Manufacturing Inspiration: Songwriting Habits of Mikey Mason

Geek-rock musician Mikey Mason joins me to talk about writing songs on schedule, his New Music Monday ritual, and how to stay creative every single week. Music by Caliceltic, May Will Bloom, The Gothard Sisters, and Mikey Mason.

This is Pub Songs & Stories #311

0:18 - Caliceltic "The Beer from St James Gate" from 2023 and Me

5:25 - WELCOME TO PUB SONGS & STORIES

Every song has a story, every episode is a toast to Celtic and folk songwriters. Discover the stories behind the songs from the heart of the Celtic pub scene. I am your bard, Marc Gunn, also host of the Irish & Celtic Music Podcast.

Today’s episode dives into the creative mind of comedy-rock songwriter Mikey Mason.

If you’ve ever struggled to finish a song or waited for inspiration to strike, this conversation will change how you think about writing.

Mikey writes and releases a brand-new song every Monday. And he does it without relying on his muse. We’ll talk about manufacturing inspiration, using unusual prompts, and turning routine into creative freedom.

6:59 - UPCOMING SHOWS

• NOV 22: Georgia Renaissance Festival Fall Fling, Fairburn, GA
• DEC 6: Georgia Renaissance Festival Fall Fling, Fairburn, GA
• DEC 7: Nerdy Wonderland at The Lost Druid, Avondale Estates, GA @ 12 - 5 PM.

If you’re new to the show, please follow us. You can do that at PubSong.com.

I have a new band with my daughter Inara. We are called May Will Bloom and at IrishFest Atlanta, we released a brand new single.

9:40 - May Will Bloom “Star of the County Down” from Single

A big thanks to my…

GUNN RUNNERS ON PATREON

If you’re enjoying Pub Songs & Stories or you’ve been spinning my music for years, follow me on Patreon. It’s free to join, and you’ll get early, ad-free episodes along with updates on what I’m creating next.

But the real magic kicks in when you become a Patron of the Arts. Patreon is how independent musicians like me keep making music, telling stories, and sharing these pub-song adventures with you. For just $5 a month, you unlock a treasure trove of exclusives—unreleased songs, behind-the-scenes podcasts, video concerts, rare bootlegs, and surprises you won’t hear anywhere else.

Want the full rundown? Email follow@celtfather and I’ll send you all the details.

13:35 - NEWS

• Mark your calendar for December 5. That’s the next Bandcamp Friday. It’s also the official release of Another Faire to Remember by Brobdingnagian Bards. If you loved our Renaissance festival classic, A Faire to Remember, you will love this one as well because it was made for you in mind. Follow our mailing list on Patreon to be the first to hear of the release to read some stories from our Renaissance festival past. It’s http://patreon.com/thebards
• Christmas music is in the air. In fact, Celtic Christmas Music is a podcast where you can enjoy Christmas music by Celtic musicians. There are over 80 episodes including some of my music.
• Are you looking for the perfect Celtic stocking stuffer? Give a gift that’s green… and a little bit magical. At MageRecords.com, you’ll find eco-friendly Irish and Celtic treasures made to delight the music lovers, the festival wanderers, and the folklore fans in your life.Wood-burned album pins and for a limited time, Celtic Christmas ornaments. Small enough to slip into a stocking… and meaningful enough to make someone smile long after the holidays.

  So this year, skip the plastic. Go Celtic. Go sustainable. Visit com and fill those stockings with something worth keeping.

• Check out my new Kickstarter,

Please leave a comment on the podcast show notes at pubsong.com or wherever you listen. Email pictures of where you're listening to follow@celtfather . I’ll send you a free gift and you can learn more about how to follow this podcast.

16:33 - The Gothard Sisters "Moment in Time" from Moment in Time

19:55 - TODAY’S SHOW IS BROUGHT TO BY CELTIC INVASION VACATIONS

Every year, I take a small group of people on a relaxing adventure to one of the Celtic nations. We don’t see everything. Instead we stay in one area. We get to know the region through its culture, history, and legends. You can join me with an auditory and visual adventure through podcasts, blogs, videos, and photos.

Sign to the Celtic Invasion Vacations mailing list at CelticInvasion.com.

20:23 - QUEST & CHORUS

of How to Write Songs on Schedule (and Still Stay Inspired)

Where every place has a story, every story has a song, and every song is a step in the quest.

Mikey Mason is a U.S.-based “geek-rock” musician. He blends his stand-up comedy background with music rooted in sci-fi, fantasy, board games, cats and role-playing. He spent more than a decade as a full-time stand-up comedian performing across the U.S.

In 2011 his song “She Don’t Like Firefly” went viral on YouTube and earned attention from outlets including Nerdist, SyFy, MTV Geek News, Dr. Demento and Time magazine.

Since then, Mikey has released numerous albums and EPs and now primarily works as a musician and artist whose work draws heavily on his lifelong love of geek culture.

Before we get started, this is also a Quest & Chorus.Where every place has a story, every story has a song, and every song is a step in the quest. That means you need a secret word to unlock a secret treasure chest of bonus content, this time from Mikey Mason. So listen up so you can unlock the Quest.

How many songs does Mikey Mason average in a year with his New Music Monday releases?

Click here to enter your answer and unlock your reward!

46:06 - Mikey Mason “Kinda Like” from Patreon Single

1:03:14 - Mikey Mason “Shades of Gray” from Shades of Gray

If you want to learn more about Mikey Mason,

• visit his website at http://mikeymason.com
• his com/mikeymason. You can also enjoy him
• Our podcast together, In the ‘Verse
• Listen to my interview with Mikey Mason about “Hero of Christmas”
• I interviewed Mikey in 2018 for my Celtfather podcast.

1:07:35 - CREDITS

Thanks for listening to Pub Songs & Stories. This episode was edited by Mitchell Petersen.

You can follow and listen to the show on my Patreon or wherever you find podcasts. Sign up to my mailing list to learn more about songs featured in this podcast and discover where I’m performing.

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Join the Pub and Sing Along at www.pubsong.com!

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