Off The Record - An American Songwriter Podcast

American Songwriter
  • 5.0 (3)
  • PERFORMING ARTS
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

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.

Episodes

  1. Evan Rachel Wood: Going Solo, Musical Awakenings and Becoming Lenore Pink (Episode 7)

    FEB 4

    Evan Rachel Wood: Going Solo, Musical Awakenings and Becoming Lenore Pink (Episode 7)

    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.'Off the Record' continues its first season with a powerful new episode. In Episode 7, available now, Konicki sits down with actress Evan Rachel Wood for an indepth musical conversation—covering her new 3-song EP under the pseudonym Lenore Pink, the personal side of her artistry that goes beyond her iconic on-screen, and how Linda Perry had a hand in catapulting Wood’s foray into music.In this intimate conversation, Wood opens up about her long relationship with music and why now finally felt like the right moment to release her first solo EP. She traces her musical roots from musical theater and lifelong singing to years of self-doubt, perfectionism, and protecting music as a sacred refuge.Across the episode, Wood reflects on pivotal moments that shaped the EP’s three songs, including the origins of “Nest,” which began over a decade ago with Linda Perry, later blooming into a piano-driven recording with Mike Garson. Along the way, Wood shares stories about performing in duos, collaborating with artists like Adam Duritz, and why releasing music under an alias allowed her to let listeners meet the songs without preconceived ideas. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    51 min
  2. Molly Tuttle: Guitar Style, Grammys, and Finding Her Sound

    JAN 21

    Molly Tuttle: Guitar Style, Grammys, and Finding Her Sound

    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.Off the Record continues its first season with a powerful new episode. In Episode 6, available now, Konicki sits down with Molly Tuttle for a fun and deeply musical conversation—covering her latest Grammy nominations, what it felt like stepping from bluegrass into the wider world of Americana, and why performing on late-night TV still makes her nervous. Molly also looks back on her early years learning guitar by ear with her dad, the work ethic that shaped her, and the inner critic she’s still learning to quiet.A standout moment comes when Molly picks up her guitar and demonstrates the difference between flatpicking, crosspicking, and clawhammer, breaking it down in a way any listener can follow. From there, she opens up about the making of So Long Little Miss Sunshine—how the record evolved, her move beyond the Golden Highway era, and the personal meaning behind the album cover, and the album’s message of reinvention and self-acceptance. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    53 min
  3. Of Monsters and Men: Iceland, Songwriting, and the Stories Behind the Music

    JAN 7

    Of Monsters and Men: Iceland, Songwriting, and the Stories Behind the Music

    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. Off the Record continues its first season with a powerful new episode. In Episode 5, available now, Konicki sits down with Nanna Bryndis Hilmarsdóttir and Ragnar þórhallsson of Of Monsters and Men for an in-depth conversation about the band’s new album, All is Love and Pain in the Mouse Parade. In this introspective interview with Of Monsters and Men, we take a journey between Icelandic culture and the story behind their new album, All Is Love and Pain in the Mouse Parade. When host, Lisa Konicki, reveals that the band inspired her to book a Nashville-to-Iceland flight, Nanna and Ragnar share must-do local tips—chase south-coast waterfalls, and soak in the local pools and hot tubs where Icelanders famously “talk politics” (even if it’s all in Icelandic). The band unpacks the album title and the push-pull of love and pain that runs through the record. We also learn how the group formed from Nanna’s solo beginnings and how the pandemic break reshaped their lives—kids, cabins, and Nanna’s solo album How to Start a Garden. During the interview we learn the find out the literal origin of “Tuna in a Can,” the raw, live cabin recording of “The End,” Ragnar’s favorite part of performing “Styrofoam Cathedral” (he gets to scream), their blink-and-you’ll-miss-it Game of Thrones balcony cameo, and a final toast with Icelandic Reyka vodka to close it all out. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    59 min
  4. Kix Brooks and Briana Calhoun: Music, Redemption, and Second Chances (Episode 4)

    12/17/2025

    Kix Brooks and Briana Calhoun: Music, Redemption, and Second Chances (Episode 4)

    Season 1 Episode: In this episode of Off the Record, host Lisa Konicki sits down with Kix Brooks (Brooks & Dunn) and Briana Calhoun for a conversation about music, redemption, and their shared mission behind Hope on the Inside—a nonprofit dedicated to empowering incarcerated individuals. "We were in a bad situation and experienced a lot of trauma," Calhoun shares. "It was eggshells every second I was awake. And when I was 16 years old, the sheriff's daughter of my very small town of Farmerville, Louisiana—she was 26, I was 16. My mom thought it was perfectly safe to leave my 16-year-old with her, and she got me hooked on meth. And I hadn't even smoked pot yet at the time. And I knew it was bad, but at the time I didn't care because I'd just been so depressed and anxious for so long. The episode also explores the pair’s partnership, including the five years it took to write their song “One More Shot. "She sends me [the line] a six-pack just talked me into whiskey, and she said, 'Do you think that's a song idea?' Brooks says.  "I said, 'I think it may be. I kind of like that.' 'Would you write it with me?' she said.  I said, 'Let's see if we can make something rhyme.' So I think we finished it two or three months ago. The duo talks about the mission behind Hope on the Inside and what’s next for the organization. It's an honest conversation about redemption, music, and the power of hope. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    1h 5m
  5. LANY: Vulnerability, Reinvention & the Making of Soft (Episode 3)

    12/03/2025

    LANY: Vulnerability, Reinvention & the Making of Soft (Episode 3)

    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.Off the Record continues its first season with a powerful new episode. In Episode 3, available now, Editor-in-Chief Lisa Konicki sits down with Paul Klein, frontman of the platinum-selling band LANY, for an in-depth conversation about the band’s new album, Soft. Klein opens up about the personal journey behind the record—one that began with a life-altering car accident that reshaped his creative perspective. After the accident, Klein found himself rediscovering vulnerability and turning life’s challenging moments into his most compelling songwriting yet.“I think there's a lot of growth happening on the inside that was just somehow reflected in the songs coming out of me,” Klein says. “As I fought to get my softness back, I noticed that I was using better words, and I just felt like I had a deeper well to pull from. I just felt like the songs were more honest and beautiful and coming from a better place.”It’s honest. It’s raw. It’s everything fans love about Off the Record.Whether you're a longtime LANY listener or love hearing artists get real about their craft, this episode delivers a look behind the curtain. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    53 min
  6. Walker Hayes: Faith, Family & ‘17 Problems’ (Episode 2)

    11/21/2025

    Walker Hayes: Faith, Family & ‘17 Problems’ (Episode 2)

    In this one-hour conversation with host Lisa Konicki, Walker Hayes opens up about his deeply personal album, '17 Problems,' his grief over the loss of his father, his evolving faith, and discusses his songwriting practices and the challenges of raising six kids."My kids, they're so forgiving, and they're such fun companions in life," Hayes says. "They have a lot of mercy on me. They've seen alcoholic dad, they've seen atheist dad, they've seen workaholic dad. They've had a front-row seat to some real-life stuff."Hayes shares details about his marriage, family relationships, and collaborations, including an unexpected songwriting session with Hoda Kotb. "She's amazing," Hayes says of Kotb.  "And she really contributed. We had the first half of the verse, and we had the chorus when we went in [to the writer's room]."The interview reveals his authentic approach to music-making and his journey toward finding peace with life's imperfections while maintaining his faith.Let's go Off the Record. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    1h 6m
  7. Colbie Caillat: Reimagining Hits, Redefining Herself (Episode 1)

    11/04/2025

    Colbie Caillat: Reimagining Hits, Redefining Herself (Episode 1)

    In this intimate conversation with host Lisa Konicki, Colbie Caillat reflects on her musical journey —from why she wanted to reimagine her hit songs to being turned down by American Idol. “I was nervous, and I just didn't have the look,” Caillat says. “I didn't have any of the things. And so, 10 seconds in, they were like, ‘Next!’" Caillat also opens up about the moment she and a young Taylor Swift wrote “Breathe,” a collaboration that would earn them a GRAMMY. “She was so sweet,” Caillat says. “She brought me a gift. I was just so impressed at her confidence and her talent and her wisdom in general, but especially at that age. I was blown away.” The episode dives into Caillat’s experience recording This Time Around with friends Maren Morris, Walker Hayes, Gavin DeGraw, and Hillary Scottof Lady A, and how the Malibu, California native found herself in Nashville, Tennessee, and was drawn to country music. She also shares the one thing fans might be surprised to learn about her, giving listeners a glimpse into the woman behind the music. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    43 min
  • 7 Episodes

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

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.

Information