Songcraft: Spotlight on Songwriters

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 ONEPaul and Scott chat about how impressed they are with all the various hats Alison Brown and Steve Martin wear, while also trying to wrap their heads around the seeming complexity of the banjo. PART TWOOur in-depth conversation with Steve Martin and Alison BrownABOUT STEVE MARTIN AND ALISON BROWNThough he began his career as a stand-up comedian, Steve Martin has released more musical albums than comedy albums. Between 2009 and 2017 he issued six, many of which were collaborations with Steep Canyon Rangers, Edie Brickell, or both. They all reached number one on the bluegrass chart, and nearly all appeared on the Billboard 200. He has been nominated for 15 Grammy awards and has won five, including Best American Roots Song, Best Bluegrass Album, and Best Country Instrumental Performance for his appearance on “Foggy Mountain Breakdown” alongside Earl Scruggs, Vince Gill, Albert Lee, and Glen Duncan on the 2001 album Earl Scruggs and Friends. Martin’s latest album, his seventh bluegrass chart topper, is called Safe, Sensible and Sane, and is a collaboration with fellow banjoist Alison Brown.Brown first came to prominence as a member of Alison Krauss and Union Station and, in 1991, became the first woman to win the International Bluegrass Association’s Banjo Player of the Year award. After a stint as Michelle Shocked’s band leader she launched a solo career blending bluegrass, jazz, Latin, and Celtic influences. She has received two Grammy nominations for Best Bluegrass Album, and two for Best Country Instrumental Performance, one of which she won for “Leaving Cottondale,” a collaboration with Bela Fleck. In 2015 Alison received the Distinguished Achievement Award from the International Bluegrass Music Association for the furtherance of bluegrass music. She and Martin first collaborated on “Foggy Mountain Breaking” from her 2023 album, On Banjo.  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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 of Memphis’s legendary Stax Records. As the first African American staff songwriter at Stax, Porter, along with his partner, wrote and produced songs such as “B-A-B-Y” for Carla Thomas, “Your Good Thing (Is About to End)”—an R&B hit for Mable John that later became a pop and R&B smash for Lou Rawls, and his own recording of “Can’t See You When I Want To.” Hayes and Porter are best known, however, for their work with Sam & Dave, including such classic hits as “You Don’t Know Like I Know,” “You Got Me Hummin’,” “Hold On! I’m Comin’” (which later became a country hit for Waylon Jennings and Jerry Reed), “Soul Man” (which became a hit a second time thanks to the Blues Brothers), “I Thank You” (which was later covered by ZZ Top), and “When Something is Wrong with My Baby” (which was reimagined as a memorable duet between Otis Redding and Carla Thomas, a country hit for Sonny James, and an adult contemporary hit for Linda Ronstadt and Aaron Neville). The list of artists who’ve covered Porter’s songs includes Aretha Franklin, Bruce Springsteen, William Bell, Melissa Ethridge, Bonnie Raitt, Garth Brooks, Etta James, Celine Dion, Wilson Pickett, George Benson, Dusty Springfield, Jerry Lee Lewis, The Staple Singers, Solomon Burke, James Brown, Eric Clapton, B. B. King, Tina Turner, Jackie Wilson, and more. His songs have been used as samples in countless recordings by artists such as Jay-Z, Eminem, Wu-Tang Clan, The Notorious B.I.G., Justin Bieber, Mariah Carey, and others. A highly celebrated giant among celebrated songwriters, Porter was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2005.  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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 ONEScott and Paul talk about how technology is changing the songwriting game, and other old man complaints. PART TWOOur in-depth conversation with Shawn Camp  ABOUT SHAWN CAMPSinger/songwriter Shawn Camp has written chart-topping hits such as “Two Pina Coladas” by Garth Brooks, “How Long Gone” by Brooks & Dunn, “Would You Go With Me” by Josh Turner, and “River of Love” by George Strait. Additionally, he has written charting singles for Blake Shelton, Billy Currington, Hal Kechum, Wade Hayes, the duo of Sammy Kershaw and Lorrie Morgan, and others. With a foundation in bluegrass and roots music, Shawn became a trusted collaborator of legends such as Loretta Lynn, Guy Clark, and John Prine. He wrote two songs, including the title track, of Willie Nelson’s 2022 album, A Beautiful Time, which won the Grammy for Country Album of the Year. Camp has also earned Grammy awards for his production work on Guy Clark’s final album, My Favorite Picture of You, and for his work as a member of the bluegrass group The Earls of Leicester. Other artists who’ve recorded Shawn Camp songs include Randy Travis, Patty Loveless, Alan Jackson, Kenny Chesney, Rhett Akins, Gary Allan, John Anderson, Gene Watson, Porter Wagoner, and Emmylou Harris. Shawn’s latest album as a solo artist—his first in almost 20 years—is The Ghost of Sis Draper. The theme album is based around a collection of songs co-written with Guy Clark and is available on Truly Handmade Records, which is dedicated to preserving and building upon Clark’s legacy.   Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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 SALIERSSinger-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 the sole writer of some of the group’s best-known titles, including “Closer to Fine,” “Hammer and a Nail,” “Galileo,” “Least Complicated,” “Power of Two,” “Get Out the Map,” and others. With fifteen studio albums to their credit, Indigo Girls are Grammy award winners and winners of the Pell Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Arts. They’ve earned seven gold, four platinum, and one double platinum award for album sales and have collaborated with REM, Joan Baez, Brandi Carlile, P!nk, and Rage Against the Machine’s Tom Morello.  In addition to her work with Indigo Girls, Saliers and her father, a retired theology professor, co-wrote the book A Song to Sing, a Life to Live: Reflections on Music as Spiritual Practice. In recent years she released her debut solo album, Murmuration Nation, and has remained an impassioned activist and advocate for causes close to her heart. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Whitney Phillips, Grammy-nominated songwriter and member of the ensemble cast of the Netflix show Hitmakers, talks about life as a modern-day pop writerPART ONEPaul 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 TWOOur in-depth conversation with Whitney PhillipsABOUT WHITNEY PHILLIPSWhitney Phillips is a Grammy-nominated songwriter and vocal producer known for her genre-blurring versatility and sharp pop instincts. Originally from Seattle and now based in Los Angeles and Nashville, she has spent over a decade shaping global hits and collaborating with some of the world’s most iconic and emerging artists—including Ariana Grande, Justin Bieber, Jennifer Lopez, Teddy Swims, Selena Gomez, Anderson .Paak, John Legend, NeedToBreathe, Lil Wayne, Christina Aguilera, Fifth Harmony, Kylie Minogue, Bebe Rexha, and Celine Dion. She co-wrote the Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 single “Stuck with U” by Justin Bieber and Ariana Grande—the first major hit to emerge from the pandemic era and a groundbreaking proof of concept that chart-topping songs could be written entirely over Zoom. She also contributed “Love U Different” to Bieber’s Justice, which earned a 2022 Grammy nomination for Album of the Year. In 2019, her song “Bad Boy” with K-pop powerhouse Red Velvet made history as the first K-pop track to debut on Spotify’s New Music Friday U.S. playlist, marking a pivotal moment in the genre’s global crossover.A proud member of the Recording Academy and a vocal advocate for songwriters’ rights, Whitney has spoken on Capitol Hill, testifying in support of creators and playing a key role in the fight to uphold increased streaming royalties for songwriters. She is also a member of the cast of the Netflix show Hitmakers, which follows an ensemble cast of elite songwriters as they travel the world attending writing camps for today’s biggest artists—offering an inside look at the stories, stakes, and creative alchemy behind the hits.  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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 2022 conversation with Roland Orzabal. ABOUT ROLAND ORZABAL AND TEARS FOR FEARS:Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith formed Tears for Fears in Bath, England, in 1981 and have gone on to sell 30 million albums worldwide. Their major breakthrough in the UK came in 1982 with the Top 5 single “Mad World” and the subsequent platinum-selling album The Hurting. They gained major steam in the US with their sophomore album Songs From the Big Chair, which included the hit singles “Everybody Wants to Rule the World,” “Shout,” and “Head Over Heels.” Featured in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die, Songs From the Big Chair reached #1 and was certified five times Platinum by the RIAA. Tears for Fears’ follow-up single “Sowing the Seeds of Love” was another massive hit, but Curt departed the group not long after. Following a couple of albums with Orzabal at the helm, the duo reunited for the Everybody Loves a Happy Ending album in 2004. Now, after a long wait of 17 years, Roland and Curt have just released their seventh studio album The Tipping Point, and are embarking on a major tour. Even as they bring us new music, their legacy is well-established as one of the most unique and influential British groups to emerge in the last few decades. Their songs have been covered or sampled by Gary Jules, Adam Lambert, Lorde, Kanye West, Drake, and many others. And, in 2021, the band was honored with the Outstanding Song Collection honor at the Ivor Novello Awards in London.  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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 David Crosby and our 2023 conversation with Graham Nash.  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Americana Award winner and Grammy nominee Hayes Carll chats about the development of his songwriting and the highly personal nature of his latest album, We're Only Human.   PART ONEPaul and Scott talk about the unfortunate history of songs about rock & roll.PART TWOScott's in-depth conversation with Hayes CarllABOUT HAYES CARLLSinger, songwriter, and Americana mainstay Hayes Carll hit the scene in 2002 with his independently released debut album, Flowers & Liquor. The follow-up, Little Rock, featured songs co-written with Ray Wylie Hubbard and Guy Clark, and became the first self-released album to top the Americana chart. Moving to Lost Highway Records for his third album, Hayes won Song of the Year for “She Left Me for Jesus” at the Americana Music Awards. Soon after, he was honored with the Americana Music Association’s Emerging Artist of the Year recognition. As he continued to release new music, other artists began recording Hayes’s songs, including Kenny Chesney, Brothers Osborne, and Lee Ann Womack, whose recording of “Chances Are” earned Hayes a Grammy nomination for Best Country Song. To date, he has released nine studio albums, two of which—Lovers and Leavers and What It Is, hit the top 10 on Billboard’s folk album charts. His most recent album, We’re Only Human, was released this summer.  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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 Dan Wilson. ABOUT DAN WILSONSongwriter, singer, musician, producer and acclaimed visual artist Dan Wilson is a Minnesota native and Harvard graduate who launched his music career with the band Trip Shakespeare, which was signed to A&M Records. He went on to co-found the rock band Semisonic, whose platinum-selling Feeling Strangely Fine album yielded the singles “Secret Smile,” “Singing in My Sleep,” and “Closing Time,” a chart-topping hit that earned Dan a Grammy nomination for Best Rock Song. He went on to reinvent himself as a behind-the-scenes hitmaker, earning a Song of the Year Grammy for co-writing “Not Ready to Make Nice” with the group then known as The Dixie Chicks, and writing three songs on Adele’s multiplatinum 21 album: “Don’t You Remember,” “One and Only,” and “Someone Like You,” which became an international hit and earned Dan an Album of the Year Grammy for his production work. Wilson has also found success in Nashville, co-writing Dierks Bentley’s number one hit “Home” and earning yet another Album of the Year Grammy nomination for Taylor Swift’s Red LP, for which he co-wrote and produced the song “Treacherous.” Dan’s long list of collaborators includes Carole King, Rachel Yamagata, Jason Mraz, Gabe Dixon, Weezer, Keith Urban, Josh Groban, James Morrison, P!nk, Leann Rimes, John Legend, Chris Stapleton, Panic! At the Disco, Cold War Kids, Noah Cyrus, Leon Bridges, Celine Dion, and many others.In addition to his acclaimed Words and Music by Dan Wilson solo concerts, he launched a social media series called Words & Music in Six Seconds. The series, which focuses on “forging collaborative relationships, seeking a community, testing out ideas in front of an audience, and writing better songs,” was turned into a deck of 75 cards, designed by Dan, that distill his insights from nearly three decades of writing, performing, and collaborating with the world’s greatest musical artists. You can get your own set and find out more about Dan’s amazing career at danwilsonmusic.com.  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Five-time Grammy winner, ACM Poet's Award honoree, and Nashville Songwriters Hall of Famer Mary Chapin Carpenter opens up about her process and reflects on her approach to the craft. PART ONE:Paul and Scott geek out hard on Elvis and legendary songwriter Doc Pomus. PART TWO:Our in-depth conversation with Mary Chapin CarpenterABOUT MARY CHAPIN CARPENTERMary Chapin Carpenter is a five-time Grammy award-winning singer, songwriter and performer who has been nominated 18 times in categories ranging from country to Americana to folk to general Record of the Year. Making a name for herself with hits such as “Down at the Twist and Shout,” “He Thinks He’ll Keep Her,” and “Shut Up and Kiss Me,” she has won two CMA Female Vocalist of the Year awards, two ACM awards, and is one of only a small handful of women who have been inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame. Additionally, she received the Americana Music Association’s “Spirit of Americana Free Speech Award” and was honored with the Academy of Country Music’s Poets Award in 2023. Her most recent album, Personal History, which was released this summer, is her most autobiographical project to date.   Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.