Songwriters on Songwriting: Season 1 of Eighty Unplugged
It can be difficult to find the words to express what it feels like to be a human in the world, processing all that comes with moving through this life. Music helps to bridge the gap between experiencing and feeling. In choosing the words to set to melodies and rhythms, songwriters make those feelings and observations tangible, accessible. They find a way to show us our humanity.
This work is important, and Season One of Eighty Unplugged sought to illuminate and recognize both the writers and the process. Over eleven episodes, seven writers invited us to explore these ideas further by each performing an especially meaningful song and delving deep into its lyrical content.
Coltt Winter Lepley
She’ll Follow Thee
“ Go with a friend to the willow tree, If she sees you there, she'll follow thee”
Narrative, history, and folklore come to life in the ballad that is “The Ghost of Emmaline Bryn,” by Coltt Winter Lepley. Coltt explained how his love for Pennsylvania folklore and his background as a writer help influence his lyrical choices. Fast, melancholic strums of the acoustic guitar capture the desperation of being haunted by the titular ghost. Coltt performs live across the county, yet still takes time to teach short story writing in his native Berks County, PA. The success of this song proves that the stories we hear and the ones we create are the seeds of good songwriting.
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Jason Olcese
Nothing But Love
“I swear to God that I’ve got nothing but love”
Songwriting acts as an epiphany of self for Jason Olcese, who performed “Nothing but Love” for Eighty Unplugged. A song from his band My Hero Zero, he chose to showcase the raw vulnerability of his younger self coming to terms with having to grow past difficult emotions. The loop pedal beat and spacey synths add depth and breadth to the track. He’s a seasoned writer and performer, and it shows in his ability to revisit a familiar fan favorite and make it new. He gives himself permission to make the music he is passionate about with help from his collaborators and his work at Hero House Studios (formerly Happy Valley Song Lab), the recording studio he co-founded. The authentic self is allowed to change. That’s why “Nothing but Love” remains a staple of MHZ’s catalogue.
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Alyssa Hankey
Meant to Roam
“You can’t break a wild horse that was meant to roam, Somewhere West of the Ohio.”
Alyssa Hankey explained why it’s important to pick up where her ancestors left off, to do what they couldn’t in “West of the Ohio”. Not because they were incapable, but because the settling they had to do in Central Pennsylvania was necessary work that kept them in the region they helped build. Alyssa’s raspy vocal tone sits beautifully over the chords that take us on the journey with her. The life of a live performer affords her the opportunity to travel well beyond Pennsylvania. “West of the Ohio” shows us that when we leave, we take home with us, and we can always come back to appreciate where we’re from.
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Alea Reid
Georgia, Please Don’t Cry
“Goodbye, I’ll still hold you tight, Goodbye, Georgia please don't cry”
Hollidaysburg-based singer Alea Reid uses songwriting to reflect on emotional growth in “Georgia.” Season One featured the first live episode of Eighty Unplugged. Alea gave us the honor of streaming her performance from the MNTG Music and Arts Festival . Having lived in Georgia, the lyrics reflect the movement away from childhood while still allowing space for nostalgia. Her vocals seemed to float like memories over accompanying guitar. A song both hopeful and bittersweet, “Georgia” reminds us that it’s okay to move on in order to move forward.
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Desperate Sounds
In These Hands
“And I'm holding on to what little I've got, Till I've got no more strength in these hands”
What does it mean to remain? Jeremy Gross, who makes music by the name Desperate Sounds, explained that remaining is an active state of being in his episode of Eighty Unplugged. He draws inspiration from the hardships of his own life and the desire to draw attention to the difficult feelings other musicians may not want to address. This is perhaps what made his performance of “I Remain” so impactful. His dynamic vocals and powerful guitar created a tangible sense of resilience and conviction. The weight of speaking or those who need to see their feelings and experiences validated makes songwriting worth it for Jeremy.
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Jimmy Mowery
It Hurts the Same
“Ask Him why I cope this way, Cause the bottles empty, and it hurts the same”
Jimmy Mowery is a seasoned live musician and songwriter who’s made a name for himself both in bars and on television in programs like The Voice. His technical expertise as a graduate of Berklee College blended with his honest, real-world subject matter in his performance of “Damaged Goods.” He went through a time in his life where he struggled with using drinking as a coping mechanism. The song is catchy in a way that doesn’t overshadow the subject matter, showing off his vocal chops and writing ability. Jimmy is sober now and doing well as a traveling live musician. His ability to describe the persistence of how things feel and the coping strategies used to deal with it makes “Damaged Goods” a worthwhile listen.
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Eighty
All I Need is a Moment
“Wait just a second, Let me get a word in, If we can try we might compromise, Cause all I need is a moment of, Moment of hope”
The podcast host, Eighty, filmed several episodes for Season One, but the one that stood out to audiences was the one that featured her husband’s favorite song, “Moment of Hope.” The song is based on conversations she had with her father ten years ago, attempting to express what it was like to have discussions and disagreements as she became her own person. Her father once told her that her music featured so much negative emotion that he wanted to hear “a moment of hope” in her songwriting at some point. The rhythmic repetition of lyrics and chords create a sense of having those conversations with her again and again. Eighty encourages taking the time to explain your perspective in “Moment of Hope.”
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