Texas to Tennessee with Soule Gravy

Soule Gravy

Your home for independent artist and a few guys you’ve never heard of.

  1. 4d ago

    Tx2Tn Podcast Ep244 Cole Stephens

    Cole Stevens has the voice, the songs, and the hustle, but the real story is how he’s building a full-time music career from East Texas without waiting for permission. In this conversation, he breaks down the live-performance mindset, the songwriting reps that turned self-doubt into confidence, and the business instincts that are helping him turn momentum into a sustainable career.Cole shares how choir, church music, and late-night jam sessions in Nacogdoches shaped his path from college gigs to opening bigger rooms, why he treats playing as the “fun part” and everything else as the job, and what changed once he started writing 100 songs to get to the good ones. He also opens up about the nerves that hit at the LJT Songwriter Showcase, the value of writing with strangers in Nashville, Austin, and Fort Worth, and why sometimes the best studio decision is being willing to throw out the original plan. You’ll discover: How Cole went from Baylor dorm-room experiments to releasing his first full albumWhy performance is still his strongest slice of the pieThe songwriting process he keeps coming back to, whether it starts with a riff, a hook, or one lineWhat he learned from recording in Nacogdoches, and why he’s already changing the plan for the next projectHow social media, networking, and showing up in the right places can matter as much as raw talentCole also gets real about the non-music side of the grind—merch, budgeting, travel, and the constant work of staying visible when you’re based far from the major music hubs. If you’ve ever wondered how independent artists actually build traction, this episode makes the answer feel a lot more tangible.Perfect for fans of Texas country, red dirt, and behind-the-scenes music conversations with artists who are still hungry and still building. If you like hearing how the career really happens—not just the polished version—this one’s for you.

    Tx2Tn Podcast Ep244 Cole Stephens
  2. Sep 3

    Tx2Tn Podcast Ep242 Jason Eady

    Jason Eady just made the kind of record artists spend a lifetime chasing - one built around a sound, a place, and a handful of right-time-right-people moments. If you care about the Tulsa sound, the craft behind albums that feel alive, or the real stories behind independent music, this conversation is for you.Eady sits down with Talbo and Soule Gravy to unpack Tulsa Turnaround, his 11th album, and the almost two-year path from the first title track to the finished record. He talks about writing for the album instead of just collecting songs, trusting John Fullbright to produce, and recording at Ripley Farms with local Tulsa players in one open room - no booth, no isolation, just a live performance captured on tape.You'll hear how Ray Wylie Hubbard helped shape the title track, why Adam Hood had to finish a verse over the phone in the middle of a session, and how Cody Jinks, Courtney Patton, and Jamie Lynn Wilson each found a home on the project. Eady also breaks down what makes the Tulsa sound so deceptively simple, why this album leans into both Tulsa and Mississippi Delta influences, and what changed in his approach after 11 records.The conversation also gets into the spirit behind Way Down in Mississippi, the Clarksdale gathering that started as a one-off and turned into a real-deal festival built around music, food, campfires, and community. Eady shares why the Delta Blues Museum matters, how the event stays intimate and artist-driven, and why the lineup keeps pulling in friends, surprises, and late-night Haggard songs.And there is more - from the long-running Southern Brothers project with Adam Hood to Eady's growing obsession with photography, plus the freedom that comes from having a fan base that shows up for the next chapter, not just the last one. He also opens up about loving the road, loving the album format, and still feeling as excited as he did when he started. Perfect for fans of Jason Eady, Adam Hood, Ray Wylie Hubbard, John Fullbright, Tulsa roots music, the Delta blues, and anyone who loves independent artists making records with heart, grit, and real chemistry.

    Tx2Tn Podcast Ep242 Jason Eady
  3. Aug 21

    Tx2Tn Podcast Ep241 Aiden Logsdon

    Aiden Logsdon joins the Texas to Tennessee podcast to talk through his path from Canyon, Texas to Lubbock, the slow grind of building a music career, and why live performance is the center of everything he does. He also shares what he looks for in bandmates, how songwriting developed for him, and what it takes to win over a room as an opener.We discuss Aiden’s background, the local scenes that shaped him, and the work ethic behind touring, merchandising, and showmanship. Along the way, the episode covers band chemistry, co-writing, and the realities of booking, plus a few rapid-fire personal favorites. Aiden's homepage.Aiden Logsdon Key topics Aiden’s backstory in Canyon and LubbockWhy the live show is homeThe Blue Light and the Lubbock sceneWhat he wants in a bandSongwriting as a rewarding creative challengeInspiration often shows up at inconvenient timesSongs that connected with listenersTouring, booking, and building momentumHow to win as an openerThe band name mattersCheck out Aiden Logsdon live if he’s playing near youShow up early for opening actsBuy merch after the showPre-buy tickets when you canFollow the bands you like and support the local sceneTimestamps00:00 - Tomorrow’s guest, Texas heat, and opening the show02:40 - Introducing Aiden Logsdon and his background02:54 - Growing up in Canyon and moving to Lubbock for music06:08 - Canyon, Texas landmarks and Panhandle pride11:10 - The musical pie question: why live performance feels like home12:06 - Competing early and getting comfortable on stage14:15 - Playing Lubbock bars and the breakout Blue Light headline16:46 - How he chooses bandmates: skill first, then attitude18:20 - Work ethic, merch help, and the importance of showing up21:58 - Why songwriting became more meaningful over time23:28 - Early feedback from friends, family, and studio people24:14 - Co-writing, collaboration, and building songs together25:40 - Writing through real life and unexpected inspiration27:20 - Hearing co-written songs come to life with other artists29:18 - Early cover songs and the influence of Oklahoma/red dirt music30:37 - Slow grind moments and why he never built a backup plan31:57 - A song about his granddad and hearing it connect34:42 - The Lot More Drinking Tour and building a campaign around it35:35 - Why he leans on a booking partner now36:15 - Playing with full energy whether headlining or opening37:34 - What fans can expect from an Aiden Logsdon show38:29 - Advice for new artists on stage presence and merch table etiquette39:39 - Watching Braxton Keith as a model for live show professionalism40:30 - Respecting the headliner and staying out of the way41:34 - Why opening slots are a chance to win new fans42:30 - The electric feeling of winning over a room43:19 - Why the band deserves a name too44:44 - Short-term goals and steady growth45:47 - Knowing when to bring in help for booking49:01 - Rapid fire: merch, podcast guest, favorite chord, and Spotify52:33 - Dinner with Billy the Kid, green room preferences, and first concert54:54 - Bucket-list venues, tribute bands, and sponsor dream56:58 - Little Debbie favorite and closing thoughts

    Tx2Tn Podcast Ep241 Aiden Logsdon
  4. Aug 11

    Tx2Tn Podcast Ep239 Braxton Hamblen

    Braxton Hamblen joins the Texas to Tennessee Podcast to talk about growing up in small-town Colorado, finding his voice as a performer, and the way rodeo and music overlap in his life. He also shares the story behind his upcoming single, Cactus Flower, plus how he connected with producer Ben Walagoski and fiddler Wes Barlow.We discuss Braxton’s writing process, stage comfort, early musical influences, and why he still gets nervous before bigger shows even though performance feels like home.Key topicsBraxton shares how Alt, Colorado shaped him, from growing up around rodeo to sneaking into music scenes as a kid.He explains that he started music young, but really doubled down during COVID by locking himself in his room and relearning guitar and songwriting.In the episode, he says performance is his favorite part of music, even though he is naturally introverted offstage.He talks about writing in bursts, sometimes turning out 15 songs in a week after getting blocked for months.Braxton describes his writing process as something that has to happen with a guitar in hand and in a quiet space, not on the fly.He and the hosts dig into the similarities between rodeo life and music life, especially the travel, the drift, and the responsibility of taking care of a team.He opens up about self-worth struggles early in his career and how comparing himself to other artists made him question his progress.Braxton previews Cactus Flower, an acoustic duet with fiddle and backing vocals that started as a personal song about a girl he met in Estes Park.He explains how sneaking backstage at Greeley Stampede led to meeting Wes Barlow and eventually connecting with producer Ben Walagoski.He gives a rundown of upcoming shows across Wyoming, Colorado, and beyond, plus mentions his family hat shop, Hamblin Hats.

    Tx2Tn Podcast Ep239 Braxton Hamblen
5
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7 Ratings

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Your home for independent artist and a few guys you’ve never heard of.