Aubory Bugg: Finding the Song in the World Around You

On this episode of The Bandwich Tapes, I sit down with singer-songwriter Aubory Bugg for a conversation about songwriting, collaboration, musical identity, and the experiences that shaped her forthcoming album, I Think I Had Something Once.

Aubory grew up in Granite City, Illinois, just outside of St. Louis, and we talk about how that small-town perspective continues to find its way into her writing. She explains how songs like “Steel Mill Town” helped her move beyond writing exclusively about her own emotions and toward observing the people, places, and details around her. We also talk about her move to Nashville and the community she has found among a close group of independent folk singer-songwriters.

We spend a good part of the conversation digging into craft. Aubory traces her path from singing as a child to trumpet, piano, and eventually guitar, including her time studying songwriting at Webster University and performing in jazz ensembles around St. Louis. She shares how studying with vocalist Debbie Lennon helped her move away from oversinging and begin thinking more carefully about why a vocal embellishment belongs in a song at all.

Aubory also takes me inside the making of I Think I Had Something Once, including her work with producers and collaborators Matt and John. We talk about the value of creative tension, surrendering part of your original vision to trusted collaborators, recording vocals with only a handful of complete takes, and why bringing other musicians into the process has changed the way she thinks about making records.

We also get into the wonderfully old-school story of Aubory walking into Dualtone with her guitar and playing two songs live—a decision that helped lead to her signing with the label. And we close by talking about her first headlining show in London, the connection that happens when people in another country know every word to your songs, and what she hopes to build as this new record makes its way into the world.

Key Takeaways

• Growing up in Granite City, Illinois, gave Aubory an appreciation for small details, close communities, and the kind of observational writing that now plays an important role in her songs.
• Writing “Steel Mill Town” helped her realize that some of her strongest songwriting happens when she turns her attention outward and writes about the world around her.
• Aubory’s musical background includes singing, trumpet, piano, guitar, jazz ensembles, songwriting studies, live performance, and learning music production.
• Her time studying voice at Webster University taught her to think critically about vocal embellishment and to ask whether every riff, belt, or melodic choice is actually serving the lyric.
• Working with collaborators Matt and John has taught Aubory to embrace healthy creative tension and allow other musicians to challenge her original ideas.
• Her current vocal recording process often involves three or four complete takes followed by a comp, allowing her to preserve performances rather than constructing every phrase individually.
• Aubory’s belief that her music is best understood live helped inspire her to take a guitar into Dualtone and perform two songs in person—an approach she says played an important part in her signing with the label.

Music from the Episode

• i think i had something once - Aubory Bugg
• nosedive - Aubory Bugg
• the one you want to lose - Aubory Bugg

About the Podcast

The Bandwich Tapes is a music interview podcast hosted by Brad Williams featuring thoughtful conversations with musicians, songwriters, producers, and other creative people. Each episode goes beyond the résumé to explore how music gets made—the choices, relationships, influences, challenges, and experiences that shape a creative life.

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