Songcraft: Spotlight on Songwriters

Acclaimed genre-crossing songwriter and interpreter Madeleine Peyroux takes stock of her songwriting over the years and shares insights into the creation of her latest album. 

PART ONE
Paul and Scott talk music books, the value of recording, and whether or not performers should stick to a strict or loose interpretation of a song when performing live. 

PART TWO
Our in-depth conversation with Madeleine Peyroux

ABOUT MADELEINE PEYROUX
Madel...

Three-time GRAMMY winner and musical omnivore Bruce Hornsby chats about his wide-ranging career, from pop to bluegrass to jazz! 

PART ONE:
Paul and Scott talk about their Instagram, a wild Genesis fact, and more. 

PART TWO:
Our in-depth conversation with Bruce Hornsby

ABOUT BRUCE HORNSBY:
Thirteen-time Grammy nominee and three-time winner Bruce Hornsby has built one of the most diverse, collaborative, and adventurous careers in contempor...

You might know Rachel Platten for the wildly successful "Fight Song," but she's in the middle of a renaissance that's bringing her artistry into a new era. 

PART ONE:
Paul and Scott  give their unfiltered responses to the new-ish 4-part Stax Records documentary streaming on Max.

PART TWO:
Our in-depth conversation with Rachel Platten.

ABOUT RACHEL PLATTEN:
Emmy Award-winning singer, songwriter, musician, and children’s book author Rachel...

Nashville-based platinum-selling indie artist Judah Akers of Judah & the Lion goes deep on the five stages of grief and finding beauty in the midst of pain.

PART ONE
Paul and Scott dive deep on how Nashville has transformed into a very different kind of "Music City USA."

PART TWO
Our in-depth conversation with Judah Akers

ABOUT JUDAH AKERS
Judah Akers is best known as the lead singer, guitarist, and primary songwriter of Judah & The Lion...

With an ACM Top New Female Vocalist win and nearly 20 Canadian Country Music Awards, the chart-topping Carolyn Dawn Johnson chats about everything from her songwriting successes to her artist career to her co-writing with Chris Stapleton.

PART ONE
Paul and Scott dive deep on their opinions about the recently-announced Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction class of 2024.

PART TWO
Our in-depth conversation with Carolyn Dawn Johnson.

ABOUT CA...

Folkie Americana indie hero Drew Holcomb joins us to chat about the songwriting process and which of his songs he's not a fan of! 

PART ONE
Scott and Paul debrief the experience of recently seeing the 74-year-old Bruce Springsteen perform with the energy of a teenager

PART TWO
Our in-depth conversation with Drew Holcomb

ABOUT DREW HOLCOMB
Memphis native Drew Holcomb first broke through on the national scene with the 2011 album Chasing So...

Grammy winners and astonishingly fabulous musicians Chris Thile, Sean Watkins, and Sara Watkins of Nickel Creek join us to chat about their fresh approach to songwriting on their most recent album, Celebrants. 

PART ONE
Paul and Scott chat about musical virtuosity, Beyonce, Ricky Skaggs, and the blending of musical genres. 

PART TWO
Our in-depth conversation with Nickel Creek

ABOUT NICKEL CREEK

GRAMMY Award-winning trio Nickel Creek—mand...

Ninety-eight-year-old Songwriters Hall of Famer Alan Bergman chats with us about a wide-ranging career that started with Johnny Mercer and continues to today. 

PART ONE
Paul and Scott talk about the Abba Voyage virtual concert and scare themselves with the possibilities of digital technology. 

PART TWO
Our in-depth interview with Alan Bergman

ABOUT ALAN BERGMAN
Alan Bergman and his late wife Marilyn joined forces professionally in the 19...

SUMMARY:
Norah Jones joins us to chat about her new album Visions and the evolution of her songwriting since she took the world by storm in 2002. Afterward, stick around for a very special conversation with Tish Melton. The 18-year-old songwriter discusses her new Brandi-Carlile produced EP and more. 

PART ONE:
Paul and Scott reflect on Norah Jones's unique place in the musical world, the central role of patience in the delivery of a ...

Blackberry Smoke frontman and primary songwriter Charlie Starr goes deep on his music's Southern roots and wide-ranging appeal.

PART ONE
Paul and Scott talk Pearl Jam's new single, how travel defines fanhood, and why Blackberry Smoke are a force to be reckoned with when it comes to playing live. 

PART TWO
Our in-depth interview with Charlie Starr

ABOUT CHARLIE STARR
Charlie Starr is a guitarist, vocalist, and the primary songwriter of th...

90-year-old blues legend Bobby Rush joins us for a wide-ranging and revealing conversation about songwriting, music, life, and so much more!

PART ONE:
Scott and Paul chat about Scott's experiences at the Grammy awards, including running into Ted Danson, Jason Isbell, Verdine White, and others. Plus seeing the Killer Mike drama go down and getting soaked in the biggest storm in recent Los Angeles memory! 

PART TWO:
Our in-person an in-d...

Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Duff McKagan, best known as a member of Guns N' Roses and Velvet Revolver, talks about writing songs with his legendary bandmates, a few of his various side projects, and his genre-spanning recent album, Lighthouse.

PART ONE
Scott and Paul shout out some Patreon supporters and reflect on the small handful of artists who, like Guns N' Roses, emerged on the scene and completely changed the game. 

PART TWO
Our in...

SUMMARY:
Audley Freed founded the band Cry of Love before going on to become a well-known guitarist for the Black Crowes, the Dixie Chicks, Sheryl Crow, and many others. He sits down with Songcraft at his Nashville home to go deep on his own fandom, the kind of musician he tries to be, and how his riffs have kickstarted some great songs. 

PART ONE:
Paul and Scott geek out over the new Black Crowes single and review that band's role in...

SUMMARY:
Songwriters Hall of Famer JD Souther joins Scott and Paul for an in-depth interview to kick off the New Year! 

PART ONE:
Paul and Scott welcome two very special guests (ages 8 and 5) to help set the tone for the new year. Plus they reveal the clever message a listener sent in to win the Stax Christmas LP from the last episode. 

PART TWO:
Our in-depth conversation with JD Souther

ABOUT JD SOUTHER:
JD Souther is perhaps best known ...

SUMMARY
In this very special holiday episode of Songcraft, we're taking it back to Christmas at Stax, featuring conversations with some of the luminaries of the storied Memphis label that dominated Southern soul music in the 1960s and 70s. You'll hear from Deanie Parker, William Bell, and Carla Thomas as we celebrate the season and close the book on another year at Songcraft. 

PART ONE
Paul and Scott reflect on 2023, talk Grammy nomin...

SUMMARY:
Two-time Grammy nominee and acclaimed singer-songwriter Peter Case joins Songcraft to talk about his wide-ranging career.

PART ONE:
Scott and Paul chat about instruments that are nearly as famous as their players. 

PART TWO:
Our in-depth interview with Peter Case

ABOUT PETER CASE:
Two-time Grammy nominee Peter Case made a name for himself in the pioneering California power pop trio The Nerves before going on to form The Plimsouls...

SUMMARY:
Bush front man Gavin Rossdale joins to chat about the band's first career-spanning compilation as he looks back on all the classic songs. 

PART ONE:
This is a long one that covers Scott's eyewitness account of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony, Paul's experience at U2's Sphere show, and the guys' thoughts on new music from the Rolling Stones and the Beatles. 

PART TWO (28 minute mark):
Our in-depth conversation wi...

SUMMARY:
Grammy-nominated artist and songwriter Dave Barnes joins us to chat about his recording career, his hits for other artists, and his latest album that was inspired from an entire year listening to nothing but the Beatles

PART ONE:
Scott and Paul talk about concept albums and reveal their favorites

PART TWO:
Our in-depth conversation with Dave Barnes

ABOUT DAVE BARNES:
Nashville-based singer, songwriter, musician, podcaster and com...

SUMMARY:
Celebrated songwriter Natalie Merchant chats about her songwriting, from her days fronting 10,000 Maniacs up to her most recent album, Keep Your Courage. 

PART ONE: 
Were the Lilith Fair-era 1990s the best time for women in music? Scott and Paul discuss.

PART TWO:
Our in-depth conversation with the legendary Natalie Merchant

ABOUT:
Natalie Merchant launched her career as the lead vocalist and primary lyricist of the band 10,000 M...