Songfacts Podcast

José James is a groundbreaking singer/songwriter known for seamlessly blending jazz, soul, hip-hop, and R&B into a distinctive and captivating musical style. José rose to prominence in the mid-2000s with the release of his debut album, "The Dreamer" (2008), which garnered widespread acclaim for its fusion of jazz improvisation with soulful melodies and hip-hop-inspired rhythms. Throughout his career, José has continued to push the boundaries of genre and style, collaborating with a diverse array of artists and exploring new sonic landscapes. His latest album, "1978," has further solidified his reputation as a dynamic and versatile artist. José James continues to push the boundaries of contemporary jazz and soul, cementing his legacy as one of the most exciting voices in modern music. We spoke with Jose about his creative process, his new music, and what's next. Enjoying the show? Please leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts, Goodpods, or Spotify! Connect with us on Facebook and X (Twitter). For the stories behind the songs, go to Songfacts.com. Proud member of Pantheon Podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Singer/songwriter Zada is only 20 years old, but she has already carved out a name for herself in the music industry. Born in Ethiopia and based in Vancouver, Zada showcases a full range of influences in her singing and songwriting. She released her debut album, Water in the Desert, on March 1, and it's already gaining critical acclaim. We caught up with Zada and had a conversation about her approach to songwriting, her love of performing, and what's next for her musically. Enjoying the show? Please leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts, Goodpods, or Spotify! Connect with us on Facebook and X (Twitter). For the stories behind the songs, go to Songfacts.com. Proud member of Pantheon Podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Calling Narada Michael Walden a "musical powerhouse" would be a severe understatement. A former member of the legendary Mahavishnu Orchestra, he's also a prolific producer, has been the drummer for Journey, co-wrote the classic Aretha Franklin song "Freeway of Love," and now has a new album, "Euphoria," with the single "The More I Love My Life," featuring Carlos Santana, Sting, and Stevie Wonder. It was a joy to speak with Narada about everything ranging from the music that inspires him down through how practicing gratitude changed his life. Enjoying the show? Please leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts, Goodpods, or Spotify! Connect with us on Facebook and X (Twitter). For the stories behind the songs, go to Songfacts.com. Proud member of Pantheon Podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Legendary songwriter Mike Stoller, of the songwriting team Leiber and Stoller, is speaking with us in this episode. Together with Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller wrote a breathtaking number of classics for Elvis Presley, The Coasters, The Drifters, Peggy Lee, LaVern Baker, Ben. E. King, and more, including "Jailhouse Rock," "Hound Dog," "Santa Claus Is Back in Town," "Stand By Me," "Love Potion #9," "Yakety Yak," "Kansas City," "Poison Ivy," "Along Came Jones," "Bossa Nova Baby," and so many more. Although Jerry passed in 2011, Mike continues the duo's legacy and is still actively working. Songfacts Podcast host Stephanie R. Myers spoke with Mike, now 90 years old, to discuss his work on the recently released album Brendan McCreary Sings the Love Songs of Mike Stoller, tell the story behind the fascinating Peggy Lee song "Is That All There Is?" and talk about his new project, working on the musical Beaches. Enjoying the show? Please leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts, Goodpods, or Spotify! Connect with us on Facebook and X (Twitter). For the stories behind the songs, go to Songfacts.com. Proud member of Pantheon Podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Every year we ask the hosts at the Pantheon podcast network to tell us their holiday favorites and break down the songs. This year, we hear about Alanis Morissette's cover of "Last Christmas," Barbra Streisand's "Jingle Bells," and a few songs we've never heard before, from the likes of Charles Brown, Captain Sensible and the Fuzztones. Here's our list of Christmas songs on Songfacts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You won't find many bass players on the jam band scene more respected than Oteil Burbridge. He's best known for his time in The Allman Brothers Band, where he served from 1997 until the group ended their storied career in 2014. Before that, Burbridge was in the Aquarium Rescue Unit, a group founded by former wrestling manager Colonel Bruce Hampton that was known for blending top-tier musicianship with freewheeling fun. After The Allman Brothers, Burbridge formed Dead & Company with John Mayer, Jeff Chimenti, and Grateful Dead alums Bob Weir, Mickey Hart and Bill Kreutzmann. This summer, they embarked on their last tour. Burbridge's latest project is Dead-adjacent: An album of eight ballads written by Robert Hunter and Jerry Garcia called Lovely View Of Heaven. You can hear his jazz influence all over the record, and I have to say his singing is on point as well. Burbridge has been performing these songs with his group Oteil & Friends. Burbridge is usually on the hosting end of the podcast - he has his own called Comes a Time - but here he joins me to take us through the album and offer some incredible insights on the Hunter/Garcia songwriting team. https://www.oteilburbridge.com/ https://www.songfacts.com/ https://www.facebook.com/songfacts https://twitter.com/Songfacts http://pantheonpodcasts.com/ https://twitter.com/pantheonpods Hosted and Edited by Corey O’Flanagan https://twitter.com/ofe1818 https://www.instagram.com/coreyofe/ corey@songfacts.com Songfacts Podcast Spotify Playlist https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3IThMW5yB8XnFh5cS2gTxR?si=KAhiqWRcSIy5uxb2sZPFTA This show is part of Pantheon Podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In August 2023, Metallica launched an official podcast, The Metallica Report, hosted by two longtime members of their camp: Renée Richardson and Steffan Chirazi. Renée runs the band's All Within My Hands foundation and has been interviewing and covering the band since her days as a DJ in San Francisco; Steffan is a British journalist who started covering the band for Sounds in the '80s and was later poached by Metallica to run their official magazine, So What! (yeah, Metallica isn't just a band - they're an organization). We're thrilled to have Renée and Steffan as guests on the show to glean their insights into Metallica's music and find out what's happening on the M72 Tour, where the band play two completely different shows in each city, with film screenings and other events in between. After hearing this episode, you'll get a clear understanding of what motivates the band and might even give their Lou Reed collaboration another listen. https://www.metallica.com/podcast.html https://www.songfacts.com/ https://www.facebook.com/songfacts https://twitter.com/Songfacts http://pantheonpodcasts.com/ https://twitter.com/pantheonpods Hosted and Edited by Corey O’Flanagan https://twitter.com/ofe1818 https://www.instagram.com/coreyofe/ corey@songfacts.com Songfacts Podcast Spotify Playlist https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3IThMW5yB8XnFh5cS2gTxR?si=KAhiqWRcSIy5uxb2sZPFTA This show is part of Pantheon Podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aaron Lee Tasjan, a terrific singer-songwriter who was a guest on the Songfacts Podcast in 2021, turned me on to Julia Cannon, another very gifted songwriter who also produces, sings and plays multiple instruments. Cannon is highly introverted, so her promotion is mostly word-of-mouth. Once you hear what she has to offer, you'll probably spread the word too. "How many issues can I blame on my absentee dad?" That's one of many questions Cannon asks on her new album, How Many. We'll start with that song, then get into some other songs from her catalog, find out her songwriting and production philosophies, and learn about her move from Alaska to Boston, where she studied at the Berklee College of Music. https://www.juliacmusic.com/ https://www.songfacts.com/ https://www.facebook.com/songfacts https://twitter.com/Songfacts http://pantheonpodcasts.com/ https://twitter.com/pantheonpods Hosted and Edited by Corey O’Flanagan https://twitter.com/ofe1818 https://www.instagram.com/coreyofe/ corey@songfacts.com Songfacts Podcast Spotify Playlist https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3IThMW5yB8XnFh5cS2gTxR?si=KAhiqWRcSIy5uxb2sZPFTA This show is part of Pantheon Podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kelsey Warren, who goes by the stage name Blak Emoji joins the pod to chat about his new album Eclectro, which is available anywhere you listen to music. Kelsey came into my world via my producer Carl who heard Simon Le Bon of Duran Duran raving about him on his Serius XM radio show. Kelsey is a passionate and talented man who not only writes his own tunes but also produces for others. He can be found playing a few shows this year and you can find that linked below! https://www.blakemoji.com/ https://www.songfacts.com/ https://www.facebook.com/songfacts https://twitter.com/Songfacts http://pantheonpodcasts.com/ https://twitter.com/pantheonpods Hosted and Edited by Corey O’Flanagan https://twitter.com/ofe1818 https://www.instagram.com/coreyofe/ corey@songfacts.com Songfacts Podcast Spotify Playlist https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3IThMW5yB8XnFh5cS2gTxR?si=KAhiqWRcSIy5uxb2sZPFTA This show is part of Pantheon Podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Our guest today is Cole Gallagher, who has said, "They say that the only way to understand the world around you is by looking within." After our conversation talking about his new EP, The Confluence, set for releasing on Aug 4, I think it is clear that Cole considers his answers before responding and certainly takes the time to observe the world around him. At only 21 his voice sounds as if it's been around much longer. Cole is clearly a gifted songwriter, and for this record he was fortunate to be backed by some incredible musicians, including members of Jason Isbell's backing band The 400 Unit. So roll down your window and let the breeze hit your face as we get to know Cole Gallagher. https://www.colegallagher.com/ https://www.songfacts.com/ https://www.facebook.com/songfacts https://twitter.com/Songfacts http://pantheonpodcasts.com/ https://twitter.com/pantheonpods Hosted and Edited by Corey O’Flanagan https://twitter.com/ofe1818 https://www.instagram.com/coreyofe/ corey@songfacts.com Songfacts Podcast Spotify Playlist https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3IThMW5yB8XnFh5cS2gTxR?si=KAhiqWRcSIy5uxb2sZPFTA This show is part of Pantheon Podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Raye Zaragoza is our guest today and we are chatting about her new album, Hold That Spirit, set for release on August 11. Listening to the album, I can tell this is an artist who is not afraid to get personal and bare her soul through her art. Beyond talking about these new songs, this episode goes into some of Ray's more personal moments, including breaking off a wedding engagement and using those funds to produce this album, as well as her battles with an eating disorder. I found Raye and her music to be inspirational and honest, a testament to how we are not alone in our struggles. https://www.rayezaragoza.com/ Check out the video for "Joy Revolution" https://youtu.be/Lt3LvpOxDVk https://www.songfacts.com/ https://www.facebook.com/songfacts https://twitter.com/Songfacts http://pantheonpodcasts.com/ https://twitter.com/pantheonpods Hosted and Edited by Corey O’Flanagan https://twitter.com/ofe1818 https://www.instagram.com/coreyofe/ corey@songfacts.com Songfacts Podcast Spotify Playlist https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3IThMW5yB8XnFh5cS2gTxR?si=KAhiqWRcSIy5uxb2sZPFTA This show is part of Pantheon Podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On the show today we have one of the most fascinating success stories I have heard in a long time! ROSIE (Rosaileen Scher) is a 23-year-old singer/songwriter who got her big break from a viral TikTok post of her song "Never The 1." She gives us the inside look at the days and moments surrounding that event, and it is incredible! ROSIE has a new EP dropping on June 23 called 5 Songs For Healing. Before our interview it was easy to tell that Rosie is a great songwriter, but after speaking with her it became clear that she is also so much more. At only 23, she has the maturity of someone much deeper into their career. Her ability to convert her life's circumstances into relatable songs that are obviously connecting with millions should help her reach her dream, which is to perform and have a positive impact on as many people as possible. https://www.rosiemusicofficial.com/ https://www.songfacts.com/ https://www.facebook.com/songfacts https://twitter.com/Songfacts http://pantheonpodcasts.com/ https://twitter.com/pantheonpods Hosted and Edited by Corey O’Flanagan https://twitter.com/ofe1818 https://www.instagram.com/coreyofe/ corey@songfacts.com Songfacts Podcast Spotify Playlist https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3IThMW5yB8XnFh5cS2gTxR?si=KAhiqWRcSIy5uxb2sZPFTA This show is part of Pantheon Podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Maybe you are getting tired of me saying this, but I am so excited to bring you this episode and this amazing new music from the Montreal band Half Moon Run. Our guest is Devon Portielje, one of the three band members, all of whom sing and play multiple instruments. Their new album, Salt, drops June 2. This album caught my ear and engaged me front to back, so I really enjoyed speaking with Devon to find out how some of these tracks came together. Whether it's strumming a ukulele on the beaches of Thailand or scraping old audio files looking for hidden gems, these stories don't disappoint. So please enjoy Devon Portielje of Half Moon Run! https://halfmoon.run/ https://www.songfacts.com/ https://www.facebook.com/songfacts https://twitter.com/Songfacts http://pantheonpodcasts.com/ https://twitter.com/pantheonpods Hosted and Edited by Corey O’Flanagan https://twitter.com/ofe1818 https://www.instagram.com/coreyofe/ corey@songfacts.com Songfacts Podcast Spotify Playlist https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3IThMW5yB8XnFh5cS2gTxR?si=KAhiqWRcSIy5uxb2sZPFTA This show is part of Pantheon Podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's kinda crazy that Phillip Phillips is just 32. He was 21 when he won American Idol back in 2012 and released his coronation single, "Home," which played during the Olympics that year. Phillips didn't write that song but has written or co-written most of his songs since, including all the tracks on his latest album, Drift Back, set for release on June 9. It's his first album since becoming a dad in 2019. Phillip tells us his son is both strong-willed and amazing, and he's up for the challenge. In this episode, he talks about how fatherhood and married life gave him a new perspective that informed the songs on the album and takes us back to his Idol days when he did a very memorable acoustic cover of "Thriller." https://www.phillipphillips.com/ https://www.songfacts.com/ https://www.facebook.com/songfacts https://twitter.com/Songfacts http://pantheonpodcasts.com/ https://twitter.com/pantheonpods Hosted and Edited by Corey O’Flanagan https://twitter.com/ofe1818 https://www.instagram.com/coreyofe/ corey@songfacts.com Songfacts Podcast Spotify Playlist https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3IThMW5yB8XnFh5cS2gTxR?si=KAhiqWRcSIy5uxb2sZPFTA This show is part of Pantheon Podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You probably don't think about the harp very often, but Brandee Younger is here to change that. She's part of a new generation of harpists, bringing the instrument to contemporary music while also honoring the heritage of harpists of the past, particularly Dorothy Ashby, who elevated the form from the '50s through the '80s. Younger's harp can be heard on tracks by Alessia Cara, Pete Rock, Jane Monheit, Ravi Coltrane, and a mix of other artists across the musical spectrum. She's also an artist in her own right with several solo albums, most recently Brand New Life, where she reworks some of Ashby's songs and takes on a Stevie Wonder song called "If It's Magic." On this episode, Younger talks about her musical journey (including how she discovered the harp and who lugged it around) and breaks down some songs on the album. http://brandeeyounger.com/ https://www.songfacts.com/ https://www.facebook.com/songfacts https://twitter.com/Songfacts http://pantheonpodcasts.com/ https://twitter.com/pantheonpods Hosted and Edited by Corey O’Flanagan https://twitter.com/ofe1818 https://www.instagram.com/coreyofe/ corey@songfacts.com Songfacts Podcast Spotify Playlist https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3IThMW5yB8XnFh5cS2gTxR?si=KAhiqWRcSIy5uxb2sZPFTA This show is part of Pantheon Podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode is a little different - it really comes from my endlessly curious brain. Now, I am not a regular attendee of strip clubs. Honestly, they really aren't my thing. But, they are a place where music is played, heard, and completely controls the vibe, so I wanted to talk to some experts and ask them the question that was running through my head. Why, when I think of music played in strip clubs, do I only think of two eras: the 1980s and early 2000s hip-hop? Danny Meyers and Ilan Fong are current and former strip club DJs, respectively, and provide a professional opinion on this question of mine. The resulting conversation is an in-depth look at an industry I hadn't really thought about at all, but is quite fascinating. From balancing the demands of dancers, owners and clients to keeping up with what is indeed hot in the strip clubs (which also happens to be the name of Danny and Ilan's podcast), we take a deep dive into the music that drives this industry. http://www.djdannymeyers.com/strip-club-hof.html http://www.djdannymeyers.com/what-s-hot-.html https://www.songfacts.com/ https://www.facebook.com/songfacts https://twitter.com/Songfacts http://pantheonpodcasts.com/ https://twitter.com/pantheonpods Hosted and Edited by Corey O’Flanagan https://twitter.com/ofe1818 https://www.instagram.com/coreyofe/ corey@songfacts.com Songfacts Podcast Spotify Playlist https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3IThMW5yB8XnFh5cS2gTxR?si=KAhiqWRcSIy5uxb2sZPFTA This show is part of Pantheon Podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today's guest is Gary Graff, author of Alice Cooper @75. Gary's book goes in-depth to explore 75 key moments in the history of Alice Cooper - the man and the band. It covers his early beginnings, time spent in LA in the 1960s, skyrocket successes in the early '70s, and the enduring career that followed. Gary discuss some of these moments and also go over a few songs, including "I'm Eighteen" and "No More Mr. Nice Guy." The book is a must-read for anyone interested in Alice Cooper. The "Dying To Entertain Us" chapter, where Alice takes a macabre turn, is particularly compelling, although not for the squeamish. Please enjoy this nightmarishly delightful episode. Get a copy of the book here. https://www.songfacts.com/ https://www.facebook.com/songfacts https://twitter.com/Songfacts http://pantheonpodcasts.com/ https://twitter.com/pantheonpods Hosted and Edited by Corey O’Flanagan https://twitter.com/ofe1818 https://www.instagram.com/coreyofe/ corey@songfacts.com Songfacts Podcast Spotify Playlist https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3IThMW5yB8XnFh5cS2gTxR?si=KAhiqWRcSIy5uxb2sZPFTA This show is part of Pantheon Podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Vashti Bunyan didn't know her 1970 debut album Just Another Diamond Day had reached cult status until the '90s, when she first typed her name into a search engine. In those 20+ years, many listeners had not only discovered the album, but found it quite profound. In 2000, it was re-issued on CD. The album is a signpost on the road to "alternative folk" - think Joanna Newsom, Animal Collective, and Devendra Banhart, all of whom have cited her as an influence and collaborated with her. Bunyan grabbed her guitar and started making music again. She released her album Lookaftering in 2005, followed by Heartleap in 2014. He autobiography Wayward, Just Another Life to Live, was issued in 2023. In this episode, Bunyan talks about her remarkable resurgence and discusses some key songs from her catalog. Find Vashti's book here. https://www.songfacts.com/ https://www.facebook.com/songfacts https://twitter.com/Songfacts http://pantheonpodcasts.com/ https://twitter.com/pantheonpods Hosted and Edited by Corey O’Flanagan https://twitter.com/ofe1818 https://www.instagram.com/coreyofe/ corey@songfacts.com Songfacts Podcast Spotify Playlist https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3IThMW5yB8XnFh5cS2gTxR?si=KAhiqWRcSIy5uxb2sZPFTA This show is part of Pantheon Podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When New York City was its seediest - the late '70s - it was also home to burgeoning artistic scene that would bring some life back into the city that never sleeps. Our guest today is Adele Bertei, who was part of the action with The Bloods, the first all-female openly lesbian band on the scene. Adele later became a songwriter, with songs recorded by Sheena Easton and Thomas Dolby. Here, we discuss her remarkable life and her new book, Twist: An American Girl. Here is a link to Adele's YouTube. Find her book here. https://www.songfacts.com/ https://www.facebook.com/songfacts https://twitter.com/Songfacts http://pantheonpodcasts.com/ https://twitter.com/pantheonpods Hosted and Edited by Corey O’Flanagan https://twitter.com/ofe1818 https://www.instagram.com/coreyofe/ corey@songfacts.com Songfacts Podcast Spotify Playlist https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3IThMW5yB8XnFh5cS2gTxR?si=KAhiqWRcSIy5uxb2sZPFTA This show is part of Pantheon Podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On the show today I have the great pleasure of chatting with Colin Blunstone of The Zombies, who were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2019. If you're not aware of them by name I am sure you are by tune, as they have written some of the most familiar songs of the mid-'60s, including "Time Of The Season" and "She's Not There," which we get a fascinating story about during this episode! Colin and the band have a new album coming out on March 31 called Different Game that we discuss as well. This was one of those conversations I wish could have gone on and on, as Colin is full of energy and a great storyteller. https://www.thezombiesmusic.com/ https://www.songfacts.com/ https://www.facebook.com/songfacts https://twitter.com/Songfacts http://pantheonpodcasts.com/ https://twitter.com/pantheonpods Hosted and Edited by Corey O’Flanagan https://twitter.com/ofe1818 https://www.instagram.com/coreyofe/ corey@songfacts.com Songfacts Podcast Spotify Playlist https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3IThMW5yB8XnFh5cS2gTxR?si=KAhiqWRcSIy5uxb2sZPFTA This show is part of Pantheon Podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices