
My Favourite Elliott Smith Song
The premise of this podcast is very simple - in each episode, we speak to a famous fan of Elliott Smith's to discuss their favourite song of his and how they got into his music.
Latest episodes

Nov 15, 2023 • 30min
S6 Ep2: Kimbra
Our guest today is Kimbra.
Kimbra is a musician originally from New Zealand but is now based in New York City. You may have first heard of her when she sang on the track Somebody That I Used To Know in 2011 alongside Gotye, who wrote the single. The pair went on to win two Grammys for Record of the Year and Best Pop Duo/Group Performance.
These two Grammy wins are part of a huge career, which includes signing with Warner Bros, multiple collaborations, an appearance on a Sims computer game soundtrack and a total of four albums, with her most recent, A Reckoning, coming out earlier this year.
Before releasing this record, Kimbra made the decision to break away from her major label recording contract and work independently.
In this interview, we talk about the reasons behind that decision, the parallels between her career and Elliott Smith's, and, of course, we cover her favourite song choice too.
Extra links:
Everything Reminds Me of Her by Elliott Smith
A Reckoning by Kimbra
Far Out: Elliott Smith's Favourite John Lennon songs
My Favourite Elliott Smith Song is produced by Rob Comba and Elizabeth Withstandley. Find us on social media @myfavesmithsong.
myfavouriteelliottsmithsong.com

Nov 1, 2023 • 32min
S6 Ep1: Paul Rees
Our first guest of the new season is author, Paul Rees.
Paul has had a great career as a music writer. He's held senior positions at magazines such as Q and Kerrang, he's written several books including a best-seller on the life of Robert Plant, and most recently, penned a biography of Elliott Smith titled, Shooting Star.
In this interview we discuss that book, how Paul decided to write about Elliott, the many stories he learnt along the way, and we also discuss his pick for his favourite song too.
At the end of the episode, we also mention this brilliant Elliott Smith tribute from Adam Walton on BBC Wales and this unreleased interview from the year 2000 (courtesy of Mark Benton).
Thank you for listening!
Music in this episode:
Kings Crossing by Elliott Smith
From A Basement On the Hill by Elliott Smith
My Favourite Elliott Smith Song is produced by Rob Comba and Elizabeth Withstandley. Find us on social media @myfavesmithsong.

Dec 14, 2022 • 25min
S5 Ep12: Lauren McCarthy
Our guest for our final episode of this season is Lauren McCarthy.
Lauren is the Executive Editor of Nylon, a publication that covers fashion, entertainment and music. Through her work, Lauren has the enviable opportunity of interviewing some of the most exciting artists working today - people like Phoebe Bridgers, Beabadoobee and Snail Mail.
One interesting thing Lauren has noticed through her work is the enduring influence on these younger musicians of Elliott Smith. So, for this final episode of the season, we look to the future. We ask why it is that Elliott still lives on so strongly in the minds of this new generation of artists, as well as of course talking about Lauren’s favourite song pick too.
Thanks for all your support over the course of this season!
Extra things to look at / listen to:
Waltz #2 (XO) by Elliott Smith
XO by Elliott Smith
Check out Lauren's work on Nylon
Follow Lauren on Instagram
Subscribe to our newsletter
Our cover today comes from Sparky Bosque - listen to it here
My Favourite Elliott Smith Song is produced by Rob Comba and Elizabeth Withstandley. Find us on social media @myfavesmithsong.

Nov 30, 2022 • 17min
S5 Ep11: Julia Shapiro
Our guest today is Julia Shapiro.
Julia is a musician who is perhaps best known as the lead singer and guitarist in the band Chastity Belt, which formed in Washington state in 2010. Chastity Belt have released four studio albums, including, most recently, 2019's self-titled record. Julia's work isn't just limited to that band, though, she's also part of the group Childbirth and has released solo records too.
A key theme throughout her work, Julia says, is her Elliott Smith influence, which we, of course, discuss in this interview. We also talk about her views on Elliott's songwriting style and why she's never stopped listening to his music.
Hope you enjoy the episode!
Extra things to look at / listen to:
Satellite by Elliott Smith: https://elliottsmith.bandcamp.com/track/satellite
Julia Shapiro Bandcamp: https://juliashapiro.bandcamp.com/
Our cover today comes from The Fencesitters - find out more about them here: https://linktr.ee/thefencesitters
Read our latest newsletter
Send us your Elliott Smith cover to covers@myfavouriteelliottsmithsong.com
My Favourite Elliott Smith Song is produced by Rob Comba and Elizabeth Withstandley. Find us on social media @myfavesmithsong.

Oct 26, 2022 • 22min
S5 Ep10: Elise Okusami (Oceanator)
Our guest today is Elise Okusami.
Elise is a New York City based guitarist and vocalists who performs under the name Oceanator. As Oceanator, Elise has released three albums so far, including, most recently Nothing’s Ever Fine, which came out earlier on this year.
Elise has covered a couple of Elliott Smith songs during her career, including and the Biggest Lie, which we’re discussing today in this episode. As you might be able to guess from that, Elise is a big Elliott Smith fan. In fact she’s such a big fan that she even wrote a university thesis on him.
It was really lovely talking to Elise for this episode, so I very much hope you enjoy listening to it.
Extra things to look at / listen to:
The Biggest Lie by Elliott Smith
The Biggest Lie by Oceanator (cover)
Wouldn't Momma Be Proud by Oceanator (cover)
Elliott Smith live at the Yo Yo A Go Go Festival, Olympia 1999
Clementine by Sofa City Sweetheart
Read our latest newsletter
Send us your Elliott Smith cover to covers@myfavouriteelliottsmithsong.com
My Favourite Elliott Smith Song is produced by Rob Comba and Elizabeth Withstandley. Find us on social media @myfavesmithsong.

Oct 12, 2022 • 30min
S5 Ep9: Aaron Powell (Fog Lake)
Joining us for episode nine is musician Aaron Powell.
Aaron is based in Newfoundland, Canada and plays under the name Fog Lake. He’s been recording music for the last 10 years or so and his work has been referred to - quite interestingly - as ‘harrowing nostalgia’. Aaron’s released several albums to date, including 2021's Tragedy Reel, which reflects on his upbringing in rural Canada.
Aaron is a self-confessed major Elliott Smith fan. He’s got a lot of Elliott knowledge and thoughts on his music that he kindly shares with us during this chat. Hope you enjoy listening.
Extra things to look at / listen to:
Coast to Coast by Elliott Smith on Spotify
From a Basement On the Hill by Elliott Smith on Spotify
Fog Lake Bandcamp
Circuit Rider by Fog Lake
Read our latest newsletter
Send us your Elliott Smith cover to covers@myfavouriteelliottsmithsong.com
My Favourite Elliott Smith Song is produced by Rob Comba and Elizabeth Withstandley. Find us on social media @myfavesmithsong.

Sep 28, 2022 • 24min
S5 Ep8: Nilüfer Yanya
Our guest for episode eight of season five is Nilüfer Yanya.
Nilüfer is a musician from London. Nilüfer's first ever release came back in 2016 when she put out her debut EP Small Crimes/Keep on Calling and, since then, she's released two full-length albums: 2019's Miss Universe, which was then followed up by Painless earlier on this year - a record that's well worth checking out if you haven't heard it already.
We recorded this chat with Nilufer over the summer. In it, we talk through her favourite song pick, the importance of having your own interpretation of music, and we also go a bit deep on the nature of fame. We hope you enjoy it!
Extra things to look at / listen to:
Angeles by Elliott Smith: https://open.spotify.com/track/0Ziohm1Ku8E2yUDYoclfhO?si=aeb7ca596f144a0d
Either/Or by Elliott Smith: https://open.spotify.com/album/5hryhrT7wEdLnZCbJX9F6L?si=NyNrLWt0QCCAYeaeN5zJtw
Painless by Nilüfer Yanya: https://open.spotify.com/album/1rw1hpm0jSriJVVCyf6Da6?si=CTEN0SO9QbSrQ7yPlkqktg
Nilüfer Yanya's website: https://niluferyanya.com/
Read our September newsletter: https://myfavouriteelliottsmithsong.substack.com/p/newsletter-3-lola-kirke-momma-and
Our cover today comes from Andre Salvador - you can listen to it here: https://andresalvadorandthevonkings.bandcamp.com/track/needle-in-the-hay-elliott-smith
My Favourite Elliott Smith Song is produced by Rob Comba and Elizabeth Withstandley. Find us on social media @myfavesmithsong.

Sep 14, 2022 • 29min
S5 Ep7: Joshua Burnside
Joining us today is the musician Joshua Burnside.
Joshua is a singer-songwriter based in Belfast, Northern Ireland. He’s released five albums across his career, with his first record, Ephrata, winning the Northern Ireland music prize in 2017.
Joshua is known for incorporating a wide range of influences into his work, from Colombian and Indonesian music, right the way through to one Elliott Smith. And while Elizabeth was over in Northern Ireland for work this summer, Joshua was kind enough to invite her to his studio to discuss his love of Elliott Smith and talk her through his pick for his favourite song.
Hope you enjoy listening to this episode.
Extra things to look at / listen to:
Tomorrow, Tomorrow by Elliott Smith on Spotify
XO by Elliott Smith on Spotify
More on Joshua Burnside
Joshua Burnside on Bandcamp
Our cover this week comes from Jack Lavery
Subscribe to our newsletter:
Send us your Elliott Smith cover to covers@myfavouriteelliottsmithsong.com
My Favourite Elliott Smith Song is produced by Rob Comba and Elizabeth Withstandley. Find us on social media @myfavesmithsong.

Aug 31, 2022 • 24min
S5 Ep6: Momma
Joining us for episode six of this season are Etta Friedman and Allegra Weingarten from the band Momma.
Etta and Allegra have been playing music together since they became close friends while at high school in Los Angeles, California. Since those early days, they've gone on to record three studio albums, including most recently, Household Name which came out earlier this year.
2022 has been a great year so far for Momma: that new album has been released to widespread acclaim, they’ve been tipped as the next big thing by a range of publications and they’re currently touring with the band Snail Mail. So, what better way to cap that all off than by being guests on this podcast...?
Etta and Allegra were great guests and kindly shared lots of Elliott Smith-related anecdotes, as well as discussing their musical influences more broadly. Hope you enjoy this conversation.
(Photo credit: Sophie Hur)
Extra things to look at / listen to:
Christian Brothers (Heatmiser version)
Christian Brothers (Elliott Smith solo version)
Household Name by Momma
Documentary on the making of Household Name
Subscribe to our newsletter
Today's cover comes from Oisin Ruxton from Cork, Ireland
Send us your Elliott Smith cover to covers@myfavouriteelliottsmithsong.com
My Favourite Elliott Smith Song is produced by Rob Comba and Elizabeth Withstandley. Find us on social media @myfavesmithsong.

Aug 17, 2022 • 16min
S5 Ep5: Lola Kirke
Our guest today is the multi-talented, Lola Kirke.
As an actor, Lola has starred in the TV show Mozart in the Jungle and the film Mistress America, as well as many others. And, as a musician she has released two studio albums - most recently Lady for Sale which came out on Third Man Records earlier on this year.
Her favourite song pick is a great selection from Figure 8 and, in this interview, she delves a bit deeper into this track, and tells us how her how she was introduced to Elliott Smith by her boyfriend when she was 13.
Photo credit: Zack Michael.
Extra things to look at / listen to:
Son of Sam by Elliott Smith: https://open.spotify.com/track/6tPiCU4LFsXUQPRIykOAnl?si=72633655a1d147e7
Figure 8 by Elliott Smith: https://open.spotify.com/album/7DC0pE943VR5tAKIvQXHts?si=kPG8pSi1R-aKcBOzW_wnfw
Lola Kirke website: https://www.lolakirkemusic.com/welcome
Our cover today is from Dan Caleb (Calebo): https://www.calebo.co.uk/
Newsletter #2: https://myfavouriteelliottsmithsong.substack.com/p/newsletter-2-orono-toledo-milwaukee?utm_source=%2Finbox&utm_medium=reader2
Subscribe to our newsletter: https://myfavouriteelliottsmithsong.substack.com/p/coming-soon?r=1jzwzn&s=w&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
Send us your Elliott Smith cover to covers@myfavouriteelliottsmithsong.com
My Favourite Elliott Smith Song is produced by Rob Comba and Elizabeth Withstandley. Find us on social media @myfavesmithsong.