Songwriter Trysts

In this deeply moving episode of Songwriter Trysts, Rae Leigh sits down with Grammy Award-winning guitarist, educator, and recording artist Markus Illko.

Rae first met Markus through the Recording Academy at the 2025 Grammy Awards and later reconnected with him at NAMM, where he was performing with the acclaimed String Revolution. Their conversation explores a remarkable musical journey spanning performance, recording, education, an...

Brian Rhea is a Christian country artist from Nashville, Tennessee, a devoted father, grandfather, and man of faith whose music is deeply rooted in real-life experiences. His passion for songwriting and his commitment to telling authentic stories shine through in both his beautiful songs and this heartfelt conversation with Rae Leigh on Songwriter Trysts.

From gospel and country music to songwriting, co-writing, publishing, and navi...

In this powerful episode of Songwriter Trysts, Rae Leigh sits down with Canadian musician and producer Tim Steinruck to unpack a life shaped by rock ’n’ roll, resilience, and raw honesty.

Tim shares his journey from playing in a rock band signed to the KISS label, navigating the highs and pressures of the music industry, to finding his footing as a producer and creative mentor. Beyond the accolades, this conversation goe...

🎄 Christmas Special: Songwriter Trysts with Rae Leigh ft. Kenny Nolan 🎄

This Christmas, Songwriter Trysts with Rae Leigh delivers a truly iconic episode, welcoming legendary songwriter Kenny Nolan — the hitmaker behind timeless classics “I Like Dreamin’,” “My Eyes Adored You,” and the global anthem “Lady Marmalade.”

In this festive and deeply personal conversation, Kenny Nolan takes l...

In this episode of Songwriter Trysts, host Rae Leigh sits down with Grammy-winning LA drummer MB Gordy, whose legendary career spans session work, touring, composing, teaching, and film production. After meeting through mutual friend Kitt Wakeley at NAMM and the 2026 Grammys, Rae and MB dive into his eclectic — and sometimes chaotically honest — approach to surviving and thriving in the music industry. Raw, insightful, ...

🌟 NEW PODCAST EPISODE OUT NOW!
Join Rae Leigh on the Songwriter Trysts podcast as she sits down with the one and only 8 Ball Aitken for an insightful and entertaining deep dive into his remarkable journey in music. From growing up in Australia to carving out a career as a songwriter and session musician in Nashville, 8 Ball shares the real stories behind the music and his signature swamp-blues sound.

🎤 In this episode, they exp...

In this heartfelt episode of Songwriter Trysts hosted by singer-songwriter Rae Leigh, Ester Wiesnerova, composer and Recording Academy member, takes us on a journey from her roots in Slovakia to the vibrant music scene of New York City. With a powerful story of resilience, Ester shares how she was influenced by her mother’s political and spiritual songwriting, and how music became her tool for connection and healing. From per...

🎙️ Songwriter Trysts Podcast – Episode with Aubrielle 🎶

In this special episode of Songwriter Trysts, host Rae Leigh visits the home of Bri, the creative force behind Aubrielle Artist, for an intimate and inspiring conversation. This episode dives into the life and artistry of a songwriter whose music is as cinematic as it is captivating.

Aubrielle crafts dark-pop soundscapes that blend powerful vocals with atmospheric orch...

🎄 Songwriter Trysts Christmas 2024 Bonus Episode 🎄

Join Rae Leigh for a special holiday episode featuring Los Angeles-based soul-pop sensation Cooper Phillip! Cooper shares the magic behind her brand-new Christmas single, co-written and produced by the legendary Walter Afanasyev—best known for co-creating Mariah Carey's iconic "All I Want for Christmas Is You."

Discover Cooper’s inspiring journey from her classical ro...

In this episode of Songwriter Trysts, Rae Leigh welcomes Nashville-based singer-songwriter Matt Oakley to discuss his heartfelt song "Soldier's Son," a tribute to his father and Gold Star families who have lost loved ones in combat. Matt shares his unique journey growing up as an "army brat," moving across the world, and eventually discovering his love for music. He also opens up about his songwriting process, the importance of aut...

In this episode of Songwriter Trysts, Rae Leigh sits down with the talented Malachi Gagnon to explore his inspiring journey as a singer-songwriter. Hailing from the serene and woodsy landscapes of New Hampshire, Malachi shares how his surroundings fuel his creativity and passion for music.

In This Episode:

• 🏞️ Inspiration from Nature: Malachi talks about the calming influence of New Hampshire’s countryside on his songwr...

In this inspiring episode of Songwriter Trysts, Rae Leigh sits down with Nashville-based Grammy award winning singer-songwriter Tim James, whose journey to success is as unconventional as it is remarkable. Born and raised in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, Tim shares his path from sales jobs in Los Angeles to becoming a successful songwriter in Nashville. Despite setbacks, including painting houses after a publishing deal fell through, Ti...

In the latest episode of the Songwriter Trysts podcast, host Rae Leigh sits down with two of New Zealand's rising country music stars, Miranda Easten and Steffany Beck. These talented artists open up about their journey in the music industry, their aspirations, and what lies ahead for them.

As New Zealand's country music scene continues to grow, Miranda and Steffany are eager to take their talents across the Tasman Sea. Australia, ...

Join us as we sit down with the remarkable Tyla Rodrigues, a rising star in old-school country music. With her soulful voice and heartfelt lyrics, Tyla has made a name for herself at prestigious festivals like Groundwater, Tamworth, and Gympie Music Muster. She has also shared the stage with renowned artists such as Tori Darke, Jeremy Turner, Andrew Swift, and Lane Pittman.

In this episode, Tyla shares her journey, her passion for ...

Welcome to another episode of Songwriter Trysts. Today, we have the privilege of featuring a rising pop-rock sensation who's making waves with her poignant and deeply relatable music. Melanie Cowmeadow is here to discuss her upcoming single 'Empath,' set to release on today, July 19th.

'Empath' is an introspective track that delves into the struggles of anxiety and the emotional challenges faced by people pleasers. Melanie's distin...

In this episode of Songwriter Trysts, we sit down with Vanessa Lawless, an inspiring singer-songwriter from Grafton, deeply connected to the Northern Rivers. Vanessa shares her journey of discovering her artistic identity, starting from her early inspirations like Shirley Temple to her high school days where she began to realize her potential in songwriting. She reflects on her father's influence, the encouragement she received, an...

Australian singer-songwriter Katie Thorne, from Dubo, recently engaged in a vibrant conversation with Rae Leigh, the host of the Songwriter Trysts podcast. During their discussion, Thorne shared her enriching experiences at Berklee College of Music in Boston, where she had the opportunity to work with Pat Pattison, the renowned songwriting author of "Writing Better Lyrics." Known for her distinctive sound that echoes the styles of ...

Justine Eltakchi is featuring on the Songwriter Trysts podcast after meeting host Rae Leigh at the APRA AMCOS Songwriter Awards Night in Sydney in 2024. Renowned for her ARIA-nominated songwriting and toplining, Justine's impressive portfolio includes over 60 international releases, contributions to Eurovision Australia and The Voice Australia, and the founding of the RESOUND Songcamp in 2020. An APRA-AMCOS Ambassador and advocate ...