Mary Gauthier on the Artistry of Songwriting

In this episode of "Keen On", Andrew is joined by Mary Gauthier, the author of "Saved by a Song: The Art and Healing Power of Songwriting", to break down the act of songwriting itself, as well as to showcase the redemptive power of song and how it can inspire and bring seemingly different kinds of people together.

Mary Gauthier is a Grammy-nominated American folk singer-songwriter and author, whose songs have been covered by performers including Tim McGraw, Blake Shelton, Kathy Mattea, and Jimmy Buffett. She has won multiple awards, including at the International Folk Music Awards, the Independent Music Awards, and from the Americana Association. Mary's songs often deal with marginalization, informed by her experience of addiction and recovery, and growing up gay, and demonstrate an "ability to transform her own trauma into a purposeful and communal narrative". Her 2018 album Rifles & Rosary Beads, co-written with military veterans and their families, has been hailed as a landmark achievement.