Art In All Its Forms

NOTE: This episode was recorded in late 2021.

On this episode of the Art In All Its Forms podcast, Suraj speaks with Nate Sloan, a professor of musicology at USC and podcast host. They discuss how Nate decided to study musicology, his academic and research interests, what he admires about Taylor Swift and her artistry, and why he decided to co-host a podcast about popular music.

I learned so much by taking Nate’s jazz history class at USC in 2019. He was a fantastic professor, and it’s a privilege to have him on the podcast!

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Show Notes:

1. Nate Sloan’s Bio

2. Nate’s podcast with Charlie Harding, Switched on Pop

3. Nate and Charlie’s book “Switched on Pop: How Popular Music Works, and Why It Matters”

4. Nate’s article in The New York Times about the resurgence of funk music in recent years

5. Segregating Sound by Karl Hagstrom Miller

NOTE: If you’d like to skip my commentary and go straight to the song, go to 2:01. However, I do suggest listening to the whole episode!

Thanks for tuning into the fifth episode of “25 Bad Songs,” an Art In All Its Forms podcast series where I write 25 songs — one song a week — and show you how I did it.

Today’s song, “How It Started (Virginia Woolf),” tells a story of a relationship beginning and how two people can build the foundation for a connection that lasts.

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Lyrics so far:

Verse 1She read Virginia WoolfSitting on a chair in the back of the courtyardLike it was a room of her own A room of her ownAnd that was all it tookFor me to knock on her imaginary doorToo soon to knowHow far it would go

Pre-chorusWell it starts with something in commonA book or a movie, a poemThen you’re out to dinner and you’re talkin’Holdin’ your hands while you’re walkin’

And you can’t wait to tell all of your friendsHoly s**t this is happeningTime seems to be moving fasterLet’s take a minute, flash forwardChorusTwenty years later you’re thinking about How it started (x3)Sitting there together and thinking about How it started (x3)

NOTE: If you’d like to skip my commentary and go straight to the song, go to 13:13. However, I do suggest listening to the whole episode!

NOTE 2: Other than the title, this song has nothing to do with the new film, “Last Night In Soho.”

Thanks for tuning into the fifth episode of “25 Bad Songs,” an Art In All Its Forms podcast series where I (Suraj) write 25 songs — one song a week — and show you how I did it!

Today’s song, “Last Night In Soho,” tells a story of a breakup that happens in a very famous place and how rejection can be difficult to deal with.

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Full Lyrics:

Verse 1I’ll dress up nice if you say soCause it’s our last night in SohoLiving with zero regretsTrade in the t-shirt and sweatsOne look in the mirror before I go

Pre-chorus-ishStep up onto the streetAnd our eyes meetCan you believe this heatI keep on talking nervouslyWalking down West BroadwayThat’s when you say “shut up let’s get a drink”We go into the place right away

Build upSince that summer I met youI still look at you the same wayYou drink so slowly and put the glass downTo tell me everything’s changed

ChorusPlease don’t say anymoreI can’t handle the fallPlease don’t say anymoreI need help from the alcohol

Verse 2I dressed up nice cause you said soAnd it’s our last night in SohoBut now I can see what you meantOur relationship currency spentYou wanted to talk before you go

Pre-chorus-ish You’re so complicatedI don’t get it I’m too fadedTo make any sense of thisDon’t leave me though

Build up Since that summer I met youI still look at you the same wayYou drink so slowly and put the glass downTo tell me everything’s changed

ChorusPlease don’t say anymoreGuess I better walk out the doorPlease don’t say anymoreIt was good while it lasted though

Build upSince that summer I met youI still look at you the same wayYou drink so slowly and put the glass downTo tell me everything’s changed

ChorusPlease don’t say anymoreYour voice will leave me on the floorPlease don’t say anymoreI’m too immatureI’ll just take the train back home

NOTE: If you’d like to skip my commentary and go straight to the song, go to 12:28. However, I do suggest listening to the whole episode!

Thanks for waiting an extra WEEK for the fourth episode of “25 Bad Songs,” an Art In All Its Forms podcast series where I (Suraj) write 25 songs — one song a week — and show you how I did it!

Today’s song, “When The Trees Smiled Back,” tells a story about nature, climate change, and the things we take for granted that could be lost forever.

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Full Lyrics:

Verse 1We used to listen to The Beatles on road tripsEarly morning drives through the forestSinging la di dah dah day, la di dah dah day

Open up the windows you could smell itRedwood trees and the foliageSinging la di dah dah day, la di dah dah day

Pre-chorus 1Painfully unaware when we were youngerPlaying in the park as the fire got hotterSmiling at the trees in the scorching summerBut now I wish for the days

Chorus 1Back when the trees smiled back at usGet on your knees and pray for usThat they’ll smile another day, smile another dayBack when the trees smiled back at usYou better hope there’s hope for usThat the smoke will clear away, they’ll smile another day

Verse 2We used to listen to lay on the ground, feel the grass growLook at the sky and the stars aboveSinging la di dah dah day, la di dah dah day

Open up your eyes, you can see itThe things we take for granted gonna slip through our fingertipsImagine it, even if its too hard to admit

Pre-chorus 2Painfully unaware when we were youngerWe’re too lazy to let the world live longerSmiling at the trees in the scorching summerWishing for better days

Chorus 2Back when the trees smiled back at usGet on your knees and pray for usThat they’ll smile another day, smile another dayBack when the trees smiled back at usYou better hope there’s hope for usThat the smoke will clear away, they’ll smile another day

BridgeThe world’s gonna come crashing down around us and we can’t be bothered (x4) (La di dah dah day) (x3)

Chorus 2Back when the trees smiled back at usGet on your knees and pray for usThat they’ll smile another day, smile another dayBack when the trees smiled back at usYou better hope there’s hope for usThat the smoke will clear away, they’ll smile another day

OutroLa di dah dah day

NOTE: If you’d like to skip my commentary and go straight to the song, go to 8:08. However, I do suggest listening to the whole episode!

Thanks for waiting an extra day for the third episode of “25 Bad Songs,” an Art In All Its Forms podcast series where I (Suraj) write 25 songs — one song a week — and show you how I did it!

Today’s song, “I’ll Do It Anyway,” tells a very broad story about power and the desire to keep it, even if it was required through illegitimate means. It is very loosely based on a conversation I had with my sister, as well as the Showtime TV show “Billions,” starring Damien Lewis and Paul Giamatti.

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Full Lyrics:

Verse 1You can say I’m a devilYou can say I’m a foolBut I’m on a higher levelWhere I make my own rules

I know you’re out to get mePull out the pistols at dawnDon’t bother tryna hurt meWhen you say that I’m wrong

ChorusI’ll do it anyway (x4)

Verse 2Can you believe these people When they see what I built they wanna tear it all downNo respect, only wanna catch meI’m moving too fast, they want me to slow downTake a breath, make a threat, look me in the eyes when you say, “It’s going down”Oh, it’s going down

I know I’m not so perfectI’ve played the game for too longBut it’s all been worth itEven I’m doing wrong

ChorusI’ll do it anyway (x4)

Solo

ChorusI’ll do it anyway (x4)

NOTE: If you’d like to skip my commentary and go straight to the song, go to 14:47. However, I do suggest listening to the whole episode!

Thanks for tuning in to the second episode of “25 Bad Songs,” an Art In All Its Forms podcast series where I (Suraj) write 25 songs — one song a week — and show you how I did it!

Today’s song, “Always In My Head,” tells the story of a troubled father-son relationship. It is very loosely based on Franz Kafka’s letter to his father, which he wrote in November of 1919.

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Full Lyrics:

Verse 1Hey dad, I know it’s been a minuteI called to tell you one thingThat the apple falls far from the treePeople see you and they don’t recognize me

I used to try to be what you wantedIt didn’t work out, you were always disappointedI was tired of it all, I was doneWalked right out and then I wasn’t your son

Pre-chorus 1But even if I move to somewhere far away from you I still feel sick itIt doesn’t matter what I try There’s no escaping itI don’t want to admit that I’d be lost without you

ChorusOh Oh OhhI wanna be my own manBut I can’t forget all of the s**t you saidYou’re always in my head

Oh Oh OhhI can’t understandWhy I can’t forget all of the s**t you saidYou’re always in my head

Verse 2Hey Dad, I know you didn’t think I’d call to tell you one thingWhen you said that I was weak you were wrongI was trying to be kind and I was so young

I used to be afraid of monsters under my bedYou threw me out into the cold that nightThought I’d freeze to deathBe the master of your fate, you said

Pre-chorus 2And even though I try to close my ears I’m always listeningI don’t want to admit that I’d be lost without you

Chorus (x2)Oh Oh OhhI wanna be my own manBut I can’t forget all of the s**t you saidYou’re always in my head

Oh Oh OhhI can’t understandWhy I can’t forget all of the s**t you saidYou’re always in my head

NOTE: If you’d like to skip my commentary and go straight to the song, go to 17:00. However, I do suggest listening to the whole episode!

Thanks for tuning in to the first episode of “25 Bad Songs,” an Art In All Its Forms podcast series where I (Suraj) write 25 songs — one song a week — and show you how I did it! As I said in my latest newsletter:

Each podcast episode will be a little different. Sometimes I’ll share my thoughts on the writing process or the inspiration and story behind certain songs. Sometimes I’ll carefully show you how voice memos and scribbled rough drafts turn into a piece of music sounding a little more complete.

Most importantly, I’m always gonna be 100% transparent with you: what I liked about the song, what I didn’t like, how I’m looking to improve, my musical insecurities — EVERYTHING. I hope it will give you a sense of what an artist goes through when they are working on something but aren’t sure of the final result.

Today’s song, “Long Distance,” tells the story of a long-distance relationship coming to its end. Disclaimer: this has NOTHING TO DO with my wonderful 3-year relationship with Maura, which is strong and well!

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Full Lyrics:

Verse 1I haven’t held your face in a whileOnly text messages and digital smilesOpposite coasts for years at a timeFalling asleep without you by my sidePre-chorusWatching you float away There’s only so much pain I can take

ChorusTryna keep it goingEven though we’re tired of long distance, long distanceIt’s so hard to know if All of this is worth it, the long distance, long distance

Verse 2Why do we keep this charade all the timeIt’s not what it used to be, we’re not doing fineTalking in circles, feeling in squaresYou say that you love me but you’re not here

Pre-chorusWatching us float away Wish there was something that I could say

ChorusTryna keep it goingEven though we’re tired of long distance, long distanceIt’s so hard to know if All of this is worth it, the long distance, long distance

BridgeWatching you float away Remembering better daysWatching you float away Wish there was something left here to say

ChorusTryna keep it goingEven though we’re tired of long… distanceIt’s so hard to know if All of this is worth it, the long distance, long distance

OutroThere’s only so much pain I can take

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A few visuals

Here’s a look at my ridiculous scribbles on Post-its and in my Field Notes Memo Book… I can barely read these notes after a few days, so I try to get everything digitized at some point.

Art In All Its Forms is back after a much longer than expected hiatus! I’ll be getting into the reason for that in an upcoming newsletter. For now, though, I hope you enjoy a new episode of the podcast. This is a special one.

Suraj speaks with Lauren Patrice Nadler, an acting coach and director based in Los Angeles. They talk about Lauren’s upbringing in Queens, NY, her first introductions into acting, how she got into teaching, her directing method, improvisation, the format of her acting class, her various acting clients, and more.

Here’s what I said about Lauren some years ago:

"Lauren is one of those acting coaches who finds a way to relate to every single one of her students. She tells them the things that will help them grow as actors and individuals in the most efficient and healthy way. I personally cannot thank her enough for taking the actor inside of me and helping him come alive."

Show Notes:

* Lauren Patrice Nadler Studios Website

* The LPNSImprov Show — “Makin’ a Movie”

* Lauren’s Personal Website

* Info on Sanford Meisner and his technique

* Info on Uta Hagen and her technique

Suraj talks about his recent close call with a TV audition. Also, actor Aramis Knight talks with Suraj about auditioning for a Steven Spielberg TV show, not getting it, but then moving on to bigger and better things.

Show Notes:

* An article on “Ms. Marvel,” the show Aramis is starring in! Coming to Disney+ soon

* “Zen in the Art of Archery” by Eugen Herrigel

* Aramis’ TV show “Into the Badlands” on Netflix

This week’s episode is a little different! Suraj speaks with multiple guests about setbacks they experienced in their artistic careers. Vic Vasconcellos talks with Suraj about a serious injury she had, and Lauren Owens (Lauren Dair) discusses working on a song after a tragic death.

Part II of this series comes on Monday. Stay tuned!

Show Notes:

* Vic’s Website

* Lauren Dair’s song with Linkin Park called “Every Little Light”