Latest news with #Songwriting
CBC
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- CBC
Pup's Stefan Babcock is one of Canada's best songwriters — just don't tell him that
Stefan Babcock of the Canadian punk rock band Pup is his own harshest critic. With the release of the band's fifth and latest studio album, Who Will Look After The Dogs?, Babcock has proven himself to be one of this country's most sophisticated songwriters — and yet he can't take the compliment. "I think I would like to talk about what I'm bad at," Babcock tells Q 's Tom Power in a recent interview before immediately shifting the host's praise back onto his bandmates. "I play with three guys who are way better at music than I am, who are all insanely creative in their own ways, and who can just bring something exciting to songs that are sometimes lacking a spark." WATCH | Official video for Olive Garden: When Babcock initially wrote Pup's new song Olive Garden, he says it was just a "mediocre" acoustic demo until drummer Zack Mykula came up with an idea to make it heavier. "It completely transformed the whole meaning of the song," he says. "Those guys should be given all the credit in the world. Thank God. Thank God for them." On Who Will Look After The Dogs?, Babcock has tapped into his capacity for self-reflection and self-deprecating humour. While writing the album, he says he was going through a difficult time in his personal life as he contended with the end of a long-term relationship. "There's so much humour in the darkness for me," he tells Power. "I think a lot of the songs I write, what I'm doing is looking back on my worst moments from a much better place and trying to find them funny and make fun of myself." So what does Babcock like about his songwriting? "Not much," he says. "I think I'm pretty good at being honest with myself…. One thing I fought for on these songs and this record was let's not overthink these songs. When it feels good, that's when we stop. And that is a really hard thing for any of us to do because we're all over-thinkers. But I'm proud of myself for that — for being able to recognize when a song feels good and is finished." WATCH | Official video for Hallways: Interview with Pup produced by Mitch Pollock.
CBS News
10-05-2025
- Entertainment
- CBS News
North Texas mother writes song for military moms this Mother's Day
Moms will celebrate Mother's Day this Sunday, and for women whose children are serving in the military, the day can be especially tough without them. A North Texas mom wrote a song for other military mothers. It's debuting early on CBS News Texas. CBS News Texas The lights shine down brightly on singer Stacy Wynette during another day of rehearsal at a Dallas music recording studio. "I started singing in church when I was 12 or 13 years old," Wynette said. Wynette always had a love and passion for music. "I got married, had kids, sang in church for another 15 years or so, and then I just didn't pick it up again until my kids have chosen their own path," Wynette said. Her youngest son, Jon, found his path when he joined the U.S. Army. "As a mom, you're like, 'Will they feed him well, or will they take care of him? Or how's he going to make it?" Wynette said. The worry continued to grow when Jon served in combat, including in Eastern Europe in the response to the war in Ukraine. "They're your babies, and you just see them as the little toddlers that they were when they were little, even though they're grown," Wynette said. Wynette regularly drove six hours to Jon's base in Arkansas. Her emotions flowed into lyrics in her mind during those trips. "Military Mama is a song that was written as a hug from me to other military moms," Wynette said. Writer and producer Christian Chavarria helped Wynette bring her lyrics to paper. "I felt it was important to me to be a part of this because, I come from a single parent," Chavarria said. Wynette has already performed "Military Mama" several placed, including at the Downtown Dallas Arts and Music Festival. "She's performed it at an open my called 'The Love Mic,' which is a really cool thing," Chavarria said. "The Love Mic is a mental health advocacy event that happens every Monday at Sundown at Granada." Wynette hopes other military mothers can hear themselves in her song and see the reflection of support in a woman who understands what they're going through. "There's just such a huge common camaraderie between the military moms, which is where all the feeling of this came from," Wynette said. "It's very raw emotions. We feel each other's hearts, and our children are our heartbeat." "This is going to be very impactful, very heartfelt, and might bring healing," Chavarria said. Wynette helps other military moms heal and hones her own craft later in life. "I started writing songs and started playing the guitar at age 53," Wynette said. "I think that it's never too late to find and go after your passion," Chavarria said. The military mom hopes to show others in her shoes to pursue their passions while they hold their sons and daughters even closer. The song officially releases on Mother's Day on Mother's Day, May 11th, an 11:11 on all streaming platforms. You can hear it now by clicking Wynette's website here.
