the DNA IN EVERY GREAT SONG

I used to believe the story part was optional. Now I know better.

I thought storytelling was just for country songwriters. Or maybe the folk folks. The hardcore bluegrass beasts. You know those songs like Dolly Parton's "Jolene" or The Eagles' "Hotel California." The folk classic "House of the Rising Sun." Even the spiritual "Go Down Moses."

But as someone who's spent decades both in the music industry and crafting stories on the page, I'm convinced of this: the lifeblood of every great song IS the story.

What do I mean by that?

The life in every song begins and ends in the story itself. Maybe your lyrics don't tell an actual story. No plot. No characters. No narrative beginning and ending. Maybe it's a love song. A break-up song. A "feel good" summer anthem that everyone relates to.

But underneath those lyrics? There's a human with a story. The experience and emotion of that human story births the lyric.

The story is the undercurrent of your lyric. It's the sonic landscape where your words come to life. The story is the DNA that gives your words power to connect. To build understanding with your listener. This is what humans were made for, right?

Neuroscientist Paul Zak talks about storytelling's ability to activate the brain's oxytocin. The 'trust molecule.' It increases empathy and connection. When you become a better storyteller, you become someone who cultivates connection and trust.

For artists, here's what happens: Listeners hear your song. They feel connected to the story in it. Or to you, the person delivering it. They begin to trust that you 'get' them. That you're one of their people. This is how listeners become your people.

And your people? They're not just buying your next album. They're showing up to concerts year after year. They're telling their friends about you. They're supporting your career through all the ups and downs because they believe in your story. This connection becomes the foundation of a sustainable music career.

So here's my question for you singer-songwriters: What are you bringing to the table that is uniquely yours? Is what you're writing honest enough to activate that trust molecule in your listener?

Tell me your story. I'm all ears.