MASC Grand Prize winner Becky Warren was a special guest at the January SAW Toolbox Session. Becky’s “I’ve Been Thinking About Mexico” took Gold in the Adult Contemporary category and also the Grand Prize. As an additional surprise, her touring companion, Ben de la Cour also shared the “dais” at the Toolbox. Both are based in Nashville and performed that evening at the Iota Club.

Becky and Ben shared many insights into their songwriting lives. While differing greatly in their writing process, the two share a strong admiration for each other’s work. By the end of the session, that sentiment was widely shared among the 20 or so attendees.

Becky’s songs are earthy and concise, deceptively simple and finely tooled. She played a couple of songs from a concept album she is writing about a returning veteran, a subject about which she is passionate.

Ben’s songs are somewhat more impressionistic, although also carefully crafted. Both struck this writer as exceptionally literate, articulate, and wise beyond their years.

The SAW Toolbox is held every fourth Saturday, hosted by Kevin Dudley at the Convergence Lab in Alexandria . Check the SAW Calendar for details.