Conversations with Daena Rogers

Today we’d like to introduce you to Daena Rogers.

Hi Daena, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstories with our readers?
I’ve been producing Pitch List since its start in late 2017! I was a fresh grad from Belmont here in Nashville, and almost by chance got connected with Chris Lindsey, a #1 hit songwriter/producer (“Poison and Wine”, “Amazed”, “Every Time I Hear That Song”), and the host of our podcast. As a songwriter myself, I was super excited to work with and learn from him in any way possible while I cut my teeth as a writer/artist in the post-grad music industry. Just a couple weeks into working for him, he told me he had this idea to start a podcast – by songwriters, for songwriters – and asked if I would be interested in helping him make it happen. I knew next to nothing about podcasting – but of course, I said yes! Over four years later, and we’ve grown Pitch List together into what it is today.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Of course, building anything from the ground up is never smooth!! Especially in Season 1, when we had approximately 100 Instagram followers and no one knew we existed as a podcast, it was difficult to get the word out. It’s also super easy to compare your show to similar ones in your field that are getting hundreds of thousands of downloads and forget to appreciate the niche and fiercely loyal community of listeners that we’ve slowly been acquiring over the past few years. There’s been lots of struggles along the way, but I think Chris’ original vision to capture organic conversations about the weird, magical, beautiful craft of songwriting really drives us to continue.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I say that I “produce” Pitch List; what I mean is that I coordinate everything going on behind-the-scenes of our show – from booking guests and securing sponsorships, to creating content for and managing our social media accounts and website, to editing/mastering/distributing the podcast episodes themselves!

Chris is the face of Pitch List, but he’s also awesome because he’s basically given me free rein to grow and expand the podcast in any creative way I can think of. Since our launch, I’ve started going to local festivals like CMA Fest and Pilgrimage as a press outlet, to interview performers backstage for exclusive coverage and episodes of the podcast. I’ve run song contests with our listeners, and curate Pitch List Spotify playlists, where we support artists of all genres as well as Nashville artists specifically. In the past year or so, I’ve also started hosting monthly Instagram lives with up-and-coming artists to expand Pitch List outside of the main show (Chris mainly talks with already established/accomplished writers and musicians). I’ve found that it’s just another way to connect with our local community and support songwriters at every stage of their journey.

In terms of the mission of Pitch List itself, it has always been to have organic conversations with creative people – starting with songwriters, and expanding to various aspects of the music industry. I definitely think this is something that sets us apart from other music interview shows. We try to stay away from the standard interview questions or asking something that’s easily Google-able. Instead, Chris has this way of jumping right in and talking to everyone as if they’ve known each other for years. We sometimes say that Pitch List is like that hour of a co-write before you actually start writing; you’re catching up and TALKING about writing and having immediate deep talks about life, and music, and why it all matters.

Chris has always been super supportive of my music career as well, which has been amazing to be able to wear both the artist/writer hat and podcaster hat, and not have to fully keep them separate. He’s always mentioning to guests/listeners to stream my music and check me out too – coming from him, it’s such an honor and is just another reason he’s an awesome guy to work for.

The crisis has affected us all in different ways. How has it affected you and any important lessons or epiphanies you can share with us?
We have definitely learned that podcasting is NOT an in-person-only art form! Before the pandemic began, we were solely recording episodes out at Chris’ studio here in town – which was a great experience every time to have guests in the room. But it’s also been awesome to now record episodes on Zoom as well. We’ve been able to expand our reach and connect with songwriters and artists who don’t live in Nashville at all, which we would have never been able to do before (some of these guests include hit writers Emily Warren and Leland, global pop/rock artist LP, and absolute icon John Oates)! Our 5th season of the show, which we just launched on 3/31, will feature a diverse group of guests, from Luke Laird and Ian Fitchuk to Vanessa Carlton, Sasha Alex Sloan and Martina McBride – and more!

Contact Info:

• Email: pitchlistpodcast@gmail.com
• Website: https://www.pitchlistpodcast.com/, https://www.daenamusic.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pitchlistpodcast/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pitchlistpodcast
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/pitchlistpod
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEwtG60ltMoaebE6HnP3B4w
• SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/pitchlistpodcast
• Other: https://open.spotify.com/user/7ixo57nxzlk7qzg6k2k4bi0aj?si=b845cf0c30b849f9
  

Image Credits
Oceanna Colgan
Daena Rogers
Amanda York