S.G. Goodman
S.G. Goodman was raised a farmer's daughter and studied philosophy in college. Which means that she loves to ponder and has time do it on those long days in the field. The product of all that pondering? Amazing lyrics.
It's not a surprise that Goodman doesn't like to write on tour and doesn't like to be inside at all when she writes. In fact, when she's on tour, she can't wait to get back home, where she can be outside and work with her hands. "Whenever I can, I try to get outside and do some kind of manual labor. That's when I'm the most creative," Goodman told me.
In this interview, Goodman also talks about the effect that her diagnosed obsessive-compulsive disorder has on her editing process. It used to mean that finishing songs was almost impossible because she could never stop tweaking. Then one day a friend asked her a simple question: "Have you said everything you want to say?" And that's the litmus test she asks herself at the end of her songwriting process.
S.G. Goodman's latest album is called Teeth Marks.
Kelsey Waldon finds the beginnings of spring and fall to especially conducive to songwriting. A good yellow legal pad helps as well.
Ready for some light summer reading? Taylor Goldsmith of Dawes isn't. He's currently reading Homer's The Iliad.
Kevin Morby’s writing process involves cheap pens, cheap paper, a good hardwood floor, and running shoes. Dental floss proves it.
Real Estate’s Martin Courtney is trying to make his songwriting process less “painstaking” by plowing through the initial stages and chipping away later. But he’s always got Strega Nona.
Laura Veirs find the best way to engage the muse is with a good side eye.
Erin Rae’s most effective songwriting process comes when things are glow-y and her phone is far, far away.
Walter Martin’s most efficient writing process involves not sitting down with the deliberate intent to create. Also: being hungover helps. Photo credit: Melissa Martin
Allison Russell and Aoife O’Donovan are celebrated songwriters—and working moms. This makes for a songwriting process in which the only ritual is recognizing that you don’t have one.
Matt Nathanson’s latest album Boston Accent was produced by Butch Walker. in this episode, they dissect why their creative relationship in the studio was so successful.