Sodajerker On Songwriting

Teenage Fanclub's Norman Blake and Raymond McGinley join Sodajerker to discuss the band's new record Do Not Dare To Dream and the working methods that have kept the songs coming for more than three decades. The guys explain why nobody in the band second-guesses anyone else's idea and how a keyboard found in a studio cupboard can end up defining a record. They also talk about capturing fragments on their phones, booking the studio to set a deadline, and the discipline of calling a record finished and moving on to the next one.

This bonus episode of the podcast was recorded live on 4 September 2026 as part of the Sodajerker Songwriting Lab at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire. Our special guests were two-time Ivor Novello winner Sacha Skarbek (Adele, James Blunt, Miley Cyrus) and songwriter, producer and session musician Ben Parker (Paolo Nutini, Paul Weller, Sons of Town Hall). Together, they are co-founders of the Skarbek Songwriting Academy.
Before an audience of 15 writers about to co-write together for the first time, Sacha and Ben talked about their approach to songwriting, the challenges of working in the music business, and what it takes to collaborate at the highest level.
If you'd like to come to a future Sodajerker songwriting workshop, join our mailing list or get in touch through the website.

Chaka Khan joins Simon and Brian to discuss her new album Chakzilla, a dance-pop record co-written with Sia and Greg Kurstin, and named after the Godzilla films she grew up loving. Chaka also looks back on classic hits like 'I'm Every Woman' and 'Through the Fire', writing poetry for Rufus and Prince, receiving 'Ain't Nobody' fully formed from David "Hawk" Wolinski, and lying at Anthony Jackson's feet to study his bass playing.

Brandon Flowers of The Killers joins Sodajerker to discuss his new solo album Thrasher, a country record cut live at Nashville's RCA Studio A. Brandon explains how the album returns him to the music his father raised him on, and the lessons that still underpin his fighting spirit today. He also discusses how U2 informed 'Mr. Brightside', what he learned about pre-choruses from Oasis, and writing on the piano Elton John sent to his house.

On Friday 4 September 2026 we're running the first Sodajerker Songwriting Lab at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, with acclaimed songwriters Sacha Skarbek and Ben Parker of the Skarbek Songwriting Academy. The workshop will feature a live Sodajerker interview with our guests, then a day of writing in small groups with guidance and feedback from Sacha and Ben. Places are limited, so have a listen to the announcement and decide whether you'd like to join us!
To enrol for the Sodajerker Songwriting Lab visit https://sodajerker.com/lab