Ten Year Town

Latest Episodes:

Episode 93: Paul Cauthen Jun 23, 2025

Show notes

Paul Cauthen is a singer-songwriter from East Texas, known for blending country, rock, gospel, and soul. He began his career as one half of the Americana duo Sons of Fathers before launching his solo career in 2016 with the album My Gospel. His 2019 release Room 41 marked a breakthrough, featuring songs like “Cocaine Country Dancing” and earning critical acclaim for its bold sound and storytelling.

In this episode, we talk about Paul’s start in the music business, the making of his breakout record Room 41, living on your own terms, and many other stops along the way.

This episode is also sponsored by The Graphic Guitar Guys. They create eye-catching custom guitar wraps for some of the biggest artists and festivals in the music industry. Their work is perfect for adding a unique touch to album pre-sale bundles or VIP package items—check them out and discover how they can transform a guitar into a show-stopping work of art.

New Episodes every Tuesday.
Find the host Troy Cartwright on Twitter, Instagram.
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This podcast was produced by Ben VanMaarth.
Intro and Outro music for this episode was composed by Troy Cartwright, Monty Criswell, and Derek George. It is called "Same" and you can listen to it in it's entirety here.
Additional music for this episode was composed by Thomas Ventura.
Artwork design by Brad Vetter.
Creative Direction by Mary Lucille Noah.

Nine Years of CMA Fest: What It Taught Me About the Industry Jun 18, 2025

Show notes

This week on Ten Year Town, something new: Troy Cartwright reads his latest Substack post—a reflection on nine years of CMA Fest, how it’s changed, and what it says about industry right now.
If you’re into country music, songwriting, or just like hearing how artists see the world—there’s more like this at https://troycartwright.substack.com.

Episode 92: Anderson East Jun 09, 2025

Show notes

Anderson East is a GRAMMY-nominated artist and songwriter originally from Athens, Alabama. Known for songs like “This Too Shall Last,” he blends R&B, soul, and roots rock into a sound all his own. In 2019, he received a GRAMMY nomination for Best American Roots Performance for “All On My Mind.” His new album, Worthy, was released on May 30, 2025, via Rounder Records.

In this episode, we talk about Anderson’s musical roots, working with Dave Cobb, the making of Worthy, how he approaches genre and songwriting, and many other stops along the way.

Episode 91: Ben Rector Jun 02, 2025

Show notes

Ben Rector is a singer songwriter originally from Tulsa, Oklahoma. Over the past decade, he has built a dedicated fanbase through consistent touring and a catalog of self-written, self-released albums. His 2015 album Brand New debuted in the Billboard Top 10, with the title track going RIAA Platinum. He is currently on tour and just released his new album The Richest Man In The World.
In this episode, we talk about Ben’s journey from indie beginnings to chart success, the business of being a fully independent artist, the pitfalls of the attention economy, and many other stops along the way.