Sheila Davis writes, “Songs speak for us… Our most enduring songs – those that have spoken for millions through the decades – are more than mere background music. They are significant threads in the tapestry of our lives…When we sing along, fusing ourselves with the singer, it is because the lyric reflects something fundamental we think, or feel, or believe.”

I actually rediscovered songwriting, something I had first tried my hand at during my student years, during a stressful time in my life. It became a way to process the stress I felt at the time, and over the past thirty years, it has evolved to become this endlessly challenging, often frustrating and always rewarding creative pursuit that can never be mastered. And as many songwriters will say, it is an addicting pursuit that is its own reward and this “thing” that we can’t not do.  

Music by itself can be moving and likewise the spoken word, but combined in a well crafted song, the effect can be powerful, sometimes magical and even life changing. Songs can put us in touch with our feelings. The challenge is to find that universal theme that taps into the emotions of the listener or audience and says, “me too, I’ve felt that, I know what you mean.” As a writer I strive to write that song, the song that will move me and resonate with the listener, the song that they will want to hear again.

This site showcases a variety of songs that cover a spectrum of styles from traditional country to contemporary country, blues, gospel and more. My primary focus as a writer has been in the wide-ranging world of country, a community that includes all of these formats under its broad umbrella. The songs presented here range from sweet ballads to fun uptempo rockers, from heartbreak to heartfelt love. The tracks are live studio recordings, done largely in Nashville, with the amazing players and singers that know how to bring a song to life. If you want to learn more about Absolute Zero Music or if you find a song here that fits your next project, feel free to reach out to me, John Nelson, at john@abzeromusic.com. 

Alan Jay Lerner: “I like to write stories that move me, with the implicit hope that they will move others too.” 

Harlan Howard: “Country music ain’t nothin’ but three chords and the truth.” 

Roger Miller: “Old songwriters never die, they just decompose.”