TGIF! Today we shine a spotlight on one of our regular readers (who also succeeded in completing the recent Wednesday-to-Wednesday Challenge!), Brian Kendig.
Brian Kendig
Jarretsville, MD
Have a listen
Songwriting start: “I got started writing songs about the same time I started playing guitar. At first it was poetry to music but as did more songwriting it became something else, more of a challenge to make it a song and get a point across.”
Songwriting habits: “When I could, I would write every morning, whether I wanted to or not, I put aside at least an hour just for writing. That changed after getting married and having children. Anymore it’s when I can find time or when something demands attention. I actually do a lot of my writing while driving anymore. I’ll hear a line that I like or take off on some idea and if it’s good enough, I’ll pull over and write it down. I also use a small cassette tape machine to capture the melodies.”
Songwriting love: “I love it when a song come together, the melody, the chords, the picture I’ve painted with the words, the feeling that others “get it” and understand what I was trying to say and like it.”
Songwriting influences: “I like storyteller songwriters. John Prine, Steve Goodman, Hank Williams, Paul Simon, Guy Clark, and James Taylor and so many more. They have influenced me in in ways that still amaze me. Simplicity, humor, passion, love, love lost, and all of those feelings that we all go through, captured and put to music that you can feel. That’s what songwriting is! I love it!
