Artist Friendly with Joel Madden

Latest Episodes:

Sarah Barthel of Phantogram Jun 18, 2025

Show notes

On this week's episode of Artist Friendly, Joel Madden is joined by Sarah Barthel of ⁠Phantogram⁠.

Phantogram’s fifth studio album, Memory of a Day, hinges on nostalgia, compiled with the idea that certain sounds can send you back in time while simultaneously employing the kind of crisp production and hard-hitting beats that makes them sound from the future.

Since its release last year, the electronic-rock duo have stayed busy, appearing on Jimmy Kimmel, touring with Open Mike Eagle, and preparing to hit the road again in August.

In a conversation with Madden, Barthel reveals how she uses art to express emotion, the band’s dedication to creating a unique sound, and their upcoming summer tour with Deftones.

-------

Listen to their Artist Friendly conversation on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify.⁠⁠⁠

-------

Follow Artist Friendly!

IG: @artist.friendly

TikTok: @artist.friendly

YouTube: youtube.com/@artist.friendly

-------

Host: Joel Madden, @joelmadden

Executive Producers: Joel Madden, Benji Madden, Jillian King

Producers: Josh Madden, Joey Simmrin, Janice Leary

Visual Producer/Editor: Ryan Schaefer

Audio Producer/Composer: Nick Gray

Music/Theme Composer: Nick Gray

Cover Art/Design: Ryan Schaefer

Additional Contributors: Anna Zanes, Neville Hardman

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Josh Carter of Phantogram Jun 17, 2025

Show notes

On this week's episode of Artist Friendly, Joel Madden is joined by Josh Carter of Phantogram.

Since their formation in the late 2000s, Phantogram have always created the music that they wanted to hear, drawing from Outkast as freely as My Bloody Valentine.

Their fifth studio album, 2024’s Memory of a Day, is no different, offering up dusky psychedelia, floor-filling beats, and a potent chemistry between two longtime friends while contemplating the nature of time.

In a conversation with Madden, Carter opens up about how trying too hard can be the death of the art, his special relationship with his bandmate, Sarah Barthel, and their upcoming summer tour with Deftones.

-------

Listen to their Artist Friendly conversation on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify.⁠⁠⁠

-------

Follow Artist Friendly!

IG: @artist.friendly

TikTok: @artist.friendly

YouTube: youtube.com/@artist.friendly

-------

Host: Joel Madden, @joelmadden

Executive Producers: Joel Madden, Benji Madden, Jillian King

Producers: Josh Madden, Joey Simmrin, Janice Leary

Visual Producer/Editor: Ryan Schaefer

Audio Producer/Composer: Nick Gray

Music/Theme Composer: Nick Gray

Cover Art/Design: Ryan Schaefer

Additional Contributors: Anna Zanes, Neville Hardman

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Brandon Lake Jun 11, 2025

Show notes

On this week's episode of Artist Friendly, Joel Madden is joined by ⁠Brandon Lake⁠.

Though Lake learned to play guitar from his father when he was younger, he didn’t put out his first album, Closer, until 2016 — gathering the financing through crowdfunding and releasing it independently.

Since then, the worship music singer has gone on to make several other records, racking up several Grammy wins along the way, and will share his latest, King of Hearts, this Friday (June 13). In a conversation with Madden, Lake opens up aboutbalancing fame and family, using music to share his relationship with faith, and his upcoming album.

-------

Listen to their Artist Friendly conversation on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify.⁠⁠⁠

-------

Follow Artist Friendly!

IG: @artist.friendly

TikTok: @artist.friendly

YouTube: youtube.com/@artist.friendly

-------

Host: Joel Madden, @joelmadden

Executive Producers: Joel Madden, Benji Madden, Jillian King

Producers: Josh Madden, Joey Simmrin, Janice Leary

Visual Producer/Editor: Ryan Schaefer

Audio Producer/Composer: Nick Gray

Music/Theme Composer: Nick Gray

Cover Art/Design: Ryan Schaefer

Additional Contributors: Anna Zanes, Neville Hardman

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Trixie Mattel (Rerun) Jun 04, 2025

Show notes

On this week's episode of Artist Friendly, Joel Madden is bringing you an encore episode of his conversation with Trixie Mattel.

Since winning RuPaul’s Drag Race in 2015, ⁠Mattel⁠ has blossomed into a formidable drag superstar, which makes her the perfect person to kick off Pride Month.

Between creating subversive country ⁠albums⁠ (including team-ups with kindred spirit Orville Peck), uploading videos to her massively popular ⁠YouTube channel⁠, and helming her own ⁠cosmetics line⁠, Mattel only continues to reach greater heights with her unique and unapologetic business savvy.

-------

Listen to their Artist Friendly conversation on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify.⁠⁠⁠

-------

Follow Artist Friendly!

IG: @artist.friendly

TikTok: @artist.friendly

YouTube: youtube.com/@artist.friendly

-------

Host: Joel Madden, @joelmadden

Executive Producers: Joel Madden, Benji Madden, Jillian King

Producers: Josh Madden, Joey Simmrin, Janice Leary

Visual Producer/Editor: Ryan Schaefer

Audio Producer/Composer: Nick Gray

Music/Theme Composer: Nick Gray

Cover Art/Design: Ryan Schaefer

Additional Contributors: Anna Zanes, Neville Hardman

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ben Kweller May 28, 2025

Show notes

On this week's episode of Artist Friendly, Joel Madden is joined by Ben Kweller.

From his early days with neo-grunge band Radish to an impressive solo career, Kweller has constantly been shaped by music — and laid his heart bare in his songwriting.

That’s never been truer on his latest album, Cover the Mirrors, a striking reckoning with grief after Kweller lost his 16-year-old son Dorian Zev Kweller in a car accident.

In a conversation with Madden, Kweller opens up about his life in Texas, touring with Ed Sheeran, the tragic death of his teenage son, and how it influenced his new record, out this Friday (May 30).

-------

Listen to their Artist Friendly conversation on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify.⁠⁠⁠

-------

Follow Artist Friendly!

IG: @artist.friendly

TikTok: @artist.friendly

YouTube: youtube.com/@artist.friendly

-------

Host: Joel Madden, @joelmadden

Executive Producers: Joel Madden, Benji Madden, Jillian King

Producers: Josh Madden, Joey Simmrin, Janice Leary

Visual Producer/Editor: Ryan Schaefer

Audio Producer/Composer: Nick Gray

Music/Theme Composer: Nick Gray

Cover Art/Design: Ryan Schaefer

Additional Contributors: Anna Zanes, Neville Hardman

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

AFROJACK May 21, 2025

Show notes

On this week's episode of Artist Friendly, Joel Madden is joined by AFROJACK.

A decade-and-a-half ago, AFROJACK rocketed to the mainstream for his alluring blend of EDM, house, and pop — a classic sound he recently returned to with his March single “Never Forget You.”

Since then, he’s created a legacy that includes massive hits (“Give Me Everything,” “Take Over Control”), distinguished collaborations, and Coachella performances.

In a conversation with Madden, the GRAMMY award-winning producer and multi-platinum dance music icon opens up about hacking the subconscious, the importance of both fun and discipline in creating, and his latest single.

-------

Listen to their Artist Friendly conversation on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify.⁠⁠⁠

-------

Follow Artist Friendly!

IG: @artist.friendly

TikTok: @artist.friendly

YouTube: youtube.com/@artist.friendly

-------

Host: Joel Madden, @joelmadden

Executive Producers: Joel Madden, Benji Madden, Jillian King

Producers: Josh Madden, Joey Simmrin, Janice Leary

Visual Producer/Editor: Ryan Schaefer

Audio Producer/Composer: Nick Gray

Music/Theme Composer: Nick Gray

Cover Art/Design: Ryan Schaefer

Additional Contributors: Anna Zanes, Neville Hardman

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

nothing,nowhere. May 14, 2025

Show notes

On this week's episode of Artist Friendly, Joel Madden is joined by nothing,nowhere.

Back in 2015, nothing,nowhere. (aka Joe Mulherin) quickly earned a devout following within the emo and hip-hop underground when he self-released The Nothing,Nowhere LP — a debut filled with grief, anxiety, and bruised experimentalism.

He’s currently observing that milestone with The Return of the Reaper: A Decade of Darkness throughout the rest of May, where he’s playing some of his most beloved tracks.

In a conversation with Madden, nothing,nowhere. opens up about veganism, the importance of using social media to build a community, and celebrating 10 years of songs on tour.

-------

Listen to their Artist Friendly conversation on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify.⁠⁠⁠

-------

Follow Artist Friendly!

IG: @artist.friendly

TikTok: @artist.friendly

YouTube: youtube.com/@artist.friendly

-------

Host: Joel Madden, @joelmadden

Executive Producers: Joel Madden, Benji Madden, Jillian King

Producers: Josh Madden, Joey Simmrin, Janice Leary

Visual Producer/Editor: Ryan Schaefer

Audio Producer/Composer: Nick Gray

Music/Theme Composer: Nick Gray

Cover Art/Design: Ryan Schaefer

Additional Contributors: Anna Zanes, Neville Hardman

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Spencer Chamberlain of Underoath May 07, 2025

Show notes

On this week's episode of Artist Friendly, Joel Madden is joined by Spencer Chamberlain of Underoath.

For Underoath, the past year has been one of reflection and evolution, as they marked the 20th anniversary of their 2004 genre-defining album, They’re Only Chasing Safety, with a North American tour, while also looking ahead with the release of their 10th studio album, The Place After This One.

In a conversation with Madden, Chamberlain opens up about the complexity of personal growth that comes within navigating the music industry—and how a band’s lifespan can mirror the ebbs and flows of any enduring relationship.

-------

Listen to their Artist Friendly conversation on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify.⁠⁠⁠

-------

Follow Artist Friendly!

IG: @artist.friendly

TikTok: @artist.friendly

YouTube: youtube.com/@artist.friendly

-------

Host: Joel Madden, @joelmadden

Executive Producers: Joel Madden, Benji Madden, Jillian King

Producers: Josh Madden, Joey Simmrin, Janice Leary

Visual Producer/Editor: Ryan Schaefer

Audio Producer/Composer: Nick Gray

Music/Theme Composer: Nick Gray

Cover Art/Design: Ryan Schaefer

Additional Contributors: Anna Zanes, Neville Hardman

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Alessia Cara Apr 30, 2025

Show notes

On this week's episode of Artist Friendly, Joel Madden is joined by Alessia Cara.

Cara made an exceptional introduction with 2015’s “Here,” a sultry anthem dedicated to introverts who feel lost at house parties.

Since then, she’s racked up billions of streams and bagged a Grammy for Best New Artist, becoming the first Canadian musician to earn the award.

This past Valentine’s Day, Cara returned with her fourth studio album, Love & Hyperbole, a collection brimming with romance, personal growth, and more adventurous sounds.

In a conversation with Madden, the singer opens up about her songwriting process, what inspires her the most, and her latest record.

-------

Listen to their Artist Friendly conversation on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify.⁠⁠⁠

-------

Follow Artist Friendly!

IG: @artist.friendly

TikTok: @artist.friendly

YouTube: youtube.com/@artist.friendly

-------

Host: Joel Madden, @joelmadden

Executive Producers: Joel Madden, Benji Madden, Jillian King

Producers: Josh Madden, Joey Simmrin, Janice Leary

Visual Producer/Editor: Ryan Schaefer

Audio Producer/Composer: Nick Gray

Music/Theme Composer: Nick Gray

Cover Art/Design: Ryan Schaefer

Additional Contributors: Anna Zanes, Neville Hardman

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Wiz Khalifa Apr 23, 2025

Show notes

On this week's episode of Artist Friendly, Joel Madden is joined by Wiz Khalifa.

Between writing smoked-out anthems, criticizing weed stereotypes, and releasing his own Khalifa Kush, the Pittsburgh-bred MC has long been tied to stoner culture.

Now, Wiz has returned to his roots by releasing the sequel to his 2010 mixtape, Kush & Orange Juice, which takes the songs to a higher level by tapping new producers and a bevy of friends while honoring the original tape.

In a conversation with Madden, the rapper opens up about balancing life as a musician, father, and entrepreneur, and his newest album, Kush + Orange Juice 2.

-------

Listen to their Artist Friendly conversation on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify.⁠⁠⁠

-------

Follow Artist Friendly!

IG: @artist.friendly

TikTok: @artist.friendly

YouTube: youtube.com/@artist.friendly

-------

Host: Joel Madden, @joelmadden

Executive Producers: Joel Madden, Benji Madden, Jillian King

Producers: Josh Madden, Joey Simmrin, Janice Leary

Visual Producer/Editor: Ryan Schaefer