Conversations with Forrest Finn

Today we’d like to introduce you to Forrest Finn.

Alright, so 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 grew up in a small beach town in Ipswich, MA. by second grade I fell In love with the piano and by the time I was 13 I was playing in house bands in restaurants around the New England area. In high school, I began writing songs because I planned to attend a music college following graduation. I had always had my heart set on Berklee College of music but it turned out that my next door neighbor growing up (Jeremy gold, formerly worked at Warner Music Nashville and starstruck entertainment.) Went to Belmont University and ended up giving us a tour. I instantly fell in love and auditioned for the commercial piano program at Belmont. Unfortunately, I didn’t get in so just as the last attempt I applied for the songwriting program (at the time it was very selective and difficult to be accepted) and I ended up getting accepted. I had no idea songwriting was a viable career but that all changed once attending Belmont.

By the time I was a senior through internships and mentorships, I had not only fallen in love with songwriting but also producing songs for others as well. I worked with my mentor Sean Rogers at his studio Hey World Productions in Brentwood TN for a year or so after college. At that point, trying to become a signed writer was my main goal and was very difficult until one day I was in a session and one writer named Kylie Sackley passed my name and information to a company named MV2 entertainment. I took 2 meetings with them and a month later I was offered my first publishing deal as a writer and producer.

Over the first 2 years, I went to work writing with everyone and anyone I could and ended up getting some notable independent cuts with longtime Nashville native and artist Levi Hummon, I have written and produced 4 songs for Levi the biggest being his single “wedding Dress” that has accumulated nearly 10 million streams on Spotify alone. I also have gotten the chance to produce 2020 CMT’s next women of country artist Harper Grae. I have produced her last 5 singles.

In the year 2021, we took things to another level and I signed my first record deal with the MV2 imprint “New Lost City” records and released my first single “How Do You Break A Heart” in April of 2021. Followed by a summer tour with 30 dates across the southeast United States with my other label mates Whelan Stone and Blake Henderson. Since then we have been gearing up for new music as an artist as well as working on my craft and projects as a writer and producer.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I don’t think anyone in the music or entertainment industry has a “Smooth Road”. its a really tough game of ups and downs and comparisons and being told no A LOT.

I think it’s a really tough struggle to feel like you are working really hard and writing really great songs and then taking meetings where people feel you “just aren’t ready yet” or “don’t have what it takes”. There’s a lot of determination and perseverance that comes with the territory and if you want to make it you have to keep your eyes on the prize at all times or your career could end before it starts.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
On the daily, I am known around town as a “track guy” this means in every session I am not only writing the song but am also producing an unfinished version called a “demo” once a day 5 days a week. Aside from that, I also take outside projects and produce songs for clients to release. The main specialty I’m known for is vocal production. This is a very important part of the recording process where a magnifying glass is put on the vocalist to get the best take, the best note, the best run and keep an eye very closely to make the final vocal and harmonies the best they can be. I pride myself on my work ethic and eventually would like to be known as the hardest working track guy in Nashville.

What does success mean to you?
To me success is results. I work in a results industry and to make a living and live the life you want to live you need to have the success that follows, whether that songs being recorded by artists or producing songs for others I want the highest accolades you can achieve. there is also a lot of “small victories” writing songs I would have never written, being happy living the dream of creating music for a living.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: instagram.com/forrestfinnmusic
• Facebook: Facebook.com/forrestfinnmusic
• Youtube: YouTube.com/forrestfinnmusic
• Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4CHpwd1pdYUKJaGKbElg3m?si=gvHOsM41RAGtCJl3w02msQ

Image Credits:
Raina Girdle’s Photos (Acacia Evans)