribution
Her part in starting a national university movement called the Reformed University Fellowship that has spawned a record company that promotes depth of theology in music called Indelible Grace Music
The importance of music being shaped by a Biblical worldview
The sacredness of all of life and how this influences her songs and songwriting
Why sacred music was never intended to be held within the four walls of a church
The wealth of hymns lost on the world that must be revitalized through current melody writing
The challenge of "me-ism" in contemporary worship songs that are self-centric and how to go deeper in exalting God in music
Finding "sabbath" as a songwriter and how to tap into a deeper well of words, theology, and the Holy Spirit
Not settling for "transactional relationships," but transcending the culture to become an important songwriter
Why technology shortchanges our ability to be filled up and nourished by God, thus affecting our creativity and relationships
Who she's reading now and the authors she returns to time and time again for inspiration and great song ideas
Her new CD/DVD called "Steadfast" recorded at Art House (Nashville) with the film version produced by Zach Prichard and featuring Gospel vocalist Liz Vice, as well as Leslie Jordan and David Leonard (All Sons & Daughters)
Why songs are new each time you play them, no matter how familiar they may be
How God can use suffering to increase our courage as artists and songwriters
How "disruption" contributes to creativity and how you can use it to boost yours
The "emotional leads" that put her in the songwriting zone and why historical hymns continue to speak to her heart
Writing out of "emphasis" and the needs in specific communities, especially in an era desperate for social justice
How to be the "unfiltered version" of yourself as a songwriter to discover your true voice and songwriting style
And more...

Sandra's "Steadfast" press release says of her, "Sandra McCracken's prolific contributions as a songwriter, modern-day hymn writer and record producer has brought grace and clarity to her soulful, folk-gospel sound.Whether in a theater or in a chapel, she is a dynamic performer who blurs the lines of what church music sounds like, captivating and inviting audiences to sing along.While many of her songs like "We Will Feast In The House Of Zion"and "Thy Mercy My God"have settled into regular rotation in Christian worship services internationally, she has also had songs recorded by All Sons & Daughters, ABC's Grey's Anatomy, Audrey Assad, BiFrost Arts, Caedmon's Call and others. She is further a founding member of Indelible Grace Music and Rain For Roots (children's music) and has been a guest writer for Art House America, She Reads Truth,The Gospel Coalition, Christianity Today, RELEVANT Magazine and more."

Forall the latest information on Sandra McCracken, including her touring, free chord charts and more, go to www.SandraMcCracken.com, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.

For more information visit www.nashvillechristiansongwriters.com and join the Successful Christian Songwriters Group on Facebook!

Be sure to join NCS MEMBERSHIP today at www.nashvillechristiansongwriters.com for the finest songwriter resources, coaching, inspiration and information!

JOHN CHISUM: Tapping Into Your Most Powerful Song Ideas (PART 2) Sep 02, 2017

Show notes

Many aspiring songwriters wonder why their songs aren't having the impact they desire. Is this you? After all, you've felt the inspiration of the Holy Spirit to write down your thoughts, feelings, and passionate worship for God, but it just seems like no one's paying attention and you're left wondering how to step up your songwriting to capture the ears of a broader audience.

Here's what you need to know: The effectiveness and impact of your song is directly correlated with the quality of your original idea and your ability to craft it into a compelling hook that sticks in the minds of listeners and worshipers.

In this episode of The Song Revolution Podcast, veteran worship songwriter and teacher, John Chisum, lays out important ways to increase the quality of your song ideas and how to develop those ideas into the most compelling hooks possible. This is how professional songwriters create lasting songs and even songs that become classics.

Learn how to increase the quality of your ideas and craft compelling hooks as John shares:

How to dramatically increase your song power by deciding what you want to write about before you write
Discover the "essence" of your idea through the power of song journaling
Learn the four key elements to crafting powerful hooks
Why songwriting is like target practice
Keys to brainstorming hooks from your song ideas and how to refine them
Why there's room for only one idea in a song
And more!

This is the second in a four-part podcast series. Upcoming episodes will cover:

Part 3 - Originality and How to Cultivate It Easily Into Your Songwriting Part 4 - Letting Your "North Star" Hook Guide You Through the Songwriting Process

For more information visit www.nashvillechristiansongwriters.com and join the Successful Christian Songwriters Group on Facebook!

Be sure to join NCS MEMBERSHIP today at www.nashvillechristiansongwriters.com for the finest songwriter resources, coaching, inspiration and information!

RANDY COX: 80 Million Records and Counting Aug 26, 2017

Show notes

What do you give someone who's placed songs that have sold on over 80 million records worldwide, including Barbara Streisand, Amy Grant, Michael W. Smith, Rich Mullins, and countless others? You give him a lot of respect. Randy Cox was one of the first major Christian music publishers swept up in what was to become Contemporary Christian Music.

Working alongside industry greats such as Bill Gaither, Bob McKenzie, Joe Huffman, Donna Hilley, and many other behind-the-scenes executives who helped shape what we now know as CCM and even modern worship, Randy Cox has made an indelible mark on Christian music. Listening to Randy talk about hearing "Father's Eyes" (Chapman) for the first time, realizing how special it was, and pitching it to Brown Bannister for then unknown Amy Grant is remarkable, as well as signing a young upstart named Michael W. Smith.

Co-author of a new book called "Winds of Heaven, Stuff of Earth: Spiritual Conversations Inspired by the Life and Lyrics of Rich Mullins," Randy reminisces about working with Rich and the power of his musical ideas, motifs, and personal quirkiness. Randy believes Mullins is the greatest poet of our time and represents eleven unknown Mullins' songs presently unrecorded.

Randy Cox is one of the most remarkable music publishers in the history of Christian music and his legacy continues to grow as he mentors and coaches songwriters through his own company. He offers valuable songwriting insights that every serious songwriter can utilize in their songwriting immediately to move beyond "surface" writing to more thoughtful songs that effect deep change in the hearts of listeners.

You can connect with Randy on Facebook, or drop him an email at Randy.SongConsultant@gmail.com.

The new Rich Mullins book is available from Amazon.com at this link: https://www.amazon.com/Winds-Heaven-Stuff-Earth-Conversations/dp/1683970403/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1503012258&sr=8-4&keywords=Rich+Mullins+book

For more information visit www.nashvillechristiansongwriters.com and join the Successful Christian Songwriters Group on Facebook!

Be sure to join NCS MEMBERSHIP today at www.nashvillechristiansongwriters.com for the finest songwriter resources, coaching, inspiration and information!

JOHN CHISUM: Tapping Into Your Most Powerful Song Ideas (PART 1) Aug 20, 2017

Show notes

What now?

The truth is that there are thousands of Christian writers wanting to write about their passion for God and share their stories. How do you manage to stand out above the noise and have anyone pay attention? Here's another truth: The effectiveness and impact of your song is directly correlated with the quality of your original idea, no matter what the subject matter.

In this episode of The Song Revolution Podcast, veteran worship songwriter and teacher, John Chisum, lays out important ways to increase the quality of your song ideas from which a higher quality song can be written. Chisum believes that most songwriters would be better served to spend more time on their ideas than the actual writing of them, given the writer has the right set of skills with which to capture those ideas.

Learn how to power up your songs immediately by increasing the quality of your ideas as John shares:

Why a song is only as strong as its one central idea
Why elevating your song idea is the ONLY way to grab the attention of publishers, artists, and record companies
How to be heard by increasing the power of your song ideas before you write them
Why pro songwriters get all the lucky breaks
What would make publishers, producers, and artists jump out of their seats to work with you
The importance of "song idea radar" and why you need it
Why better ideas equals better hooks and better hooks equals better songs
The secret sauce of hit songs and how you can use it in your songwriting
Why Meghan Trainor's "All About That Bass" was the breakout hit of 2014
How to dramatically increase the power of your titles with the simple device of alliteration
And more…

This is the first in a four-part podcast series. Upcoming episodes will cover:

Part 2 - Writing from the "Essence" of Ideas and How to Craft Compelling Hooks from Them Part 3 - Originality and How to Cultivate It Easily Into Your SongwritingPart 4 - Letting Your "North Star" Hook Guide You Through the Songwriting Process

For more information visit www.nashvillechristiansongwriters.com and join the Successful Christian Songwriters Group on Facebook!

Be sure to join NCS MEMBERSHIP today at www.nashvillechristiansongwriters.com for the finest songwriter resources, coaching, inspiration and information!

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