Singer/songwriter Erica Falls' incredible voice and electrifying stage presence have solidified her as a prominent figure in the music industry. Hailing from the vibrant musical landscape of New Orleans, Erica's journey in music began at an early age, shaped by the sounds of jazz, soul, and funk that permeate the city streets. With a career spanning over two decades, Erica has honed her craft, working with renowned artists including Trombone Shorty, John Fogerty, Sting, The Revivalists, and...

José James is a groundbreaking singer/songwriter known for seamlessly blending jazz, soul, hip-hop, and R&B into a distinctive and captivating musical style. José rose to prominence in the mid-2000s with the release of his debut album, "The Dreamer" (2008), which garnered widespread acclaim for its fusion of jazz improvisation with soulful melodies and hip-hop-inspired rhythms. Throughout his career, José has continued to push the boundaries of genre and style, collaborating with a...

Singer/songwriter Zada is only 20 years old, but she has already carved out a name for herself in the music industry. Born in Ethiopia and based in Vancouver, Zada showcases a full range of influences in her singing and songwriting.  She released her debut album, Water in the Desert, on March 1, and it's already gaining critical acclaim. We caught up with Zada and had a conversation about her approach to songwriting, her love of performing, and what's next for her musically. Enjoying the...

Calling Narada Michael Walden a "musical powerhouse" would be a severe understatement. A former member of the legendary Mahavishnu Orchestra, he's also a prolific producer, has been the drummer for Journey, co-wrote the classic Aretha Franklin song "Freeway of Love," and now has a new album, "Euphoria," with the single "The More I Love My Life," featuring Carlos Santana, Sting, and Stevie Wonder. It was a joy to speak with Narada about everything ranging from the music that inspires him down...

Legendary songwriter Mike Stoller, of the songwriting team Leiber and Stoller, is speaking with us in this episode. Together with Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller wrote a breathtaking number of classics for Elvis Presley, The Coasters, The Drifters, Peggy Lee, LaVern Baker, Ben. E. King, and more, including "Jailhouse Rock," "Hound Dog," "Santa Claus Is Back in Town," "Stand By Me," "Love Potion #9," "Yakety Yak," "Kansas City," "Poison Ivy," "Along Came Jones," "Bossa Nova Baby," and so many...

Every year we ask the hosts at the Pantheon podcast network to tell us their holiday favorites and break down the songs. This year, we hear about Alanis Morissette's cover of "Last Christmas," Barbra Streisand's "Jingle Bells," and a few songs we've never heard before, from the likes of Charles Brown, Captain Sensible and the Fuzztones. Here's our list of Christmas songs on Songfacts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You won't find many bass players on the jam band scene more respected than Oteil Burbridge. He's best known for his time in The Allman Brothers Band, where he served from 1997 until the group ended their storied career in 2014. Before that, Burbridge was in the Aquarium Rescue Unit, a group founded by former wrestling manager Colonel Bruce Hampton that was known for blending top-tier musicianship with freewheeling fun. After The Allman Brothers, Burbridge formed Dead & Company with John...

In August 2023, Metallica launched an official podcast, The Metallica Report, hosted by two longtime members of their camp: Renée Richardson and Steffan Chirazi. Renée runs the band's All Within My Hands foundation and has been interviewing and covering the band since her days as a DJ in San Francisco; Steffan is a British journalist who started covering the band for Sounds in the '80s and was later poached by Metallica to run their official magazine, So What! (yeah, Metallica isn't just a...

Aaron Lee Tasjan, a terrific singer-songwriter who was a guest on the Songfacts Podcast in 2021, turned me on to Julia Cannon, another very gifted songwriter who also produces, sings and plays multiple instruments. Cannon is highly introverted, so her promotion is mostly word-of-mouth. Once you hear what she has to offer, you'll probably spread the word too. "How many issues can I blame on my absentee dad?" That's one of many questions Cannon asks on her new album, How Many. We'll start...

Kelsey Warren, who goes by the stage name Blak Emoji joins the pod to chat about his new album Eclectro, which is available anywhere you listen to music. Kelsey came into my world via my producer Carl who heard Simon Le Bon of Duran Duran raving about him on his Serius XM radio show. Kelsey is a passionate and talented man who not only writes his own tunes but also produces for others. He can be found playing a few shows this year and you can find that linked...

Our guest today is Cole Gallagher, who has said, "They say that the only way to understand the world around you is by looking within." After our conversation talking about his new EP, The Confluence, set for releasing on Aug 4, I think it is clear that Cole considers his answers before responding and certainly takes the time to observe the world around him. At only 21 his voice sounds as if it's been around much longer. Cole is clearly a gifted songwriter, and for this record he was fortunate...

Raye Zaragoza is our guest today and we are chatting about her new album, Hold That Spirit, set for release on August 11. Listening to the album, I can tell this is an artist who is not afraid to get personal and bare her soul through her art. Beyond talking about these new songs, this episode goes into some of Ray's more personal moments, including breaking off a wedding engagement and using those funds to produce this album, as well as her battles with an eating disorder. I found Raye and...

On the show today we have one of the most fascinating success stories I have heard in a long time! ROSIE (Rosaileen Scher) is a 23-year-old singer/songwriter who got her big break from a viral TikTok post of her song "Never The 1." She gives us the inside look at the days and moments surrounding that event, and it is incredible! ROSIE has a new EP dropping on June 23 called 5 Songs For Healing. Before our interview it was easy to tell that Rosie is a great songwriter, but after speaking with...

Maybe you are getting tired of me saying this, but I am so excited to bring you this episode and this amazing new music from the Montreal band Half Moon Run. Our guest is Devon Portielje, one of the three band members, all of whom sing and play multiple instruments. Their new album, Salt, drops June 2. This album caught my ear and engaged me front to back, so I really enjoyed speaking with Devon to find out how some of these tracks came together. Whether it's strumming a ukulele on the...

It's kinda crazy that Phillip Phillips is just 32. He was 21 when he won American Idol back in 2012 and released his coronation single, "Home," which played during the Olympics that year. Phillips didn't write that song but has written or co-written most of his songs since, including all the tracks on his latest album, Drift Back, set for release on June 9. It's his first album since becoming a dad in 2019. Phillip tells us his son is both strong-willed and amazing, and he's up for the...

You probably don't think about the harp very often, but Brandee Younger is here to change that. She's part of a new generation of harpists, bringing the instrument to contemporary music while also honoring the heritage of harpists of the past, particularly Dorothy Ashby, who elevated the form from the '50s through the '80s. Younger's harp can be heard on tracks by Alessia Cara, Pete Rock, Jane Monheit, Ravi Coltrane, and a mix of other artists across the musical spectrum. She's also an...

This episode is a little different - it really comes from my endlessly curious brain. Now, I am not a regular attendee of strip clubs. Honestly, they really aren't my thing. But, they are a place where music is played, heard, and completely controls the vibe, so I wanted to talk to some experts and ask them the question that was running through my head. Why, when I think of music played in strip clubs, do I only think of two eras: the 1980s and early 2000s hip-hop?  Danny Meyers and Ilan...

Today's guest is Gary Graff, author of Alice Cooper @75. Gary's book goes in-depth to explore 75 key moments in the history of Alice Cooper - the man and the band. It covers his early beginnings, time spent in LA in the 1960s, skyrocket successes in the early '70s, and the enduring career that followed. Gary discuss some of these moments and also go over a few songs, including "I'm Eighteen" and "No More Mr. Nice Guy." The book is a must-read for anyone interested in Alice Cooper. The "Dying...

Vashti Bunyan didn't know her 1970 debut album Just Another Diamond Day had reached cult status until the '90s, when she first typed her name into a search engine. In those 20+ years, many listeners had not only discovered the album, but found it quite profound. In 2000, it was re-issued on CD. The album is a signpost on the road to "alternative folk" - think Joanna Newsom, Animal Collective, and Devendra Banhart, all of whom have cited her as an influence and collaborated with her. Bunyan...

When New York City was its seediest - the late '70s - it was also home to burgeoning artistic scene that would bring some life back into the city that never sleeps. Our guest today is Adele Bertei, who was part of the action with The Bloods, the first all-female openly lesbian band on the scene. Adele later became a songwriter, with songs recorded by Sheena Easton and Thomas Dolby. Here, we discuss her remarkable life and her new book, Twist: An American Girl. Here is a link to Adele's...

On the show today I have the great pleasure of chatting with Colin Blunstone of The Zombies, who were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2019. If you're not aware of them by name I am sure you are by tune, as they have written some of the most familiar songs of the mid-'60s, including "Time Of The Season" and "She's Not There," which we get a fascinating story about during this episode! Colin and the band have a new album coming out on March 31 called Different Game that we...

Today's guest is Matt Ellis from the band Villages, a folksy foursome from the nether regions of Nova Scotia. Their new album, Dark Island, comes out February 17. In this episode, Matt and I talk about some of the key tracks and find out the band writes - they are certainly products of their environment. Listening to the album top to bottom, it's clear these guys are pulling inspiration from everywhere, including American folk, Celtic, and obviously from their Canadian roots. Matt and the...

It's not often that I hear a new artist and get taken back to multiple eras and styles of music, but that is what today's guest did! Hamish Hawk is based in Edinburgh and has been making some noise over the last couple of years. When I put on his new album, Angel Numbers, I was taken back to the new age era of the late '70s and early '80s. Then my wife called out from the other room saying, "This sounds like David Bowie!" Quite the first impression! Today, I chat with Hamish about the album,...

On this first show of the new year I am so pleased to have Nicholas Gunty and Brian Powers, the duo who make up the singers and songwriters of Frances Luke Accord. They have an amazing new album called Safe In Sound, which is being released for your listening pleasure on February 9th.  Today we get a chance to hear how they came together as a band in college and listen in as they banter about some of their songs and how they came together. Fun fact, they don't always agree! And of course, we...