‘Songwritingwith:Soldiers’ To Empower Local Veterans
Sweetwater has announced a partnership with the SongwritingWith:Soldiers organization as part of its outreach program to make music accessible to more people. Guitars and other music gear were provided to SongwritingWith:Soldiers, which specializes in working with veterans to use songwriting as a unique way to tell their stories, rebuild trust, release pain, and forge new bonds.
One of Sweetwater’s goals as the nation’s leading online retailer for music makers is to open opportunities for individuals to express themselves through music. Partnering with SongwritingWith:Soldiers allows veterans and their families to experience firsthand the power of music.
“We are honored to partner with SongwritingWith:Soliders in support of their mission,” said Jeff Ostermann, the Chief People and Culture Officer at Sweetwater. “It is our privilege to connect veterans and their families through the power of music, songwriting, and storytelling.”
The donation from Sweetwater coincided with SongwritingWith:Soldiers’ 100th songwriting retreat, which was held in October 2025 in Texas. These three-day retreats and custom workshops pair veterans, active duty, and military families with professional songwriters to help turn their stories of service and returning home into songs. You can hear these inspiring songs created at the retreats. The entire catalog is available at songwritingwithsoldiers.org/song-search/.
“One of the most unique and important parts of what we do here at SongwritingWith:Soldiers is to capture the song right after we write them. We have a couple hours to connect with these amazing veterans and help them put a piece of their truth into a song,” explained Jay Clementi, Music Director at SongwritingWith:Soldiers. “We then walk right into our mobile studio, set up by our professional sound engineers, and record it! There’s a magic of capturing these carefully cultivated stories taking their first musical breath. We are so grateful to the folks at Sweetwater for always supporting us with the most amazing gear. They help us capture that raw, authentic spirit of these powerful songs with the technical quality they deserve.”
Musical gear donated by Sweetwater will be used throughout 2026 by the organization.
SongwritingWith:Soldiers has announced plans to host 14 songwriting retreats in the coming year, plus an additional 180 songwriting modules, creating over 300 songs. To learn more about these retreats, please visit songwritingWithSoldiers.org/learn/retreats/.
Based in Nashville, Tennessee, SongwritingWith:Soldiers was started in 2012 near Fort Cavazos, Texas, by eight veterans. The organization’s goal is to empower veterans and their families to express themselves through music.
The number one online retailer for music makers, Sweetwater is trusted and beloved by millions of musicians, sound engineers, band and orchestra directors, and podcasters who rely on the company to help advance their musical and creative journeys. From beginners to rock stars, music makers everywhere seek out Sweetwater’s industry-leading expertise, including in-depth product videos to inform their purchases and unrivaled post-care support. Headquartered in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and founded in 1979, Sweetwater Sound, LLC credits its four decades of profitability to its now 2,500 employees and its deep understanding of the profound connection that music makers have with their craft, their gear, and the creative process. Sweetwater is amplifying change through music, lifting up communities by creating, empowering, and caring about the music makers of tomorrow and today. For more information, visit Sweetwater.com.
SongwritingWith:Soldiers (SW:S) brings service members, veterans, and military families together with professional songwriters to cocreate powerful songs that are grounded in lived experience, shaped by each storyteller, and created to build connections. These collaborations take place in a trusted, evidence-informed retreat program designed to foster creativity, connection, and meaningful expression. Since 2012, SW:S has offered retreats, alumni programs, and music-based initiatives grounded in dignity, care, and respect. The process invites participants to express what often goes unsaid — through a creative partnership that honors their words and experiences. For more information, visit songwritingwithsoldiers.org.
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