Songcraft: Spotlight on Songwriters

The legendary Swamp Dogg returns to Songcraft after more than a decade to talk about, well, whatever he wants. And we're here for it!  PART ONE Paul and Scott contemplate their second visit with Swamp Dogg PART TWO Our in-depth interview with the original D-O-double G! ABOUT SWAMP DOGG R&B cult favorite Jerry “Swamp Dogg” Williams is best known as the co-writer, with Gary U.S. Bonds, of the cross-...

Indie troubadour and Rolling Stone darling Brian Dunne gets real about his work as a songwriter who take the craft seriously.  PART ONE:  Paul and Scott talk about the Earth, Wind & Fire documentary, musical gibberish, Michael Jackson's lyrical theft, Scott's Cameroonian music phase, and perhaps the most irritating song mashup of all time.  PART TWO: Our in-depth conversation with Brian Dunne ABOU...

Known for co-writing Jewel's "You Were Meant For Me," Steve Poltz has spent more than three decades as a singer-songwriter-performer of the first order, earning international applause and fans worldwide with his inspired brand of rock-influenced countrified folk Americana. This incredibly witty and insightful conversation is a true inspiration. PART ONE Paul and Scott chat about supergroups. What...

Rising hip hop influencer Cameron McCloud lets us in on his journey and his process PART ONE: Paul and Scott chat about a song that's getting a lot of hate online and consider how the internet has redefined how we hear music.  PART TWO:  Our in-depth conversation with Cameron McCloud ABOUT CAMERON McCLOUD Cure for Paranoia is the Dallas-based alternative hip hop collective fronted by Cameron McClo...

Singer/songwriter, virtuoso guitarist, and multiple Grammy winner Molly Tuttle chats about her wide-ranging musical personality that encompasses bluegrass, folk, Americana, and rock. PART ONE: Paul and Scott wade into the controversy to share their opinions about the New York Times ' recent list of the 30 Best Living American Songwriters. Listen at your own risk! PART TWO: Our in-depth conversatio...

Grammy nominated songwriter Pynk Beard (aka Sebastian Kole) chats about his extensive work as a behind-the-scenes pop creator and gives us insight into his latest country-flavored album project.  PART ONE Scott and Paul chat about their recent travels and how they find ways to make music tourism a part of any trip. PART TWO Our in-depth conversation with Pynk Beard ABOUT PYNK BEARD: Pynk Beard is...

Rock & Roll Hall of Famer and Songwriters Hall of Famer Lou Gramm shares stories about his career, from his pre-Foreigner days all the way to his latest album, Released .  PART ONE Scott and Paul chat about Scott's solemn vow to Lou Gramm, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, and how multi-national bands just might be a model for social healing.  PART TWO Our in-depth conversation with Lou Gramm ABOUT LO...

GRAMMY-nominated songwriting and production team Jenna Andrews and Stephen Kirk chat about their contributions to the KPop Demon Hunters soundtrack, their success with the huge BTS hit "Butter," and balancing their professional and personal lives as partners.  PART ONE Lest you think it a dead subgenre, Paul and Scott revisit their examination of the "stutter rock" phenomenon with a modern day twi...

Two-time GRAMMY and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame nominee Rich Robinson joins us to chat about his songwriting with The Black Crowes.  PART ONE Paul and Scott talk about their deep Black Crowes history that goes all the way back to high school. Then they revert to their high school selves and try to make each other laugh by proposing ridiculous imaginary partnerships between artists and restaurant chai...

A legend to the legends! Jeff Barry was named one of Rolling Stone's 100 Greatest Songwriters of All Time and is inducted into both the Songwriters Hall of Fame and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. "Tell Laura I Love Her." "Da Doo Ron Ron," "Then He Kissed Me," "Be My Baby," "(Christmas) Baby Please Come Home," "Chapel of Love," "River Deep - Mountain High," "Doo Wah Diddy," "Leader of the Pack," "Ha...

Rival Sons front man Jay Buchanan takes us deep into the writing process for his fantastic debut solo album, Weapons of Beauty PART ONE: Scott and Paul talk about Scott's experiences at the GRAMMY Awards PART TWO Our in depth conversation with Jay Buchanan ABOUT JAY BUCHANAN Jay Buchanan is best known as the front man of the rock band Rival Sons whose catalog includes the landmark albums Pressure...

Alexa Ray Joel, the daughter of legendary singer/songwriter Billy Joel and supermodel/actress Christie Brinkley, talks about her own experiences as a songwriter and performer who draws from a deep well of personal experiences.  PART ONE Paul and Scott talk about...(gasp!) NEW music!  PART TWO Our in-depth conversation with Alexa Ray Joel ABOUT ALEXA RAY JOEL Singer, songwriter, and pianist Alexa R...

18-time Grammy nominee and American musical legend Taj Mahal goes deep on his influences and his approach to the craft.  PART ONE Paul and Scott kick off the new year with a discussion about the nominees for the upcoming Grammy Awards. And more!  PART TWO Our in-depth conversation with Taj Mahal ABOUT TAJ MAHAL Singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Taj Mahal has mastered the blues form and...

We've been celebrating our 10th anniversary all year by digging in the vaults to re-present classic episodes with fresh commentary. Today, for our final "classic episode" of 2025, we're revisiting our 2020 conversation with "All I Want for Christmas" co-writer Walter Afanasieff. Happy holidays and thanks for a great year of looking back together as we continue to look toward the future! ABOUT WALT...

GRAMMY winner and Nashville Songwriters Hall of Famer Mike Reid chats about his remarkable musical life.  PART ONE Scott and Paul talk about the sports games and so much more PART TWO Our in depth conversation with Mike Reid ABOUT MIKE REID Nashville Songwriters Hall of Famer Mike Reid has written twelve #1 country songs and has had his work recorded by Bonnie Raitt, Anita Baker, Bette Midler, Pri...

We're celebrating our 10th anniversary all year by digging in the vaults to re-present classic episodes with fresh commentary. Today, we're revisiting our 2020 conversation with Elvis Costello.  ABOUT ELVIS COSTELLO Released between 1977 and 1979, Elvis Costello’s first three albums— My Aim is True , This Year’s Model , and Armed Forces —were all included in Rolling Stone magazine’s list of the 50...

Grammy-winning producer and singer-songwriter Joe Henry gives us insight into his multi-faceted career PART ONE Paul and Scott chat about their music-themed road trip and say R.I.P. to MTV.  PART TWO Our in-depth conversation with Joe Henry ABOUT JOE HENRY Joe Henry is a singer-songwriter who became a record producer as a protege of T Bone Burnett. He went on to win Grammy awards for his work with...

We're celebrating our 10th anniversary all year by digging in the vaults to re-present classic episodes with fresh commentary. Today, we're revisiting our 2021 conversation with the late Todd Snider.  ABOUT TODD SNIDER Celebrated singer-songwriter Todd Snider has continued the troubadour legacy of mentors like John Prine, Jerry Jeff Walker, and Ramblin’ Jack Elliott, while putting his uniquely cle...

Number one Funkateer Bootsy Collins takes us to Funk University! From his days in James Brown's group, to his work with Parliament/Funkadelic and Booty's Rubber Band, to his recent single that raises awareness about domestic violence, "the world's only rhinestone rock-star doll" tears the roof off the sucker and breaks it all down for us. Songcraft wants the funk!   PART ONE: Paul and Scott discus...

We're celebrating our 10th anniversary all year by digging in the vaults to re-present classic episodes with fresh commentary. Today, we're revisiting our 2021 conversation with Richard Marx.  ABOUT RICHARD MARX: Grammy-winning performer Richard Marx has sold more than 30 million albums as an artist, but if you only know him from late 1980s ballads such as “Hold on to the Nights” and “Right Here W...

From "King Tut" to the top of the bluegrass charts! Grammy and IBMA award-winning banjoists and songwriters Steve Martin and Alison Brown join us to chat about their respective careers and their first full-length collaborative album, Safe, Sensible and Sane .  PART ONE Paul and Scott chat about how impressed they are with all the various hats Alison Brown and Steve Martin wear, while also trying t...

We're celebrating our 10th anniversary all year by digging in the vaults to re-present classic episodes with fresh commentary. Today, we're revisiting our 2020 conversation with Stax legend David Porter. ABOUT DAVID PORTER  Named one of Rolling Stone magazine’s “100 Greatest Songwriters of All Time,” Porter is best known for his songwriting partnership with Isaac Hayes that helped define the sound...

Grammy-winning singer/songwriter Shawn Camp pulls back the curtain on his varied career, including his latest album of songs that were composed with the legendary Guy Clark. PART ONE Scott and Paul talk about how technology is changing the songwriting game, and other old man complaints.  PART TWO Our in-depth conversation with Shawn Camp    ABOUT SHAWN CAMP Singer/songwriter Shawn Camp has written...

We're celebrating our 10th anniversary all year by digging in the vaults to re-present classic episodes with fresh commentary. Today, we're revisiting our 2019 conversation with Emily Saliers of Indigo Girls.  ABOUT EMILY SALIERS Singer-songwriter Emily Saliers is best known as one half of  Indigo Girls, which NPR called “one of the finest folk duos of all time.” The Georgia-raised musical icon is...

Whitney Phillips, Grammy-nominated songwriter and member of the ensemble cast of the Netflix show Hitmakers, talks about life as a modern-day pop writer PART ONE Paul and Scott dive into the idea of a "perfect song" and discuss some examples of songs they think just might fit into that elusive category. PART TWO Our in-depth conversation with Whitney Phillips ABOUT WHITNEY PHILLIPS Whitney Phillip...