Songwriters on Process

Morgan Nagler has co-written with HAIM, Phoebe Bridgers, Kim Deal, Madi Diaz, and Margo Price among others. And now comes her fantastic debut solo album I've Got Nothing to Lose, and I'm Losing It. We go deep into her songwriting process on the pod, including a discussion of why physical movement is so important to the creative process.

My New Band Believe is Cameron Picton's new band after his time as the bassist and sometimes frontman for black midi. We go deep into his songwriting process, including a discussion of how sounds outside the studio affect his songwriting. My New Band Believe's self-titled debut is on Rough Trade Records.

It's the return of Carl Newman of The New Pornographers! We were just kids back in 2015 when I first interviewed Newman and we discussed his love of the 10cc song "Dreadlock Holiday." We return to that song in this episode, and we span the entirety of Newman's songwriting process, including a great discussion of why writing badly is so important and why gibberish is a great way to jump start the process.The New Pornographers' latest album is The Former Site Of  on Merge Records.

Kyle Thomas, aka King Tuff, is a singer-songwriter and visual artist who treats clothing, scent, and ritual as creative tools. He talks about daily creativity, visual art as a pressure-free well, how seasons and smells spark songs, cluttered workspaces that feel like home, night-time focus, and quick “lightning” songs that arrive whole.

"I very much consider myself a writer," Lindsey Jordan (Snail Mail) says. And any good writer has a ritual. Part of Jordan's ritual involves the balance between keeping the writing process precious and recognizing that too much preciousness can create a rut. Regardless, Jordan's love of reading (and poetry!) makes her one hell of a lyricist. Snail Mail's latest album is Ricochet.

Nate Ruess's songwriting catalog includes his Grammy winning band Fun; his co-write and co-performance with P!nk on "Just Give Me a Reason"; and songs for Hayley Williams, Kesha, and Young Thug. After feeling no urge to write for ten years, he's back with the first new material in twenty years for his band The Format.  Their new album is Boycott Heaven. And as you'll hear, nothing gets Ruess in the songwriting groove quite like a good, long run along the beach. 

Tyler Ballgame, singer-songwriter and Rough Trade recording artist, shares his quirky creative life. He talks about dreams and mindless flow as sources for melodies. He describes using voice memos, walks and airplanes as liminal sparks. He celebrates procrastination, messy workspaces, and ritual setups that flip the switch to write.

Buck Meek, singer-songwriter and guitarist from Big Thief, reflects on his solo album The Mirror and his creative habits. He likens songwriting to everyday life and oceanic fluid dynamics. He describes routines, using movement like swimming to unblock, preferring concise song forms, and starting playfully to invite experimentation.

Jade Long and Jessica Thompson of Athens, Georgia based Hotel Fiction have a simple routine for their songwriting sessions: make some brownies, pour some wine. And they like to be outside. It's not complicated. But while food, drink, and the outdoors are all common sources of inspiration for songwriters, one element of the Hotel Fiction writing process is unique. When they're outside, they often prefer the top of a parking deck on the University of Georgia's campus. (Long and Thompson are both UGA alums.)I've been a big Hotel Fiction fan ever since discovering them on a trip to Athens a few years ago. Our daughter is also a UGA alum and still lives in Athens, so we go there often. The city obviously has a rich music history, and there's still a lot of great music there.Hotel Fiction's latest album is Staring at the Sun.

Nat and Alex Wolff, brothers who act and write songs, blend stage craft with songwriting. They talk artistic nutrients like Sam Shepard and other literary influences. They compare acting techniques to lyric writing, debate fast versus slow songs, and explain how discipline, incubation, and release dates shape their work.