Sodajerker On Songwriting

Bat for Lashes  (aka Natasha Khan) joins Sodajerker for a conversation about her absorbing new record The Dream of Delphi , which deals with the experience of becoming a mother during the pandemic. The multi-disciplinary artist discusses her approach to composition through improvisation, how she relates creatively to her environment, and the inspiration she draws from the movies of the 1980s.

Sheryl Crow sits down with Simon and Brian in London to discuss her latest record Evolution and her timeless catalogue of hits. The nine-time Grammy winner reflects on the influence of her musical parents, how social issues find their way into her songs, and the power of writing on the back porch.

Pop superstar Camila Cabello tells Simon and Brian about the writing of her new record C,XOXO . The singer and songwriter discusses the creation of a provocative alter ego for the album, writing with Auto-Tune, collaborating with featured guests like Drake, Playboi Carti and Lil Nas X, and situating her work within the vibrant culture of Miami.

Folk-rock pioneer and guitar maestro Richard Thompson joins Sodajerker to discuss the artistic process behind his excellent new record Ship to Shore . In this in-depth conversation, the guitar slinging virtuoso talks about making efficient creative decisions, reliving the old songs on stage, and sharing his musical knowledge through his songwriting camp.

Brian and Michael D'Addario of The Lemon Twigs chat with Sodajerker about writing and producing their new record A Dream Is All We Know . The multi-talented brothers describe the challenges of working together, the art of recording on tape, and avoiding 'demo-itis'.

Kings of Leon's Caleb and Jared Followill talk about the writing of the band's new record Can We Please Have Fun and their creative process. In this wide-ranging conversation, the brothers discuss such topics as journalling, working intuitively, making accessible music, and being songwriting vampires.

Dave McCabe and Sean Payne discuss the writing process behind The Zutons' superb new record The Big Decider . This vibrant conversation delves into the band's unique sound, the blending of production work from Nile Rodgers and Ian Broudie, and the innovative lyrical techniques behind their triumphant return.

The wonderful Sean O'Hagan joins us to chat about the new High Llamas record Hey Panda , and his songwriting process. The acclaimed artist, producer, and arranger explores a wealth of topics including his formative work in beloved Irish band Microdisney, writing about his own life and experiences, and his insatiable appetite for new music.

Gossip's Beth Ditto and Nathan 'Brace Paine' Howdeshell discuss the creative process behind their excellent new record Real Power . The pair reflect on their near telepathic musical relationship, the ethereal mysteries of songwriting, and collaborating with the great Rick Rubin.

Brittany Howard talks with Simon and Brian about her arresting new record What Now and how she approaches songwriting. The singer and guitarist discusses taking risks in the studio, experimenting with rhythm, and her encounters with the legendary Prince.

Corin Tucker and Carrie Brownstein of Sleater-Kinney join Sodajerker to discuss their fantastic new record Little Rope and their songwriting process. The influential duo talk about song structure and arranging, their strange guitar tunings, and collaborating with producers like John Congleton and Annie Clark.

Singer-songwriter and producer Bill Ryder-Jones joins Sodajerker from his West Kirby studio to discuss his new record Iechyd Da , and his creative process. The Merseyside-based artist also talks about collaborating with the likes of Mick Head, taking lyrical inspiration from TV's Eurotrash , and writing bad songs in his sleep.

Leslie Feist joins Simon and Brian to discuss her songwriting process and recent record Multitudes . The award-winning Canadian singer-songwriter talks about taking part in a 'Song-A-Day' challenge, bypassing judgement when writing, and how she has developed songs through live performance.

Thomas Walsh of Pugwash and The Duckworth Lewis Method joins Sodajerker to discuss his new album The Rest is History and his songwriting process. In this in-depth conversation, the Irish power pop legend talks about his origins in music, his collaborations with The Divine Comedy's Neil Hannon, and his reverence for his musical heroes like Michael Penn and Jeff Lynne.

Eric Cantona joins Simon and Brian to discuss his new EP I'll Make My Own Heaven, and his songwriting process. The actor, artist and former footballer talks about his need to express himself, using mistakes to create better moments, and how to rely on instinct.

Wayne Coyne of The Flaming Lips chats with Simon and Brian about the band's classic album Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots and his songwriting process. The veteran artist talks about the writing of beloved tracks like 'Do You Realize??', working intuitively, and responding with pure emotion to song ideas.

Kevin Rowland joins Simon and Brian to discuss his creative process and the writing of the new Dexys record The Feminine Divine . The acclaimed singer and songwriter talks about where inspiration comes from, the importance of trust when co-writing, and why he likes to write notes on his lyric sheets.

Simon and Brian are joined by beloved singer-songwriter Stephen Duffy to discuss writing the new Lilac Time record Dance Till All The Stars Come Down and much more besides. Stephen touches on a range of subjects including the influence of W. H. Auden, how therapy changed his writing style, and his collaborations with artists like Steven Page and Robbie Williams.

Damon Albarn welcomes Sodajerker to his London studio to chat about the creative process behind the new Blur record The Ballad of Darren . Among other topics, the singer-songwriter and composer talks about his working routines with Blur and Gorillaz, writing about real life experiences, and his love for the city of Liverpool.

Lloyd Cole joins Simon and Brian to discuss his songwriting and the creative process behind his new record On Pain . The former Commotions frontman reflects on new collaborations with his old bandmates, the influence of David Bowie, and his ongoing quest to experiment and evolve.

Jenny Lewis chats to Sodajerker about her current record Joy'All and her songwriting process. Among other insights, the musician and actress talks about attending a songwriting group hosted by Beck, recording with Ringo Starr, and her work with Rilo Kiley.

Simply Red's Mick Hucknall joins Simon and Brian for a special 250th episode covering his new record Time and his work through the years. The celebrated frontman speaks candidly about his career as a songwriter, his collaborations with Motown legend Lamont Dozier, and the stories behind classic hits like 'Holding Back The Years' and 'Something Got Me Started'.

Theo Katzman discusses his amazing album Be The Wheel and his philosophies as a songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist. The Vulfpeck member shares a range of ideas about music including the influence of jazz standards, capturing real performances on record, and why AI is no problem if we just focus on our humanity.

Jessie Ware chats with Sodajerker about her new album That! Feels Good! and her approach to songwriting. The singer, songwriter and podcaster talks about wearing lots of different hats creatively, the challenges of co-writing, and past collaborations with Benny Blanco, Ed Sheeran and Julia Michaels.

David Paich sits down with Simon and Brian to talk about his songwriting process, his recent solo debut Forgotten Toys , and his classic hits with Toto . The legendary songwriter, keyboardist and session musician discusses his early musical life, the influence of his father, and collaborations with Boz Scaggs, David Foster and more.