Songwriters on Process

Ed note: my new permanent intro and outro music is, in fact, the Tennis song "Need Your Love." Alaina Moore and Pat Riley of Tennis are good friends of mine, which means this episode is more of a conversation than an interview as we go deep into the creative process. The band"s website features Alaina surrounded by boo

“Scribbling into oblivion” is how Lili Trifilio of Beach Bunny describes her editing process. (It"s also an amazing song title.) She used this phrase in response to a question I like to ask songwriters: when you’re editing something you don’t like, do you cross it out with a single line or scratch it out? Trifilio want

ED NOTE: Here"s my recent episode with Benmont Tench, keyboardist for Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.  Mike Campbell doesn"t have songwriting rules. He doesn"t need any because he"s always creating. "I"m probably writing as I"m talking to you," Campbell told me. In fact, Campbell"s problem is that he can"t stop coming

I always love having my buddy Derek Miller of Sleigh Bells on the pod! This is Miller"s third time as a guest. I don"t know how he ever has time to do interviews because the man is either writing music, about to write music, or thinking about why he"s not writing music. Miller is inspired by everything, and I mean ever

Running and poetry are all Denison Witmer needs as a songwriter. "When I"m being physically active, my brain opens up," he says. Running is a big part of Witmer"s life and plays a big role in his creative process. The other major source of Witmer"s inspiration is poetry, and we talk about its impact on his songwriting.

I"m a much better songwriter when I"m reading," Annie DiRusso says. Truer words have never been spoken; a clear through line connects quality songwriting and reading. And the fact that DiRusso loves poetry makes me even more of a fan.  DiRusso does most of her songwriting in her "giant mess" of a bed. "It"s covered in