Steal This Song | Creative Songwriting & Production Podcast

Friedemann Findeisen (Holistic Songwriting)
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Every hit leaves clues. In Steal This Song, master songwriter and producer Friedemann Findeisen breaks down breakout hits to uncover the techniques that make them impossible to ignore. Lyrics, Chords, Melodies, Production. Each episode explores practical songwriting and production techniques you can adapt, remix, and “steal” for your own music — from unforgettable hooks and emotional contrast to arrangement, texture, momentum, and lyrical framing. Whether you’re an artist, producer, topliner, or obsessive music fan, Steal This Song helps you hear music differently — and gives you concrete tools to write songs people remember.

  1. Sep 16

    I Tried to Make a Video Game. Here's What Happened.

    Friedemann discusses his journey in creating his first video game, a tower defense game for musicians that uses ear training to fight enemies. He shares his fascination with game design, his experience with board game design, and his foray into learning programming for game development. Friedemann also reflects on the challenges and setbacks he faced in developing a music theory-based app and the lessons he learned from the experience. Friedemann shares his experience of creating a game using AI and programming, highlighting the challenges, learning experiences, and the role of AI in the game development process. Fill That Page (for news about Next Level Songwriter): https://www.holistic-songwriting.com/fill-that-page-download Takeaways Game design and music theory have a strong connection, and Friedemann's passion for both has influenced his creative projects.Learning programming and game development has been a challenging but rewarding experience for Friedemann, allowing him to bring his game ideas to life.The process of creating a game involves vision, simplification, playtesting, and refinement, which parallels the creative process in music and other artistic endeavors. Start with the core concept before focusing on aestheticsAI can assist in breaking down complex tasks and creating a planGame development involves unexpected challenges and tedious tasks

  2. Sep 9

    I’m Done Being Just a Songwriting Teacher

    What happens when the thing you’ve built your entire career around is no longer the thing you want to be known for? In this video, Friedemann talks about his transition from Holistic Songwriting toward a more personal creative brand—and the fear that comes with taking that next step. After years of teaching songwriting, building products, writing books, and creating all kinds of projects, he’s realizing that maybe the answer isn’t to narrow himself down, but to find the unique thread that connects everything he creates. He talks about the tension between building a recognizable personal brand and following your own curiosity, why it can be scary to put your own message at the center, and the process of figuring out what makes your creative voice truly yours. If you’re a creative person who struggles with finding your niche, choosing what to focus on, or giving yourself permission to explore different interests, this one is for you.

  3. Sep 2

    Thinking of shooting a music video? Watch this.

    Ever wondered what it really takes to shoot a music video? In this video, I take you behind the scenes of our latest music video production and share the entire journey—from planning and preparation to unexpected problems, changing constraints, and the chaos of the actual shoot. This was my biggest music video production yet, with a larger cast, choreography, a script, multiple locations, and a lot more planning than I'm used to. Things didn't always go according to plan—but that's exactly where the most interesting lessons came from. I'll talk about the challenges we faced, the problems we had to solve on the fly, and why having the right people involved can make all the difference. Watch the finished music video here: Watch the music video Key takeaways: • Adaptability and problem-solving are essential parts of the creative process. • The people you surround yourself with can make or break a project.

  4. Aug 26

    Holly Humberstone's Friendly Fire Took Me by Surprise

    What makes Holly Humberstone’s “Friendly Fire” such a compelling song? In this songwriting breakdown, Friedemann takes a deep dive into “Friendly Fire,” analyzing everything from the acoustic guitar intro and chord progression to the lyrics, vocal production, arrangement, and unexpected drum groove. The song starts out intimate and vulnerable, but its rhythmic choices introduce a surprising boldness that completely changes how the song feels. We’ll look at how Holly Humberstone uses groove, structure, harmony, and production to support the emotional story of the song — and why one particular drum choice works so well. Most importantly, we’ll pull out a stealable songwriting technique: experimenting with unexpected drum grooves to completely transform the feeling of a song. If you’re a songwriter, producer, or musician interested in songwriting analysis, drum grooves, song arrangement, music production, chord progressions, and writing more emotionally effective songs, there’s plenty to steal from this track. In this video: • Holly Humberstone – “Friendly Fire” song analysis • Acoustic guitar and intimate songwriting • Chord progression and harmony • Lyrics, vulnerability and personal struggle • Vocal production and arrangement • The unexpected drum groove • How rhythm can change the emotional impact of a song • Song structure and thematic development • A stealable technique for experimenting with drum grooves Want to master groove & arrangement?If you want to go deeper into groove, drums, arrangement, and rhythmic songwriting, check out my Puppet Master Groove Bundle: The Puppet Master Groove Bundle #HollyHumberstone #Songwriting #SongwritingTips

  5. Aug 19

    Why Do We Remember Certain Songs, And Not Others?

    Why do some songs get stuck in your head after just one listen — while others disappear from your memory almost instantly? In this video, we explore the psychology of memorable music and break down what actually makes a song memorable. Memorability isn’t random: there are specific psychological and songwriting principles you can use to make melodies, hooks, lyrics, and entire songs more memorable. We’ll look at four key ingredients of memorable music: attention, repetition, contrast, and emotional connection. You’ll learn why certain musical ideas grab our attention, how repetition makes songs stick, why contrast makes a musical moment stand out, and how getting the listener to participate can turn a good song into an unforgettable one. If you’re a songwriter, producer, musician, or music creator, this video will give you practical songwriting techniques for writing better hooks, melodies, choruses, and songs that people actually remember. What makes music memorable?• Attention – How to make the listener notice an idea • Repetition – Why repeated patterns get stuck in our heads • Contrast – How difference and surprise make moments stand out • Participation – Why listeners remember things they actively engage with • Emotional connection – How emotion strengthens musical memory #Songwriting #SongwritingTips #MusicTheory

  6. Aug 12

    MK.gee – Alesis: Why These Melodies Hit So Hard

    What makes a great song really great? In this songwriting breakdown, Friedemann analyzes a song he’s completely obsessed with — from its lyrics, melody, chords, and guitar playing to its drum groove, vocal performance, and arrangement. There’s a lot more going on here than meets the ear. We’ll break down how the song uses tension and release, rhythmic performance, vocal layering, chord progression, and melodic choices to create its emotional impact. And at the end, I’ll show you a stealable songwriting technique you can use in your own songs: how to reinterpret chords to create unexpected tension and satisfying resolution. If you’re interested in songwriting, music theory, song analysis, songwriting techniques, chord progressions, melody, harmony, lyrics, arrangement, or music production, this breakdown will give you plenty of ideas to steal for your own music. In this video: • Songwriting analysis: what makes the song work • Lyrics and storytelling • Melody and vocal performance • Chord progression and harmony • Guitar playing and rhythmic performance • Drum groove and rhythmic tension • Backing vocals and vocal arrangement • Song arrangement and structure • Tension & release in songwriting • A chord reinterpretation technique you can steal for your own songs #Songwriting #SongwritingTips #SongAnalysis #MusicProduction

  7. Aug 5

    BTS's Weird Song Structure (And Why It Works) | Steal This Song Ep 13

    BTS don't just write catchy songs—they build them with a strong sense of structure, energy, and surprise. In this video, Friedemann starts by sharing his experience of attending a BTS concert before diving deep into the songwriting behind one of their tracks. Together, we'll analyze the chord progression, synth textures, live bass arrangement, and the song's unusual melodic structure. We'll also explore how BTS use call and response in the chorus, why the arrangement keeps the energy moving, and how a completely new chord progression transforms the ending. Along the way, Friedemann uncovers a powerful songwriting technique he calls the "Second Verse Jump"—a concept that any songwriter can steal and use in their own music. 🎵 Want to level up your songwriting? Check out our courses and programs: https://www.holistic-songwriting.com/products

  8. Jul 29

    Half Moon Run is Criminally Underrated! | Steal This Song Ep 12

    Discover the hidden songwriting brilliance of Half Moon Run in this episode of the podcast as we dive deep into their song “You Can Let Go.” Often described as an underrated band, Half Moon Run combine incredible musicianship, unique arrangements, and emotional songwriting into a sound that feels both organic and meticulously crafted. We break down the song’s instrumentation, guitar parts, chord progressions, vocal rhythms, harmonic movement, and production choices to uncover what makes this track so compelling. From the intricate drum grooves to the unexpected structural decisions, “You Can Let Go” is a masterclass in creating tension, release, and musical depth. Whether you’re a songwriter, producer, or simply a fan of great music, this analysis offers a closer look at the creative decisions behind one of Half Moon Run’s most fascinating songs. In this episode, we explore: The songwriting and production techniques behind “You Can Let Go”Half Moon Run’s unique musical identity and instrumentationHow chord progressions create emotional movementThe role of vocal rhythm and melody in storytellingThe song’s structure, time signatures, and evolving arrangementThe band’s intricate drum grooves and linear drumming approach #HalfMoonRun #YouCanLetGo #Songwriting #MusicProduction #SongAnalysis

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About

Every hit leaves clues. In Steal This Song, master songwriter and producer Friedemann Findeisen breaks down breakout hits to uncover the techniques that make them impossible to ignore. Lyrics, Chords, Melodies, Production. Each episode explores practical songwriting and production techniques you can adapt, remix, and “steal” for your own music — from unforgettable hooks and emotional contrast to arrangement, texture, momentum, and lyrical framing. Whether you’re an artist, producer, topliner, or obsessive music fan, Steal This Song helps you hear music differently — and gives you concrete tools to write songs people remember.

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