Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From a bedroom in Luton playing $50 nylon-string covers and open mics playing for 4 people... Three years later: a billion streams, "Stargazing" on President Obama's summer playlist, two singles that took over pop radio before he'd ever made a debut album, and a debut album sourced from the notes he wrote in therapy that saved him.

He's proof that sometimes all you really need is a guitar, a work ethic, and a Taco Bell-poisoned night in Malibu to write a song people argue about in twenty languages.

And the writer is... Myles Smith!

If you've ever wanted something so badly you didn't think to ask what it would cost when it arrived — this is the conversation.

And The Writer Is... Myles Smith!

In this episode of And The Writer Is, we go deep on:

• Why he scrubbed every song he made before 2023 — and what "I didn't exist before 2023" actually means

• His advice for up and coming artists...

• The end-of-Covid breakdown at 18 that almost ended things — and the therapy notes that became My Mess, My Heart, My Life.

• Meeting Peter Fenn on the last day of a six-week US trip — and writing "My Home" in the first hour

• The Taco Bell food-poisoning night in Malibu that produced "Stargazing"

• The hidden cost of success on his relationships

• "Hey mom, I want to retire you" — and what she said back

And much more...

Hit subscribe and turn on notifications. Every week, we go deep with the most interesting creatives in music.

Follow us on socials: @andthewriteris

A special thank you to our sponsors for making these conversations possible.

Our lead sponsor, NMPA — the National Music Publishers' Association. Your support means the world to us.

CHAPTERS

0:00 Intro

2:21 My Mess, My Heart, My Life.

3:16 The pressure of being "right at the start of the journey"

4:35 "If you take away the hits, you could see where I really am"

4:54 "I wake up some days in a catastrophe"

6:01 The five albums he wore out

7:23 His mum, his absent dad, and a single-parent household

8:22 Singing in church with his grandma

11:41 First talent show: Fix You by Coldplay

13:01 The $50 nylon-string guitar that started it

14:02 Playing "Dream Girl" for his mum at 10

15:23 Growing up Black in Luton and the Labrinth Electronic album that broke his brain open

18:45 Open mics at 11 — his mum driving him to every one

20:18 Why open mics built him in a way the algorithm can't

21:43 "I was really lucky that I got to fail a thousand times"

22:30 The first real gig — 100 cap, 90 friends and family, indie band Bear with a Three

29:18 Covid, isolation, rock bottom

30:44 Therapy — and the notes that became the album

33:06 Trust issues, anxiety, the night at 18 he tried to "ctrl alt delete on life"

35:12 What he'd say to 18-year-old him

36:55 The videographer who pushed him to try TikTok

37:25 "I'm not trying that shit" — and the Sweater Weather cover that changed everything

40:24 How he paved his way onto an Amber Run tour with one recorded song

43:40 NMPA mid-roll

44:22 The day his career actually started: meeting Peter Fenn

46:08 "Music with other people is supposed to be fun" — Peter's first lesson

49:01 "My Home" — written in the first hour of meeting Peter

54:48 After Stargazing: "stuck in the future"

60:06 Brain scans, burnout, smiling through it all

62:30 "Hey mom, I want to retire you" — and what she said

63:31 The UK artists who don't love being famous — Ed Sheeran, James Bay, Niall Horan

66:12 Are you happy?

78:29 "I hated Niall Horan" — and why

80:11 Rapid fire

83:32 Meeting his wife with all this happening

85:00 The album as the closing of the first chapter

90:46 Pulling up the old voice memos

92:02 The Taco Bell night that became "Stargazing"

95:39 The biggest pinch-me moment of the last three years

98:06 Ross and Joe tape notes

Watch on Spotify. Spotify Premium users get no commercial breaks on our show.

CREDITS BLOCK

Credits:

Hosted by Ross Golan

Produced by Joe London & Jad Saad

Edited by Jad Saad

Post-Production VFX by Pratik Karki

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

And The Writer Is... Niall Horan!

He talks about Liam not as a tribute beat, but as a presence — what fires you up to walk on stage when somebody you love would still want to be there. After the band, after the loss, after four albums — who do you become?

In this episode of And The Writer Is, we go deep on:

- Coming off the 2024 tour that sold over a million arena tickets "without a big smash hit of the show"

- The twelve-week Southeast Asia backpacking trip that came right before "This Town"

- The story of songs like 'Heaven', 'Slow Hands', 'This Town', and Liam's song...

- Pushing One Direction's sound from "What Makes You Beautiful" toward "Story Of My Life"

- Going solo at twenty-three and being terrified the music was about to end

- Julian Bunetta's intervention on "End Of An Era": "this song is about Liam, we just don't know it yet"

- "Dinner Party," the new album, and the next world tour

Hit subscribe and turn on notifications. Every week, we go deep with the most interesting creatives in music.

Follow us on socials: @andthewriteris

A special thank you to our sponsors for making these conversations possible.

Our lead sponsor, NMPA — the National Music Publishers' Association. Your support means the world to us.

0:00 Intro

1:12 Straight back to the studio after the 2024 arena tour

2:13 Over a million tickets sold in 2024 — "and I just wasn't expecting it"

3:23 Meeting on the One Direction tour years ago — abandoned buildings, makeshift studios, 200 fans outside within the hour

5:46 The post-show ritual: shower, shorts, Netflix, no drinking

9:20 Concerts as events now — the fans build it before he arrives

10:08 "I grew up on Slow Hands" — Sombr and the new guard

14:34 Why the Irish footprint is so big — and why Irish men can't say it out loud

17:16 First concert was the Eagles at four — and his mom's Hotel California vinyl

18:44 How Niall's listening drove One Direction's sound toward "Story Of My Life"

24:58 Savan Kotecha asks: sticking to your guns when every era says chase the trend

27:43 "I don't think I'd be able to sell something else that doesn't come from me"

34:34 Going solo at twenty-three — and being terrified it was all going to end

35:32 How watching the other boys release first actually fired him up

40:05 "You can't chase Slow Hands" — the law Niall heard John Ryan name on this podcast

45:15 Why he went backpacking through Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand and the Philippines after the band

46:39 Why Slow Hands taking twenty weeks to #1 was actually the goal

56:11 "The minute you think you're a household name, it's game over"

57:03 What The Voice actually did to his crowd

66:55 "Heartbreak Weather" — wanting to be the song that stands out, even at the cost of being safe

75:09 Writing Heaven at 1am in Joshua Tree — and John Ryan about to walk away

80:53 Liam Payne, and the song that wrote itself in five minutes once Julian said the thing nobody was saying

89:02 The lowest moment of his career — and it's not what you'd guess

93:36 The waterfall effect — the people you surround yourself with

Credits:

Hosted by Ross Golan

Produced by Joe London & Jad Saad

Edited by Jad Saad

Post-Production VFX by Pratik Karki

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From frontman of touring indie band Steel Train to one of the most decorated producers of his generation, he built his career against almost every modern industry instinct.

This is one of the more honest conversations about what it actually takes to bet a decade of your career on one person. When you're quietly refusing the industry's playbook from inside the room — who do you become?

And The Writer Is... Jack Antonoff!

In this episode of And The Writer Is, we go deep on:

• The importance of finding your people

• Why "Album is God" — and what a single actually is

• The Sabrina Carpenter origin: a random run-in two weeks after a Bleachers show

• "Workaholics aren't disciplined. They're sad." — why he refuses all-nighters

• The "Getaway Car" bridge moment Taylor's documentary caught in real time

• 5 voices that feel like 100 — the "Please Please Please" vocal stack walkthrough

• The artists he's passed on who became stars — and why he doesn't regret it

• Why he writes his best on instruments he doesn't understand

And much more...

Hit subscribe and turn on notifications. Every week, we go deep with the most interesting creatives in music.

Follow us on socials: @andthewriteris

A special thank you to our sponsors for making these conversations possible.

Our lead sponsor, NMPA — the National Music Publishers Association. Your support means the world to us.

And @splice — the best sample library on the market. Period.

CHAPTER TIMESTAMPS

0:00 Intro

1:10 Ross gave Jack his first co-writing session

2:42 The myth and folklore of the LA writing scene

8:02 "There's no proof more sessions makes you better"

10:08 What gives energy vs. what takes it

13:12 Body-of-work first, not single first

16:48 "Album is God. Singles are a long hallway to nothing."

17:58 The hit-song tour that sold 12 tickets

19:17 Sabrina, Chappell, Charli — the only lesson from artist development

22:35 Working with artists who already have the vision

23:33 Amy asks: how do you make something timeless?

25:40 Album tracks are like movie scenes — "Scarface doesn't fit in The Holiday"

26:55 How the sonic palette emerges (Mastermind, Tulsa Jesus Freak)

31:43 Bleachers — letting the band teeter

33:22 "I write my best on what I understand the least"

37:47 "Workaholics aren't disciplined. They're sad."

40:18 The "Getaway Car" bridge moment Taylor's documentary caught

41:28 Keeping it small even when the artist is the biggest in the world

44:24 Writing for yourself is how you reach more people

48:48 "Geniuses finish things"

52:01 Why he protects his circle from outside voices

54:37 What Producer of the Year three years in a row actually means

56:36 The producers Jack steals from (Jeff Lynne, Sam Dew)

61:17 5 voices that feel like 100 — "Please Please Please" stack walkthrough

64:10 Dyslexic, Adderall, the VS 840 zip-disk teen years

68:13 Authenticity is the only currency that lasts

68:57 When their song "March" became a MeToo women's marches anthem

Credits:

Hosted by Ross Golan

Produced by Joe London & Jad Saad

Edited by Jad Saad

Post-Production VFX by Pratik Karki

Watercolor by Michael White

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is one of the more unflinching conversations we've had about what's actually happening to music. Two musicians from different generations of the same fight, working it out in real time. Where do you stand when the rules of the music industry keep changing under your feet?

And The Writer Is... Rick Beato!

In this episode of And The Writer Is, we go deep on:

• How getting dropped in 1999 built a YouTube empire 16 years later
• Why Ringo would be a co-writer of every Beatles song in 2026
• The Eli Mercer experiment: building a fully fake AI artist with Claude — and what happened when he uploaded it
• The NPR EDM stunt: 4 million monthly Spotify listeners, 6,300 followers, and what that math says about AI
• The 90-second video of his son's perfect pitch that hit 3 million views by 10pm and 80 million total
• "There's no two current artists with the gravity of Bob Dylan and Stevie Wonder" — and Ross's case for their modern counterparts
• Who is the Michael Jordan of pop music? Queen at 3 billion streams enters the chat
• Why Ross is still bullish on songwriting — and what the Music Modernization Act got right that the No Fakes Act needs to finish

And much more...

Hit subscribe and turn on notifications. Every week, we go deep with the most interesting creatives in music.

Follow us on socials: @andthewriteris

A special thank you to our sponsors for making these conversations possible.

Our lead sponsor, NMPA — the National Music Publishers Association. Your support means the world to us.

Chapters

0:00 Intro

2:14 The beginning of Rick Beato's music career

3:11 The rollercoaster of an early music career

5:32 The Napster era and the dawn of digital recording

9:16 Producing Shinedown — and how "Simple Man" became the hit

10:54 Why "Yellow Ledbetter" was a B-side — and why bonus tracks are back

12:48 What country radio still gets right about hits

14:54 Inside Nashville sessions and the number triangle

17:28 The future of AI in music — and the No Fakes Act

21:20 The future of prompting and curating music

23:54 Would The Beatles be a four-way publishing split in 2026?

25:39 The modern music economy: are album tracks worthless now?

27:58 American writers are chasing global stars now

34:30 The Eli Mercer experiment: a fake artist built with Claude

36:52 The NPR EDM stunt and what it proved about AI on Spotify

41:18 4M monthly listeners. 6,300 followers. AI is winning the algorithm.

42:58 How Rick Beato built a YouTube empire

45:22 The "What Makes This Song Great" era

51:49 1984 vs now — and the search for a modern Bob Dylan and Stevie Wonder

54:18 Who is the Michael Jordan of pop music?

55:51 Queen at 3 billion streams — what counts as "biggest"

1:00:28 Golden, Blinding Lights, and what makes a 2020s standard

1:06:53 Songwriter similarities and the lawsuits that never happened

1:09:42 "Best era of pop music. Am I wrong?"

1:13:56 1998: how Clear Channel and Cumulus consolidated radio

1:20:14 The Music Modernization Act and what's actually next

1:24:54 Is the future of songwriting still bullish?

Credits:

Hosted by Ross Golan

Produced by Joe London & Jad Saad

Edited by Jad Saad

Post-Production VFX by Pratik Karki

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A classically trained concert pianist who spent his teens grinding through Liszt and Prokofiev knuckle-busters, Rogét quietly became one of the most important producers in modern pop and hip-hop — and almost none of it happened the way he planned.

This is one of the more honest conversations about what mastery is actually for — what happens when a decade of preparation collides with a 9pm pull-up, a stock preset, and a flute sound turned on by accident. When the world keeps rewarding your simplest moves, who do you become?

And The Writer Is... Rogét Chahayed!

In this episode of And The Writer Is, we go deep on:

Years of grinding Liszt and Prokofiev — and a first big check from four major triads on a flute

The three-week run in 2016 that produced Broccoli, Skywalker, Bad at Love, and the seed of Sicko Mode

The Mr. Miyagi era under Doctor Dre's right-hand man — and a pajama meeting at Dre's hidden studio

Sicko Mode — made on a stock preset in a closet-sized vocal booth — and the moment he heard it open Astroworld

Kiss Me More — a 2-5-1 with a walk-down — and what jazz school actually trained him to do

Co-executive producing Jack Harlow's album from 4pm to 4am for a year — and how First Class came together

APT. — the song he forgot about until Bruno Mars mentioned it at a friend's barbecue

And much more...

Hit subscribe and turn on notifications. Every week, we go deep with the most interesting creatives in music.

Follow us on socials: @andthewriteris

A special thank you to our sponsors for making these conversations possible.

Our lead sponsor, NMPA — the National Music Publishers' Association. Your support means the world to us.

Chapters

0:00 Intro

2:12 "How does a classical pianist come up with the chords for Broccoli? By turning the keyboard on."

4:24 The 9pm Yachty pull-up and the original Korg stock piano

6:35 Hearing his flute everywhere — Macklemore, Drake's Portland

7:50 The early break that taught him how the music business actually works

13:39 "I believe in the good of the business — we can be the generation that watches each other's backs"

15:59 Lebanese father, Argentine mother, and a meet-cute at a gas station

17:00 Why his dad named him Rogét

19:35 Discovering jazz at 15 and the chord that opened the world up

24:14 College, hip-hop, and reading liner notes for Scott Storch and Ryan Leslie

33:30 Telling Eastern parents he was leaving Juilliard-track for hip-hop

37:03 Getting kicked out, teaching 25 piano students a week to survive

41:45 The Mr. Miyagi era — Mel-Man, strip-club errands, and getting hazed

46:17 The pajama meeting at Doctor Dre's hidden studio

50:08 His Lebanese dad hearing Broccoli on the radio

52:17 NMPA

54:36 Bad at Love — the beat he made and forgot

57:50 What is a songwriter? Rogét's answer

1:01:28 Skywalker, Hit-Boy, and the arpeggios that became the splish

1:04:00 Sicko Mode: a stock preset, a closet-sized vocal booth, and Travis pulling up

1:07:08 "Drake comes in and says 'Astro' and I lost it"

1:14:23 Laugh Now, Cry Later: a Big Sean intro session to a Drake single in a month

1:18:15 Kiss Me More: "the perfect riff" — a 2-5-1 with a walk-down, sped up

1:23:15 "Genius comes out of editing" — Miles vs. Dizzy and what jazz actually trains

1:24:54 First Class and a year co-EPing Jack Harlow's album from 4pm to 4am

1:30:39 APT. — the song he forgot until Bruno mentioned it at a barbecue

1:36:04 What he'd tell a 16-year-old version of himself in the Valley right now

Hosted by Ross Golan

Produced by Joe London and Jad Saad

Edit by Jad Saad

Post Production VFX by Pratik Karki

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

• Swimf by BTS is #1 on the Global 200 for a fourth week
• Choose In Texas by Ella Langley holds #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for a seventh week
• Her album Dandelion debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200

He teases an upcoming Stagecoach interview and notes a strong country music moment.

New music + industry highlights:

• Olivia Rodrigo dropped a new single Drop Dead, debuting at #1 on Spotify charts, co-written/produced by Dan Nigro
• The podcast re-released Dan Nigro’s episode to celebrate

Business + industry news:

• Paul Epworth sold his catalog for a massive (undisclosed) amount
• Streaming platform Deezer is now receiving 75,000 AI-generated tracks per day (44% of uploads), raising concerns about “AI slop”
• Splice introduced a new AI tool that pays sample creators, which Ross praises

Other updates:

• Massive Attack signed a new deal banning certain rules (brief mention)
• Miranda Lambert signed with MCA Nashville, signaling a major upcoming era

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From indie rock frontman in As Tall As Lions to pop's most trusted collaborator, Dan built his career against almost every industry instinct. He carries three things at once that most producers never figure out how to hold: the commercial ear of someone who's had back-to-back Grammy runs with Olivia Rodrigo, the patience of a craftsman who sat on "Good Luck, Babe" for 18 months before it ever left his hard drive, and the conviction to say no — to every rushed demo, every session hop, every label note that doesn't serve the artist.

This is one of the more honest conversations about what it actually takes to build a superstar.

And The Writer Is... Dan Nigro!

In this episode of And The Writer Is, we go deep on:

• The three years he spent making nothing — and what finally broke it

• Why getting Chappell dropped from Atlantic was "the greatest thing that ever happened"

• "We're building like an icon here" — the real work behind Chappell Roan's rise

• Why Dan refuses to send demos

• 20 days with one artist, not 20 sessions with twenty

• Meeting Dua Lipa in 2014 — "this girl is a superstar"

• Artist development, finding your lane

• Writing good songs sucks — and why that's fine

And much more...

Hit subscribe and turn on notifications. Every week, we go deep with the most interesting creatives in music.

Follow us on socials: @andthewriteris

A special thank you to our sponsors for making these conversations possible.

Our lead sponsor, NMPA — the National Music Publishing Association. Your support means the world to us.

And @splice — the best sample library on the market. Period.

Chapter timestamps:

0:00 Intro

3:01 Why Atlantic dropping Chappell was "the greatest thing that ever happened"

4:16 Atlantic's note: cut one of the Pink Pony Club guitar solos

8:20 Self-releasing Karma, Naked in Manhattan, and building a label with Island

11:33 "We're building like an icon here" — Bowie, Madonna, the Chappell blueprint

13:13 What makes somebody "have it" — the gut call you can't fake

17:21 "There are no more superstars" — the article that pissed Dan off

19:34 20 days with one artist, not 20 sessions with twenty

21:27 Good Luck Babe's million rewrites — the "Good Luck Jane" era

22:59 Why Dan refuses to send demos — ever

24:54 18 months on the hard drive

26:01 Justin Tranter asks: how do you have the confidence to dive that deep?

28:04 Three years. Ended up with nothing.

33:12 The Madonna model — outside songs, finding your lane

43:21 Taking five months off after Olivia and Chappell

46:41 Steph Jones asks: rituals, guilty pleasures, happy accidents

51:43 Amy Allen asks: has your feeling ever been wrong?

52:58 "The most egotistical thing I've ever said" — never wrong about an artist

53:20 Meeting Dua Lipa in 2014 — "this girl is a superstar"

55:55 Vampire — and the label that thought it was "three songs in one"

62:39 People need to take more risks

63:37 Writing good songs sucks — and why that's fine

68:21 Five for five — As Tall As Lions, Sour, Guts, Amusement Records

70:31 The second-album mountain

72:58 Playing Olivia and Chappell for his daughter

Credits:

Hosted by Ross Golan

Produced by Joe London & Jad Saad

Edited by Jad Saad

Post-Production VFX by Pratik Karki

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week:

• Jury finds Live Nation and Ticketmaster violated antitrust laws — a judge will now decide whether to break them up
• Max Lousada and Julie Greenwald launch a new international label with Sony Music
• Udio signs a licensing deal with Kobalt — the first real AI-pays-creatives move of the cycle
• D4vd arrested on murder charges; Interscope removes him from their roster
• Foster the People sign a new deal
• Ella Langley's "Choosin' Texas" remains #1 song of the week
• Ross previews live episodes coming from Stagecoach and the week's Billy Corgan drop

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From the suburbs of Chicago to the apex of 90s mainstream success, Billy Corgan built an empire. Then he spent the last 20 years quietly dismantling the idea that commercial success is the same thing as real value. He carries three things simultaneously that most artists never figure out how to hold at once: the ambition of someone who was never going to settle for the midwest, the technical genius of a classically-trained musician who produces every layer of his own work, and the philosophical rigor of someone willing to completely reimagine what success actually means.

This is one of the more unflinching conversations about what staying relevant actually costs — not the version that gets posted on socials, the version that gets lived in the real decisions you make about art, money, independence, and how you want to spend your time. When the gatekeepers are gone and nobody's controlling the narrative anymore, who do you become?

And The Writer Is... Billy Corgan!

In this episode of And The Writer Is, we go deep on:

• The trap of being defined by your greatest hits — and why he refuses it

• His father's failed music career, and the moment his dad finally understood

• Chicago's inward-facing indie scene and the cost of communities that don't believe in themselves

• How the value of artists gets assessed in rooms — and why that's broken

• What "influence" actually means vs. commercial success

• The gatekeepers are gone — what that really means for independent artists

• Owning 100% of your publishing and why that changes everything

• Building a new world where direct artist support is how things actually work

• Why legacy thinking is changing, and what comes next

And much more...

Hit subscribe and turn on notifications. Every week, we go deep with the most interesting creatives in music.

Follow us on socials: @andthewriteris

A special thank you to our sponsors for making these conversations possible.

Our lead sponsor, NMPA — the National Music Publishing Association. Your support means the world to us.

And @splice — the best sample library on the market. Period.

Chapter timestamps:

0:00 Intro

2:30 Why Billy doesn't prefer to talk about his hits, and how his legacy has adjusted

5:00 Dad's bitterness: you got lucky

6:30 Dad's realization "You're one of the best songwriters in the world"

8:00 Independent music, 'selling out', and Chicago's music scene

10:30 The touring economics of the 90's

13:15 Rigged charts and the beginning of Pop music

16:00 Representation of Rock music in the charts / award shows

19:30 Ross on the future of music in a digital world

20:30 Numbers mean nothing if no one gives a sh*t.

21:00 Pop vs Rock: The future of music

28:30 Women archetypes in music

38:21 Billy's advice: What you need to survive in the music industry

40:00 World building and songwriting advice

43:31 How to define your value as an artist in a commercial world

44:40 Billy's Batman story

49:00 Breaking 'Landmine' because of Courtney Love

51:50 How he meets Courtney Love

54:08 How he learned to play guitar

57:00 His guitar hero inspiration…

1:01:10 Meeting the band

1:03:20 Finding a world class drummer hiding in plain sight

1:07:05 Fighting for his band when no one believed in them

1:15:29 Keeping your mouth shut when it's not your session

1:16:02 Fight for your copyright. The band struggling with his sole writing credit

1:18:00 AI in music… and Billy's take on it

Credits:

Hosted by Ross Golan

Produced by Joe London & Jad Saad

Edited by Jad Saad

Post-Production VFX by Pratik Karki

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week:

• Maryland passes the RAP Act — rap lyrics can no longer be used as courtroom evidence
• Pershing Square submits a $64B bid for Universal Music Group
• Suno's licensing talks with Sony and Universal stall over AI royalties
• Ticketmaster partners with Cash or Trade on face value resale integration
• HYBE auditions for a new Indian girl group as Asian streaming dominance grows
• Myles Gersh promoted at Warner — the exec who signed Zach Bryan
• Taylor Swift resigns with Warner Chappell
• Lasso signs to Interscope Records

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From Dublin street corners and busking for strangers to headlining Madison Square Garden, this conversation is about what that actually costs to build the slow, deliberate construction of a career that answers to no one, yet resonates with millions around the world.

He carries three things simultaneously that most artists never figure out how to hold at once: the ambition of someone who was never going to settle for Ireland only, the sensitivity of a songwriter who writes for his whole community, and the creative instincts of a kid who grew up on hip hop and folk and refused to let either one fully win.

This is one of the more honest conversations about what a creative life actually looks like from the inside — not the version that gets posted, the version that gets lived.

And The Writer Is... Dermot Kennedy!

In this episode of And The Writer Is...

We go deep on:

• His whole journey

• The moment he realized the audience could feel how hard he was trying — and why that was the problem • How to carry ambition, sensitivity, and creative instinct in the same body without one of them destroying the other

• Building an international career without a viral hit — and what that reveals about how the industry actually works

• The busking years, and the secrets for how he survived

• Why he deliberately toured smaller venues on his last run — and what that decision says about success

• Imposter syndrome, insecurity, and the reality of growing a career from 0-100.

And much more...

Hit subscribe and turn on notifications.

Every week, we go deep with the most interesting creatives in music.

Follow us on socials: @andthewriteris

A special thank you to our sponsors...

Our lead sponsor, NMPA — the National Music Publishing Association. Your support means the world to us.

And @splice — the best sample library on the market. Period.

Chapter timestamps:

0:00 Intro

3:30 The 3 Sides Every Creative Has to Balance

4:30 You Shouldn't Rinse Your Shows. It's a Sacred Thing.

5:00 What Dermot Beats Himself Up About On Stage

5:30 Anxiety After the Show Starts, Not Before

6:00 The Struggle of Being Lucky Enough to Have a Career

8:00 Childhood

9:00 "I Know I'm Good. But I Feel Very Insecure in Other Ways."

14:00 How Dermot Built a Career With No Algorithm and No Social Pressure

18:00 Why He Doesn't Play Music for People

19:19 How He Started Busking

20:15 Why Most People Couldn't Busk — and the Genius Who Changed Everything

21:00 The Importance of Branding When Selling Anything

22:00 How to Make Real Money Busking

26:00 How Dermot Built His Name and Started Playing Shows

29:00 Into the Music Business — and the Most Successful He's Ever Felt

31:00 Being Sought After and Avoiding Bad Record Deals

32:40 How to Build Out Your Team

36:00 A Note About Touring: Enjoy Where You're At

38:23 His Advice to His 15-Year-Old Self: Find Your Contentment

39:23 How Dermot Kennedy Built a Worldwide Fanbase

Credits:

Hosted by Ross Golan

Produced by Joe London & Jad Saad

Edited by Jad Saad

Post-Production VFX by Pratik Karki

Watercolor Art by Michael White

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

She was discovered online as a teenager and quickly thrust into an industry that had already decided who she was.

But behind the headlines, she was doing the real work — writing, refining her sound, and slowly building a career on her own terms.

This is a conversation about perception vs reality, creative control, and what it actually takes to become yourself in an industry that benefits from misunderstanding you.

And The Writer Is… Madison Beer!

What you'll learn:

• What it actually feels like to grow up in the public eye

• The gap between how artists are perceived vs who they really are

• Why longevity in music requires emotional resilience

• How Madison developed her sound and creative identity over time

• The pressure of early success — and rebuilding from it

• Why being misunderstood can either break you or sharpen you

This episode is brought to you by the NMPA — supporting songwriters and protecting the value of music.

And by Splice — the world’s largest library of sounds and samples, built for creators.

Chapters:

0:00 Intro

1:42 Madison’s favorite songs of hers

3:00 Lyrics or melody first?

4:30 Ross meeting Madison at 13

6:00 Madison’s childhood, early memories

7:00 Going through parent’s divorce in early childhood

9:45 Why singing the national anthem is hard

10:00 Her family’s early encouragement

11:00 Madison’s first song

13:00 Starting her career at 10

18:40 Getting discovered overnight from a Justin Bieber tweet.

19:11 Contracts in music industry

19:58 Meeting Justin Bieber

21:46 Why getting dropped is a blessing

24:00 Struggling with early music identity

26:00 Why she felt she couldn’t fight back on creative control early on

28:00 finding her power through social media

31:55 Reclaiming creative control

33:50 writing reckless

35:28 Home with you

36:25 the importance of your collaborators 

39:12 the original demo to Reckless

41:13 being easier to write dark songs than happy songs

41:40 the challenge of writing her new album

41:54 NMPA

42:36 Splice

43:26 Going back into the label system

45:00 her first tour in lockdown

46:50 Madison’s touring non negotiables

52:00 the story of Home to another one

53:41 Writing darker songs while in a happy relationship

55:55 Setting boundaries for mental health

56:55 “Showed Me” as an interpolation

58:37 Her mental health struggles and path to healing

1:01:54 How her album locket Freed her

1:03:25 the unlikely story of bittersweet

1:05:30 what writing a song with strangers is like

1:09:00 loneliness and missing out on a normal childhood

1:12:00 Dealing with constant criticism and how she manages it

1:12:47 Surviving the lowest point of her life

1:16:30 how she currently manages her mental health

Hosted by Ross Golan

Produced by Joe London and Jad Saad

Edited by Jad Saad

Post Production VFX by Pratik Karki

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

When doors didn’t open, she built her own. 

And The Writer Is……Melanie Martinez!

In this episode, Melanie opens up about:

• Materializing ideas and her entire creative process

• Why she never approached music as a game

• The reality behind shows like The Voice

• How she built her identity before the industry caught up

• Her philosophy on songwriting and the importance of your truth

• Protecting your creative voice in a commercial system

• Why being yourself is still the most important advantage

• And much more…

Hit the subscribe button and turn on notifications.

Every week, we go deep with the most interesting creatives in music.

Follow us on socials: @andthewriteris

A special thank you to our sponsors…

Our lead sponsor, NMPA — the National Music Publishing Association. Your support means the world to us.

And @splice — the best sample library on the market. Period.

Chapters:

0:00 Intro

2:00 The Real Meaning Behind “Disney Princess”

4:30 Introversion vs Performance

6:00 The Magic of Creating and Materializing Ideas

7:45 Her Creative Process — Titles, Concepts, and Staying Inspired

12:00 The Songs That Defined Her Early Career

12:48 Growing Up Writing — Her First Songs and Backstory

16:45 World-Building and Creating a True Artistic Identity

18:30 Rejection, Independence, and Dollhouse

20:00 “Blind Dating” in the Music Industry

24:00 Stage Fright and Early Creative Influences

26:00 What She’d Tell Her Younger Self

26:45 Advice for Artists Trying to Break Through

27:30 Hitchhiking to The Voice — And What It Really Was

30:00 The Reality of Music Competition Shows

31:42 NMPA — Our Lead Sponsor This Season

32:23 Splice

33:00 Ross on Music Competition TV

34:00 Performing Live and Managing Nerves

36:00 Finding Herself Through Dollhouse

37:20 The Story Behind Dollhouse

38:00 Fighting for Her Creative Vision

40:00 Where Her Ideas Come From

42:00 How She Builds Albums and Story Arcs

44:20 Writing Honestly Without Overthinking It

45:00 What Songwriters Get Wrong About Meaning

49:30 Are You Happy?

51:30 The Priorities That Changed Everything

54:00 Final Advice

55:00 Portals

57:47 Hades — A Dystopian World

1:00:20 The Utopian Album to Come

1:00:51 Her Favorite Songs on the Album

1:01:50 The Story of “Weight Watchers”

1:06:00 An Emotional Reflection — Her Message to Others

1:07:30 Her Inspirations

1:09:00 Social Media, AI, and Staying Human

Hosted by Ross Golan

Produced by Joe London & Jad Saad

Edited by Jad Saad

Post-Production VFX by Pratik Karki

Watercolor Art by Michael White

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

His songs have been streamed billions of times worldwide.

He came to Los Angeles to write for others.

Instead, he became a globally identifiable artist — before fully becoming himself.

Now, he’s building something that’s truly his.

And The Writer Is… Charlie Puth!

In this episode, Charlie opens up about:

• His early journey

• The moment “See You Again” came together, and why it still feels unexplainable

• How early success shaped his career before his identity caught up

• Why the best songs often come from discomfort, not control

• The role of collaboration in pushing him beyond his instincts

• Sessions with legendary artists — and what those moments actually feel like

• The importance of staying human in an increasingly synthetic world

• And much more…

Hit the subscribe button and follow us on socials @andthewriteris

Every week, we go deep with the most interesting creatives in music.

A special thank you to our sponsors…

Our lead sponsor, NMPA — the National Music Publishing Association. Your support means the world to us.

And @splice — the best sample library on the market. Period.

Chapters:

0:00 Intro

2:46 Charlie Demos the Theme Song

5:00 The “Mouth Phone” Trick

7:00 His Secret Involvement in Dangerous Woman

9:00 “Stay” — The Power of Collaboration (Justin Bieber, Kid Laroi)

13:00 “Are You Where You Want to Be?”

16:00 Where His Best Work Comes From

16:53 The Story of See You Again

20:43 Wiz Khalifa’s Defining 'See You Again' Moment

23:02 When the Industry Didn’t Know What to Do With Him

27:22 The Song No One Believed In (We Don’t Talk Anymore)

29:52 Ross’s Philosophy on Sending Music

31:04 The Song That Changed Everything

34:09 Authenticity, Vulnerability, and Letting People In

39:00 Why It’s More Important to Be Human Than Ever

45:05 NMPA — Our Lead Sponsor This Season

45:56 Splice

46:38 Conflict, Collaboration, and Making the New Album

51:11 Coffee With Kenny G and Michael McDonald

55:39 Chris Stapleton's Songwriting Advice

1:02:05 The Artists and Producers He Studies

1:08:00 His Lowest Point

1:31:51 Charlie Shares Drum Samples

Hosted by Ross Golan

Produced by Joe London & Jad Saad

Edited by Jad Saad

Post-Production VFX by Pratik Karki

Watercolor Art by Michael White

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Before the sold-out shows and chart-topping records, she was a college student playing small gigs with her dad and brother, trying to figure out where music might fit into her life.

One honest song at a time, she began building a catalog that feels both timeless and unmistakably her own.

Now, with a growing fanbase and a string of hits helping shape the sound of modern country, she’s writing the next chapter of her career in real time.

And The Writer Is… Megan Moroney!

In this episode of And The Writer Is… Megan opens up about:

• The unexpected moment that pushed her toward learning guitar

• Growing up around music and playing early shows with her family

• The traumatic accident that jumpstarted her music career

• Finding her voice in the Nashville songwriting community

• Why honesty and humor are essential to her writing

• How she stood out in early co-writes

• And much more…

Hit subscribe and turn on notifications.Every week, we go deep with the most interesting creatives in music.

Follow us on socials: @andthewriteris

A special thank you to our sponsors…

Our lead sponsor, NMPA — the National Music Publishing Association. Your support means the world to us.And @splice — the best sample library on the market. Period.

Chapters

0:00 Intro

5:00 Moving to Nashville: The First Steps

6:00 Working in the Music Industry Before Releasing Music

7:00 The Advice That Started Her Career

10:00 Growing Up Around Music in Georgia

13:50 “I Went to School to Be an Accountant”

16:30 Musical Theatre and Feeling Out of Place

18:56 The Accident That Started Everything

24:01 The Sorority Event That Led to Georgia Theatre

32:25 Learning the Business of Music in School

33:00 The Internship That Changed Everything

35:00 Creating the Tennessee Orange Cover Art on Her Phone

38:45 Writing Every Day and Building a Network in Nashville

40:20 NMPA — Our Lead Sponsor This Season

41:00 Splice

41:45 The Story of Tennessee Orange

45:50 How Influencing Helped Pay the Bills

47:10 Megan’s Writing Process

52:15 Exploring the Studio

54:10 Working With Ed Sheeran

58:42 A Full-Circle Moment With Kacey Musgraves

1:09:00 The Story of “Beautiful Things”

1:15:55 Rapid Fire

1:21:26 Megan Gives the Podcast Flowers

Hosted by Ross Golan

Produced by Joe London & Jad Saad

Edited by Jad Saad

Post-Production VFX by Pratik Karki

Watercolor Art by Michael White

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Before arenas. Before permanence. Before “Sweater Weather” became cultural shorthand.

Now, after over a decade of hits, reinvention, and evolution, he looks back on the long arc of The Neighbourhood with clarity — and with honesty about what success did and didn’t solve.

And The Writer Is… Jesse Rutherford of The Neighbourhood!

In this episode of And The Writer Is…, Jesse opens up about:

• Growing up in the industry before he understood it

• The unlikely formation and endurance of The Neighbourhood

• His journey through childhood acting, getting discovered, + losing his dad on the brink of success

• The advice he’d give himself before it worked

• And much more…

Hit subscribe and turn on notifications.

Every week, we go deep with the most interesting creatives in music.

Follow us on socials: @andthewriteris

A special thank you to our sponsors…

Our lead sponsor, NMPA — the National Music Publishing Association. Your support means the world to us.

And @splice — the best sample library on the market. Period.

Chapters:

0:00 Intro

2:09 I Never Wanted To Be Alternative


4:02 Why Thousand Oaks Produces Massive Bands

7:39 Becoming a Child Actor at 6


8:35 “My Self-Worth Is Tied to Entertaining”


9:55 Discovered in a Movie Theater at 5


14:16 Reconnecting With His Dad Before He Passed


17:28 Success Without the Fame He Expected

27:10 High School Metalcore Bands

33:17 How The Neighbourhood Formed


36:06 The First Riff of “Sweater Weather”


40:00 Getting Discovered Online by Their Manager


44:23 His Manager’s Warning…

47:20 Writing the Lyrics to “Sweater Weather”


48:42 Pop Writing Rules


55:23 Learning to Let Go of Instant Validation


59:32 Daddy Issues


1:02:30Watching Your Own Lyrics Affect Relationships


1:10:01 Why He Needs Alone Time

1:10:23 Feeling Invisible, the “Chip Chrome” Era


1:11:17 Touring the Same Venues & The Plateau Feeling


1:12:31 Why Chip Chrome Became His Favorite Creative Risk


1:13:48 “You’ve Got to Get People to Look to Listen”

1:16:00 Creative Direction as Identity Control


1:19:30 Self-Sabotage vs Reinvention


1:32:00 Band Brotherhood & Growing Up Together


1:36:00 Legacy, Impact & What Really Matters

1:41:00 Advice to His Younger Self

Hosted by Ross Golan

Produced by Joe London & Jad Saad

Edited by Jad Saad

Post-Production VFX by Pratik Karki

Watercolor Art by Michael White

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Before the world heard her voice, she spent years training inside the K-pop system — learning discipline, structure, and endurance long before recognition ever arrived. When the system didn’t know what to do with her, she pivoted. Slowly. Intentionally. And built a career that would eventually be heard everywhere.

Now, as a songwriter whose work spans K-pop, pop, animation, and beyond — and as an artist stepping into her own voice — she represents a different kind of success: one built patiently, shaped by pressure, and defined by longevity rather than speed.

And The Writer Is… Ejae!

In this episode of And The Writer Is…, Ejae opens up about:

• The reality of the K-pop training system and what it actually teaches you about discipline and survival
• Rejection and why her voice didn’t fit the moment — and how that shaped her writing
• Learning to work alone after years inside a rigid system
• How songwriting became a safer, more powerful entry point than performing
• The pivot that reframed her career and led to global success

And much more…

Hit the subscribe button and turn on notifications.

Every week, we go deep with the most interesting creatives in music.

Follow us on socials: @andthewriteris

A special thank you to our sponsors…

Our lead sponsor, NMPA — the National Music Publishing Association. Your support means the world to us.

And @splice — the best sample library on the market. Period.

Chapters:

0:00 Intro

1:30 Early life & finding music

6:10 Inside K-Pop training

9:00 Ejae's writing process...

28:00 Rejection from auditioning to be a K-Pop Idol... and $5 Karaoke training to pass.

41:00 Ejae sings her first song

41:37 Sponsor Spotlight: NMPA

42:18 Sponsor Spotlight: Splice

14:45 Discipline, pressure, and identity

23:20 Being let go by the system

26:19 The truth about the K-Pop system

30:40 Rebuilding in isolation

39:15 Discovering songwriting as power

50:00 K-Pop's ultimate evaluation: Auditioning to debut

50:37 Ejae's rejection and rock bottom... and the pivot that would change everything

56:10 Global songs & delayed recognition

1:00:00 How she wrote her first songs

1:04:00 Writing her first song for film

1:07:00 Writing 'Psycho' for Red Velvet at her first session

1:13:00 K-Pop vs Pop music... And the reference to 'Psycho'

1:14:00 K-Pop Demon Hunters

1:20:00 The story behind 'Golden'

1:26:00 The original 'Golden' voice memo...

1:30:00 The process of co-writing the songs for K-Pop Demon Hunters

Hosted by Ross Golan

Produced by Joe London & Jad Saad

Creative Directed by Jad Saad

Post-Production VFX by Pratik Karki

Watercolor Art by Michael White

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From singing as a family around a kitchen table to headlining arenas with banjos and mandolins, Marcus Mumford built something no one saw coming — and has spent years learning not to get in his own way once the stakes got real.

Now, as a solo artist and band leader, he's as honest about the creative process as he is about the pitfalls of ego, overthinking, and the quiet ways success can sabotage itself.

And The Writer Is... Marcus Mumford of Mumford & Sons!

In this episode of And The Writer Is…, Marcus opens up about:

• His theory of "catching" songs rather than forcing them
• How Mumford & Sons structured equal ownership to stay together
• What Bob Dylan said to him that he wants tattooed on his body
• The Pharrell moment that reframed his entire relationship to success
• Why showing up — again and again — is the only way judgment is earned
• And much more...

Hit the subscribe button and turn on notifications...

Every week we go deep with the most interesting creatives in music.

Follow us on socials at @andthewriteris

A special thank you to our sponsors…

Our lead sponsor, NMPA — the National Music Publishing Association. Your support means the world to us.

And @splice — the best sample library on the market. Period.

Chapters:

0:00 Intro

1:00 Desert Island Mix: Radiohead

3:00 The Greatest Band of All Time?

7:00 A Hilarious Story About Bob Dylan — His Songwriting Grandfather

11:00 How Mumford & Sons Structured Equal Ownership

13:35 How Mumford & Sons Writes Music

17:00 Where Great Music Comes From

18:35 His Songwriting Ethos: "Catching Fairies"

22:00 Favorite Poetry and Getting Lost in Words Before Writing

23:46 Childhood

25:00 Growing Up in Church

33:50 Why Drummers Make the Best Producers

50:00 Testing Demos on the Road

52:00 Working on His Solo Record

58:00 The Empowering Pharrell Story

1:03:00 The Chris Martin Story

1:05:00 Rapid Fire

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From opioid addiction in high school to wilderness therapy at rock bottom, he rebuilt his entire life in Denver—sober, alone, and teaching himself music theory from scratch.

Now 13 years clean, he's become a voice for mental health in a scene built on excess, collaborating with Jon Bellion, Halsey, Teddy Swims, and countless others to create music that connects survivors.

His latest album, Odyssey, is a cinematic journey through heartbreak, recovery, and the sessions that saved his life.

And The Writer Is... Illenium!

In this episode of And The Writer Is…, Nick Miller (Illenium) opens up about:

* Moving every two years as a kid and never having roots

* Falling into opiates at 15 and hitting bottom by 2011

* Moving to Denver alone and getting sober at 21

* The Good Things Fall Apart session (and demo)

* How music saved his life entirely

and much more...

Hit the subscribe button and turn on notifications...

Every week we go deep with the most interesting creatives in music.

Follow us on socials at @andthewriteris

A special thank you to our sponsors…

Our lead Sponsor, NMPA— the National Music Publishing Association. Your support means the world to us.

And @splice — the best sample library on the market. Period.

Chapters:

0:00 Intro

1:00 Childhood and Moving Every Two Years

5:00 Getting Into Music Through Tiesto's Album

6:30 The Electronic Artist That Inspires Industry Musicians

9:00 Getting Sober—His Rough Patch in 2011

10:00 Escapism and Addiction

12:30 The Wilderness Program That Saved His Life

16:30 Getting Lost in Music and How He Learned to Create

17:30 Illenium's Roots

18:00 Learning From Other Producers and YouTube

20:00 Thinking of Sound as a Picture

21:00 World Building and Finding His Brand… and His Purpose

23:00 Ross Opens Up on How Music Saved Him

24:00 The Personality Trait All Successful Creatives Have

26:00 How He Popped Off

31:00 Working With Unknown Artists and How He Picks Them

33:00 How to Find Your Sound

34:30 NMPA and Splice Midroll

41:00 Touring—The Downs After a Show

44:00 Good Things Fall Apart

47:00 Collaboration in DJ Culture

49:00 Why He Doesn't Chase Big Songs

54:24 COVID

1:13:00 Gaming on Tour

1:17:00 Good Things Fall Apart Demo

Hosted by Ross Golan

Produced by Joe London and Jad Saad

Creative Direction by Jad Saad

Post-Production VFX by Pratik Karki

Guest Watercolor Art by Michael White

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

And The Writer Is... Bruno Mars!

In this episode of And The Writer Is…, Philip Lawrence tells his story in full—for the first time

- How a $5 bus pass led to Bruno Mars

- The hidden cost of early success

- Real stories behind pop’s biggest records

- The pivot that made everything 'click'

- A breakdown at the peak—and the call that brought him back

and much more...

A special thank you to our sponsors…

Our lead Sponsor, NMPA— the National Music Publishing Association. Your support means the world to us.

And @splice — the best sample library on the market. Period.

Chapters:

0:00 Intro

4:00 “I Just Might” and Bruno Mars

10:31 Childhood and Not Feeling Good Enough

14:00 Early Career

20:00 Leaving School and Auditioning for Disney

26:00 The Disney Break Room: The Beginning of His Journey

27:00 His First Session

30:00 Meeting Steven Seagal

34:00 Moving to LA

37:09 Losing Everything He Had So Far

39:00 Finding His Manager

43:00 Finding His Way Through the Industry

44:42 His Ego Death

45:50 The Pivot That Really Started His Career

46:50 Be Friends With All the Assistants

47:20 NMPA and Splice

48:45 How to Write for Radio

49:30 Developing His Songwriting Ethos

50:29 Spending His Last $5 to Meet Bruno Mars (Before He Was Bruno Mars)

1:05:09 How Bruno Stayed on His Early Hook Placements

1:07:28 The Story of Nothin’ on You

1:09:20 Billionaire

1:11:50 Just the Way You Are

1:19:15 Talking to the Moon

1:20:49 Ross’s CeeLo Story

1:23:00 “F*** You” Was Not Supposed to Happen

1:28:00 How Locked Out of Heaven Happened

1:33:22 When I Was Your Man / Flowers (Miley Cyrus)

1:36:50 Five Songs He Wishes He Wrote

1:38:34 24K Magic

1:40:36 His Breakdown at the Peak of Success

1:48:45 The Comeback Phone Call With Bruno

1:50:18 APT

1:52:39 Advice for Songwriters + Rapid-Fire Questions

Hosted by Ross Golan

Produced by Joe London and Jad Saad

Post-Production VFX by Pratik Karki

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

He has written and produced some of the biggest songs of the last 15 years—from One Direction's "Story of My Life" to Niall Horan's "Slow Hands," Sabrina Carpenter's "Taste", Teddy Swims' "Lose Control," and Olivia Dean's "So Easy to Fall in Love."

A true songwriter's songwriter, John Ryan doesn't just chase hits—he shapes careers, defines sounds, and knows exactly when inspiration is knocking.

In this episode, John breaks down what it really takes to stay relevant across multiple eras, why authenticity always wins, and how he went from a Berklee kid living in his manager's parents' house to becoming one of the most trusted voices in pop music.

We talk about:

- The hardest years of his career

- The real batting rate of the best songwriters

- Meeting Sabrina Carpenter and Teddy Swims

- Working with One Direction and losing Liam

- Gems upon GEMS for up and coming musicians, songwriters, and producers

and a special live performance of some of his biggest hits.

A special thank you to our sponsors…

Our lead Sponsor, NMPA— the National Music Publishing Association. Your support means the world to us.

And @splice — the best sample library on the market. Period.

Chapters:

00:00 Intro: John Ryan

02:30 How John Got Into the Music Industry

06:30 Songs from Eighth Grade & Writing Early

10:30 Writing Like a Kid Again (The Picasso Effect)

13:00 Berklee, Pro Tools & Learning the Craft

17:00 How Many Songs Actually Make It Out?

19:30 Maroon 5’s “Cold”

21:30 Niall Horan: From One Direction to Solo Artist

24:15 The Lowest Point of His Career

26:00 The Realization That Saved Him

28:00 Meeting Teddy Swims & Sabrina Carpenter

31:00 Social Media, Virality & “I Don’t Have That on My Phone”

33:30 Writing “Heaven” with Niall Horan

34:00 Sabrina Carpenter’s “Feather”

36:00 Stop Chasing Numbers. Start Betting on People

38:00 Co-Writing with Amy Allen

41:56 How John Ryan Produces Songs

44:50 Country Music & Expanding Taste

47:20 Liam Payne

51:03 Olivia Dean – “So Easy to Fall in Love”

56:45 John Ryan’s Take on Collaboration

58:50 Writing “Tears” with Sabrina Carpenter

59:40 Managing Life, Energy & Relationships

1:02:01 “Steal My Girl” & “Night Changes” Should’ve Been Bigger

1:04:52 Choosing Great People Over “Sure Things”

1:07:00 John Plays & Sings His Hits

1:20:00 Why 10,000 Hours Isn’t Enough

1:21:06 GEM: Ruthlessly A/B Your Music to Get Better

Hosted by Ross Golan

Produced by Joe London and Jad Saad

Edited by Jad Saad

Post-Production VFX by Pratik Karki

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

He’s one of the architects of modern music.

As a songwriter and producer, he’s discovered artists, shaped careers, and defined entire eras.

This one is required listening.

A once-in-a-generation legendary hybrid of songwriting and production,

And The Writer Is... David Foster!

In this episode, David breaks down what actually makes music last, the cost of greatness, and what it really takes to survive and stay relevant in the music business over decades, not moments.

Not to mention his best advice for people in the business right now...

We talk songwriting vs. production, discovering artists like Céline Dion and Michael Bublé, working with legends like Whitney Houston and Paul McCartney, the mistakes artists make chasing hits, and why longevity matters more than hype.

Oh, and the only artist who could pull him out of retirement...

A special thank you to our sponsors…

Our lead Sponsor, NMPA— the National Music Publishing Association.

Your support means the world to us.

And @splice — the best sample library on the market. Period.

Chapters:

00:00 Mount Rushmore of Producers

02:00 Canadians

03:42 David Foster’s Parents

05:23 Discovering Perfect Pitch

07:03 Musical Roots and Learning Jazz

07:40 Jazz Voicings Explained

10:24 “Leave Songwriters Alone” – Publishing Talk

11:20 Writing His First Songs

12:21 Advice He’d Give His Younger Self

17:00 David Foster’s Trick for Reading People

17:58 Surviving a Plane Crash

20:22 The Start of His Early Career

22:00 Is “Africa” by Toto a Perfect Song?

27:20 The Greatest Songwriters Ever

30:25 Kanye West’s “Through the Wire” Sample Story

32:27 Songwriting vs Sampling (Blurred Lines Case)

34:21 His Documentary, Workflow, and Band Relationships

38:53 How David Foster Writes Songs

42:42 How Seven People Write One Song

43:39 Presented by NMPA & Splice

48:19 The Critical Mistake in “Uptown Funk”

49:49 “Unforgettable” with Nat King Cole

51:08 Paul McCartney

55:17 Whitney Houston’s “I Will Always Love You”

57:10 Top Five Singers He’s Worked With

59:06 Discovering Céline Dion

59:56 How David Foster Sees His Life

1:05:13 What Makes a Song Great?

1:09:40 The “Nashville No”

1:11:51 The Arc: A Holistic Approach to Songwriting

1:12:42 Discovering Michael Bublé

1:15:29 Star vs Superstar

1:16:39 Andrea Bocelli & Josh Groban

1:19:04 The Cost of Greatness

1:19:46 How to Make It in the Music Business

1:24:11 Family Life (Katharine McPhee & Kids)

1:25:50 “I Told Céline the Titanic Song Would Ruin Her Career”

1:31:01 Songs He Wishes He Wrote

1:31:39 Artists He Passed On

Hosted by Ross Golan

Produced by Joe London and Jad Saad

Post production by Pratik Karki

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode isn’t about hits. It’s about how culture actually gets made.

Taste, burnout, and building culture without permission.

From growing up in Florida crate-digging scenes no one cared about, to turning underground instincts into global movements, Diplo breaks down the uncomfortable truth behind longevity in music: following your taste when everyone else wants safety.

We get into:

The real physical and mental toll of nonstop touring in a world that never shuts off

The power of branding and how he did it (and why you have to, to)

Breaking scenes before they’re acceptable

Burning out, disappearing, and rebuilding without chasing relevance

Why instinct beats public approval every single time

And the reality of turning risk into influence and underground energy into global impact This episode is for anyone building anything.

Thank you for listening

A special thank you to our sponsors…

Our lead Sponsor, NMPA— the National Music Publishing Association.

Your support means the world to us.

And @splice — the best sample library on the market. Period.

Chapters

00:00 – Diplo Is Here

01:02 – Episode Intro

01:45 – AI, Sora, and the Future

03:18 – How Diplo Uses AI in Music

06:15 – Using Prompts to Produce

07:44 – How Diplo Got Into Music

10:32 – How Ross and Diplo Met

14:05 – Life as a World-Touring DJ

16:04 – Dr. Luke Signed Me to Steal My Drums

16:36 – Diplo’s Origin Story

17:13 – Riff Raff, Culture, and Being Hated

18:43 – Making “Where Are Ü Now”

20:04 – Creating Jack Ü with Skrillex

21:37 – Orlando DJ Gigs to Philadelphia

24:33 – First Session with Vybz Kartel

27:23 – Branding, the Internet, and Selling Mixtapes

35:01 – The Story of “Paper Planes” (M.I.A.)

36:44 – How to Find Success in Music

37:57 – NMPA + Splice (Sponsors)

39:25 – “Climax” and Finding His Strengths

43:54 – Why He Started Mad Decent

46:41 – Learning Music and the Birth of Major Lazer

49:30 – The Story of “Lean On”

53:04 – Diplo’s Cheat Code for Creating Fearlessly

54:06 – Country Music

55:28 – “Heartless” and Morgan Wallen

56:19 – Collaborator Rapid Fire

1:00:28 – Diplo’s Branding Advice

1:03:32 – Charli XCX

1:05:00 – How He Doesn’t Lose Himself on Tour

1:06:59 – Nothing Is Perfect. Everything Gets Better.

1:07:19 – Diplo’s Run Club

1:08:00 – Diplo’s Final Advice

Hosted by Ross Golan

Produced by Joe London and Jad Saad

Post Production by Pratik Karki

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Alex joins the podcast to talk openly about resilience, finding his voice, and what it actually takes to turn pain into songs that connect.

In this episode, he breaks down:

• Overcoming homelessness and instability while chasing music
• Earning credibility in an industry that didn’t immediately take him seriously
• How vulnerability became his songwriting superpower
• What his writing process looks like when the emotions are real — not manufactured
• The difference between being seen and being heard

And the single most powerful way to get your music heard against all odds..

This ones about humble beginnings, trusting your voice when no one will listen, and learning how to write your way out of survival mode.

A special thank you to our sponsors…

Our lead sponsor, NMPA — the National Music Publishers’ Association.

Your support means the world to us.

And @splice — the best sample library on the market. Period.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

And The Writer Is… FINNEAS!

In this episode, he breaks down:

Growing up in the industry without losing your footing

The quiet flaw baked into today’s music industry — and the one trait he’s seen in every truly exceptional artist

Loyalty over leverage — and why relationships still matter

Advocating for artists when you already have a seat at the table

Learning as you go without pretending you have it all figured out

This one is grounded and essential for anyone trying to build something that actually lasts.

A special thank you to our sponsors... Our lead sponsor, NMPA aka the National Music Publisher's Association. Your support means the world to us!

And  @splice  the  best sample library on the market, period.

Chapters

0:00:00 Teaser

0:02:37 What FINNEAS Would Change About the Music Industr

0:07:40 “What Do You Do?” Identity & Being Multihyphenate

0:08:54 Why taste beats momentum

0:10:51 FINNEAS & Ashe

0:12:51 From Workaholism to Efficiency

0:14:17 Tools, Shortcuts & Speed in the Studio

0:16:13 Him and Billie and Their Creative Differences

0:20:11 Stage Fright, SNL & Performing Under Pressure

0:24:23 Writing Songs for Film vs Albums

0:27:49 Writing “What Was I Made For?

0:30:46 Writing Honest Lyrics in LA:

0:32:48 Parenting, Legacy & Keeping Ego Out of the House

0:36:42 Creativity and Parenting

0:38:47 Homeschooling, Childhood & Creative Freedom

0:41:46 Make your kids work with adults

0:44:42 When You're Inspired... Collaborate With Your Influences

0:46:30 Artists FINNEAS Would Love to Work With

0:48:46 How Not to Chase Trends: Why reference points should be old, weird, and far away

0:50:02 NMPA Ad

0:50:42 Splice Ad

0:51:30 Favorite Albums to Listen to Deeply

0:53:06 Writing with Billie, Honesty, Family & Creative Trust

0:55:55 Claudia, Love, Partnership & Sustaining Ambition

1:00:37 The 20% Rule

1:02:00 The 'Lowest Point of His Career' and His Personal Victory From It

1:04:57 Separating Your Work From Your Worth

1:06:00 The Barometer of Success For A Solo Artist

1:06:40 Doing The Apple TV Sound

1:08:14 Not Comparing His Success With Billie, New Album, Knowing When to Pivot

1:11:04 Repeating Success... Birds of a Feather, Taste as a Long-Term Advantage

1:15:00 Signing Writers

1:17:55 Why Some Artists Plateau

1:21:11 Publishing Deals, Reversion, and Leverage.. Bad Deals with Good People and Good Deals with Bad People

1:24:33 Avoiding burnout in a high-output career

1:28:01 Writing 'Lonely' for Justin Bieber with Benny Blanco

1:31:14 Aging in the Industry... Collaborating with Ashe

1:39:08 Big Songs On Deluxe Albums

1:42:50 Writing for Prompts and Film

1:45:01 What Still Excites Him About Music

1:43:41 Are You Happy?

1:52:37 Separating The Art From The Artist

1:51:58 Building something that lasts without losing yourself

Hosted by Ross Golan

Produced by Joe London and Jad Saad

Edit by Jad Saad

Post Production by Pratik Karki

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

And The Writer Is... Seth MacFarlane!

On this episode, Seth breaks down the discipline, taste, and obsessive craft that shaped his creative life… and the standards he refuses to compromise, no matter the project.

Dive deep into his roots, heroes, influences, and biggest challenges building his creative legacy.

A special thank you to our sponsors...

Our lead sponsor, NMPA, aka the National Music Publisher’s Association.

Your support means the world to us!

And @splice — the best sample library on the market, period.

Chapter list:

0:00:00 – Teaser

0:01:06 – Welcome & Episode Intro

0:03:12 – Seth’s Early Creative Roots: Drawing, Music & Comedy

0:08:40 – Developing Discipline as a Young Artist

0:12:55 – The First Breakthroughs in Animation

0:16:33 – Fighting for Family Guy and Holding the Vision

0:18:15 – The Influence of 80s TV Scores and John Williams

0:21:48 – How Taste Shapes Every Creative Decision

0:25:30 – The Craft Behind Writing Comedy That Lasts

0:30:02 – Why Orchestration Matters So Deeply to Him

0:34:44 – Recording His Sinatra Albums & The Pursuit of Precision

0:38:55 – Balancing Film, TV & Music at a High Level

0:43:22 – Obsession, Work Ethic & Sustaining a Long Creative Career

0:45:45 – Diving into the Rat Pack Era and Vocal Legends

0:47:14 – Collaboration, Standards & Protecting the Work

0:52:33 – What He’s Learned About Longevity in Entertainment

0:56:26 – The Role of Curiosity in Every Chapter of His Career

1:00:08 – The Mindset Behind Creative Risk

1:03:03 – His Advice for Multi-Hyphenate Creators

1:05:23 – Seth’s Final Message to Artists

1:07:19 – Closing Thoughts

1:09:30 – Navigating Fame, Fan Encounters, and Meeting Icons Like John Williams & William Shatner

1:15:45 – Final Appreciation for Preserving Classic Music

Hosted by Ross Golan

Produced by Joe London and Jad Saad

Watercolor by Michael White

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From teaching himself production on cracked software and vinyl turntables… to going on a run of genre-defining hits.

And the writer is… Cirkut!

In this episode, he opens up about his early grind, the moment Britney cut his beat, his first sessions in LA, working alongside Max Martin and Dr. Luke, and the mindset that helped him go from unknown kid with an MPC to one of the most important producers in modern pop.

A special thank you to our sponsors...

Our lead sponsor, NMPA aka the National Music Publisher's Association.

Your support means the world to us!

And @splice -- the best sample library on the market, period.

00:00 — Intro: Who is Cirkut?

00:04:37 — Early music influences: hip-hop, DJ culture

00:05:49 — Discovering DJ gear & beat manipulation

00:07:55 — First exposure to FruityLoops & early production

00:10:24 — DJ’ing pep rallies with vinyl

00:12:36 — Applying early skills later for Lady Gaga

00:14:14 — Skipping audio classes to make beats

00:16:46 — Early Drake encounter in Toronto

00:18:40 — How the name “Cirkut” was born

00:21:35 — How a CD of his beats got to Britney Spears

00:22:10 — First big cut: Britney’s “Papi”

00:23:01 — Discovering electronic music & the blog era

00:23:49 — Learning from Masterkraft (the MySpace era)

00:33:00 — Working with The Weeknd on “High For This”

00:33:57 — Recognizing Abel’s early greatness

00:35:06 — Moving to LA & hustling through the rat race

00:38:49 — What finally got him out of the rat race

00:39:33 — The call from Dr. Luke

00:41:11 — The Flo Rida / Levels / Good Feeling near-miss

00:42:37 — Losing a big cut overnight

00:43:19 — When the hits start stacking: “Where Have You Been,” “Wrecking Ball,” “Timber”

00:44:48 — The thing he brought that cut through the noise

00:47:18 — What it’s like creating with Max Martin

00:49:36 — Winning Producer of the Year (Junos)

00:50:17 — When Cirkut realized he belonged at the top

00:52:04 — Why his ego is different

00:53:15 — His quiet superpower in the room

00:55:45 — Ad: NMPA + ⁨@splice⁩ 

00:57:00 — The importance of speed

00:59:00 — Secret sauce... Knowing his sounds and blind listening

01:02:00 — Keeping production organic

01:03:57 — The Weeknd

01:12:10 — Ross' funny Pitbull / Cirkut story

01:13:03 — Cirkut's secret to success

01:14:00 — 'Unholy' Sam Smith

01:18:54 — Jung Kook, 'Seven' with Jon Bellion / Theron Thomas

01:21:00 — Charli XCX

01:22:00 — 'APT' and Bruno's 'Stank'

01:30:56 — Lady Gaga + Watt

01:42:30 — Production advice. Figure out what you're great at

Hosted by Ross Golan

Produced by Joe London and Jad Saad

Watercolor by Michael White

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What makes this conversation special isn’t just the hits — it’s how brutally honest he is about the craft, the obsession, and the unexpected moments that built his career.

A special thank you to our sponsors...

Our lead sponsor, NMPA aka the National Music Publisher's Association.

Your support means the world to us!

And @splice -- the best sample library on the market, period.

Chapters:

0:00:00 – Teaser 

0:01:06 – Welcome & Episode Intro 

35:58 – Zedd on Never Thinking He’d Be Successful 

25:41 – Growing Up Poor & Studying One Album a Month 

18:01 – The Kellogg’s DAW That Started Everything 

15:33 – Learning Music on a 16-Track Floppy-Disk Keyboard 

30:44 – Why He Thought EDM Was a Joke at First 

38:12 – The Skrillex MySpace Story That Changed His Life 

31:25 – Finding His Sound Through Curiosity & Obsession 

47:14 – The “Lightning Moment” Behind Clarity 

59:34 – Being Wrong More Often Than Right 

1:03:03 – Why Most Music Feels the Same Today 

1:03:37 – Extraordinary vs. Average: What Listeners Actually Feel 

1:00:08 – “All I’m Doing Is Chasing a Feeling” 

56:26 – The Chaos Behind Making The Middle 

1:00:47 – Realizing the Scale of His Own Success 

28:23 – What It Takes to Stay Inspired 

6:48 – The Creative Principles He Still Lives By 

41:22 – The Fastest Way for Artists to Get Noticed 

1:05:23 – Zedd’s Final Advice for Musicians 

1:07:19 – Closing Thoughts

Hosted by Ross Golan

Produced by Joe London and Jad Saad

Watercolor by Michael White

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

but the real story behind that success is far more human, painful, and transformative than the headlines ever show.

In this conversation, he opens up about the highs and lows of being a producer in hip-hop: the pressure, the politics, the contracts, the moments that nearly broke him, and the breakthroughs that almost didn’t happen.

He also shares the lessons shaped by fatherhood, betrayal, and real perseverance — all while creating some of the most important and culture-defining music of our time. And The Writer Is... Hitboy!

A special thank you to our sponsors...

Our lead sponsor, NMPA aka the National Music Publisher's Association. Your support means the world to us!

And @splice -- the best sample library on the market, period.

Chapter list

0:00 TEASER

1:20 Ross’ Intro

2:02 Fatherhood and Being a Full-Time Dad

5:12 Parenting, Hoops, and What His Son Really Loves

6:29 The Humbling Reality Check: Kids Don’t Care About Your Hits

7:29 Growing Up Between Pasadena & San Bernardino

8:34 Seeing His Uncle’s Success & Wanting to Be on TV

9:35 Falling in Love With Beat Programming

10:12 Learning to Write & Rap at 13

11:23 Selling His First Beat for $20 at 16

12:24 MySpace Era: The Birth of “Hit-Boy”

13:09 First Major Betrayal: Partner Gets Signed Behind His Back

15:01 Advice to His Younger Self: Patience & Self-Belief

15:23 Building Early Industry Relationships Through MySpace

16:13 First Time Inside a Real Studio (The Underdogs)

17:39 The Underworld of LA Sessions & A Young Hit-Boy Watching Greats

18:44 First Major Placement: Jennifer Lopez

19:06 Providing for His Mom With His First Checks

19:27 Growing Up Without a Present Father

20:22 His Dad’s Return & Going on a Run Together

22:04 How Fatherhood Changed His Time, Focus & Creativity

23:27 Recording Nas: The Hidden Role People Don’t See

24:57 Getting His First Publishing Deal (And the 18-Year Lock-In)

28:02 Staying Current: “I Update My Software Every Day”

28:21 First Big Hit: Drop The World Lil Wayne & Eminem

29:47 Why He Used to Clash With Kanye

32:00 The ‘N*****s in Paris’ Moment (Language Question + Setup)

33:35 First Song With Kanye: The Christmas Track

34:12 Making Music With Kanye, Jay-Z & the Good Music Family

35:40 Hearing 'Paris' for the First Time in the Planetarium

36:32 Realizing the Song Was Going to Be a Cultural Earthquake

38:23 Big Sean, Executive Production & Sharpening His Ear

39:09 How Drake Found the ‘Trophies’ Beat

39:52 Stripping Beats Down to Let Artists Shine

40:33 When to Stop Producing: The Minimalism Lesson

41:38 Depression, Contracts & Losing the Relationship With Drake

42:57 The Pain of ‘Trophies’ Not Making Drake’s Album

43:13 What His Publishing Deal Held Him Back From

44:22 Working From a Place of Fear vs. Freedom

45:01 Working With Beyoncé (Excellence at Every Level)

46:22 The Story of ‘THIQUE’: An 8-Year-Old Beat Comes Back to Life

46:39 Why Old Beats Deserve Second Lives

47:57 The Making of Sicko Mode & Travis Scott’s Explosion

48:20 The Greatest Timing Ever: Streaming, Social Media, Travis

49:00 The Long Journey of Sicko Mode (2016 → 2018)

50:13 Are Producers Songwriters? The Eternal Debate

51:30 Nipsey Hussle: Early Sessions & Mutual Respect

53:53 Nipsey Claims the Song: “I Need This for My Project”

Hosted by Ross Golan

Produced by Joe London and Jad Saad

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

He isn’t just a hitmaker. He's perhaps one of the few people in the history of music to have hits as a songwriter, artist, and producer... completely aside from one another across genres.

And The Writer Is... Ryan Tedder!

In this episode, he breaks down:

🎯 Why the middle class of music is disappearing

🎯 How splits, streaming, and AI are reshaping the game

🎯 The mindset you need to survive as an artist today

🎯 What real creative value looks like in 2025 and beyond

This one isn’t just inspiring — It’s essential listening for anyone who wants to last in music..

A special thank you to our sponsors... O

ur lead sponsor, NMPA, the National Music Publisher's Association.

Your support means the world to us!

And Splice -- the best sample library on the market.

Hosted by Ross Golan Produced by Joe London and Jad Saad

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We discuss raw stories of heartbreak, growth, the magic of songwriting.. and how she learned to protect her voice in a room and write music that actually feels like her.

And The Writer Is...Olivia Dean!

Whether you're a songwriter, fan, or music lover, this episode is packed with inspiration, laughs, and behind-the-scenes gems.

Presented by NMPA..

The National Music Publisher's Association. Championing songwriters everywhere.

Thank you to our sponsors!

Co-presented by Splice.

The best music sample library in music.

CHAPTERS:

00:00 – Welcome to the Soul

01:50 – “I Still Feel So British”

03:00 – First Trip to L.A. (With No GPS or Plan)

04:00 – Learning to Trust Her Own Taste

07:40 – When Artists Had Time to Be Bad

08:30 – Making Meaningful Music in a Chart World

09:20 – “I Don’t Write Every Day”

13:35 – Disney, West Side Story, and Other Early Teachers

15:50 – The First Song: “Mean Boy”

17:05 – Parents Who Said Yes

17:20 – The BRIT School Plan

20:05 – Busking, Best Friends, and the Birth of a Band

22:15 – The First Show: 70 Tickets, 10 People on Stage

23:40 – Signing Her First Deal

25:00 – The Studio Explosion (Her Worst Song Story)

27:00 – Surviving the Rooms

29:15 – How the Best Songs Are Written

30:45 – The Yellow Van Tour (COVID-Era Reinvention)

31:30 – “OK Love You Bye” — The First Song That Felt Free

34:00 – From 70 Fans to 100 Million Streams

36:00 – It Takes a Village (and a Lot of Gratitude)

39:00 – “The Hardest Part” — The Song She Hated (That Changed Everything)

40:00 – The Take That Hurts Is the Take That Wins

43:20 – NMPA Ad Read

44:05 – Splice Ad Read

47:45 – Crying on the Studio Floor

48:00 – “Dive” — When the World Started Singing Back

51:40 – Being a Woman Who Writes (and Plays)

53:10 – The Anatomy of a Song

56:25 – “I Don’t Write Lies”

57:35 – “The Art of Loving” — How the Album Was Born

1:00:15 – What Love Actually Taught Her

1:01:35 – Making Time for Love Anyway

1:02:55 – Ross’s Mirror Moment

1:04:30 – Learning to Sit in Silence

1:05:45 – The Weight of Words

1:06:30 – Being Heard

And The Writer Is...

Hosted by Ross Golan

Produced by Joe London and Jad Saad

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From Selena Gomez to Justin Bieber to Sabrina Carpenter — her pen reshaped how vulnerability sounds on the radio.

In this episode, Julia sits down with Ross to unpack the craft behind her catalog: the psychology of honest writing, the architecture of a hit, and the years she spent changing pop from behind the glass.

They dive into the writing of hits, the evolution of her artistry, and what it means to sustain creative integrity in a fast-changing industry.

Chapters

0:00 Intro: The Woman Who Reshaped Pop Music

0:59 Welcome Back: Reflecting on 8 Years in the Industry

2:13 Music Industry Evolution: Then vs. Now

3:00 Adapting Songwriting to Social Media and Trends

4:32 Early Career Advice: Mental Health and Boundaries

6:03 Panic Attacks and Performance Anxiety

9:25 From Songwriter to Artist: Reluctance and Breakthrough

11:23 Influence on Songwriting: Changing Pop's Sound

15:06 Hit Runs, Burnout, and Creative Pauses

17:55 Writing for Disney's Wish: Behind the Scenes

19:42 Future Plans: Musicals, Retirement, and Balance

21:05 Artistry and Collaborations

23:00 Inside the Sabrina Carpenter Camp

29:01 Breaking Down Hits: Taste, Bed Chem, and Coincidence

30:50 Joining Tate McRae: From 17 to Global Hits

33:39 Favorite Producers: Ryan Tedder, Stargate, and More

36:04 Working with Ed Sheeran: Panic, Brotherhood, and Hits

39:30 Crafting Lose You To Love Me with Selena Gomez

43:24 Longtime Bond with Selena: Firsts and Milestones

45:50 Celebrating Wins in a Changing Industry

47:19 Songwriter Struggles: Pay, Radio, and Streaming

50:26 Fair Splits and Standing Up for Writers

55:09 Gender Challenges: Overworking Female Writers

1:00:06 Regimented Life: Balance and Boundaries

1:02:40 Running Her Own Label: Freedom and Control

1:04:15 Career Lows and Highs

1:06:10 Perfect Studio Moment: Working with Britney Spears

1:07:34 Reflections: Where She Thought She'd Be

1:08:45 Uncut Demos and Sacred Songs

1:11:27 Wrapping with Selena, Benny, and Unlikely Stars

1:15:55 Ego-Free Sessions and Lifelong Roots

1:18:22 Outro and Credits

NMPA fights for songwriters' rights, ensuring fair pay and protection.

Check them out at NMPA.org and follow them on social media at @NMPAorg

Splice is the industry’s top sample library—royalty-free for all. It empowers creators with its incredible library and ethical AI tools, supporting original artists every step of the way.

Download Splice today and follow them on social media at @splice

And The Writer Is...

Hosted by Ross Golan

Executive produced by Joe London and Jad Saad

Follow us on socials at @andthewriteris

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

And the writer(s) are... HAIM!

In this episode, we dive into a decade-long journey of grit, growth, and creative conviction — from rejection to recognition. The sisters open up about the early years, the family dynamics, and the lessons that shaped their songwriting and success.

 In this episode:

• How HAIM built success on their own terms after years of “no’s”

• The real stories behind their biggest records

• What they’ve learned about songwriting, collaboration, and creative control

Chapters

0:00 Intro Teaser – HAIM’s Gritty Start Against All Odds

0:30 Nobody Wanted to Sign Us – Early rejections that almost stopped HAIM

1:10 The Sister Dynamic – Therapy, tension, and love between bandmates

2:30 Strict Parents, Rebellion & First Gigs

5:00 Leaving for Tour at 19 – Danielle’s leap of faith

7:30 Almost Famous IRL – Touring with Jenny Lewis & Julian Casablancas

9:15 Skipping College & Faking Dentist Notes

12:30 Oldest Sibling Pressure & UCLA Lessons

15:00 Nobody Wanted Rock Music – Breaking through rejection

16:00 Meeting Ludwig Göransson – The producer who changed everything

18:30 2 AM Sessions & the “Forever” EP

20:00 SXSW Madness – 14 shows in 5 days

22:00 The UK Breakthrough – Why British fans got it first

25:10 How They Learned to Write Songs – Lessons from “Rockin’ Haim”

27:00 Recording Songs from the Radio – Childhood obsession that sparked their craft

31:10 The First HAIM Song Ever – From bad demos to “The Wire”

34:10 The 10,000 Hours – Becoming one of LA’s best live bands

35:45 Days Are Gone – Finding their sound amid chaos

38:30 Working with James Ford & Ariel Rechtshaid

40:50 Balancing Chaos and Craft – The HAIM recording process

42:10 Collaborating with Kid Cudi – Their first big studio moment

43:10 Touring Exhaustion & Finding Their Groove

45:15 Shutting Down Ventura Blvd – The iconic “Want You Back” video

47:39 Women in Music Pt. III – Growth & vulnerability

48:30 GarageBand & Songwriting – Danielle’s creative superstition

49:30 The Making of “I Quit” – A new era of HAIM

50:00 Creative Control & Saying No to Labels

52:00 Lessons from Paul Thomas Anderson – Vision & long-take storytelling

Presented by

@NMPA | @nmpaorg – Fighting for songwriters’ rights and fair pay.

Learn more at NMPA.org.

@Splice – The industry’s top royalty-free sample library and creator platform, supporting original artists with world-class sounds and ethical AI tools.

Download Splice and start creating today.

And The Writer Is...

Hosted by Ross Golan

Executive Produced by Joe London & Jad Saad

Follow us everywhere → @andthewriteris

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A once-in-a-generation artist writing and producing every record himself — and turning that independence into global hits.

His records aren’t just topping charts — many of them are 100%ers.

Self-written, self-produced, and streamed hundreds of millions of times.

He’s building a world entirely his own...

In this episode of And The Writer Is, Ross Golan sits down with Sombr to unpack how he:

- Writes and produces 100% of his music

- Went from viral moments to global success

- Deals with pressure, purpose, and proving himself

Presented by our friends at @NMPA  @splice 

A huge thank you to our sponsors.

Chapter list

0:00 The Rise of Sombr: Bedroom Producer to Global Prodigy

0:01:02;15 [NMPA] - Fighting for Songwriters (Season Sponsor)

0:01:51 Early Discovery: Why Warner Music Bet on a 16-Year-Old

0:03:38 My First Song Blew Up: Waking Up to 200K Likes & Columbia Records

0:06:00;14 From NYC Roots to Proving Haters Wrong

0:08:16 From Charlie Puth to Operatic Arias: My Secret Classical Music Training

00:11:04 How I Dropped Out of LaGuardia to Get Signed (TikTok Made Me Quit)

00:13:39 Opening for The Strokes at SXSW

00:14:41 The Imposter Syndrome of a Global Superstar

00:15:36 From GarageBand to Global Hits: My FLOPS & Early Projects (Cherry Valley)

00:17:50 Who is Sombr? Shane vs. The Artist & Why New York Makes Anything Possible

00:21:02 The TRUTH About "Caroline": She's Everyone... She's You.

00:22:13 The $0 Photo Shoot That Became My Global Album Cover

00:24:28 Advice to My 16-Year-Old Self

00:26:18 My Secret Writing Method: Saving Choruses & How I Made the Album in 1 Month

00:28:14 [NMPA] - The Power of Music Publishers (Sponsor Segment)

00:28:56 [SPLICE] - Using AI Ethically & Protecting Creators (Sponsor Segment)

00:30:42 "Back to Friends": Writing a Global Hit from a Career Low

00:36:44 Working with Tony Berg: A Mentor and Real Instruments

00:40:54 "Undress": Building Confidence After a Breakthrough

00:43:40 Sacrifices of Fame: Losing My Social Life

00:45:30 Anxiety and Expectations: Navigating Global Success

00:51:23 Critics vs. Appreciation: Why Art Shouldn’t Be Rated

00:058:09 The Final Word: Why the Haters Say I'm Not "Serious" (A Joke)

00:58:50 The Beatles & The Muse: The Real Secret to Timeless Art

00:59:11 Thank You & Outro

NMPA fights for songwriters' rights, ensuring fair pay and protection.

Check them out at NMPA.org and follow them on social media at @NMPAorg

Splice is the industry’s top sample library—royalty-free for all. It empowers creators with its incredible library and ethical AI tools, supporting original artists every step of the way.

Download Splice today and follow them on social media at @splice

And The Writer Is...

Hosted by Ross Golan

Executive produced by Joe London and Jad Saad

Follow us on socials at @andthewriteris

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

He also happens to be one of the biggest artists of all time. Imagine that.

This legend needs no introduction...

And the writer is... Ed Sheeran!

Presented by our friends at NMPA.

A huge thank you to our sponsors.

NMPA fights for songwriters' rights, ensuring fair pay and protection.

Check them out at NMPA.org and follow them on social media at ⁨@NMPAorg⁩

Splice is the industry’s top sample library—royalty-free for all. It empowers creators with its incredible library and ethical AI tools, supporting original artists every step of the way.

Download Splice today and follow them on social media at ⁨@splice⁩

Chapters:

00:00:00 - Intro

00:02:05 - Ed and Ross Reconnect

00:04:41 - From Rap Battles to Shaping His Songwriting

00:07:07 - Painting as Creative Outlet

00:09:13 - Emotional Ties to Songs, Writing Honest Songs for Himself and Others

00:12:05 - Childhood Music: Beatles, Dylan, and Irish Trad Influences

00:15:07 - Fatherhood’s Impact: Balancing Music and Family

00:16:26 - Ed Sings His First Song!

00:18:30 - Ed Sings, Ross Tests His Song Memory

00:20:27 - The Key to Confidence Starts With....

00:22:10 - Advice: Navigating the Music Industry’s Challenges

00:24:20 - Where Ed Gets His 'Buzz' From Music

00:25:50 - The Thing That Made His Songwriting 'Stick'

00:28:35 - No Plan B: Why He Never Gave Up

00:30:04 - Discovery by Jamie Foxx: Breaking into the Scene

00:36:14 - Mid-Roll Ad: NMPA Fighting for Songwriters

00:36:52 - Mid-Roll Ad: Splice Supporting Creators with AI

00:44:11 - First Cuts: Writing for Olly Murs and One Direction

00:46:58 - Creative Process

00:52:12 - The Lawsuit That Changed Everything

00:55:49 - Protecting Songwriters: Why No Union Exists

01:05:57 - Making "Perfect" to Prove Himself After the Lawsuit

01:12:49 - Advice to Young Songwriters...

01:14:03 - Legacy Songs: What Ed Wants His Grandkids to Hear

01:15:23 - Family Over Fame: Being a Present Dad

01:20:38 - Songs Ed’s Jealous Of

01:23:46 - Closing: Ed’s Gratitude and Future Plans

And The Writer Is...

Hosted by Ross Golan

Executive produced by Joe London and Jad Saad

Follow us on socials at  @andthewriteris ​

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

And the writer is... Andrew Watt!

In this episode, Watt opens up to Ross about the relentless drive, bold creative leaps, and collaborative ethos that fueled his journey from bar gigs and $100-a-week tours to producing global anthems.

Listeners will learn:

• How to build trust and chemistry in the studio
• Why great producers prioritize vibe and artist comfort over gear
• How to manage egos, collaboration splits, and team dynamics at the top level
• The real stories behind hits like Let Me Love You, Havana, Señorita, Stay, and Peaches
• How to survive imposter syndrome and stay creatively free under pressure

Chapters

0:00 - Andrew Watt: The Hitmaking Legend

1:12 - From Bieber to Ozzy: Watt’s Epic Journey

2:20 - Studio Sparks: Watt’s Energy vs. Cirkut’s Chill

4:47 - Rock Gods: Producing Pearl Jam & Stones

8:02 - Post Malone Meets Ozzy: A Game-Changer

9:31 - Rainbow Bar Magic: Ozzy & Post’s Collab

14:54 - Greece Hustle: $100/Week Tour Life

19:14 - Why Watt Never Quit Music

24:44 - Guitar to Glory: Cody Simpson to Bieber

27:01 - Music Truth: Results Are Everything

28:52 - “Let Me Love You”: Bieber’s Wild Ride

39:52 - Pop Hits: “Havana” & “Wolves” Secrets

42:02 - Dream Team: Ali, Brian & Pop Gold

46:21 - “Havana” Moment: Camila’s Mic Drop

48:27 - Post Malone: Instant Bond & Real Talk

50:06 - Imposter Syndrome: Honesty in the Studio

51:17 - “Stay”: Post’s Non-Pop Masterpiece

56:22 - “Peaches”: Justin’s Jam with Shawn & Hailey

58:38 - Demos That Hit Hard: Watt’s Emotions

1:00:36 - Lady Gaga: Crafting a Visual Epic

1:02:15 - Bruno & D’Mile: “Die with a Smile” Magic

1:06:34 - Prank Call Chaos

1:12:11 - Prank Aftermath

1:19:17 - Heartfelt Loss: Watt’s Tribute to a Friend

1:20:16 - Ozzy’s Advice: Be Kind on the Way Up

This season of And The Writer Is… is presented by the National Music Publishers’ Association (NMPA) — the voice of American songwriters, composers, and music publishers.

And The Writer Is...

Hosted by Ross Golan

Executive Produced by Joe London and Jad Saad

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

And the writer is… Tayla Parx!

In this episode, Tayla sits down with Ross to unpack how she’s navigated more than a decade at the top of the music industry — from her start in Hairspray to writing with Babyface, to becoming one of the few Black women with a #1 country song. She opens up about:

• Surviving the pressures of back-to-back sessions and industry burnout
• Turning setbacks into fuel for her artistry and business ventures
• Why branding yourself as a songwriter matters as much as the songs
• The art of staying relevant without chasing trends
• How to keep building a catalog that pays you for decades to come

For every songwriter, artist, or creative grinding to build a career that lasts — this is the blueprint.

🎧 Listen now and learn how Tayla Parx keeps writing hits… again and again.

Chapters

0:00 Teaser – Why Longevity Matters in Music

1:37 Intro: And The Writer Is… Tayla Parx!

8:33 From Dallas Kid to Hairspray & Nickelodeon Star

12:49 Finding Songwriting & Learning From Babyface

14:07 Leaving Acting Behind to Chase Music Full-Time

24:53 The Warner Chappell Era: Building a Writer Community

27:15 Breakthrough Hits: “Thank U, Next” & “High Hopes”

31:38 NMPA Ad – Fighting for Songwriter Rights

32:45 Inside the Story of “Thank U, Next”

39:37 How to Build a Catalog That Pays for Decades

40:55 “Love Lies” & Crossing Genres as a Hitmaker

50:34 Advocating for Women, Black Creatives & LGBTQ+ Voices

52:00 Why Tayla Still Releases Her Own Music

53:20 From Bieber to John Legend to Country #1

55:32 Exploring Jazz, R&B, and Children’s Music

59:34 Song Splits, Collaboration & Session Dynamics

1:03:41 Why Collaboration Matters (and When to Write Alone)

1:11:38 The Secret to Longevity & Reinvention

1:16:25 Closing Reflections & Legacy

And The Writer Is… is presented by The National Music Publishers’ Association (NMPA) — advocating for songwriters, music publishers, and their essential rights.

Learn more at NMPA.org

Hosted by Ross Golan

Executive Produced by Joe London and Jad Saad

Watercolor by Michael White

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With roots in Iceland and China, raised in a family of classical musicians, she grew up between symphony halls and jazz records — and has now become the defining voice of her generation.

Her music is a breathtaking blend of timeless jazz, classical elegance, and modern storytelling that has captivated millions around the world. From posting standards online during college to headlining the Hollywood Bowl, she’s built a movement — proving that jazz not only lives, but thrives in the hands of a new generation.

Her Grammy-winning sophomore album, Bewitched, cemented her as an international force. And now with her brand-new release, A Matter of Time, she dives deeper into emotional vulnerability and sonic ambition — pushing jazz, classical, and folk influences into a sound that feels both cinematic and intimate.

Named one of Time’s Women of the Year, celebrated by critics and adored by fans, she is redefining what it means to be an artist in the modern age.

And The Writer Is… Laufey!

And The Writer Is… is hosted by Ross Golan and executive produced by Joe London and Jad Saad.

As always, we’d like to thank our friends at the National Music Publishers’ Association. The NMPA is dedicated to protecting the rights of songwriters and music publishers, ensuring that the creators behind the songs we love are fairly represented and compensated. We’re grateful for their continued support of this show and our community of writers.

Learn more at NMPA.org

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Now, his songs have been streamed billions of times across the globe.

He’s headlined sold-out arenas on multiple continents, become a global fashion force, and built one of the most devoted fanbases of his generation.

He’s collaborated with legends like Max Martin, while never losing the raw honesty that made his music essential in the first place.

He’s not just a rising star — he’s already one of pop’s defining voices.

And with his new album, he proves that even at the biggest scale, vulnerability is still his superpower.

And the writer is… Conan Gray!

Follow us on socials!  @andthewriteris 

Thank you to NMPA for sponsoring this season, and fighting for songwriters as well as this podcast.

00:00 – This Is Conan Gray (teaser)

01:00 – Singing Disney With Ross 🎶

02:00 – From Bedroom Dreams to Billions

02:59 – Growing Up Lonely, Writing to Survive

04:45 – The Music Video That Rewired His Brain

06:30 – When Adele Proved Bedroom Songs Were Possible

07:30 – Uploading at Age 9 (Before He Knew the Internet)

14:15 – “Nothing Sounded Like Me”

15:45 – Panic Attacks → Falling in Love With Touring

21:15 – Dropping Out & Betting Everything on Music

23:20 – The Moment His Sister Realized He Was Famous

24:30 – Turning Heartbreak Into Healing on Stage

26:00 – The Nightmare of Empty Venues

28:30 – Dan Nigro: The Producer Who Changed Everything

30:15 – Why Conan Refuses to Believe He’s ‘Made It’

33:22 – Ad Break – Support Songwriters (NMPA)

34:00 – ‘Maniac’: The Shower Song That Hit a Billion 🚿

35:45 – Heather: The Song Everyone Slept On… Until They Didn’t

40:32 – Found Heaven: His Public Bootcamp

43:23 – Max Martin’s Biggest Lesson (That Changed His Writing)

47:00 – Rediscovering Himself on Wishbone

50:05 – The Falsetto High Note That Almost Broke Him

52:07 – Cornell: The Song Too Honest to Ignore

53:00 – Why Radical Honesty Is His Only Rule

55:00 – Why His Art Isn’t Just Music

56:00 – The Three Songs That Define His New Era

01:03:15 – What He’d Tell 12-Year-Old Conan

01:07:00 – Ross: “You Wrote a Song I Wish Was Mine”

Hosted by Ross Golan

Executive Produced by Joe London and Jad Saad

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Before the Grammys.

Before the 39 billion streams.

Before Say My Name changed the sound of radio forever.

He was just a kid on a New Jersey bus, chasing a dream no one else could see.

In this episode, legendary producer Rodney “Darkchild” Jerkins shares how faith, fire, and pure conviction took him from a basement studio to shaping the sound of a generation. From Michael Jackson to Beyoncé, Lady Gaga, and Sam Smith, Rodney opens up about the mindset behind the music — and why belief is still the most powerful tool a creator has.

You’ll hear about the reset that saved his career, the changing landscape of songwriting in the AI era, and the stories behind some of the most iconic records of the last 25 years.

And The Writer Is... Rodney Jerkins.

Topics:

• The real story behind Say My Name
• Working with Michael Jackson, Beyoncé, and Gaga
• Why belief matters more than talent
• How to stay inspired (even after burnout)
• AI, music tech, and what’s missing from today's process
• What every songwriter needs to know about their value
• 
  

Sponsored by:

SONA, DIMA, Amazon Music, and YouTube Songwriters.

Thank you for supporting us and protecting the future of songwriting!

Produced by Ross Golan, Joe London, and Jad Saad

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is more than a lesson in music. It’s a masterclass in how to make yourself essential in any room you enter.

In this episode, Ryan Tedder shares a raw, unfiltered blueprint for building a career that stands the test of time.

From mastering guitar, piano, and production to writing two songs a day, Ryan unpacks why versatility, humility, and relentless work ethic are the hidden currencies of longevity. He breaks down the mindset shifts that separate fleeting success from lasting impact, and why assuming everyone is more talented than you might just be your greatest advantage.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this conversation, Ryan Tedder rips the veil off fame and fortune, revealing the hidden costs of success, the brutal truths no one talks about, and his unfiltered blueprint for building wealth, longevity, and creative mastery in a world obsessed with trends. He dives deep into why most artists fail, how boredom became his superpower, and what it actually takes to build a legacy that lasts.

This isn’t an interview. It’s a wake-up call for every creator chasing relevance in 2025 and beyond.

And The Writer Is… Ryan Tedder! (Part 3)

Produced by Joe London, Ross Golan, & Jad Saad

Chapters:

00:00 Intro

00:52 His Morning Routine That Changed Everything

02:06 How Boredom Made Him Creative

03:40 The Hidden Dark Side of Fame

05:50 Justin Timberlake’s Brutal Warning

10:15 Fame is a Prison: Stories from the Top

14:14 Why He Hid His Singing Talent as a Kid

17:25 Lady Gaga’s Secret Ambition Revealed

20:55 Money Makes You a Target

23:02 His Dream: Rich But Unknown

25:26 Investing Millions Outside Music

27:05 Why Famous Artists Go Broke

31:02 Getting Dropped Saved His Career

36:13 What $50 Million a Year Really Means

39:22 NMPA Sponsor Break

41:01 Labels Want You Wild & Broke

44:40 Can You Win Without Flexing?

47:12 Managers Who Destroy Artists’ Careers

50:52 Why Tate McRae Is Built Different

53:37 OneRepublic’s Secret to Longevity

57:12 Sync Deals vs Streaming: Where Money Really Is

01:00:52 His Songwriting Secrets & ‘God Moments’

01:05:00 How He Stays Creative After 20+ Years

01:09:00 The Role of Trust in Hit-Making

01:13:00 Stories of Working With DJs & Pop Stars

01:17:00 The Future of Music & AI’s Impact

01:21:00 His Philosophy on Work Ethic & Success

01:25:00 Final Words: Advice to Creators

01:29:00 Outro

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Subscribe for more industry insight and give us a rating if you enjoyed this! It helps us keep this show free forever, which is our commitment to the industry and our audience.

Presented by NMPA

https://www.nmpa.org/

Chapters:

0:00 Why Songs Don’t Blow Up

0:15 Is Inspiration Overrated?

0:33 Writing Big Songs While Uninspired

1:05 How Russ Would Start From Zero Today

1:24 Stockpiling Songs & Posting Strategy

1:57 Do You Want Success Bad Enough?

2:01 Russ’ Duality: Confidence vs. Doubt

2:21 The Power of Delusional Self-Belief

3:02 Why Songwriters Should Stop Giving Songs Away

3:51 Why Most Artists Stay Broke

5:06 Taking Control of Your Music Business

6:38 The Purity of Creating Without an Audience

7:04 The Audience Picks The Hits

8:07 Russ’ Song-a-Week Strategy Explained

8:39 When a Song Flops: Russ on Bankrupt

9:13 Why It’s Okay If It’s Not The One

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Produced by Joe London, Ross Golan, and Jad Saad

Special thank you to our season sponsor NMPA!

Chapters:

00:01:36 – Start Here: Why This Episode Will Change You

00:02:37 – How Jessie Met Eminem and Earned His Respect

00:09:50 – What Jessie Learned Giving Back to Songwriters

00:16:52 – Jessie’s First Song Ever (It’s Cringey… and Brilliant)

00:18:28 – Jessie’s Crazy Lyric Memory & Why It Matters

00:18:51 – From Choir Rooms to Stadiums: Where It All Began

00:27:57 – The Moment She Gave Herself One Year 

00:31:12 – How Her Mom’s Brutal English Drills Made Jessie a Genius

00:35:35 – What Happens After the Hit? Jessie Tells All

00:37:11 – The Exact Moment She Knew Her Life Was Changing

00:42:36 – The Video That Changed Everything (She Almost Didn't Post)

00:45:14 – How a $50 Bus Ride Got Her Into the Remix Project

00:48:18 – Why She Stayed Up 14 Hours Editing Her First Video

00:50:12 – The Brave Story Jessie Told That Changed Everything

00:51:17 – Writing 'Figures' — The Raw, Drunken, Real Truth

00:56:44 – The Writing Camp That Sparked Her Breakthrough Hit

00:57:11 – How 'Figures' Was Really Written (And Why It Still Hurts)

01:00:00 – Gatekeeper: Calling Out Sexism in the Music Industry

01:01:42 – What MeToo Missed — And What Jessie Risked to Say

01:02:58 – The Heavy Cost of Telling the Truth

01:05:43 – Why Being Vulnerable is Jessie’s Greatest Superpower

01:06:20 – Jessie on Drake, Bieber, The Weeknd & Canadian Greatness

01:07:14 – Why So Many GOATs Come Out of Canada

01:08:11 – From Open Mics to Eminem: The Legacy She’s Building

01:18:14 – The Insane Calvin Harris Story (You Won’t Believe This One)

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

0:00 – Intro: Sobriety, Fear & Creativity 

0:55 – NMPA Sponsor Message 

3:25 – Growing Up in the Chicago Suburbs 

6:15 – Musical Upbringing: Classical Roots & Church Influence 

9:05 – Early Influences: CDs, Cassettes & Graceland 

12:05 – Bear Killer, Drums & Songwriting Beginnings 

17:30 – From Church Bands to Writing Real Songs 

20:50 – Leaving Home & Moving to Nashville 

27:30 – First Touring Gig & Life Lessons 

30:50 – Discovering Production via the Christian Music Scene 

35:50 – A Decade of Struggle Before the Breakthrough 

40:50 – Why Ian Never Quit (Even With Kids) 

45:00 – Golden Hour Era: Writing With Kacey 

50:50 – Making Golden Hour Using Logic Stock Sounds 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

He’s a rapper, singer, songwriter, and producer who built his career from the ground up. in this rare conversation, he opens up about the side of the journey we don’t usually hear:

The emotional weight of ownership, the mental toll of doing it all alone, and the belief system that kept him going when no one else did.

This is a blueprint for any creative who wants to build something real without losing their peace.

And The Writer Is... Russ!

Chapters

00:00 – Intro

02:14 – How Russ Beat the System Without Selling His Soul

04:16 – Childhood Chaos, Cop Cars & Creative Spark

07:06 – Soulja Boy, Pep Rallies & Atlanta Music Culture

08:19 – Rock Ballads & Soul Roots You Didn’t Expect

10:11 – The Guitar That Started It All

11:49 – GarageBand & Making Beats for Friends

12:41 – Wayne, Wiz & Folk Rock: A Weird Musical Diet

13:56 – Why Russ Doesn’t Sound Like Anyone Else

15:29 – Publishing Wars: Russ vs. Drum Programmers

26:18 – Why Songwriters Are Fighting for the Wrong Money

29:32 – The $850K Sample Mistake

30:21 – Power, Control & Protecting His Business

34:05 – Why He Still Handles His Own Deals

35:11 – A Wake-Up Call to Songwriters: Keep Your Records

39:03 – When a Song Hits Mid-Dinner, You Leave

41:44 – Burnout, Collaboration & Creative Revival

45:11 – The Line He’ll Never Cross in Rap

48:01 – Turning Fights Into Hits (Literally)

50:07 – Writing in the Shower & Whispering Hooks at 2AM

54:14 – Harmonizing with His Partner—In Music and Life

56:02 – When He Doesn’t Create, Everything Unravels

57:09 – The 20% Rule That Changed His Sanity

58:07 – How Columbia Let Him Stay Indie (Kind Of)

61:06 – Ownership, Spending, and Where the Real Money Is

63:56 – What Russ Would Do If He Had to Start Over

65:19 – Vulnerability vs. Confidence: The Real Inner Battle

66:07 – Why He Samples Even Though He Can Write Anything

66:38 – Burnout & Building a Life Outside of Music

67:52 – Being Your Own Engine (and Breaking Down)

69:25 – The Hidden Prison of Fame

70:38 – Panic Attacks, Depression & Healing

72:01 – Therapy, Faith & Finding Balance

75:17 – Music as Medicine (and a Mental Trap)

78:42 – Dopamine Detox & Spiritual Warfare

81:11 – Why He Hates LA

82:22 – “I Can Make a Hit in 20 Minutes”—But Should I?

83:33 – Escaping the Productivity Hamster Wheel

84:38 – A $25M Lesson Every Artist Should Hear

86:51 – Love, Identity, and the Power of a Creative Partner

89:09 – Real Talk on Timing, Trust, and Tension

90:54 – What Actually Grounds Russ (That You Don’t See Online)

92:33 – What He Hopes to Be Remembered For

94:10 – For the Dreamer Who’s Almost Out of Gas

96:22 – Why Gratitude Isn’t Optional

97:47 – Ego vs. Purpose: The Shift That Saved His Career

99:21 – Navigating Hate, Criticism & Longevity

102:06 – Owning Your Story Without Needing a Comeback

104:33 – Faith, Flow & Letting Go

107:18 – Redefining Wealth: What Energy Are You Leaving Behind?

109:55 – Art as Therapy: Why He’ll Never Stop Writing

112:11 – Leaving a Legacy Without Forcing It

115:03 – What He Still Doesn’t Feel Comfortable Sharing

117:12 – A Final Message to Artists Who Feel Alone

120:10 – Outro: What Russ Hopes You Take From This Episode

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From spearheading groundbreaking legislation like the Music Modernization Act to navigating complex battles over streaming royalties and copyright protections, David shares a behind-the-scenes look at the work that goes into defending the value of songwriting. With unique insights into policy, publishing, and the business of music, this candid conversation reveals why David is one of the most pivotal figures working on behalf of songwriters today.

If you care about music creators and the future of songwriting, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.

00:00 – Intro: Why This Episode Matters More Than Ever

03:40 – How Songwriters Get Paid (Explained Like You’re 15)

05:19 – The Truth About Songwriter Pay: 75% Controlled by the Government

07:28 – The Music Modernization Act: Progress or Political Cover-Up?

09:13 – The Broken System: Why Songwriters Can’t Say No

12:01 – Artists vs. Songwriters: The Industry's Unspoken Divide

13:50 – Ghostwriting, Publishing Abuse & The Elvis Tax Nobody Talks About

20:16 – Why Unionizing Won’t Save Songwriters (And What Might)

23:55 – What the CRB Is — And Why It Still Screws Creators

26:22 – Free Market vs. Rigged Game: Labels Win, Songwriters Lose

28:33 – Why Songwriters Have No Real Political Power

31:01 – Consent Decrees Explained: The 1940s Laws Holding Music Back

33:19 – Selective Withdrawals: A Strategy That Could Change Everything

39:10 – Are Big Publishers Quietly Crippling Independent Writers?

45:25 – The Power of ‘No’: The One Tool Songwriters Don’t Actually Have

46:25 – Are Labels and Publishers Working Against Each Other?

49:45 – The Billion-Dollar Boom: Why Everyone’s Selling Their Catalogs

54:37 – Final Word: Gratitude, Hope & the Fight Ahead

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

00:00 - Intro 

01:07 - Growing Up in L.A. 

03:52 - Music as Math? 

06:16 - 100% Songs, No Concept First 

08:08 - First Song Became a Jack Collab 

10:04 - Social Anxiety + Going Out Hard 

12:06 - Fans, Fame & Divine Feminine Energy 

15:41 - Jillian vs. BANKS 

18:10 - Stage Fright to Frontwoman 

21:13 - Regrets & Album Titles That Got Away 

22:28 - Streaming Era Beginnings 

27:02 - Indie Artist Real Talk 

31:12 - Viral Hits vs. Tour Culture 

34:09 - “Don’t Try To Write a Hit” 

36:04 - Underrated BANKS Songs 

38:05 - Why This Album, Why Now 

39:28 - How “I Hate Your Ex” Happened 

41:24 - Voice as a Shape-Shifter 

42:02 - Collaboration Energy Shift 

43:03 - Studio Magic Stories 

44:14 - Writing for Other Artists? 

46:18 - Why Artists Look to BANKS 

48:06 - 3 Life-Changing Decisions 

49:40 - Five-for-Five Lightning Round 

53:08 - Music + Visuals Are One 

54:16 - Ross on BANKS’ Legacy

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode Timestamps:

0:00 Bellion’s Return & Industry Fire 

0:36 Ross ATWI Intro

2:05 Supporting Songwriters’ Rights 

2:41 Jon Bellion Returns After 6 Years 

3:56 Jon vs. the Algorithm 

6:56 AI, Effort & Meaning 

9:22 Craft Over Convenience 

11:57 Identity, Process & Philosophy 

18:21 Credit, Ego & Industry Power 

25:32 Sponsor Message from NMPA

27:09 Staying Dangerous with Purpose 

32:06 Becoming the Label 

45:07 Removing Ego from the Process 

50:41 Returning to Joy in Creation 

54:58 Art vs. Math in Production 

57:23 Hits Beyond the U.S. 

1:05:16 On Raising Creative Kids 

1:07:52 Jon's Words of Advice to His Younger Self

1:18:06 Grief, Healing & Writing Through Loss 

1:22:32 What Success Really Means in 2025 

1:25:00 Writing vs. Recognition 

1:47:58 ATWI Credits & Closing Reflections

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

And the writer is… D4vd!

0:00 Trailer Hook — Billion Streams Surprise 

1:32 Intro — From Phone to Playlist 

3:15 Growing Up — Early Life and Music Influences 

8:45 First Uploads — BandLab, YouTube, and Finding His Sound 

13:20 Going Viral — The Moment Everything Changed 

17:50 Pressure and Expectations — How He Handled the Blow-Up 

20:42 My Process — How I Make Music on a Phone 

23:10 Behind the Hits — How ‘Here With Me’ + ‘Romantic Homicide’ Happened 

26:17 What SZA Told Me That Changed Everything 

34:08 Advice for Young Artists — Make Music Nobody Wants 

36:09 Beyond Music — Directing, Acting, Manga Dreams 

43:35 Disrupting the Industry — Freaking Out the Business 

44:40 Validation Moment — Sitting Where Legends Sit

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

And the writer is… Edgar Barrera!

Timestamp | Chapter Title

00:00 | Intro and Sponsor

00:45 | Meet Your Host: Ross Golan

01:08 | Follow @AndTheWriterIs

01:17 | Presented by NMPA

02:09 | Guest Introduction: Edgar Barrera

03:00 | How Edgar Became a Hitmaker

06:30 | Global Success and Crossover Hits

10:00 | Writing for Regional Mexican Artists

15:00 | Secrets Behind Chart-Topping Songs

19:00 | Challenges and Pressure of Success

23:00 | Building a Cross-Cultural Career

28:00 | The Power of Simplicity in Songwriting

32:00 | Lessons from Collaborating with Legends

37:00 | How Edgar Approaches Artist Development

42:00 | Staying Grounded Amid Global Fame

47:00 | Behind The Scenes of Major Hits

52:00 | Edgar’s Advice to the Next Generation

57:00 | Wrapping Up: Gratitude and Staying Inspired

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

And the producer and songwriter is...Dernst "D'Mile" Emile II!

00:00 - Cold Open: Gaga, Bruno & a Midnight Session 

00:28 - Intro: Welcome to And The Writer Is  

01:22 - How D’Mile Got His Name  

05:10 - Growing Up with Jazz, Gospel & Biggie  

10:30 - Producing His First Song at Age 6  

12:15 - Almost Signed to Universal at 19  

16:45 - Rodney Jerkins & Darkchild Studio Era  

21:05 - 9 Creatives in a 3-Bedroom Apartment  

25:30 - Inspiration vs. Competition in the Come-Up  

27:20 - D’Mile Nearly Quit Music in 2017  

34:17 - The Comeback: Lucky Daye & Victoria Monét  

38:16 - How Silk Sonic Started from One Song  

46:44 - Making “Leave the Door Open”  

50:18 - “Die With A Smile” feat. Gaga & Bruno  

51:58 - Producing the Artist’s Soul  

59:00 - Copy-Paste Industry vs. Timeless Records  

01:01:08 - Final Thoughts: Doing It His Way

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

And the writer is... Teddy Swims

Timestamp | Chapter Title

00:00 | Quick Message from Our Sponsor

01:43 | Meet Your Host: Ross Golan

02:39 | Teddy Swims: From Georgia to Global

03:30 | Leaving Football Behind for Music

08:00 | Finding His Voice Through Theater

12:30 | Tattoos, Identity, and Early Reinvention

17:00 | First Bands, Bad Songs, and Growing Up

21:50 | Sponsor Break

22:00 | The Dark Side of Touring and Mental Health

26:30 | Why Teddy Started Therapy (and How It Changed Him)

31:00 | Songwriting Camps, Magic, and the "Elf Theory"

35:30 | How Teddy Learned to Choose Songs Like a Pro

40:00 | The Origin of "Teddy Swims" (and a Crazy Early Tour)

44:00 | How Covers Blew Up Teddy’s Career During the Pandemic

47:00 | Signing with Warner: Building a Real Career

50:00 | Losing Faith, Rebuilding, and Finding His Sound

53:00 | Breaking Out with "Lose Control"

56:00 | What It Takes to Really Make It (Lessons Learned)

58:00 | 5 for 5: Teddy Swims Rapid Fire Q&A

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Chartmetric is the all-in-one platform for artists and music industry professionals, providing comprehensive streaming, social, and audience data. Since 2016, Chartmetric has strived to ensure everyone can have a successful career in music. Their easy-to-understand and powerful analytics on over 10 million artists and 100 million tracks will help answer all of your questions, from tracking your stats to discovering new talents. From playlist placements to stream counts to follower demographics and much more, it’s never been easier to understand how your artists fit in the music industry, and how they can grow. What’s even better is that Chartmetric does the work for you, providing actionable insights and beautiful visuals on their up-to-date global data from over 15 different social and streaming platforms. Find out more at chartmetric.com!

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And The Writer Is…Wiz Khalifa!

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And The Writer Is…Ashley Gorley!

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And The Writer Is…Steph Jones!

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Twenty years ago, APG set out with a bold vision: to be an independent powerhouse for both music publishing and artist development. Founded by Mike Caren, APG has grown into a unique space where creativity thrives and where artists can build their brands and realize their visions on their own terms. It’s been a launchpad for incredible talent like Charlie Puth, Kehlani, Kevin Gates, Ava Max, and so many others. But more than that, it’s been a platform where music creators are empowered to succeed on every level—whether it’s securing partnerships across film, TV, and advertising, or finding the best possible collaborations with writers and producers who help bring their music to life.

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And The Writer Is…Jack Antonoff!

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And The Writer Is…Amy Allen!

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And The Writer Is…Stephan Moccio!

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And The Writer Is…Jeff “Gitty” Gitelman!

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And the writer is…Lizzy McAlpine!

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And The Writer Is…Dan Nigro!

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And The Writer Is…Camila Cabello!

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Alex founded Sound Royalties in 2014 with the vision of providing funding to music creatives without ever taking ownership of the underlying copyrights. Its unique business model, tailored to creatives’ individual needs, lets creators keep 100% ownership of their copyrights while providing ongoing cash flow during the term of the advance. The company works with all types of royalty streams to maximize a creative’s options, going far beyond solely music streaming platform revenues. To serve its thousands of customers in 16 countries, it works with more than 130 PROs, publishers, labels, and distributors across three continents and maintains an international network of representatives who know their region’s music professionals.

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by Ahlei, and “Sundress” by Devin Kennedy!

In Part 2 of Episode 1 of Ross and Joe’s new live web series, “And The Demo Is…”, the guys critique the songs “Every Season” by Philip Bowen (Twitter: @Philbow55, IG: @philipbowenmusic, TikTok: @philipbowenmusic), “Never Have I” written by Ahlei (Twitter: @itsjoeyc_, IG: @itsjoeyc_, TikTok: @itsjoeyc_) and M Basa, and “Sundress” by Devin Kennedy (Twitter: @DevKennedyMusic, IG: @DevKennedyMusic, TikTok: @DevKennedyMusic).

Big thanks to YouTube for their support!

To submit your demo for Ross and Joe to critique visit: https://linktr.ee/andthewriteris

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Ross and Joe’s new live web series, “And The Demo Is…”, launched on the ATWI Official YouTube Channel December 17th, 2020. In the series, dedicated to highlighting and mentoring new songwriters, Joe and Ross provided a real-time critique and offered tips on the featured demos. In Part 1 of Episode 2 which aired on Friday, March 26, the guys give feedback on the song “Shatter” by Malena Cadiz ( IG: @malena.cadiz / TikTok: @malena.cadiz) who collaborated on the song with songwriter, Marshall Gallagher (IG: @swinghero). They also critique “Staying” by Kyle Reynolds (Twitter: @KyReynoldsMusic / IG: @kylereynoldsmusic / TikTok: @kylereynoldsmusic), which was co-written by Ellee Duke (IG: @elleeduke). The last demo they went over on Part 1, Episode 2 of ATWI was “Where Do We Go” by Naashi (IG: @naashiwroteit / Twitter: @_naashi_ / TikTok: @naashi) who wrote the song with Kyle Junior (IG: @kylejunior). 

Big thanks to YouTube for their support!

To submit your demo for Ross and Joe to critique visit: https://linktr.ee/andthewriteris

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by Ahlei, and “Sundress” by Devin Kennedy!

In Part 2 of Episode 1 of Ross and Joe’s new live web series, “And The Demo Is…”, the guys critique the songs “Every Season” by Philip Bowen (Twitter: @Philbow55, IG: @philipbowenmusic, TikTok: @philipbowenmusic), “Never Have I” written by Ahlei (Twitter: @itsjoeyc_, IG: @itsjoeyc_, TikTok: @itsjoeyc_) and M Basa, and “Sundress” by Devin Kennedy (Twitter: @DevKennedyMusic, IG: @DevKennedyMusic, TikTok: @DevKennedyMusic).

Big thanks to YouTube for their support!

To submit your demo for Ross and Joe to critique visit: https://linktr.ee/andthewriteris

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Ross and Joe’s new live web series, “And The Demo Is…”, launched on the ATWI Official YouTube Channel Thursday, December 17th, 2020. In the series, dedicated to highlighting and mentoring new songwriters, Joe and Ross provided a real-time critique and offered tips on the featured demos. In Part 1 of Episode 1 of ATDI, the guys give feedback on the song “Better” by Tyreeq DeMarious (Twitter: @TyreeqDeMarious / IG: @tyreeqdemariousmusic) who collaborated on the song with producer, RISC (IG @madebyrisc). They also critique “Easily” by John The Dropout (Twitter: @johnthedropout / IG: @johnthedropout / TikTok: @johnthedropout), which was co-written by Jess Farren & Tony Chetta. 

Big thanks to YouTube for their support!

To submit your demo for Ross and Joe to critique visit: https://linktr.ee/andthewriteris

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