Songs You Know with Toby Gad

Today we have Jon Levine, an amazing record producer, songwriter and musician who has made music for some of the biggest names in pop. Our conversation goes through his transition from being a drummer to a pianist, tips for aspiring producers, and how he overcame anxiety and depression while working within this wild industry.

Today, we have Elijah Blake on the pod! Elijah is a 2x Grammy-award winner who started writing songs as a teen. His hits include his song "I Just Wanna" with Dej Loaf, "Climax" by Usher, and "No Love Allowed" by Rihanna. In this episode, we talk about his upbringing in Haiti and the tough transition to the United States, his journey from being a songwriter to being in...

Today we're talking with Walter A! Born in Brazil and moved to the states when he was 5, Walter A is a legendary hitmaker with iconic songs such as "My Heart Will Go On" and "All I Want For Christmas" under his belt. We talk to him about his methods as a producer to get the best vocal performances, his extreme stage fright and his feud with Mariah Carey.

Today we're talking with legendary hitmaker David Foster ! His iconic discography includes "I Will Always Love You" by Whitney Houston, "The Prayer" by Celine Dion , and "After the Love Has Gone" by Earth Wind and Fire . David's songs are known for their beautiful lyrics, key changes, and breathtaking moments so it's no wonder he's won 16 Grammys! If y...

Today we are talking with Scott Hoying! Scott is most known for his successful a capella group, Pentatonix, who were the winners of the reality show "The Sing Off" and have since won 3 Grammys. In this episode, we talk about what it was like growing up as a queer kid in Texas, finding his bandmate Kevin Osula on Youtube during Kevin's pre-med finals, and the surprise, 99-person flash...

This week we have Oak Felder on the podcast! Oak is a Grammy-award winning, multi-platinum record producer and songwriter. He is the man behind Demi Lovato's hit "Sorry Not Sorry," Alessia Cara's "Here," and Sabrina Carpenter's "Sue Me." In this episode, we dig into the actual recording sessions of Oak's biggest songs. You'll get to hear all the ga...

Julian Lennon is an activist, musician, author, and philanthropist who's non-profit, The White Feather Foundation, has been working for almost 20 years to help those in need. His award-winning documentary work with the Mirning tribe of Australia and his role as a Global Ambassador for the Lupus Foundation of America has solidified his legacy as someone who makes the world a better place. In ou...

Toby Gad is a Grammy-award winning songwriter who has worked with everyone from Beyonce to John Legend to Miley Cyrus. Today, he listens to YOUR demos and gives his professional advice and opinion on what your song needs to stand out above the rest and shine! Our fans also submitted questions such as "Which of your songs do you think should have been a bigger hit?" and "Is there a f...

Autumn Rowe is a Grammy Award-winning songwriter and producer. Best known for her work on We Are by Jon Batiste, winner of the 2022 Grammy Award for Album of the Year, she has built an influential career writing and producing for artists including Dua Lipa, Diana Ross, Ava Max, FKA Twigs, Leona Lewis, and Lukas Graham. In this episode, we talk to her about her journey from the South Bronx and work...

Today we're talking with Delta Goodrem! She is an Australian singer, songwriter, actress, and now Eurovision finalist! She talks about her journey of being a child actor, getting cancer at age 18, and how she stays inspired to write. She has 9 number one singles, 17 top-ten hits on the ARIA singles chart, and 3 World Music Awards. She's a masterclass in how to remain humble and grounded wh...

From growing up surrounded by music to carving out his own path as a hitmaker, Jason Evigan dives into the journey that shaped his career, sharing how he transitioned from artist to one of the industry’s most in-demand songwriters and producers. From early struggles and creative breakthroughs to landing major cuts with some of pop’s biggest names, he opens up about the persistence it takes to succ...

In this episode, we are talking with Jesse Thomas, a Kentucky-born, stand-up comedian turned LA-based, platinum songwriter, and music scene curator. She talks about her struggles of being a solo artist, discovering the magical, hidden world of songwriting, and what it takes to create and maintain a thriving, in-person, music community in today's digital world.  If you're an artist or music...

From being the #3 songwriter in the country to walking away from it all, Toby Gad opens up about losing—and rediscovering—his love for music. In this episode of Ask Toby Anything , Toby answers your questions on AI-generated songs (Team Human 👀), creative burnout, songwriting mistakes, and what really kills a session. He also shares advice on collaboration, writing stronger choruses, and building...

You may know David Archuleta as the 16 year-old singing sensation that was the runner-up for season 7 of American Idol, but he has since blossomed into the most authentic and unapologetic version of himself yet. In this episode, he tells us about his journey of accepting his queerness, separating from the mormon church, and reconnecting with his Latin roots. He also talks about his new book, "Devo...

NEFF-U is a preacher's son and producer that has worked with music legends such as Michael Jackson, Eminem, and Jay-Z. In part 2 of our interview with him, he talks about his sound therapy company, Neuromonics, the importance of self-love, meeting Stevie Wonder, and more.

Working with icons like Eminem, Jay-Z, Mary J. Blige and Michael Jackson, today’s guest has played a key role in shaping some of the biggest records in hip-hop, R&B, and pop. In this episode, NEFF-U shares behind-the-scenes stories from working with music legends, how those collaborations came together, and what it takes to create hits at the highest level.

Switching things up for this episode, Toby takes a seat on the other side of the conversation—answering questions directly from listeners and diving into everything from his early journey in the music industry to the mindset that’s shaped his career. Toby shares insights into his songwriting process, how he approaches collaboration, what makes a song truly connect, and the realities of building a...

Welcome to part 2 of our interview with Bonnie Mckee! In this episode, we dive into the lore of how she wrote two of Katy Perry’s biggest hits: “Wide Awake” and “Roar” as well as Britney Spears’ “Femme Fatale” album. We talk about the struggles of being a woman in the music industry and she gives advice to aspiring songwriters. But what does Bonnie Mckee do when she’s not writing hit songs? Watch...

Bonnie Mckee is one of those songwriters that you can’t escape. Whether it’s Katy Perry, Britney Spears, Kesha, or Taio Cruz, you’ve heard her words sung in everywhere from the Superbowl to the grocery store. With hits like “Teenage Dream,” “California Girls,” and “Dynamite,” Bonnie Mckee is *the* blueprint for how to write the PERFECT pop record.

Singer, Songwriter, and front man of The Script, Danny O'Donoghue, walks us through his life discovering music through hardship, pursuing his dreams when the money had run out, and tells the stories behind some of his biggest hits like Hall of Fame, Breakeven, and The Man Who Can't Be Moved.

Songwriter, actor, and musician Drake Bell reflects on the unexpected global journey of his music, revealing how one of his albums quietly hit #1 in Mexico without him even realizing at the time. He also revisits his early rise through Drake & Josh, unpacking how growing up on a hit TV show shaped his musical identity and set the foundation for his career beyond acting. In this episode, Drake...

Composer and producer Stephan Moccio shares the stories behind Earned It by The Weeknd, Miley Cyrus’s Wrecking Ball, and his Olympic anthem I Believe, reflecting on his creative process, classical roots, and what makes a song timeless. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Singer-songwriter Matteo Bocelli reflects on his journey from debuting alongside his father Andrea Bocelli to performing on some of the world’s most iconic stages. He shares stories about collaborations with Ed Sheeran and David Foster, memories of singing for Pope Francis and President Biden, and life growing up in Tuscany. Matteo also discusses balancing classical training with modern pop, his c...

Academy award winning lyricist, Don Black CBE, known for his work on various James Bond films such as classics like Diamonds Are Forever, Thunderball, Tomorrow Never Dies, The Man With The Golden Gun and The World Is Not Enough reveals the stories behind the films and their legendary music. He also delves deep into his collaborations with icons such as Michael Jackson, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Quincy...

From being hungry for fame in the music industry and working at a second-hand store to achieving 5 billion stream, 7 global platinum singles, and 12 top-ten airplay hits in just ten years, Sigala shares his origin story of his first number one 'Easy Love' which famously samples the Jackson 5's 'ABC', to the pivotal moment in his bedroom which led to him create one of his biggest hits.  Sigala...