Off The Record - An American Songwriter Podcast

American Songwriter is relaunching its acclaimed interview series 'Off the Record,' available as a podcast. Hosted by Editor-in-Chief Lisa Konicki, 'Off the Record' features in-depth conversations with top music artists, exploring their musical journeys, the craft of songwriting, and personal stories behind the music. Episodes will be released every two weeks and will be available on all major podcast platforms.

Off The Record - An American Songwriter Podcast is a arts podcast hosted by American Songwriter, with 28 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80.

American Songwriter hosts Off The Record - An American Songwriter Podcast, a arts show with 28 episodes published.

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  Off The Record - An American Songwriter Podcast

  Jessie Jo Dillon: Dad Dean Dillon, ACM Award Three-Peat, and Writing “Am I Okay”

  Sep 30, 202653 min

  On this episode of Off the Record, host Lisa Konicki talks with hit songwriter Jessie Jo Dillon, the first songwriter ever to win ACM Songwriter of the Year three years in a row. The episode opens with a game that pits her own hits against each other and includes a video tribute from actor-singer-songwriter Luke Grimes praising her work on his album Red Bird.Dillon talks about growing up as the daughter of legendary songwriter Dean Dillon, why she avoided songwriting at first, and how she approaches her craft: lyrics first, one clear emotion, and a focus on what the artist wants to say. She also shares stories behind hits like "Am I Okay?" with Megan Moroney, "10,000 Hours" with Dan + Shay and Justin Bieber, and Jelly Roll's FIFA anthem "Lighter."The episode ends with her new imprint, Gatsby, which she named after her favorite novel, and its first artist, Carter Faith. She also leaves us with advice to aspiring writers: “write from the heart and outwork everyone.”Let’s go Off the Record with Jessie Jo Dillon. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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  Off The Record - An American Songwriter Podcast

  Parker McCollum: Fatherhood, Album of the Year, and Finding His Voice in New York

  Sep 23, 20261h 6m

  This week on Off the Record, Editor-in-Chief Lisa Konicki sits down with Parker McCollum fresh off the birth of his second son, Rocker, and an ACM Award for Album of the Year win. McCollum opens up about balancing tour life with two young boys and reflects on the win for his self-titled record: "a record that got the most of my heart and soul and effort and time and focus than any body of work ever has."In the episode, listeners will hear the story behind recording in New York City, where McCollum asked his band for total creative commitment. You’ll also get to hear about the origin of "New York Is On Fire," born from watching Central Park's trees "literally on fire" from a plane window. He also breaks down his songwriting process and even improvises a verse live in the studio.The conversation also covers the album’s deluxe tracks, including a duet with Lee Ann Womack, and McCollum’s advice for aspiring songwriters: "There's only one you... lean into that as hard as you can." A funny and personal episode.Let’s go Off the Record with Parker McCollum. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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  Off The Record - An American Songwriter Podcast

  Alex Warren: WILDCHILD, Grief and Fatherhood

  Sep 9, 202649 min

  This week on Off the Record, Editor-in-Chief Lisa Konicki talks with Alex Warren, calling in from his tour in Australia, about his new album WILDCHILD. Alex discusses his journey from homelessness and a viral internet moment to chart-topping success, and explains why he built this record as, in his words, "a tutorial on how to feel" —each track built around a different stage, from grief to falling in love. In this episode, you will hear the stories behind the album cuts, including "Cry Wolf," written the day he set boundaries with toxic people in his life, and "Same Stars," inspired by the aching feeling of loss. Warren also dives into the meaning behind the album's title, a nickname from his late father, and the closing track, which features his dad's voice alongside a guitar solo from John Mayer. Off the Record explores Alex's songwriting process, his collaborators, and his hopes for fatherhood—all grounded in his core mission: "I write music that helps people get through the loss of their parents, a breakup, and falling in love." Tune in for a down-to-earth conversation about turning pain into music. Let’s go Off the Record with Alex Warren.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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  Off The Record - An American Songwriter Podcast

  Little Big Town: Authenticity, Staying Together and Their Rawest Album Yet

  Sep 2, 20261 hour

  On this episode of Off the Record, host Lisa Konicki sits down with Little Big Town — Karen Fairchild, Kimberly Schlapman, Phillip Sweet, and Jimi Westbrook — for a wide-ranging conversation that includes personal catch-up and real talk about their music.Listeners get a glimpse into the band's off-stage life: Kimberly's skincare finds, updates on their now-teenage kids, and a fun game of "most likely to" that unveils members' quirks (Sweet, unsurprisingly, wins nearly every category).The heart of the episode is a look at their new album, It's a Dying Art, produced with Gena Johnson. The band walks through the writing and recording process for songs like "Crickets," "Jet Plane," and "Hey There Sunshine," describing a choice to embrace rawness over polish. Fairchild explains that the goal was to preserve something machines can't replicate, saying, "you still can't replace the humanity that happens when harmonies are sung imperfectly."Finally, listeners hear the band's feelings about AI's growing role in music. While they use it for practical things like homework help, they're wary of what it means for songwriting and authenticity — Schlapmam sums it up simply: "It has no soul." The episode closes with a look back at career highlights like "Girl Crush" and Harry Styles' cover, plus advice for aspiring songwriters, with Jimi's takeaway: "just keep writing."Let’s go Off the Record with Little Big Town. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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  Off The Record - An American Songwriter Podcast

  Carter Faith: Billy Bob Thornton, Cherry Valley Forever and Her Netflix Debut

  Aug 26, 202657 min

  In this episode of Off the Record, host Lisa Konicki catches up with Carter Faith about her whirlwind year since Cherry Valley dropped — from nonstop touring to her first ACM nomination for Album of the Year. Faith opens up about online criticism, and the contrast between her soft-spoken demeanor and sharp-edged songwriting, plus her experience opening for Post Malone on his stadium tour.The conversation then dives into Cherry Valley Forever, the deluxe edition's five new songs, as Faith shares the stories behind "Dead Horse," "If A Man's From Texas," "Ain't Over Me Yet," her duet with Wyatt Flores ("Nothin' Better to Do"), and her collaboration with Laci Kaye Booth and Baby Nova ("Pearl Handled Pistol"). She also revisits "Bar Star" and her unlikely friendship with Billy Bob Thornton.Listeners also get a preview of Faith's acting debut in Netflix's Heartland alongside Jessica Chastain, a playful "song bracket" game ranking 2010s country hits, and her thoughts on songwriting. The episode wraps with a lighthearted, unscripted riff about opening a "Safe Space" bar for women in Nashville, capping off a funny, candid look at Faith's fast-rising career.Let’s go Off the Record with Carter Faith Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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