Eli + Jonathan Hutcherson on Writing 1,500+ Songs, Faith & Anxiety in Nashville | Ep. 17

Our guests this week are brothers, songwriters, and artists Jonathan and Eli Hutcherson, who grew up eight years apart in a small Kentucky town with almost no music in the family and somehow, serendipitously, they both ended up chasing the dream in Nashville and are each actively crushing it. Since making it to town, Jonathan spent seven years as an artist and writer with Creative Nation (where he's still signed as a songwriter), while Eli is actively stepping into the independent world himself as an artist.In this conversation, the Hutchersons get honest about what it takes to survive a writer's room: managing ego (and the insecurity hiding underneath it), letting a co-writer ride the wave instead of stepping on it, and why being yourself matters more than being impressive. They break down the real difference between publishing and masters, why streaming has changed who gets paid and how, and what pushed them both toward independence over a label deal. They also open up about faith, anxiety, and a brotherhood that turns competition into collaboration.Whether you're a songwriter finding your voice, an indie artist weighing your options, or just someone who loves a good sibling story, this one's full of heart, hustle, and hard-won wisdom from two brothers building their own lane in Music City. Enjoy!00:00 – Welcome & Intro: Eli + Jonathan Hutcherson01:19 – Growing Up in Kentucky & a Family With Almost No Music04:02 – Moving to Nashville at 18 & Signing With Creative Nation05:44 – Finding (and Hiding) a Love for Music Growing Up09:04 – Skipping College & Learning the Industry by Doing It12:18 – Writing 1,500+ Songs & the "Water Spigot" Theory of Craft15:13 – Learning From Luke Laird, Matt Jenkins & Nashville's Best Writers17:45 – How Ego (and Insecurity) Kills a Writing Room21:52 – Writing Together as Brothers Without Competing27:45 – Letting a Co-Writer "Ride the Wave"29:25 – Writing for an Artist's Voice, Not Your Own33:21 – Believing in Your Songs Before Anyone Else Does38:55 – Faith, David & the Psalms as Songwriting Therapy44:55 – Finding Your Identity & Your Own Creative Stamp47:00 – Loving Yourself, Loving Others & Where That Comes From50:11 – Letting Emotions Roll In Instead of Fighting Them56:03 – Publishing vs. Masters, Explained Simply59:33 – How Streaming Changed Who Actually Gets Paid1:00:48 – Why They Chose Independence Over a Label Deal1:08:24 – Building a Fanbase From Nothing (and Sleeping in a Minivan)1:09:44 – "Go Fail": The Case for Just Putting Music Out1:14:12 – Anchors, Storms & Finding What Holds You Steady1:17:34 – Brotherhood Over CompetitionFollow Jonathan Hutcherson:InstagramTikTokYouTubeFacebookFollow Eli Hutcherson:InstagramTikTokYouTubeFollow The Bilby + Ella Show:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join Our Community⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Hill:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Follow Willie:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram