Check Out Skip Ewing’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Skip Ewing.

Thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I don’t remember a time when music wasn’t part of my life. I was too young to remember getting my first guitar, but they said I asked for one when I was about 4 years old. Singing when I played was just part of it from the downbeat, and the more I played and sang, the more I wanted to do it.

Guitar at home (mostly late at night) and choir in school were the pathways into multiple genres and various instruments from 5-string banjo to classical piano, Genesis to Gershwin. Earl Scruggs to YoYo Ma, James Taylor to Merle Haggard. Nevertheless, the acoustic guitar remained my primary instrument and writing partner. As for songwriting, it was just part of my natural journey.

When I couldn’t get guitar lessons, I made stuff up to play and sometimes words to go with it. Soon, expressing myself through poetry and composition became an artistic passion—a passion I’ve retained and cultivated my whole life.

We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Has it been a smooth road? No. I’d have to say that life, let alone music, has never been a smooth road for me.

However, I give credit to the challenges and adversity I’ve faced for shaping some of what I appreciate about myself as a person and offering me insight into what it is to be human with all of its emotional, psychological, physical, and spiritual dynamic.

The efforts I’ve had to make and continue to make to be the best human I can be have helped me to cultivate greater compassion and understanding for all beings, including myself. To that end, the many horses I’ve ridden and worked with have been some of my greatest teachers.

In 2014, I sold everything in Nashville and went on the road to study horsemanship. But, that’s another story for another question.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
After I left Nashville, I wasn’t sure I would ever pursue another artist project. I knew I’d been pushed into the “just a songwriter” category in Nashville and likely couldn’t escape it. Not that being a songwriter is a negative, far from it. However, I feel “just a songwriter” is an atrocious way to categorize lyricists and composers who create what is arguably the most vital element to the music industry—the song. Yet, that is often the way people refer to it. Few are truly perceived as both songwriters and artists. I aspire to both and I don’t experience them as separate.

By the time life brought me to my new home in Wyoming, I was free to explore my artistry without shackles. I wrote by myself and loved it. In doing so, I felt I’d found my voice again. Wyoming was the first album we released. We were encouraged by the critical acclaim and ended up shooting a nationally syndicated PBS concert special as well as booking our first tour dates with my band Horsepower 307. It feels very much like being a brand-new artist. I suppose in a way I am. In any case, we’ve been working hard to create something unique and meaningful with the songs and records we’re creating. I hope you’ll be kind enough to listen. I hope it surprises you and that you find something of value. To that end, we’ve already begun releasing tracks from the next chapter, “Road To California”.

The first release from that album, “Knots,” illuminates the chance meeting of two kindred spirits who, in a metaphor of tangled fishing line, strengthen their respective journeys through adversity. The song embraces service, self-efficacy, mental health, positivity, dedication, a reverence for life, and the respect-worthy aspiration to remain faithful to oneself. It’s also about the gravel in all of our shoes, the challenges we face inwardly. It’s about women and children, people we know and see every day—generosity, courage, dedication, and commitment to the most loving path. My prayer is that we’ll look more closely, not look away, judge less harshly or not at all, endeavor to understand, be present, and remember to treat ourselves compassionately too.”

There are so many talented songwriters in Nashville. To ask me what sets my music and songwriting apart from others in the industry is difficult to answer. First, it assumes my music and songwriting set me apart. I suppose that can be a blessing and a curse. But for me, the blessing outweighs any downside. I can say that I’m remaining true to myself while writing and performing music that is unique and crafted as skillfully as possible to offer something meaningful to anyone who listens. Is it a country? Yes. Is it something other than country? Yes. For me, it’s songwriting and artistry. I hope you’ll listen and let me know what you think!

What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
I simply aspire to reach the hearts and minds of my listeners with music, performances, and compositions that are authentic, meaningful, and lasting. If someone is generous enough to listen, I want them to find something of value in what I have to offer.

I want them to be able to trust that I have written, played, and sung something as skillfully, artistically, and truthfully as I’m able and that we wouldn’t put it out if we didn’t believe it could add something meaningful.

I couldn’t ask the amazing musicians, producers, and engineers who work with me to invest themselves if I didn’t believe that this music had the right heart.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://skipewing.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rhythmicrebellion/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RhythmicRebellion
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/RhythmicRebel
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCL80THHn5IW3lY8L5dT90vg
• Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2g1pnfZUsZAxpz9QGaBSq3?si=Sa3DTqFiTxKtbJR1jtcPAA