Pushing Boundaries in Country Songwriting: Insights from Ashley Gorley and Jesse Frasure

Award-winning songwriters share wisdom on innovation, collaboration and the evolving landscape of country music

In today’s songwriting landscape, playing it safe is the riskiest move a songwriter can make.  

In his first of three songwriting masterclass sessions at Belmont, Ashley Gorley (music business ’99) — one of the most prolific songwriters of his generation — was joined by collaborator and fellow alumnus Jesse Frasure (music business ’04) to give students an inside look at a successful Nashville co-writing session.  

The Art of Preparation in Songwriting 

Gorley and Frasure emphasized that preparation is the foundation of successful songwriting sessions. Gorley humorously compared co-writing sessions to awkward dates, noting, "Has anybody ever had a co-write where you walk in and you're just like, 'what do I do now?' It's an awkward date situation… and they still happen."  

To mitigate this anxiety, the duo advised students to: 

• Arrive with 5-10 track options 

• Prepare various hooks and song titles 

• Bring diverse ideas to the table 

"I love when a co-writer comes in and they've prepped a little bit,” said Frasure. “I don't care if we use the idea or not, but I'm instantly sitting back and respecting this co-writer more because they came prepared whether the artist likes it or not." 

Embracing Diverse Influences in Country Music 

A significant portion of the seminar focused on drawing inspiration from diverse genres and incorporating eclectic influences into country songwriting. 

"The more you pay attention, the more you can soak up. That's just a good life lesson," emphasized Gorley.  

The two shared how country music has evolved over the past few decades, embracing a more comprehensive range of inspiration that has influenced their songs: 

• Blackstreet and Dr. Dre's "No Diggity" influenced Jon Pardi's "Dirt on My Boots" 
• Coldplay's "Viva La Vida" influenced Thomas Rhett's "Unforgettable" 

Frasure highlighted a current example of genre-bending success with Shaboozey’s seven-week No. 1 song. "The first line is, ‘My baby want a Birkin, she's been tellin' me all night long.' The fact that we have a Birkin bag in the first line of the biggest song of the year in country music goes to show you that none of us know what's going to happen in any given moment." 

The Dynamics of Collaboration 

Collaboration is at the heart of modern songwriting, and both Gorley and Frasure shared insights on navigating the co-writing process: 

• Diversify writing partners to avoid falling into routines 

• Embrace vulnerability when working with new artists 

• Speak up and contribute ideas, even when intimidated by more experienced writers 

When asked about his experience collaborating with Post Malone, Gorley highlighted both the excitement and challenges of cross-genre partnerships. "It was amazing. It was the best thing ever," he said. "But I was scared to death. I felt like I was trying out for a basketball team or something like that." 

Frasure added, "This doesn't get easier either — that fear factor. It's important for you [students] to hear this. There probably won't be a more successful country songwriter in my lifetime than Ashley Gorley. The fact that he still gets scared going into those rooms is good for you guys to hear." 

They also emphasized the importance of speaking up and contributing ideas, even when working with high-profile artists or more experienced writers. Gorley advised, "If you're thinking, ‘I don't want to say something because what if it sucks?’ The person who speaks up will win, because at least they contributed something." 

Navigating Copyright and Influence 

The seminar also touched on the complex world of copyright and influence in songwriting, offering a cautionary tale from Frasure’s own experience. His hit song “Crash and Burn,” (co-written with Chris Stapleton) became a cautionary tale about the fine line between influence and infringement.  

Inspired by Sam Cooke's music, Frasure believed using a non-tonal element would be safe. However, after the song's success, Cooke's estate reached out, resulting in a legal case that ended with Cooke being added as a co-writer. 

"The world gets a little bit slippery when you have things like ‘Blurred Lines’ happen," Frasure noted, referencing the famous copyright case that changed the landscape of musical influence. 

The duo also discussed the interpolation process, citing their use of David Bowie's "Rebel Rebel" guitar hook in their new song, "Young Love & Saturday Night," as an example of how to legally incorporate existing works. 

Key Takeaways for Aspiring Songwriters 

• Preparation is key: Come to sessions with multiple ideas and track options 
• Embrace diverse influences: Look beyond country music for inspiration 
• Collaborate fearlessly: Don't be afraid to speak up, even when working with more experienced writers 
• Stay legally savvy: Understand the line between inspiration and infringement
• Keep pushing boundaries: The most successful songs often break conventional rules 

Upcoming Masterclasses 

Gorley returns for part two of his seminar series, Friday, Oct. 25, and part three, Friday, Nov. 15, where he’ll be joined by Ben Vaughn, president and CEO of Warner Chapel Music and Belmont trustee.