The Tin Pan South Songwriters Festival, which is sponsored by the Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI), will take place between March 29 and April 2 in Nashville, Tennessee. This year’s festival will feature performances by over 300 songwriters on nine different stages over five days. Many of the venues will host two shows per night. Fast Passes can be purchased from NSAI for $145 for NSAI members and $175 for non-members. Limited tickets will be sold as capacity permits after attendees with passes are seated.
Country Music Views will be posting Q&As with songwriters performing at Tin Pan South between now and the start of the festival.
What is your name? Jenn Schott.
When are you performing during Tin Pan South this year? Saturday, April 2nd at 6:00 PM at the Lounge at City Winery.
When did you first know you wanted to be a songwriter? I started writing songs in middle school but didn’t know it was actually a career path until I moved to Nashville right after college. I moved to town originally wanting to be an artist, but my first job in Nashville was working as a receptionist for a music publisher and seeing the songwriters coming in each day to write opened my eyes to the possibility of doing it myself one day. That job changed my trajectory!
Who are your influences as a songwriter? My parents are a big influence on my musical journey. My mom taught flute lessons, and my dad was a professor of woodwinds at the college in my hometown and he was a big fan of big band music which was always playing in the house. I grew up doing musical theater and I have to credit those experiences as an influence in my writing too. As far as artists and songwriters, Joni Mitchell, Allison Krauss, Patty Loveless, and too many Nashville songwriters to count…when I first got to Nashville I would go to the Bluebird to listen to the writers perform and it was definitely part of my schooling!
What instruments do you play? Guitar and piano.
How old were you when you wrote your first song? 2 1/2 – it was called “Bluejay Sitting On My Window.”
Do you prefer to write by yourself or with other songwriters? I love co-writing. I’m inspired daily by my co-writers.
What is your favorite original song that you have written? That’s a hard one to answer. I’ve probably written close 2,000 songs at this point in my career. There are a few I continue to hold near and dear over the years (Why Do They Call It Blue, I Envy The Sun, You Can’t Argue With That), but I continue to get excited about new songs all the time.
What do you generally write your songs about? It depends on the day! Love of course is always a big theme, but a lot of times the subject is going to depend on who I’m working with, and if it’s an artist, what they’d like to write about or what they feel like they still need for their project.
What is your favorite venue to play in Nashville? The Bluebird Cafe.
What is your favorite restaurant in Nashville? It’s a tie between Lockeland Table and Rolf & Daughters.
How has playing writer’s rounds helped you grow as a writer? Playing rounds was a big help to me early in my career and it was a great way to meet new co-writers. Early on, I met a publisher after I’d played a round who had liked some of my songs and that ultimately led me to writing with my first published co-writers, first professional demos, etc.
Why did you want to participate in Tin Pan South? Tin Pan South is such a great event and it’s a treat to get to be a part of it. There’s a celebratory and supportive spirit between all the writers that week and I think especially this year, we will all feel that. It’s also a great way that we can all support the Nashville Songwriters Association.
What are your future professional goals? I’ve been in the business a long time, but I hope I’m just getting started. Every day I want to continue to grow as a songwriter and have continued and growing success.
What advice would you give to an aspiring songwriter? Show up every day and write another song. Of anything you do to further your career aspirations, your songs are going to be the thing that ultimately get you there, so keep on writing. Study the craft, keep your head down and do the work.
Are you on social media? Yes, my Instagram handle is @jennschott
Where can people find more information and listen to your music? www.jennschott.com