With his countless musical ventures, today’s guest has defined the term reinvention. In collaborating with some of the world's largest artists to date, he has paved the way for unique creativity. From being the frontman of alternative rock band, The Sleepy Jackson to half of electronic music duo Empire of the Sun, after 20 years of music making, he now emerges with a mystic, domestic wisdom on the comparatively unadorned and transportive new debut solo album, Listen To The Water. He has always taken the road less traveled, and now that road has led to a secluded cabin on a private lake in Northern California, and the birth of a new chapter of music. “I have hard-wired myself to be in a constant state of ever-grow. I will never be satisfied. You don’t make a record for no-one to hear. I want people to be captivated by it. In a way it’s a life story. You want them to hear the mistakes, the wisdom, the failure but also the glory”, our guest reflects. And The Writer Is… Luke Steele!
Watercolor by: Michael Richey White 

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Ep. 153: Luke Steele

Every 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 &amp; Ross Golan in association with Big Deal Music &amp; Mega House Music. And The Writer Is... ™ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today’s guest is a small town boy turned songwriting superstar. Hailing from Strafford, Vermont, our guest spent his life surrounded by profoundly beautiful nature, and a quaint, tight-knit community. This environment served as a source of inspiration for his introspective lyrics and homey folk melodies. After years of honing his craft in this space, our guest began to dominate the pop charts, eventually garnering several Grammy nominations. 
On top of that he’s landed more than five billion streams, a Double Platinum Certification for his hit single “Stick Season,” and collaborations with Post Malone, Kacey Musgraves, Brandi Carlile, Hozier, Gregory Alan Isakov, Gracie Abrams, Sam Fender, Lizzy McAlpine, Zach Bryan, Joy Oladokun, and more. Our guest has embarked on a sold-out tour across North America, selling over half-a-million tickets and performing to sold out audiences in stadiums and arenas. This guest is at the forefront of the folk-rennissane, and is doing it with grace, humility and humor. 
And The Writer Is…#NoahKahan! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ep. 180: Noah Kahan

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Ep. 179: Mike Shinoda

Today’s versatile songwriting superstar earned her stripes touring with her family band. Originally from New York, this writer spend most of her childhood on the road, playing instruments, singing and writing songs. After the family band split up, she moved to Nashville where she dove into the songwriting scene. It took many years of grinding through the Nashville scene before stringing together this most impressive 5 year stretch. She’s been Grammy nominated for four years running, won a CMA Award, an ACM Award and was nominated for the first ever Grammy Award for Songwriter of the Year. Named Billboard’s 2022 Songwriter of the Year and a Variety Hitmaker in 2020, she has also been awarded four NSAI Awards and presented with the Yellow Rose of Inspiration Award by the Nashville-based Song Suffragettes for her contributions to the songwriting community.   In 2020, “The Bones” reached number-one on the Country charts, achieving Top 10 on both Hot AC and Top 40 charts and shattering the record for most consecutive weeks held by a solo female artist after spending 19 weeks atop the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. The song’s historic reign propelled this writer to become the first female to claim the number-one spot on Billboard’s Top Country Songwriter chart, a feat she held for five consecutive weeks. The global smash also earned her several awards, including the BMI Pop Song of the Year. Her songs have also been recorded by Demi Lovato, Madeline Edward, Kelly Clarkson, Reba McEntire, Miranda Lambert, The Highwomen, Dierks Bentley, Kane Brown, Monsta X, Trisha Yearwood, Little Big Town, Ryan Hurd, Brothers Osborne, Carly Pearce, Mitchell Tenpenny and more. It’s safe to say that this writer is a certified hit-maker who’s work ethic and passion for songwriting have propelled her into well-deserved success.
#AndTheWriterIs... Laura Veltz!! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ep. 178: Laura Veltz

Today’s guest is a songwriting legend who helped shape the sound of American pop music. Originally setting out to be a recording star, this guest became one of the most respected pop songwriters within the Brill Building complex of the ’60s. A struggling New Yorker, this writer’s fortunes changed considerably when he met his future wife and songwriting partner, Ellie Greenwich, at a party in 1962. Within a short time of teaming up, the duo had an appointment at Don Kirshner’s songwriting factory, New York City’s famous Brill Building. Ushered into the business by Leiber & Stoller, this duo began writing and arranging for the groups signed to Phil Spector’s Philles label. The smash hits “Da Do Ron Ron” and “Be My Baby” resulted from the time spent with Spector and, by 1964, the duo were an integral part of the staff at Leiber and Stoller’s newly formed Redbird Records. Largely regarded by pop aficionados as the mecca for the “girl group” sound, the staff at Redbird, produced tightly crafted, musically sophisticated songs. 
The duo also penned “Leader of the Pack,” which became a number one hit. They continued to write hit records throughout the ’60s, such as the seminal “River Deep, Mountain High” and the Beach Boys’ 1969 hit “I Can Hear Music,” their songs changing with the times, but still retaining the essence of their earlier Brill Building days. After the marriage broke up, their creative partnership did as well and while Greenwich went on to become a session vocalist, our guest became a staff producer at A&M; Records. Throughout the ’70s, he worked with Neil Diamond, the Monkees, and Van Morrison, among other. 
Overall, this guest’s credits—as a writer, co-writer, producer, or a combination—extend to a mix of different genres. His song "Out of Hand" by Gary Stewart was the longest-charted country record of its year. He also wrote many other country tunes, including "If It Ain't Love by Now," sung by Jim Ed Brown and Helen Cornelius, who later won the Country Music Association's Best Country Duo award. One of this writer’s most successful songs of all was Olivia Newton-John's 1974 worldwide smash hit "I Honestly Love You," which won "Song of the Year" at the American Music Awards, and, for Newton-John, GRAMMY Awards for Record of the Year and Best Female Pop Performance. 
While mainly influential to the pop world, this writer’s impact spans throughout all genres and all corners of the music industry. #AndTheWriterIs... Jeff Barry !!
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Ep. 177: Jeff Barry

Today’s guest is a multi-talented writer, producer, music publisher and executive! He grew up in an incredibly unique environment, being the son of the legendary founder of Casablanca Records, which brought the world Donna Summer, Village People, Parliament-Funkadelic and Kiss. This musical upbringing prompted him to work in virtually every sector of the music industry— he worked at record labels, agencies and as a manager and rapper. 
Soon enough his songwriting took off and he began working on hits with Rihanna, Beyonce, Madonna, Demi Lovato, Lizzo, Jason Derulo, and many more. Now as an established songwriter, his focus is as CEO of Seeker Music publishing company where he and his team work to develop and support artists. His company represents artists, writers and producers such as Run The Jewels, Kito, Jon Bellion, Teddy Geiger, Sofia Valdés, and many more. Our guest has also dipped his toes into the world of film, serving as the Executive Producer and Executive Music Producer on the movie Spinning Gold, which came out in March 2023, and Verona, which is still in production. 
On top of all of this success, this writer’s work has been nominated for three Grammy Awards, winning one for Beyoncé’s “Halo” in 2010. Additionally, he has been awarded several BMI awards as both a songwriter and publisher. He is a passionate advocate for songwriters and serves as National Trustee for The Recording Academy and Chair of their Songwriters & Composers Wing. His dedication to the betterment of the songwriting community inspires us, and writers all around the world. 
And The Writer Is…Evan Bogart! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ep. 153: Luke Steele

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