Latest Todd murray Podcast Episodes

Episode 12: Art Is Just a Choice

Tools of Songwriting - August 24, 2023 15:00 - 6 minutes
Today's episode is about simplifying your art into small choices. I talk a bit about one of my favorite movies of all time and about how terrible I was in art class as a child. I hope it helps you in some way. If you'd like to subscribe to the mailing list you can go here: https://toolsofsongw...

Episode 11: Tristan Dougherty

Tools of Songwriting - April 27, 2023 18:00 - 42 minutes
Tristan Dougherty is a folk musician in Richmond, Virginia, whose songs combine meditative, finger-style guitar playing with warm, illuminative lyrics. He's been a huge support to the Richmond, VA songwriter community over the past few years.  On today's show, he provides some great insight into...

Episode 10: Mackenzie Roark

Tools of Songwriting - February 09, 2023 20:00 - 52 minutes
Today I have a very special guest on the show.  I'm here with Richmond, VA musician Mackenzie Roark. Mackenzie has a  cool country sound in the vein of songwriters that I've always admired like Lucinda Williams, Gillian Welch, Whiskeytown, and Bob Dylan, and classic singers like Patsy Cline and ...

Episode 9: Analog vs Digital

Tools of Songwriting - January 19, 2023 21:00 - 6 minutes
In today's episode, I talk about my writing process and the idea of being creative in an analog vs digital way. They're both useful, but I've found, that when I sit down at the computer the ideas can just dry up. Very quickly. I hope you enjoy the episode. More interviews coming soon! If you'd ...

Episode 8: Mindset

Tools of Songwriting - September 11, 2022 21:00 - 10 minutes
In today's episode, I talk about the amazing book "Mindset: The New Psychology of Success" by Carol Dweck. I think some of the ideas in that book can be really helpful when you're writing songs. Here is the infographic that I currently have hanging on my wall: https://www.mindsetworks.com/scienc...

Episode 7: Word Vomit

Tools of Songwriting - December 16, 2020 21:00 - 6 minutes
On today's episode of Tools of Songwriting, I'm talking about word vomit and how useful it can be to songwriters. I've been doing it off and on for years and it always helps me clear out my brain so the good stuff can come out. I hope it helps you with that and more. https://toolsofsongwriting....

Episode 6: Mitchel Evan

Tools of Songwriting - October 15, 2020 13:00 - 43 minutes
On today's show, we have my friend, Mitchel Evan. He's a Richmond, VA musician who plays solo and with his band Mitchel Evan and the Saboteurs. Mitchel shares some really great insight into his writing process and his journey as a songwriter. I hope you enjoy the episode. He and the band have a ...

Episode 5: Judith Avers

Tools of Songwriting - August 18, 2020 02:00 - 48 minutes
On today's show, we have my friend, Judith Avers. Judith is one of my favorite people and has really helped me out over the years. Not only in songwriting, but in how to navigate the music business. She's played music all over the place and has even opened up for another one of my favorite songw...

Episode 4: Jeremy Davis of Elonzo Wesley

Tools of Songwriting - August 06, 2020 03:00 - 50 minutes
Jeremy Davis fronts the Charlotte, NC band Elonzo Welsey. I lived in Charlotte for 5 years and Elonzo Wesley was one of my favorite bands from that city. Jeremy's soulful southern voice reminds me a little bit of My Morning Jacket with a hint of Bob Dylan during his "Nashville Skyline" phase. Ha...

Episode 3: The Resistance

Tools of Songwriting - August 03, 2020 01:00 - 5 minutes
The resistance is a term from one of my favorite books The War of Art by Steven Pressfield. I was looking at my bookshelf the other day and this book popped out, like it has countless times before. A big part of songwriting is just getting out of your own way. Steven gives the thing that's stand...

Episode 2: Jay Patton

Tools of Songwriting - July 30, 2020 23:00 - 32 minutes
Tools of Songwriting is a website and podcast geared towards giving people the tools that they need to express themselves through writing their own music. It's for beginner to advanced musicians and has simple, understandable, and practical tips for everyone. Today I'm talking with Jay Patton. ...

Episode 1: Steal Like a Pro

Tools of Songwriting - July 28, 2020 02:00 - 5 minutes
Today's songwriting tips come from one of my favorite books of all time by Austin Kleon called "Steal Like an Artist" I grew up thinking that artists were just completely original and if you borrowed anything from anyone you weren't a real artist. This book argues that there's a correct way to d...