Art, Aura, and The Algorithm & Why The Mountain Conquers You

Art, Aura, and The Algorithm & Why The Mountain Conquers You

Author: Troy Cartwright February 17, 2026 Duration: 7:16
Why I Listened to 2,000 Minutes of Tchaikovsky Last Year We are living in the age of "frictionless" music. The algorithms know what we want before we do, the dopamine is cheap, and the content is served to us on a silver platter. But as Charles Bukowski once said of classical music: "It washes the crap right out of me." Lately, it feels like there’s a lot of crap to wash out. In this episode, I’m stepping away from the "business" of music to talk about the Aura and the Sublime. I’m breakin...

There’s a saying in Nashville that it takes a decade to become an overnight success, a notion that gives Ten Year Town its name and its soul. Hosted by artist and songwriter Troy Cartwright, this isn't just another interview series; it's a series of honest, sometimes gritty, conversations held in the spaces where music is made and careers are built. Troy brings listeners directly into the room with hit songwriters, working musicians, and the executives who navigate Music Row's complex landscape. Each episode feels like pulling up a chair at a late-night writing session or a candid coffee talk, where the gloss of the industry fades away to reveal the real stories. You’ll hear about the early struggles, the unexpected breaks, and the relentless hustle required not just to reach the top, but to maintain a life and a career there. The podcast thrives on specificity-the details of a failed pitch, the anxiety before a big show, the collaboration behind a familiar lyric. It’s about the craft, the business, and the fragile balance between art and ambition. For anyone curious about the human beings behind the songs and the sheer perseverance it takes to build something lasting in music, Ten Year Town offers a genuine, unfiltered perspective you won't find in a press release.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 100

Ten Year Town
Podcast Episodes
Episode 100: Liz Rose [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:40
Liz Rose is a GRAMMY-winning songwriter originally from Dallas, Texas, and raised in nearby Irving. Her songs have been recorded by artists including Carrie Underwood, Gary Allan, Eli Young Band, Taylor Swift, Little Big…
Episode 99: Jordyn Shellhart [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:00:28
Jordyn Shellhart is a singer and songwriter originally from Wheatland, Wyoming, and was raised in Santa Rosa, California. She signed her first publishing deal at just 14 years old with Sea Gayle Music and has since earne…
Episode 98: Blake Pendergrass [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:57
Blake Pendergrass is a songwriter originally from Raleigh, North Carolina. A graduate of Belmont University, Blake landed his first major label cut with “865” on Morgan Wallen’s Dangerous. Since then, he has written seve…
Summer Rewind: Chris DuBois [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:34
Chris DuBois is a hit songwriter and award-winning publisher from Nashville. He has written numerous #1 songs, including “You Should Probably Leave” by Chris Stapleton, “Mud on The Tires” by Brad Paisley, and is a two-ti…
Episode 97: Dave Barnes [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:04:36
Dave Barnes is a GRAMMY-nominated artist and songwriter originally from Knoxville, Tennessee. He’s written songs for artists including Blake Shelton, Carrie Underwood, and Thomas Rhett, but is equally known for his own w…
Episode 96: Neil Medley [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:14
Neil Medley is a songwriter originally from Louisville, Kentucky. He’s written songs for some of the biggest names in country music, including Jake Owen, Cody Johnson, Luke Bryan, Hudson Westbrook, and many others. His s…
The Red-Bellied Woodpecker and the Creative Loop [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 14:01
This week on Ten Year Town: Troy Cartwright shares a few thoughts on the creative loop and the story of a Red-Bellied Wood Pecker. If you’re into country music, songwriting, or just like hearing how artists see the world…
Episode 95: Rob Williford [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 55:37
Rob Williford is a GRAMMY-nominated artist and songwriter originally from Gastonia, North Carolina. He’s written songs for artists including Luke Combs—penning several #1 hits like “Doin’ This,” “One Number Away,” and th…
Episode 94: Tammy Rogers (The SteelDrivers) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:05:02
Tammy Rogers is a GRAMMY-winning musician, vocalist, and founding member of The SteelDrivers. Originally from Tennessee and raised in Irving, Texas, she got her start touring with Patty Loveless before becoming an in-dem…
Episode 93: Paul Cauthen [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 55:17
Paul Cauthen is a singer-songwriter from East Texas, known for blending country, rock, gospel, and soul. He began his career as one half of the Americana duo Sons of Fathers before launching his solo career in 2016 with…