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PODCAST

And The Writer Is...with Ross Golan

And The Writer Is

Every week, we sit down with an acclaimed and venerable songwriter to intimately discuss what happens behind closed doors in the music industry. There are millions of singers, thousands of artists, and only 40 top songs per genre at a time... this podcast is about the people who make them. Produced by Joe London & Ross Golan in association with Big Deal Music & Mega House Music. And The Writer Is... ™ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

music music interviews

All Episodes

1:45:15

Ep.235: David Foster | What It Takes to Last in the...

And The Writer Is...with Ross Golan ·

2026/01/14

Today’s guest isn’t just a living legend.He’s one of the architects of modern music.As a songwriter and producer, he’s discovered artists, shaped careers, and defined entire eras.This one is required listening.A once-in-a-generation legendary hybrid of songwriting and production,And The Writer Is... David Foster!In this episode, David breaks down what actually makes music last, the cost of greatness, and what it really takes to survive and stay relevant in the music business over decades, not

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1:13:34

Ep. 234: Diplo | Branding Decides Who Wins

And The Writer Is...with Ross Golan ·

2026/01/06

And The Writer Is... Diplo! This episode isn’t about hits. It’s about how culture actually gets made. Taste, burnout, and building culture without permission. From growing up in Florida crate-digging scenes no one cared about, to turning underground instincts into global movements, Diplo breaks down the uncomfortable truth behind longevity in music: following your taste when everyone else wants safety. We get into: The real physical and mental toll of nonstop touring in a world that never shuts off

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1:33:38

Ep. 233: Alex Warren | Surviving on Delusional...

And The Writer Is...with Ross Golan ·

2025/12/23

And The Writer Is… Alex Warren.Alex joins the podcast to talk openly about resilience, finding his voice, and what it actually takes to turn pain into songs that connect.In this episode, he breaks down:Overcoming homelessness and instability while chasing musicEarning credibility in an industry that didn’t immediately take him seriouslyHow vulnerability became his songwriting superpowerWhat his writing process looks like when the emotions are real — not manufacturedThe difference between being seen

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1:54:04

Ep. 232: FINNEAS | The Long Game of a Music Career

And The Writer Is...with Ross Golan ·

2025/12/16

Today’s guest didn’t just enter the music industry — he grew up inside it. He isn’t just a Grammy-winning producer or a respected solo artist. He’s one of the rare creatives who’s built a career rooted in loyalty, advocacy, and taste — while learning in public and evolving in real time. And The Writer Is… FINNEAS! In this episode, he breaks down: Growing up in the industry without losing your footing The quiet flaw baked into today’s music industry — and the one trait he’s seen in every truly

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1:17:33

Ep. 231: Seth MacFarlane | The Discipline and Craft...

And The Writer Is...with Ross Golan ·

2025/12/10

Today’s guest has carved out one of the most improbable creative legacies of his generation — commanding animation, comedy, film, and orchestral music with the same relentless discipline and near-obsessive craft. What began as a kid sketching characters in his bedroom grew into a fight to buildFamily Guyon his own terms… and eventually into Grammy-nominated big-band records that honor the very foundations of American music.And The Writer Is... Seth MacFarlane!On this episode, Seth breaks down the

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1:49:03

Ep. 230: Cirkut | The Secrets of a Pop Super Producer

And The Writer Is...with Ross Golan ·

2025/12/02

Today’s guest is the producer behind some of the biggest songs of the last 15 years — from “Wrecking Ball,” “Timber,” and “Dark Horse” to early records with The Weeknd and Britney Spears.From teaching himself production on cracked software and vinyl turntables… to going on a run of genre-defining hits.And the writer is… Cirkut!In this episode, he opens up about his early grind, the moment Britney cut his beat, his first sessions in LA, working alongside Max Martin and Dr. Luke, and the mindset that

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1:08:32

Ep. 229: Zedd | Inside the Mind Behind a Decade of...

And The Writer Is...with Ross Golan ·

2025/11/24

Today's guest went from making songs on a floppy-disk keyboard, sampling off a Kellogg’s cereal box DAW, and sending blind MySpace messages… to producing the some of the biggest crossover dance anthems of the last decade. And The Writer Is... Zedd!What makes this conversation special isn’t just the hits — it’s how brutally honest he is about thecraft, theobsession, and theunexpected momentsthat built his career.A special thank you to our sponsors...Our lead sponsor, NMPA aka the National Music

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1:09:11

Ep. 228: Hit-Boy | Success, Betrayal, & The Stories...

And The Writer Is...with Ross Golan ·

2025/11/17

Today’s guest has rewired modern hip-hop. His fingerprints live all over the last decade but the real story behind that success is far more human, painful, and transformative than the headlines ever show. In this conversation, he opens up about the highs and lows of being a producer in hip-hop: the pressure, the politics, the contracts, the moments that nearly broke him, and the breakthroughs that almost didn’t happen. He also shares the lessons shaped by fatherhood, betrayal, and real perseverance

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1:59:11

Ep. 227: Ryan Tedder pt.4 | The Modern Music Economy,...

And The Writer Is...with Ross Golan ·

2025/11/04

Today's guest is a familiar face... A friend to the podcast and one of the most successful and influential creators in music history.He isn’t just a hitmaker. He's perhaps one of the few people in the history of music to have hits as a songwriter, artist, and producer... completely aside from one another across genres.And The Writer Is... Ryan Tedder!In this episode, he breaks down:🎯 Why the middle class of music is disappearing🎯 How splits, streaming, and AI are reshaping the game🎯 The mindset

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1:26:40

Ep. 226: Olivia Dean | The Art of Loving (and Finding...

And The Writer Is...with Ross Golan ·

2025/10/27

Today's guest is an international soul sensation...From writing “The Hardest Part” on Zoom to conquering imposter syndrome, crafting hits like "Dive" and "Man I Need," and creating her acclaimed album The Art of Loving.. She is on a meteoric rise in music.We discuss raw stories of heartbreak, growth, the magic of songwriting.. and how she learned to protect her voice in a room and write music that actually feels like her.And The Writer Is...Olivia Dean!Whether you're a songwriter, fan, or music

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1:18:37

Ep. 225: Julia Michaels pt.2 | The Woman Who Changed Pop

And The Writer Is...with Ross Golan ·

2025/10/20

Julia Michaels has quietly rewritten the emotional DNA of pop music.From Selena Gomez to Justin Bieber to Sabrina Carpenter — her pen reshaped how vulnerability sounds on the radio.In this episode, Julia sits down with Ross to unpack the craft behind her catalog: the psychology of honest writing, the architecture of a hit, and the years she spent changing pop from behind the glass.They dive into the writing of hits, the evolution of her artistry, and what it means to sustain creative integrity in a

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58:51

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

And The Writer Is...with Ross Golan ·

2025/10/13

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,

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59:43

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

And The Writer Is...with Ross Golan ·

2025/10/06

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

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1:24:14

Ep. 222: Ed Sheeran | Inside The Craft of a...

And The Writer Is...with Ross Golan ·

2025/09/29

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

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1:21:54

Ep. 221: Andrew Watt | How He Became the Go-To...

And The Writer Is...with Ross Golan ·

2025/09/15

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 withJustin Bieber,Post Malone,Ozzy Osbourne,The Rolling Stones,Dua Lipa,Miley Cyrus, and more — earningThe Recording Academy’sProducer of the Yearaward and cementing his status as one of the most in-demand hitmakers on the planet.And the writer is... Andrew

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1:18:58

Ep. 220: Tayla Parx | Redefining Yourself, Branding &...

And The Writer Is...with Ross Golan ·

2025/09/08

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 inreinvention, 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

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1:07:36

Ep. 219: Laufey | Redefining Jazz for a New Generation

And The Writer Is...with Ross Golan ·

2025/09/02

Today’s guest is nothing short of a phenomenon.With roots in Iceland and China, raised in a family of classical musicians, she grew up between symphony halls and jazz records — and has now become the defining voice of her generation.Her music is a breathtaking blend of timeless jazz, classical elegance, and modern storytelling that has captivated millions around the world. From posting standards online during college to headlining the Hollywood Bowl, she’s built a movement — proving that jazz not

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1:08:20

Ep. 218: Conan Gray | Wishbone; How a Bedroom Dreamer...

And The Writer Is...with Ross Golan ·

2025/08/25

Today’s guest began on YouTube — a teenager posting bedroom covers to a handful of viewers.Now, his songs have been streamed billions of times across the globe.He’s headlined sold-out arenas on multiple continents, become a global fashion force, and built one of the most devoted fanbases of his generation.He’s collaborated with legends like Max Martin, while never losing the raw honesty that made his music essential in the first place.He’s not just a rising star — he’s already one of pop’s defining

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1:11:00

Ep. 217: Rodney Jerkins | How He Turned Belief Into...

And The Writer Is...with Ross Golan ·

2025/08/06

He believed before anyone else did.Before the Grammys.Before the 39 billion streams.BeforeSay My Namechanged the sound of radio forever.He was just a kid on a New Jersey bus, chasing a dream no one else could see.In this episode, legendary producerRodney “Darkchild” Jerkinsshares how faith, fire, and pure conviction took him from a basement studio to shaping the sound of a generation. FromMichael JacksontoBeyoncé,Lady Gaga, andSam Smith, Rodney opens up about the mindset behind the music — and why

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6:37

Key Moment: Ryan Tedder | How to Be Irreplaceable

And The Writer Is...with Ross Golan ·

2025/07/28

What does it really take to become irreplaceable in music?This is more than a lesson in music. It’s a masterclass in how to make yourself essential in any room you enter.In this episode, Ryan Tedder shares a raw, unfiltered blueprint for building a career that stands the test of time.From mastering guitar, piano, and production to writing two songs a day, Ryan unpacks why versatility, humility, and relentless work ethic are the hidden currencies of longevity. He breaks down the mindset shifts that

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272 results

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