A conversation about risk, reinvention, and why I’m still writing songs.
I recently sat down with Evan Toth on The Sharp Notes podcast, and I have to say — it was one of the most thoughtful and wide-ranging conversations I’ve had in a long time. We covered a lot of ground: from “Hit Me With Your Best Shot” and my early days in Toronto, to burnout in Nashville and finding my way back to songwriting on my own terms.
For those of you who’ve followed my work over the years — or just recently discovered it — I think you’ll enjoy this one. It’s not just a trip down memory lane. It’s about the why behind the music. Why we take creative risks. Why some songs take two years to finish. Why I walked away from a Nashville machine that wanted two songs a day — and how I’m finally writing again, for the right reasons.
Here is the full interview
We also talked about what it was like to hear “Hit Me With Your Best Shot” on the radio for the first time — standing outside a Toronto hair salon on a sunny spring day, listening in disbelief, until two cops tapped me on the shoulder and told me to move along. I still laugh thinking about it.
But maybe the part I appreciated most was the chance to talk about the state of songwriting today — and how much the landscape has changed. It’s harder now. Not just to make a living, but to hold onto the craft. Storytelling. Emotion. Songs that say something. We’re in danger of losing the arc of a song — the build, the climax, the emotional payoff. That takes time. And it takes care.
That’s part of why I’m writing again. Songs like “We Win,” “Waters Rise,” and a new version of “Special Girl” came out of a desire to reconnect — with the craft, the emotion, and with all of you.
There’s more coming. I’m working toward a new album. Slowly. On purpose. And I’m proud and excited about what’s starting to take shape.
If you’ve ever connected with one of my songs, I hope you’ll give this podcast a listen. Evan asked some great questions — and more importantly, he really listened.
Thanks for being part of the ride — past, present, and future.
– Eddie