Stay ConnectedEvery week, we sit down with an acclaimed and venerable songwriter to intimately discuss what happens behind closed doors in the music industry. There are millions of singers, thousands of artists, and only 40 top songs per genre at a time… this podcast is about the people who make them. Produced by Joe London & Ross Golan in association with Big Deal Music & Mega House Music. And The Writer Is… ™
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Copyright: © And The Writer Is
Today’s guest didn’t just enter the music industry — he grew up inside it. He isn’t just a Grammy-winning producer or a respected solo artist. He’s one of the rare creatives who’s built a career rooted in loyalty, advocacy, and taste — while learning in public and evolving in real time.
And The Writer Is… FINNEAS!
In this episode, he breaks down:
Growing up in the industry without losing your footing
The quiet flaw baked into today’s music industry — and the one trait he’s seen in every truly exceptional artist
Loyalty over leverage — and why relationships still matter
Advocating for artists when you already have a seat at the table
Learning as you go without pretending you have it all figured out
This one is grounded and essential for anyone trying to build something that actually lasts.
A special thank you to our sponsors... Our lead sponsor, NMPA aka the National Music Publisher's Association. Your support means the world to us!
And @splice the best sample library on the market, period.
Chapters
0:00:00 Teaser
0:02:37 What FINNEAS Would Change About the Music Industr
0:07:40 “What Do You Do?” Identity & Being Multihyphenate
0:08:54 Why taste beats momentum
0:10:51 FINNEAS & Ashe
0:12:51 From Workaholism to Efficiency
0:14:17 Tools, Shortcuts & Speed in the Studio
0:16:13 Him and Billie and Their Creative Differences
0:20:11 Stage Fright, SNL & Performing Under Pressure
0:24:23 Writing Songs for Film vs Albums
0:27:49 Writing “What Was I Made For?
0:30:46 Writing Honest Lyrics in LA:
0:32:48 Parenting, Legacy & Keeping Ego Out of the House
0:36:42 Creativity and Parenting
0:38:47 Homeschooling, Childhood & Creative Freedom
0:41:46 Make your kids work with adults
0:44:42 When You're Inspired... Collaborate With Your Influences
0:46:30 Artists FINNEAS Would Love to Work With
0:48:46 How Not to Chase Trends: Why reference points should be old, weird, and far away
0:50:02 NMPA Ad
0:50:42 Splice Ad
0:51:30 Favorite Albums to Listen to Deeply
0:53:06 Writing with Billie, Honesty, Family & Creative Trust
0:55:55 Claudia, Love, Partnership & Sustaining Ambition
1:00:37 The 20% Rule
1:02:00 The 'Lowest Point of His Career' and His Personal Victory From It
1:04:57 Separating Your Work From Your Worth
1:06:00 The Barometer of Success For A Solo Artist
1:06:40 Doing The Apple TV Sound
1:08:14 Not Comparing His Success With Billie, New Album, Knowing When to Pivot
1:11:04 Repeating Success... Birds of a Feather, Taste as a Long-Term Advantage
1:15:00 Signing Writers
1:17:55 Why Some Artists Plateau
1:21:11 Publishing Deals, Reversion, and Leverage.. Bad Deals with Good People and Good Deals with Bad People
1:24:33 Avoiding burnout in a high-output career
1:28:01 Writing 'Lonely' for Justin Bieber with Benny Blanco
1:31:14 Aging in the Industry... Collaborating with Ashe
1:39:08 Big Songs On Deluxe Albums
1:42:50 Writing for Prompts and Film
1:45:01 What Still Excites Him About Music
1:43:41 Are You Happy?
1:52:37 Separating The Art From The Artist
1:51:58 Building something that lasts without losing yourself
Hosted by Ross Golan
Produced by Joe London and Jad Saad
Edit by Jad Saad
Post Production by Pratik Karki
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Today’s guest has carved out one of the most improbable creative legacies of his generation — commanding animation, comedy, film, and orchestral music with the same relentless discipline and near-obsessive craft. What began as a kid sketching characters in his bedroom grew into a fight to build Family Guy on his own terms… and eventually into Grammy-nominated big-band records that honor the very foundations of American music.
And The Writer Is... Seth MacFarlane!
On this episode, Seth breaks down the discipline, taste, and obsessive craft that shaped his creative life… and the standards he refuses to compromise, no matter the project.
Dive deep into his roots, heroes, influences, and biggest challenges building his creative legacy.
A special thank you to our sponsors...
Our lead sponsor, NMPA, aka the National Music Publisher’s Association.
Your support means the world to us!
And @splice — the best sample library on the market, period.
Chapter list:
0:00:00 – Teaser
0:01:06 – Welcome & Episode Intro
0:03:12 – Seth’s Early Creative Roots: Drawing, Music & Comedy
0:08:40 – Developing Discipline as a Young Artist
0:12:55 – The First Breakthroughs in Animation
0:16:33 – Fighting for Family Guy and Holding the Vision
0:18:15 – The Influence of 80s TV Scores and John Williams
0:21:48 – How Taste Shapes Every Creative Decision
0:25:30 – The Craft Behind Writing Comedy That Lasts
0:30:02 – Why Orchestration Matters So Deeply to Him
0:34:44 – Recording His Sinatra Albums & The Pursuit of Precision
0:38:55 – Balancing Film, TV & Music at a High Level
0:43:22 – Obsession, Work Ethic & Sustaining a Long Creative Career
0:45:45 – Diving into the Rat Pack Era and Vocal Legends
0:47:14 – Collaboration, Standards & Protecting the Work
0:52:33 – What He’s Learned About Longevity in Entertainment
0:56:26 – The Role of Curiosity in Every Chapter of His Career
1:00:08 – The Mindset Behind Creative Risk
1:03:03 – His Advice for Multi-Hyphenate Creators
1:05:23 – Seth’s Final Message to Artists
1:07:19 – Closing Thoughts
1:09:30 – Navigating Fame, Fan Encounters, and Meeting Icons Like John Williams & William Shatner
1:15:45 – Final Appreciation for Preserving Classic Music
Hosted by Ross Golan
Produced by Joe London and Jad Saad
Watercolor by Michael White
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Today’s guest is the producer behind some of the biggest songs of the last 15 years — from “Wrecking Ball,” “Timber,” and “Dark Horse” to early records with The Weeknd and Britney Spears.
From teaching himself production on cracked software and vinyl turntables… to going on a run of genre-defining hits.
And the writer is… Cirkut!
In this episode, he opens up about his early grind, the moment Britney cut his beat, his first sessions in LA, working alongside Max Martin and Dr. Luke, and the mindset that helped him go from unknown kid with an MPC to one of the most important producers in modern pop.
A special thank you to our sponsors...
Our lead sponsor, NMPA aka the National Music Publisher's Association.
Your support means the world to us!
And @splice -- the best sample library on the market, period.
00:00 — Intro: Who is Cirkut?
00:04:37 — Early music influences: hip-hop, DJ culture
00:05:49 — Discovering DJ gear & beat manipulation
00:07:55 — First exposure to FruityLoops & early production
00:10:24 — DJ’ing pep rallies with vinyl
00:12:36 — Applying early skills later for Lady Gaga
00:14:14 — Skipping audio classes to make beats
00:16:46 — Early Drake encounter in Toronto
00:18:40 — How the name “Cirkut” was born
00:21:35 — How a CD of his beats got to Britney Spears
00:22:10 — First big cut: Britney’s “Papi”
00:23:01 — Discovering electronic music & the blog era
00:23:49 — Learning from Masterkraft (the MySpace era)
00:33:00 — Working with The Weeknd on “High For This”
00:33:57 — Recognizing Abel’s early greatness
00:35:06 — Moving to LA & hustling through the rat race
00:38:49 — What finally got him out of the rat race
00:39:33 — The call from Dr. Luke
00:41:11 — The Flo Rida / Levels / Good Feeling near-miss
00:42:37 — Losing a big cut overnight
00:43:19 — When the hits start stacking: “Where Have You Been,” “Wrecking Ball,” “Timber”
00:44:48 — The thing he brought that cut through the noise
00:47:18 — What it’s like creating with Max Martin
00:49:36 — Winning Producer of the Year (Junos)
00:50:17 — When Cirkut realized he belonged at the top
00:52:04 — Why his ego is different
00:53:15 — His quiet superpower in the room
00:55:45 — Ad: NMPA + @splice
00:57:00 — The importance of speed
00:59:00 — Secret sauce... Knowing his sounds and blind listening
01:02:00 — Keeping production organic
01:03:57 — The Weeknd
01:12:10 — Ross' funny Pitbull / Cirkut story
01:13:03 — Cirkut's secret to success
01:14:00 — 'Unholy' Sam Smith
01:18:54 — Jung Kook, 'Seven' with Jon Bellion / Theron Thomas
01:21:00 — Charli XCX
01:22:00 — 'APT' and Bruno's 'Stank'
01:30:56 — Lady Gaga + Watt
01:42:30 — Production advice. Figure out what you're great at
Hosted by Ross Golan
Produced by Joe London and Jad Saad
Watercolor by Michael White
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Today's guest went from making songs on a floppy-disk keyboard, sampling off a Kellogg’s cereal box DAW, and sending blind MySpace messages… to producing the some of the biggest crossover dance anthems of the last decade. And The Writer Is... Zedd!
What makes this conversation special isn’t just the hits — it’s how brutally honest he is about the craft, the obsession, and the unexpected moments that built his career.
A special thank you to our sponsors...
Our lead sponsor, NMPA aka the National Music Publisher's Association.
Your support means the world to us!
And @splice -- the best sample library on the market, period.
Chapters:
0:00:00 – Teaser
0:01:06 – Welcome & Episode Intro
35:58 – Zedd on Never Thinking He’d Be Successful
25:41 – Growing Up Poor & Studying One Album a Month
18:01 – The Kellogg’s DAW That Started Everything
15:33 – Learning Music on a 16-Track Floppy-Disk Keyboard
30:44 – Why He Thought EDM Was a Joke at First
38:12 – The Skrillex MySpace Story That Changed His Life
31:25 – Finding His Sound Through Curiosity & Obsession
47:14 – The “Lightning Moment” Behind Clarity
59:34 – Being Wrong More Often Than Right
1:03:03 – Why Most Music Feels the Same Today
1:03:37 – Extraordinary vs. Average: What Listeners Actually Feel
1:00:08 – “All I’m Doing Is Chasing a Feeling”
56:26 – The Chaos Behind Making The Middle
1:00:47 – Realizing the Scale of His Own Success
28:23 – What It Takes to Stay Inspired
6:48 – The Creative Principles He Still Lives By
41:22 – The Fastest Way for Artists to Get Noticed
1:05:23 – Zedd’s Final Advice for Musicians
1:07:19 – Closing Thoughts
Hosted by Ross Golan
Produced by Joe London and Jad Saad
Watercolor by Michael White
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Today’s guest has rewired modern hip-hop. His fingerprints live all over the last decade
but the real story behind that success is far more human, painful, and transformative than the headlines ever show.
In this conversation, he opens up about the highs and lows of being a producer in hip-hop: the pressure, the politics, the contracts, the moments that nearly broke him, and the breakthroughs that almost didn’t happen.
He also shares the lessons shaped by fatherhood, betrayal, and real perseverance — all while creating some of the most important and culture-defining music of our time. And The Writer Is... Hitboy!
A special thank you to our sponsors...
Our lead sponsor, NMPA aka the National Music Publisher's Association. Your support means the world to us!
And @splice -- the best sample library on the market, period.
Chapter list
0:00 TEASER
1:20 Ross’ Intro
2:02 Fatherhood and Being a Full-Time Dad
5:12 Parenting, Hoops, and What His Son Really Loves
6:29 The Humbling Reality Check: Kids Don’t Care About Your Hits
7:29 Growing Up Between Pasadena & San Bernardino
8:34 Seeing His Uncle’s Success & Wanting to Be on TV
9:35 Falling in Love With Beat Programming
10:12 Learning to Write & Rap at 13
11:23 Selling His First Beat for $20 at 16
12:24 MySpace Era: The Birth of “Hit-Boy”
13:09 First Major Betrayal: Partner Gets Signed Behind His Back
15:01 Advice to His Younger Self: Patience & Self-Belief
15:23 Building Early Industry Relationships Through MySpace
16:13 First Time Inside a Real Studio (The Underdogs)
17:39 The Underworld of LA Sessions & A Young Hit-Boy Watching Greats
18:44 First Major Placement: Jennifer Lopez
19:06 Providing for His Mom With His First Checks
19:27 Growing Up Without a Present Father
20:22 His Dad’s Return & Going on a Run Together
22:04 How Fatherhood Changed His Time, Focus & Creativity
23:27 Recording Nas: The Hidden Role People Don’t See
24:57 Getting His First Publishing Deal (And the 18-Year Lock-In)
28:02 Staying Current: “I Update My Software Every Day”
28:21 First Big Hit: Drop The World Lil Wayne & Eminem
29:47 Why He Used to Clash With Kanye
32:00 The ‘N*****s in Paris’ Moment (Language Question + Setup)
33:35 First Song With Kanye: The Christmas Track
34:12 Making Music With Kanye, Jay-Z & the Good Music Family
35:40 Hearing 'Paris' for the First Time in the Planetarium
36:32 Realizing the Song Was Going to Be a Cultural Earthquake
38:23 Big Sean, Executive Production & Sharpening His Ear
39:09 How Drake Found the ‘Trophies’ Beat
39:52 Stripping Beats Down to Let Artists Shine
40:33 When to Stop Producing: The Minimalism Lesson
41:38 Depression, Contracts & Losing the Relationship With Drake
42:57 The Pain of ‘Trophies’ Not Making Drake’s Album
43:13 What His Publishing Deal Held Him Back From
44:22 Working From a Place of Fear vs. Freedom
45:01 Working With Beyoncé (Excellence at Every Level)
46:22 The Story of ‘THIQUE’: An 8-Year-Old Beat Comes Back to Life
46:39 Why Old Beats Deserve Second Lives
47:57 The Making of Sicko Mode & Travis Scott’s Explosion
48:20 The Greatest Timing Ever: Streaming, Social Media, Travis
49:00 The Long Journey of Sicko Mode (2016 → 2018)
50:13 Are Producers Songwriters? The Eternal Debate
51:30 Nipsey Hussle: Early Sessions & Mutual Respect
53:53 Nipsey Claims the Song: “I Need This for My Project”
Hosted by Ross Golan
Produced by Joe London and Jad Saad
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Today's guest is a familiar face... A friend to the podcast and one of the most successful and influential creators in music history.
He isn’t just a hitmaker. He's perhaps one of the few people in the history of music to have hits as a songwriter, artist, and producer... completely aside from one another across genres.
And The Writer Is... Ryan Tedder!
In this episode, he breaks down:
🎯 Why the middle class of music is disappearing
🎯 How splits, streaming, and AI are reshaping the game
🎯 The mindset you need to survive as an artist today
🎯 What real creative value looks like in 2025 and beyond
This one isn’t just inspiring — It’s essential listening for anyone who wants to last in music..
A special thank you to our sponsors... O
ur lead sponsor, NMPA, the National Music Publisher's Association.
Your support means the world to us!
And Splice -- the best sample library on the market.
Hosted by Ross Golan Produced by Joe London and Jad Saad
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Today's guest is an international soul sensation...From writing “The Hardest Part” on Zoom to conquering imposter syndrome, crafting hits like "Dive" and "Man I Need," and creating her acclaimed album The Art of Loving.. She is on a meteoric rise in music.
We discuss raw stories of heartbreak, growth, the magic of songwriting.. and how she learned to protect her voice in a room and write music that actually feels like her.
And The Writer Is...Olivia Dean!
Whether you're a songwriter, fan, or music lover, this episode is packed with inspiration, laughs, and behind-the-scenes gems.
Presented by NMPA..
The National Music Publisher's Association. Championing songwriters everywhere.
Thank you to our sponsors!
Co-presented by Splice.
The best music sample library in music.
CHAPTERS:
00:00 – Welcome to the Soul
01:50 – “I Still Feel So British”
03:00 – First Trip to L.A. (With No GPS or Plan)
04:00 – Learning to Trust Her Own Taste
07:40 – When Artists Had Time to Be Bad
08:30 – Making Meaningful Music in a Chart World
09:20 – “I Don’t Write Every Day”
13:35 – Disney, West Side Story, and Other Early Teachers
15:50 – The First Song: “Mean Boy”
17:05 – Parents Who Said Yes
17:20 – The BRIT School Plan
20:05 – Busking, Best Friends, and the Birth of a Band
22:15 – The First Show: 70 Tickets, 10 People on Stage
23:40 – Signing Her First Deal
25:00 – The Studio Explosion (Her Worst Song Story)
27:00 – Surviving the Rooms
29:15 – How the Best Songs Are Written
30:45 – The Yellow Van Tour (COVID-Era Reinvention)
31:30 – “OK Love You Bye” — The First Song That Felt Free
34:00 – From 70 Fans to 100 Million Streams
36:00 – It Takes a Village (and a Lot of Gratitude)
39:00 – “The Hardest Part” — The Song She Hated (That Changed Everything)
40:00 – The Take That Hurts Is the Take That Wins
43:20 – NMPA Ad Read
44:05 – Splice Ad Read
47:45 – Crying on the Studio Floor
48:00 – “Dive” — When the World Started Singing Back
51:40 – Being a Woman Who Writes (and Plays)
53:10 – The Anatomy of a Song
56:25 – “I Don’t Write Lies”
57:35 – “The Art of Loving” — How the Album Was Born
1:00:15 – What Love Actually Taught Her
1:01:35 – Making Time for Love Anyway
1:02:55 – Ross’s Mirror Moment
1:04:30 – Learning to Sit in Silence
1:05:45 – The Weight of Words
1:06:30 – Being Heard
And The Writer Is...
Hosted by Ross Golan
Produced by Joe London and Jad Saad
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Julia Michaels has quietly rewritten the emotional DNA of pop music.
From Selena Gomez to Justin Bieber to Sabrina Carpenter — her pen reshaped how vulnerability sounds on the radio.
In this episode, Julia sits down with Ross to unpack the craft behind her catalog: the psychology of honest writing, the architecture of a hit, and the years she spent changing pop from behind the glass.
They dive into the writing of hits, the evolution of her artistry, and what it means to sustain creative integrity in a fast-changing industry.
Chapters
0:00 Intro: The Woman Who Reshaped Pop Music
0:59 Welcome Back: Reflecting on 8 Years in the Industry
2:13 Music Industry Evolution: Then vs. Now
3:00 Adapting Songwriting to Social Media and Trends
4:32 Early Career Advice: Mental Health and Boundaries
6:03 Panic Attacks and Performance Anxiety
9:25 From Songwriter to Artist: Reluctance and Breakthrough
11:23 Influence on Songwriting: Changing Pop's Sound
15:06 Hit Runs, Burnout, and Creative Pauses
17:55 Writing for Disney's Wish: Behind the Scenes
19:42 Future Plans: Musicals, Retirement, and Balance
21:05 Artistry and Collaborations
23:00 Inside the Sabrina Carpenter Camp
29:01 Breaking Down Hits: Taste, Bed Chem, and Coincidence
30:50 Joining Tate McRae: From 17 to Global Hits
33:39 Favorite Producers: Ryan Tedder, Stargate, and More
36:04 Working with Ed Sheeran: Panic, Brotherhood, and Hits
39:30 Crafting Lose You To Love Me with Selena Gomez
43:24 Longtime Bond with Selena: Firsts and Milestones
45:50 Celebrating Wins in a Changing Industry
47:19 Songwriter Struggles: Pay, Radio, and Streaming
50:26 Fair Splits and Standing Up for Writers
55:09 Gender Challenges: Overworking Female Writers
1:00:06 Regimented Life: Balance and Boundaries
1:02:40 Running Her Own Label: Freedom and Control
1:04:15 Career Lows and Highs
1:06:10 Perfect Studio Moment: Working with Britney Spears
1:07:34 Reflections: Where She Thought She'd Be
1:08:45 Uncut Demos and Sacred Songs
1:11:27 Wrapping with Selena, Benny, and Unlikely Stars
1:15:55 Ego-Free Sessions and Lifelong Roots
1:18:22 Outro and Credits
NMPA fights for songwriters' rights, ensuring fair pay and protection.
Check them out at NMPA.org and follow them on social media at @NMPAorg
Splice is the industry’s top sample library—royalty-free for all. It empowers creators with its incredible library and ethical AI tools, supporting original artists every step of the way.
Download Splice today and follow them on social media at @splice
And The Writer Is...
Hosted by Ross Golan
Executive produced by Joe London and Jad Saad
Follow us on socials at @andthewriteris
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Today’s guests are HAIM — one of the most unique voices in modern music, known for blending rock, pop, and soul into a sound that defined a generation. From garage band beginnings to Grammy nominations, they’ve collaborated with some of the biggest names in music while staying fiercely true to themselves.
And the writer(s) are... HAIM!
In this episode, we dive into a decade-long journey of grit, growth, and creative conviction — from rejection to recognition. The sisters open up about the early years, the family dynamics, and the lessons that shaped their songwriting and success.
In this episode:
• How HAIM built success on their own terms after years of “no’s”
• The real stories behind their biggest records
• What they’ve learned about songwriting, collaboration, and creative control
0:00 Intro Teaser – HAIM’s Gritty Start Against All Odds
0:30 Nobody Wanted to Sign Us – Early rejections that almost stopped HAIM
1:10 The Sister Dynamic – Therapy, tension, and love between bandmates
2:30 Strict Parents, Rebellion & First Gigs
5:00 Leaving for Tour at 19 – Danielle’s leap of faith
7:30 Almost Famous IRL – Touring with Jenny Lewis & Julian Casablancas
9:15 Skipping College & Faking Dentist Notes
12:30 Oldest Sibling Pressure & UCLA Lessons
15:00 Nobody Wanted Rock Music – Breaking through rejection
16:00 Meeting Ludwig Göransson – The producer who changed everything
18:30 2 AM Sessions & the “Forever” EP
20:00 SXSW Madness – 14 shows in 5 days
22:00 The UK Breakthrough – Why British fans got it first
25:10 How They Learned to Write Songs – Lessons from “Rockin’ Haim”
27:00 Recording Songs from the Radio – Childhood obsession that sparked their craft
31:10 The First HAIM Song Ever – From bad demos to “The Wire”
34:10 The 10,000 Hours – Becoming one of LA’s best live bands
35:45 Days Are Gone – Finding their sound amid chaos
38:30 Working with James Ford & Ariel Rechtshaid
40:50 Balancing Chaos and Craft – The HAIM recording process
42:10 Collaborating with Kid Cudi – Their first big studio moment
43:10 Touring Exhaustion & Finding Their Groove
45:15 Shutting Down Ventura Blvd – The iconic “Want You Back” video
47:39 Women in Music Pt. III – Growth & vulnerability
48:30 GarageBand & Songwriting – Danielle’s creative superstition
49:30 The Making of “I Quit” – A new era of HAIM
50:00 Creative Control & Saying No to Labels
52:00 Lessons from Paul Thomas Anderson – Vision & long-take storytelling
@NMPA | @nmpaorg – Fighting for songwriters’ rights and fair pay.
Learn more at NMPA.org.
@Splice – The industry’s top royalty-free sample library and creator platform, supporting original artists with world-class sounds and ethical AI tools.
Download Splice and start creating today.
And The Writer Is...
Hosted by Ross Golan
Executive Produced by Joe London & Jad Saad
Follow us everywhere → @andthewriteris
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Today’s guest is one of the most exciting young artists in the world right now.
A once-in-a-generation artist writing and producing every record himself — and turning that independence into global hits.
His records aren’t just topping charts — many of them are 100%ers.
Self-written, self-produced, and streamed hundreds of millions of times.
He’s building a world entirely his own...
In this episode of And The Writer Is, Ross Golan sits down with Sombr to unpack how he:
- Writes and produces 100% of his music
- Went from viral moments to global success
- Deals with pressure, purpose, and proving himself
Presented by our friends at @NMPA @splice
A huge thank you to our sponsors.
Chapter list
0:00 The Rise of Sombr: Bedroom Producer to Global Prodigy
0:01:02;15 [NMPA] - Fighting for Songwriters (Season Sponsor)
0:01:51 Early Discovery: Why Warner Music Bet on a 16-Year-Old
0:03:38 My First Song Blew Up: Waking Up to 200K Likes & Columbia Records
0:06:00;14 From NYC Roots to Proving Haters Wrong
0:08:16 From Charlie Puth to Operatic Arias: My Secret Classical Music Training
00:11:04 How I Dropped Out of LaGuardia to Get Signed (TikTok Made Me Quit)
00:13:39 Opening for The Strokes at SXSW
00:14:41 The Imposter Syndrome of a Global Superstar
00:15:36 From GarageBand to Global Hits: My FLOPS & Early Projects (Cherry Valley)
00:17:50 Who is Sombr? Shane vs. The Artist & Why New York Makes Anything Possible
00:21:02 The TRUTH About "Caroline": She's Everyone... She's You.
00:22:13 The $0 Photo Shoot That Became My Global Album Cover
00:24:28 Advice to My 16-Year-Old Self
00:26:18 My Secret Writing Method: Saving Choruses & How I Made the Album in 1 Month
00:28:14 [NMPA] - The Power of Music Publishers (Sponsor Segment)
00:28:56 [SPLICE] - Using AI Ethically & Protecting Creators (Sponsor Segment)
00:30:42 "Back to Friends": Writing a Global Hit from a Career Low
00:36:44 Working with Tony Berg: A Mentor and Real Instruments
00:40:54 "Undress": Building Confidence After a Breakthrough
00:43:40 Sacrifices of Fame: Losing My Social Life
00:45:30 Anxiety and Expectations: Navigating Global Success
00:51:23 Critics vs. Appreciation: Why Art Shouldn’t Be Rated
00:058:09 The Final Word: Why the Haters Say I'm Not "Serious" (A Joke)
00:58:50 The Beatles & The Muse: The Real Secret to Timeless Art
00:59:11 Thank You & Outro
NMPA fights for songwriters' rights, ensuring fair pay and protection.
Check them out at NMPA.org and follow them on social media at @NMPAorg
Splice is the industry’s top sample library—royalty-free for all. It empowers creators with its incredible library and ethical AI tools, supporting original artists every step of the way.
Download Splice today and follow them on social media at @splice
And The Writer Is...
Hosted by Ross Golan
Executive produced by Joe London and Jad Saad
Follow us on socials at @andthewriteris
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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