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Every week, we sit down with an acclaimed and venerable songwriter to intimately discuss what happens behind closed doors in the music industry. There are millions of singers, thousands of artists, and only 40 top songs per genre at a time... this podcast is about the people who make them. Produced by Joe London & Ross Golan in association with Big Deal Music & Mega House Music. And The Writer Is... ™ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Songcraft is a bi-weekly podcast that brings you in-depth conversations with and about the creators of lyrics and music that stand the test of time. You probably know their names, and you definitely know their songs. We bring you their stories.
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We’re excited to announce a special bonus interview with Tuff Morgan, the VP of A&R at peermusic. Ross recently sat down with Tuff to discuss the publishing world, and everything they do over at peermusic. Read below to find out more about peermusic ad listen to this conversation on any platform you find your podcasts! peermusic is somewhat uniquel…
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Ep. 236 - THE SECRET SISTERS ("All the Ways")
1:21:21
1:21:21
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Two-time Grammy nominated duo The Secret Sisters (Laura Rogers and Lydia Slagle) join us to chat about their development as songwriters and reaching new creative heights with their latest album. PART ONE: Scott and Paul chat about Scott's recent trip to see Norah Jones and Lake Street Dive perform at Red Rocks and discuss the ways concerts have cha…
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This week’s guest is one of the brightest rising stars in the music business. This drummer turned songwriter entered the production space out of necessity- when your band needs to record music and you don’t have anyone to do it, somebody’s gotta learn. With a wildly successful couple years, this Brit is his collaborators favorite producer and an al…
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Ep. 235 - CHARLIE PEACOCK ("Every Heartbeat")
1:09:16
1:09:16
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GRAMMY-winning producer, artist, and songwriter Charlie Peacock defies categorization. Paul chats with him about everything from his early days on the Norther California jazz scene, to writing hits for the Christian music world, to producing everyone from the Civil Wars to Switchfoot. PART ONE: Scott and Paul talk about aging, the Rolling Stones co…
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Today’s guest is a songwriting legend who has knocked out seven albums over two decades, sold over 20 million records worldwide, and garnered countless accolades. After serving in the British Army, this writer's career launched into the stratosphere with one of the most evergreen evergreens ever. Following the success of his debut album, our guest …
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Ep. 234 - MADELEINE PEYROUX ("Don't Wait Too Long")
1:12:30
1:12:30
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Acclaimed genre-crossing songwriter and interpreter Madeleine Peyroux takes stock of her songwriting over the years and shares insights into the creation of her latest album. PART ONE Paul and Scott talk music books, the value of recording, and whether or not performers should stick to a strict or loose interpretation of a song when performing live…
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Today’s guest is a spectacular vocalist, songwriter, and humanitarian. Hailing from Louisiana, this writer grew up immersed in the zydeco, blues, and Cajun music scene. Nicknamed “the music box,” by her mother, she became obsessed with making music when bedridden due to an illness at 15. Since then, she’s dedicated her life to music. This two-time …
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Ep. 233 - BRUCE HORNSBY ("The Way It Is")
1:20:47
1:20:47
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Three-time GRAMMY winner and musical omnivore Bruce Hornsby chats about his wide-ranging career, from pop to bluegrass to jazz! PART ONE: Paul and Scott talk about their Instagram, a wild Genesis fact, and more. PART TWO: Our in-depth conversation with Bruce Hornsby ABOUT BRUCE HORNSBY: Thirteen-time Grammy nominee and three-time winner Bruce Horns…
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Today’s guest is a songwriting hall of fame who has been a fixture in the writing scene for decades. Defining and launching careers one lyric at a time, this writer has crafted anthems for Madonna, Cyndi Lauper, Whitney Houston, Heart, The Bangles, Pretenders, Linda Ronstadt, Jojo, Demi Lovato, and many more. As much as these songs launched these a…
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Today's guest is a multi-faceted songwriter who is as versatile as she is accomplished. Topping charts from multiple genres, this writer’s vocal chops are brilliantly unique. Her songwriting wisdom is unparalleled. She’s written with huge names from just about every genre — Drake, Miley Cyrus, Harry Styles, Kasey Musgraves, David Guetta, Nas, Panic…
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Ep. 232 - RACHEL PLATTEN ("Fight Song")
1:10:46
1:10:46
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You might know Rachel Platten for the wildly successful "Fight Song," but she's in the middle of a renaissance that's bringing her artistry into a new era. PART ONE: Paul and Scott give their unfiltered responses to the new-ish 4-part Stax Records documentary streaming on Max. PART TWO: Our in-depth conversation with Rachel Platten. ABOUT RACHEL PL…
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Today’s three-time Grammy Award-nominated, two-time BRIT Award recipient, claimed top honors at the Ivor Novellos not just because he is an authentic crooner but because he is a prolific song craftsman. His work is known globally but his story started at open mic nights. His raw talent was captured on camera by a fan and uploaded via YouTube, which…
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Ep. 231 - JUDAH AKERS of Judah & the Lion ("Take it All Back")
58:55
58:55
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Nashville-based platinum-selling indie artist Judah Akers of Judah & the Lion goes deep on the five stages of grief and finding beauty in the midst of pain. PART ONE Paul and Scott dive deep on how Nashville has transformed into a very different kind of "Music City USA." PART TWO Our in-depth conversation with Judah Akers ABOUT JUDAH AKERS Judah Ak…
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Today’s guest is one of the leading young voices in the pop world. With her breakout hit in 2019, this writer instantly connected with listeners, and through hard work and a steady stream of releases, she has built a fiercely loyal fanbase. Her debut album came out in early 2023 and received high praise for its poetic honesty and depiction of the t…
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Ep. 230 - CAROLYN DAWN JOHNSON ("The Day I Die")
1:23:17
1:23:17
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With an ACM Top New Female Vocalist win and nearly 20 Canadian Country Music Awards, the chart-topping Carolyn Dawn Johnson chats about everything from her songwriting successes to her artist career to her co-writing with Chris Stapleton. PART ONE Paul and Scott dive deep on their opinions about the recently-announced Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induc…
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Today’s guest journey to stardom began on the World Wide Web. At 17 years old, she was quickly noticed by fans and industry professionals alike. She has since accumulated over a billion streams, sold out her first headlining tour, spearheaded her beloved clothing line, and started her own podcast solidifying herself as a multi-hyphenate artist. Aft…
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Ep. 229 - DREW HOLCOMB ("American Beauty")
1:17:56
1:17:56
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Folkie Americana indie hero Drew Holcomb joins us to chat about the songwriting process and which of his songs he's not a fan of! PART ONE Scott and Paul debrief the experience of recently seeing the 74-year-old Bruce Springsteen perform with the energy of a teenager PART TWO Our in-depth conversation with Drew Holcomb ABOUT DREW HOLCOMB Memphis na…
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Today’s guest is a small town boy turned songwriting superstar. Hailing from Strafford, Vermont, our guest spent his life surrounded by profoundly beautiful nature, and a quaint, tight-knit community. This environment served as a source of inspiration for his introspective lyrics and homey folk melodies. After years of honing his craft in this spac…
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Ep. 228 - NICKEL CREEK ("Celebrants")
1:11:11
1:11:11
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Grammy winners and astonishingly fabulous musicians Chris Thile, Sean Watkins, and Sara Watkins of Nickel Creek join us to chat about their fresh approach to songwriting on their most recent album, Celebrants. PART ONE Paul and Scott chat about musical virtuosity, Beyonce, Ricky Skaggs, and the blending of musical genres. PART TWO Our in-depth conv…
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Ep. 227 - ALAN BERGMAN ("The Way We Were")
1:12:50
1:12:50
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Ninety-eight-year-old Songwriters Hall of Famer Alan Bergman chats with us about a wide-ranging career that started with Johnny Mercer and continues to today. PART ONE Paul and Scott talk about the Abba Voyage virtual concert and scare themselves with the possibilities of digital technology. PART TWO Our in-depth interview with Alan Bergman ABOUT A…
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Ep. 226 - NORAH JONES ("Come Away with Me") + profile on Tish Melton
1:30:31
1:30:31
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SUMMARY: Norah Jones joins us to chat about her new album Visions and the evolution of her songwriting since she took the world by storm in 2002. Afterward, stick around for a very special conversation with Tish Melton. The 18-year-old songwriter discusses her new Brandi-Carlile produced EP and more. PART ONE: Paul and Scott reflect on Norah Jones'…
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Ep. 225 - CHARLIE STARR of Blackberry Smoke ("Dig a Hole")
1:19:21
1:19:21
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Blackberry Smoke frontman and primary songwriter Charlie Starr goes deep on his music's Southern roots and wide-ranging appeal. PART ONE Paul and Scott talk Pearl Jam's new single, how travel defines fanhood, and why Blackberry Smoke are a force to be reckoned with when it comes to playing live. PART TWO Our in-depth interview with Charlie Starr AB…
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Ep. 224 - BOBBY RUSH ("Chicken Heads")
1:22:25
1:22:25
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90-year-old blues legend Bobby Rush joins us for a wide-ranging and revealing conversation about songwriting, music, life, and so much more! PART ONE: Scott and Paul chat about Scott's experiences at the Grammy awards, including running into Ted Danson, Jason Isbell, Verdine White, and others. Plus seeing the Killer Mike drama go down and getting s…
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Ep. 223 - DUFF McKAGAN of Guns N' Roses ("Civil War")
1:19:36
1:19:36
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Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Duff McKagan, best known as a member of Guns N' Roses and Velvet Revolver, talks about writing songs with his legendary bandmates, a few of his various side projects, and his genre-spanning recent album, Lighthouse. PART ONE Scott and Paul shout out some Patreon supporters and reflect on the small handful of artists who, l…
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Ep. 222 - AUDLEY FREED ("Peace Pipe")
1:31:34
1:31:34
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SUMMARY: Audley Freed founded the band Cry of Love before going on to become a well-known guitarist for the Black Crowes, the Dixie Chicks, Sheryl Crow, and many others. He sits down with Songcraft at his Nashville home to go deep on his own fandom, the kind of musician he tries to be, and how his riffs have kickstarted some great songs. PART ONE: …
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Ep. 221 - JD SOUTHER ("The Best of My Love")
1:40:09
1:40:09
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SUMMARY: Songwriters Hall of Famer JD Souther joins Scott and Paul for an in-depth interview to kick off the New Year! PART ONE: Paul and Scott welcome two very special guests (ages 8 and 5) to help set the tone for the new year. Plus they reveal the clever message a listener sent in to win the Stax Christmas LP from the last episode. PART TWO: Our…
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Ep. 220 - STAX CHRISTMAS with Deanie Parker, William Bell, and Carla Thomas
1:11:48
1:11:48
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SUMMARY In this very special holiday episode of Songcraft, we're taking it back to Christmas at Stax, featuring conversations with some of the luminaries of the storied Memphis label that dominated Southern soul music in the 1960s and 70s. You'll hear from Deanie Parker, William Bell, and Carla Thomas as we celebrate the season and close the book o…
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Ep. 219 - PETER CASE ("A Million Miles Away")
1:12:56
1:12:56
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SUMMARY: Two-time Grammy nominee and acclaimed singer-songwriter Peter Case joins Songcraft to talk about his wide-ranging career. PART ONE: Scott and Paul chat about instruments that are nearly as famous as their players. PART TWO: Our in-depth interview with Peter Case ABOUT PETER CASE: Two-time Grammy nominee Peter Case made a name for himself i…
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Ep. 218 - GAVIN ROSSDALE of Bush ("Glycerine")
1:23:51
1:23:51
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SUMMARY: Bush front man Gavin Rossdale joins to chat about the band's first career-spanning compilation as he looks back on all the classic songs. PART ONE: This is a long one that covers Scott's eyewitness account of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony, Paul's experience at U2's Sphere show, and the guys' thoughts on new music from the…
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Ep. 217 - DAVE BARNES ("God Gave Me You")
1:23:58
1:23:58
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SUMMARY: Grammy-nominated artist and songwriter Dave Barnes joins us to chat about his recording career, his hits for other artists, and his latest album that was inspired from an entire year listening to nothing but the Beatles PART ONE: Scott and Paul talk about concept albums and reveal their favorites PART TWO: Our in-depth conversation with Da…
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