Songwriter Trysts – Details, episodes & analysis

🌟 NEW PODCAST EPISODE OUT NOW!
Join Rae Leigh on the Songwriter Trysts podcast as she sits down with the one and only 8 Ball Aitken for an insightful and entertaining deep dive into his remarkable journey in music. From growing up in Australia to carving out a career as a songwriter and session musician in Nashville, 8 Ball shares the real stories behind the music and his signature swamp-blues sound.

🎤 In this episode, they explore:

🎶 Life and creativity in Nashville's vibrant music scene
🎸 The evolution of his unique swamp-blues style
📀 The story behind his new album Ice Cream Man 2, featuring the track "The Friends We Make"
🎉 Details about the upcoming Mt Coot-tha Songwriters Festival this May

📅 Join Us at the Mt Coot-tha Songwriters Festival!
Celebrate the craft of songwriting in the stunning Mt Coot-tha Botanic Gardens, Brisbane. Enjoy live performances and workshops with artists including 8 Ball Aitken and Rae Leigh. A perfect day out for music lovers and creators alike!

📍 Event Details:
🗓️ Date: Sunday, 25 May 2025
📍 Location: Mt Coot-tha Botanic Gardens, Brisbane
🎟️ Tickets & Info: https://events.humanitix.com/mt-coot-...
📘 Facebook Event: /18qtdbo5uc

👇 Stay Connected & Show Your Support:

🔗 Follow 8 Ball Aitken:
🌐 Website: 8ballaitken.com
📘 Facebook: /8ballaitkenmusic
📸 Instagram: /8ballaitkenmusic
🎵 Bandcamp: 8ballaitken.bandcamp.com
📺 YouTube: /8ballaitken

🔗 Follow Songwriter Trysts:
🌐 Website: songwritertrysts.com
📘 Facebook: /songwritertrysts
📸 Instagram: /songwritertrysts
🎧 Podcast: Listen on Podbean
📺 YouTube: /@songwritertrysts

💬 We’d love your feedback!
Let us know in the comments what you thought of the episode and who you’d love to see featured next.

#8BallAitken #SongwriterTrysts #RaeLeigh #TheFriendsWeMake #NashvilleSongwriter #AussieMusic #MtCootthaFestival #IndependentArtist #SongwritingCommunity #PodcastEpisode

In this heartfelt episode of Songwriter Trysts hosted by singer-songwriter Rae Leigh, Ester Wiesnerova, composer and Recording Academy member, takes us on a journey from her roots in Slovakia to the vibrant music scene of New York City. With a powerful story of resilience, Ester shares how she was influenced by her mother’s political and spiritual songwriting, and how music became her tool for connection and healing. From performing in prisons and psychiatric hospitals to overcoming language barriers and funding her studies at Berklee College of Music, Ester's passion for jazz and composition has been the driving force behind her remarkable career. Tune in for an inspiring conversation about the transformative power of music and the determination to follow one's creative path.

connect with Ester:

• Website
• Instagram

• YouTube

In this special episode of the Songwriter Trysts podcast, Rae Leigh sits down with an incredible vocal coach who reached out earlier today with some pressing questions about grant writing. Rather than keeping this valuable conversation private, they decided to share the insights on air for the benefit of our audience. Together, they delve into the top 5 things to think about when applying for an arts grant in Australia, focusing on music development, skill enhancement, and touring opportunities. Listen in as they discuss essential tips, provide expert advice, and highlight key considerations to help you navigate the grant application process successfully. Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned professional, this episode offers valuable guidance to elevate your grant proposals and maximize your chances of securing funding for your musical projects. Don't miss out on this informative and engaging conversation, packed with practical advice and real-world examples to inspire and assist you in your grant writing journey. Tune in now and learn how to turn your musical dreams into reality with the support of Australian arts grants! Connect in with Rebekah Axe through her facebook page HERE or email her on Rebekah.axe@hotmail.com

Tania Kernaghan, Australian country music royalty sat down with Rae Leigh in this podcast to talk about her incredible songwriting journey and share golden nuggets of wisdom she has picked up along her way. Sharing her new project Tania Kernaghan online Club and new music with a friend of the show Ginna Jefferies. Shows and tours in 2022 so make sure you don't miss out.

Their new single featured in this song - My Old Friend 

Connect with Tania,

• Website
• Facebook
• Instagram
• Spotify
• Youtube

Roger Corbett is the general manager of the Australian Country Music Academy and a member of the 40+-year-old band the Bushwackers. He has a wealth of experience and knowledge with performance, songwriting, co-writing, teaching, mentoring, production, and music business all of which we go into in this podcast. Roger has some great advice and stories on his early years and how it has evolved over time and that he continues to have fun in this business no matter what he is doing. Most importantly he shares the importance of making time for one’s self to sit down and write even if it’s just an hour a week.

Featured in the podcast - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgRxVl3L3ZRpY8B8ZbyLZLA - Another Trip to Bunnings

Connect with Roger and the Bushwackers:

• Website
• Australian Country Music Academy
• Facebook
• Twitter
• YouTube
• Spotify

Christina Holmes and Rae Leigh chat about working as an independent artist and the persistence and attitude that keeps it real for musicians who just want to work. Working mother and on the road touring for over 13 years, Covid and the world stopping has enabled some silver light situations allowing for other areas of Christina's life but she also was able to take advantage of the online streaming opportunity as well.

It documents the typically unseen splendor of struggle and offers the encouragement to forge ahead. Christina Holmes does so on her aptly titled third independent full-length album, The Beautiful Struggle [Cove House Records]. The New Jersey-born and Rhode Island-based singer, songwriter, and Cove House Records founder threads together stories of love and life across eleven alternative folk anthems united by her confessional lyricism and instrumental proficiency on guitar, bass, djembe, and piano.

Featured in this podcast music from this music video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=59AeVjIyBAE

Connect with Christina:

• Website
• Facebook
• Instagram
• Twitter
• Spotify
• YouTube

See more on www.songwritertrysts.com

James Johnston is an incredible artist that shares his humbling story of what it was like to go through the highs and lows of a reality TV show Australian Idol as a singer and performer and how the journey and passion for songwriting drew him into starting all over again inspired by a accidental stop over in Nashville. 

Throughout his teens, James and his family spent most weekends travelling with Johnston performing on any stage that would take him. In 2008, James graduated from high school and gave himself a year to ‘give music a crack’. James bought a van and set out on the great Australian road trip, playing in every little town and pub he could find. Johnston’s undeniable talent and high-energy live show, paired with his hardworking and humble attitude, has declared him the one to watch coming out of Australia. 

 Connect with James: 

• Website
• Facebook
• Instagram 
• TikTok 
• YouTube 
• Spotify

Hudson Rose and Rae Leigh talk about her country life upbringing, ‘fake it till you make it’ she says as she was walking down Peel St at the Tamworth Country Music Festival holding her mini Maton guitar and dressed for the part of a country singer-songwriter. Hudson is a true beauty inside and out and quickly became the rose of country music in Australia with her pop-driven country music. She shares her passions, advice from her mum, and journey working with producers in Melbourne.

Featured in this episode is her single Drivin To You

Connect with Adam:

• Website
• Spotify
• Facebook
• Instagram
• YouTube

Adam Brand and Rae Leigh talk about his new single Still The One and his interesting upbringing in Perth, Adams detective, “007” Mum and why he switched to guitar at 17 and after married and divorced he sold everything and moved to Sydney in his old Falcon ute to give it a good go at being a Country Music singer.  Within 2 years of doing so was nominated for 5 golden guitars and was on his way to the long and successful career he has today.

Featured in this episode is his single 'Still The One'

Connect with Adam:

• Website
• Spotify
• Facebook
• Instagram
• Twitter
• YouTube

Jaimey Hamilton developed cancer as a child and was in and out of hospital until age 12 having a bone marrow transplant and is now cancer free. She used songwriting as a form of release and healing while she was riding the wave of her treatment and emotional state. She claims that music and the support of the people around her and her family have helped her stay strong and kept positive.

Connect with Jaimey:

• Website
• Spotify
• Facebook
• Instagram
• Twitter
• YouTube