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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

1:40:04

Ep. 241: Jesse Rutherford (The Neighbourhood) | How...

And The Writer Is...with Ross Golan ·

2026/03/03

Today’s guest is the frontman of one of the most defining bands of the 2010s — a songwriter whose voice helped shape an era of alternative pop that still echoes today.Before arenas. Before permanence. Before “Sweater Weather” became cultural shorthand.Now, after over a decade of hits, reinvention, and evolution, he looks back on the long arc of The Neighbourhood with clarity — and with honesty about what success did and didn’t solve.And The Writer Is… Jesse Rutherford of The Neighbourhood!In this

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1:35:42

Ep. 240: Ejae | A Career Built Slowly and Heard All...

And The Writer Is...with Ross Golan ·

2026/02/25

Today’s guest is a Grammy-winning songwriter, global pop architect, and one of the most quietly influential voices shaping modern music across borders.Before the world heard her voice,shespent years training inside the K-pop system — learning discipline, structure, and endurance long before recognition ever arrived. When the system didn’t know what to do with her, she pivoted. Slowly. Intentionally. And built a career that would eventually be heard everywhere.Now, as a songwriter whose work spans

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1:13:46

Ep. 239: Marcus Mumford (of Mumford & Sons) |...

And The Writer Is...with Ross Golan ·

2026/02/17

Today's guest is a festival headliner, Grammy-winning songwriter, and the architect of a sound that accidentally changed the course of folk, country, and alternative music forever.From singing as a family around a kitchen table to headlining arenas with banjos and mandolins, Marcus Mumford built something no one saw coming — and has spent years learning not to get in his own way once the stakes got real.Now, as a solo artist and band leader, he's as honest about the creative process as he is about

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1:20:59

Ep. 238: Illenium | Addiction Almost Killed Him....

And The Writer Is...with Ross Golan ·

2026/02/10

Today's guest is a multi-platinum DJ, producer, and songwriter who turned personal devastation into one of electronic music's most emotionally resonant careers.From opioid addiction in high school to wilderness therapy at rock bottom, he rebuilt his entire life in Denver—sober, alone, and teaching himself music theory from scratch.Now 13 years clean, he's become a voice for mental health in a scene built on excess, collaborating with Jon Bellion, Halsey, Teddy Swims, and countless others to create

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1:58:45

Ep. 237: Philip Lawrence | How a $5 Bus Pass Created...

And The Writer Is...with Ross Golan ·

2026/01/28

Today's guest is a Grammy-winning songwriter, producer, and performer, best known as one-third of The Smeezingtons and a foundational creative force behind Bruno Mars’ career. He has co-written and helped shape some of the most influential pop songs of the last two decades, including Just the Way You Are, Billionaire, Locked Out of Heaven, When I Was Your Man, 24K Magic, Nothin’ on You, and many more...And The Writer Is... Bruno Mars!In this episode of And The Writer Is…, Philip Lawrence tells his

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1:31:04

Ep. 236: John Ryan | The Playbook of a World-Class...

And The Writer Is...with Ross Golan ·

2026/01/21

Today's guest has quietly shaped the sound of a generation.He has written and produced some of the biggest songs of the last 15 years—from One Direction's "Story of My Life" to Niall Horan's "Slow Hands," Sabrina Carpenter's "Taste", Teddy Swims' "Lose Control," and Olivia Dean's "So Easy to Fall in Love."A true songwriter's songwriter, John Ryan doesn't just chase hits—he shapes careers, defines sounds, and knows exactly when inspiration is knocking.In this episode, John breaks down what it really

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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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