Pushkin

Mariko Shea is a folk singer-songwriter whose songs have quite literally saved her life.

Born a bastard child in New Orleans, two old women.

I have never seen.

Don't know if she ever held me.

All I know is that she let go of me.

Writing music didn't come easily to Goche.

She began abusing drugs and alcohol as a young girl growing up in Louisiana.

After years of struggling with addiction, Goche got clean at age 27 after getting arrested for a DUI.

She picked up a dusty old guitar not long after and began to frequent open mics around Boston,

where she eventually found the community in connection she craved.

Mariko Shea released her debut album Dixie Kitchen in 1997.

She moved to Nashville not long after and a sense become known for her ability to write vivid literary style lyrics,

that pull from her past trauma, loss and heartbreak.

Early this year, Goche published the book Saved by a Song, the Art and Healing Power of Songwriting,

which documents her process and inspiration.

On today's episode, Bruce had them talks to Mariko Shea,

but had the same determination that once drove her to drink, now powers her songwriting.

She also talks about how conversations with young U.S. veterans inspired her Grammy-nominated album, Raffles and Rose Reads.

And Goche recalls seen one particularly moving open mic performance that inspired her to become the artist she is today.

This is Broken Record, liner notes for the digital age. I'm Justin Richmond.

Here's Bruce Hadlam and Mariko Shea.

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