The Sound of Success with Nic Harcourt Spark Network

Singer, songwriter and composer Natalie Merchant got her start when she joined the band 10,000 Maniacs in 1981 at age 17, becoming the lead vocalist and primary lyricist for the group. She made seven albums with the band before setting out on a solo career and in 1995; her debut album 'Tigerlilly' was an immediate success with singles 'Carnival', 'Wonder' and 'Jealousy' helping the album sell over 5 million copies. She has since released nine studio albums as a solo artist exploring a diverse range of musical styles. At the time of our conversation, her most recent album is 'Keep Your Courage'.

Liverpool born, Manhattan based broadcaster, podcaster, and filmmaker Roger Bennett hosts multiple podcasts and TV shows focussing on soccer/football through his Men in Blazers Media Network. He’s also a published author releasing his memoir 'Reborn in the USA: An Englishman's Love Letter to his Chosen Home' in 2021; which debuted at #1 on The New York Times Bestseller List.

Lyle Lovett began performing by playing acoustic sets at bars just off of the Texas A&M University campus, while studying for bachelor degrees in German and Journalism. His career has been typically associated with country music and he’s won four Grammys, including awards for Best Male Country Vocal Performance and Best Country Album. He’s also incorporated gospel, blues, jazz and swing into his body of work and acted in television and film; most notably in four movies for the late director, Robert Altman.

This week's guest is songwriter, producer, (and let’s just say it) rockstar, Noel Gallager. Noel was the main songwriter, lead guitarist and co-lead vocalist of the band Oasis (the most popular and successful UK band of the 90's) from 1991 until their split in 2009. He has written nine UK number-one singles and ten UK number-one studio albums. After leaving Oasis, he formed Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds, who have put out four albums; the most recent 'Council Skies' was released June 2, 2023 (two weeks before this conversation was recorded). He is widely considered to be one of the most influential songwriters in the history of British rock music. Nic caught up with Noel on his US tour backstage at the Greek theater in Los Angeles

John Gourley is the lead singer and rhythm guitarist of the band Portugal. The Man, a group who after five independently released albums and another three on Atlantic Records, found crossover success around the world with their 2017 album ‘Woodstock’ and it's hit song "Feel It Still” which scored the group a Grammy for Best Pop Duo/Group performance in 2018. Like many in the creative community the band’s career was put into neutral during the pandemic, but they are back on the road this summer (2023) with a new album 'Chris Black Changed My Life'.

Lucinda Williams is one of the most celebrated singer-songwriters of her generation. Her first two albums 'Ramblin' on My Mind' and 'Happy Woman Blues', recorded in 1979 and 1980 respectively, received critical acclaim. Her 1988 self titled release opened the doors to a career that has has seen her mix of Rock, Blues, Punk and Country Americana establish her own unique lane in the music business. Her 1988 release 'Car Wheels on a Gravel Road' earned her a Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Folk Album; the follow-up, 'Essence' released in 2001, hit the Billboard 200, peaking at No. 28, and garnered three Grammy nominations, winning the award for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance for the single "Get Right with God”. Other albums include 'Blessed', 'The Ghost Of Highway 20', 'Good Souls', 'Better Angels’ and at the time of our conversation she was readying the release of her 16th studio album, 'Stories from a Rock n Roll Heart’. Lucinda recently published her first book, a memoir, 'Don’t Tell Anybody the Secrets I Told You’.