Songwriters on Process

Deep Talk About the Songwriting Process.

In-depth interviews with songwriters about their songwriting process. That's All. No talk of band drama, band names, or tour stories. Treating songwriters as writers, plain and simple. By Ben Opipari, English Lit Ph.D.

Recent Episodes

Cameron Picton (black midi, My New Band Believe)
April 6, 2026

Cameron Picton (black midi, My New Band Believe)

My New Band Believe is Cameron Picton's new band after his time as the bassist and sometimes frontman for black midi . We go deep into his songwriting process, including a discussion of how sounds outside the studio affect hi...
Carl Newman (The New Pornographers)
April 2, 2026

Carl Newman (The New Pornographers)

It's the return of Carl Newman of The New Pornographers ! We were just kids back in 2015 when I first interviewed Newman and we discussed his love of the 10cc song "Dreadlock Holiday." We return to that song in this episode, ...
King Tuff (Kyle Thomas)
March 28, 2026

King Tuff (Kyle Thomas)

"I'm a jacket man," King Tuff (aka Kyle Thomas) told me as we discussed why feeling good is important to the songwriting process. I had mentioned a writer who told me that he must wear a winter coat when he writes--even durin...
Snail Mail (Lindsey Jordan)
March 24, 2026

Snail Mail (Lindsey Jordan)

"I very much consider myself a writer," Lindsey Jordan ( Snail Mail ) says. And any good writer has a ritual. Part of Jordan's ritual involves the balance between keeping the writing process precious and recognizing that too ...
Nate Ruess
March 17, 2026

Nate Ruess

Nate Ruess's songwriting catalog includes his Grammy winning band Fun ; his co-write and co-performance with P!nk on "Just Give Me a Reason"; and songs for Hayley Williams, Kesha, and Young Thug. After feeling no urge to writ...
Tyler Ballgame
March 4, 2026

Tyler Ballgame

Procrastinators unite! Thank you, Tyler Ballgame , you are a kindred spirit. Finally someone who admits that procrastination is a great tool for writing. So much has been written on the evils of procrastination, yet some peop...