In this episode of the CIAS Podcast, I sit down with worship leader and songwriter Charlie Hall. Charlie has been writing worship songs for over 35 years, starting at age 17 when he first found God. He shares how his music has always reflected the rawness of his journey, through depression, aggression, and sin, and how he’s stayed connected to his local church community throughout. We dive into his time with 6 Step Records, writing for Passion, and the heart of worship leadership. Charlie also o...
Oct 11, 2024•57 min
In this video, I’m breaking down some of my favorite chord shapes for worship—G, C, D, and a few others that really help fill out your sound. These shapes make it super easy to transition between chords and keep things smooth during worship. Whether you’re leading in a small group or on a bigger stage, these will definitely help you out! Make sure to hit like, subscribe, and join my Facebook group for Christian Indie Artists, Songwriters and Worship Leaders —it’s a great place to connect with ot...
Sep 27, 2024•19 min
In this episode, I’ll show you the 3 best chord shapes for leading worship on acoustic guitar—G, C, and D. These simple shapes will help you make smooth transitions between songs, free you from technical distractions, and allow you to focus on worshiping. I’ll also share tips on using a capo to compliment different keys and how growing as a musician can enhance your worship leading. Whether you’re playing behind the pastor or transitioning between songs, these shapes are a game changer! Grab you...
Sep 20, 2024•18 min
In this episode, I share 5 actionable ways to break through creative blocks and find fresh inspiration in your worship songwriting. From changing your environment, to drawing from Scripture, and collaborating with others, these some of the things I talk about that will help you write songs that glorify God and resonate with your congregation. Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share your thoughts in the comments! Join the Christian Indie Artists & Songwriters Facebook group for support and...
Sep 13, 2024•14 min•Ep. 107
Do you ever feel short on time but still want your worship songs to resonate deeply with your congregation? In this episode, I’m sharing 5 quick yet powerful tips to make every writing session count. By the end of this episode, you’ll have key essentials to create impactful, spirit-filled worship song s that truly connect with your audience. 🔗 Free Resource: Want to take your songwriting to the next level? Grab your free Nashville Numbers System chart here — https://www.bryanbolivermusic.com/nn...
Sep 06, 2024•15 min
In this episode, I sit down with Jake Gosselin, founder of Churchfront, to hear about his incredible journey from playing bass in a high school band, to leading worship, and eventually becoming a successful entrepreneur. Jake shares how he navigated the world of worship leading, pursued music as a career, and even went to seminary with dreams of pastoral ministry. But his story didn’t stop there, Jake leaned into the entrepreneurial world to solve problems he faced early on, and it’s led him to ...
Aug 30, 2024•56 min
On this episode of the CIAS Podcast, we’re diving into 10 FREE and effective strategies to help you market your worship music, without breaking the bank. Whether you’re an indie artist, worship leader, or songwriter, these tips will help you get your music heard by the right audience and make a real impact. 🚀 What You’ll Learn: 1.Leverage Social Media - Discover how to use platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok to share your music and connect with your audience. 2.Create Engaging Conten...
Aug 16, 2024•20 min•Ep. 106
🎙️ CIAS Podcast Episode #104 In this episode, we’re chatting with the amazing folks from Natural State Music. Haley, Del and Matt share their wild ride in the Christian music world. They all started out in church, passionate about using their talents to worship God. Haley had a tough break after a big label showcase didn’t go as planned and thought she was done with music. But God had other plans. He opened a door for her to lead worship back in her hometown, and her love for music was reignite...
Aug 02, 2024•54 min
On this episode, I hang out with producer, brand strategist, professional YouTuber, award winning creative marketing specialist, and the founder of SellMusic.com Adam Ivy, who talks about some REAL truths for indie artists and songwriters. Adam has grown his YouTube channel to over 300K subscribers by helping independent musicians, artists and brands make impact with their music. He shares a wealth of knowledge on how to navigate the music scene, while staying true to yourself and what you love....
Jul 19, 2024•1 hr 10 min•Ep. 103
🎙️ CIAS Podcast Episode #102: Folk Worship Goes Viral with Brice Davis 🎙️ Join us for a laid-back chat with Brice Davis from Jacksonville, Florida. Brice has been on an incredible journey, balancing a full-time job, fatherhood (with two kids and another on the way!), and skyrocketing his music career on social media. Since August of last year, Brice has organically grown his Instagram from 600 followers to over 115K! 🔹 Social Media Strategies We Discuss: •Reels: Perfect for attracting new fol...
Jul 05, 2024•49 min•Ep. 102
On episode #101 of the CIAS Podcast I sat down with my friend Chase Wagner. Chase is a prominent artist, songwriter, and the Worship Pastor of Grace City Church in Lakeland, FL. From beginning to know The Lord through music as a teen in Seattle, to moving across the country to found SEU Worship, as well as Grace City Music/Church, he has found encouragement to keep going through His strong faith in God. Over the last five years Chase has been writing for worship artists such as Leeland, Jesus Cu...
Jun 21, 2024•59 min•Ep. 101
On this celebration episode #100 of the CIAS Podcast I sat down with my friend Chris Lawson Jones from the Wings Distribution Group. Chris has been working professionally in the Christian music industry for over 20 years and shares so much insight and wisdom. We talk through the state of the independent artist and how using a boutique distribution platform like Wings can help set any artist up for success, whether a veteran or just getting started. I know you will be blessed by this episode. If ...
Jun 07, 2024•56 min
On this episode of the CIAS Podcast Ross King and I talk about the 4th ingredient in his formula for music industry success- raw talent. Ross says that we are not able to do anything about the amount of raw talent we are given, however we can lean on the other ingredients (work ethic, suck meter, and how are you in a room) to cultivate the raw talent we have. The bad news is that we can’t do anything to gain more “raw talent” but the great news is that raw talent is not enough on its own to make...
Oct 14, 2022•51 min
On this episode of the CIAS podcast Ross King and I talk about the work ethic it takes to go pro. You might be thinking we talk about things like working 100 hour weeks and do whatever you need to to make it happen, but we don’t! We wanted to give you a practical look at how we manage and schedule our time as a professional in the music industry. So much of being a pro has to do with preparation and intentionality, more than even with talent. When your calendar has specific events dedicated to y...
Sep 23, 2022•1 hr 5 min•Season 4Ep. 8
On this episode of the CIAS podcast, Ross King and I dive deep into the importance of how you are in a room. In a music career we will be in MANY different kinds of rooms, so having an understanding of how to be at our best in each situation is critical. We discuss many practical tips on what to do (and what not to do) Whether you are just getting started, or have been chasing your music dream for years, I know you will find a ton of inspiration and encouragement in this conversation. Join our C...
Sep 09, 2022•54 min•Season 4Ep. 7
On the latest episode of the CIAS Podcast I sat down with my good friend and 30 year music industry vet Ross King to discuss developing our personal quality control measure, a.k.a. our "Suck Meter" Knowing what is good, for the target you are aiming for, is critical for success in music. We develop our "suck meter" over time, but there are a few elements to help with that process. Join our Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/christianindieartistsandsongwriters Check out our website ht...
Aug 26, 2022•50 min•Season 4Ep. 6
On this episode I had a great conversation with my friend Kevin Winebarger of Courage Studios. Kevin is a marketer, artist, songwriter, producer and an all around guru in social media and making big impact in the music industry. Kevin has been working in the industry for nearly a decade and has been serving many artists along the way. Kevin took a deep dive into many of his marketing principals on things like Spotify and YouTube marketing, as well as insights on how to make real impact on your m...
Jul 22, 2022•59 min•Season 4Ep. 5
Plugins are one of the most talked about aspects of recording music. There are so many to choose from and SO many companies who make them. Which ones do you need to make pro music? The questions and possibilities are truly endless. I wanted to walk through the top plugins I use on a daily basis. These are helpful tools and are also versatile and can be used in many different ways. These 23 plugins will make your music sound better, faster, with some honorable mentions at the end! Check out Waves...
May 20, 2022•17 min•Season 4Ep. 4
Have you ever got a troll comment? There are so many positive parts about the internet. It helps us stay connected, share our lives and even create new relationships. But of course there are many negative sides to it as well. Whether virtually or in "real life" there are going to be people out there who may try to discourage us from chasing after our dreams. How we let it effect us, is up to us. We can let it keep us from moving forward, or we can turn it into the fuel that pushes us further tha...
May 13, 2022•12 min•Season 4Ep. 3
There is so much noise and everyone seems to be trying to capture our attention these days. Social media is an incredible tool, but it can be difficult to figure out how to reach people with our music. Between endless scrolling and short attention spans, what is the secret sauce to finding people who are actually interested in being a part of your music journey? On this latest episode I discuss what I believe will help you grow, and walk through 4 steps to help build it and make it last! Join ou...
May 06, 2022•11 min•Season 4Ep. 2
What if all of your imperfections, insecurities, pain, trials and weaknesses are where your BEST songs come from? On this episode of the CIAS Podcast I discuss why I believe our weaknesses actually make us stronger and our music better, and share a little of my testimony too (which is something I have never shared on the podcast before) Would love to hear your thoughts on this! To connect further: Join our active and encouraging Facebook group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/christianindie...
Apr 29, 2022•13 min•Season 4Ep. 1
On the latest episode of the CIAS Podcast I had the privilege of interviewing Nashville based artist, singer, and songwriter Grace Graber. I felt called to reach out to Grace after hearing about her mission to bring attention to mental health issues in the Church and the Christian music industry. After experiencing both physical and verbal bullying in her childhood, a song saved her during a defining moment in her life. After that experience she realized the power of music and has dedicated hers...
Apr 15, 2022•50 min•Season 3Ep. 42
Have you written an incredible song but every time you share it with people you don't get the response you were hoping for? I think this might be why… The best way to give your song a chance to make impact starts with a great demo. True, a great song is a great song no matter the quality of the demo, BUT a better sounding recording is always going to increase its chances of being used. Whether pitching to a publisher, artist, or for your own artistry, taking the time to produce a high quality de...
Apr 08, 2022•10 min•Season 3Ep. 41
Have you ever felt like you are stuck on your music journey? Like you can't get the ball rolling because it feels too heavy? Well, I think I've got something to help you with that… On this video I discuss 5 ways to keep going on your music journey. Get our music production course "Logic Pro X for Artists and Songwriters" here: https://www.bryanbolivermusic.com/logicproxforartistsandsongwriters Join our active and encouraging Facebook group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/christianindiearti...
Apr 01, 2022•11 min•Season 3Ep. 40
In the music industry there are not many sure things. It can take a long time to achieve anything great and there are so many unknowns. Every story of success you hear will be unique to the person telling it. But what if there are some general steps you could take to set you up for success in music? I wanted to share 6 steps I took on my music journey that got me to being full-time. These may come in different orders, timelines, and even categories, but I believe these 6 things can help you go f...
Mar 25, 2022•13 min•Season 3Ep. 39
One of the most important pieces on our music journey is the relationships we have. Without relationships, success may not only be tough, but it's basically impossible. We need people to serve, and we need others to serve us to make impact. But how do we meet people? How do we build lasting relationships? Networking is a great way to build relationships. Attending events, joining groups, and being a part of communities are all great ways to meet and network with others. As with everything, there...
Mar 18, 2022•10 min•Season 3Ep. 38
Do you want to know the specific personality traits and habits that can help you go pro as a songwriter? I have had the privilege of collaborating with professional songwriters in my career. Outside of sheer talent I have noticed some common personality traits and habits of the pros. Yes, skill and craft is the key element that will get you in the door to work with pros, but I believe these 10 traits are what will get you the call to come back to write again. If it is your desire to be professio...
Mar 11, 2022•13 min•Season 3Ep. 37
Is it possible to stand out and is it even worth it if you can? What does it take to make your own space in the music industry? I wanted to talk through 3 points of why and how I believe you DO have a place in the music industry. Especially as a Christian indie artist, this is a calling, so not only should we work towards making impact with our music, but I believe we HAVE to do so. Check out our Logic Pro X for Artists and Songwriters Course here: https://www.bryanbolivermusic.com/logicproxfora...
Mar 04, 2022•10 min•Season 3Ep. 36
One of the most popular ways to write songs is toplining. Toplining is writing lyrics and melodies to a track at its core. Whether working with a producer in session, or building from a pre-made track, top lining is common in today's songwriting culture. I wanted to walk through 3 tips for toplining that will help you write the best songs possible. Whether you have top lined for years or have not done it yet, these 3 things will bring clarity and foundation to your next session. Get Our Logic Pr...
Feb 25, 2022•13 min•Season 3Ep. 35
On this episode I walk through 8 categories of gear you need to get started in your home studio, with different options depending on your budget and need. The term "home studio" can feel intimidating, but with just a few basic pieces of gear you can be making high quality, release-ready music in no time. It can be overwhelming and you may think you need everything, right away to get started, but the truth is you can get started with a fairly minimal investment. You just have to be willing to tak...
Feb 18, 2022•18 min•Season 3Ep. 34
