Meet Doug Folkins | Professional songwriter and independent artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Doug Folkins and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Doug, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
For me it’s really all about mind set. It’s called the music “business” for a reason and if I’m was going to be a serious indie artist and professional songwriter, I was going to have to start thinking of my activities as business. This meant getting real with my goals, budgets, targets revenues, expenses, and a proper business plan.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I’m a country songwriter working out of Canada. To date I’ve been able to secure 170 cuts (when an artist records one of the songs I’ve written). Most professional country writers move to Nashville or LA, but I have been able to grind it out from my home on Vancouver Island through grit, determination, and Zoom. I do make writing trips to Nashville for in-person co-writes, but most of my collaborations are done with online writing appointments. I’ve been writing for the Country market since 2010 and was able to secure a publishing deal in 2014 with Nashville based boutique publisher, Lynn Gann Music Enterprises. Prior to that I was writing only for my own music.

I strive to create high quality songs that will move the listener emotionally. I want them to “feel” something that resonates with them, or takes them to a memory, a moment of refection through the songs that I craft. I love it when someone wants to record one of these songs because it speaks to them as an artist, fits their brand and says what they want to say.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I live in Campbell River on beautifully Vancouver Island so I would be all about showing off the natural beauty of the pacific ocean and the coastal mountains.

We would have to go out deep sea fishing trip with my buddy Keith on his boat. Keith would put us onto some salmon, set some crab traps and bring us up close to some Orcas and Humpback whales for some great photos.

We would have to hit some of the great Sushi restaurants in Campbell River followed by a nightcap of some good bourbon on my deck .

We would spend the rest of the week driving around the Island visiting little seaside villages like Tahsis, Port Alice and Cowichan Bay taking in the local sites and spending the evenings in the small pubs or jam sessions.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Sheree Spoltore at Global Songwriters connection in Nashville https://globalsongwriters.com/ Sheree has been a mentor, guide and supporter for me since 2012.

Website: www.dougfolkins.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/folkinsdoug

Twitter: @dougfolkins

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dougfolkinsmusic

Image Credits
Tom Paille Britt Lawrence