What does it really take to grow as a Christian songwriter, especially when you do not live in Nashville or have established industry connections?

In this episode of the Christian Artist Mentorship Podcast, Wisdom Moon sits down with songwriter and Full Circle Music Academy Director Maggie Youngs to discuss songwriting, collaboration, community, and trusting God with an unconventional career path.

Maggie shares how songwriting began as a personal way to process anxiety and pray through difficult questions. She also explains how an unexpected internship at Full Circle eventually developed into a leadership role she never could have planned for herself.

Wisdom and Maggie unpack what actually happens during a Nashville co-write, how songwriters should approach ownership splits, and why serving the artist’s vision should remain the North Star of the writing process.

They also discuss whether every artist should write their own songs, the proper role of artificial intelligence in songwriting, and why strong relationships often matter just as much as strong creative ability.

Maggie also explains how Full Circle Music Academy helps independent artists, songwriters, and producers access industry education, meaningful collaboration, professional feedback, and a community of creatives who can grow together.

Maggie Youngs is the Academy Director at Full Circle Music. Using her unique background in ministry, business, and songwriting, she works to build events, resources and opportunities that help creatives take real steps toward their careers and callings.

Connect with Maggie Youngs and Full Circle Academy:

Email: support@fullcirclemusic.com
Full Circle Instagram: @officialfcmusic
Maggie’s Instagram: @maggieeeeeeliz

Connect with Wisdom Moon:

Instagram: ⁠⁠@wisdommoon⁠⁠

Christian Artist Mentorship: ⁠⁠christianartistmentorship.com⁠⁠

Pure Mosaic Services: puremosaicservices.com

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a songwriter, producer, worship leader, or Christian artist who would benefit from the conversation.

In this episode, Wisdom Moon sits down with Nashville-based mix engineer Carl Markham to talk about the art, emotion, and technical craft behind mixing music.

Carl shares how he got started, what it means to honor an artist’s vision, and why mixing is about more than making a song sound “better.” It is about helping the song feel right. He also talks about working with producers and artists, learning from experienced professionals, the importance of collaboration, and why independent Christian artists should consider building a trusted creative team.

They also discuss AI in music, faith and creativity, when artists should hire a mix engineer, and what Christian artists often misunderstand about the mixing process.

In This Episode:

• How Carl became a mix engineer
• What mixing actually is and why it matters
• The role of emotion in a great mix
• Why collaboration can elevate a song
• When artists should stop doing everything themselves
• How faith shapes Carl’s approach to his work
• What artists should know before sending a song to mix
• Carl’s thoughts on AI in music
• Why revisions are part of the creative process

Whether you are an artist, producer, songwriter, or someone who wants to better understand the music-making process, this conversation will help you see mixing as both a technical craft and a deeply creative service.

Connect with Carl Markham:

Instagram: ⁠@_carlmarkham

Connect with Wisdom Moon:

Website: ⁠wisdommoon.com⁠

Instagram: ⁠@wisdommoon⁠

Christian Artist Mentorship: ⁠christianartistmentorship.com⁠

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a songwriter, producer, worship leader, or Christian artist who would benefit from the conversation.

In this episode of the Christian Artist Mentorship Podcast, Wisdom Moon sits down with songwriter, producer, and worship leader Chris Clayton for an honest conversation about songwriting, production, publishing, and building a sustainable music ministry.

Chris shares how a mentor helped launch his career, why relationships matter more than talent in co-writing rooms, and how he approaches both songwriting and production with a heart to serve artists well. They also discuss the growing role of AI in music creation, the importance of strong songwriting before production begins, and why every artist should have clear agreements in place when working with producers.

The conversation takes a deeper turn as Chris unpacks his passion for theologically rich worship songs, his thoughts on trends in modern worship music, and what it means to write songs that are both biblically grounded and congregationally accessible.

Chris also shares the story behind signing a publishing deal with Story House Collective, founded by Matthew West, and offers practical advice for songwriters and producers pursuing a career in Christian music.

Topics Covered:

• How Chris got started as a songwriter and producer

• The value of mentorship and apprenticeship

• What makes a successful co-writing relationship

• AI tools like Suno and their role in songwriting

• Writing theologically grounded worship songs

• Why congregational worship songs matter

• Producer points and music industry agreements

• The role of a music publisher

• Chris' journey to signing with Story House Collective

• Whether songwriters need to move to Nashville

• Advice for aspiring songwriters, producers, and artists

Connect With Chris Clayton:

Website: chrisclayton.com

Instagram: @chrisclaytonmusic

Connect With Wisdom Moon:

Website: wisdommoon.com

Instagram: @wisdommoon

Christian Artist Mentorship: christianartistmentorship.com

If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with a songwriter, producer, worship leader, or Christian artist who would benefit from the conversation.