The Sonical.ly Podcast

Elmo Chong
  • 0.0 (0)
  • Music Interviews
  • Updated Biweekly

A podcast where music creators educate music creators.

  1. 3d ago

    We Gave MGK's Producer 10 Minutes to Make a Beat

    What happens when you give a producer who’s worked with MGK, TXT, Willow and more just 10 MINUTES to make a beat from a mystery sample? 👀🔥 We put No Love for the Middle Child to the test. But before the clock starts, No Love takes us inside the creative journey that took him from playing cello and making beats on Logic 9 to producing, writing and performing alongside some of the biggest artists in music. He reveals how meeting Mod Sun eventually led him into MGK’s circle, why their creative relationship turned into a genuine friendship, and breaks down the production choices behind MGK’s “Cliché” — including why one tiny idea became a huge moment when they started performing the song live. We also get into: 🎸 How No Love went from classical cello and jazz piano to producing hip-hop 🇰🇷 The crazy story behind writing for TXT’s “0X1=LOVESONG” — and finding out after the fact that multiple writers had been competing on the same track 🎛️ Why “less is more” when producing — and why finding the right sounds can be more powerful than creating a wall of sound 📱 Why young producers shouldn't obsess over the algorithm — because your social media page is also your résumé 🤖 Why he believes the rise of AI could actually create a resurgence in real musicianship and learning instruments ❤️ Why making more music isn't necessarily better — because one great song can change your life And then it's time for WHAT THE FLIP. No Love hears three mystery loops, chooses one, and gets exactly 10 minutes to turn it into a beat. No preparation.No second attempt.And midway through... THE COMPUTER CRASHES. 💀 He keeps going anyway. Afterward, he breaks down exactly how he flipped the sample, resampled and chopped it, built A and B sections, chose his drums and created space for an artist — giving you a look at how a professional producer makes creative decisions under pressure. 00:00 No Love’s Beat Challenge Goes WRONG 😱 00:12 How No Love Met MGK 01:26 How MOD SUN Connected Him With MGK 03:06 How MGK’s “Cliché” Was Produced 04:17 Why “Less Is More” in Production 05:02 The Story Behind TXT’s “0X1=LOVESONG” 06:34 From Classical Cello to Hip-Hop Producer 09:00 Moving to LA & Breaking Into the Industry 10:14 How Producers Get Studio Sessions 11:04 Why Your Social Media Is Your Resume 12:00 The Story Behind “Ash on the Floor” 12:52 Working on MGK’s Lost Americana 14:02 No Love’s Songwriting Process 15:57 Will AI Replace Musicians? 17:03 His Advice for Young Producers 18:23 10-Minute Beat Challenge 🔥 19:31 The Clock Starts ⏱️ 21:38 THE COMPUTER CRASHES 💀 22:40 The Finished Beat 23:25 Breaking Down the Beat 25:19 What’s Next for No Love? 🎧 Think you have a producer's ear? Prove it. Train your ears with Mix Master — the game that turns ear training into interactive mixing challenges. 👇 Download Mix Master:https://linktr.ee/mixmasterofficial Subscribe to Sonical.ly for more conversations where music creators educate music creators. #NoLoveForTheMiddleChild #MGK #MusicProduction #BeatMaking #Producer #MGKProducer #MusicProducer #Songwriting #TXT #KPop #HipHopProduction #Mixing #SonicallyPodcast #MixMaster

  2. Aug 28

    The Linda Lindas: Going Viral, Growing Up & Making ‘Gotta Get Out’

    How do four young artists develop their own voices while learning to create as one band? In this episode of the Sonical.ly Podcast, The Linda Lindas — Bela Salazar, Eloise Wong, Lucia de la Garza and Mila de la Garza — share how they grew from an unexpected young punk band into internationally touring artists, and take us inside the songwriting and music production behind their third album, Gotta Get Out. The Linda Lindas reveal how their creative process has evolved as they've grown as musicians and songwriters, why Gotta Get Out became their most collaborative album yet, and how they learned to trust each other's musical instincts. They also discuss the challenges of growing up inside the music industry while their friends followed more traditional paths through school and college. We revisit the story behind “Racist, Sexist Boy,” the experience with anti-Asian racism that inspired it, and how a song originally fueled by anger evolved into a source of community and hope. The band also discusses how they use their music and platform to speak about issues that matter to them. Then we dive into the music and lyrics behind Gotta Get Out, including “Burning Out,” “Blood on Our Hands,” and “Closer.” The band opens up about growing older, anxiety about the future, finding their identities as artists, and turning those experiences into songs. The Linda Lindas also reveal how their relationship with Paramore's Hayley Williams led to her contributing vocals and songwriting to “Closer,” and what they learned from creating together in the studio. On the music production and sound engineering side, the band explains why they wanted Gotta Get Out to preserve the raw energy of their original demos, how they recreated sounds they loved from those recordings, and why elements of the actual demos ultimately made it onto the finished album. Whether you're a songwriter, producer, musician, or independent artist, this conversation offers practical insights into artist development, music production, sound engineering, collaboration, and navigating the music industry while staying true to your creative instincts. In this episode: 🎸 How The Linda Lindas accidentally became a band ✍️ How four songwriters create music together 🌱 Growing up and developing their identities as artists 🔥 The story and impact of “Racist, Sexist Boy” 🎵 The songwriting and music production behind Gotta Get Out 😮‍💨 Growing up and the story behind “Burning Out” 🩸 The meaning behind “Blood on Our Hands” ⏳ Anxiety, adulthood and the themes behind “Closer” 🎤 Working with Hayley Williams of Paramore 🎚️ Preserving the raw energy of demos in the final production 💡 Advice for young artists navigating the music industry Hosted by Elmo Chong & G.NAFounder of Sonical.ly | Juno Award-winning Music ProducerMusic Creators Educating Music Creators.

  3. Aug 21

    Noah Hill (Parcels): The Breakup Behind His Debut Solo Album 'OK OK NOW'

    How do you find your own artistic identity after years inside a successful band? In this episode of the Sonical.ly Podcast, Noah Hill of Parcels shares the deeply personal journey behind his debut solo album Ok ok now, revealing how songs written across nearly a decade kept circling back to the same relationship, its ending, and the memories that remained. Noah opens up about stepping outside the collaborative world of Parcels, returning to the folk and acoustic music that first inspired him, and learning to trust the music that felt most authentic to him. He also breaks down the stories behind “Bye Baby” and “It’s All in My Head,” including the emotional experiences that shaped the lyrics. We also dive into Noah’s songwriting, music production, recording and mixing process—from writing on acoustic guitar and working in Logic Pro to mixing the entire album himself and learning how to maintain perspective after spending months inside the same songs. Whether you're a songwriter, producer, musician, or independent artist, this conversation offers practical insights into creativity, artist development, finding your own voice, and making music that feels genuinely yours. In this episode: 🎵 Growing up with music and discovering songwriting 🎸 Finding an artistic identity outside of Parcels ❤️ The relationship behind Ok ok now 🧠 The story behind “It’s All in My Head” 👋 Writing “Bye Baby” and learning to let go 🎚️ Producing, recording and mixing his own album 🎛️ EQ, compression, vocal production and learning to trust your ears 💡 Advice for the next generation of music creators Hosted by Elmo ChongFounder of Sonical.ly | Juno Award-winning Music ProducerMusic Creators Educating Music Creators.

  4. Jul 10

    Brooke Combe: Why I Walked Away From a Major Record Label

    🎙️ Brooke Combe opens up about the reality of the music industry, why she walked away from a major record label, and how finding her authentic voice changed everything. In this episode of the Sonical.ly Podcast, Brooke shares the creative journey behind her award-winning debut album Dancing At The Edge Of The World, the challenges of protecting your artistry, and why staying true to yourself matters more than chasing success. We also dive into: 🎵 Growing up in Scotland and discovering soul music🎤 Writing her very first song, "Are You With Me" 💔 The inspiration behind "How Can I Tell You? (To Love Me More)" and "Guilt" 🎚️ Recording with a live band and embracing analogue production 🎙️ What really happened inside major label songwriting sessions 🎧 Why limitations can actually make you more creative 🎼 The importance of finding your own sound ‍ 🎮 Brooke takes on the Off The Topline Songwriting Challenge and creates a brand-new topline in just 3 minutes! Whether you're a songwriter, producer, artist, or simply love honest conversations about creativity, this episode is packed with insights that every music creator can learn from.

  5. May 18

    Natalie Layne on Turning Brokenness Into “All Joy”

    In this episode of the Sonical.ly Podcast, Natalie Layne joins us to talk about songwriting, faith, creativity, and her new album All Joy. Interview by Elmo Chong We dive into: How Natalie developed her sound blending pop, worship, jazz & soul The emotional story behind All Joy Building an audience through TikTok and social media Why joy and vulnerability can coexist Her songwriting and production process Creativity, burnout, faith, and staying groundedAdvice for aspiring music creators Natalie also opens up about the deeper meaning behind her music and how she’s learned to create from a place of honesty instead of pressure.If you're a songwriter, artist, producer, or creative trying to stay inspired, this episode is packed with wisdom. 🎧 Listen now and subscribe for more conversations where music creators educate music creators. 0:00 Natalie Layne on the Bible Verse She “Hated” at First0:14 Introducing Natalie Layne & the Story Behind All Joy 1:02 Growing Up in a Family of Musicians & Worship Leaders2:46 From Classical Piano to Jazz Improvisation4:59 Natalie’s First “Aha” Moment Creating Music5:31 Writing Her First Songs Using Scripture7:07 Why Natalie Chose Faith-Based Music Over Mainstream Themes9:23 The Hardest Parts of Building a Music Career in Nashville12:39 Leaning on Faith Through Doubt, Burnout & Pressure13:56 How TikTok Changed Natalie Layne’s Career15:06 Letting Fans Help Write Her Songs Online17:55 The Meaning Behind the Album All Joy19:18 “Joy Is Not a Fruit of Ourselves”21:00 The Bible Verse That Inspired the Title Track All Joy21:50 “Count It Joy” — The Scripture Natalie Struggled With Most23:09 Fans Telling Natalie Her Music Helped Them Find Joy Again24:21 The Emotional Story Behind “Fragile”26:30 The Small Moment That Inspired “Amen”28:57 Natalie Layne Opens Up About Being a “Church Kid”30:03 Why Church Kids Have Powerful Testimonies Too32:25 The Youth Conference That Changed Natalie’s Life Forever35:25 Natalie Layne’s Dream for the Impact of Her Music37:24 Natalie’s Honest Thoughts on AI Music & Fake AI Songs38:28 Hearing AI Songs Made With Her Voice39:32 “Human-Made Music” vs AI-Generated Music41:20 Advice for Aspiring Artists & Songwriters43:00 What’s Next for Natalie Layne? #NatalieLayne #christianmusic #songwriter #musicpodcast #musiccreators #songwriting #nashvillemusic #indieartist #popmusic #worshipmusic

  6. May 1

    From The Boroughs to F**k Boys — Jena Malone Tells All

    Jena Malone joins the Sonical.ly Podcast for a deeply honest conversation about creativity, love, and identity. Interview by Elmo Chong Co-edited by Carter KimKnown for her roles in films like Donnie Darko and The Hunger Games, Jena is now stepping into a new chapter with her upcoming Netflix series The Boroughs (from the Duffer Brothers) and her new album Flowers for Men.In this episode, we go beyond acting and into her world as a songwriter — unpacking how she writes, what inspires her lyrics, and how life experiences shape her music.We also get real about relationships, and how those experiences influenced her songwriting.🔑 What you’ll learn:• How Jena Malone writes deeply personal lyrics• The meaning behind her new album Flowers for Men• Why she started questioning traditional ideas of love and relationships• The emotional realities behind modern dating• How acting and music influence each other in her creative process• What it takes to stay authentic as an artist🎧 Listen if you’re:• A songwriter or artist• Navigating relationships and self-discovery• Interested in the creative process behind music and film• Trying to find your authentic voice

  7. Feb 27

    Riley Clemmons: Honest Confessions from a Christian Pop Voice

    Interview by Elmo ChongOn this episode of the Sonical.ly Podcast, Riley Clemmons opens up about doubt, grief, and the practice of making honest music. We discuss the origin of Broken Prayers, the empathy behind Jesus Cries, the process of building Church Pew in two months with Jeff Pardo & Blessing Offor, and the essential artist advice Riley lives by: “your art is part of you — not all of you.” If you’re a music creator or someone wrestling with faith and creativity, this conversation is for you.0:00 – 1:04 — Opening + TeaserQuick emotional hook: Riley’s moment of questioning faith → show teaser soundbite to hook listeners.1:04 – 3:02 — Welcome & Musical UpbringingIntro, where Riley describes growing up in a music-filled home in Nashville and early influences.3:02 – 5:22 — Finding the ProcessHow she discovered songwriting, combining writing + music, “sponging” in studios, long learning curve.5:22 – 9:01 — Biggest Challenges: Comparison & PressureTalking about signing young, the pressure to repeat success, social media comparison, and staying present.9:01 – 11:01 — Getting Unstuck: Practical TipsWhat she does when blocked — scales, journaling, community, “fill your tank” advice.11:23 – 14:08 — “Broken Prayers” — Origin & VulnerabilityStory behind the breakthrough single, wrestling with faith at 18, invitation to the broken.14:15 – 16:33 — Industry Tradeoffs & Staying TrueThe tension: Christian music as an industry vs. ministry voice; learning to choose honesty over chasing trends.16:59 – 19:13 — Songwriting Growth & ConfidenceHow her process matured (titles, confidence to say yes/no in the room).19:20 – 22:20 — “Jesus Cries” — Empathy of JesusInspiration for the song, John 11:35, grief, and the image of a weeping Savior.22:26 – 25:07 — “Let Them Run Like a River” — Grief & SurrenderOn surrender, grieving, questioning faith, and how emotional release fuels art.26:00 – 27:44 — Fan Impact StoriesPowerful listener responses (e.g., school-shooting story) and why those moments matter.27:50 – 31:07 — “Church Pew” — Concept & Radical WelcomeWhy telling faith through a pew is powerful; the memoir-like, everyday holiness message.31:16 – 35:54 — “Faith Runs Deep” — Sonic Choices & ProductionHow title + collaborators (Jeff Pardo, Blessing Offor) shaped its Motown/gospel feel and production decisions.36:00 – 37:14 — Advice for Aspiring SongwritersCore advice: “Your art is a part of you, not all of you.” Practical, identity-centered guidance.37:22 – 38:17 — What’s Next / Tour & New ProjectRiley teases an upcoming thematic project and tour details.38:28 – 38:42 — Closing / OutroThanks, final encouragement, CTA.

  8. Feb 27

    Em Beihold - Inside Tales of a Failed Shapeshifter

    Em Beihold joins the Sonical.ly Podcast to break down the mindset and craft behind Tales of a Failed Shapeshifter — and why honest music connects deeper than perfect music.This episode is a masterclass in relatable songwriting, emotional clarity, and creative psychology.🧠 What you’ll learn• How to turn overthinking into songwriting ideas• Why humor makes emotional songs hit harder• The difference between clever lyrics vs. honest lyrics• How “Hot Goblin” and vulnerable songs build fan connection• Why artists shouldn’t tie their self-worth to their art• How to write songs people feel seen by• Why imperfection creates better music than polish• The mental framework behind her creative process• How albums like Tales of a Failed Shapeshifter are conceptually built• The real reason relatable artists build stronger communitiesWhether you’re a songwriter, producer, or music fan — this conversation shows how authenticity outperforms perfection.

See All (50)

About

A podcast where music creators educate music creators.

Information

  • Creator
    Elmo Chong
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    50
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Elmo Chong
  • Show Website
    The Sonical.ly Podcast