Nashville; music city is more than words

Few cities support music the way Nashville does.

This city is filled with talent and wired for collaboration. You can grab coffee with a collaborator, dive into a writing session, and end the night at a show, and never drive more than 30-minutes in between. It’s big enough to house world-class creativity, but small enough that people still bump into each other. And those spontaneous moments and chance encounters often lead to magic. 

Some of that magic happens on stages. In East Nashville, backyard studios and venues like The Basement East and The East Room are where new voices emerge. I love going to house shows and discovering fresh talent on a serene summer night. Across the river, The Basement’s Tuesday “New Faces Night” gives up-and-coming artists a spotlight to leave with new fans and collaborators – some of my favorite sets have happened in that intimate room.

The Bluebird Cafe, Exit/In, The End, and the Ryman Auditorium all carry that same spirit in their own way. The Bluebird, in particular, highlights the songwriters – artists often share the stories behind their songs, performing “in the round” in a stripped back setting. And seeing roster artists like Drew Holcomb and Mat Kearney at the Ryman is always magical. Known as the ‘Mother Church of Country Music,’ the room invites artists to honor its history in special ways. I still think about the night Drew Holcomb covered Tom Waits’ “Take It With Me” after sharing a personal story from when he saw Tom perform at the Ryman years ago – it left me speechless, a beautiful nod to both Nashville tradition and one of his favorite songwriters.

At Downtown, we try to mirror that energy. Our Nashville office is a hub for spontaneous conversations that lead to real creative movement. This year, we hosted a writing camp that brought together artists, producers, and writers from across Downtown Artist & Label Services, Downtown Music Publishing, and Songtrust. Those sessions sparked collaborations that continue to grow today.

As an A&R, my job is to help those moments happen. I love setting up writing sessions for roster artists or connecting them with the right producer to shape their sound. When producer Andy Seltzer visited from LA, I introduced him to Abbey Cone. The song they wrote became “Greener,” the title track of Abbey’s latest EP. Another standout moment came when producer Ethan Reginato traveled here from Australia. I connected him with our roster artist Eliza Harrison Smith, and together they created the indie pop anthem “Lost in the City.” Seeing songs like these resonate with fans is a constant reminder that music starts with people and human connection.

This is how Nashville works. People support one another, celebrate each other’s wins, and make things happen.

Nashville is truly Music City — there are so many genres coming out of this town! We work with some incredible country artists, such as Fancy Hagood, Colbie Caillat, and Erin Kinsey. We also work with Nashville-based artists in genres outside of country music, such as Brye, Drew Holcomb and Dylan Brady. I’m President of the organization The Other Nashville Society, which specifically highlights the non-country scene in town. We have year-round programming, including showcases, educational panels, mixers, and “Pass the Aux” events to bring the community together. 

Nashville is a city of people who love the art of music and look out for one another.  At Downtown, we’re proud to be part of that community and to help nurture what’s coming next.