The biggest artists. Their celebrated albums. Producer and author Jesse Cannon gets unprecedented access to look at these records, piece by piece, with interviews from those involved at every level.
An in-depth exploration of the "Jagged Little Pill" Broadway cast recording album.
Interviews: Glen Ballard (Album Producer), Elizabeth Stanley (Mary Jane Healy), Sean Allan Krill (Steve Healy), Tom Kitt (Orchestrator, Music Supervisor), Diane Paulus (Director).
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An in-depth look at SWMRS's "Berkeley's On Fire."
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An in-depth look at Sam Martin's "Alpha Omega."
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When Bear Rinehart (NEEDTOBREATHE) initially conceived solo project Wilder Woods, its scale was unclear. “I definitely didn’t have a major label in mind...I didn’t have a tour in mind.” Instead, it started purely as “exploration,” as “scratching the itch.”
Here, we explore in great detail how those initial desires grew into both a thrilling, self-titled debut album, along with new sonic ground for the celebrated songwriter. We hit on Rinehart’s relationship with producer Gabe Simon, we discover how the song “Sure Ain’t” helped establish the Wilder Wood sound, and we unveil all the most critical creative moments for the LP, as told by those intimately involved.
After the episode, listen to Wilder Woods’ debut album.
Interviews: Bear Rinehart, Gabe Simon (Producer), David Leonard.
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Matt Maeson’s very first performance was anything but traditional. A Chick-fil-A open mic...which he took first place in...which netted him the restaurant's food for a year. “That went away in about three months because all my friends were poor, and they would just jack the coupons.” Believe it or not, but that amusing bit of history might be the most conventional part of Maeson’s beginnings, detailed here by the artist.
Following his captivating origin story, you’ll then find yourself deep within the makings of his debut full length album, “Bank On The Funeral.” From joining up with frequent producer James Flannigan, to getting the inside scoop on tracks like “Beggar’s Song” (written at SXSW at a particularly rocky moment), “Cringe” (a breakthrough moment for the album’s production style), and “Feel Good” (first conceived in 2011), it’s an intimate look into this achievement, featuring Maeson and those creatively closest to him.
Interviews: Matt Maeson, Derek Davies (Neon Gold), James Flannigan (Producer).
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The spark. The secret.
When Shooter Jennings talked to us about the process behind a new record, he highlighted these two inspiration points, one a bit more concealed than the other. “The spark is the idea...when it happens, then I get excited and I have an overall vision for an album. And then the secret is something that I usually never reveal...it's kind of like when an actor has a backstory they made up for a character.”
Here, we get insight on the motivations attached to “Shooter,” the ambitious country artist’s 2018 full length record. Jennings also talks about his move to Elektra (along with re-entering that “mainstream ring”), how he decided on the album title being his first name (plus the humor associated with his music), and much more.
Listen to “Shooter” now.
Interviews: Shooter Jennings, Aaron Raitiere (Songwriter).
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The genre-defying duo joins to discuss their full length album, “Love Me / Love Me Not.” Knowing they had “more to offer” in the sophomore LP, HONNE set off on a journey full of experimentation, increased collaboration, and embracing their two-sided band mantra. It’s all tracked here through intimate details on many of the songs, including which one started on a couch with Garageband.
Interviews: James Hatcher (HONNE), Andy Clutterbuck (HONNE), Jordan Whitmore (Atlantic Records), Georgia Barnes (Songwriter), Reuben James (Songwriter).
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The Swedish songwriter joins to discuss her 2018 EP, “Sorry For Writing All The Songs About You.” The bold concept behind the release — it details the peaks and valleys of a single relationship — is passionately detailed, including the empowering twist housed within standout “I’m Not Her.”
And to fully uncover this unique and thrilling pop expression, you’ll also come to understand her creative partnership with Cassandra Ströberg, you’ll discover how she used Pinterest for musical inspiration, and you’ll hear about her winding path to Big Beat Records (highlighted by the origin story behind KREAM collaboration “Taped Up Heart”).
Interviews: Clara Hagman, Gina Tucci (Big Beat Records), Cassandra Ströberg (Songwriter, Manager), Mugisho Nhonzi (Producer).
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Jerry Mitchell, director for the recent Broadway run of “Pretty Woman,” knew immediately that songwriting duo Bryan Adams and Jim Vallance (“Summer of '69”) matched his production. “Bryan and Jim have this uncanny ability to write an incredible hook, and a lot of those hooks...sound like they belong in this era.” But it wasn’t easy for the acclaimed pair as they stepped into the role of “Music and Lyrics.” To keep it simple (for now), Vallance would say: “We were learning as we were going along.”
We invite you into literally every step of the “Pretty Woman” musical and subsequent cast recording release, starting from Adams’ initial interest in the property (he himself inquired about a musical version of the film back in 2008), to the out-of-town process and frequent rewrites, to Broadway, and eventually to the album recording itself. On the latter, Vallance was said to review “every single take, every single note, searching for perfection in every performance.” With interviews extending beyond the songwriters, you’re treated to an extraordinarily rich look at this process.
In the end, perhaps Orfeh (the show’s Kit De Luca) put it best in regard to the album, which is now available: “We've made a pop CD. We have made a bonafide pop CD that happens to be based on a musical.”
Now following the Broadway run, see the dates for "Pretty Woman: The Musical" at their website.
Interviews: Jerry Mitchell (Director), Bryan Adams and Jim Vallance (Music/Lyrics), Andy Karl (Actor), Orfeh (Actor), Craig Rosen (Atlantic Records Executive Vice President, A&R Operations), Will Van Dyke (Orchestrator).
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“Every album you go into it thinking, ‘this is going to be the album where I say something.’ And I feel like I did accomplish that.”
“Know.,” the 2018 album from Jason Mraz, is many things. It’s a response to the information overload of the "post-truth" and fake news era. It was crafted three years into a marriage, “a record that's nourished” by this relationship. And perhaps most simply, it’s yet another top-10 charting release in the career of the storied singer-songwriter.
Explore the album here, along with discovering the fascinating journey of track “Have It All,” hearing about how Mraz wrote 140 songs during these sessions (and how coffee played into this productivity), and finding out why good A&R is so important to the album process.
Interviews: Jason Mraz, David Silberstein (Atlantic Records, A&R), Andrew Wells (Producer), Dan Wilson (Producer, Semisonic).
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Brent Cobb can sure tell a story.
Whether recalling his musical origins, retelling old family tales, or speaking on the creative process, the rising country artist pulls you in with his unique combination of intrigue and authenticity. And that storytelling prowess is on full display in 2018 album “Providence Canyon,” explored here.
Discover all about how he crafted that record, one having “a shit-ton of soul” according to Rolling Stone, along with the surprising prompt behind “Ain’t A Road Too Long,” and the tragic tale leading to “King of Alabama.”
Interviews: Brent Cobb, Dave Cobb (Producer), Don VanCleave (Management), Mike Harris (Guitarist), Phil Towns (Keyboardist).
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College was, to say the least, a very busy time for Brynn Elliott. She would play “something like 260 shows” while excitedly pursuing her degree at Harvard, the two passions existing symbiotically. What she’d learn in the classroom would often direct her songwriting, and when eventually making the jump to a label, Atlantic helped her prepare her first release while she finished up school.
That first release, "Time Of Our Lives," is explored in full here, along with why she felt at home at Atlantic, how she started up her creative partnership with writer/producer Nathan Chapman, and how they answered the question: “What’s my sound?”
Interviews: Brynn Elliott, Nathan Chapman (Writer/Producer), Pete Ganbarg (President of A&R, Atlantic Records), Bruce Flohr (Management), Carla Wallace (Big Yellow Dog Music).
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When following up 2017’s “Reaper,” Joe Mulherin aimed to explore his more minimal side. From production choices, to a speedy creative process (it was written and recorded in two weeks), to even the track titles, 2018’s “ruiner” is all about the stripping away of excess. Discover the journey behind this new record, along with how Mulherin initially met producing partner Jay Vee over Soundcloud, why the definition of nothing,nowhere. is always changing, and how music acts as the artist’s “personal form of therapy.”
Interviews: Joe Mulherin (nothing,nowhere.), Johnny Minardi (Fueled by Ramen, Senior Director A&R), Pete Wentz (Fall Out Boy), and Jay Vee (Co-Producer).
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It’s not just Jordan Benjamin’s musical ambitions that set him apart in his role as alter ego and Fueled by Ramen artist, grandson. His thrilling genre bend — one described as being “riff-based,” but also playing in “subgenres of electronic production” — is accompanied by a raw intelligence and a fearless social consciousness. Or in his words, he both has “no intention of contributing to an existing space musically,” while also striving to know he “stood for something in this kind of time.”
With that balance in mind, listen in as he discusses his 2018 EP, details his creative partnership with producer Kevin Hissink (aka Boonn), and explains his responsibility in fostering those important political and cultural conversations.
Interviews: Jordan Benjamin (grandson), Mollie Lehman (Atlantic Records, Senior Director A&R), Johnny Minardi (Fueled by Ramen, Senior Director A&R), Kevin Hissink (producer).
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For a band primed to be one of the next great pillars of rock music, you’d expect a more rollicking origin story. “We became friends through our moms. Sounds funny, but they met online.”
But that’s the story of 3-piece LA alt-rock outfit Wallows, a charming one that pairs well with the ambition and energy of 2018 release, “Spring EP.” Hear this tale in full, along with talk on specific EP tracks, details about working with producer John Congleton, and the story of playing basketball where Prince once shot around.
Interviews: Cole Preston, Braeden Lemasters, Dylan Minnette, Austin Rice (Atlantic Records A&R), Caiti Green (Marketing Director, Atlantic Records), and John Congleton (Producer).
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"It's as intimidating as it is liberating."
From the origins of the stage production, to the "unique challenges" presented by cast recording albums, to what the artists thought of the finished product, you'll find no deeper look into the recent release of the Broadway show's celebrated music.
Interviews: Jeff Richmond (Composer), Mary-Mitchell Campbell (Musical Director), John Clancy (Orchestrator), Barrett Wilbert Weed (Performer, Janis Sarkisian), Ashley Park (Performer, Gretchen Wieners), and Craig Rosen (Atlantic Records Executive Vice President, A&R Operations).
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Following up a massive hit, strumming on a junky guitalele, and solving the mysteries of songwriting. Discover how the Melbourne folk artist crafted 2018’s “Nation of Two.”
Interviews: Vance Joy, Stefan Max (Atlantic Records, A&R), Edwin White (drummer, producer), Dave Bassett (producer), Dan Wilson (songwriter).
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"I did. I found it. There is necessity inside me to write Dashboard songs."
Ending a nine-year gap between full length albums, Chris Carrabba's journey to 2018's "Crooked Shadows" was an eventful one, to say the least. From lost music, to expanding and revitalizing live shows, to landing on a dream label, each critical moment is captured here, told by one of rock music's great storytellers. Other highlights include the backstory of "We Fight" and how his recent crop of cover songs came together.
Interviews: Chris Carrabba, Mike Easterlin (Fueled By Ramen, President), and Colin Brittain (Producer, Mixer).
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A preview of season one of Inside the Album.
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