Sodajerker On Songwriting Episode 313 - Cory Wong
Mar 4, 2026
Cory Wong, Grammy-nominated guitarist, songwriter and producer known for Vulfpeck and big collaborations. He talks about making his album Lost in the Wonder, using voice memos to catch ideas, keeping demo magic in final takes, designing clever production tricks and how collaborators change his process. Short stories reveal song origins, live recording moments and arranging with strings and groove.
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Louvre Conversation Sparked A Song
- Lisa Never Wanted To Be Famous came from a conversation with Theo at the Louvre about the Mona Lisa's unintended fame.
- Theo wrote lyrics on the plane home and Cory turned that concept into a full song.
Masking Heavy Lyrics With Bright Production
- Juxtaposing somber lyrics with upbeat production creates human complexity and emotional ambiguity.
- Cory intentionally balances melancholy subject matter with playful grooves to reflect how people mask feelings.
Use Simple Production Tricks For Surprise
- Use production tricks like copied-note stutters and unexpected modulations to make predictable song moments feel fresh.
- On Tongue Tied he duplicated a recorded note for a stutter effect and modulated up a minor third for the solo.