Finneas O’Connell joins The Track Star Podcast to explore some of the most fascinating and unconventional production choices behind iconic songs and compositions.

Armed with five song picks each, Finneas and Jack take turns sharing tracks that span everything from film scores to classic records. Along the way, they break down the creative techniques that make each piece unique, uncovering what it really takes to push boundaries and create something unforgettable.

From the role inspiration plays in shaping a song to the ways production itself can become a form of storytelling, Finneas offers a rare look inside the creative process. Together, they examine how bold decisions, unexpected sounds, and meticulous details can transform a great idea into a lasting piece of music.

This Episode’s Tracklist:

00:00 - Intro

​​01:16 - Money - Pink Floyd

06:28 - Ms. Jackson - Outkast

09:02 - Nikes - Frank Ocean

12:25 - Aloha! (Main Title Theme) - Cristobal Tapia De Veer

14:35 - Seven Nation Army - The White Stripes

16:52 - Blue Jay Way - The Beatles

19:53 - L’AMOUR DE MA VIE - Billie Eilish

24:14 - O Green World - Gorillaz

28:30 - Supermarine - Hans Zimmer

34:29 - The Mandalorian - Ludwig Göransson

39:38 - Vicious Thoughts - Finneas O’Connell

Today on Track Star*, Jack is joined by Glen Hansard, the acclaimed singer-songwriter, musician, and actor known for his work as a founding member of the band the Frames, as well as his prolific solo musical and acting careers. 

Today on the Track Star Podcast, Jack is joined by Connecticut Senator Chris Murphy for a conversation about everything from touching grass to the pursuit of happiness, discussing how community engagement and human connection have the power to uplift and heal. 

With a carefully curated playlist, Jack walks Senator Murphy through different times and different lives, and facilitates a conversation about how consumerism and globalization have contributed to a cultural disconnect. 

Today’s episode shows how music can lead to important discussions, as Senator Murphy explains how genuine connection is the most important thing in society today. 

This Episode’s Tracklist: 

00:00 - Intro

00:50 - Your Body Is a Wonderland - John Mayer 

06:27 - End of the Road - Boyz II Men

11:01 - Rich Men North of Richmond - Oliver Anthony

16:18 - The Way It Is - Bruce Hornsby and the Range

25:16 - Under the Bridge - Red Hot Chili Peppers

34:36 - Could It Be Another Change - The Samples

34:56 - Carry On - The Samples

This week on the Track Star Podcast, Jack is joined by six-time Grammy-winning drummer and record producer Questlove. The genre-defining drummer and co-founder and co-frontman of The Roots as well as an acclaimed director and filmmaker, is the director and producer of the new documentary: Earth, Wind & Fire (To Be Celestial vs. That's the Weight of the World). 

In this episode, Jack and Questlove dive into the songs that have deeply influenced Questlove’s musical upbringing and modern-day career. He reflects on his journey and discusses his lifelong connection to Earth, Wind & Fire and the documentary. 

This Episode’s Track List: 

00:00 - Intro 

00:45 - September - Earth, Wind & Fire

8:06 - That’s The Way of The World - Earth, Wind & Fire

18:46 - Wade In The Water - Ramsey Lewis

21:15 - Smokestack Lightning - Howlin’ Wolf

27:10 - Spinning Wheel - Blood, Sweat & Tears

32:14 - Kalimba Story - Earth, Wind & Fire

37:38 - Can You Get To That - Funkadelic 

42:17 - Shining Star - Earth, Wind & Fire

48:54 - Boogie Wonderland - Earth, Wind & Fire

49:06 - Let's Groove - Earth, Wind & Fire

This week on the Track Star Podcast, we’re joined by Grammy Award-winning producer, songwriter, and musician Andrew Watt, one of the defining hitmakers in modern music. From pop stars to rock legends, Andrew has worked with some of the biggest artists in the world, including Paul McCartney, Mick Jagger, Ozzy Osbourne, Justin Bieber, and Lady Gaga.

On this episode of Track Star*, we're joined by Ben Gibbard and Dave Depper of Death Cab for Cutie. Known for their thoughtful songwriting and influence on indie rock, the two bring decades of musical curiosity to a conversation filled with the records and artists that have stayed with them over the years.

This week on the Track Star Podcast, we’re joined by New York Times music reporters Jon Caramanica and Joe Coscarelli following the publication of the NYT’s “The 30 Greatest Living American Songwriters.”

Comedian, actor, and musician Eric André joins Jack for a conversation packed with punk legends, underground hip-hop, and some amazing music stories and further proves his musical knowledge runs just as deep as his comedy.

This week on the Track Star Podcast, we're joined by blues legend Taj Mahal. He spent over six decades expanding what the blues can be, weaving in Caribbean rhythms, folk, soul, and world music along the way. We got to discuss the artists and traditions that shaped both his career and the genre itself.

This playlist spans from Elvis Presley to Harry Belafonte to Miriam Makeba, and Taj Mahal has a story for every single one. He traces where this music comes from and connects the dots across Delta blues, jazz, Caribbean folk, South African rhythms, and Saharan guitar.

He shares how he discovered his favorite song growing up listening to his neighbor play John Lee Hooker on the porch, his deep love of bassists like Charles Mingus and Oscar Pettiford, the trip he took just to hear Ry Cooder play the 12-string guitar. We also talk about some of the standards he introduced and the most meaningful projects he worked on.

This Episode’s Track List:

00:00 - Intro

00:23 - Mystery Train - Elvis Presley

00:40 - That's All Right - Elvis Presley

3:15 - Better Git It in Your Soul - Charles Mingus

4:33 - Day-O (Banana Boat Song) - Harry Belafonte

5:25 - Blind Willie McTell - Statesboro Blues

10:44 - Boomer's Story - Ry Cooder

13:36 - Matilda - King Radio

15:35 - Freight Train - Elizabeth Cotten

16:50 - Mbube - Miriam Makeba

17:13 - Mbube - Solomon Linda

18:02 - The Boy in the Bubble - Paul Simon

19:21 - Tamiditine - Bombino

Today, the always iconic Shania Twain is putting her music knowledge to the test. We met Shania on the streets of New York City and had a great conversation about country music, pop icons, the recording process, and her first big hit, "Whose Bed Have Your Boots Been Under?" Showcasing her broad music knowledge, Shania shared stories about Carole King, Def Leppard, Tanya Tucker, Minnie Riperton, The Carpenters, and Mutt Lange.