Pursuing the Rhythm: Exploring the World of An Independent Musician ft. Wyatt Edmondson

This podcast episode from 'Curious Goldfish' features a deep-dive conversation with singer-songwriter Wyatt Edmondson as he opens up about his journey as an independent musician, overcoming vision limitations, and finding meaningful ways to connect to his audiences.

The dialogue further expands to encompass the business side of independent music, detailing innovative ways Edmondson has used to generate income and build his brand. The discussion is split into two acts: firstly, Edmondson's financial strategies and business acumen and secondly, his dedication towards producing art that positively impacts the culture. The musician also discusses the unique challenges he has faced due to his visual impairment and how the experience has guided his pursuit of a musical career. The episode ends with a couple of songs performed by Wyatt Edmondson.

00:09 Introduction and Personal Journey

01:11 The Curious Goldfish Podcast

01:53 The Business of Being an Independent Musician

02:13 The Impact of Visual Impairment on Music Career

02:35 Live Performance and Conversation with Wyatt Edmondson

05:12 The Business Side of Music: Revenue Streams and Marketing

23:09 The Power of Music and Personal Growth

29:46 The Role of Faith in Music

31:46 Future Goals and Aspirations

33:31 Live Performance and Conclusion

/We started playing and right about the time that was getting

2

serious I found out about my, eye

condition, my diagnosis, and, I think

3

in that moment, I know actually, God

spoke to me, and, it was sort of a

4

realization of, You've been met with

this challenge, but here's something that

5

you'll never be hindered by your vision

to do, and that's to play and sing.

6

And so I just continued to try to find

new ways to make it work, but the art

7

inspired that.

8

And I wrote my first song

when I was probably 16.

9

And, I just remember the high that

I got from that, and then hearing

10

my first song played by a band.

11

And then hearing my first song recorded,

and then hearing my first song on the

12

radio, you know, like all those things.

13

It just, it never gets old, you know?

14

Jason English (Host): Welcome to

Curious Goldfish, a podcast community

15

where music and curiosity come together

through interesting conversations

16

with the music makers of our world.

17

I'm your host, Jason English.

18

You can find Curious Goldfish and all the

major podcasts and social media platforms.

19

And of course we have all of our

content on our website, curiousgoldfish.

20

com.

21

My conversation with singer

songwriter Wyatt Edmondson

22

ended up being a two act play.

23

And I hope you find each equally

interesting and educational.

24

The first 20 minutes or so we go deep

on the business of being an independent

25

musician and preparing for the interview.

26

And through this conversation, I'm

extremely impressed by why it's approached

27

to generating revenue for himself.

28

Many artists aren't as

disciplined as he is.

29

And I think you'll be surprised

by his creativity and tenacity.

30

He knows how to hustle.

31

The second part is centered around his

music and how his visual impairment

32

fueled his pursuit of a career in music.

33

You can't help but admire his intentional

focus on making good art that will

34

have a positive impact on our culture.

35

Wyatt wraps us up with two live songs,

36

album, and the other is an unreleased

song he co wrote with Sarah Peacock.

37

Here's Alabama fan and current

Nashville resident Wyatt Edmondson.

38

Let's dive in.

39

Wyatt, thanks for joining.

40

Wyatt Edmondson: Yeah, man.

41

Thank you, Jason.

42

Appreciate it.

43

Jason English (Host): We're in Florida.

44

It's the middle of January.

45

We're here for 30A Songwriters Festival.

46

You've been here before, right?

47

Wyatt Edmondson: Yes, actually,

this is my 7th year here.

48

Yeah, I got in really early when

I was still in college and I mean,

49

I've literally grown up with this

festival, It's seen me and I've

50

seen it change in so many ways.

51

And, uh, I've experienced a lot of growth

as a result of being involved with Russell

52

Carter and, and just the 30 a fest and

some of the other things that he's put on.

53

And it's just allowed me a lot of

great opportunities very thankful

54

ZOOM0047_TrLR: to

55

Jason English (Host): mingle Yeah.

56

What about it has enabled that growth?

57

the other artists.

58

And also

59

Wyatt Edmondson: getting to

60

know, i think mostly it's connections,

getting to mingle with some of the

61

other artists and, also getting to

know the people with Russell Carter

62

artist management and, some of the other

opportunities that have come out of this

63

like other songwriters festivals that you

get to Fest on the resume and then and

64

me to get into some other Opportunities

as well some other festivals This past

65

year Russell had me be a part of the

30 a songwriters festival showcase at

66

Americana Fest in Nashville I've been

writing songs with some of the You know,

67

really accomplished songwriters that

frequent this festival, like Jeffrey

68

Steele, Adam Hood, and plenty of others.

69

Those are all people that I've met at

these types of events, so, you know,

70

That's good.

71

In terms of, festivals,

you know, question.

72

I like folks if you had the responsibility

of putting on an evening at a festival

73

and you had acts to in the lineup.

74

Who would you it the card?

75

what's my budget?

76

It's unlimited And it doesn't have

to be the same genre like it's

77

your it's it's Wyatt's show Do

they all have to be alive still?

78

Jason English (Host): No

79

Wyatt Edmondson: let's bring up Bruce

Springsteen and the E Street Band and

80

maybe, uh, resurrect Jimi Hendrix from

the dead and then we'll have Bob Marley

81

finish it off, you know, those are, those

are of my absolute favorites I would be

82

front, front and center the whole time.

83

I would not do anything

but enjoy the music.

84

So it probably would

be pretty unorganized.

85

Just.

86

Jason English (Host): Hey man,

would be a hell of a festival

87

I wonder how much merch would go for that

88

Wyatt Edmondson: I don't know.

89

You could put all their

faces on the same shirt.

90

I would wear it every day.

91

You know,

92

Jason English (Host): that's All right.

93

Good answer.

94

That was good.

95

That was good.

96

So one thing I'm, I'm curious about

97

, I'm not part of the music industry.

98

But you're an independent artist.

99

Wyatt Edmondson: Yep.

100

Jason English (Host): managing

a business day to day, I guess.

101

Can you walk us through some of

the details around, how do you

102

generate the top line revenue?

103

When you wake you wake up every day,

104

You have to worry your art.

105

It'sbut you've gotta also pay the bills

106

can going you walk us through

what that, looks like, from

107

a revenue perspective first?

108

Wyatt Edmondson: I'll start by saying

that it's it's a constant journey.

109

You're constantly revamping

and, rethinking your model.

110

That's definitely been the case

for over the past seven years.

111

that I've lived in Nashville.

112

I always tell people If you're thinking

about doing music professionally, but

113

you're on the fence about jumping in full

time because you want the steady support

114

and foundation of a day job, I'm not

saying that having a day job is a problem.

115

There's a lot of people who are really

successful in music who also still

116

have like a, a weekly day job that

they kind of use to be the foundation

117

of their financial situation.

118

That was never the case for me, I always

was of the mindset that you just have

119

to jump in head first and then just

start swimming and see what works, and I

120

think for most musicians, whether you're

really trying to be an artist or if

121

you're really trying to be more behind

the scenes, if you can play live, I think

122

that's the easiest way to get the ball

rolling and to start supporting yourself.

123

Um, and I'll just give you

a little background on how my

124

model has changed over the years.

125

I mean, when I first moved to Nashville,

126

I pretty much didn't live there.

127

I mean, I paid rent there, but I

was, I was in a van and we were going

128

five days a week playing around the

Southeast and sometimes even further

129

beyond that and bars, coffee shops,

small venues, things like that.

130

And that was before I

really knew much about.

131

Like royalties or, any other like

commission based work you could do and,

132

and so I was really paying the bills

doing that, but it wasn't near as, it was

133

not near as lucrative as I was thinking

it was, because not only was I young and

134

not really financially responsible, but,

135

I was kind of living above my

means a little bit, and I think a

136

lot of artists struggle with that,

because you have to have this,

137

I don't want to say image, but you

really just have to be comfortable, you

138

know, and sometimes that requires you

to, put a little bit more on a credit

139

card than you know you're supposed

to, and I, I found myself to do that.

140

When Covid hit, I'd been in Nashville

for I guess, almost four years, but

141

I really hadn't been there much,

and I, I found myself suddenly,

142

All my tour dates were gone.

143

I was locked up in the house

and I came, to two conclusions.

144

The, the first conclusion was I don't

have any other streams of income besides

145

performing live, and that's a problem.

146

And then the second one was, I don't

have enough friends in this town.

147

I, I, I feel like.

148

I don't really live here, so

I made those big changes.

149

One of the big changes I made

was I started touring less

150

and I started performing more

regularly around Nashville.

151

And a lot of that consisted of playing

like on lower Broadway, I had to start

152

playing more cover songs, but I would

also pick the right shifts during the

153

day to where it was like, you know,

I typically play in the afternoon.

154

And so You can, you can

really do whatever you want.

155

I mean, I started out just doing what I

thought people wanted, but then I quickly

156

started making it my own experience and,

and marketing myself down there as a

157

musician and, or as a songwriter, I should

say, and saw a lot of success with that.

158

So now, that's a big

part of my income stream.

159

Um, some, you know, regular, what

I would call residency gigs around

160

Nashville, like I said, down on

Broadway, in the afternoon hours.

161

That's very much a

stream of income for me.

162

And then I, I stumbled into, like I

mentioned, sort of commission based work.

163

Particularly, writing songs and

getting paid up front for doing it.

164

I'm gonna give a shout out to

a company, kinda changed my

165

situation, called Songfinch.

166

And they reached out to me.

167

It was, I guess, in 2021.

168

Those years kind of run together for

me, but, I think they reached out

169

to me in 2021, and they found me on

Spotify, they'd heard some of my music,

170

and basically what they do is they

171

Run a company that

172

delivers

173

Customized songs to the customer

that they can essentially use as

174

maybe a gift for a spouse or maybe to

memorialize an experience or even if

175

they maybe just have an idea for a song

that they have always wanted to see.

176

You know, manifest and into an

actual song and have someone who

177

that's their job put it together.

178

And so I started to get into that and

at first I was a little bit turned

179

off because I was like, I don't know

if I really want to write like, Dave

180

and Julie's love love story, but

181

Jason English (Host): I ended

182

Wyatt Edmondson: up really getting into it

and then, and, and then it ended up paying

183

very well, and, and then that was the

part where it was like, okay, this is a

184

serious part of my business at this point.

185

And so I, I still work with Song Finch.

186

I do some stuff outside of them as well.

187

In 2022, I think I wrote like

over 600 custom songs, you know?

188

Yeah, man.

189

Jason English (Host): Yeah.

190

And

191

Wyatt Edmondson: so those are really,

uh, it's a cool business model

192

and a cool like boost to my whole

situation because I mean, first

193

off, I can do it from anywhere.

194

I'm actually going to go after this.

195

Podcast and and work on one so you

know and that'll be a little bit of

196

money that I'll make today before I go

and Perform tonight, you know, and so

197

Jason English (Host): so many questions.

198

Can

199

Wyatt Edmondson: yeah jump in.

200

Sorry

201

Jason English (Host): No, you're good.

202

So what's the mindset.

203

In the process, because obviously

like, you know, my assumption is

204

as a songwriter, you're inspired by

family stories, heartbreak, personal

205

experiences, all these things that

you're observing and experiencing.

206

Is it the same thing for Jim and

Julie that, do you have any idea what

207

their story is and their background,

or do you have to kind of like, In

208

your mind, make up, a scenario,

209

Wyatt Edmondson: No, so I mean it's

actually really streamlined and it

210

gives the customer an opportunity

to Provide me with a lot of helpful

211

information and sort of give me a

212

Jason English (Host): you're fed nuggets

213

Wyatt Edmondson: yeah I mean

they sort of give me a roadmap,

214

but I'm free to take whichever

215

Whichever way I want to go, you

know, there's there's a finish

216

that there's there's an ending

217

Point on the map But I can choose how

I want to get there, you know, and it's

218

really fun And actually I think it's

really attributed to my ability as a

219

songwriter for my own music particularly

Just making me a faster writer because

220

it's just more constantly flowing

ideas And and so, you know, I have

221

nothing but good things to say about it

222

Jason English (Host): Is there a

formula that you've kind of developed?

223

Wyatt Edmondson: The more I

study songwriting, the more

224

I put emphasis on the chorus.

225

Because I think at the end of the day,

226

That is the point that it, which

we're trying to have an arrival.

227

You know, but if the, if the journey to

get there isn't good, that's a problem.

228

And if the arrival is good, or

excuse me, if, if the arrival isn't

229

worth the journey, that's a problem.

230

And so it's really important to make that.

231

Arrival moment worth that journey,

you know, so I put a lot of focus at

232

least over the past year I'm still

a growing and developing songwriter

233

but over the past year i've put so

much emphasis into making sure that

234

that journey

235

was worth it by Having a chorus

that is going to be something

236

people are going to be like

237

Jason English (Host): something

that people are going to be like.

238

Well, as a matter of fact,

that's, and I, I took the

239

Wyatt Edmondson: well as a matter of fact,

um Yes, and and I I do own the rights

240

to the songs So I actually did record

a song on my Most recent album that I

241

wrote for someone and it was for this

guy out of Wyoming and it's called the

242

code of the West and So it was basically

I talked to him for 40 It wasn't through

243

song Finch, but it was through something

called the American song and it's very

244

similar But I talked to him on a, uh,

zoom call for about 45 minutes about his

245

life and came up with the song and wrote

it and had to give it to him in a day.

246

So it was like very, it was

a single session, right?

247

Very stream of consciousness, but I

ended up loving it and I was like,

248

I'm going to put this on my record.

249

And so we did,

250

Jason English (Host): did.

251

That's amazing.

252

Yeah.

253

All right.

254

Well, I learned something here.

255

Okay, cool.

256

So I guess back, I have a question back

to like the, the gigs in Nashville.

257

Yeah.

258

Maybe a dumb question, but if

you go and play at a coffee shop,

259

does the coffee shop give you any

kind of fee or is it all tips?

260

Wyatt Edmondson: Well,

it's mostly the bars.

261

Um, and yes, they do have base pays.

262

Um, I'm actually writing

a book on this right now.

263

Um, so I'm, I'm writing a little

e book that I'm hoping to put out

264

in the next year that's going to

basically be a roadmap for people

265

who want to do what I'm doing.

266

But, yeah, they offer base pays

that, I would say on the low end are

267

around 75 and it goes as high as 300.

268

And then, you know, you get

tips down there which can range.

269

You know, if you're good at what

you do, I would say a hundred plus

270

in tips generally, and also, it's

not uncommon for people to do more

271

than one shift in a day down there,

which most vocal coaches would tell

272

you is a very bad idea, but if you.

273

If you know how to pace yourself, I

mean, it's, it's a good living, and

274

it's really inspiring because you get

to be around these just amazing players,

275

you know, the guy who gets off the bar

stool and you're up next, he's amazing

276

and he's got a publishing deal and,

and, I've seen guys very quickly get

277

signed to record labels, you know,

who've been down there for a couple of

278

years honing their craft and then when

the timing's right, they just launch,

279

so I'm very lucky and I'm not at all

280

Uh, ashamed to say that I'm down

there, because sometimes when you

281

move to Nashville, some people are

like, Oh, Broadway, that's where

282

musicians go to give up their dreams.

283

No, that's where you go to

hone your craft, in my opinion.

284

Jason English (Host): No, that's

where you go to hone your craft.

285

Wyatt Edmondson: Oh yeah, I

sell CDs and vinyl down there.

286

Um, I'm always getting people to

sign up for my email list down there.

287

I mean, you're, you're basically

touring without having to travel.

288

Because tourists come from all over the

world to come see music on Broadway.

289

I'll have people from all of the

50 states, people from Europe,

290

people from even further than

that, who connect with my music.

291

And then if I go out on tour,

I've had them come and buy

292

tickets to shows, you know.

293

And so, it's a cool way to build

up an audience, kind of in a

294

grassroots approach, you know.

295

Jason English (Host): They actually

sort of assume that like, Hey,

296

you know, I'm up here on stage.

297

I'm doing my thing.

298

Tips are going to come and the

folks are just going to know

299

to Venmo me or buy the t shirt.

300

There's not a lot of

active marketing, you know?

301

And I, I'm like, you guys are

missing a huge opportunity here,

302

Wyatt Edmondson: yeah, I think it,

the best way to do it is to do it

303

subtle but intentionally, you know.

304

Um, I have plenty of little one liners

that I'll say on stage that are, whether

305

or not people realize it, prompts,

306

Jason English (Host): There

you're, nudging them.

307

Wyatt Edmondson: Yeah, and, and

I've gotten it down to a science.

308

And, and it's all genuine, you know.

309

I think that's the most important thing.

310

You're not, you're not up there like

a angry monkey with a, with a tip

311

jar going, give me money, you know.

312

I mean, that's, that's

never gonna work, you know.

313

It's, it's about the art.

314

But people who are connected to you

will always, make it worth your while,

315

Jason English (Host): This podcast

is a sort of a passion project.

316

I have a full time job.

317

I'm in corporate world technology

and sales and, it's pretty common.

318

Sort of mindset and framework to

say like the, the cost of acquiring

319

a new customer is so much greater

than, you know, an existing customer.

320

Right?

321

So it's like, you know, once you

get a customer in, you nurture

322

them, you retain them, you try to

upsell them because you've got

323

the access and the relationship.

324

I would assume it's the

same thing for an artist,

325

Wyatt Edmondson: it is.

326

I think what you just touched on is

most notably demonstrated in an email

327

list because social media, we're not in

control anymore because of the algorithm.

328

You know, I mean, most of.

329

Artists who post on social

media, like let's say you have

330

10, 000 Instagram followers.

331

Well, if you make a post only about 500

of those followers are actually gonna

332

see that post most of the time and

then only about you know 300 of them

333

are actually going to actively engage

with that post So I mean 10, 000 people

334

who you've met who like your music

only 300 of them are really gonna get

335

something out of a content piece in

an email If you got 10, 000 email list

336

subscribers, that email is going to go

to every single one of their inboxes.

337

Now I'm not saying they're all going

to open it and interact with it,

338

but it's a much higher percentage.

339

I think it's like social

media is about 5%.

340

I think, uh, email in the

music business is around 28%.

341

percent

342

So it's a much better conversion.

343

And, with my email list, I try to

have fun, I try to, I try to give more

344

than I ask, um, and I try to make sure

that the people who are on my list are

345

really getting something out of it, but

at the same time, you know, if I roll

346

out a new merch item and I send out an

email, I get a lot of people who buy it

347

because They like what I do, and they

also like the shirt or the hat, you know.

348

And it's much easier to get

their attention that way.

349

Jason English (Host): Is merch,

is that where you, is that where

350

the profit margin is the best

351

Wyatt Edmondson: yeah, I mean, if you

want to talk about profit margin, I

352

think CDs are actually where it's at.

353

Jason English (Host):

people still buying the

354

Wyatt Edmondson: yeah, especially,

especially if you sign it.

355

I always joke with people.

356

I'll tell you this, like one thing I did

for my album that, came out last year

357

was the first 200 copies I numbered.

358

And signed.

359

And so people really latched onto that.

360

I mean, that increases

the value right there.

361

You know, if you've got number

copy, number five and it's signed,

362

that's unique, you know, and so

that increases the value and it

363

doesn't cost me anything but my time.

364

I sold out of those first 200 copies

in about a month, because of that.

365

And then once I stopped numbering

'em, the sales slowed down a little

366

bit, but he was still signing them.

367

And you know, I always joke

with people at shows, I'm like.

368

You know, if you don't have a CD player

anymore, this thing doubles nicely as a

369

drink coaster, you know, and they laugh

and, and then they buy it, you know,

370

Jason English (Host): Well, I know

the whole vinyl thing is, coming

371

back I just bought a record player

this year and I'm all into it.

372

I had no idea the CDs were

also making a comeback.

373

Wyatt Edmondson: The company I use

in Nashville, I think I get my CDs

374

for like a little over 2, and I

turn around and sell them for 10.

375

So that's like almost a 5x, you

know, but vinyl is finals about Yeah.

376

Yeah.

377

Maybe a 2x, maybe a little bit less,

378

Jason English (Host): good.

379

Yeah.

380

Wyatt Edmondson: but still, you know,

it's, it's good to have and, uh,

381

you know, my record, I, I personally

believe sounds best on vinyl.

382

So I think for the, for the

listener, it's worth it.

383

Jason English (Host): For the music

fans out there, your advice to them,

384

what's the best way for them to

actually support their favorite artists?

385

Is it the Venmo support?

386

Is it the merchandise combination?

387

Wyatt Edmondson: The best way to support,

and not even just on what's going to

388

net me the most profit, but just what's

going to net me the most satisfaction

389

is, is something transactional like

buying my album, or, maybe even hiring

390

me to come and perform at like a house

concert, you know, those kinds of things.

391

I've had people before just give

me a, a big old tip or something

392

like that, and that's awesome.

393

I love that, but sometimes it almost

feels, like they're doing it because they

394

think that you're struggling, and it's

like, well, I'm not, but I do appreciate

395

that, you know, and it's, it's always from

a place of love, but buying the, buying

396

the music, listening to it, sharing it.

397

I had a fan in Massachusetts who bought

30 copies of my CD and just gave it

398

away to friends and that was awesome.

399

And so.

400

Yeah, I mean that kind of

stuff really means a lot to me.

401

Jason English (Host): The streaming

platforms, it's great as a fan, right?

402

Cause you can, it's all right at

your fingertips, it's just a way for

403

you to get your art out there, right?

404

Wyatt Edmondson: Yeah, I mean, I

think at this, this stage, especially

405

if you're an independent artist, um,

streaming is just a marketing platform.

406

Um, and a lot of times you have to spend

money to make money with streaming, you

407

know, they, I mean, just like in the old

days of payola and radio and things like

408

that, there's Spotify playlist curators

now who, will charge you a fee to place

409

their place, your song on their playlist.

410

And, you know, it's, it's, it's not

as uncommon as you would think, um.

411

They always want to tell you,

Oh, you're going to make it back

412

in streams and stuff, but it

doesn't always work out that way.

413

But what it does, if you, if you work

with the right curators, you do get on

414

lists that have organic listeners and,

and it does end up growing your brand.

415

And so I think there's just a

give and take and a balance.

416

And then also, you know, paid advertising

on things like Facebook and Instagram

417

and Tik Tok is, is a real, is a really

big way people are getting their,

418

their, their reach out there these days.

419

Jason English (Host): you

know, the music, right.

420

And your art.

421

I'm still blown away by the way, by

this song, Finch concept, maybe I'm

422

like late to the game there, but

that's, yeah, that's really interesting.

423

Um, but yeah, your music.

424

So did you, you released

an album last year, right?

425

Wyatt Edmondson: it's called Made

for the Road and I was releasing a

426

slew of singles throughout the year

and then the full album dropped

427

on September the 15th last year.

428

Jason English (Host): That's awesome.

429

What has music meant to you in your life?

430

Wyatt Edmondson: Well, it certainly

means more to me than the business

431

analytics, you know, I mean Most

musicians aren't really the best

432

CEOs, you know, but I think honestly,

433

My dad's a musician and He got me

into it early on Just the love of good

434

music and and playing the guitar I

started playing the guitar when I was

435

a preteen, you know, and I I saw that

he did it sort of semi professionally.

436

He was sort of a weekend warrior band guy.

437

He was a lawyer by day and would play

in rock bands on the weekends and stuff.

438

And I, I saw him do that and I was

like, I, I don't even, I wasn't even

439

thinking about the money at first.

440

I was like, I just want to do that.

441

I just want to play in a band.

442

You know, so I, me and some buddies

in high school put a band together.

443

We started playing and right about the

time that was getting serious I found out

444

about my, eye condition, my diagnosis,

and, I think in that moment, I know

445

actually, God spoke to me, and, it was

sort of a realization of, You've been met

446

with this challenge, but here's something

that you'll never be hindered by your

447

vision to do, and that's to play and sing.

448

And so it, it really just catapulted me

into getting real serious about making

449

that my living and making that my job.

450

And so I started gigging all

the time, and that's what I did

451

all the way through college.

452

I never had a real job.

453

The only real job I ever had was in the

middle of COVID for about six months.

454

I got a little remote computer job

because there was nothing to do,

455

you know, but that was it, man.

456

You know, that's the only

job I've ever had is music.

457

And so I just continued to try to find

new ways to make it work, but the art

458

Inspired that.

459

And I wrote my first song

when I was probably 16.

460

And, I just remember the high that

I got from that, and then hearing

461

my first song played by a band.

462

And then hearing my first song recorded,

and then hearing my first song on the

463

radio, you know, like all those things.

464

It just, it never gets old, you know?

465

Jason English (Host):

You're legally blind, right?

466

Yeah.

467

How has that changed or affected

your, uh, again, the song writing.

468

There's obviously lots of

different sources of material.

469

Does it creep in?

470

Does it creep into that process?

471

Wyatt Edmondson: Well, if it does in its

own way, I mean, I don't, I haven't yet,

472

I'm not gonna say that I don't, but I

haven't yet really written, written a song

473

about being blind or anything like that.

474

But, one of the things I always

tell my co writers that I do,

475

and it's really out of necessity.

476

Because I'm not able to read,

handwriting on a page or anything.

477

I am able to use some accessibility

functions through my Like phone

478

and, and computer and stuff.

479

But what I typically do when I'm

creating songs is I'll write something

480

down and then as quickly as I write

it down, I try to recall it in my own

481

mind and because, and it's because I

can't read it, you know, so, and what

482

I think it does is it refines my lyrics

to just be more memorable because you

483

have to remember it right now, and

so I'll, think a lot of songwriters,

484

they write something on the page and

then they're instantly married to it.

485

You know, whereas to me, I write

something down, and then I have to

486

recall it, and typically when I recall

it, I actually recall something that's

487

slightly different, but maybe a better

488

Jason English (Host): slightly

different, but maybe a better.

489

it puts a little bit finer touch

on the process So it's, it puts

490

just forces my brain to work a

little bit more, and it forces it

491

to get more and more efficient.

492

You know, I want my songs to be

memorable, and if I can't recall it in

493

the next second, then maybe it needs

to be rethought a little bit, you know.

494

Wyatt Edmondson: Yes, roll tide.

495

Jason English (Host): Um, big, yeah.

496

Big news on, on Saban this week.

497

I've been to a lot of shows

the last couple of years.

498

I live in Atlanta so that, there's

a lot, happening in Atlanta.

499

Everybody comes through there.

500

I think one of the most memorable

performances I've seen in the last two

501

years since moving there was at Eddie's

Attic, the blind boys of Alabama.

502

And I'll never forget that because

it the group has been around for 70

503

years and you know, the, the members

come and go, but they've got the

504

band going and then they make their

entrance and they have their hands

505

on their shoulders going up on stage.

506

And then, obviously they

sing it's, it's beautiful.

507

The joy in that whole experience, you

know, I, I've, I thought to myself

508

like that's the power of music, you

know, it's like, People, we all have

509

challenges, you know, whether they're

self inflicted, whether they're,

510

you know, from, from whatever.

511

And to see that, to see them do what

they did for two hours, I was like,

512

this is what music is all about.

513

Wyatt Edmondson: Yeah, I mean, I can

Just speak to my own experience, but

514

I bet you it's the same for, for them.

515

Like, when you do something well,

particularly if you have a disability,

516

but you're able to do something very

well, and people respect you for it, it

517

just, it just fulfills you, and it just

makes you feel like you're providing a

518

meaningful contribution to the greater

society, the greater culture, you know,

519

and I think there's, sadly, there's a

lot of people out there who struggle with

520

disabilities that haven't found that out.

521

Avenue for themselves yet, and they might

feel like I just I don't have anything

522

to offer, you know, and as a musician,

Whenever I play shows, I always talk

523

about how like I'm not able to drive a

car but because of music I've traveled

524

the world, and that's that is God that

that is the power of fate and and the

525

power of a story and the power of just

526

Living life to the fullest, you know,

and and finding ways to do the things

527

that you really want to do and people

I want to say people are inspired by

528

me, but I mean they connect with that

529

connect with that idea

530

Everybody has a story.

531

Everybody has something they've

chased after in their lives.

532

And when you get it, when you

find it, it just empowers you.

533

It empowers you to keep

534

Jason English (Host): Yeah, I mean,

a mission has always been the same.

535

A mission is

536

Wyatt Edmondson: Yeah, I mean, I think

my mission has always been the same.

537

The mission is really just to

have a life that I am proud of.

538

One of my late professors, Robert W.

539

Smith has been a huge mentor to me.

540

He just passed away.

541

Um, but he, he always

said, I don't have a job.

542

I have a life.

543

And that's, that's how

I've always wanted to feel.

544

And that's how I do

feel, I wouldn't be me.

545

of that mindset if it

weren't for people like him.

546

It's very important.

547

I've written some faith based songs,

but I just carry my faith around with

548

me, and, and I try to be, especially

when I'm in the, the view of the public

549

eye or anything, I, I definitely try to

just be the type of person that Other

550

people will gain something from, you

know, and I'm not, I'm not an evangelist.

551

I don't necessarily think that is the best

methodology of spreading the Word of God.

552

Jason English (Host): The, the

podcasts that I'm doing, like

553

I said, it's a passion project.

554

It was inspired by the

television show, Ted Lasso.

555

So I'm not sure how much you

watch that, but curiosity is,

556

was a big component of that.

557

And then this idea of being a

goldfish, which is all about, you

558

know, forgetting what happened a minute

ago, two minutes ago in an effort

559

to move forward and be positive.

560

Right.

561

So when it comes to curiosity, what

are you, what are you curious about?

562

A self

563

Wyatt Edmondson: That's awesome, um

564

Self development, I think is

the best way I can say that.

565

I've always

566

Enjoyed consuming Literature or videos or

you know listening having conversations

567

with others about how we can be the

best versions of ourselves I've never

568

been that interested in fiction.

569

You know, I've always really been

interested in just becoming a better

570

version of myself but In a way, you

already are your best version of yourself.

571

You just have to be aware

of that and be present.

572

And so, I've gotten a lot out

of, authors like Eckhart Tolle.

573

If you've ever heard of The Power

of Now, that book changed my life.

574

Books on just How to be a person

who has a life of affluence, to be a

575

person who doesn't want for anything

but has what they, what they need.

576

I'm always curious for people who

have, Insight or share that passion,

577

you know I always want to get inside

someone else's head and just see

578

what what what works for them and how

they are their best self You know,

579

Jason English (Host): That's great.

580

So it's January, 2024,

581

What are your goals for the

rest of this year and beyond?

582

I think I read somewhere where

one day you want to be on stage

583

or tour with Drivin' and Crying.

584

They're playing here tonight.

585

Are you gonna, are you gonna be able to

find, find them and make that happen?

586

Wyatt Edmondson: I'd love to Absolutely.

587

Those guys are awesome.

588

Kevin Kinney and and the rest of

the group is they're they're great

589

musicians opening for a A larger act is

always something that's on the docket.

590

It's always something, it's always a goal.

591

I did a lot of touring last year.

592

I actually ended up, running

myself into the ground.

593

I struggled with a little bit

of, uh, vocal issues last year.

594

I had to cancel about a

month's worth of my tour dates.

595

Uh, I had to go to a speech therapist

and figure out what I was doing

596

incorrectly and, and fix that.

597

And I'm, I'm back to 110

percent now, so that's great.

598

But this year, I think my biggest goal

is to sow my seeds around Nashville,

599

to co write with, people who are

exactly where I want to be as a

600

songwriter, and I do think that That

is the fastest track to getting those

601

opportunities like you're talking about.

602

You know, if you write a song with

one of the guys in Drivin and Crying

603

as an example, and they love it,

604

And even if they don't cut it, but still,

they have a, you now have a relationship.

605

And they might say, hey Wyatt, I really

like you man, and like we want to

606

bring you out on the road, and, and

like let's do some of that, you know.

607

And so that is, I think

that's how that stuff happens.

608

It's not why I'm doing it, I'm

doing it to make great songs.

609

And, but I'm, the relationships

and the, result of, of that

610

is, is a great, is a great perk,

611

Jason English (Host): awesome.

612

Well, thanks for being here.

613

Good luck this year.

614

And, uh, I would love if you

played a couple of songs.

615

Wyatt Edmondson: love to, man.

616

Let's do it.

617

Thanks for having me, by

618

Jason English (Host): Thanks.

619

It was a pleasure.

620

Appreciate you.

621

.

Thanks so much for joining us for another episode of Curious Goldfish.

622

Please follow and subscribe to

the podcast and on social media.

623

Also, tell your music

loving friends about us too.

624

Until next time, stay curious.