For Tim Burgess of The Charlatans, the best ideas come when he’s preoccupied. And ideally when he’s at the gym.

S.G. Goodman was raised a farmer's daughter and studied philosophy in college. This means that not only does she love to ponder, she has time do it during those long days in the field. The product of all the pondering? Amazing lyrics.

As an instrumental guitarist steeped in improvisation, Julian Lage isn't one for specific rituals. And that's why I loved this conversation: it's a deep dive into the abstract elements of creativity as we try to figure out where it all comes from.

Gavin Rossdale’s favorite lyrics are those with “speckles of blood, speckles of sweat.” The more truthful the writing, he says, the bigger the power.

Grian Chatten of Fontaines D.C. calls songwriting his “constant annoying companion. I have writing on speed dial 24/7.”

Madison Cunningham writes every day. No excuses. Because a writing regimen takes the pressure off those days when she’s just not feeling it.