Creative Crossroads featuring Katelyn Woodmansee

This week's edition of Creative Crossroads features Katelyn Woodmansee who is a fellow songwriter host and teacher. She organizes her own writers round collective with Highway Wildflowers Music. I first met Katelyn at a Christian writer's round hosted by our mutual friend, Bobby Ray. What stood out the most for me when meeting her were two things. The first being her powerful vocals and the second being to enjoyment of watching her son dance to his mother's music.

That's a beautiful thing about Katelyn; music is something that is in her family's blood. When I asked her about what inspired her to write her first song, she said, "My parents were in a Christian rock band when I was growing up, and I remember my dad always writing songs and I would always be making up jingles and songs as a kid. So, over the years that developed and I performed an original song for the first time at my middle school talent show" I love that connection I have with middle school talent shows. The only difference was that I was the teacher performing, and Katelyn was brave enough to actually hit that stage in middle school.

Not only is family a huge inspiration for Katelyn, but family inspires her songwriting skills as well. "I am always inspired watching other artist here in Nashville. But when it comes to being unapologetically me I have my Pa Sammy to thank for that. Growing up he was a pastor and instilled in us the love of Jesus and always trying to be the best version of yourself and always being willing to change, grow, and learn." That influence from Pa Sammy is experienced throughout Katlyn's music. When I asked her where her best song ideas came from she responded in kind. "Honestly my songs are inspired by stories of people around me, my experiences, and the beauty that comes from faith in Jesus."

As songwriter's, we all have our tips and tricks, and one of the best parts of creative crossroads is when the featured artist shares their tips and tricks. If you are an experienced songwriter or a dreamer of melodies, grab your pencil or pen because you just might get a tip or two from Katelyn.

• What is one of your songwriting rituals?

I always turn on voice memos so I don't forget what I just said and I love writing on paper and then I can transfer to docs once it is perfected.

• What usually comes first for you: a lyric, feeling, title, or melody?

  
  

It just depends on when and what I am writing. I typically start with an idea or story I want to tell and from there I start singing and playing with chords progressions and then start riffing lyrics and then start putting together the story piece by piece.

• What is one practical songwriting exercise that anyone can try this week?

Don't get caught up in writing the perfect song for other people. Be authentic and write your story true to you. Someone once told me that i should change a lyric because it was too specific and personal and that is exactly why people love the song because it gives them an insight into who I am and my story.

As songwriters our biggest influence is music itself, and we want the music we create to become influential to those around us as well. I asked Katlyn if there was a lyric that she wrote that gave her chills and her response was, "I love singing the Writing Secrets line, "Boys come and go like these songs I wrote." Or in Thank you (my wedding song) "Every time I think about who I want to be I just look at you and think of what you mean to me" When I asked her if a song she has written has ever surprised her, she said, "Of course anytime I write worship songs it really brings out humility and surrender and such a peace about all the troubles in life".

My favorite quest to always ask a songwriter is about a song that they have written that is special to them. Here is what Katelyn had to say about hers. "I love all the songs for different reasons of course. But Blue has a special place for me because it really was a turn in my writing where that story telling style really started shining and it was my first release as well. But the biggest thing is that an old friend Nolan Neal recorded this for me and then we had a drummer add in the drums later, but the whole process of recording was so fun and his talent was inspiring. He has since passed and anytime I hear this song it just takes me back to that week of recording and singing together and just seeing his joy at the time."

What's up next for Katelyn?

Writing lots of songs and performing with @HighwayWildflowersMusic as well as my kids songs and stories @thelittlewildflowers I host music classes and pop ups and putting out some children's music this year. So definitely follow those pages for upcoming shows and family music classes. I also host a monthly songwriter round the Wildflower Writer's round @wildflowerwritersround so check out all the amazing artist that play!