Taylor Leonhardt with special guest Owen Stroud

Native Texan and new-ish Nashvillian, Taylor Leonhardt is first and foremost a craftsman. Whether she's penning tunes for her solo project or for her duo Mission House with Jess Ray, it’s always about the song. The Gospel Coalition recently called Taylor “one of the most promising singer-songwriters in Nashville these days", naming her latest project Hold Still one of the best albums of 2021. In addition to touring and writing, she spends time across the US leading music and conversations for spiritual retreats, creative workshops, and faith communities. When she’s not on the road, you can catch Taylor on a long run at Shelby Park or pursuing her newest hobby - fly fishing. She is convinced God songs are everywhere.

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Owen Stroud was raised in Leander, Texas. He cut his teeth on Beethoven sonatas and outdated Mapsco street guides. He took piano lessons and noodled around on the keys more than he practiced. He started playing guitar when he was twelve and began to write painfully derivative songs but that’s what you gotta do to get good at anything. I don’t know that he’s all that great now but he feels like there’s been a good progression and he’s happy with it, so I guess that’s all that matters.

Owen doesn’t know what genre he is if you ask him. He just starts yakking about Baroque counterpoint and 17th-century Lutheran hymnody most of the time. I don’t understand any of it, much less what that has to do with Texas singer-songwriter stuff. Maybe you should just listen and find out.