Singing and Songwriting, with The Wailin' Jennys

The Wailin' Jennys have been singing together for more than two decades - recording albums, touring the world, and filling venues large and small. After all these years, the trio—Ruth Moody, Heather Masse, and Nicky Mehta—have reached both a plateau and an inflection point. What's it like for a musical group that's been together for that long; for singers who've found such perfect vocal harmony for one another? How do they each think of songwriting, and of creative work in general? On their recent west coast tour, they stopped by the studio for a chat about those things and more.THE WAILIN' JENNYS ARE:Ruth Moody - Banjo, Guitar, VocalsNicky Mehta - Guitar, Drums, VocalsHeather Masse - Bass, VocalsFeaturing excerpts from the Jennys' albums Bright Morning Stars, iTunes Session - EP, 40 Days, and FirecrackerFEATURED/DISCUSSED:"Total Eclipse of the Heart" by Jim Steinman, sung by Bonnie Tyler and Rory Dodd"Paradise by the Dashboard Light," "I'd Do Anything For Love (But I Won't Do That)," "Objects in the Rearview Mirror May Appear Closer Than They Are" - by Jim Steinman sung by Meat Loaf"Closer To Fine" and "Love's Recovery" by Indigo Girls from Indigo Girls, 1989Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear by Elizabeth Gilbert, 2016Kirk's essay on creativity, "Follow The Spark"Jeff Tweedy talking songwriting on The Ezra Klein Show"What Am I Here For" by Jade BirdMUSIC PICKS:Heather: Bonny Light Horseman, Keep Me On Your Mind/Set You Free, 2024Ruth: Aaron Neville, "Louisiana 1927"Nicky: Afghan Whigs, Black Love --------------------AUGUST 2025 WHOLE-NOTE PATRONSMelissa Lucas – Thomas McIlheran – Andy – Lisa Crotty – Rick Keeler – Elizabeth Culver – Meryl Allison – Robyn Metcalfe – Cesar – Corpus Frisky – Ben Barron – Catherine Warner – Damon White – Jay Swartz – Rush – Daniel Hannon-Barry – Christopher Miller – Jamie White – Christopher McConnell – David Mascetti – Joe Laska – Ken Hirsh – Melanie Andrich – Jenness Gardner – Nathaniel Bauernfeind – Paul Delaney – Sami Samhuri – Jeremy Dawson – AccessViolation – Dave Florey AUGUST 2025 HALF-NOTE PATRONSMathias Schmidt – Erik – Freddy Freeman – Adam Clark – Stephen – Brendan McLeod – Zach Putnam – Ian Karmel – Steve B – Worcester – Jim – Jez – Alex Miller – Lottie Aron – RsP – Michael Wisnosky – Brian Rinckenberger – Dan Elias – Hidden Jester – Betsy Barre – Ian Steding – Margaret McReynolds – Alison Dugan – Princess of Whales – Dave Douglass – Suzanne Crawford – PhantomMare – Kym Griffith – Rachel – Aruni Jayatilleke – TB – Daniel Kaberon – Wiggy Hash – Whit Sidener – Julie Kellman – Simon Hellman – Bea – Claudia Carty – Dani – Glenn Jackson – Christopher Selby Spink – Philip Kelly – Daniel Nervo – Kevin Stafford – Lawrence – Sy Jacobs – Irritable – Ian Pidd – Andrew Hofer – Jordan Gatenby – Melissa Kuhns – Ashley – Seattle Trans and Nonbinary Choral Ensemble – Kevin Marcelo – James – Michael – Jeff – Dan Cutter – Joseph Romero – Ol Parker – John Berry – Danielle Kriz – Clint McElroy – Mordok’s Vape Pen – Inmar Givoni – Michael Singer – Merv Adrian – Joe Gallo – Michael York – Lauren Knotts – Dave Kolas – Henry Mindlin – Monica St. Angelo – Stephen Wolkwitz – Rand LeShay – Maxeric Sp – Matthew Jones – Thomas – Anthony Mentz – James McMurry – Ethan Laser – Brian John Peter – Chris Remo – Aaron Wilson – Dent Earl – Carlos Lerner – Misty Haisfield – Abraham Benrubi – Lee R. – Dick Morgan – Ben Stein – Grettir Asmundarson – Sean Murphy – Randal Vegter – Kellen Steffen – Kaya Woodall – Robert Granat – Dave Malloy – Alan Maass – Douglas H. Frazer – John Halpin – Peter Harding – David – Kayla Russell – John Bauman – Martín Salías – Stu Baker – Steve Martino – Dr. Arthur A. Gray – Gary Pierce – Matt Baxter – Luigi Boccia – E. Margaret Warton – Tim Sheehan – Charles McGee – Catherine Clause – Ethan Bauman – KenIsWearingAHat – Aaron Wade – Jeff Ulm – David Futter – Jamie – Deebs – Portland Eye Care – Richard Sneddon – Christian Hessmann – Janice Berry – Doreen Carlson – Wendy Gilchrist – Lisa Turner – Paul Wayper – Miles Forman – Bruno Gaeta – Kenneth Jung – Adam Stofsky – Zak Remer – Rishi Sahay – Jeffrey Bean – JRRJ – Ailie Fraser – Rob Tsuk – Josh Singer – Adam W – Kelli Brockington – Mino Capossela – Steve Paquin – Donald Mackie – David Joske – Bernard Khoo – Robert Heuer – David Noah – Geraldine Butler – Jason Pratt – Abbie Berg – Doug Belew – Dermot Crowley – Achint Srivastava – Ryan Rairigh – Michael Berman – Linda Duffy – Bonnie Prinsen – Eoin de Burca – Kevin Potter – M. Shane Borders – Dallas Hockley – Jason Gerry – Nell Morse – Nathan Gouwens – Lauren Reay – Eric Prestemon – Cbalmain – Angela Livingstone – Diane Hughes – Michael Casner – Lowell Meyer – Stephen Tsoneff – Joshua Hill – Pascal Rueger – Randy Souza – Clare Holberton – Diane Turner – Tom Coleman – Dhu Wik – Melmaniac – Eric Helm – Jonathan Daniels – Caro Field – Dave Sharpe – Naomi Watson – David Alexander – Jeff Patterson – Chris K. – Gavin Doig – Tanner Morton – AJ Schuster – Jennifer Bush – David Stroud – Brad Callahan – Amanda Furlotti – Andrew Baker – Andrew Fair – Bill Thornton – Brian Amoebas – Brett Douville – Jeffrey Olson – Matt Betzel – Melanie Stivers – Richard Toller – Alexander Polson – Justin McElroy – Arjun Sharma – James Johnson – Kevin Morrell – Colin Hodo --------------------💃STRONG SONGS LIVE!🕺July 11, 2026 | Portland, ORBuy Tickets Here (Livestream Tix Now Available!)----LINKS-----💰 SUPPORT STRONG SONGS!Patreon | One-Time Donation🏠 HOMEPAGE👚 MERCH💬 DISCORD SERVER📬 KIRK'S NEWSLETTER🎸 KIRK'S GEAR & INSTRUMENTS🎶 KIRK'S MUSIC📷 KIRK’S SOCIAL MEDIA:Instagram | YouTube | Bluesky🎧 EVERY STRONG SONG:Spotify | Apple Music | YouTube Music🎨 SHOW ART:Tom Deja, Bossman Graphics