Sodajerker On Songwriting

Bassist, composer and superproducer Marcus Miller sits down with Simon and Brian in Liverpool to discuss his latest album Afrodeezia and his collaborative partnerships with renowned artists like Miles Davis, Luther Vandross and David Sanborn. Marcus also talks about his early career as a session musician, his melodic approach to the bass, and key tracks from his solo career, such as 'The Only Reason I Live', 'Bruce Lee' and 'Blast!'

Celebrating the release of his new album, Grey Tickles, Black Pressure, John Grant chats with Simon and Brian about the writing of songs like 'Snug Slacks', 'Voodoo Doll' and 'Disappointing'. In addition to describing his love for horror film scores, synthesisers, and languages, John also talks about his songwriting process on tracks like 'Pale Green Ghosts', 'Black Belt', 'Marz' and 'Chicken Bones'.

Singer-songwriter Nick Heyward discusses the writing processes behind songs for Haircut One Hundred and his solo career, including 'Love Plus One', 'Fantastic Day', 'Favourite Shirts (Boy Meets Girl)', 'Love's Got Me In Triangles', 'Whistle Down the Wind', 'Blue Hat for a Blue Day' and 'Kite'. Nick also talks about the recording of a brand new album that he has undertaken in Key West, Florida.

Motown legend Lamont Dozier meets with Simon and Brian in Liverpool to discuss the writing of songs like 'Where Did Our Love Go', 'Baby Love', 'Stop! In The Name of Love', 'You Can't Hurry Love' (The Supremes); 'Heatwave', 'Nowhere to Run', 'Jimmy Mack' (Martha Reeves & The Vandellas); 'Baby I Need Your Loving', 'I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch)', 'It's the Same Old Song', 'Reach Out, I'll Be There', 'Bernadette' (The Four Tops), and the Phil Collins smash 'Two Hearts'.

Actor/musician Kevin Bacon and composer Michael Bacon, aka The Bacon Brothers, sit down with Sodajerker to discuss the songwriting techniques behind songs like 'Hookers and Blow', 'Only A Good Woman', 'July Away', 'Ten Years in Mexico', 'New Year's Day', 'Guess Again', 'Unhappy Birthday', 'She is the Heart' and 'Go My Way (The iPod Song)'. In addition to the stories behind the songs, the brothers describe growing up in Philadelphia, their working relationship, and plans for the future.

Songwriter and producer Glen Ballard discusses the writing of classic songs like ‘What’s On Your Mind’ (George Benson), ‘Dance Electric’ (The Pointer Sisters), ‘Man in the Mirror’ (Michael Jackson), ‘Hold On’ (Wilson Phillips), ‘I Wonder Why’ (Curtis Stigers) and ‘Pink’ (Aerosmith). Marking the 20th anniversary of Jagged Little Pill, Glen also talks in detail about co-writing and producing the landmark Alanis Morissette album, including songs like ‘Ironic’, ‘You Oughta Know’ and ‘Head Over Feet’.

Mike Scott of The Waterboys talks about the writing of his latest album, Modern Blues, detailing the processes behind songs like 'November Tale' and 'The Girl Who Slept for Scotland'. Mike also speaks in detail about classic Waterboys tunes like 'A Girl Called Johnny', 'All the Things She Gave Me', 'The Whole of the Moon', 'We Will Not Be Lovers' and 'Universal Hall'.

Singer, songwriter and bassist Meshell Ndegeocello shares details about her writing process on such songs as 'If That's Your Boyfriend (He Wasn't Last Night)', 'I'm Diggin' You - Like an Old Soul Record', 'Shopping for Jazz' and 'Conviction'. Meshell talks at length about her recent album Comet, Come to Me, her approach to the bass guitar, and her contributions to classic songs like Chaka Khan's 'Never Miss the Water'.

Celebrated singer-songwriter Gilbert O'Sullivan chats with Simon and Brian about his new album, Latin ala G!, and the songwriting process that has produced such classic songs as 'Nothing Rhymed', 'Clair', 'Alone Again (Naturally)', 'We Will', 'Get Down', 'So What' and 'All They Wanted to Say'. Gilbert talks in detail about his approach to writing melodies and lyrics, and explains how he developed his musical skills in the early days of his career.

Stuart Murdoch of Belle and Sebastian joins Simon and Brian for a chat about his songwriting process. Stuart talks about his latest album, Girls in Peacetime Want to Dance, as well as older classics from the Belle and Sebastian catalogue, such as 'The State I Am In', 'Seeing Other People', 'The Fox in the Snow', 'The Boy with the Arab Strap', 'The Model', 'Step into My Office, Baby' and 'I'm a Cuckoo'. Stuart also talks in detail about the process of writing songs for his musical film, God Help the Girl.