Wesley Phipps on leaving Houston, driving to Ohio, and falling in love with Nashville

Will McCartt on therapy, collaborating with Northwest Stories, and the influence of Gregory Alan Isakov

In this episode of First Spin, I sit down with indie-folk artist Will McCartt for a conversation about creativity, emotional vulnerability, and the process of finding your voice as an artist. We talk about how music was always present in Will’s life — from playing guitar in church bands growing up to eventually writing a song for a major life event — but how it took years before he truly viewed songwriting as something personal and essential. What started as a hobby slowly evolved into a way for him to process emotions, experiences, and seasons of life. Will touches on how songwriting became a space where he could finally process things honestly. That shift not only transformed the music itself, but also changed the way audiences began responding to it. We also dive into the atmospheric nature of indie folk music and discuss artists like Gregory Alan Isakov, Novo Amor, Lord Huron, and The Paper Kites. Will talks about building songs that feel immersive and cinematic — music that creates a sense of place as much as melody — and how layering textures and emotion together can completely change the way a listener experiences a song. Beyond the music itself, we spend time talking about the realities of trying to build a career as an independent artist today: balancing demanding day jobs, navigating social media algorithms, staying authentic online, and trying to create meaningful art in a world that constantly demands attention. Will shares the philosophy behind his TikTok presence and why he intentionally focuses more on emotional connection than traditional promotion. Along the way, we also get into conversations about family, marriage, creativity, growing up in Appalachia, and the strange tension between modern digital life and the desire for something slower, quieter, and more human -- discovering that honesty might be the thing connecting most powerfully with listeners. Songs Featured in This Episode: Coastline [https://open.spotify.com/track/1yaYp6BHQIVunvKIK8LtZC?si=5c0d4e60df494923] anymore [https://open.spotify.com/track/0tpF5XLDmtwxSeeTpAFjj5?si=c8e8ca1e5325411e] Baby, Keep on Drivin' [https://open.spotify.com/track/3vxXgxe6twONvkpzEHI208?si=8e80d5946e6840b8] So Long [https://open.spotify.com/track/0yVOolgDFstAEW8I1qxait?si=601e9f3bd29b4df3] With Her [https://open.spotify.com/track/2Qm3MxBU8K0uK5g5kQviMe?si=bf902d1a58434399] Introduction music: Blood Sugar Blues [https://open.spotify.com/track/5xDxzH4EqIHGUQYopTlaDc?si=01a318a5f9724ae7]by Drew White If you enjoyed this episode, it’d mean a lot if you left a quick review—it's one of the best ways to help new listeners find the show. And if you want to hear more artists worth your time, follow First Spin on social: 📱 TikTok [https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://www.tiktok.com/%40first.spin.pod&ved=2ahUKEwiPw7Cqn-WNAxVSHjQIHSZTEokQFnoECBsQAQ&usg=AOvVaw1rzTscegTkG0Xl28XELwtU] 📸 Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/firstspinpodcast/] Official Spin Podcast Spotify Playlist [https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2i3kGfnwyhX9nNSs8W3xUC?si=wHcyb9JOR8aQkNTnoHgalg&pi=mR9nw2c1Qr2Nl] Official Spin Podcast Apple Playlist [https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/first-spin-podcast-public-playlist/pl.u-aZb0kK5C9N2r5D] Thanks for listening—see you next week.

Drew White on kindness, diabetes, and Concrete Americana

In this episode I sit down with Nashville-based singer/songwriter Drew White.  Drew and I talk about his fantastic 2025 release, Concrete Americana [https://open.spotify.com/album/19txe2pXXDU5pLbDpCNAhm?si=L9hE9TGySv--y3pgP269uw], life with missionary parents, choosing kindness, battling diabetes, touring the Southeast, So Far Sounds and more.   Songs featured in this episode: Medicine [https://open.spotify.com/track/2aabfMWheJ8XGy6HRoMvMA?si=351d0ebd6a934eca] Concrete Americana [https://open.spotify.com/track/4vpQTygJfH3hWDClG0gPYx?si=7cd765b849b346e5] Kings Street [https://open.spotify.com/track/5IDD5Wl7wXN8GIFi2Chj6b?si=658d75014f034de0] Blood Sugar Blues [https://open.spotify.com/track/5xDxzH4EqIHGUQYopTlaDc?si=ad039ef637454b48] Dandelions [https://open.spotify.com/track/3OkpK5LWGxHJ7qq03bEBg8?si=fc503adf58aa4b7e] Dreaming in the City [https://open.spotify.com/track/3KrRg3hLOmuF4uHb1WTrVB?si=3ffdee6a4c614648] If you enjoyed this episode, it’d mean a lot if you left a quick review—it's one of the best ways to help new listeners find the show. And if you want to hear more artists worth your time, follow First Spin on social: 📱 TikTok [https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://www.tiktok.com/%40first.spin.pod&ved=2ahUKEwiPw7Cqn-WNAxVSHjQIHSZTEokQFnoECBsQAQ&usg=AOvVaw1rzTscegTkG0Xl28XELwtU] 📸 Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/firstspinpodcast/] Official Spin Podcast Spotify Playlist [https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2i3kGfnwyhX9nNSs8W3xUC?si=wHcyb9JOR8aQkNTnoHgalg&pi=mR9nw2c1Qr2Nl] Official Spin Podcast Apple Playlist [https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/first-spin-podcast-public-playlist/pl.u-aZb0kK5C9N2r5D] Thanks for listening—see you next week.

Khatumu on racist kids, self-therapizing, and her upcoming performance at Bottle Rock

This week I sit down with the incredibly talented Khatumu. We talk about her experience of racism with a kid at work, how she passed time during covid lockdowns, the influences that developed her unique sound, and the neighbor that heard her singing through the wall and changed her life. Songs featured in this episode: hunting days [https://open.spotify.com/track/6zsCOSqaG0QiWoTqJkRpEG?si=5177cf03c24c44ca] exposure therapy [https://open.spotify.com/track/5rB5sbAZi0H1rKiFfoT9uv?si=946c24bc170d4df3] blackout [https://open.spotify.com/track/6mY1s0I7DLrZGfkNnKHPbx?si=c5d12cf1280c4d38] matador [https://open.spotify.com/track/106GtKx5Nj5WR5RgVzH6KT?si=34acc11467854533] psuedo doctors [https://open.spotify.com/track/3KBeDUhPLBWZzHn9cZxEAO?si=ce2dd9c82199498b] If you enjoyed this episode, it’d mean a lot if you left a quick review—it's one of the best ways to help new listeners find the show. And if you want to hear more artists worth your time, follow First Spin on social: 📱 TikTok [https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://www.tiktok.com/%40first.spin.pod&ved=2ahUKEwiPw7Cqn-WNAxVSHjQIHSZTEokQFnoECBsQAQ&usg=AOvVaw1rzTscegTkG0Xl28XELwtU] 📸 Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/firstspinpodcast/] Official Spin Podcast Spotify Playlist [https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2i3kGfnwyhX9nNSs8W3xUC?si=wHcyb9JOR8aQkNTnoHgalg&pi=mR9nw2c1Qr2Nl] Official Spin Podcast Apple Playlist [https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/first-spin-podcast-public-playlist/pl.u-aZb0kK5C9N2r5D] Thanks for listening—see you next week.

American Fraternity on masculinity, LA Hedonism, and celebrating imperfections

This week I sit down with Noah Thomas who releases music under the name American Fraternity. Noah and I talked about his brief experience in Greek life, graduating college during Covid, life in Los Angeles, and the importance of displaying confidence.  You can catch American Fraternity live in Los Angeles on May 13th! Songs featured in this episode: Nights Like This [https://open.spotify.com/track/486NW2GlC7m1SHlKjJBCeo?si=72aca40f34064379] In Your Room [https://open.spotify.com/track/0WENSRhEJt8cYANxzSP7GQ?si=6465aaf732574686] Sometimes [https://open.spotify.com/track/3lvH8YfzxBDtyIJpyIEOrk?si=955111140eac49ab] California (Is Heavy On My Mind) [https://open.spotify.com/track/3Fm9Kzf5yxFrlYKIAYfwRH?si=0f50747e789d4f26] If you enjoyed this episode, it’d mean a lot if you left a quick review—it's one of the best ways to help new listeners find the show. And if you want to hear more artists worth your time, follow First Spin on social: 📱 TikTok [https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://www.tiktok.com/%40first.spin.pod&ved=2ahUKEwiPw7Cqn-WNAxVSHjQIHSZTEokQFnoECBsQAQ&usg=AOvVaw1rzTscegTkG0Xl28XELwtU] 📸 Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/firstspinpodcast/] Official Spin Podcast Spotify Playlist [https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2i3kGfnwyhX9nNSs8W3xUC?si=wHcyb9JOR8aQkNTnoHgalg&pi=mR9nw2c1Qr2Nl] Official Spin Podcast Apple Playlist [https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/first-spin-podcast-public-playlist/pl.u-aZb0kK5C9N2r5D] Thanks for listening—see you next week.

Wesley Phipps on leaving Houston, driving to Ohio, and falling in love with Nashville

On this episode of First Spin, I sit down with Wesley Phipps, current Belmont University student who just released his first EP, "Worst Of It."  Wesley and I chat about how the guitar helped him overcome depression as a kid, life since leaving Dallas for Nashville, and wanting to do it all.   Songs featured in this episode: Few Reasons [https://open.spotify.com/track/5139kcf4anRmPrM8nTNbxe?si=56a7d2398bc74648] Drive to Ohio [https://open.spotify.com/track/6b64mbo3o91RkSEvTlm8XL?si=e849b53bf2ff4ba1] Curtains [https://open.spotify.com/track/563DBW0naZlE4NlXXCkTIt?si=bbab7b58408c4fce] Leaving Houston [https://open.spotify.com/track/7bJsWT4ww1qDiBYlugNbKY?si=c128beca4b8944ce] Still Gone [https://open.spotify.com/track/5IMhuIXk56OKBbehUQ53zV?si=1f1d31d345734044] If you enjoyed this episode, it’d mean a lot if you left a quick review—it's one of the best ways to help new listeners find the show. And if you want to hear more artists worth your time, follow First Spin on social: 📱 TikTok [https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://www.tiktok.com/%40first.spin.pod&ved=2ahUKEwiPw7Cqn-WNAxVSHjQIHSZTEokQFnoECBsQAQ&usg=AOvVaw1rzTscegTkG0Xl28XELwtU] 📸 Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/firstspinpodcast/] Official Spin Podcast Spotify Playlist [https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2i3kGfnwyhX9nNSs8W3xUC?si=wHcyb9JOR8aQkNTnoHgalg&pi=mR9nw2c1Qr2Nl] Official Spin Podcast Apple Playlist [https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/first-spin-podcast-public-playlist/pl.u-aZb0kK5C9N2r5D] Thanks for listening—see you next week.