Ep 8. Old Dominion / Jeep

In season 1 episode 8 of Songland, the popular country band Old Dominion makes an appearance on the show and collaborates with the Jeep brand to find the next big hit song. With their unique blend of country rock music, Old Dominion has established themselves as one of the hottest acts in the industry. They have won several accolades such as 2 Academy of Country Music Awards, 2 Country Music Association Awards, and a Billboard Music Award.

The episode starts off with the four competing songwriters, who have been selected from thousands of applicants, presenting their original compositions to Old Dominion. The band listens intently and provides constructive feedback to each contestant. They express their thought process and what they're looking for in a song, which helps the songwriters understand how to tweak their songs to match their expectations.

The songwriters then work on perfecting their songs with the help of Old Dominion's songwriter and producer Shane McAnally, who provides them with insight on how to make the songs stand out. As the contestants get to work, there are many tense moments where they struggle to incorporate the band's feedback while still staying true to their own musical style.

As the competition intensifies, each contestant is given the opportunity to showcase their final version of the song in front of Jeep executives. The executives provide their own feedback and discuss how the song would best represent Jeep's identity. They also discuss how each song speaks to the brand's core values such as off-road adventures, freedom and exploration.

After the Jeep executives choose their favorite song, Old Dominion then chooses the final composition that they will be recording and releasing as a single. In the end, the winner’s track will be part of the soundtrack for the new Jeep Renegade commercial. In this episode, the contestants have some of their work done in collaboration with Old Dominion. The winners will have their song produced by Shane McAnally, who has also worked with Kacey Musgraves, Sam Hunt, and Kelly Clarkson.

Overall, this episode of Songland is a must-watch for fans of country rock music and competition-based reality shows. It features insight into the creative process of different artists and demonstrates how the collaborative process works in the music industry. Through the lens of Old Dominion and Jeep, the episode shows how contestants can thrive when challenged with creative opportunities. This episode is a testament to the power of songs and how they shape our experiences.