And The Writer Is...with Ross Golan

2d ago

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 exceptional artist Loyalty over leverage — and why relationships still matter Advocating for artists when you already have a seat at the table Learning as you go without pretending you have it all figured out This one is grounded and essential for anyone trying to build something that actually lasts. A special thank you to our sponsors... Our lead sponsor, NMPA aka the National Music Publisher's Association. Your support means the world to us! And @splice the best sample library on the market, period. Chapters 0:00:00 Teaser 0:02:37 What FINNEAS Would Change About the Music Industr 0:07:40 “What Do You Do?” Identity & Being Multihyphenate 0:08:54 Why taste beats momentum 0:10:51 FINNEAS & Ashe 0:12:51 From Workaholism to Efficiency 0:14:17 Tools, Shortcuts & Speed in the Studio 0:16:13 Him and Billie and Their Creative Differences 0:20:11 Stage Fright, SNL & Performing Under Pressure 0:24:23 Writing Songs for Film vs Albums 0:27:49 Writing “What Was I Made For? 0:30:46 Writing Honest Lyrics in LA: 0:32:48 Parenting, Legacy & Keeping Ego Out of the House 0:36:42 Creativity and Parenting 0:38:47 Homeschooling, Childhood & Creative Freedom 0:41:46 Make your kids work with adults 0:44:42 When You're Inspired... Collaborate With Your Influences 0:46:30 Artists FINNEAS Would Love to Work With 0:48:46 How Not to Chase Trends: Why reference points should be old, weird, and far away 0:50:02 NMPA Ad 0:50:42 Splice Ad 0:51:30 Favorite Albums to Listen to Deeply 0:53:06 Writing with Billie, Honesty, Family & Creative Trust 0:55:55 Claudia, Love, Partnership & Sustaining Ambition 1:00:37 The 20% Rule 1:02:00 The 'Lowest Point of His Career' and His Personal Victory From It 1:04:57 Separating Your Work From Your Worth 1:06:00 The Barometer of Success For A Solo Artist 1:06:40 Doing The Apple TV Sound 1:08:14 Not Comparing His Success With Billie, New Album, Knowing When to Pivot 1:11:04 Repeating Success... Birds of a Feather, Taste as a Long-Term Advantage 1:15:00 Signing Writers 1:17:55 Why Some Artists Plateau 1:21:11 Publishing Deals, Reversion, and Leverage.. Bad Deals with Good People and Good Deals with Bad People 1:24:33 Avoiding burnout in a high-output career 1:28:01 Writing 'Lonely' for Justin Bieber with Benny Blanco 1:31:14 Aging in the Industry... Collaborating with Ashe 1:39:08 Big Songs On Deluxe Albums 1:42:50 Writing for Prompts and Film 1:45:01 What Still Excites Him About Music 1:43:41 Are You Happy? 1:52:37 Separating The Art From The Artist 1:51:58 Building something that lasts without losing yourself Hosted by Ross Golan Produced by Joe London and Jad Saad Edit by Jad Saad Post Production by Pratik Karki Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dec 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 build Family Guy on 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 discipline, taste, and obsessive craft that shaped his creative life… and the standards he refuses to compromise, no matter the project. Dive deep into his roots, heroes, influences, and biggest challenges building his creative legacy. A special thank you to our sponsors... Our lead sponsor, NMPA, aka the National Music Publisher’s Association. Your support means the world to us! And @splice — the best sample library on the market, period. Chapter list: 0:00:00 – Teaser 0:01:06 – Welcome & Episode Intro 0:03:12 – Seth’s Early Creative Roots: Drawing, Music & Comedy 0:08:40 – Developing Discipline as a Young Artist 0:12:55 – The First Breakthroughs in Animation 0:16:33 – Fighting for Family Guy and Holding the Vision 0:18:15 – The Influence of 80s TV Scores and John Williams 0:21:48 – How Taste Shapes Every Creative Decision 0:25:30 – The Craft Behind Writing Comedy That Lasts 0:30:02 – Why Orchestration Matters So Deeply to Him 0:34:44 – Recording His Sinatra Albums & The Pursuit of Precision 0:38:55 – Balancing Film, TV & Music at a High Level 0:43:22 – Obsession, Work Ethic & Sustaining a Long Creative Career 0:45:45 – Diving into the Rat Pack Era and Vocal Legends 0:47:14 – Collaboration, Standards & Protecting the Work 0:52:33 – What He’s Learned About Longevity in Entertainment 0:56:26 – The Role of Curiosity in Every Chapter of His Career 1:00:08 – The Mindset Behind Creative Risk 1:03:03 – His Advice for Multi-Hyphenate Creators 1:05:23 – Seth’s Final Message to Artists 1:07:19 – Closing Thoughts 1:09:30 – Navigating Fame, Fan Encounters, and Meeting Icons Like John Williams & William Shatner 1:15:45 – Final Appreciation for Preserving Classic Music Hosted by Ross Golan Produced by Joe London and Jad Saad Watercolor by Michael White Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dec 2

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 helped him go from unknown kid with an MPC to one of the most important producers in modern pop. A special thank you to our sponsors... Our lead sponsor, NMPA aka the National Music Publisher's Association. Your support means the world to us! And @splice -- the best sample library on the market, period. 00:00 — Intro: Who is Cirkut? 00:04:37 — Early music influences: hip-hop, DJ culture 00:05:49 — Discovering DJ gear & beat manipulation 00:07:55 — First exposure to FruityLoops & early production 00:10:24 — DJ’ing pep rallies with vinyl 00:12:36 — Applying early skills later for Lady Gaga 00:14:14 — Skipping audio classes to make beats 00:16:46 — Early Drake encounter in Toronto 00:18:40 — How the name “Cirkut” was born 00:21:35 — How a CD of his beats got to Britney Spears 00:22:10 — First big cut: Britney’s “Papi” 00:23:01 — Discovering electronic music & the blog era 00:23:49 — Learning from Masterkraft (the MySpace era) 00:33:00 — Working with The Weeknd on “High For This” 00:33:57 — Recognizing Abel’s early greatness 00:35:06 — Moving to LA & hustling through the rat race 00:38:49 — What finally got him out of the rat race 00:39:33 — The call from Dr. Luke 00:41:11 — The Flo Rida / Levels / Good Feeling near-miss 00:42:37 — Losing a big cut overnight 00:43:19 — When the hits start stacking: “Where Have You Been,” “Wrecking Ball,” “Timber” 00:44:48 — The thing he brought that cut through the noise 00:47:18 — What it’s like creating with Max Martin 00:49:36 — Winning Producer of the Year (Junos) 00:50:17 — When Cirkut realized he belonged at the top 00:52:04 — Why his ego is different 00:53:15 — His quiet superpower in the room 00:55:45 — Ad: NMPA + ⁨@splice⁩ 00:57:00 — The importance of speed 00:59:00 — Secret sauce... Knowing his sounds and blind listening 01:02:00 — Keeping production organic 01:03:57 — The Weeknd 01:12:10 — Ross' funny Pitbull / Cirkut story 01:13:03 — Cirkut's secret to success 01:14:00 — 'Unholy' Sam Smith 01:18:54 — Jung Kook, 'Seven' with Jon Bellion / Theron Thomas 01:21:00 — Charli XCX 01:22:00 — 'APT' and Bruno's 'Stank' 01:30:56 — Lady Gaga + Watt 01:42:30 — Production advice. Figure out what you're great at Hosted by Ross Golan Produced by Joe London and Jad Saad Watercolor by Michael White Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nov 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 the craft , the obsession , and the unexpected moments that built his career. A special thank you to our sponsors... Our lead sponsor, NMPA aka the National Music Publisher's Association. Your support means the world to us! And @splice -- the best sample library on the market, period. Chapters: 0:00:00 – Teaser 0:01:06 – Welcome & Episode Intro 35:58 – Zedd on Never Thinking He’d Be Successful 25:41 – Growing Up Poor & Studying One Album a Month 18:01 – The Kellogg’s DAW That Started Everything 15:33 – Learning Music on a 16-Track Floppy-Disk Keyboard 30:44 – Why He Thought EDM Was a Joke at First 38:12 – The Skrillex MySpace Story That Changed His Life 31:25 – Finding His Sound Through Curiosity & Obsession 47:14 – The “Lightning Moment” Behind Clarity 59:34 – Being Wrong More Often Than Right 1:03:03 – Why Most Music Feels the Same Today 1:03:37 – Extraordinary vs. Average: What Listeners Actually Feel 1:00:08 – “All I’m Doing Is Chasing a Feeling” 56:26 – The Chaos Behind Making The Middle 1:00:47 – Realizing the Scale of His Own Success 28:23 – What It Takes to Stay Inspired 6:48 – The Creative Principles He Still Lives By 41:22 – The Fastest Way for Artists to Get Noticed 1:05:23 – Zedd’s Final Advice for Musicians 1:07:19 – Closing Thoughts Hosted by Ross Golan Produced by Joe London and Jad Saad Watercolor by Michael White Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nov 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 — all while creating some of the most important and culture-defining music of our time. And The Writer Is... Hitboy! A special thank you to our sponsors... Our lead sponsor, NMPA aka the National Music Publisher's Association. Your support means the world to us! And @splice -- the best sample library on the market, period. Chapter list 0:00 TEASER 1:20 Ross’ Intro 2:02 Fatherhood and Being a Full-Time Dad 5:12 Parenting, Hoops, and What His Son Really Loves 6:29 The Humbling Reality Check: Kids Don’t Care About Your Hits 7:29 Growing Up Between Pasadena & San Bernardino 8:34 Seeing His Uncle’s Success & Wanting to Be on TV 9:35 Falling in Love With Beat Programming 10:12 Learning to Write & Rap at 13 11:23 Selling His First Beat for $20 at 16 12:24 MySpace Era: The Birth of “Hit-Boy” 13:09 First Major Betrayal: Partner Gets Signed Behind His Back 15:01 Advice to His Younger Self: Patience & Self-Belief 15:23 Building Early Industry Relationships Through MySpace 16:13 First Time Inside a Real Studio (The Underdogs) 17:39 The Underworld of LA Sessions & A Young Hit-Boy Watching Greats 18:44 First Major Placement: Jennifer Lopez 19:06 Providing for His Mom With His First Checks 19:27 Growing Up Without a Present Father 20:22 His Dad’s Return & Going on a Run Together 22:04 How Fatherhood Changed His Time, Focus & Creativity 23:27 Recording Nas: The Hidden Role People Don’t See 24:57 Getting His First Publishing Deal (And the 18-Year Lock-In) 28:02 Staying Current: “I Update My Software Every Day” 28:21 First Big Hit: Drop The World Lil Wayne & Eminem 29:47 Why He Used to Clash With Kanye 32:00 The ‘N*****s in Paris’ Moment (Language Question + Setup) 33:35 First Song With Kanye: The Christmas Track 34:12 Making Music With Kanye, Jay-Z & the Good Music Family 35:40 Hearing 'Paris' for the First Time in the Planetarium 36:32 Realizing the Song Was Going to Be a Cultural Earthquake 38:23 Big Sean, Executive Production & Sharpening His Ear 39:09 How Drake Found the ‘Trophies’ Beat 39:52 Stripping Beats Down to Let Artists Shine 40:33 When to Stop Producing: The Minimalism Lesson 41:38 Depression, Contracts & Losing the Relationship With Drake 42:57 The Pain of ‘Trophies’ Not Making Drake’s Album 43:13 What His Publishing Deal Held Him Back From 44:22 Working From a Place of Fear vs. Freedom 45:01 Working With Beyoncé (Excellence at Every Level) 46:22 The Story of ‘THIQUE’: An 8-Year-Old Beat Comes Back to Life 46:39 Why Old Beats Deserve Second Lives 47:57 The Making of Sicko Mode & Travis Scott’s Explosion 48:20 The Greatest Timing Ever: Streaming, Social Media, Travis 49:00 The Long Journey of Sicko Mode (2016 → 2018) 50:13 Are Producers Songwriters? The Eternal Debate 51:30 Nipsey Hussle: Early Sessions & Mutual Respect 53:53 Nipsey Claims the Song: “I Need This for My Project” Hosted by Ross Golan Produced by Joe London and Jad Saad Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nov 4

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 you need to survive as an artist today 🎯 What real creative value looks like in 2025 and beyond This one isn’t just inspiring — It’s essential listening for anyone who wants to last in music.. A special thank you to our sponsors... O ur lead sponsor, NMPA, the National Music Publisher's Association. Your support means the world to us! And Splice -- the best sample library on the market. Hosted by Ross Golan Produced by Joe London and Jad Saad Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oct 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 lover, this episode is packed with inspiration, laughs, and behind-the-scenes gems. Presented by NMPA.. The National Music Publisher's Association. Championing songwriters everywhere. Thank you to our sponsors! Co-presented by Splice. The best music sample library in music. CHAPTERS: 00:00 – Welcome to the Soul 01:50 – “I Still Feel So British” 03:00 – First Trip to L.A. (With No GPS or Plan) 04:00 – Learning to Trust Her Own Taste 07:40 – When Artists Had Time to Be Bad 08:30 – Making Meaningful Music in a Chart World 09:20 – “I Don’t Write Every Day” 13:35 – Disney, West Side Story, and Other Early Teachers 15:50 – The First Song: “Mean Boy” 17:05 – Parents Who Said Yes 17:20 – The BRIT School Plan 20:05 – Busking, Best Friends, and the Birth of a Band 22:15 – The First Show: 70 Tickets, 10 People on Stage 23:40 – Signing Her First Deal 25:00 – The Studio Explosion (Her Worst Song Story) 27:00 – Surviving the Rooms 29:15 – How the Best Songs Are Written 30:45 – The Yellow Van Tour (COVID-Era Reinvention) 31:30 – “OK Love You Bye” — The First Song That Felt Free 34:00 – From 70 Fans to 100 Million Streams 36:00 – It Takes a Village (and a Lot of Gratitude) 39:00 – “The Hardest Part” — The Song She Hated (That Changed Everything) 40:00 – The Take That Hurts Is the Take That Wins 43:20 – NMPA Ad Read 44:05 – Splice Ad Read 47:45 – Crying on the Studio Floor 48:00 – “Dive” — When the World Started Singing Back 51:40 – Being a Woman Who Writes (and Plays) 53:10 – The Anatomy of a Song 56:25 – “I Don’t Write Lies” 57:35 – “The Art of Loving” — How the Album Was Born 1:00:15 – What Love Actually Taught Her 1:01:35 – Making Time for Love Anyway 1:02:55 – Ross’s Mirror Moment 1:04:30 – Learning to Sit in Silence 1:05:45 – The Weight of Words 1:06:30 – Being Heard And The Writer Is... Hosted by Ross Golan Produced by Joe London and Jad Saad Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oct 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 fast-changing industry. Chapters 0:00 Intro: The Woman Who Reshaped Pop Music 0:59 Welcome Back: Reflecting on 8 Years in the Industry 2:13 Music Industry Evolution: Then vs. Now 3:00 Adapting Songwriting to Social Media and Trends 4:32 Early Career Advice: Mental Health and Boundaries 6:03 Panic Attacks and Performance Anxiety 9:25 From Songwriter to Artist: Reluctance and Breakthrough 11:23 Influence on Songwriting: Changing Pop's Sound 15:06 Hit Runs, Burnout, and Creative Pauses 17:55 Writing for Disney's Wish : Behind the Scenes 19:42 Future Plans: Musicals, Retirement, and Balance 21:05 Artistry and Collaborations 23:00 Inside the Sabrina Carpenter Camp 29:01 Breaking Down Hits: Taste , Bed Chem , and Coincidence 30:50 Joining Tate McRae: From 17 to Global Hits 33:39 Favorite Producers: Ryan Tedder, Stargate, and More 36:04 Working with Ed Sheeran: Panic, Brotherhood, and Hits 39:30 Crafting Lose You To Love Me with Selena Gomez 43:24 Longtime Bond with Selena: Firsts and Milestones 45:50 Celebrating Wins in a Changing Industry 47:19 Songwriter Struggles: Pay, Radio, and Streaming 50:26 Fair Splits and Standing Up for Writers 55:09 Gender Challenges: Overworking Female Writers 1:00:06 Regimented Life: Balance and Boundaries 1:02:40 Running Her Own Label: Freedom and Control 1:04:15 Career Lows and Highs 1:06:10 Perfect Studio Moment: Working with Britney Spears 1:07:34 Reflections: Where She Thought She'd Be 1:08:45 Uncut Demos and Sacred Songs 1:11:27 Wrapping with Selena, Benny, and Unlikely Stars 1:15:55 Ego-Free Sessions and Lifelong Roots 1:18:22 Outro and Credits NMPA fights for songwriters' rights, ensuring fair pay and protection. Check them out at NMPA.org and follow them on social media at @NMPAorg Splice is the industry’s top sample library—royalty-free for all. It empowers creators with its incredible library and ethical AI tools, supporting original artists every step of the way. Download Splice today and follow them on social media at @splice And The Writer Is... Hosted by Ross Golan Executive produced by Joe London and Jad Saad Follow us on socials at @andthewriteris Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.