Songwriter Showcase: Nashville Songwriter Romances, #2

By D. G. Driver

Emotions run high and jealousy reigns when the members of songwriter group night enter a talent competition against each other.

It's been a couple months since Trish attended her first songwriter night and started her relationship with Lyle. Things have been going nicely for them but haven't been quite as smooth for Odetta and Neil. These new relationships are put to the test when all four of them enter a big songwriting competition where the finalists will perform in a showcase in front of a panel of judges. The winner will get an offer of agent representation and a possible recording deal. Now they're all in competition, trying to figure out how to support each other while still wanting to win.

It doesn't help that both Lyle and Neil feel slighted because Trish and Odetta are singing songs they've written about former relationships. There's also a striking young woman named Carly who could definitely snag the prize away from any of them.

Oh, and one more problem. Aiden Bronson is one of the judges.

 

Is the love between Trish and Lyle or Odetta and Neil strong enough to survive this tense night? No matter the outcome?

• Language: English
• Publisher: D. G. Driver
• Release date: Nov 6, 2021
• ISBN: 9798201734527

Book preview

Chapter One

LYLE

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There’s more than one way to write a song, and there are a million ways to find ideas for songs. Sometimes, a writer is lucky and a hook pops in there and pesters the mind until it has to be written. Often songs are born out of the present mood or emotions being experienced by the writers. And then there are the moments that reach out of the past and grab on, begging to be remembered through careful lyrics and expressive melodies.

At some point a songwriter might brave an open mic night to see how a crowd responds to their work. They might enter a talent contest or try their luck in a showcase event. These kinds of competitions are a nerve-racking test of talent and have built and destroyed egos in equal measure.

One thing that can help a songwriter reach that level of self-esteem is to establish a group of supportive creatives that meets for the purpose of building each other up and helping each other improve at their art. Not everyone in the group needs to be equal in ability. That doesn’t matter. At least that’s what Lyle thinks as he sits in the front room of his house surrounded by good friends, well-loved guitars, and his new, wonderful songwriting girlfriend Trish. What matters is having a safe place to share and create.

Songwriters are plentiful in Nashville, and Lyle has met many at different events. He likes this group best because it’s his group. Maybe Roy and Pearl were founding members way back in the day, but now it’s run by him and Neil. He’s happy with its low-key feel, although he would like a couple more members. George and Tammy don’t come all the time, due to their constant arguments and break-ups. Holly drops by when she’s available, but she works a lot as a background studio singer and doesn’t ever have any new songs to share. When she comes, it’s just to cheer for everyone. That’s nice, if not very helpful.

For the past couple months, the group has felt a little like a couples meeting. Trish beside him, Neil with Odetta, and, in their platonic way, ol’ Roy and Pearl. No one is critical in the least these days. The new term for over-stepping is to be an Aiden, referring to the night up-and-coming Country star Aiden Bronson invaded their group and did nothing but tear apart their songs. For example, Odetta might say, "I don’t want to be an Aiden here, but I think that second line is a little clunky."

When everyone in the room is dating, or best friends, or babysitting the other’s kid, no one wants to be an Aiden and ruin the vibe.

Some pretty rotten songs have gone through the group with little honesty about their worth except some obvious haste in moving on to the next person. When a good song is played, it’s very evident. People sit taller, the smiles are broader, toes tap, heads nod, and the applause is genuine. Lyle lives for those moments.

He also lives for the moments when Trish kisses him on the cheek and says, "Mmmm, now that one gets me."

So far tonight, everyone has sung twice. They get around the circle fast with just the six of them and no interruptions. Pearl suggests a break for treats. She’s brought a tray of cookies she calls Hello Dollies and shares with everyone.

These are delicious, Trish says, covering her mouth as she chews. What is that flavor I’m getting besides the chocolate? I can’t place it.

Butterscotch chips, Pearl informs her. And a little coconut. Do you like it?

Trish nods. I don’t usually like coconut, but I like these. I don’t think I’ve ever had butterscotch anything before. If I eat any more of these, I’ll have to unbutton my jeans. Her distressed jeans fit her beautifully, and Lyle has been fighting the urge to caress those bare knees all evening.

Lyle has been dating Trish for three months now, and her effect on him hasn’t decreased one bit. If anything, her spell over him has only intensified. Her smiles, giggles, the brightness of her blue eyes, all of it keeps him mesmerized. At some point this town and the people in it won’t seem so novel to her, but she’s still enamored with Nashville. She helps him see his hometown in a fresh light and has made him fall back in love with it too.

And he’s so in love with her that it’s altered the tone of his songwriting. All of his songs are happy and about falling in love, being in love, celebrating love. He hasn’t written one sad song all season. The group as a whole seems to get a kick out of this joyful side of him, but Neil has griped about it a time or two.

Unlike him, Neil’s relationship with Odetta stays at arm’s length. They’ve gone out a few times. Not enough to call it serious. He’s always come home at a decent hour, so Odetta can relieve the babysitter. When they’re together, they don’t hold hands or act terribly affectionate. Even now, Odetta is in her cozy armchair like always, enjoying her Hello Dolly while Neil retreats to his room to be alone for a minute. He’s not enjoying his girlfriend trying to catch all the crumbs of her delicious cookie so she won’t miss a taste like Lyle is with Trish.

Also, unlike him and Trish, those two haven’t said they loved each other yet.

When are we ever going to work on a song with some real depth, Neil had complained a couple weeks ago during one of their writing sessions. All of these are bubblegum. I’m ready to dig into something again. I want some minor chords. I want some long, aching notes.

I’m sorry, man, Lyle said. I can’t help it. I’m in a good place right now.

Neil slouched and hit a bunch of black keys on the keyboard. I’m aware.

Lyle shoved his best friend’s shoulder. "You know, you could write some lyrics. I bet you’ve got a song raging to come out."

Neil followed Lyle’s advice, and they’d been working on it together over the past couple days, planning to debut it tonight. It’s probably why Neil disappeared. Their turn is next, and the song is revealing. Lyle double-checked a dozen times before everyone arrived to make sure Neil still wanted to go through with it.

It might start a conversation, you know.

It’s probably one that needs to happen.

Now that the time has arrived, Lyle slips away from the group and joins his friend. Neil keeps his room much nicer than Lyle’s. His bedding matches in a cool pattern of black and aqua blue and is always made. Framed artwork he’d purchased from students in the art department at college are spaced evenly along the walls, and he has his book collection organized so his favorite titles are displayed faced out. An upright piano he’d inherited from his grandmother has her old hymnal open on it and is next to a tidy desk. All of his clothes are hung in his closet, work shirts crisp and buttoned. Neil is no slouch.

Odetta would appreciate this about him if she ever came over for more than songwriter night.

Lyle finds Neil pacing back and forth, digging his fingers into his thick black hair and chewing on his lips. He stops when Lyle comes through the door. His eyes are full of panic.

I can’t. I can’t do it. You need to pick something else. Do that one about the café menu. It’s cute. It’s clever. They’ll like it.

Come on, Neil. Your song is ready. We’ve worked on it. No one will say anything bad. You know that.

It doesn’t matter if they say it, Neil says. And I don’t care as much if they think it’s bad. I care if she... If Odetta thinks it’s about her.

"It is about her," Lyle says as gently as possible.

Neil does a huge sigh and collapses onto his bed, his hands covering his face. Please, Lyle. I can’t. You know how guarded she is about her personal life.

She’s not guarded. Every song she writes is a story about something that’s happened to her.

Yeah, but she makes them funny. That’s the thing. She takes a moment that could be tragic or frustrating and makes it an act. She hides her vulnerability. My song is asking her to show me that vulnerability. I honestly don’t know if she can.

She’s been through a lot, Lyle says.

Neil sits up and nods slowly. You don’t know that half of it.

I know her husband died.

Exactly. How do I...? I mean, Lyle, come on. How do I fit in after something like that?

I don’t know, but she wouldn’t go out with you at all if she didn’t think she was ready to at least try to make it work. Right?

It doesn’t help that I’m eight years younger than her, either. She reminds me all the time and gets all riled up if someone calls her a cougar or whatever. Neil slaps his knees. Nope. Not doing the song. Let’s do something else or skip.

Lyle waits a moment to see if Neil will change his mind. When he doesn’t say anything else, Lyle says, I’m not ready to do the café song either. It needs more work. I haven’t even given it a title yet.

What do you mean? It’s brilliant, Neil teases. Then he sings two lines of Lyle’s latest masterpiece.

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"Order a meat and three for my baby and me.

It sure won’t hurt to save room for dessert."

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Lyle stomps on Neil’s foot to get him to stop. It’s so bad.

Watch the kicks! Neil dusts off his pristine running shoes. Seems we are at an impasse, my friend, if neither of us wants to do our new songs.

An idea occurs to Lyle. What if we teach the group the arrangement you’ve been working on for that folk song North Country Riddle? Everyone would enjoy that. It’s been a while since we all did a song together.

Sure. We can do that.

Neil scootches off the bed, straightens out his blue button-down shirt, and follows Lyle back to the group. Roy and Pearl who have resettled on the couch cheer their return.

Good. We can get going, Roy says in his usual tone that can either be read as grumpy or jovial depending on who’s listening and how well they know him.

And you can save me from these cookies, Trish says. I’ve already had three, and I can’t stop myself.

I’m glad you like them, honey, Pearl says, pride evident in her rosy cheeks. She takes the tray from the coffee table and puts it back on the kitchen counter.

As Lyle and Neil get back to their spots in the circle, Odetta rummages through her large purse. Hey, before we get going again, I wanted to show something to all of you in case you might be interested. She finds the paper she’s been looking for, a black and white notice folded in half. She carefully places her purse beside her on the floor again while opening up the notice and showing it to them. "I ripped this out of a copy of the Music City Scene the other day. There’s a big songwriter showcase coming up in a couple weeks. It’s going to have an industry panel of judges. She gives the notice a closer read and faces it toward them again. It doesn’t say specifically who, but it says talent agents and record producers. It also will have Chris Stapleton as a celebrity guest. She looks at all of them and raises her neatly plucked black eyebrows. He’s somebody, so this might not be a total waste of time."

I like his music, Trish says. Everyone else nods or murmurs in agreement.

Yeah, Neil has to admit, ’Tennessee Whiskey’ is brilliant.

Before the group can explode into a discussion of Stapleton’s greatest hits, Odetta goes on. From what I’m seeing here, you have to audition by sending in a video of an original song and one cover song. They’ll choose the finalists to perform in front of the panel and a live audience the first weekend of November. The winner of the showcase will get representation and publishing consideration. She tilts her head, and one of her dangling silver earrings touches her shoulder. "Could