SongWriter turns stories into songs
Ben Arthur
SongWriter is a storytelling and songwriting podcast where stories become brand new songs. In each episode, a celebrated writer shares a story, and a musician writes and performs a song inspired by it — revealing how narratives turn into music, lyrics, and emotion.Hosted by Ben Arthur, SongWriter features conversations and performances from artists including Questlove, Joyce Carol Oates, George Saunders, Steve Earle, David Sedaris, and David Gilmour of Pink Floyd. The show blends the craft of writing, the creative processes of art, and intimate connections between authors and musicians.If you love great stories and great songs — and want a behind-the-scenes look at creativity from some of today’s most influential artists — this is your next listen.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Oct 27, 2020 • 30min
Joyce Carol Oates + Tony Trischka + Jennifer Marks
Bestselling author Joyce Carol Oates reads a haunting story, and banjo legend Tony Trischka and songwriter Jennifer Marks each play songs written in response. The show was recorded at a live performance in New York City, with Grammy-nominated musician Tracy Bonham performing with Tony Trischka, and comedy legend Steve Martin in the audience.https://SongWriterPodcast.comTwitter.com/SnogWriterInstagram.com/SongWriterPodcastFacebook.com/SongWriterPodcast
Oct 13, 2020 • 19min
Alison Gaylin + Colin McGrath
Author Alison Gaylin reads an excerpt from "Never Look Back," a novel based loosely on the Starkweather murders. Gaylin discusses how Caril Ann Fugate was understood at the time to be a willing accomplice (she is portrayed that way in Springsteen's "Nebraska" and "Natural Born Killers," which were also based on the notorious murder spree), but points out that Fugate was just 14 years-old when she was kidnapped and raped by Starkweather.Songwriter Colin McGrath discusses the book, and how hard it can be to tell his young daughter the sometimes-awful truth. He plays "Dear Aurora Grace," his musical response to Gaylin's book.https://SongWriterPodcast.comTwitter.com/SnogWriterInstagram.com/SongWriterPodcastFacebook.com/SongWriterPodcast
Sep 29, 2020 • 21min
Lauren Morrill + Justin Cutway + Vinson Muhammad
Lauren Morrill, who writes young adult fiction, tells a true story about adolescent infatuation and the humiliations it can cause. Acoustic guitarist Justin Cutway performs a song that he says was NOT easy to write, and rapper Vinson Muhammad performs a spoken word piece inspired by both Lauren and Lil' Wayne.https://SongWriterPodcast.comTwitter.com/SnogWriterInstagram.com/SongWriterPodcastFacebook.com/SongWriterPodcast
Sep 15, 2020 • 28min
Mike Veve + Johnny Leitera
Poet Mike Veve reads a ghost story on themes of homelessness at a live performance in New York City, and Johnny Leitera of the band Tuff Sunshine talks about writing with an assist from technology, and performs “Middle Man.”https://SongWriterPodcast.comTwitter.com/SnogWriterInstagram.com/SongWriterPodcastFacebook.com/SongWriterPodcast
Sep 1, 2020 • 21min
Lou Barrett + Michelle Gaw
Poet and author Lou Barrett tells a story about falling in love with their high school best friend, and about coming to grips with their sexual identity. Songwriter Michelle Gaw speaks about friendship and sexuality, and performs her song “What Makes a Friend” live at a house concert in Cleveland, Ohio.https://SongWriterPodcast.comTwitter.com/SnogWriterInstagram.com/SongWriterPodcastFacebook.com/SongWriterPodcast
Aug 18, 2020 • 11min
Ethan Lipton + Sarah Jaffe
Playwright and songwriter Ethan Lipton reads a fictional speech at a live performance in New York City, and Texan songwriter Sarah Jaffe plays a song she wrote in response.https://SongWriterPodcast.comTwitter.com/SnogWriterInstagram.com/SongWriterPodcastFacebook.com/SongWriterPodcast
Aug 4, 2020 • 18min
Amy Turn Sharp + Parker Paul
Poet Amy Turn Sharp reads a piece inspired by the death of her mother. In it she describes how she began leaving her baby teeth, one by one, in places that have emotional resonance in her life. Songwriter Parker Paul, who is an old friend of Amy’s, performs his song “Baby Teeth,” at a live performance in Columbus, Ohio.https://SongWriterPodcast.comTwitter.com/SnogWriterInstagram.com/SongWriterPodcastFacebook.com/SongWriterPodcast
Jul 21, 2020 • 15min
Louisa Young + Miranda Joy
Author Louisa Young reads from her memoir You Left Early, about love and alcoholism, and discusses how insidious the disease is for its victims, and for the people that love them. Pianist and songwriter Miranda Joy performs “Carry You Around,” live in the clock tower of St. Pancras Station in London.https://SongWriterPodcast.comTwitter.com/SnogWriterInstagram.com/SongWriterPodcastFacebook.com/SongWriterPodcast
Jul 7, 2020 • 21min
Dodai Stewart + Natalia Zukerman
Writer and NYT editor Dodai Stewart tells a story about destiny, choice, and tarot cards that she wrote specially for SongWriter, and slide guitarist Natalia Zukerman performs her song “Storm Cloud Rising,” and talks about her own recent tangles with fate.https://SongWriterPodcast.com/StewartTwitter.com/SnogWriterInstagram.com/SongWriterPodcastFacebook.com/SongWriterPodcast
Jun 23, 2020 • 23min
Soman Chainani + Cave Twins
Author of the bestselling School for Good and Evil series (which is currently becoming a Netflix show), Soman Chainani, reads a children’s story he wrote for SongWriter, about an evil bear that eats children. David Mayfield and Abby Rose, who perform as Cave Twins, share their song, “Mighty Mountain Monster,” and talk about how America’s political divisions inform their art.https://SongWriterPodcast.com/ChainaniTwitter.com/SnogWriterInstagram.com/SongWriterPodcastFacebook.com/SongWriterPodcast
