Sodajerker On Songwriting

Sean Ono Lennon joins Sodajerker to discuss The Great Parrot Ox and the Golden Egg of Empathy, the new sci-fi concept album from the Claypool Lennon Delirium. Sean talks about collaborating with Les Claypool, creating characters and mythology for the record, and exploring the dangers of artificial intelligence. We also examine the duo's use of wordplay, Sean's eclectic musical influences, and the lessons he absorbed from his parents.

The The's Matt Johnson joins Simon and Brian to discuss his new book Cognitive Dissident, the idea of "method songwriting", and the way grief and personal loss have shaped his music. Along the way, this candid conversation touches on topics like memory, identity, authenticity and new frontiers of technology.

Acclaimed Irish singer-songwriter Glen Hansard joins Simon and Brian to discuss his new live retrospective Don't Settle (Vol. 1 - Transmissions East) and his creative life. The Oscar-winning artist talks about writing songs that have a beating heart, why music should be both messy and true, but never clever, and the liberating experience of burning his notebooks.

Mumford & Sons' Marcus Mumford and Ben Lovett talk about the writing of the band's latest record, Prizefighter. The pair reflect on working with producer Aaron Dessner, the trust required to take creative risks as a band, and how collaborations with the likes of Hozier, Gracie Abrams, Chris Stapleton and Justin Vernon shaped the final record.

Glenn Tilbrook and Chris Difford of Squeeze join us for a special episode to discuss Trixies, a remarkable concept album centred on a fictional London nightclub and built from songs the pair first wrote as teenagers. During the conversation, Chris and Glenn reflect on the experience of revisiting the work of their younger selves, and how their celebrated songwriting partnership has continued to evolve.