Episodit
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Taylor Goldsmith of Dawes joins us to talk about the evolution of humor in his songwriting, why he's transparent with his fans, and maybe the most Bob Dylan of Bob Dylan stories we've ever heard.
PART ONE:
Paul and Scott address the recent wildfires in the Los Angeles area, and encourage people to help make a difference by considering a donation through one of four organizations:
Fire Aid (fireaidla.org)
The Red Cross (redcross.org)
MusiCares (musicares.org)
World Central Kitchen (wck.org)
PART TWO:
Our in-depth conversation with Taylor Goldsmith of Dawes
ABOUT TAYLOR GOLDSMITH:
Taylor Goldsmith is best known as the lead singer, guitarist, and primary songwriter for the folk-influenced rock band Dawes. The group, which also includes Taylorâs brother, Griffin, has released nine full-length studio albums, six of which have hit the Top 5 on Billboardâs Americana/Folk Albums chart, and four of which have hit the Top 10 on Billboardâs rock chart. In addition to his work with Dawes, he has been a member of the band Middle Brother with Matt Vasquez of Delta Spirit and John McCauley of Deer Tick. Taylor also contributed to T Bone Burnettâs New Basement Tapes projectâwhich completed unfinished Bob Dylan songsâalongside Marcus Mumford, Jim James, Rhiannon Giddens, and Elvis Costello. As a songwriter outside the band, Taylor has collaborated with The Killers, Conor Oberst, Brandon Flowers, Robert Ellis, Demi Lovato, and his wife Mandy Moore. The most recent Dawes album, released in October of 2024, is called Oh Brother. Sadly, not long after our conversation, both Taylor and his brother Griffin became victims of the massive Southern California wildfires that devastated portions of the Los Angeles area and severely damaged or destroyed their homes.
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We're celebrating our 10th anniversary all year by digging in the vaults to re-present classic episodes with fresh commentary. What better way to kick things off than where it all began? Here's a look back at episode one and our conversation with Jim Peterik.
ABOUT JIM PETERIK
Singer, songwriter, guitarist, and keyboardist Jim Peterik is best known as a founding member of the band Survivor and the co-writer of their Grammy-winning double platinum #1 hit single, âEye of the Tiger.â But thatâs only the tip of the iceberg. Thirty-five of Jimâs songs have appeared on the Billboard Pop chart, including seven Top 10 singles. His first major success came when his original band, Ides of March, took the Peterik-penned âVehicleâ to the #2 position on the Pop chart in 1970, spawning cover versions by Chet Baker and Shirley Bassey. After a stint as a solo artist with Epic Records, Jim formed Survivor in 1979, penning a string of hits for the band, including âI Canât Hold Back,â âHigh On You,â âThe Search is Over,â âBurning Heart,â and âIs This Love.â While still writing hits for his own group, Jim forged a successful partnership with the members of 38 Special, co-writing classic songs, including âRockinâ Into the Night,â âHold On Loosely,â and âCaught Up In You.â Widely respected as a top-notch collaborator, Jim has co-written successful songs with a number of artists, including the Beach Boys, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Sammy Hagar, Cheap Trick, the Doobie Brothers, REO Speedwagon, and Mindi Abair. The long list of those who have covered his compositions includes Paul Anka, Gloria Gaynor, Tony Orlando, Reba McEntire, Larry Gatlin, Blackhawk, and The Outlaws. He is the co-author, with Dave Austin, of Songwriting for Dummies. -
Puuttuva jakso?
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Songcraft celebrates ten years with a look back at episode highlights and behind-the-scenes stories from our first decade! Plus, a few announcements about what's new in 2025.
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Six-time Grammy winner, Nashville Songwriters Hall of Famer, and Kennedy Center honoree Amy Grant joins us to chat about the pursuit of honesty in songwriting, the stories behind some of her songs, and her catalog of modern day Christmas classics.
PART ONE
Paul and Scott chat about the idea of a "definitive" version of a Christmas song, discuss their favorites, debate about Christmas songs they love and hate, and delve into Scott's elementary school crush on Amy Grant.
PART TWO
Our in-depth interview with Amy Grant
ABOUT AMY GRANT
Perhaps the most influential pioneer of the Contemporary Christian Music genre, Amy Grant released her first album while still in high school. Her fourth album, 1982âs Age to Age, found unprecedented success with hit singles such as âSing Your Praise to the Lordâ and âEl Shaddai.â Age to Age topped the Christian album chart for 85 weeks, earned Amy her first Grammy award, and became the first Christian album to be certified Platinum by the RIAA. Her 1984 album Straight Ahead spawned hits with Amyâs original compositions âThy Wordâ and âAngels,â and became the first Christian album to land on the Billboard 200. By the mid-1980s, she further crossed over to mainstream success when âFind a Way,â which she wrote with Michael W. Smith, hit the Top 40 on Billboardâs pop chart. The following year, Amy reached the top of the pop chart with âThe Next Time I Fall,â a duet with Peter Cetera. Her 1991 album Heart in Motion sold 5 million copies and spawned four Top 10 singles on the Billboard Hot 100, including the self-penned hits âBaby Babyâ and âEvery Heartbeat.â That same year, she enjoyed another Top 10 pop hit as a songwriter with Michael W. Smithâs âPlace in This World.â Amy continued to find mainstream success in the mid-1990s with singles such as âHouse of Love,â a duet with her now-husband Vince Gill, as well as the songs âLucky Oneâ and âTakes a Little Time,â which she wrote with Keith Thomas and Wayne Kirkpatrick, respectively.
Starting with 1983âs A Christmas Album, holiday music has been an important part of Amy Grantâs artistry. She has since released the albums Home for Christmas, which was certified three-times Platinum; A Christmas to Remember; Tennessee Christmas; and The Animalsâ Christmas, a collaborative album with Art Garfunkel featuring songs by Jimmy Webb that explore the nativity story from the perspective of the animals. Amyâs original songs âTennessee Christmasâ and âBreath of Heavenâ have become modern day holiday standards. Her Christmas concerts, often featuring husband Vince Gill and longtime collaborator Michael W. Smith, have become a holiday tradition.
To date, Amy has released twenty studio albums and has sold over 30 million records worldwide. Seventeen of her albums have reached #1 on Billboardâs Top Christian Albums chart, more than any other artist in history. She has won 6 Grammy awards, 26 Dove awards, and has been inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame. Amy has received honorary doctorates from two universities, has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2021. She was a recipient of the prestigious Kennedy Center Honors for lifetime artistic achievement in 2022.
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Bonnie McKee chats about co-writing hits with Katy Perry, including "California Gurls" and "Roar," as well as her own artist career that has resulted in successful singles such as "American Girl."
PART ONE:
Scott and Paul share a little preview of what's to come as they prepare to celebrate Songcraft's 10 anniversary
PART TWO
Our in-depth conversation with Bonnie McKee
ABOUT BONNIE McKEE:
Bonnie McKee grew up as a classically trained singer and pianist, but began pursuing a pop music career while still a teen. In 2004 she released her debut album, Trouble, with Reprise Records, but soon switched her focus to working as a behind-the-scenes songwriter. She has written ten songs that have hit #1 in either the US or UK, and is best known for her work with Katy Perry, which began with the Diamond-certified and international chart-topping album, Teenage Daydream. Bonnie contributed to three songs on the album, all of which became chart-topping singles: âCalifornia Gurls,â âTeenage Dream,â and âLast Friday Night (T.G.I.F.).â When the deluxe Complete Confection version of the album was released, Bonnie landed two more chart-topping singles with âPart of Meâ and âWide Awake.â She went on to collaborate with Katy Perry on four songs on the follow-up album, Prism, including the Top 20 single âBirthdayâ and the #1 hit âRoar.â Other successful singles from the Bonnie McKee songbook include âDynamiteâ for Taio Cruz, âHold it Against Meâ for Britney Spears, âCâMonâ for Kesha, and the UK chart toppers âHow We Do (Party)â by Rita Ora and âI Donât Careâ by Cheryl. Additionally, sheâs written songs for Cher, Christina Aguilera, Kelly Clarkson, Avril Lavigne, Bebe Rexha, Jason Derulo, Kygo, and Adam Lambert, among others.
In 2013, Bonnie reemerged as an artist with the single âAmerican Girlâ on Epic Records. She recorded an entire album, but parted ways with the label and it was shelved. Enough tracks and demos leaked online over the years, however, that fans were clamoring for it. Now, more than ten years later, Bonnie has re-recorded the album. She combined the re-recorded tracks with the original release of âAmerican Girl,â which has now been streamed 23 million times on Spotify. The end result is Hot City, an album more than a decade in the making. -
Grammy nominee and four-time ASCAP Christian Songwriter of the Year Jeremy Camp dives deep with Songcraft on creativity, loss, honesty, and following the right path.
PART ONE
Paul and Scott get in the weeds on Billboard magazine's recent "100 Greatest Country Artists of All Time" list. Plus, we preview the remaining episodes for 2024 and offer a sneak peek at what's ahead for our 10th anniversary year.
PART TWO
Our in-depth interview with Jeremy Camp
ABOUT JEREMY CAMP
Between 2002 and 2024, Christian artist Jeremy Camp released fifteen studio albums, four of which have been certified Gold by the RIAA. Additionally, his 2005 album Live Unplugged has been certified double Platinum. Fourteen of Jeremyâs singles as an artist have hit #1 on Billboardâs Christian charts, including the Gold-certified âWalk by Faith,â âThere Will be a Day,â âOvercome,â âSame Power,â âChrist in Me,â âDead Man Walking,â and âKeep Me in the Moment.â Other highlights of his catalog include âGive You Glory,â âLay Down My Pride,â âStay,â and âI Still Believe,â which he wrote after the death of his first wife when he was just 23 years old. Jeremy has earned a Grammy nomination, five GMA Dove Awards, three American Music Award nominations, and four awards for ASCAP Christian Songwriter of the Year. In addition, Billboard magazine named him the #2 Christian artist of the decade. Jeremyâs most recent album, Deeper Waters, was released in 2024. -
Three-time Grammy nominee and pop songwriting powerhouse Justin Tranter joins us to talk about his process and his remarkable lists of hits for Chappell Roan, Fall Out Boy, Imagine Dragons, Selena Gomez, Justin Bieber, and many others.
PART ONE:
Scott and Paul nerd out on this year's Grammy nominations
PART TWO:
Our in-depth interview with Justin Tranter
ABOUT JUSTIN TRANTER:
Nominated for Songwriter of the Year at the Grammy Awards in 2024, Justin Tranter is one of the most successful writers in pop music. The recognition capped off a ten year streak of success that includes hits such as âCenturiesâ by Fall Out Boy, the Selena Gomez hits âGood for You,â âHands to Myself,â and âLose You to Love Me,â DNCEâs âCake By the Ocean,â âSorryâ by Justin Bieber, âCloseâ by Nick Jonas, âIssuesâ by Julia Michaels, the Imagine Dragons singles âBeliever,â âNatural,â and âEnemy,â Maroon 5âs âCold,â âBad at Loveâ by Halsey, and âGood Luck, Babe!â by Chappell Roan, which is nominated for Song of the Year at the upcoming Grammy Awards in 2025.
Tranter has additionally contributed to singles by artists such as Gwen Stefani, Britney Spears, Linkin Park, 5 Seconds of Summer, Bebe Rexha, Dua Lipa, Ariana Grande, Lady Gaga, and Miley Cyrus. Others whoâve drawn from the Justin Tranter songbook include Kelly Clarkson, Kacey Musgraves, John Legend, Shakira, Kesha, Christina Aguilera, Tori Kelly, Meghan Trainor, Tom Morello, The Chicks, Billy Porter, and Demi Lovato. In addition to a close songwriting partnership with Julia Michaels, Tranterâs regular collaborators include some of the biggest names in music, such as Cardi B, Sam Smith, Janelle Monae, Leon Bridges, and others.
Justinâs impressive list of accolades includes multiple GRAMMY and Golden Globe nominations, 16 BMI pop awards, including two consecutive BMI Songwriter of the Year awards, and being named a U.S. Global Music Ambassador as part of the U.S. Department of State and YouTubeâs Global Music Partnership alongside Chuck D, Grace Bowers, Kane Brown, Herbie Hancock, Jelly Roll and others. -
Grammy-winning Southern roots rock duo Larkin Poe (sisters Rebecca and Megan Lovell) join us to chat about their creative process and their exciting forthcoming album, Bloom.
PART ONE:
'Tis the season! Scott and Paul chat about the classic Halloween songs. Is it time for a modern day resurgence of spooky music?
PART TWO:
Our in-depth conversation with sisters Rebecca and Megan Lovell, known to the world as duo Larkin Poe
ABOUT LARKIN POE:
Blues-based rock duo Larkin Poe is comprised of multi-instrumentalist sisters Rebecca and Megan Lovell. The Georgia natives began their career as an acoustic trio with their sister Jessica in 2004. That year they appeared on A Prairie Home Companion and won the Prairie Home National Teen Talent Competition. In 2008, the Lovell Sistersâ song âDistanceâ won the John Lennon Songwriting Contest grand prize in the country genre. That same year, their song âTime to Growâ received honorable mention in the International Songwriting Competition. After an impressive indie career that included two albums, as well as appearances at Bonaroo and the Grand Ole Opry, the Lovell Sisters disbanded. Rebecca and Megan reemerged as a duo pursuing a new sound that was steeped in the electric blues rather than acoustic and bluegrass music. Between 2010 and 2013 they released five indie EPs, two collaborative albums, and a live DVD. They released their debut album as a duo in 2014 and gained attention with the standout track âDonât.â In 2016 they reissued their debut studio album under the title Reskinned, which included new tracks such as âTrouble in Mind.â With the 2017 album Peach, Megan and Rebecca took the production reigns and continued to build a following. The next yearâs Venom & Faith reached #1 on Billboardâs Blues Album chart and earned the sisters their first Grammy nomination. Their sixth studio album, Blood Harmony, garnered another Grammy nomination, which resulted in their first Grammy win in 2024. Larkin Poeâs latest album is called Bloom and is set for release in January of 2025. -
Storytelling folk troubadour and songwriter's songwriter David Wilcox dives deep on his creative process.
PART ONE:
Paul and Scott pay tribute to the late Kris Kristofferson and Hugh Prestwood before diving in to a cringey lyrical trend that they're happy to see fade into history.
PART TWO:
Our in-depth conversation with David Wilcox
ABOUT DAVID WILCOX:
Emerging from the Asheville, North Carolina progressive folk scene in the late 1980s, David Wilcox signed with A&M Records and carved out a reputation as an insightful, sensitive, and often funny singer-songwriter and storyteller. His first album for the label, How Did You Find Me Here, sold over 100,000 copies on word of mouth alone. Often compared to James Taylor, Joni Mitchell and Nick Drake, Wilcox went on to build a dedicated following and establish himself as a songwriterâs songwriter. In 2008 he was honored, alongside Bob Dylan, with Acoustic Guitar magazineâs silver award in the singer-songwriter category. The San Francisco Chronicle called him the âdarling of contemporary singer-songwriter folkâ while Rolling Stone wrote that he âuses extended metaphors and beautifully detailed imagery in lyrics that are far more compassionate and philosophic than self-absorbed.â David has now released more than 20 albums. His most recent is My Good Friends, an acoustic collection that he describes as a fan-requested respite while he works on a new full band album. -
From Miley's "Wrecking Ball" to The Weeknd's "Earned It" to his own successful instrumental albums, Oscar and Grammy nominated songwriter, composer and producer Stephan Moccio gives opens up on his creative process.
PART ONE
Paul and Scott share some of your submissions for favorite lyric lines, as well as lyrics that bug you from songs you otherwise love. In addition, they pay tribute to past Songcraft guests JD Souther and Billy Edd Wheeler, who both recently passed away.
PART TWO
Our in-depth conversation with Stephan Moccio.
ABOUT STEPHAN MOCCIO
Stephan Moccio is an Oscar-nominated composer and a three-time Grammy-nominated songwriter and producer. His breakthrough came when fellow Canadian Celine Dionâs recording of âA New Day Has Comeâ made history by topping the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart for 21 weeks. He went on to release Exposure, his first solo album as an artist, which hit the Canadian Top 10 and was certified Gold. Since then, Moccio has balanced his creative efforts between releasing his own projects and working behind the scenes writing for other artists.
Highlights of Stephanâs career include co-writing âI Believeâ for the Vancouver Winter Olympics in 2010 and co-writing and co-producing Miley Cyrusâs multiplatinum international hit âWrecking Ball.â Additionally, he collaborated with The Weeknd on âEarned It,â the end-credits song for Fifty Shades of Gray, which earned the rare RIAA Diamond certification and was nominated for an Academy Award.
Stephan has also written songs for Andrea Bocelli, Avril Lavigne, Dua Lipa, James Blunt, Seal, and many more, notching seven Billboard Hot 100 hits and tallying 5 billion streams and counting. Among his solo material, 2020âs Tales of Solace yielded the single âFracture,â what has generated over 100 million streams on Spotify. His latest release is Legends, Myths and Lavender, which was composed and recorded on the spot in the South of France.
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Electronic music pioneer Howard Jones joins us to talk about everything from classic hits such as "Things Can Only Get Better" and "No One is to Blame" to his recent live album, Live at the O2.
PART ONE
Paul and Scott remind our listeners to send in their favorite lyric line, as well as their least favorite lines from songs they otherwise love. Then Richard Evans joins us to talk about his book Listening to the Music the Machines Make.
PART TWO
Our in-depth conversation with Howard Jones
ABOUT HOWARD JONES
Electronic music pioneer Howard Jones first exploded on the scene in 1983 with his synthesizer-led UK Top 5 pop hit âNew Song.â His debut album, Humanâs Lib, reached #1 in 1984 in the UK and featured the hits âNew Songâ and âWhat Is Love?â In 1985, Howard released the follow-up, Dream Into Action, which became a Top Ten Platinum album in the US and featured the smash hits âThings Can Only Get Better,â âLife In One Day,â âNo One Is To Blame,â and âLike To Get To Know You Well.â Other highlights from subsequent albums include âYou Know I Love YouâŠDonât You?â which hit the Top 20, as well as the US hit âEverlasting Love.âTo date, Howard Jones has sold over 10 million albums and continues to make new music and tour the world. His hits can be heard in high-profile television series and films such as âStranger Things,â âBreaking Bad,â âWatchmen,â âThe Carrie Diaries,â âSuperstoreâ and âBumblebeeâ. His most recent studio album is Dialogue, which was released in September, 2022, completing a trilogy of electronic releases that also includes the multimedia project Engage from 2015 and the studio album Transform from 2019. In August he released Live at the O2, which was recorded earlier this year at the famed London arena.
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Shelby Lynne is celebrating the 25th anniversary of her landmark classic album I Am Shelby Lynne, which won her a Grammy award for Best New Artist. We recently sat down with Shelby to discuss the evolution of her songwriting, from her early days in Nashville to her recent genre-defying "comeback" album Consequences of the Crown.
PART ONE
Scott and Paul talk about their favorite single lyrical lines, lyrics that bug them from songs they otherwise like, and quibble over one of Kris Kristofferson's best-known lines. Plus, they call on listeners to submit their own choices for discussion on an upcoming episode.
PART TWO
Our in-depth interview with Shelby Lynne
ABOUT SHELBY LYNNE
Shelby Lynne won the Grammy award for Best New Artist in the wake of her genre-bending and critically-acclaimed 1999 album, I Am Shelby Lynne. But it was actually her sixth studio album on an artistic path that took time to unfold. Lynne and her sister, fellow artist Allison Moorer, grew up surrounded by country music. As detailed in Moorerâs gripping memoir, Blood, they were also surrounded by violence and trauma. Both found escape through music, with Lynne signing her first recording contract at the age of 19. Initially working with legendary producer Billy Sherrill, best known for his albums with Tammy Wynette and George Jones, Shelby released a series of albums from Nashville in the late â80s through the mid-â90s. She won the Academy of Country Musicâs Top New Female Vocalist Award in 1991, and was nominated for the ACMâs Top Vocal Duo of the Year honor with Faith Hill in 1996. Without any major hit singles, however, Shelby eventually took a break from recording.
After moving to Palm Springs, California, and partnering with producer Bill Botrell in 1998, she changed direction and found new footing as an uncategorizable artist committed to artistic integrity. The result, I Am Shelby Lynne, has recently been re-released in a 25th Anniversary edition. Follow-up albums Love, Shelby, Identity Crisis, Suit Yourself, and the Dusty Springfield tribute Just a Little Lovinâ were well-received precursors to Lynne launching her own record label. Her subsequent albums Tears, Lies and Alibis, Merry Christmas, Revelation Road, and I Canât Imagine all reached the Top 10 on Billboardâs Americana/Folk chart, as did her 2017 collaborative album with sister Allison Moorer. Shelby has recently returned to Nashville and has collaborated with Ashley Monroe, Little Big Townâs Karen Fairchild, and others to create her seventeenth album, an unflinchingly honest exploration of heartbreak, called Consequences of the Crown. -
Three-time Grammy nominee Tayla Parx talks about her artist career and her role as a behind-the-scenes songwriter who has crafted huge hits for Ariana Grande, Panic! At the Disco, Dan + Shay, and many others.
PART ONE:
Is Dave Grohl this generation's Phil Collins?
PART TWO:
Our in-depth interview with Tayla Parx
ABOUT TAYLA PARX:
Three-time Grammy nominee Tayla Parx is both a highly regarded artist and a successful behind-the-scenes songwriter. In 2019 she won Billboardâs âHitmakerâ award, recognizing her as the first female songwriter since 2014 to have three simultaneous Top 10 songs on the Billboard Hot 100. Her hits for other artists include Panic! At the Discoâs âHigh Hopes,â âLove Liesâ by Khalid and Normani, Dan + Shayâs country chart topper âGlad You Exist,â and the Ariana Grande hits âthank u next,â â7 rings,â and â34+35.â She has contributed to songs by Danity Kane, Fifth Harmony, Jennifer Lopez, Keyshia Cole, Mariah Carey, Jason Derulo, Chris Brown, Pentatonix, JoJo, Alicia Keys, Meghan Trainor, Demi Lovato, Fergie, Big Boi, Christinia Aguilera, Janelle Monae, Anderson .Paak, Kesha, Megan Thee Stallion, John Legend, Dua Lipa, and many others. Her songs have amassed over 15 billion streams on Spotify and have appeared on Billboardâs pop, hip hop, R&B, Latin, and country charts, where she became the fourth Black woman in history to write a #1 country song.
Born in Dallas, Parxâs family relocated to Los Angeles where she studied at Debbie Allenâs Dance Academy. Impressed with her talent, Allen encouraged Tayla to pursue acting. Her breakthrough role came with her portrayal of Little Inez Stubbs in the 2007 remake of Hairspray, and she went on to appear on several Nickelodeon shows before signing her first songwriting deal at the age of 19. As a solo artist Tayla has released three full-length albums, an EP, and a mixtape. Her most recent album is called Many Moons, Many Suns. -
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 changed in recent years. Plus, they take an opportunity to gripe about the changes coming to Southwest Airlines. What does that have to do with anything? Nothing, but I guess they're the ones with the microphones!
PART TWO:
Our in-depth conversation with Laura Rogers and Lydia Slagle of The Secret Sisters
ABOUT THE SECRET SISTERS:
Two-time Grammy nominees Laura Rogers and Lydia Rogers Slagle, known as The Secret Sisters, are Alabama-born siblings who released their self-titled debut album on Universal Republic Records in 2010. Produced by Dave Cobb, the album featured primarily traditional songs and country music covers alongside two originals. The follow-up, Put Your Needle Down, was produced by T-Bone Burnett and found the sisters contributing more original material, including collaborations with Brandi Carlile and Dan Wilson. Both albums reached the Top 10 on Billboardâs folk chart. Their next two releasesâYou Donât Own Me Anymore and Saturn Returnâwere co-produced by Brandi Carlile, and each earned a Grammy nomination for Best Folk Album. Their fifth, and most recent, studio album is called Mind, Man, Medicine and finds the sisters co-producing for the first time, alongside Ben Tanner and John Paul White, who is best known as half of the duo The Civil Wars. The album was recorded in their hometown of Muscle Shoals, Alabama, primarily at the legendary FAME Studios. -
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 concert Scott just saw, the centrality of energetic drummers, and other fun stuff.
PART TWO:
Our in-depth conversation with Charlie Peacock
ABOUT CHARLIE PEACOCK
From jazz to pop to rock to country, gospel, and Americana, Charlie Peacock is a Grammy-winning producer, artist, and songwriter who defies categorization. In addition to his own wide-ranging work as a recording artist, he has written well-known songs such âEvery Heartbeat,â which was a major pop hit for Amy Grant, and âIn the Light,â which is best known for the version recorded by DC Talk. Heâs responsible for developing and producing the Grammy Award-winning duo The Civil Wars and the Modern Rock band Switchfoot, including their multi-platinum Top 40 pop hit âDare You to Move.â
Peacock launched his career as an artist on the Northern California jazz scene before recording his debut album, Lie Down in the Grass, which was released by A&M Records in the mid-1980s. After a stint with Island Records, he moved to Nashville to work as an artist and producer. His 1990 album, The Secret of Time, earned him a Grammy nomination for Best Rock/Contemporary Gospel Album. In that decade, he produced nearly 50 albums for other artists, and was named the Gospel Music Associationâs Producer of the Year for three consecutive years.
The long list of artists he has produced includes Nicole Nordeman, David Crowder, Holly Williams, The Lone Bellow, Al Green, and Ladysmith Black Mambazo. He has produced a wide range of music for film and television, including the Mandy Moore film A Walk To Remember, Chris Cornell's "Misery Chain" from the soundtrack of Twelve Years a Slave, and "Hush," the title theme to the AMC drama Turn: Washington's Spies, featuring Joy Williams and Matt Berninger of The National.
As an artist, he returned to jazz with the Love Press Ex-Curio album in 2005 before embracing vocal music once again with his 2012 album No Manâs Land. In late 2015, Peacock was appointed the Director of Contemporary Music and Industry Outreach at Lipscomb University's College of Arts and Entertainment in Nashville. An author of several books, his forthcoming memoir will explore his musical life, while his latest album as an artist, Every Kind of Uh-Oh, will be released at the end of August.
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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.
PART TWO
Our in-depth conversation with Madeleine Peyroux
ABOUT MADELEINE PEYROUX
Madeleine Peyroux moved to Paris with her mother at the age of 12 and began singing with street musicians while still a teenager. She eventually joined the Lost Wandering Blues and Jazz Band, with whom she toured Europe. After being discovered by Atlantic Records she released her debut album, Dreamland, in 1996. Madeleine's commercial breakthrough came with the Gold-selling album Careless Love in 2004 and itâs single, the self-penned âDonât Wait Too Long,â which was released by Rounder Records and topped the jazz charts. The follow-up album, Half the Perfect World, hit the Top 40 on Billboardâs US album chart. Her 2009 album, Bare Bones, was the first to feature all original material. She moved to Decca Records for the Standing on the Rooftop album in 2011 and has since released four additional studio albums. Her latest effort, Letâs Walk, features all original material and continues to showcase her masterful blending of jazz, blues, folk, pop, and more. -
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 Hornsby has built one of the most diverse, collaborative, and adventurous careers in contemporary music. In the early 1980s Bruce was writing songs, playing sessions as a musician, and touring as member of Ambrosia and, later, Sheena Eastonâs backing band. By the middle of the decade heâd formed the group Bruce Hornsby and the Range, signed a deal with RCA Records, and released his debut album, which spawned the hit singles âThe Way It Is,â âMandolin Rain,â and âEvery Little Kiss.â As a result, Bruce and the band won the Grammy Award for Best New Artist in 1987. Their sophomore album, Scenes from the Southside, spawned the hit single âThe Valley Roadâ and included Bruceâs own version of âJacobâs Ladder,â a song he co-wrote that became a #1 hit for Huey Lewis. In addition to his own artist career, Bruce began collaborating extensively in that era, including producing Leon Russell, co-writing Don Henleyâs âThe End of the Innocence,â playing piano on Bonnie Raittâs âI Canât Make You Love Me,â and appearing on albums by everyone from Bob Dylan to Stevie Nicks to Willie Nelson.
In the late 1980s and early 1990s Bruce increasingly began incorporating elements of bluegrass and jazz into his music. He disbanded the Range to pursue other projects, including becoming a staple of the Grateful Deadâs touring lineup. His debut solo album, Harbor Lights, was released in 1993, and he won another Grammy that year, for Best Pop Instrumental, for composing âBarcelona Monaâ with Branford Marsalis for the Barcelona Olympics. He released two additional solo studio albums in the 1990s before forming a new band, The Noisemakers, which released four studio albums between 2002 and 2016.
In that same period, he collaborated with bluegrass artist Ricky Skaggs to release one studio album and one live album, and with bassist Christian McBride and drummer Jack DeJohnette to release a jazz album called Camp Meeting. Bruce's 2014 album Solo Concerts showcased a sampling of his one-man performances. In 2019 Bruce returned to releasing studio albums as a solo artist with Absolute Zero, an album included collaborations with Blake Mills, Justin Vernon of Bon Iver, and others. Among Bruce's many collaborations includes a longstanding partnership scoring films for director Spike Lee.
Earlier this year, Bruce released Deep Sea Vents, a water-themed collaborative album with the band yMusic that was released under the name Brhym. -
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 PLATTEN:
Emmy Award-winning singer, songwriter, musician, and childrenâs book author Rachel Platten is best known for âFight Song,â an anthemic power ballad that became an international Top Ten hit in 2015, was certified six times Platinum, has been streamed over a billion times, and was even adopted as Hillary Clinton's campaign theme song in 2016.
Rachelâs music career began with a self-released album in 2003, followed by a move to New York Cityâs Greenwich Village. She found success licensing songs for films and television before releasing her album Be Here in 2009. The single â1000 Shipsâ hit number 23 on Billboardâs Adult Top 40 chart. Her third full-length album, Wildfire, was released on Columbia Records and featured the successful singles âFight Song,â âStand by You,â and âBetter Place.â The follow-up album, Waves, featured the single âBroken Glass.âRachel issued the non-LP single "You Belong" in 2018, signaling a sonic shift away from her prior major label releases. Exploring new creative territory by embracing her struggles with mental health, Rachel has released recent songs such as âGirls,â âMercy,â and âBad Thoughts.â Poised to reassert herself as an artist focused on unflinching honesty and authenticity, she will release the album I Am Rachel Platten later this year.
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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 Akers is best known as the lead singer, guitarist, and primary songwriter of Judah & The Lion. Their debut EP, Sweet Tennessee, was released in 2013, climbing to #2 on Billboardâs Bluegrass Albums chart and the Top 15 on the Folk Albums chart. And the first full-length album, Kids These Days, debuted in the Top 5 on Billboardâs Folk Albums chart. Expanding their sound, the band released Folk Hop nâ Roll in 2015, landing in the Top 10 on Billboardâs Heatseekers Albums chart and the Americana/Folk Albums chart. Later that year, the song âTake it All Backâ hit the top of the Alternative Songs chart for three weeks and was later certified Platinum. The follow-up single, âSuit and Jacket,â was certified Gold. Judah & the Lionâs third album, Pep Talks, hit the Top 20 on Billboard's Top 200, and the Top 5 on the Alternative Albums chart, while the singles âOver My Headâ and âWhy Did You Runâ performed well on the Alternative Songs chart, earning them iHeartâs Best New Alternative Artist award for 2018. Their most recent album is The Process, released in May of 2024. Built around the concept of the five stages of grief, the songs are Akersâ exploration of his own mental health and life circumstances that find beauty, purpose, and even joy in the midst of the pain. -
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 induction class of 2024.
PART TWO
Our in-depth conversation with Carolyn Dawn Johnson.
ABOUT CAROLYN DAWN JOHNSON
Canadian-born singer, songwriter, producer, and musician Carolyn Dawn Johnson moved to Nashville in the mid-1990s and started getting her songs recorded by artists such as Patty Loveless, Suzy Bogguss, Kathy Mattea, and Jo Dee Messina. Her breakthrough came in 1999 with Chely Wrightâs recording of "Single White Female," which hit #1 on the country charts. Wrightâs follow-up recording of Johnsonâs "Downtime" also became a Top 5 hit. Carolyn was named Breakthrough Songwriter of the Year by Music Row magazine in 2000 and landed a record deal of her own with the Arista Nashville label. Her self-produced debut, Room with a View, hit the Top 10 in the US and earned Gold status in Canada. The singles "Complicatedâ and "I Donât Want You to Goâ were both Top 10 hits in the US. She won the Academy of Country Musicâs Top New Female Vocalist award and swept the Canadian Country Music Awards. The follow-up album, Dress Rehearsal, also debuted in the Top 10. To date, Carolyn has earned nearly 20 Canadian Country Music Awards for songwriting, performing, and producing. As an artist she has toured with Reba McEntire, Alan Jackson, Kenny Chesney, Keith Urban, and Merle Haggard. As a backup vocalist and musician sheâs toured with Ashley McBryde, Miranda Lambert, and Martina McBride. After a hiatus as an artist she has recently begun recording new music while continuing to enjoy success as a writer, including Chris Stapletonâs "The Day I Die,â a song Carolyn and Chris wrote together that appeared on his 2023 album Higher.
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