WHAT I DO AND WHAT I’VE DONE
Through the years, I’ve written approximately infinity words about all kinds of stuff for all kinds of folks, delivered via newspapers, magazines, blogs, social media platforms, inboxes, PR services, SMS messages and probably a carrier pigeon or four. Below, a few examples that illustrate copywriting and journalism work (scroll down for newspaper and magazine writing). Want to see examples from other disciplines? Please reach out.
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ADVERTISING
In some cases, I was the copywriter. In others, I was heavily involved with the conception and execution of the whole campaign. In all cases, I did my best to encapsulate the unique personality of the brand I was working with and the value they were hoping to provide to their audience.
Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum
THE MISSION CAMPAIGN
In 2019–2020, we ran an ad campaign dubbed “The Mission Campaign” — a nod to its inspiration and how the approach would and should center. Previous campaigns focused more on… telling people to come visit. This one leaned heavily into the museum’s educational mission, framing quick, capsulized stories — a taste of why coming into the building is so inspirational, educational, and fun. We won a Gold Addy Award for "integrated Advertising Campaign-Consumer, Local."
NATIONAL PRINT ADS
The museum is a multifaceted business, and we created ads promoting every angle. They were sometimes heartfelt, sometimes more irreverent, but always focused on the institution’s storytelling heart.
Hatch Show Print
If you know Nashville, you know Hatch Show Print, the historic letterpress shop that continues to inspire generations of inky-hearted designer-printers. I was lucky enough to write all kinds of copy for this venerable brand, including print ads like these. (Click on the ads to see them in full.)
Merchants & Marine Bank
In 1899, this community bank launched in Pascagoula. For more than a century, they’ve focused on serving customers in small communities that many bigger banks won’t invest in. I deeply admire their commitment to those communities and I loved being part of celebrating their growth.
Caterpillar Dealerships
The bumblebee-yellow machines you see on every construction site are part of a complex, nuanced, massive business ecosystem. And that audience is specialized and highly informed. I’ve written a lot of Caterpillar ads, and I’ve come to love and admire the brand and their dealers’ passion. But mostly I included these to prove that I can and will, in fact, make a five-word word count work.
JOURNALISM
I was a newspaper and magazine writer and editor for nearly 15 years, and it took me to some interesting places — from a Manhattan rooftop with Pearl Jam to a Nashville suburb with Paramore to a Philadelphia festival backstage greenspace, staring at Stevie Wonder while Beyonce rode by in a golf cart. I’ve had thousands of bylines and I’m proud of… most of them, at least. Here are just a few.
Rolling Stone
JACK WHITE DEBUTS NEW BAND DEAD WEATHER
The very first event ever held at Third Man Records in Nashville, and I was lucky enough to be there, chronicling things for Rolling Stone. The Dead Weather was a force, and I feel pretty certain I’ll still be bragging about this in 2050. Photo by David Swanson.
SPIN
PARAMORE IS A BAND
I was honored to get the opportunity to paint a portrait of Paramore as a cohesive unit, rather than just spotlighting singer Hayley Williams, as was often the case. Not long after, the thrust of this piece turned out to be… a little awkward. (Unfamiliar? Google, and pity me.) For my part, I think she and they meant this headline to be the genuine case. Relationships are complicated, bandmate ones especially so. Photo by Viki Forshee.
Nashville Scene
DAMN THE
ENORMODOMES
Around 2011-2012, I started thinking about the idea of scarcity, and how in a music industry that’d been upended by abundance, creating scarcity was becoming a winning formula — be it creating limited-edition, high-design vinyl releases or hosting intimate house shows with limited tickets and almost unlimited access to the performer. This is what resulted: “According to guys like David Bazan, David Mead and Jack White, making a music career work in 2012 might be all about thinking small.”
The Tennessean
GREAT
EXPECTATIONS
Nashville is full of second- and third-generation musicians following in their forebears’ footsteps. I spoke with a bunch of young talents with famous pedigrees — including members of HotChelleRae, Amanda Sudano of Johnnyswim, and Caleb and Will Chapman of Colony House — about building a musical legacy all their own.
CMJ
RIOT GOIN’ ON
I was 14 in 1991, when Pearl Jam released Ten. The band led me down my path, in a sense: I started reading about them, got introduced to Fugazi and Minor Threat and DIY shows, picked up instruments and an interest in music journalism. Needless to say, the prospect of interviewing the band scared me almost catatonic. I needn’t have worried. The band was open and welcoming, and the conversation I had with Eddie Vedder remains one of the highlights of my career. This CMJ cover story reads young and over-earnest, but still means a lot to me. Photos by Danny Clinch.
The East Nashvillian
LAUGHING MATTERS
It’s been heartwarming to watch Nashville’s comedy scene get the attention it’s long deserved. Back in 2014 for local magazine The East Nashvillian, I talked to some of the players helping a scrappy stand-up scene grow.
WHAT ELSE CAN I SHOW YOU?
Examples of social media strategy concocted and implemented? SEO-friendly website copy? Lookbooks fleshed out alongside inspiring clients? Let me know what kind of words you need herded — odds are I have some fun examples to share of past projects. Appreciate you taking a look at some of my past work.