Shawn Mullins How Crossing the Divide Between Atlanta and Nashville Lit up His World
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NOVEMBER 2010 ISSUE MMUSICMAG.COM SPOTLIGHT ey Brian Manl Michael Wilson Michael shawn mullins how crossing the divide between atlanta and nashville lit up his world A dozen yeArs Ago, the top 10 on his new album, Light You Up, including hit “Lullaby” and platinum album Soul’s veteran nashville songwriter Chuck Cannon. Core catapulted Atlanta-born singer and “I feel like I’m a really strong melodist—decent songwriter shawn Mullins into the limelight. little melodies that people can hum back,” Before long he found himself opening says Mullins. “But I have to work real hard at arena shows for the likes of ’n sync, the the lyrics. And as fast as a melody can come Backstreet Boys and destiny’s Child—and to me, song lyrics come to Chuck—like entire becoming increasingly uncomfortable with quatrains and stanzas, just blow-your-mind his place in that overblown pop world. “I kind of lyrics. And he’s opened the doors of NOVEMBER 2010 told myself, ‘Man, you’ve always wanted nashville to me, in a way.” to be on Americana radio and play good Cannon introduced the Music City M MUSIC & MUSICIANS listening rooms. It doesn’t matter if it’s 100 newbie to one of his songwriting heroes, MAGAZINE seats,’” he recalls. “so I had to get back rodney Crowell, who offered valuable to that. But in the process I closed myself encouragement when Mullins encountered off for a while.” over the last several years a case of writer’s block. “I was saying, he has reversed that process, opening ‘Man, I haven’t written anything in months. himself up to more artistic collaboration. how am I gonna do this?’” he remembers. “I’ve looked for a new horizon, to find “And rodney said, ‘Man, you’re a great community,” he says. “that’s really what songwriter. Soul’s Core is one of my it’s been about.” favorite records.’ When that caliber of the first conspicuous byproduct of writer has nice things to say, it scoots you his new philosophy was “toes,” the 2009 along if you’re having a bad bout of not no. 1 country hit Mullins helped pen for the being able to write.” And so the once zac Brown Band. “For years I would never go-it-alone Mullins now feels perfectly have co-written,” he says. “I would have said, at home in a songwriting world where ‘you’re not a strong enough writer if you have collaboration is prized above all. “they’re to co-write a song—you should write one by real cool in nashville,” he says. “If you’re a yourself.’” his thinking has since evolved, and good guy, you’re welcome.” he began working with a variety of writers –Bob Cannon 1818 M mag 7_BARS.indd 18 11/18/10 1:27:25 AM.