*Season 2 of the #1 hit NBC show Songland returns April 13. Songland is an authentic peek into the creative process of songwriting and provides undiscovered songwriters the chance to pitch their original creations to top recording artists and a panel of the most sought-after producers in music
The upcoming season has an even bigger roster of guest recording artists. EURweb’s Jill Munroe went to visit the set for a conversation with Ester Dean (“Pitch Perfect”, Grammy-nominated songwriter and producer of Rihanna, Katy Perry, Nicki Minaj), Ryan Tedder (OneRepublic lead singer, Grammy Award-winning producer of Adele, Beyoncé, Taylor Swift and Jonas Brothers), Shane McAnally (Grammy-winning songwriter and producer of Kacey Musgraves, Kelly Clarkson and Sam Hunt with over over 40 #1 country records and two-time ACM Songwriter of the Year) Audrey Morrissey (Four-Time Emmy Award-winning Executive Producer of “The Voice”) and Dave Stewart (Co-Founder of The Eurythmics, Songwriter Hall of Fame inductee, Executive Producer) to discuss season 2 expectations, the songwriting process and artist appearances.
Jill: What was the reaction after season 1?
Shane: I think one thing is that there was a real excitement about people being on the show, artists and songwriters because they had seen the show and wanted to be a part of it. Before it was such a litmus test — I guess that’s the word — where people didn’t know what they were doing, and they’re kind of like, what is this going to be? Even, the songwriters that came on, were like, how’s my song going to be depicted? How am I going to look into this situation? Everybody knew going into this season that they are going to be shown in the absolute best light, that we are going to do everything we can to make them and their songs be represented the very best. I think there was a confidence in that and they already had this excitement about doing it. They were excited to see the set. They were excited to see us because they had watched it and they loved talking about what they had seen. So, I think it made that part a lot easier than this question mark when people walked in…
Ryan: The format didn’t exist until 2019, it didn’t exist. Then you tried to explain it to people and they go — wait, how do you? And so, I would make a billion food show examples because we’ve watched people cook food for the last 15 years and music is consumed more than food. Like, now we’re just showing you how to cook music and how to write hit records…
Shane: And not burn it.
Ryan: And not burn it and not put too much salt on it.
Ester: And really, we’re teaching you how you should put a potato in a soup if it tastes burnt, just so you could bring the flavor back to where it was. So, at the end of the day sometimes if you drop in a potato in some burnt soup, it’s just like, overcooked it or over-did it, or over-salted it, so we are the potatoes that come and kind of like rescue this…
I don’t think people know how deep the songwriting process goes and how far it has to go before you hear it on the radio.
Jill: Do you think that currently, the songwriting process has gotten more complicated? One of the things about the show that is interesting is that it showcases how many people actually go into creating a hit record. You know, most depictions from before are just like one person in a room…
Shane: It’s not that different. This is what’s different is that people that do different things, more people are getting credit. The thing is, before, somebody would write a song by themselves, but they’re also with somebody that came up with the guitar line and a producer that came up with the baseline and somebody that did all these different things that added to the record, but they weren’t getting songwriter credit.
So now there are elements of writing songs that you need multiple people to write a hit song, because there are track elements that is being created. That those people are writing, they’re coming up with musical hooks. You know, some of the greatest songs in history have these incredible musical lines when you look back, and those people aren’t listed. The person who came up with that… Writing melody is writing.
Ester: That is the song.
Ryan: If you listen to “My Girl,” those bass lines and all the things that the Wrecking Crew came up with… Like if you want to know what’s changed in the last 40 years, watch the documentary, “The Wrecking Crew.” It’s one of the best music documentaries in decades. And it shows what was referred to as the Wrecking Crew In the 1950s, 60s and 70s. They were the top session players in LA. They all worked out of United Studios in Ocean Way, right up on… Not far from here…
Ester: And they should have got the publishing
Ryan: — in 2020, they all would have ended up with publishing… Most of them would have ended up with publishing on most of the songs they did, as songwriters.
Jill: What has been the surprise outcome of the success of the show for you?
Audrey: I think for me, how many different people of all different walks of life and every different age have told me how much they enjoy the show, how much of a discovery it’s been. I was just saying earlier, I have a lot of… I have an eight-year-old son, and many parent friends have sent me little MP3s of their seven and eight-year-olds trying their hand at writing songs now, from watching the show. I mean, that’s incredible, like not anything I really anticipated, but it’s absolutely such a joyful outcome and so fulfilling really.
So, I just think that’s on the one hand, and then on the other hand, I have people like my parents at the other end of the spectrum discovering — I didn’t realize all that went into writing songs and music, and it was absolutely fascinating, and I really enjoyed it, look how talented these people are.
Dave: Well, I think for me, I agree with everything she said. For me, what’s interesting is, and I didn’t know if this would be possible, the audience follows… The show is a narrative show really. It’s unlike a lot of other shows, where the narrative is — okay, it’s the journey through 12 shows to see where they get — and it’s their parents egging them on, and the drama. It’s not that. It’s the narrative of the song. And what amazed me was a kid, teenager, however old they are, they’re following the narrative and the journey of the song changing and they all love watching that, and they all understand it.
Now we usually do this behind closed doors, in a studio, and they’re letting, well, we’re letting people in. And because the artists and panelists are so relaxed talking about it, they’re sort of like, it’s like looking in through the secret window, like, oh my God, this is what happens.
Jill: Giving away the secret sauce.
Audrey: I would add to that, too. I also think a happy surprise is how many artists want to do the show and want to show that process and want to open up…
Dave: And share.
Audrey: — and share. Like, really open the curtain a bit. Because, I wasn’t sure. I didn’t know. I just didn’t know how that would be received. And it’s been overwhelmingly positive.
Dave: And how much they like helping the new young artists.
Audrey: They love it.
Dave: Because they always tend to tell their story about when they were trying to get somewhere.
Audrey: Yeah, they all see themselves in them, and want to do all they can do to encourage them and help them. It’s really a beautiful thing watching them all pay it forward and be so supportive. It’s exciting.
Season 2 Guest Recording Artists: Boyz II Men, Florida Georgia Line, Luis Fonsi, H.E.R., Lady Antebellum, Martina McBride, Julia Michaels, Ben Platt, Bebe Rexha, Usher
We Publish News 24/7. Don’t Miss A Story. Click HERE to SUBSCRIBE to Our Newsletter Now!
