November 2017
Guild Tidings
The official publication of
The International Songwriters Guild
Volume 22, No. 11
Next Meeting Sunday November 5th 5:00pm.
The International Songwriter’s Guild meets at 5 PM on the first Sunday of every
month at the Central Florida Musician’s Union building, 3020 East Robinson St.,
Orlando, FL 32803 (at the extreme east end of Robinson, near Orlando Executive
Airport)
Songwriters, composers, performers, publishers, and the curious are encouraged to
join us. Non-members are invited to attend a meeting or two to get a feel for our
group and what we do. If you wish to join, there is an annual fee of only $5. For
more information, visit our website at www.tinyurl.com/isgsongs or myspace page at
The meetings will be structured as follows: 5:00 to 5:30, business and
introductions. 5:30 to 6:00, presentation by a guest speaker (when scheduled), 5:30
or 6:00 to 8:00, song critiques. Please bring a CD or I-phone or mp3 player or
perform your song live, and bring 10 or more lyric sheets. If we have at least 5
songs by members who wish to be scored, and 6 members scoring, then we will have
them entered in the Monthly competition. Everyone is encouraged to write
constructive comments on the lyric sheets.
Any Details not in this newsletter are at:
If you wish to join our Facebook group, please check us out at
https://www.facebook.com/groups/831814850193553/
Welcome to new member Freddy Marquez
Webchatter
By Cybertoad
We are looking forward to a visit from Singer/Songwriter Suzanne Dee Gorman at the
November meeting. Here's a partial bio about her.
Suzanne Gorman is both the adult contemporary, Adult Album Alternative, Adult Contemporary and
country/pop alternative genres. Her music has both pop and country appeal as well as Adult Contemporary
pop/alternative, with the same caliber of talent as top artists, Shania Twain, Pink, and Gwen Stefani.
Suzanne is an artist that writes her own music with her first nationally distributed CD “Open Book” released
on September 19, 2006 which highlights both her vocals abilities and her writing.
In 1998, Suzanne was invited to Nashville by her friend, Nancy Peacock who is a Nashville
song writer and publisher. Nancy’s songs have been performed both nationally and overseas
including most recently by European female country artist of the year, Lucie Diamond. Nancy
welcomed Suzanne on her first visit to record in a studio, on Nashville's famous Music Row.
Three months later she returned to begin recording several of her own arrangements and
received early recognition for her artistry within the Nashville music community. Suzanne soon
met and started to write and publish with her co-writers, Nancy Peacock, Amy Holt, Jo Linder
Andi Zack, Kim Barker and Lisa Palas, whose songs have been performed and recorded by
major pop and country artists such as Reba McEntire, Alabama.
She has been doing shows in her home town at The New Leaf Club in Bryan Mawr, Pa. for the past
two years. Suzanne is now living in Orlando, Fla. involved in writing on projects and playing
at Music Festivals, getting involved with the music community that surrounds her. She just
played with her new band at the 2016 Winter Garden Music Festival Oct 9, 2016.
Signed in 2005 to Range Records/Sony Red, Suzanne took her music beyond the writer
hangouts of Nashville, club appearances in Philadelphia, and her charity performances.
Suzanne’s latest CD “Hold Me Still”, directed and produced by both Suzanne and her producer
Derek Chafin in Phila., Pa, was a 2015 release and is full of her abounding love of lyrics from
Breathless, to a song that pulls the romantically passive state of mind into the listener. Blinded
which she vocally nailed would challenge any vocal performer. The CD is full of surprises in
vocal performance. Tarnished is brilliantly written and musically sets the listener into the mind
of someone who was tarnished and begins to shine again. An artful CD well worth listening to.
In Oct., 2016 Suzanne was asked to sing at the Winter Garden, Florida Music Festival. The Wolf
103.1 introduced her and were eager to have her on their station as a guest.
Suzanne shares her knowledge of life and her endless passion of music along with her
appreciation of the world around us. She says, “We can conquer whatever it is we set out to do
and with the spirit of faith planted in our hearts we can sore to the limits. Music builds a
powerful bond between humans and heals the soul.”
The Reminiscence Bump
by Jeff Mason
I do get annoyed when I hear older musicians lambast today’s music. I am mystified by these attitudes.
I have now found a learned answer to this conundrum. In an ongoing series on BBC Radio3, “Music and Memory,”
cognitive neuropsychologist Dr. Catherine Loveday has identified “a well established psychological phenomenon called
the reminiscence bump as the reason music lovers are drawn to the music they heard as teenagers ” It’s the first music
we heard. The music played at our weddings.The music we listened to on our first holidays.The first time we danced and fell in love.
The earliest soundtrack to our lives.
Britain’s longest running radio show is ”Desert Island Discs.” It was first broadcast on the BBC Forces Programme in 1942.
In the show guests are invited to imagine themselves cast away on a desert island. They can choose eight recordings to take with
them and the subsequent discussion of their choices allows for a review of their life. It is still broadcast on BBC Radio 4.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/59YrnYM0Tw8J7WJ0MGKVfh7/the-history-of-desert-island-discs
In a similar setting, Dr. Loveday made her discovery.
I would still urge every songwriter to stay tuned into today’s music as it is the only way to become successful. In pursuit of that
sentiment I will be attending the TAXI Road Rally next month. It is the best music convention I have attended and I am hoping to
acquire some magical knowledge and become a successful songwriter. Or die in the process!
One of today’s new artists is Lera Lynn. I received a notification from Amazon Prime asking if I had met Lera Lynn. “Yes,” I
said to myself as I listened to her 2012 album “Have You Met Lera Lynn?” I remember her as the tortured, bar room singer in
“True Detective 2” on HBO, 2014. She achieved fame playing the role of a strung out heroin addicted, singer, guitar player.
The songs were melancholy, almost dirge like but interesting. There is something haunting about them. “The Only Thing Worth
Fighting For” cowritten with “T-Bone Burnett” and Roseanne Cash is a favorite of mine. I also like “My Least Favorite Life.”
The songs on “Have You Met Lera Lynn?” are not like the songs from “True Detective.” This is singer songwriter’s first offering.
“Whiskey” is a great country song. “Bobby Baby” won the Merlefest’s 2011 Chris Austin Songwriting Competition shared with
Gillian Welch and Tift Merritt. It also won the best alternative country song at the Independent Music Awards.
I started to listen to her back catalog and discovered her 2016 “Resistor” album. Every song is a knockout for me. Here is just
one review, ”it’s a rock record at its core, packed with aggression and taunting vamps that are anchored by Lynn’s clever lyricism,
daring composition and super-sensual vocals" - Marissa Moss, American Songwriter. I would describe it as moody and atmospheric.
“Little Ruby,” “Shapeshifter” and “Drive” are worth mentioning. I am reminded of Chris Isaak’s “Wicked Game” and the deep baritone
guitar sounds of Duane Eddy. I cannot tell you what the songs on this album are about. I am just blown away by the musical production
and Lera’s ever evolving vocal stylings. This is a songwriter who is still developing her craft. Listen to her 2015 album “The Avenues.”
Then compare it to the “Resistor” album. They are very different but still good. Ms Lynn will be a judge for the 2018 American Songwriter
Lyric Contest. She has achieved all this as an independent artist in five years and with no backing from the big record companies.
https://www.leralynn.com/about
It can be done. See you in December.
ISG Bulletin Board
Meeting space graciously provided by Central Florida Musicians Association,
Local 389. You are invited to join the largest union in the world, representing the
interests of the professional musician. Visit their website at afm389.org for more
information. You may reach them by phone at: 407-894-8666.
Why isn't your gig announced here? Members in good standing
call SusieCool with your appearance schedule! 407-760-2153
If you want to join us at the Central Florida Folk song circle, please show up at
Bikes, Beans and Bordeaux at 3022 Corrine Drive on the last Wednesday of each month
from 6 to 8:30pm. The BBB has many delicious items on their menu, and also have some vegetarian stuff.
They also serve beer and wine. They have a Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/Central-Florida-Folk-Song-Circle-139385302761066/
On November 15th we have a playing circle with the Fingerstyle Guitar Group
in the Community room of the winter Park Library. This is usually on 3rd Wednesdays.
460 E. New England Ave. Winter Park, FL 32789. 6 to 8:30pm. Songwriters are welcome,
but we do try to play our fingerstyle songs and not use picks. There is more info on
the facebook group page.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/228147620559285/?fref=nf
On Saturday November 18th, the "JANE GANG" will be hosting another songwriter's Round at Fodor's Grove.
5:30pm for the pot luck, music starts at 6:15 or so. Please bring a dish to share.
Fodor's Grove is at 2218 Vincent Rd Orlando, FL 32817 and is outdoors in a large backyard.
We did this last year and had 2 rounds. This time we are doing 3 rounds. The songwriters performing
will be Joe Bryant, Tina Eno, Paul Roub, Steve Hodak, Lauren Lester, Stephen Clark,
The "JANE GANG" (Asli Goncer, SusieCool and Stephanie Barker). You can check out the event
on Reverbnation https://www.reverbnation.com/show/21443508 and listen to most of the performers.
The suggested donation is $10. Contact is Mark Fodor (cell) 407-923-0712
SusieCool has become the organizer of a Meetup.com group called
"Orlando Creative Music Network". Please check out the webpage
for all sorts of upcoming events. It is free to join.
https://www.meetup.com/Orlando-Creative-Music-Network/
We also have a Facebook page for this group if you are not in meetup, but want info.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/274152179716552/
Current members please send us your website info if you would like your site to be
listed in the ISG members page.
https://sites.google.com/site/isgsusiecool/home/links-and-recommended-reading/member-websites
October 2017 Critique Results
1. Another Change Asli Goncer 15.57
2. How to Paint Your Life Matt Griffin 14.57
3. Silly Little Things Melanie Fisher 14.23
New members always welcome!
© 2017 ISG