Songwriters’ News September 2025

Songwriters’ News – Volume V, Issue 9

Meeting Dates

By Mike Rudquist

Please Note: Going forward, all online Zoom events will use the same Zoom link. Here is a member-only link to our "Member Event Access" page which has the Zoom link:

https://mnsongwriters.org/activities/member-event-access/

Also Note: All monthly MAS online meetings will be held within the same time frame of 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. (This does not include the Minnesota Homebrew Radio Show. See the event listing below for times.)

Monthly Mixer with Doug Millaway
Wednesday, September 3, 2025, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.

This meeting allows for all types of topics to be explored and discussed as it relates to songwriting – the writing process, production, inspiration, the music business – all topics related to the craft, production and business of songwriting. This is a moderated open discussion, and participants are encouraged to share their personal experiences and expertise.

Minnesota Homebrew Radio Show with Carl Unbehaun
Thursdays all month – September 4, 11, 18, 25

Every Thursday evening from 6 to 7 pm, fellow MAS member and radio DJ Carl Unbehaun offers music written and/or performed by Minnesota musicians on his Minnesota Homebrew Radio Show. Radio station KSRQ in Thief River Falls (90.1 FM) streams Carl’s show via the Internet. On the FIRST Thursday of the month, Carl dedicates his entire show to music written by members of the Minnesota Association of Songwriters!

To submit your songs to Carl’s MAS-dedicated show or to have it played on any Thursday night, contact Carl at minnesotahomebrew@gmail.com.

To listen to Minnesota Homebrew on your devices, click here: https://mnsongwriters.org/activities/radio-airplay/.

Rachel Dunlap and Matthew Willson Workshop
Creating a Song from Main Idea to a Chord Progression
Saturday, September 6, Time 2-4 pm
Shoreview Library Community Room

Rachel Dunlap and Matthew Wilson will be co-leading a workshop on Saturday, September 6th on creating a song from main idea to chord progression. (A workshop on writing melodies will follow in November.) It will be in the Community Program Room at the Shoreview Library from 2-4pm. Matthew Wilson is a current MAS member and piano teacher at Saint Joseph’s School of Music-Saint Paul Conservatory of Music. He holds a doctorate in Musical Arts from the University of Alabama. If you are interested in connecting with other MAS members in-person and getting more ideas for creating original chord progressions for your songs, then this workshop would be a good fit for you. We would love to see you there! If you can, bring your instrument.

For questions, email rachelsaysit@gmail.com

Online Round Robin Song Share with Paul Nye
Wednesday, September 10 6:30 – 8:30 pm

This is a laid-back, come as you are type get together with fellow songwriters to share your songs in a take turns fashion either performing live via zoom or with a recorded version of your songs. Just for fun and just to get together and play. Even if you want to just join in to listen, this is the place for you!

Monthly Online Song Review Session Hosted by Doug Millaway
Wednesday, September 24 – 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm

This is our general information and song review meeting. You are welcome to play an original song in any phase of its development or completion for purposes of potentially improving it based on feedback received.

Please refrain from submitting songs you do not intend to change from feedback given. You’re welcome to share those in our Round Robin Song session above.

Our review sessions are one of the best opportunities to help you learn and improve your craft. Giving feedback on other writers’ songs, and listening to others doing the same, is a great teaching tool.

You may submit your song’s audio and-or lyrics only for review up to the time of the review session. Please note, we are limited in the songs we can fit in, so you’ll want to watch for the email announcement to submit them and get it in early. Please do not submit songs prior to the announcement to avoid missing out.

We will play an MP3 of your song directly in the room. While MP3s played digitally in the room are generally easier for people to hear, they are not required for feedback. We’ll also accept lyrics only.

Find more detail, go to our Song Review Meeting page on our website: https://mnsongwriters.org/activities/meetings.

UPCOMING WORKSHOPS

UPCOMING WORKSHOP ANNOUNCEMENT

We’re thrilled to announce a special songwriting workshop with award-winning Nashville hitmaker Kent Blazy, taking place on Tuesday, October 7 from 7 – 9 p.m. via Zoom.
Moderators: Wayne Hamilton and Paul Nye

This is a rare chance to hear firsthand how some of country music’s biggest songs came to life.

Whether you’re a seasoned writer or just starting out, this session promises to inspire and spark new creativity.

👉 Open to MAS members and guests. Don’t miss it!

Zoom Link: Kent Blazy Event

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86484232098?pwd=TWKYE8qr7cUgj6RJjNbrNCOR90eVfX.1

🎵 ABOUT KENT BLAZY
Kent Blazy is a celebrated Nashville songwriter with seven #1 hits, best known for his longtime collaboration with Garth Brooks. Together, they penned Garth’s first chart-topping single, “If Tomorrow Never Comes,” along with hits like “Ain’t Goin’ Down (‘til the Sun Comes Up)” and “She’s Gonna Make It.”

Originally from Lexington, Kentucky, Kent’s early success came with Gary Morris’s Top 5 hit “Headed for a Heartache.” His songs have been recorded by Reba McEntire, Patty Loveless, Diamond Rio, Chris Young, Kenny Chesney, and many others. His more recent #1 hit, “Gettin’ You Home (The Black Dress Song),” recorded by Chris Young, is a fan favorite.

Kent also joined fellow songwriting legends Tony Arata, Pat Alger, and Kim Williams on A Songwriters’ Tribute to Garth Brooks and continues to write with both industry veterans and emerging artists—shaping the sound of modern country music.

🗣 ABOUT THE WORKSHOP
This is not a traditional song review session. Instead, it’s a rare opportunity for MAS members to hear Kent’s insights on his career, creative process, co-writing relationships—and yes, we’ll likely talk a bit about Garth.

We hope you’ll join us for this rare chance to learn directly from one of Nashville’s finest.

Paul Nye,
paulenye@me.com
President, Minnesota Association of Songwriters

Doug Millaway
Mill Away Publishing
Blind Owl Studio

President's Message

Who Will Remember the Music You’ve Created?
By Paul Nye, MAS President

Picture this: a man stands in front of a garage crammed floor to ceiling with boxes, tools, and keepsakes—items he treasures, though to others they may look like nothing but junk. With his arm around his adult son, he says, “Just think, son… someday all this will be yours.

That scene hits close to home, doesn’t it? It raises a question worth asking: Do our children even want what we’re planning to leave behind? What holds deep meaning for us may carry little or no value for them.

The same is true of our songs. What will happen to the music we’ve poured our hearts into? I often hear songwriters say, “I’m doing this for my children and grandchildren.” But have you ever asked them if they actually want your music? They may nod with polite interest, but for how long—and is it genuine, or just to make us feel good?

That’s a sobering thought. As artists, it’s natural to feel proud of what we’ve created; we may even wonder why the world hasn’t recognized it. But eventually, we all face the reality: we are each just a line between two dates—our date of birth and our date of death. We’re like gnats blown on the wind, a fly on yesterday’s newspaper, or flowers that bloom brightly today but fade tomorrow.

So why do we create? Think about the countless hours you’ve invested in your songwriting. Then think about the “payback.” I put that word in quotes because it isn’t just about money. Sometimes the return is recognition, sometimes connection, and sometimes it’s simply the act of creating itself.

Here’s the truth: we are grains of sand on an endless shore, yet we are also passionate creators. We write because something inside us compels us to. But what if no one ever heard your songs? What if you shared them and no one responded? What if the only recognition came from yourself? Would it still be worth it?

I believe it would.

Here’s my challenge to you this month: Write a song just for yourself—and don’t share it. Create something that soothes, comforts, and encourages you…something that feeds your soul. You may discover that the greatest value of your music isn’t in who remembers it after you’re gone, but in how it sustains and shapes you while you’re here.

And if, along the way, someone else happens to be moved by what you’ve created—that’s simply a beautiful bonus.

Editor's Note

By Mary Kealy-Falk

Welcome to September! Back to school, back to comfortable weather temps, and back to business. And as songwriters, we hope it means autumn inspiration providing us with the incentive, desire, and possibly some creative desperation to get back into the groove of doing what it takes to get those song sparks to come alive again. So let’s all do what we need to do and write some of the best songs we’ve ever written – just because!

And don’t forget to look at what’s happening in this issue of the MAS Newsletter. President Paul Nye writes in praise of the idea of sometimes writing songs just for yourself. Doug Millaway’s article is about familiar rhyme schemes coming from each music genre. As he says, “Rhyme schemes aren’t random. They’re fingerprints of the genre.”

We also have several MAS members sharing their upcoming performances of their original songs and songwriting workshops in “Putting it Out There”.
There is also a great songwriting workshop coming up in October with hit songwriter Kent Blazy online through Zoom available to all MAS members. Check out all the details of this event as well as all September events in the Meeting Dates listings above. Hope you enjoy this month’s news!

Website Information
Richard Schletty, MAS Webmaster

Here is the link to past Songwriters' News newsletters: https://mnsongwriters.org/category/songwriters-news

Also note that I have been posting the newsletter to our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/masrocks/

Contact me if you have suggestions for getting the word out about MAS.

Richard Schletty
Schletty Design • schlettydesign.com
Schletty Sound • schlettysound.com
rschletty@schletty.com

Putting It Out There

Rebecca Aadland

Hi Fellow Songwriters,

I’m very excited to announce that I will be performing with my big band on Sunday, September 28th at the Icehouse in Minneapolis. It’s a stellar group of musicians including Tommy Barbarella, who played keyboards for PRINCE! We’re also celebrating the release of my new single and video titled, I Could Use A Miracle, produced by Kevin Bowe. The Icehouse is a very cool venue with good food. I’d love to see you there. Here’s a sneak preview of the track:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1gdwrqNxmFsUqkF06uTrAqb72eqkNiKQe/view?usp=drive_link

Ticket sales are open, and seats are going fast. I’d love to see you there! Here’s the link:
Shows – Icehouse
icehouse.turntabletickets.com

Paul Vance

I wanted to let you know that I will be the featured writer for Twin Cities Songwriters Circle at Rail Werks Brewery in Columbia Heights on Monday, September 8. The show begins at 6:30 and goes until 8:00 pm. I will also be releasing a song called "Fire" on all streaming platforms sometime in September.
Thanks, and take care.
Paul V

Sarah Peterson

Autumn Songwriters Showcase
Satuday, September 20 at 7:00PM
St. Mane Theatre, Lanesboro, MN
TICKETS: https://sarahpetersonmusic.com/event/6198700/730295492/fall-songwriters-showcase
Cost: $15 through September 12th / $20 after September 12th or at door
Step into the cozy atmosphere of the St. Mane Theatre on Saturday, September 20th, for a night where stories and songs come alive in true Nashville songwriter’s round tradition. Experience the passion and vulnerability of four gifted songwriters as they open their hearts on stage and pull you happily into their creative space. From Jeremy Jewell’s soulful acoustic melodies inspired by legends like Bob Dylan, to Mark Ross’s powerful Americana storytelling with a rock edge; from the intimate husband-and-wife songwriting duo Tim & Julie Little crafting clever ballads and heartfelt tunes about everyday life, to Sarah Peterson’s fearless voice bringing songs to life on stage and screen — this showcase promises a rich, emotional journey through roots, rock, love, and resilience.

Songwriting Workshop: So You Wrote a Song…Now What?
September 20th at 2pm
St. Mane Theatre, Lanesboro, MN
Register: https://sarahpetersonmusic.com/event/6191907/729611875/workshop-so-you-wrote-a-song-now-what
Cost: $5
Are you a songwriter? Are you interested in figuring out what to do with the songs you’ve written? There is also a workshop on September 20th. Cost: only $5/person. You've got songs you're proud of—maybe even a hard drive full of them. But how do you go from “unfinished idea” to “released artist”? This beginner-friendly workshop is your starting point. We’ll explore how to record your music (whether it’s in your bedroom or at a studio), build your brand, distribute your tracks to streaming platforms, and actually get your songs heard. If you’re ready to move beyond the notebook and into the world, this is your chance to take that first step—with support, guidance, and a clear path forward.

Sarah
Songwriter, Photographer
Phone: 507.421.9906
Instagram: @sarahpetersonmusic
Facebook: @sarahpetersonmusicmn

The Connection: Music Genres and Rhyme

By Doug Millaway

In our review sessions for MAS, the group seems to pay a lot of attention to rhyming as a key part of a song. The thing is, it goes deeper than that. There are definite connections between various styles of music and the rhyming structure of the songs.

Have you ever noticed how some songs practically tell you what the rhyme’s gonna be before it hits? That’s not lazy writing—it’s the genre doing what it’s built to do. Different styles of music lean on different rhyme patterns, and once you start paying attention, you’ll hear it everywhere. Let’s take a quick tour.

Country songs keep things simple, because the story’s the star. Garth Brooks’ “Friends in Low Places” does it straight: “I showed up in boots / And ruined your black-tie affair.” Nothing fancy, just enough rhyme to carry the tale along.

Folk music plays it loose. Bob Dylan’s “Blowin’ in the Wind” drifts between rhyme and free verse, more like a conversation than a poem. Folk doesn’t force a rhyme—it lets it happen when it feels right.

Rock doesn’t care about rules. Sometimes it rhymes, sometimes it doesn’t—whatever serves the energy. Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit” hits you with “With the lights out, it’s less dangerous / Here we are now, entertain us.” That slant rhyme isn’t perfect, but it doesn’t need to be. It’s raw, it’s urgent, it works.

Pop music loves clean, predictable rhymes. That’s why choruses are so easy to remember. Taylor Swift’s “Shake It Off” is a perfect example: “players gonna play… haters gonna hate.” You knew the line before she even sang it, and that’s the point—it’s built to stick.

As a stretch for this group, let's study hip-hop and rap. This is a whole different ball game. Here, the rhyme isn’t just at the end—it’s inside the line, wrapped around it, stacked on top of itself. Think Eminem in “Lose Yourself”: “His palms are sweaty, knees weak, arms are heavy.” The rhymes move like a drumbeat. It’s rhythm and poetry all at once.

Then you’ve got the blues, which has its own classic formula: AAB. Say a line, repeat it, and then land the rhyme. Robert Johnson’s “Sweet Home Chicago” nails it—first two lines set the stage; third line brings it home. It’s repetition as catharsis.

So, here’s the big picture: rhyme schemes aren’t random. They’re fingerprints of the genre. Pop wants predictability, rap thrives on complexity, country goes for clarity, and blues works through repetition. Once you know what to listen for, you’ll start hearing the rhyme patterns as clearly as the chords.