ION INDIE MAGAZINE October 2015, Volume 17 | Page 67

Chad: Kelli and I met at a singing contest in Knoxville about 9 years ago. They had rounds to go through and
we both made the top ten, but Kelli ended winning. That was a good thing though. If I had won she wouldn't
have went out on our date, I don't think. Ha ha! After that first date, the rest is history. We were married a
couple years later and here we are today still singing. We've advanced past the Karaoke now though. :)
Kiki: I talk to a lot of aspiring artists, both for the magazine and the agency I represent. For some reason-especially Country artists--believe they need to be in Nashville to be “discovered”. I think you have a
Nashville “war story”, Chad…
Chad: Well, I have a few Nashville war stories. I don't personally believe you have to be in Nashville to make
it in the industry. You just have to make great music and have a great live show and you can make fans
anywhere, in my opinion. One story comes to mind--Kelli had googled at least a hundred publishing
company phone numbers for me at one time. I was willing to do anything to get someone to hear my songs,
so I just sat down and “cold called” them all. Got the same response from everyone. "I'm sorry, we do not
accept unsolicited material."…click. One out of a hundred let me come play her some music. The publishing
company is closed now, but I remember the name—CHERRY HEART PUBLISHING. I played her a few songs
the next week, and she blasted me and my songs. One direct quote I remember, "This song is so bad I
wouldn't even take it home and work on it. Just forget you ever wrote it. This stuff might work to play for your
friends and family, but it won't work here." It's funny, looking back now, I needed to hear that. Song writing
is a craft you have to hone over years of work. If you've written 30 songs and you think you've got a hit in
there, you're most likely wrong. Write a thousand and then maybe you'll have a few worthy of radio play. Just
my opinion. Sorry for the ramble. :)
Kiki: Chad, I know you also do some songwriting for some top artists, can you talk about that a bit…and how
you made that happen—and how did you crack “Music Row”?
Chad: Well, I've written with some of Nashville's best songwriters, not any big artists to speak of, really. I've
written with some super talented dudes who have scored cuts with KENNY CHESNEY, GARY ALLEN, TRACY
BYRD, JASON ALDEAN and more. As far as how I got in a position to do that, one word, persistence. BMI,
ASCAP, and SESAC are kind of the gatekeepers to Music Row. I got in touch with a lady at SESAC--or I got
her number--I should say. I then proceeded to call every day for about 6 months until I got a meeting with
her. I had a few songs I had written and professionally recorded so I went back nervously to play my songs
for another Music Row lady. I had been working hard on my songs and it went better this time. She liked a
couple of them enough to give me some publisher contacts. She emailed them and let them know I'd be
calling--which deemed me "solicited". I wrote for another year or so and would set up meetings with those
publishers when I thought I had songs good enough to play for them. During my meetings I could always
hear writers upstairs playing acoustic guitars and writing songs. I wanted up there so bad I could taste it,
and finally, after a year and change, one of the publishers took me upstairs and introduced me to what would
be my first Music Row co-write, COLE DEGGES. We've now written over a hundred songs together and are
good friends to this day actually. Several other publishers ended up doing the same thing for me as time
went on, and I've written a bunch on “the row” and continue to do so today.
Kiki: I would like to hear your view on Country music and the genre’s current direction. Also, I’d like to hear
from Kelli specifically, regarding the recent controversy-sparking statement by a self-proclaimed know-itall that females are “the tomatoes” in a Country salad of sorts—and tha t if Country stations want to garner
listeners they need to remove female artists from their rotation. I have a feeling that you have an opinion on
that!