Emerging country artist Tiffany Woys set out to give songwriters their own platform with her podcast, What’s Mine Is Yours.
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The Sacramento native started her career on the west coast before moving her dreams out to Nashville. Soon after getting acquainted with Music Row, Woys became enamored with the songwriting community and sought ways to learn more. The end result was a deep-diving podcast that explores those responsible for maintaining “Nashville’s heartbeat.”
The premiere season of What’s Mine Is Yours features guests Jeffrey Steele, Shane Minor, The Warren Brothers (Brad and Brett Warren), Tammi Kidd Hutton, Chris DuBois, Lynn Hutton, D. Vincent Williams, and more. American Songwriter recently chatted with Woys to discuss the inspiration behind the series and where she hopes to take it next. Find our conversation and an exclusive clip of the podcast below.
American Songwriter: Tiffany, you’ve said that the title, What’s Mine Is Yours, was inspired by hearing a song and feeling like the artist was telling your story to a T. Do you remember the first song that made you feel that way?
Tiffany Woys: I’ve always said one of my favorite songs is “Come Wake Me Up” by Rascal Flatts. I remember going through a really horrible breakup when I first heard it. That song is one of the few in my life that takes me right back to where I was. I immediately start crying. I’m very happy and engaged to be married, and still, it takes me right back to that feeling.
AS: You started your career on the West Coast. Do you remember your first impression of the Nashville songwriting scene?
TW: Super tight-knit, but in the best way. People support each other. I was really jealous of that community when I first moved here. I think part of my creating this podcast was to find a way to connect to that community. I feel like in the artist community, it can be kind of “dog-eat-dog.” Whereas in the songwriting community, I feel they wholeheartedly support each other. It’s really rare these days that you see a song with solely one writer. I think it’s the common good for them all to work together because you’re going to end up with better music.
AS: When you moved to Nashville, did you have songwriting on your mind? Or were you focused on becoming an artist yourself?
TW: Songwriting wasn’t even on my mind. It was the exact opposite. I wanted to be an entertainer. I grew up in Sacramento, California where there wasn’t a huge spotlight on songwriting. But, when I got to Nashville, everyone told me I’d naturally get the bug for songwriting if it was meant to be. I’m perfectly fine with admitting that I feel like I’m good at what I do and songwriters are good at what they do. We need each other.
I feel like it’s really rare for someone to be just a songwriter today. I’ve interviewed Shane Minor (“International Harvester,” “His Kind of Money (My Kind of Love),” “Live a Little”) in the past and he told me he no longer has an interest in being an artist. So I imagine how hard it is for people who just want to be songwriters to get their music out there. That’s why I started that podcast, to give a platform to the songwriter who isn’t an artist.
AS: What’s the best or most inspiring lesson you’ve learned from one of your guests?
TW: I ask every guest the same thing at the end of our conversation: “What do you still want to accomplish? What do you want to be remembered for? My good friend, Tammi Kidd Hutton (“Probably Wouldn’t Be This Way,” “Words I Couldn’t Say”) talked about spending most of her time working with emerging artists like myself. She wants to help other artists achieve their dreams. That hit home for me. I want to still be in this community and help people make their dreams come true even if I don’t ever get to achieve mine.
AS: Do you have any dream guests that you haven’t gotten to talk to yet?
TW: I would love to get Shane McAnally to sit down. I love all of his work. If I’m gonna shoot for the stars big time, then I would love to have Dolly Parton on.
AS: On top of the podcast, you recently released an EP, titled All About Love. What is the overarching message of that project?’
TW: It’s all about love. I think love is a universal language. It’s something we can all relate to whether we’re heartbroken or in the early stages of falling. That is something we all inevitably go through in life. I love singing about it because I know it’s going to connect with someone—in one way or another.
AS: What else is on the horizon for you? How do you see your 2023 going?
TW: I have more music coming and plenty more guests on the podcast. All the songs are co-written by me on this project. That’s exciting because it coincides with what I’m doing with the podcast. I think this project will have more of me in it.
Photo by Robert Chavers / Monarch Publicity
