In a very brief period of time, songwriter and producer Chris DeStefano has solidified his role as one of Nashville’s most in-demand creative forces.
He recently visited MusicRow‘s office, where he was feted for two chart-topping singles on MusicRow’s Country Breakout chart, including the Miranda Lambert/Carrie Underwood duet “Somethin’ Bad,” (penned with Brett James and Priscilla Renea), and Chase Rice’s “Ready Set Roll” (penned with Rice and Rhett Akins). These mark DeStefano’s second and third MusicRow Challenge Coins, respectively. His first was for “Rewind,” recorded by Rascal Flatts.

“It was the first song we wrote together,” recalls DeStefano of writing “Ready Set Roll.” “Josh [Van Valkenburg] called and told me about Chase, and how he co-wrote ‘Cruise,’ and was working on songs for an album. We wrote the song pretty quick, and it had a different title at first. Chase suggested, ‘Ready Set Roll,’ so I made up the melody and Chase loved it. It was pretty fun. At the end of the day, we felt good about it. That kind of kicked him off into ‘You should produce my album.’” The album, released on Columbia Nashville/Dack Janiels, reached No. 1 on the Billboard Country chart.

During DeStefano’s visit with MusicRow, he also shared that the feisty female duet “Somethin’ Bad” was penned approximately two years ago, and not in a 9-to-5 Nashville writer’s room, but rather in a chateau near France’s Bordeaux region.
“It’s about a three and a half hour train ride from Paris,” the Sony/ATV writer recalled of the location. “It’s all farmland, and it’s beautiful, out in the middle of nowhere.”
For several years, performing rights organization ASCAP has arranged for writers to spend a week at the chateau, networking and co-writing with fellow songwriters from different genres of music. “There are six rooms, and usually about 18 songwriters that head out there,” said DeStefano. “It’s always like a bonding thing. By the end of it everyone’s heartbroken they have to leave.”
He and fellow songwriter Brett James “penned two songs that day, but ‘Somethin’ Bad’ was the standout,” said DeStefano. “We were in this huge, roomy studio with a large fireplace. There was a lot of reverb in the room, so we started doing these stomps and claps and rocking out. We went out of the box a bit with it.
“It was exciting when Miranda put it on hold, because it was so out of the box. But I never hold my breath about those things, then Carrie [Underwood] texted me one day,” he continued. “She said ‘Look what we are cutting today for Miranda’s record.’ And she sent me a picture of the lyric. We were ecstatic. The two of them on that? I couldn’t wait to hear it.”
DeStefano and James recently completed a return trip to the French chateau, where they each garnered new titles.
DeStefano and James were officially knighted, Ordre des Cevaliers Troubadours de Marouatte. “They have a tradition in the castle which has only happened a handful of times. If you write a song that goes to No. 1 on multiple charts, then you get knighted in the castle,” explained DeStefano. “It’s a real, formal knighting ceremony with traditional language. It is a true honor, and it was incredible to share it with my good friend Brett James. Having been at the castle for the past four years, it already feels like a home away from home to me. I’m very grateful to my ASCAP family for inviting me to participate in this inspiring event.”
Next up for DeStefano? Another chart-topper, most likely. He co-wrote Underwood’s new single, “Something In The Water,” which sits at No. 13 on the MusicRow CountryBreakout chart.

Warner Music Nashville and Watkins College of Art, Design & Film have partnered for a new “Music Industry and the Visual Arts” course, an idea originating via Leadership Music alumni John Esposito, President & CEO of WMN and Ellen L. Meyer, President of Watkins. The class of 15 students, led by Richard Gershman, will bring together a multidisciplinary team of filmmakers, graphic designers and photographers who will interact with the creative team at Warner Music Nashville to conceptualize a visual approach to branding new artist(s).
“The partnership with Watkins allows us the unique opportunity to foster new talent in visual arts while also giving our creative team an outside perspective which is invaluable,” said Shane Tarleton, VP/Creative Director at WMN. “I am so very proud of the relationships we have already formed and am genuinely excited about the possibilities ahead.”
“Our goal in partnering with Watkins was to exchange real world insights around the creative process,” said Jeremy Holley, SVP of Consumer & Interactive Marketing at WMN. “It’s been inspiring to see the level of talent, thought, and work ethic from their team and students. They have brought fresh ideas and great energy.”

Caitlyn Smith released a seven-track EP today (Oct. 28). The established songwriter co-wrote every track on the project titled Everything To You, and co-produced it with hitmaker Brett James. She will celebrate the release with a performance at the famed Station Inn in Nashville on Oct. 30.

The songwriter/artist has already garnered success as a co-writer of “Wasting All These Tears,” the hit recorded by Cassadee Pope. She’s also had cuts by Jason Aldean, Rascal Flatts and Lady Antebellum.

In 2014, Smith has toured alongside artists including Sheryl Crow and Willie Nelson.

Leading up to the release, Smith has done acoustic videos of several tracks from the EP. Check out: Dream Away, All My Lovers, Grown Woman, Wasting All These Tears and Everything To You.

Track Listing for Everything To You: 

1. Fever (Smith/Steven Lee Olsen/Cary Barlowe)
2. Dream Away (Smith/Steven Lee Olsen/Cary Barlowe)
3. Wasting All These Tears (Smith/Rollie Gaalswyk)
4. Everything To You (Smith/Lori McKenna/Liz Rose)
5. Grown Woman (Smith/Lori McKenna/Liz Rose)
6. Novocaine (Smith/Steven Lee Olsen/Cary Barlowe)
7. All My Lovers (Smith/Troy Verges/Chris Lindsey)