Songwriters on Process

I'm a huge Indigo De Souza fan, so I had a great time on this episode! We went deep into her songwriting process and discussed, among other things, how moving from western North Carolina to Los Angeles changed her songwriting process, how television plays a role in her writing routine, and what part of the day she's most effective as a writer.De Souza's latest album is Precipice. 

"I'm realizing how neurotic my process is as I'm talking to you," Jade Bird said, laughing, during our conversation. Indeed, Bird is pretty specific about her writing ritual, which can be intense: she usually takes a walk after writing to relieve back stiffness that comes from hunching over her notebook. And while many songwriters boost their creativity through movement, Bird says that there's nothing like a good nap.Bird's latest album is Who Wants to Talk About Love on Glassnote Records.

At some point I told Megan James and Corin Roddick, who compose Purity Ring, that this was the bizarro episode: I'd mention something that a lot of songwriters do, and they told me that they actually did the opposite. But that's why I love this band because the music they create is so incredibly unique.Their latest album is the self-titled Purity Ring.

Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová of The Swell Season feel no need to write every day. They both wait patiently for a spark. "I have no worries if I don't write anything. I'm available 24/7," Hansard says. "I never noodle, never rehearse, never just play around." For Irglová, she feels a current. "There's something calling me to the piano. There's a feeling. I plant the seed, then let it ruminate by doing something else like taking a walk," she says. Both can write most anywhere. Hansard wrote his song "Her Mercy" while waiting at a baggage claim in New Zealand. Irglová only needs space: she can't write in a busy place, which is why Iceland, where she lives, is ideal.The Swell Season won the 2007 Academy Award for Best Original Song for "Falling Slowly". Their latest album is Forward.

John Gourley, lead singer and guitarist of Portugal. The Man, shares his unique perspective on songwriting influenced by ADHD. He emphasizes how this often-misunderstood condition helps him focus on creativity, turning chaos into artistry. Gourley discusses the importance of spontaneity and the role of exercise in enhancing creativity, revealing how physical movement stimulates his artistic flow. He also touches on overcoming creative fears, showing that imperfection can spark innovation in songwriting.

Laura Stevenson returns to the pod! This was an easy decision to have her on again (the first time was 2011) because I love her music and she's one of the funniest songwriters I've ever interviewed.I don't know how Stevenson has time to make music. We might imagine artists creating their art free of life's responsibilities, but Stevenson has responsibilities and then some: she's a mother, she's a music therapist, and she's getting her graduate degree. (She took Zoom calls with her thesis advisor in the car outside the studio while making this album.) Any one of these activities could derail the other the other three, so I left this podcast in awe.Stevenson's latest album is Late Great on Really Records.

Cautious Clay, a multi-talented artist known for his fusion of R&B, hip-hop, and indie pop, dives deep into the interplay between painting and songwriting, revealing how both forms ignite his creativity. He shares insights on how basketball fuels his lyricism and the surprising role of planks and stretching in his writing rituals. With mastery over seven instruments, he discusses the emotional depth these choices bring to his music. Get ready to explore the beautiful chaos of his songwriting process and the spontaneous inspirations that guide him.

This episode with Shura marks a first: we managed to draw a through line between Marcella Hazan's bolognese sauce and the songwriting process. We also talk about why peeing brings great ideas. (To be sure, Shura is not the first songwriter to tell me that.) Lest you think her inspiration is confined to those indoor pastimes, Shura told me that few things beat a hike in the mountains. This was one fun conversation!Shura's latest album I Got Too Sad For My Friends is out now on Play It Again Sam.

"The more I do this, the less I want to understand where it comes from," Orla Gartland says on the pod. Like most songwriters, Gartland likes to walk as a part of her songwriting process. She'll usually listen to music on these walks, and she walks to the tempo of the music she's listening to. So if you see her on the streets of London walking briskly one day and slowly the next, you now know why.Gartland's latest album Everybody Needs a Hero is out now.

It's the return of Nick Kivlen and Julia Cumming of Sunflower Bean! We had so much fun in 2022 that we had to do it again. Kivlen says, "One of things I'm realizing as Julia I talk is that our processes are totally different." And as you'll hear, differences can actually streamline the process.Sunflower Bean's latest album Mortal Primetime is out now on Lucky Number Records.