Love Songs.

Most of us hear at least 2-5 songs an hour on the radio that sing about the subject that is the dreaded L word, Love. I typically avoid writing love songs, because I am not in love and honestly never have been, but I do create songs based on the idea of love or listening to my co-writer's experiences they would like to write about. Writing about love is such a universal topic, its what everyone wants to feel, and what everyone wants to give. Writing honestly about love or the idea of love, I always commend my co writers for being so open with their stories, because it takes courage to open up and allow that vulnerability or that pain or that fear or that joy come through in a song. I think I get envious of them some days for allowing themselves to fall, I for one have always been the girl thats never been open to the idea of love. I recall my earlier days and distinctly remember in the 6th grade when Sheldon Burkholder had a crush on me, I went up to him and in my stern voice adamantly said "STOP LIKING ME", it worked. I recalled several boyfriends I had where two days into the relationship I was like okay this isn't working, or having boyfriends and not making plans or talking to them for days. I guess in a sense Ive always been extremely guarded with my heart, so its easier for me to create these ideas of love but never relate to some songs I have been a part of. I admire songs that are all in and extremely personal about love, one of my favorite co-writers who shall remain nameless is a few years younger than me and I am always envious of her ability to express her vulnerability in our writing sessions, I wish I could be that open. I think love songs are underrated in music because everyone expects people to write about love, I think there is something to be said for those of you who take the bold step to be open in your music, and I commend you. Next time you guys hear a love song, really listen to the words and the story being told, I think we can all be open to really listening and appreciating a good love song.

Welcome to the World............

WHO's this girl? Its Jess! Lyricist living in Nashville, this will consists of lyrics, songs, and co-write features. Just helping you guys join the ride that is me navigating Nashville one day at a time....so where to start? I got started writing in a small town, never knowing that writing could be a career. I wrote my thoughts, fell in love with poetry, and starting rhyming words to help me fall asleep and realized I had a knack for writing, but kept it hidden. In a small town having big dreams or big talents is hard to expose and I wasnt sure where I fit in with exposing myself. I wasnt sure how to expose myself, most of my writing was very personal and dark and I was afraid to show people I had feelings and leave myself open and vulnerable so I kept it to myself, until a high school creative writing class where we had to share stories and then pick someone else's story to write a poem about. A girl was bold enough to share that she had been raped as a child, and it struck a chord with me. I was inspired and wrote a poem called Monster, which my teacher submitted and it got published in a poetry book. I realized then the ability as writer we have the ability to put people's stories to life in a way that can they may not be not be able to express themselves. It was a defining moment for me, and its where it all started. Trying to figure out where to put my talent was the hardest part for me, books? magazines? newspaper?---not creative enough for my brain. Insert Nashville, years later, insert Emily Heggan, insert career path navigated. Speaking of Emily Heggan, we had an amazing write with Ragan Hoffman today, here is a lyrical snippet of our song "Pull Away" "I pull away like a freight train running late, west bound by morning, I pull away like mustang trying to be tamed for the rodeo, Shut it down like the lights in this town when it gets dark like rain to a flame, I burn out the spark, I pull away" For some of my tunes check out: