SONG DIVING - An American Songwriter Podcast

We dive in with Steve Earle, singer-songwriter known for songs like “Guitar Town,” “Copperhead Road,” and “Transcendental Blues.”Along the way, we explore the music and voices that shaped how he hears and writes songs, from Bruce Springsteen and Bob Dylan to Townes Van Zandt and Guy Clark.

Steve talks about chasing songs across Texas and Nashville, and what he learned as a student and peer of the songwriters who set the bar.We also talk about how songs let you sing things you might not say out loud, and the storytelling, empathy, and characters behind songs like “The Devil’s Right Hand,” “Tom Ames’ Prayer,” and “John Walker’s Blues.”It’s a conversation about how a songwriter is shaped by the music around them, the rooms they find their way into, and the people who show them what’s possible.
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We dive in with José González, singer-songwriter known for songs like Crosses, Heartbeats, and Killing for Love.Along the way, we explore the music and voices that shaped how he hears and writes songs, from Silvio Rodríguez and The Beatles to Bob Marley and Simon & Garfunkel.We talk about writing across languages, finding simplicity in songmaking, and how repetition and rhythm drive his guitar playing. We also talk about his new album, including songs like A Perfect Storm.It’s a conversation about what we believe, how we see the world, and how those ideas show up in the music.
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We dive in with I’m With Her, the trio of Sarah Jarosz, Aoife O’Donovan, and Sara Watkins, whose voices and playing intertwine on songs like “Overland,” “Ancient Light,” and “Mother Eagle.”Along the way, we explore the music that shaped their sound, from Joni Mitchell and Dan Fogelberg to the classic trio blend of Dolly Parton, Emmylou Harris, and Linda Ronstadt.We talk about discovering their sound while arranging John Hiatt’s “Crossing Muddy Waters,” chipping away at songs night after night on tour, and the magic of live recordings like their new album “Sing Me Alive” that capture a moment exactly as it happened.It’s a conversation about collaboration, curiosity, and the joy of three voices finding their way into something they can only create together.
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We dive in with Langhorne Slim, singer, songwriter, and relentless live performer behind songs like “Diamonds and Gold,” “Morning Prayer,” and “Dance On Through,” and go deep into the songs he’s written.Along the way, we explore the music that shaped his creative voice, from Nirvana and Captain Beefheart to Otis Redding and Toots and the Maytals.We talk about obsessively watching Bob Dylan on VHS, recording songs in his mom’s bathroom, and chasing the things that make you feel alive.It’s a conversation about meaning it when you sing and meaning it when you write it.
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We dive in with Dan Wilson, Grammy-winning songwriter, producer, and frontman of Semisonic, to talk about the songs he’s written, including “Closing Time,” “Not Ready to Make Nice” by The Chicks, “Someone Like You” by Adele, and “White Horse” by Chris Stapleton.Along the way, we explore the music that shaped his creative voice, from The Beatles and Bob Marley to Bonnie Raitt and Randy Newman, and the lessons he carried forward into his own songwriting.We talk about which George Harrison song can kill a party vibe, the insane ambition of trying to unite the world with a song, and why the best pop songs might double as children’s books.It’s a conversation about loving songs and writing them with hope, compassion, and what rings true.
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