Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Lexi Stark. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Lexi, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you talk to us about how you learned to do what you do?

I started writing songs on my own at age 11 back home in my small town of Warrenton, VA. Everything I knew at that point I learned from analyzing songs by artists I looked up to growing up (Collective Soul, Rascal Flatts, Taylor Swift, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and more) At this point my songs were very personal to me and I wasn’t really focused on sharing them with the world. It wasn’t until I moved to Nashville in 2015 and I joined a wonderful organization called NSAI (Nashville Songwriter’s Association International) that I started learning how to truly craft a song with the scope of a wider audience. I learned from different workshops that NSAI put on where professional songwriters like Jason Blume came and taught the art and value of co-writing. When I started co-writing I really began to understand how beautiful the art form can be with not just myself but with other people. When I went to school at Belmont I studied music for two years and had opportunities to write with some amazing songwriters like Lauren Weintraub, Lance Carpenter, and more. All that being said, I don’t think I will ever stop learning how to write a song. I do everything in my power to learn more about songwriting to better hone my skill today. Recently I attended a workshop put on by Barbara Cloyd, who is a well-known songwriting coach in the Nashville Community. She brought in some amazing publishers and very successful songwriters to empower, equip, and educate myself as well as 18 other amazing writers in the Nashville Community and beyond. I think the most essential skill in learning how to write songs is being teachable. I’ve heard so many publishers say this is a quality they look for in writers before they bring them on their roster. That is why I try my best to keep myself up to date on what is doing well in today’s country and christian market in the music industry, learn as much as I can from those who are willing to mentor me, and honestly just- write write write. Practice makes perfect.

Lexi, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

Hey there! My name is Lexi Stark, and I’m a singer/songwriter here in Nashville, TN. It was inevitable that I would fall into writing songs growing up because my dad was an avid rock n’ roll guitar player, and my mom wrote poetry. I grew up with such a wide range of music being played in my home between rock, country, pop, singer/songwriter, latin, etc. Being exposed to some of the great songwriters in history really inspired me at a young age to pursue a career on this path. My story is that of an overcomer, I lost my mom at fourteen to suicide and that really set the trajectory for me to pursue music as an artist because that was her dream for me. I am a big supporter of mental health, extremely hard work, and digging deep to discover your worth in the eyes of God to live that out. It wasn’t until a year ago that I realized what I love more than anything in the world is writing songs. Even if I never make a dime writing songs for these artists or for my own projects, I will relentlessly pursue this merely because I love it and it breathes life into my soul.

Today I am an independent songwriter but I aspire to write on staff at a publisher here in town, and I fully trust God with that. Currently I work at Providence Church as their Director of Children’s Ministry and it is a wonderful and fulfilling role. Music is a big part of what I do there with the children- and I am very proud of the songs I’ve written that are coming out of working there. One of the projects that will be released on October 21st to streaming platforms through the church that I wrote all the songs on is called The Armor of God. This music is CCM, and these songs were written to teach kids biblical truths about how God not only loves them but fights for them. These are the songs I wish someone had sang over a younger me growing up who did not know the love of Jesus. I am also extremely proud of the songs that I write with other artists in town in the country market. I can’t wait to see some of those songs soar. What sets me apart from other writers in town is that I focus on writing both country and christian music. I love writing in both genres with artists and even blending the two genres which we are seeing more and more these days with artists like Anne Wilson.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

The most rewarding part of being a songwriter- is that I get to create something out of nothing. I believe that God created us to be like him. One of my favorite qualities of God is that he is a creator. I love being like him in this way and creating art. I love telling my own stories through song and telling the stories of others. There is such joy and freedom in the ability to create art with other people through cowriting. It is so healing writing from experience, and helping others do the same. It honestly amazes me the impact that music has on people- and the fact that I get to be a small part of that in this world is such a gift. My songs have been used to teach kids about how God loves them, to lay people to rest at funerals, to bring people together in the bonds of marriage, to show my husband my love for him, and there is probably so much more than my music has done that I am unaware of. You never know what God will do through your songs- but just knowing that I get to wake up everyday and be apart of something bigger than me is so inspiring.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

I think the goal behind my creative journey or the “mission” you could say is that songwriting is a gift. Not everyone is a songwriter- so to be one is an honor. I believe that people who are blessed with gifts should use them. Some people were born to be doctors, some lawyers, some chefs, the list goes on and on. There are so many talented people in the world- but not everyone was born to be a songwriter. I am one of those people- and I don’t want to look back in life and regret not using this gift. I owe it to my maker, to steward this gift and use it for His glory.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://lexistark.weebly.com
• Instagram: https://www.tiktok.com/@lexistarkmusic?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lexistarksmusic
• Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/lexi-stark-306508449?utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing
• Other: Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lexistarkmusic?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc

Image Credits

Abby Sholar Photography