And The Writer Is...with Ross Golan

• Ep. 224: HAIM | Do It Your Way. (“I quit", + more)

  Today’s guests are HAIM — one of the most unique voices in modern music, known for blending rock, pop, and soul into a sound that defined a generation. From garage band beginnings to Grammy nominations, they’ve collaborated with some of the biggest names in music while staying fiercely true to themselves.And the writer(s) are... HAIM!In this episode, we dive into a decade-long journey of grit, growth, and creative conviction — from rejection to recognition. The sisters open up about the early years, the family dynamics, and the lessons that shaped their songwriting and success. In this episode:• How HAIM built success on their own terms after years of “no’s”• The real stories behind their biggest records• What they’ve learned about songwriting, collaboration, and creative controlChapters0:00 Intro Teaser – HAIM’s Gritty Start Against All Odds0:30 Nobody Wanted to Sign Us – Early rejections that almost stopped HAIM1:10 The Sister Dynamic – Therapy, tension, and love between bandmates2:30 Strict Parents, Rebellion & First Gigs5:00 Leaving for Tour at 19 – Danielle’s leap of faith7:30 Almost Famous IRL – Touring with Jenny Lewis & Julian Casablancas9:15 Skipping College & Faking Dentist Notes12:30 Oldest Sibling Pressure & UCLA Lessons15:00 Nobody Wanted Rock Music – Breaking through rejection16:00 Meeting Ludwig Göransson – The producer who changed everything18:30 2 AM Sessions & the “Forever” EP20:00 SXSW Madness – 14 shows in 5 days22:00 The UK Breakthrough – Why British fans got it first25:10 How They Learned to Write Songs – Lessons from “Rockin’ Haim”27:00 Recording Songs from the Radio – Childhood obsession that sparked their craft31:10 The First HAIM Song Ever – From bad demos to “The Wire”34:10 The 10,000 Hours – Becoming one of LA’s best live bands35:45 Days Are Gone – Finding their sound amid chaos38:30 Working with James Ford & Ariel Rechtshaid40:50 Balancing Chaos and Craft – The HAIM recording process42:10 Collaborating with Kid Cudi – Their first big studio moment43:10 Touring Exhaustion & Finding Their Groove45:15 Shutting Down Ventura Blvd – The iconic “Want You Back” video47:39 Women in Music Pt. III – Growth & vulnerability48:30 GarageBand & Songwriting – Danielle’s creative superstition49:30 The Making of “I Quit” – A new era of HAIM50:00 Creative Control & Saying No to Labels52:00 Lessons from Paul Thomas Anderson – Vision & long-take storytellingPresented by@NMPA | @nmpaorg – Fighting for songwriters’ rights and fair pay.Learn more at NMPA.org.@Splice – The industry’s top royalty-free sample library and creator platform, supporting original artists with world-class sounds and ethical AI tools.Download Splice and start creating today.And The Writer Is...Hosted by Ross GolanExecutive Produced by Joe London & Jad SaadFollow us everywhere → @andthewriteris Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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• Ep. 223: sombr | How a 100% Writer-Producer Took Over Pop

  Today’s guest is one of the most exciting young artists in the world right now.A once-in-a-generation artist writing and producing every record himself — and turning that independence into global hits.His records aren’t just topping charts — many of them are 100%ers. Self-written, self-produced, and streamed hundreds of millions of times.He’s building a world entirely his own...In this episode of And The Writer Is, Ross Golan sits down with Sombr to unpack how he: - Writes and produces 100% of his music - Went from viral moments to global success - Deals with pressure, purpose, and proving himselfPresented by our friends at @NMPA @splice A huge thank you to our sponsors.Chapter list0:00 The Rise of Sombr: Bedroom Producer to Global Prodigy0:01:02;15 [NMPA] - Fighting for Songwriters (Season Sponsor)0:01:51 Early Discovery: Why Warner Music Bet on a 16-Year-Old0:03:38 My First Song Blew Up: Waking Up to 200K Likes & Columbia Records0:06:00;14 From NYC Roots to Proving Haters Wrong0:08:16 From Charlie Puth to Operatic Arias: My Secret Classical Music Training00:11:04 How I Dropped Out of LaGuardia to Get Signed (TikTok Made Me Quit)00:13:39 Opening for The Strokes at SXSW00:14:41 The Imposter Syndrome of a Global Superstar00:15:36 From GarageBand to Global Hits: My FLOPS & Early Projects (Cherry Valley)00:17:50 Who is Sombr? Shane vs. The Artist & Why New York Makes Anything Possible00:21:02 The TRUTH About "Caroline": She's Everyone... She's You.00:22:13 The $0 Photo Shoot That Became My Global Album Cover00:24:28 Advice to My 16-Year-Old Self00:26:18 My Secret Writing Method: Saving Choruses & How I Made the Album in 1 Month00:28:14 [NMPA] - The Power of Music Publishers (Sponsor Segment)00:28:56 [SPLICE] - Using AI Ethically & Protecting Creators (Sponsor Segment)00:30:42 "Back to Friends": Writing a Global Hit from a Career Low00:36:44 Working with Tony Berg: A Mentor and Real Instruments00:40:54 "Undress": Building Confidence After a Breakthrough00:43:40 Sacrifices of Fame: Losing My Social Life00:45:30 Anxiety and Expectations: Navigating Global Success00:51:23 Critics vs. Appreciation: Why Art Shouldn’t Be Rated00:058:09 The Final Word: Why the Haters Say I'm Not "Serious" (A Joke)00:58:50 The Beatles & The Muse: The Real Secret to Timeless Art00:59:11 Thank You & OutroNMPA fights for songwriters' rights, ensuring fair pay and protection.Check them out at NMPA.org and follow them on social media at @NMPAorgSplice is the industry’s top sample library—royalty-free for all. It empowers creators with its incredible library and ethical AI tools, supporting original artists every step of the way.Download Splice today and follow them on social media at @spliceAnd The Writer Is...Hosted by Ross GolanExecutive produced by Joe London and Jad SaadFollow us on socials at @andthewriteris Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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• Ep. 222: Ed Sheeran | Inside The Craft of a Songwriter’s Songwriter

  Today's guest is quite literally one of the greatest songwriters of all time.He also happens to be one of the biggest artists of all time. Imagine that.This legend needs no introduction...And the writer is... Ed Sheeran!Presented by our friends at NMPA.A huge thank you to our sponsors.NMPA fights for songwriters' rights, ensuring fair pay and protection.Check them out at NMPA.org and follow them on social media at ⁨@NMPAorg⁩Splice is the industry’s top sample library—royalty-free for all. It empowers creators with its incredible library and ethical AI tools, supporting original artists every step of the way.Download Splice today and follow them on social media at ⁨@splice⁩Chapters:00:00:00 - Intro00:02:05 - Ed and Ross Reconnect00:04:41 - From Rap Battles to Shaping His Songwriting00:07:07 - Painting as Creative Outlet00:09:13 - Emotional Ties to Songs, Writing Honest Songs for Himself and Others00:12:05 - Childhood Music: Beatles, Dylan, and Irish Trad Influences00:15:07 - Fatherhood’s Impact: Balancing Music and Family00:16:26 - Ed Sings His First Song!00:18:30 - Ed Sings, Ross Tests His Song Memory00:20:27 - The Key to Confidence Starts With....00:22:10 - Advice: Navigating the Music Industry’s Challenges00:24:20 - Where Ed Gets His 'Buzz' From Music00:25:50 - The Thing That Made His Songwriting 'Stick'00:28:35 - No Plan B: Why He Never Gave Up00:30:04 - Discovery by Jamie Foxx: Breaking into the Scene00:36:14 - Mid-Roll Ad: NMPA Fighting for Songwriters00:36:52 - Mid-Roll Ad: Splice Supporting Creators with AI00:44:11 - First Cuts: Writing for Olly Murs and One Direction00:46:58 - Creative Process00:52:12 - The Lawsuit That Changed Everything00:55:49 - Protecting Songwriters: Why No Union Exists01:05:57 - Making "Perfect" to Prove Himself After the Lawsuit01:12:49 - Advice to Young Songwriters...01:14:03 - Legacy Songs: What Ed Wants His Grandkids to Hear01:15:23 - Family Over Fame: Being a Present Dad01:20:38 - Songs Ed’s Jealous Of01:23:46 - Closing: Ed’s Gratitude and Future PlansAnd The Writer Is...Hosted by Ross GolanExecutive produced by Joe London and Jad SaadFollow us on socials at @andthewriteris ​ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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• Ep. 221: Andrew Watt | How He Became the Go-To Producer for the World’s Biggest Artists

  Today's guest is one of the most sought-after hitmakers of the last decade. A Grammy-winning producer, songwriter, and guitarist whose genre-bending work has shaped the sound of modern music. From rock legends to pop superstars, he’s collaborated with Justin Bieber, Post Malone, Ozzy Osbourne, The Rolling Stones, Dua Lipa, Miley Cyrus, and more — earning The Recording Academy’s Producer of the Year award and cementing his status as one of the most in-demand hitmakers on the planet.And the writer is... Andrew Watt!In this episode, Watt opens up to Ross about the relentless drive, bold creative leaps, and collaborative ethos that fueled his journey from bar gigs and $100-a-week tours to producing global anthems.Listeners will learn:How to build trust and chemistry in the studioWhy great producers prioritize vibe and artist comfort over gearHow to manage egos, collaboration splits, and team dynamics at the top levelThe real stories behind hits like Let Me Love You, Havana, Señorita, Stay, and PeachesHow to survive imposter syndrome and stay creatively free under pressureChapters0:00 - Andrew Watt: The Hitmaking Legend1:12 - From Bieber to Ozzy: Watt’s Epic Journey2:20 - Studio Sparks: Watt’s Energy vs. Cirkut’s Chill4:47 - Rock Gods: Producing Pearl Jam & Stones8:02 - Post Malone Meets Ozzy: A Game-Changer9:31 - Rainbow Bar Magic: Ozzy & Post’s Collab14:54 - Greece Hustle: $100/Week Tour Life19:14 - Why Watt Never Quit Music24:44 - Guitar to Glory: Cody Simpson to Bieber27:01 - Music Truth: Results Are Everything28:52 - “Let Me Love You”: Bieber’s Wild Ride39:52 - Pop Hits: “Havana” & “Wolves” Secrets42:02 - Dream Team: Ali, Brian & Pop Gold46:21 - “Havana” Moment: Camila’s Mic Drop48:27 - Post Malone: Instant Bond & Real Talk50:06 - Imposter Syndrome: Honesty in the Studio51:17 - “Stay”: Post’s Non-Pop Masterpiece56:22 - “Peaches”: Justin’s Jam with Shawn & Hailey58:38 - Demos That Hit Hard: Watt’s Emotions1:00:36 - Lady Gaga: Crafting a Visual Epic1:02:15 - Bruno & D’Mile: “Die with a Smile” Magic1:06:34 - Prank Call Chaos1:12:11 - Prank Aftermath1:19:17 - Heartfelt Loss: Watt’s Tribute to a Friend1:20:16 - Ozzy’s Advice: Be Kind on the Way UpThis season of And The Writer Is… is presented by the National Music Publishers’ Association (NMPA) — the voice of American songwriters, composers, and music publishers.And The Writer Is...Hosted by Ross GolanExecutive Produced by Joe London and Jad Saad Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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• Ep. 220: Tayla Parx | Longevity & Building a Lasting Career

  Today’s guest is more than a hitmaker — she’s a creative force who has shaped the sound of a generation. From penning chart-toppers like “Thank U, Next” (Ariana Grande), “High Hopes” (Panic! at the Disco), and “Love Lies” (Khalid & Normani) to building her own label, publishing company, and artist career, her story is a masterclass in reinvention, resilience, and longevity.And the writer is… Tayla Parx!In this episode, Tayla sits down with Ross to unpack how she’s navigated more than a decade at the top of the music industry — from her start in Hairspray to writing with Babyface, to becoming one of the few Black women with a #1 country song. She opens up about:Surviving the pressures of back-to-back sessions and industry burnoutTurning setbacks into fuel for her artistry and business venturesWhy branding yourself as a songwriter matters as much as the songsThe art of staying relevant without chasing trendsHow to keep building a catalog that pays you for decades to comeFor every songwriter, artist, or creative grinding to build a career that lasts — this is the blueprint.🎧 Listen now and learn how Tayla Parx keeps writing hits… again and again.Chapters0:00 Teaser – Why Longevity Matters in Music1:37 Intro: And The Writer Is… Tayla Parx!8:33 From Dallas Kid to Hairspray & Nickelodeon Star12:49 Finding Songwriting & Learning From Babyface14:07 Leaving Acting Behind to Chase Music Full-Time24:53 The Warner Chappell Era: Building a Writer Community27:15 Breakthrough Hits: “Thank U, Next” & “High Hopes”31:38 NMPA Ad – Fighting for Songwriter Rights32:45 Inside the Story of “Thank U, Next”39:37 How to Build a Catalog That Pays for Decades40:55 “Love Lies” & Crossing Genres as a Hitmaker50:34 Advocating for Women, Black Creatives & LGBTQ+ Voices52:00 Why Tayla Still Releases Her Own Music53:20 From Bieber to John Legend to Country #155:32 Exploring Jazz, R&B, and Children’s Music59:34 Song Splits, Collaboration & Session Dynamics1:03:41 Why Collaboration Matters (and When to Write Alone)1:11:38 The Secret to Longevity & Reinvention1:16:25 Closing Reflections & LegacyAnd The Writer Is… is presented by The National Music Publishers’ Association (NMPA) — advocating for songwriters, music publishers, and their essential rights.Learn more at NMPA.orgHosted by Ross GolanExecutive Produced by Joe London and Jad SaadWatercolor by Michael White Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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