An article in the May 2014 issue of Esquire magazine entitled ‘The Magic Ingredient: Is There a Recipe for Writing a Hit Song?’ features contributions from Sodajerker’s own Simon Barber alongside illustrious songwriters like Don Black, Neil Tennant, Brett Anderson and Guy Garvey. The highlight of course has to be the illustrations, which include a sketch of Simon replete with beard. Thanks to author Andrew Harrison for including us, and be sure to pick up a copy (Alex Turner of the Arctic Monkeys is on the cover).
UPDATE: the article has now been made available on esquire.co.uk.
Lyricist and songwriter Chris Difford, known for his work in Squeeze, talks about the writing of such classic songs as ‘Cool for Cats’, ‘Up the Junction’, ‘Pulling Mussels (From the Shell)’, ‘Tempted’, ‘King George Street’, ‘Hourglass’, ‘Some Fantastic Place’ and more. In addition to describing his 40+ year songwriting partnership with Glenn Tilbrook, Chris also talks about some of the songs from solo albums like Cashmere if You Can, and his collaborations with a number of other artists.
Download this episode Subscribe in iTunes Listen to Spotify playlist© 2014 Sodajerker. Some rights reserved.
Glenn Tilbrook, lead singer and guitarist for Squeeze, talks about the writing of such classic songs as ‘Cool for Cats’, ‘Up the Junction’, ‘Pulling Mussels (From the Shell)’, ‘Another Nail in my Heart’, ‘Tempted’, ‘Hourglass’, ‘Some Fantastic Place’ and more. In addition to describing his 40+ year songwriting partnership with Chris Difford, Glenn also talks about some of the songs from his new album Happy Ending.
Download this episode Subscribe in iTunes Listen to Spotify playlist© 2014 Sodajerker. Some rights reserved.
Singer-songwriter Rufus Wainwright talks about the writing processes behind such songs as ‘Cigarettes and Chocolate Milk’, ‘The Art Teacher’, ‘Zebulon’, ‘Out of the Game’, ‘Montauk’, ‘Swings Both Ways’, ‘Me and Liza’ and much more. In addition to describing his collaborations with people like Guy Chambers, Robbie Williams and Mark Ronson, Rufus also provides details about his new album Vibrate: The Best of Rufus Wainwright.
Download this episode Subscribe in iTunes Listen to Spotify playlist© 2014 Sodajerker. Some rights reserved.
Singer-songwriter Paddy McAloon of Prefab Sprout joins Simon and Brian for a chat about his latest release Crimson/Red. Paddy talks about the writing of songs like ‘The Best Jewel Thief in the World’, ‘Billy’, Devil Came A Calling’ and ‘The Songs of Danny Galway’ before moving on to classic Prefab Sprout songs like ‘Faron Young’, When Love Breaks Down’, The King of Rock ‘N’ Roll’, ‘Hey Manhattan’ and more. Paddy also discusses songs that he contributed to the Jimmy Nail television show Crocodile Shoes.
Download this episode Subscribe in iTunes Listen to Spotify playlist© 2014 Sodajerker. Some rights reserved.
Singer-songwriter and activist Billy Bragg shares his thoughts on the songwriting process and details the writing of songs like ‘A New England’, ‘The Milkman of Human Kindness’, Greetings to the New Brunette’, ‘Levi Stubbs’ Tears’, ‘Sexuality’, ‘Tank Park Salute’ and ‘Never Buy The Sun’. Billy also talks in detail about his guitar playing and songs from his most recent album, Tooth & Nail.
Download this episode Subscribe in iTunes Listen to Spotify playlist© 2014 Sodajerker. Some rights reserved.
Songwriter, composer, arranger and producer Van Dyke Parks chats with Simon and Brian about the writing processes behind his recent album Songs Cycled, as well as pieces like ‘High Coin’, ‘Hominy Grove’, ‘Tokyo Rose’, ‘Trade War’ and ‘Orange Crate Art’. Van Dyke also gives insight into his seminal work with The Beach Boys on SMiLE-era compositions like ‘Heroes and Villains’, ‘Surf’s Up’ and later collaborations such as ‘Sail On, Sailor’.
Download this episode Subscribe in iTunes Listen to Spotify playlist© 2014 Sodajerker. Some rights reserved.
Esquire have published a list of 21 essential podcasts to listen to over the Christmas period. We are thrilled to be included alongside podcasting giants such as Real Time with Bill Maher, Le Show with Harry Shearer, Kermode and Mayo’s Film Review, The Nerdist and WTF with Marc Maron.
Click the image to read what they had to say about our show, Sodajerker On Songwriting. If you’d like to check out the full article, it is available on the App Store and Newsstand for iOS.
UPDATE: The article has now been published in full on the Esquire website.
Special thanks to our listeners for supporting us in 2013 and for making things like this possible. We have some great stuff planned for you in 2014.
Happy holidays to all, Simon & Brian
Songwriter and producer Nick Lowe, whose credits over more than four decades include hit songs like ‘(What’s So Funny ‘Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding’, ‘Cruel to be Kind’ and ‘I Love the Sound of Breaking Glass’, joins Simon and Brian for a special 50th episode about the writing of those beloved classics and more. Nick also discusses his Christmas album, Quality Street, which includes original songs like ‘Christmas at the Airport’ and ‘I Was Born in Bethlehem’.
Download this episode Subscribe in iTunes Listen to Spotify playlist© 2013 Sodajerker. Some rights reserved.
Suzanne Vega illustrates her approach to songwriting by talking about the processes behind songs like ‘Marlene On The Wall’, ‘Tom’s Diner’, ‘Luka’, ‘Men In A War’, ‘Book of Dreams’ and ‘In Liverpool’. Suzanne also discusses her early history as a dancer and musician, attending the Greenwich Village Songwriter’s Exchange, the thinking behind the recent Close-Up series of releases, and her plans for a new album of original material.
Download this episode Subscribe in iTunes Listen to Spotify playlist© 2013 Sodajerker. Some rights reserved.
In addition to recent mentions in fictional works like Nicholson Baker’s Traveling Sprinkler, and non-fiction books like Rich Podolsky’s profile of Neil Sedaka’s rollercoaster career, Neil Sedaka: Rock N’ Roll Survivor – The Inside Story of his Incredible Comeback, we have more great news to share regarding authors who have used the Sodajerker podcast as a source for their writing.
Much to our delight, our interview with Deaf School’s Clive Langer and Steve Allen is referenced in Paul Du Noyer’s terrific new biography of the band, Deaf School: The Non-Stop Pop Art Punk Rock Party. The first full-length biography of the band, this book provides an in-depth look at one of Liverpool’s most interesting and influential, yet rarely appreciated, treasures. You can pick up a copy of the book at Amazon UK or directly from the band’s website.
Du Noyer, who was, in fact, the person who helped us to arrange our Deaf School interview in the first place (!), is a Liverpool-born journalist and author who you may recognise as the writer of Liverpool: Wondrous Place, probably the definitive account of the Liverpool music scene, which is also available on Amazon.
Read more
Singer-songwriter Rickie Lee Jones chats with Simon and Brian about the writing of songs like ‘Chuck E’s in Love’, ‘The Last Chance Texaco’, ‘Coolsville’, ‘Weasel and the White Boys Cool’, ‘Skeletons’ and ‘The Evening of My Best Day’. Rickie talks in detail about her approach to constructing lyrical flow, her recent covers album The Devil You Know, and her plans for a new album of original material.
Download this episode Subscribe in iTunes Listen to Spotify playlist© 2013 Sodajerker. Some rights reserved.
To support the podcast and help us keep it free from adverts, click the button below:
Episode 300 – Self EsteemOctober 20, 2025
Episode 299 – Labi SiffreOctober 12, 2025
Episode 298 – Mike ViolaOctober 4, 2025
RSS (ALL POSTS) 
