Interviews | Songwriting Magazine

Ruen Brothers

Interview: Ruen Brothers

July 17, 2018 in Features, Interviews

We chat to brothers Henry and Rupert Stanshall about their debut album and working with the legendary producer Rick Rubin… Tags: Chad Smith, Dave Keuning, Henry Stansall, Ian McLagan, Rick Rubin, Rupert Stanshall

Swing Out Sister

How I wrote ‘Breakout’ by Swing Out Sister

July 14, 2018 in Features, Interviews

Corinne Drewery and Andy Connell explain how the 1986 World Cup and a panic-inducing deadline inspired their sophisti-pop hit single… Tags: 80s, A Certain Ratio, Andy Connell, Breakout, Corinne Drewery, How I wrote, Joe Zawinul, Martin Jackson, Mercury Records, Paul Staveley O'Duffy, Phonogram Records, sophisti-pop, Swing Out Sister, Weather Report

Germein

Songs In The Key Of… Adelaide

July 10, 2018 in Features, Interviews, Music

Australian sibling pop act Germein take a break from supporting Little Mix to share a playlist inspired by their home-city… Tags: Bad Dreems, Bjéar, Dumb Things, Electric Fields, Germein, Heaps Good Friends, Hilltop Hoods, Little Mix, Sia, Timberwolf, Wanderers

The First Song

July 3, 2018 in Features, Interviews

Hear how songwriters like Gene Simmons, Janis Ian, Adam Duritz, Loudon Wainwright III, Roger Cook and BC Jean got started… Tags: Adam Duritz, BC Jean, Gene Simmons, Janis Ian, Loudon Wainwright III, Mark E Everett, Roger Cook, Ward Thomas, Wayne Hussey

Taylor Goldsmith of Dawes' Songwriting Survival Kit

Taylor Goldsmith of Dawes’ Songwriting Survival Kit

June 22, 2018 in Features, Interviews

The LA indie band’s frontman is a sucker for a good pen; find out what else he can’t do without… Tags: #SongwritingSurvivalKit, Blake Mills, Dawes, drum machine, Gibson, notebook, pen, Taylor Goldsmith, Yamaha

Lachlan Bryan & The Wildes

Interview: Lachlan Bryan & The Wildes

May 30, 2018 in Features, Interviews

The lead singer of this acclaimed alt-country/Americana band from Melbourne, Australia, tells us about his inspiration and approach to songwriting… Tags: Bob Dylan, Carol King, Damian Cafarella, Don Walker, Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, Gotye, Imogen Clark, Judee Sill, Lachlan Bryan, Lindi Ortega, Maverick Festival, Nick Cave, Phil Lee, Ray Charles, Shanley Del, Taylor Smith, Taylor Smith and The Roamin' Jasmine, The Basics, The Wildes, Tom Waits, Wally de Backer, Wilco, Willie Nelson

How I wrote ‘Shelter’ by The Brand New Heavies’ Jan Kincaid

May 24, 2018 in Features, Interviews

The former drummer and songwriter of the London-based acid jazz-funk group, talks about the making of his dramatic, groove-led single… Tags: Andrew Levy, Carleen Anderson, Dawn Joseph, FFRR, Henry Binns, Jan Kincaid, Jay Ella Ruth, N'Dea Davenport, Nicole Russo, Siedah Garrett, Simon Bartholomew, Sy Smith, The Brand New Heavies, Zero 7

Josh T Pearson. Pic: Eliot Lee Hazel

Interview: Josh T. Pearson

May 16, 2018 in Features, Interviews

The release of his surprisingly straight new album gave us the opportunity to chat with this hero of alternative country… Tags: alt-country, Andy Young, Austin, Bob Dylan, iambic meter, Josh T Pearson, Lift To Experience, Limestone County

Chas Hodges

Interview: Chas Hodges

May 10, 2018 in Features, Interviews

With a new Chas & Dave album out now, it’s time we caught up with one of the rockney gods… Tags: Albert Lee, Chas & Dave, Chas Hodges, Dave Peacock, Hugh Laurie, Joe Henry, Joe Meek, John Sullivan, Jools Holland, Mick Underwood, Mike Berry, Mike Berry & The Outlaws, Only Fools And Horses, Paul McCartney, Ritchie Blackmore, rockney, The Beatles

Gretchen Peters Songwriting Survival Kit

Gretchen Peters’ Songwriting Survival Kit

May 3, 2018 in Features, Gear, Interviews

We find out the Nashville Songwriters Hall Of Fame inductee’s indispensable tools of her trade include coffee, naps and solitude… Tags: Gibson, Gretchen Peters, MacBook, Nashville Songwriters Hall Of Fame, Nespresso, Steven Pressfield, TuneSmith

The Levellers' Mark Chadwick

Interview: The Levellers’ Mark Chadwick

May 3, 2018 in Features, Interviews

Celebrating their 30th anniversary, the punk-folk-rock band’s frontman and songwriter talks about his mysterious craft, finding inspiration, and undercover police… Tags: Levellers, Mark Chadwick, Michael Jackson, The Levellers

Reef

How I wrote ‘Place Your Hands’ by Reef’s Gary Stringer

April 28, 2018 in Features, Interviews

BRITROCK WEEK: The West Country rock band’s frontman tells us how their energetic, singalong single took shape and took off… Tags: Abbey Road, Britrock, Britrock Must Be Destroyed, Clive Martin, Gary Stringer, George Drakoulias, Kenwyn House, Muff Winwood, Real World Studios, Reef, TFI Friday

Nigel Clark

How I wrote ‘Good Enough’ by Dodgy’s Nigel Clark

April 26, 2018 in Features, Interviews

BRITROCK WEEK: The fun-loving indie trio’s lead singer and bassist recalls the Bob Marley-inspired conception of their biggest hit single… Tags: Akai, Allen Toussaint, AM, Andy Miller, Bob Marley, Britrock, Britrock Must Be Destroyed Tour, Dodgy, Hugh Jones, Jimmy Page, Lee Dorsey, Matthew Priest, Nigel Clark, Robin Evans, Tascam, The Meters, Wessex Sound Studios, Zigaboo Modeliste

Ginger

How I wrote ‘I Wanna Go Where The People Go’ by The Wildhearts

April 25, 2018 in Features, Interviews

BRITROCK WEEK: The band’s frontman Ginger explains how a soundcheck riff and a casual interview comment inspired their unpredictable single… Tags: Britrock, Britrock Must Be Destroyed, Chris Evans, CJ, Danny McCormack, David Leslie Walls, East West, Gary Crowley, Ginger, Ginger Wildheart, I Wanna Go Where the People Go, Ramones, Ritch Battersby, Simon Efemey, The Wildhearts

Terrorvision

How I wrote ‘Perseverance’ by Terrorvision’s Tony Wright

April 24, 2018 in Features, Interviews

BRITROCK WEEK: The Bradford band’s singer tells the story behind the writing of their riff-tastic ode to whales and dolphins… Tags: Blur, Britrock, EMI, Gil Norton, Parkgate Studios, Perseverance, Terrorvision, Tony Wright, Total Vegas

Britrock Must Be Destroyed

Britrock Must Be Destroyed

April 23, 2018 in Events, Features, Interviews

BRITROCK WEEK: Before their playful UK tour celebrating mid-90s British rock, we hear from Reef, The Wildhearts, Terrorvision and Dodgy… Tags: Britpop, Britrock, Britrock Must Be Destroyed, Dodgy, Gary Stringer, Ginger, Ginger Wildheart, Nigel Clark, Reef, Skunk Anansie, Terrorvision, The Wildhearts, Therapy?, Tony Wright, U.K. Subs

Jenn Bostic - Revival

Songs In The Key Of… Country Pop

April 21, 2018 in Features, Interviews

Here we get Nashville-based singer-songwriter Jenn Bostic to pick out 10 tracks that perfectly straddle both pop and country music… Tags: Brothers Osborne, Caitlyn Smith, Carly Pearce, Chris Stapleton, country-pop, Hillary Scott, Hillary Scott & The Scott Family, Jenn Bostic, Maren Morris, Sarah Darling, Striking Matches, The Scott Family, The Shires

John Carter Cash by David McClister

Interview: John Carter Cash

April 12, 2018 in Features, Interviews

Johnny Cash’s son talks to us about bringing his legendary father’s unpublished words to life on a star-studded new album… Tags: Alison Krauss, Anu Sun, Brad Paisley, Cabin Studio, Carlene Carter, Chris Cornell, Elvis Costello, Jamey Johnson, John Carter Cash, John Mellencamp, Johnny Cash, Larry King, Loretta Lynn, Paul Muldoon, Rick Rubin, Robert Glasper, Rosanne Cash, Steve Berkowitz, T-Bone Burnett

Ben Harper

Interview: Ben Harper

April 9, 2018 in Features, Interviews

The genre-blending, Grammy-winning musician and performer extols the benefits of songwriting, collaborating, skateboarding and channelling the frequencies of the universe… Tags: Ben Harper, Charlie Musselwhite, Dhani Harrison, Fistful Of Mercy, Folk Music Center, Jean-Pierre Plunier, John Lee Hooker, Joseph Arthur, Larry David, Norma Waterson, Taj Mahal, The Blind Boys Of Alabama, The Innocent Criminals, The Will To Live, Tom Waits

The Magic Numbers' Romeo Stodart

Interview: The Magic Numbers’ Romeo Stodart

April 4, 2018 in Features, Interviews

As the English pop-rockers return with a new album, we chat to the band’s songwriter about life as an outsider… Tags: Angela Gannon, Later… With Jools Holland, Linda Ronstadt, Michele Stodart, Ren Harvieu, Romeo Stodart, Sean Gannon, The Magic Numbers