Tag: Aaron Shafer-Haiss

The Other 22 Hours: Matraca Berg

Posted on by Justin Hiltner

We often treat commercial success as the final destination of a creative life, but for legendary songwriter Matraca Berg, it was just the first act. Her songs became major country hits for Martina McBride, Trisha Yearwood, Deana Carter, Kenny Chesney, the Chicks, Patty Loveless, and Reba McEntire, among many others. Matraca’s catalog defines generations of American songwriting.

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We sit down with the GRAMMY-nominated member of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame on the Other 22 Hours to explore the realities of achieving massive success while battling paralyzing stage fright, the transition from the multi-platinum physical sales era of the 1990s to modern streaming, and how she keeps her creative tank full as the industry has changed around her. In a culture obsessed with youth and immediate output, Matraca offers a grounded, reassuring perspective on aging within an art form, artistic alignment, and learning to trust.

In This Episode:

– Matraca Berg
– Ep 147 – Jeff Hanna
– Sudie Calloway
– Mel Tillis
– Joni Mitchell
– Bluebird Cafe
– Clint Black
– Nanci Griffith
– Ep 60 – Lori McKenna
– Bobby Braddock
– Harlan Howard
– Ashley McBryde
– Gary Harrison
– Ep 28 – The Wood Brothers
– Zach Berkman
– Tiger King
– Chris Stapleton
– Ella Langley
– Jessi Colter
– Waylon Jennings
– Maggie Gyllenhaal
– Peter Sarsgaard
– Hill Country Barbecue
– Jake Gyllenhaal
– Minnie Pearl

Go Deeper: 

Watch: View this entire conversation above or on YouTube.
Explore: Find similar conversations in these themed playlists.
Connect: Join the conversation on Instagram.

The Other 22 Hours is hosted by Aaron Shafer-Haiss (producer, mixer, musician) and Michaela Anne (songwriter, artist, creative coach). More about Aaron’s work. More about Michaela Anne’s work.

Produced by Aaron Shafer-Haiss. Original music written, performed and produced by Aaron Shafer-Haiss.

Photo Credit: Glenn Rose

The Other 22 Hours: Rob Moose

Posted on by Justin Hiltner

Behind nearly every influential indie-rock and pop record of the last 15 years has been the brilliant mind and hand of string arranger and multi-instrumentalist Rob Moose. The three-time GRAMMY winner has contributed to thousands of records by the likes of Paul Simon, Taylor Swift, Phoebe Bridgers, Bon Iver, St. Vincent, Bruce Hornsby, and Mumford & Sons. In this calming, deeply reflective conversation on The Other 22 Hours, Rob opens up about “peaking” in the live touring industry, the transition to a studio-centric life, and how fatherhood has introduced a powerful focus into his creative process. It is an exploration of legacy, creative boundaries, and why sustaining a 20-year career ultimately comes down to treating music not as an athletic feat, but as a deeply human relationship.

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In This Episode:

– Rob Moose
– Manhattan School of Music
– Columbia University
– The New School
– Interlochen Arts Academy
– Nirvana
– Bon Iver
– SNL
– Paul Simon
– Madison Square Garden
– Bowery Ballroom
– The Artist’s Way – Julia Cameron
– Nonesuch Record
– Gabe Kahane

Go Deeper: 

Watch: View this entire conversation above or on YouTube.
Explore: Find similar conversations in these themed playlists.
Connect: Join the conversation on Instagram.

The Other 22 Hours is hosted by Aaron Shafer-Haiss (producer, mixer, musician) and Michaela Anne (songwriter, artist, creative coach). More about Aaron’s work. More about Michaela Anne’s work.

Produced by Aaron Shafer-Haiss. Original music written, performed and produced by Aaron Shafer-Haiss.

Photo Credit: Max Wanger

The Other 22 Hours: Michaela Anne & Aaron Shafer-Haiss

Posted on by Justin Hiltner

To celebrate our 150th episode of The Other 22 Hours, we try a bit of an experiment: interviewing ourselves, for the first time. After nearly two decades of partnership, we examine the evolution of the creative self. Michaela Anne – whose fifth record, These Are The Days, marks her first in over 10 years for which she retains total ownership – discusses the “massive shift of self” required to walk away from industry gatekeepers. Aaron Shafer-Haiss, whose compositions have scored major network dramas like Station 19 and The Good Doctor, reflects on the “utilitarian creativity” of a producer. It is a conversation about resilience, the “growth seesaw” of a creative marriage, and the realization that the dream is already happening.

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In This Episode:

– Michaela Anne
– Aaron Shafer-Haiss
– These Are The Days
– Ep 109 Major Jackson
– Nonesuch Records
– Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival
– Bonnaroo
– Cayamo
– Mountain Stage
– Folks Fest
– Middle Tennessee State University
– Owen Biddle
– Seth Taylor
– Ethan Ballinger
– Kyshona
– Lyle Davinsky
– Lauren Balthrop
– Post Malone

Go Deeper: 

Watch: View this entire conversation above or on YouTube.
Explore: Find similar conversations in these themed playlists.
Connect: Join the conversation on Instagram.

The Other 22 Hours is hosted by Aaron Shafer-Haiss (producer, mixer, musician) and Michaela Anne (songwriter, artist, creative coach). More about Aaron’s work. More about Michaela Anne’s work.

Produced by Aaron Shafer-Haiss. Original music written, performed and produced by Aaron Shafer-Haiss.

Photo courtesy of the Other 22 Hours.

The Other 22 Hours: Molly Tuttle

Posted on by Justin Hiltner

Molly Tuttle has shared stages and recorded with Ringo Starr and Billy Strings, yet she still grapples with the unpredictable “ups and downs” of a musician’s schedule and the inherent instability of the road. We talk with the GRAMMY-winning artist – who was also the first woman to win IBMA Guitarist of the Year – about the “baggage” of turning a passion into a profession. We explore the necessity of trusting one’s gut over industry expectations, how she navigates the transition from bluegrass traditionalism to rock-leaning solo projects, and the quiet power of having a partner who understands the nuance of tour routing.

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In This Episode:

Molly Tuttle
Nonesuch Records
Tyler Childers
Berklee College of Music
Ep 3 – The Milk Carton Kids
The Goodbye Girls
The Stray Birds
Ozark Mountain Folk Center
First Ladies of Bluegrass
Alison Brown
Ep 50 – Sierra Hull
Missy Raines
Becky Buller
Ketch Secor
Old Crow Medicine Show
Chris Stapleton
Ep 28 – The Wood Brothers

Go Deeper:

Watch: View this entire conversation above or on YouTube.
Explore: Find similar conversations in these themed playlists.
Connect: Join the conversation on Instagram.

The Other 22 Hours is hosted by Aaron Shafer-Haiss (producer, mixer, musician) and Michaela Anne (songwriter, artist, creative coach). More about Aaron’s work. More about Michaela Anne’s work.

Produced by Aaron Shafer-Haiss. Original music written, performed and produced by Aaron Shafer-Haiss.

Photo Credit: Ebru Yildiz

The Other 22 Hours: Jeff Hanna (Nitty Gritty Dirt Band)

Posted on by Justin Hiltner

As a founding member of the legendary Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and a three-time GRAMMY winner, Jeff Hanna has navigated nearly 60 years in the music industry. His resumé includes credits with the likes of Linda Ronstadt, Emmylou Harris, Johnny Cash, and many others. In this episode of the Other 22 Hours we explore the geography of inspiration, from the 1970s Troubadour scene in LA to his 40 years anchored in Nashville’s songwriting community. Jeff reflects on the economy of a perfect line, the creative vitality of a “hard reset,” and why the bedrock of this work has to begin with the simple intention of having fun.

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In This Episode:

– Jeff Hanna
– Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
– Matraca Berg
– Ep 16 – Rodney Crowell
– The Troubadour
– The Station Inn
– Vinyl Tap
– Jackson Browne
– Tim Buckley
– Poco
– Ep 144 – Suzy Bogguss
– Ep 43 – Gretchen Peters
– Stephen King, On Writing
– Jerry Jeff Walker, Mr. Bojangles
– The Mavericks
– Ringo Starr
– Levon Helm
– Sheryl Crow
– Fred Eltringham

Go Deeper:

Watch: View this entire conversation above or on YouTube.
Explore: Find similar conversations in these themed playlists.
Connect: Join the conversation on Instagram.

The Other 22 Hours is hosted by Aaron Shafer-Haiss (producer, mixer, musician) and Michaela Anne (songwriter, artist, creative coach). More about Aaron’s work. More about Michaela Anne’s work.

Produced by Aaron Shafer-Haiss. Original music written, performed and produced by Aaron Shafer-Haiss.

Photo Credit: Joshua Britt and Neilson Hubbard

The Other 22 Hours: Joe & Alison Hudak

Posted on by Justin Hiltner

As the architect behind Rolling Stone Country and the host of their Nashville Now podcast, Joe Hudak has spent decades at the center of the music industry. Along with Alison Abbey Hudak, a veteran editor who has shaped the narrative of Nashville’s elite lifestyle media, they offer a wealth of experience in creative survival. This conversation dives into the “show business” of art, the moral weight of elevating artists who mismanage their influence, and the courage required to admit when a prestigious career has stifled your creative brain.

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In This Episode:

– Joe Hudak
– Alison Abbey Hudak
– Jonathan Bernstein
– “People Are Drinking Less Than Ever. What’s Country Music to Do?” – Rolling Stone
– Carly Pearce
– Kelsea Ballerini
– Sterling Drake
– Marissa Moss
– Nashville Lifestyles
– Ep 47 Margo Price & Jeremy Ivey
– Carl Jung

Go Deeper:

Watch: View this entire conversation above or on YouTube.
Explore: Find similar conversations in these themed playlists.
Connect: Join the conversation on Instagram.

The Other 22 Hours is hosted by Aaron Shafer-Haiss (producer, mixer, musician) and Michaela Anne (songwriter, artist, creative coach). More about Aaron’s work. More about Michaela Anne’s work.

Produced by Aaron Shafer-Haiss. Original music written, performed and produced by Aaron Shafer-Haiss.

Photo Credit: Koury Angelo

The Other 22 Hours: Derek Trucks

Posted on by Justin Hiltner

What happens to the creative spirit when you have been a professional “lifer” since the age of nine? Derek Trucks, widely considered one of the greatest guitarists of all time and a veteran of the Allman Brothers Band and Eric Clapton’s touring lineup, joins the Other 22 Hours to discuss longevity and leading a 12-piece musical circus. with his Tedeschi Trucks Band co-founder and wife, Susan Tedeschi. We explore the gradual shift from student to teacher, the grounding force of a musical marriage, and the essential practice of “turning the crops” to stay inspired.

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In This Episode:

– Tedeschi Trucks Band
– Allman Brothers Band
– The Beacon Theater
– Eric Clapton
– Kofi Burbridge
– John Lee Hooker
– Koko Taylor
– Ace Moreland
– Colonel Bruce Hampton
– Buddy Guy
– Joe Walsh
– Gregg Allman
– Jim Scott
– Tom Dowd
– A Love Supreme
– Krishnamurti
– Mad Dogs & Englishman (movie)

Go Deeper:

Watch: View this entire conversation above or on YouTube.
Explore: Find similar conversations in these themed playlists.
Connect: Join the conversation on Instagram.

The Other 22 Hours is hosted by Aaron Shafer-Haiss (producer, mixer, musician) and Michaela Anne (songwriter, artist, creative coach). More about Aaron’s work. More about Michaela Anne’s work.

Produced by Aaron Shafer-Haiss. Original music written, performed and produced by Aaron Shafer-Haiss.

Photo Credit: Chapman Baehler

The Other 22 Hours: Suzy Bogguss

Posted on by Justin Hiltner

How does an artist outlast the industry machine to build a career entirely on her own terms? We sit down with GRAMMY-winner, 1989 ACM Top New Female Vocalist, and 1992 CMA Horizon Award recipient Suzy Bogguss to explore the evolution of her 40-year career, which includes platinum records and her 2026 induction as a member of the Grand Ole Opry. Our conversation is an invitation to reconsider what we all value, moving away from the noise of major label machines and toward a philosophy of quality over quantity, independence, and deep community.

LISTEN: APPLE • SPOTIFY • AMAZON • MP3

In This Episode:

– Suzy Bogguss
– Matraca Berg
– Jeff Hanna
– Ep 43 – Gretchen Peters
– Patty Loveless
– Ep 46 – Mary Chapin Carpenter
– Capitol Records
– CAA
– Kathy Mattea
– Folk Alliance
– Ep 16 – Rodney Crowell
– Chet Atkins

Go Deeper:

Watch: View this entire conversation on YouTube.
Explore: Find similar conversations in these themed playlists.
Connect: Join the conversation on Instagram.

The Other 22 Hours is hosted by Aaron Shafer-Haiss (producer, mixer, musician) and Michaela Anne (songwriter, artist, creative coach). More about Aaron’s work. More about Michaela Anne’s work.

Produced by Aaron Shafer-Haiss. Original music written, performed and produced by Aaron Shafer-Haiss.

Photo Credit: Doug Crider

The Other 22 Hours: Amythyst Kiah

Posted on by Justin Hiltner

GRAMMY-nominated songwriter Amythyst Kiah has performed with Moby and Billy Strings and is a member of the supergroup Our Native Daughters. She joins us for a startlingly honest look at the “farce of surface-level success.” After a label debut and a whirlwind of global exposure, she found herself “barely hanging on for dear life” amidst the pressure of a rat race industry. We explore her journey to achieve detachment from outcomes, writing for sync licensing as a creative recharge, and the ancient wisdom that helped her trade the self-improvement doom loop for a slower, sustainable creative life.

LISTEN: APPLE • SPOTIFY • AMAZON • MP3

In This Episode:

– Amythyst Kiah
– Our Native Daughters
– Brian Eno
– Music for Airports
– Allison Russell
– Tao Te Ching
– Marcus Aurelius
–  Siddhartha

Go Deeper:

Watch: View this entire conversation on YouTube.
Explore: Find similar conversations in these themed playlists.
Connect: Join the conversation on Instagram.

The Other 22 Hours is hosted by Aaron Shafer-Haiss (producer, mixer, musician) and Michaela Anne (songwriter, artist, creative coach). More about Aaron’s work. More about Michaela Anne’s work.

Produced by Aaron Shafer-Haiss. Original music written, performed and produced by Aaron Shafer-Haiss.

Photo Credit: Kevin King

The Other 22 Hours: James Victore

Posted on by Justin Hiltner

James Victore is an Emmy Award-winning artist and author whose work is held in the permanent collection of the Louvre and has been exhibited many times at MoMA (NYC). Victore has shaped the visual language of institutions from The New York Times to the City of New York. In this conversation, we explore the spiritual gravity of “staying in the pool” when creativity gets hard, discuss the incubation time of the soul, the environmental and creative toll of our want of ease, and the quiet, daily discipline of living consciously in a world designed to keep us asleep.

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In This Episode:

– James Victore
– Museum of Natural History NYC
– Mr Doodle
– Keith Haring
– Museum of Modern Art (MoMA)
– A League of Their Own

Go Deeper:

Watch: View this entire conversation on YouTube.
Explore: Find similar conversations in these themed playlists.
Connect: Join the conversation on Instagram.

The Other 22 Hours is hosted by Aaron Shafer-Haiss (producer, mixer, musician) and Michaela Anne (songwriter, artist, creative coach). More about Aaron’s work. More about Michaela Anne’s work.

Produced by Aaron Shafer-Haiss. Original music written, performed and produced by Aaron Shafer-Haiss.

Photo Credit: Nick Onken