The Navy Seals have a saying, âTwo is one and one is none.â Itâs all about planning and having a backup plan. If you donât have a backup plan, you donât have a plan because inevitably things will go wrong. Letâs say you want to wake up tomorrow at 6 AM. For the Seals, setting […]
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What music artist is the one that pushes and inspires you? Lori Hi Lori – Harry Nilsson. He was the first to show me that âdoing musicâ didnât have to look a certain way. For example, I thought I had to put out albums and tour 300 days a year to be an artist. But
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How often do you switch up your medium? Do you always write with pen and paper? iPhone Notes app? Old school typewriter? This might sound obvious, but writing is all about transferring informationâthoughts, ideas, conceptsâfrom your brain to someplace outside of your brain. For doing this, each medium has its benefits and detriments. For example,
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How do you play âHeidiâ on guitar? Itâs one of my favorite songs. K Hi K – Here’s a video that I hope helps. One of the chords is a little tricky (at least for me) but lots of fun once you get the hang of it. Also, here’s a chord sheet you can feel
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I know you donât want to be put in a box. It feels limiting. And if you let people put you in a box with a certain label, they wonât understand the breadth of what you offer, right? Youâre not just the catchy pop lyricist; you also write heartfelt ballads. Youâre not just a jazz
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Want a glimpse of what Espe life was like in March? Watch my wife Heidiâs latest âOne Second Every Dayâ video collage. As I mentioned last month, she started taking little snapshots of life that help her notice the beauty in the ordinary.
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What’s the best way for an independent songwriter to go about meeting industry people who will help get their demos in front of ‘major artists’ to be cut? Nathanael Hi Nathanael – I can definitely empathize because I had this exact same question before I moved to Nashville more than ten years ago. Now, to
Who is a musician with whom youâd love to collaborate? – Hojo Hi Hojo –Â Iâll admit, itâs not something Iâve thought much about. But immediately Randy Newman and Paul Simon come to mind. Iâm certainly influenced by both, but it would be amazing to be in a room with them to learn as much
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Sometimes you think you have to reinvent the wheel in your songâs rhyming scheme. But often the most basic form will work. Itâs at least a great starting point. Think of your favorite nursery rhyme. It will likely be four lines rhyming in aabb. For example, as you know (or your parents have failed), âHumpty
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Iâve started selling my watercolor paintings on Bandcamp to help raise money for âUp North,â a concept album about northern Minnesota. If youâd like an original painting, plus a handwritten thank-you, go check them out on the merch page.  View/Buy Paintings >>
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