In this latest episode, Gary talks with Michael Gilas about why he put off his dream of making music until recently, what songwriters influenced the way he writes, how music & songwriting saved him after a near death experience & much more. Michael also performs three of his original songs during the conversation, accompanied on keyboard by Allan Phillips. https://www.instagram.com/musicmakerssd https://www.instagram.com/michaelpaulgilas https://michaelgilas.com
Jun 27, 2025•30 min•Ep. 149
In this episode, Gary talks with Haley Montgomery, aka DALL, about her past involvement in the Christian music scene; her nonprofit, The Table Art Society; her songwriting process & much more. Haley also performs three of her original songs during the conversation. https://www.instagram.com/musicmakerssd https://www.instagram.com/haleymontgomerymusic https://www.instagram.com/what.a.dall https://thetableartsociety.com
Jun 20, 2025•36 min•Ep. 148
In this latest episode, Gary talks with Derren Raser about when he discovered his musical voice, what song of his stands out as a turning point in his career, why his latest album was such a special project for him & so much more. Derren also performs three of his original songs during the conversation. https://www.instagram.com/musicmakerssd https://www.instagram.com/derrenraser https://www.derrenraser.com
Jun 13, 2025•36 min•Ep. 147
In this episode, Gary talks with Mark Montijo about his time meeting Kris Kristofferson, how his first album after taking a break from music for several decades came about, what it was about songwriting that sparked his interest & much more. Mark also performs three of his original songs during the conversation, accompanied by Lenny Bole on banjo & vocals. https://www.instagram.com/musicmakerssd https://www.instagram.com/rabbithavenmusic https://markmontijo.com
May 30, 2025•33 min•Ep. 146
In this latest episode, Gary talks with Pat McBride about the music being played in his house when he was growing up, how he learned to play the guitar, a song he recently wrote for an upcoming movie & much more. Pat also plays three of his original songs during the conversation. https://www.instagram.com/musicmakerssd https://www.instagram.com/mcbride_music
May 23, 2025•34 min•Ep. 145
In this episode, Gary talks with San Diego Music Award winner, Alex Bergan, about what winning an SDMA means to him as an artist, what he considers to be his most valuable trait as a songwriter, a story of one woman's reaction to a song of his & much more. Alex also performs three of his original songs during the conversation, including the one that won him an award this year. https://www.instagram.com/musicmakerssd https://www.instagram.com/alexbergan_official
May 16, 2025•34 min•Ep. 144
In this latest episode, Gary talks with Aaron Markland, AKA Seawall Prophet, about what he & his band have been up to since he was on the show last a couple years ago, their upcoming new album & upcoming tour. Aaron also performs two new songs during the conversation, accompanied on vocals by band member, AJ Price. https://www.instagram.com/musicmakerssd https://www.instagram.com/seawallprophet https://seawallprophet.com
May 09, 2025•15 min•Ep. 143
In this episode, Gary talks with Ryan Gray about his first introduction to formal music training, his take on turning poems he's written into songs, how he stays motivated & focused on his songwriting when faced with obstacles & setbacks & much more. Ryan also performs three of his original songs during the conversation. https://www.instagram.com/musicmakerssd https://www.instagram.com/ryangraymusic https://www.ryangraymusic.net
May 02, 2025•36 min•Ep. 142
In this latest episode, Gary talks with TJ Moss about his first introduction to music, what his purpose is as a songwriter, his experience performing for the Dalai Lama & much more. TJ also performs three of his original songs during the conversation. https://www.instagram.com/musicmakerssd https://www.instagram.com/tjmossmusic https://tjmossmusic.com
Apr 25, 2025•37 min•Ep. 141
In this episode, Gary talks with Brian Allan White about when the music bug first hit him, his take on performing solo versus in a band, why writing about the struggles of exploited laborers & farmers is so important to him & much more. Brian also performs three of his original songs during the conversation. https://www.instagram.com/musicmakerssd https://www.instagram.com/brianallanwhitemusic https://www.instagram.com/ulstandard https://violaandthebrakemen.com...
Apr 18, 2025•40 min•Ep. 140
In this latest episode, Gary talks with Jesse LaMonaca about the genres of music he's drawn to most, how living in Sweden helped to shape & influence his music today, how his songwriting has evolved since he wrote his first song & much more. Jesse also performs three of his original songs during the conversation. https://www.instagram.com/musicmakerssd https://www.instagram.com/jesselamonaca
Apr 11, 2025•34 min•Ep. 139
In this episode, Gary talks with Grace Jackson about some of her favorite artists, her time in band & choir in high school, what songwriting does for her on a personal level & much more. Grace also performs three of her original songs during the conversation. https://www.instagram.com/musicmakerssd https://www.instagram.com/gracecjackson
Mar 28, 2025•35 min•Ep. 138
In this latest episode, Gary talks with Aly Rowell about her church worship leader & how he was such a great mentor to her, the music program she was in prior to going to college, how she deals with writer's block & much more. Aly also performs three of her original songs during the conversation. https://www.instagram.com/musicmakerssd https://www.instagram.com/alyrowell
Mar 21, 2025•43 min•Ep. 137
In this episode, Gary talks with Monica Larrea about how her music therapy studies impact her music today, why it's important for her shows to be interactive, how she deals with frustration, if at all, during the songwriting process & much more. Monica also performs three of her original songs during the conversation. https://www.instagram.com/musicmakerssd https://www.instagram.com/musical.monica
Mar 14, 2025•34 min•Ep. 136
In this latest episode, Gary talks with Lauren Ong about her poetry phase as a teenager, why she wanted to be a songwriter, the best advice she received about songwriting & much more. Lauren also performs three of her original songs during the conversation. https://www.instagram.com/musicmakerssd https://www.instagram.com/rightorwr.ong
Mar 07, 2025•36 min•Ep. 135
In this episode, Gary talks with Sasha Ortega about the impact her jazz studies had on her music, where she draws her inspiration from for her songs, what she does to keep her songs from getting stale & predictable & much more. Sasha also performs three of her original songs during the conversation. https://www.instagram.com/musicmakerssd https://www.instagram.com/sashaortegamusic
Feb 28, 2025•33 min•Ep. 134
In this latest episode, Gary talks with Cadre Scott about her love for 70s music, how conflict inspires her to write, why she writes for herself & not with a particular audience in mind & much more. Cadre also performs three of her original songs during the conversation. https://www.instagram.com/musicmakerssd https://www.instagram.com/cadrescott https://www.cadrescott.com
Feb 21, 2025•37 min•Ep. 133
In this episode, Gary talks with Jeff Livingstone about what he looks for in a song, his business degree in Entertainment & Hospitality Management, what the most challenging part of the songwriting process is for him & much more. Jeff also performs three of his original songs during the conversation. https://www.instagram.com/musicmakerssd https://www.instagram.com/jefflivingstonemusic https://jefflivingstone.com
Feb 14, 2025•37 min•Ep. 132
In this latest episode, Gary talks with Michael Hill about his first introduction to music, what method he uses to improve his singing, what impact he hopes his songs have on his listeners & much more. Michael also performs three of his original songs during the conversation. https://www.instagram.com/musicmakerssd https://www.instagram.com/michaelh.music https://michaelofficial.com
Feb 07, 2025•34 min•Ep. 131
In this episode, Gary talks with Celina Rescott about her early musical journey, her different singing styles, why she never goes back to change a song once it's done & a lot more. Celina also performs three of her original songs during the conversation. https://www.instagram.com/musicmakerssd https://www.instagram.com/celina_rescott https://www.instagram.com/celinaandtheembers
Jan 24, 2025•38 min•Ep. 130
In this latest episode, Gary talks with Dakota Ringer about what really inspired him to play music & write, what he likes to write about, his favorite type of venue to play & much more. Dakota also performs three of his original songs during the conversation. https://www.instagram.com/musicmakerssd https://www.instagram.com/dakotaringermusic https://www.instagram.com/thenakedimusic https://www.dakotaringer.com
Jan 17, 2025•41 min•Ep. 129
In this episode, Gary talks with Ryan Sheker about his first introduction to music, the first song he ever wrote, his songwriting goals & much more. Ryan also performs three of his original songs during the conversation. https://www.instagram.com/musicmakerssd https://www.instagram.com/ryansheker
Jan 10, 2025•40 min•Ep. 128
In this latest episode, Gary talks with Heath Farmer, of the band Coastal Wolves, about the music he listened to growing up & through college, what it was about songwriting that interested him, the most rewarding part of the songwriting process & much more. Heath also performs three of his original songs during the conversation. https://www.instagram.com/musicmakerssd https://www.instagram.com/coastal.wolves https://www.instagram.com/heath.alan.farmer
Jan 03, 2025•42 min•Ep. 127
In this episode, Gary talks with Melody Ebner about her musical family, how important the arts are in school, what the most challenging part of the songwriting process is for her & much more. Melody also performs three of her original songs during the conversation. https://www.instagram.com/musicmakerssd https://www.instagram.com/melodyebnermusic https://www.melodyebnermusic.com
Dec 20, 2024•37 min•Ep. 126
In this latest episode, Gary talks with Gayle Skidmore about Lisa Loeb's influence, how easy or difficult it is for song ideas to come to her, her two year songwriting project for Patreon & much more. Gayle also performs three of her original songs during the conversation. https://www.instagram.com/musicmakerssd https://www.instagram.com/gayleskidmore https://www.gayleskidmore.com
Dec 14, 2024•30 min•Ep. 125
In this episode, Gary talks with Roni Lee about what it was like working with the famed L.A. manager & producer, Kim Fowley; what it was like filling in for Dale Bozzio at a Missing Persons concert; how the music industry has changed since she started in it back in the '70s & so much more. Roni also performs three of her original songs during the conversation. https://www.instagram.com/musicmakerssd https://www.instagram.com/ronileeofficial https://ronileegroup.com
Nov 22, 2024•47 min•Ep. 124
In this latest episode, Gary talks with Shua about his early obsession with storytelling, writing songs where the listener feels a part of them, how he deals with writer's block & much more. Shua also performs three of his original songs during the conversation. https://www.instagram.com/musicmakerssd https://www.instagram.com/shuatheshua https://shua.fyi
Nov 15, 2024•37 min•Ep. 123
In this episode, Gary talks with Ron Houston about the memories he has of his father's country band, when & why he bought his first guitar, his favorite songwriters & much more. Ron also performs three of his original songs during the conversation. https://www.instagram.com/musicmakerssd https://www.instagram.com/outlawronhouston https://www.instagram.com/berrypicker2024 https://ronhouston.net
Nov 08, 2024•39 min•Ep. 122
In this latest episode, Gary talks with Amy Barnhart about her favorite songwriters, how she came to write her first song, what the most challenging part of the songwriting process is for her & much more. Amy also performs three of her original songs during the conversation. https://www.instagram.com/musicmakerssd https://www.instagram.com/amybarnhartmusic
Nov 01, 2024•38 min•Ep. 121
In this episode, Gary talks with Rhea Makiaris about the vocal lessons she took in college, how her songwriting has evolved, her Concert for Your Cause series & much more. Rhea also performs three of her original songs during the conversation. https://www.instagram.com/musicmakerssd https://heyrhea.com https://concertforyourcause.com
Oct 25, 2024•37 min•Ep. 120
