I wanted to take a moment to catch you up on what has been happening in my world lately. The past few weeks have been a mix of endings, new beginnings, and a lot of creative energy. We just wrapped up the Pro Writer Group after a full year together. I cannot tell you how much it meant to spend that time connecting with other songwriters, learning together, and encouraging each other’s growth. That group was such a gift and I am deeply grateful to everyone who took part. At the same time, I can feel this new season pulling me in a different direction. Teaching and mentoring will always be a big part of who I am, but lately I have felt a strong call to refocus on my own artistry. For years I poured so much of myself into teaching that I almost forgot how much I love simply being an artist. It feels good to give myself permission to step back into that role.
As I have been leaning into this shift, I started promoting some of my older songs again, and to my surprise they are finding new life. I have been seeing streams, listeners, and saves pop up on Spotify, and that has been so encouraging. These are songs that I once thought might never get much traction, and now people are connecting with them. It reminds me that music has its own timeline. Sometimes a song just needs to wait for the right moment and the right listeners. That realization has given me a lot of confidence and energy to keep moving forward.
This past week I also hosted a YouTube Live Stream. It was a lot of fun to connect with people in real time and share some of what I have been working on. A few people mentioned that they missed the intimacy of Zoom meetings, and I hear that. I am taking a little time away right now to focus on my music projects, but I believe more workshops and ways to connect are in the future. I do not know exactly when, but if you stick around you will definitely see them return.
Now for the big news. My new single, Might Be Trouble, is coming out on September 15. I am really excited about this one. Along with the release, there will be a lyric video on both my At-Home Songwriting channel and my brand-new Chad Shank Music channel. This song feels like an important part of the story I am telling with my upcoming album Digital Masquerade, which I am still in the process of finishing. The album is not quite ready yet, but it is getting closer every week.
In addition to the new single, I have been creating a lot of new content for YouTube. You can expect quick tip videos, longer vlogs where I take you behind the scenes, and some deeper tutorials to help you with your own songwriting. I am also setting up interviews with other writers and music professionals, which I think will be really inspiring and helpful to watch. One of my recent videos about songwriting in the 1970s really took off, and it has been one of my most popular uploads so far. That kind of response tells me I am on the right path and it makes me want to keep going.
Another exciting thing on the horizon is a new collaboration with Andrea Stolpe and her EMC Institute. Starting September 11, I will be leading weekly check-in meetings with songwriters who are part of that community. Andrea has been such an important mentor in my journey, and it feels really special to be working alongside her in this way.
All of this has me thinking about what it means to live a creative life. Things rarely feel calm or neatly organized. One project ends and three more start up. It is a rhythm of constant motion, and even though it can feel overwhelming at times, I honestly would not trade it. I am just one 47 year old guy trying to balance a day job, family life, and an endless stream of ideas and creative energy. Some days I feel like I am barely keeping up, but most days I feel grateful that I even get to do this.
So thank you for being here and for following along with my journey. Whether you have been around since the beginning or just found me recently, I am glad you are here. Your support gives me the encouragement to keep going, and I cannot wait to share more with you as these songs, videos, and projects come to life.