Today’s guest is more than a hitmaker — she’s a creative force who has shaped the sound of a generation. From penning chart-toppers like “Thank U, Next” (Ariana Grande), “High Hopes” (Panic! at the Disco), and “Love Lies” (Khalid & Normani) to building her own label, publishing company, and artist career, her story is a masterclass in reinvention, resilience, and longevity.

And the writer is… Tayla Parx!

In this episode, Tayla sits down with Ross to unpack how she’s navigated more than a decade at the top of the music industry — from her start in Hairspray to writing with Babyface, to becoming one of the few Black women with a #1 country song. She opens up about:

• Surviving the pressures of back-to-back sessions and industry burnout
• Turning setbacks into fuel for her artistry and business ventures
• Why branding yourself as a songwriter matters as much as the songs
• The art of staying relevant without chasing trends
• How to keep building a catalog that pays you for decades to come

For every songwriter, artist, or creative grinding to build a career that lasts — this is the blueprint.

🎧 Listen now and learn how Tayla Parx keeps writing hits… again and again.

Chapters

0:00 Teaser – Why Longevity Matters in Music

1:37 Intro: And The Writer Is… Tayla Parx!

8:33 From Dallas Kid to Hairspray & Nickelodeon Star

12:49 Finding Songwriting & Learning From Babyface

14:07 Leaving Acting Behind to Chase Music Full-Time

24:53 The Warner Chappell Era: Building a Writer Community

27:15 Breakthrough Hits: “Thank U, Next” & “High Hopes”

31:38 NMPA Ad – Fighting for Songwriter Rights

32:45 Inside the Story of “Thank U, Next”

39:37 How to Build a Catalog That Pays for Decades

40:55 “Love Lies” & Crossing Genres as a Hitmaker

50:34 Advocating for Women, Black Creatives & LGBTQ+ Voices

52:00 Why Tayla Still Releases Her Own Music

53:20 From Bieber to John Legend to Country #1

55:32 Exploring Jazz, R&B, and Children’s Music

59:34 Song Splits, Collaboration & Session Dynamics

1:03:41 Why Collaboration Matters (and When to Write Alone)

1:11:38 The Secret to Longevity & Reinvention

1:16:25 Closing Reflections & Legacy

And The Writer Is… is presented by The National Music Publishers’ Association (NMPA) — advocating for songwriters, music publishers, and their essential rights.

Learn more at NMPA.org

Hosted by Ross Golan

Executive Produced by Joe London and Jad Saad

Watercolor by Michael White

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today’s guest is nothing short of a phenomenon.

With roots in Iceland and China, raised in a family of classical musicians, she grew up between symphony halls and jazz records — and has now become the defining voice of her generation.

Her music is a breathtaking blend of timeless jazz, classical elegance, and modern storytelling that has captivated millions around the world. From posting standards online during college to headlining the Hollywood Bowl, she’s built a movement — proving that jazz not only lives, but thrives in the hands of a new generation.

Her Grammy-winning sophomore album, Bewitched, cemented her as an international force. And now with her brand-new release, A Matter of Time, she dives deeper into emotional vulnerability and sonic ambition — pushing jazz, classical, and folk influences into a sound that feels both cinematic and intimate.

Named one of Time’s Women of the Year, celebrated by critics and adored by fans, she is redefining what it means to be an artist in the modern age.

And The Writer Is… Laufey!

And The Writer Is… is hosted by Ross Golan and executive produced by Joe London and Jad Saad.

As always, we’d like to thank our friends at the National Music Publishers’ Association. The NMPA is dedicated to protecting the rights of songwriters and music publishers, ensuring that the creators behind the songs we love are fairly represented and compensated. We’re grateful for their continued support of this show and our community of writers.

Learn more at NMPA.org

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today’s guest began on YouTube — a teenager posting bedroom covers to a handful of viewers.

Now, his songs have been streamed billions of times across the globe.

He’s headlined sold-out arenas on multiple continents, become a global fashion force, and built one of the most devoted fanbases of his generation.

He’s collaborated with legends like Max Martin, while never losing the raw honesty that made his music essential in the first place.

He’s not just a rising star — he’s already one of pop’s defining voices.

And with his new album, he proves that even at the biggest scale, vulnerability is still his superpower.

And the writer is… Conan Gray!

Follow us on socials! @andthewriteris

Thank you to NMPA for sponsoring this season, and fighting for songwriters as well as this podcast.

00:00 – This Is Conan Gray (teaser)

01:00 – Singing Disney With Ross 🎶

02:00 – From Bedroom Dreams to Billions

02:59 – Growing Up Lonely, Writing to Survive

04:45 – The Music Video That Rewired His Brain

06:30 – When Adele Proved Bedroom Songs Were Possible

07:30 – Uploading at Age 9 (Before He Knew the Internet)

14:15 – “Nothing Sounded Like Me”

15:45 – Panic Attacks → Falling in Love With Touring

21:15 – Dropping Out & Betting Everything on Music

23:20 – The Moment His Sister Realized He Was Famous

24:30 – Turning Heartbreak Into Healing on Stage

26:00 – The Nightmare of Empty Venues

28:30 – Dan Nigro: The Producer Who Changed Everything

30:15 – Why Conan Refuses to Believe He’s ‘Made It’

33:22 – Ad Break – Support Songwriters (NMPA)

34:00 – ‘Maniac’: The Shower Song That Hit a Billion 🚿

35:45 – Heather: The Song Everyone Slept On… Until They Didn’t

40:32 – Found Heaven: His Public Bootcamp

43:23 – Max Martin’s Biggest Lesson (That Changed His Writing)

47:00 – Rediscovering Himself on Wishbone

50:05 – The Falsetto High Note That Almost Broke Him

52:07 – Cornell: The Song Too Honest to Ignore

53:00 – Why Radical Honesty Is His Only Rule

55:00 – Why His Art Isn’t Just Music

56:00 – The Three Songs That Define His New Era

01:03:15 – What He’d Tell 12-Year-Old Conan

01:07:00 – Ross: “You Wrote a Song I Wish Was Mine”

Hosted by Ross Golan

Executive Produced by Joe London and Jad Saad

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.