Advertise on podcast: Sad Song Queens

What makes a sad song so powerful? On this episode of Sad Song Queens, music supervisors Laura Webb and Lindsay Wolfington sit down with singer-songwriter and hit songwriter Sasha Alex Sloan to dive deep into her emotionally resonant song “Older,” a deeply personal track about growing up, complicated family relationships, and realizing that our parents are human, flawed, and figuring life out just like the rest of us. Sasha Alex Sloan opens up about the childhood experiences and family dynamics that inspired the song, the healing power of songwriting, and how getting older has given her a newfound perspective, understanding, and grace. Sasha Alex Sloan shares the story behind her journey from posting songs on Reddit to signing a publishing deal at 19, moving to Los Angeles, and becoming an in-demand songwriter for some of the biggest names in music, including Olivia Rodrigo, Camila Cabello, Bruno Mars, Charli XCX, and more. She talks about writing for other artists versus releasing her own music, navigating the music industry, her viral hit “Dancing With Your Ghost,” and the inspiration behind her latest album, The Crowd Goes Mild. She tells us what a dream it was to write “What’s Wrong with Me” with Olivia Rodrigo and Daniel Nigro, and then to have Robert Smith of The Cure included on the track! Sasha Alex Sloan also gets candid about vulnerability, relationships, codependency, body image, and finding the courage to keep making music. Plus, we explore what makes a song truly sad, why major chords paired with heartbreaking lyrics can hit even harder, and the songs that have made Sasha Alex Sloan cry. From the emotional stories behind her songs to the unexpected moments that shape a songwriter's life, this conversation is a reminder that sometimes music says what we can't quite put into words.   If you love sad songs, thoughtful songwriting, and the stories behind the music that makes us feel everything, this episode is for you. Support the show To help support these artists’ as well as their favorite sad songs, please check out our Official Spotify Playlist!  Find us elsewhere:  https://linktr.ee/sadsongqueens If you like what you hear, you can buy us a coffee! Our theme song is "All My Favorite Songs" by Weezer, courtesy of Crush Music, Atlantic Recording Company, and WEA International Inc, a Warner Music Company. Our Sad Song Queen image was created by Keahu Kahuanui.  Check out our friends at The Songwriting School of Los Angeles!

In this truly unforgettable episode of Sad Song Queens, hosts Laura Webb and Lindsay Wolfington are beyond thrilled to sit down with Amy Ray and Emily Saliers of the legendary Indigo Girls. The conversation kicks off with a nostalgic dive into the true origins of the duo’s 1992 track "Love Will Come to You" (off their seminal Rites of Passage album) and expands to their unexpected global pop-culture resurgence when "Closer to Fine" soundtracked Greta Gerwig’s blockbuster Barbie movie - a synch they never expected that also introduced their song to a whole new generation.  Emily Saliers and Amy Ray reflect on their incredible four-decade long musical partnership, unique creative processes, the powerful storytelling that shaped a generation, the gorgeous mechanics of their stunning vocal harmonies, and why the Indigo Girls continue to be such a vital, unifying force in music today. Amy and Emily share lovely reflections on how they first met in high school, the organic way their distinct creative styles blend together, and the enduring bonds that have sustained their journey through every changing season of life.  The Indigo Girls share how the powerful sense of community at their live shows remains a vital anchor for both them and their fans. From their enduring commitment to grassroots activism, they open up generously about the causes closest to their hearts, while also swapping their all-time favorite sad songs and discussing the deep musical influences that have shaped their lives. Along with stories from their lifelong dedication to music and advocacy, the conversation naturally turns to the present day as they share candid updates on Emily's health, touring adjustments, balancing family life with teenagers, and upcoming projects and tour dates.  Tune in for a deeply moving, heartwarming, and unforgettable hour with two true legends—you won't want to miss a single moment!  Keywords: Indigo Girls, Barbie Movie, Love Will Come to You, Closer To Fine, Music Podcast, Folk Rock, Emily Saliers, Amy Ray, Songwriter Interview, Music Supervisors, Lindsay Wolfington, Laura Webb, Sad Song Queens podcast Support the show To help support these artists’ as well as their favorite sad songs, please check out our Official Spotify Playlist!  Find us elsewhere:  https://linktr.ee/sadsongqueens If you like what you hear, you can buy us a coffee! Our theme song is "All My Favorite Songs" by Weezer, courtesy of Crush Music, Atlantic Recording Company, and WEA International Inc, a Warner Music Company. Our Sad Song Queen image was created by Keahu Kahuanui.  Check out our friends at The Songwriting School of Los Angeles!

Hosts Laura Webb and Lindsay Wolfington sit down with Nick Carpenter—aka Medium Build—for an honest and unfiltered conversation on this episode of the Sad Song Queens podcast. The episode centers on "Thank You, Cook," the closing track from Medium Build's album King of Having Fun. Together, they explore why Nick gravitates toward slow, melancholic tempos and how getting sober allowed him to strip away years of emotional armor, regret, and defensive facades. Along the way, they unpack unique insights—from the creative process behind writing lyrics in stages and the exhausting pursuit of external validation, to the creative weight of balancing catchiness and raw despair. From reflections on childhood in Marietta, Georgia, to a live guitar demonstration breaking down why specific minor chord progressions create tension and grief, the discussion stays grounded in the heavy, necessary work of feeling your feelings. They reflect on how Medium Build's honesty in music builds an unexpected community of fellow artists, proving that shared grief can turn into genuine connection. They unpack the quiet space where past heartbreak, deep gratitude, and self-acceptance meet—and why sometimes a sad song is the only true medicine. Medium Build also shares his favorite sad songs - ones no one has mentioned before! What happens when an artist stops trying to outrun their own darkness and finally lets the tape roll on what the heart wants to say? Tune in to hear the candid, unvarnished story behind the songs that refuse to let you off easy. Keywords: Medium Build, Nick Carpenter, Thank You, Cook song meaning, King of Having Fun album, story behind the song, singer-songwriter interviews, indie folk, indie rock, alternative singer-songwriter, music supervision, music supervisor podcast, Lindsay Wolfington, Laura Webb, Sad Song Queens podcast Support the show To help support these artists’ as well as their favorite sad songs, please check out our Official Spotify Playlist!  Find us elsewhere:  https://linktr.ee/sadsongqueens If you like what you hear, you can buy us a coffee! Our theme song is "All My Favorite Songs" by Weezer, courtesy of Crush Music, Atlantic Recording Company, and WEA International Inc, a Warner Music Company. Our Sad Song Queen image was created by Keahu Kahuanui.  Check out our friends at The Songwriting School of Los Angeles!

In this episode of the Sad Song Queens, music supervisors Laura Webb and Lindsay Wolfington sit down with the incomparable Brandi Carlile—an Oscar nominee, 11-time Grammy winner, two-time Emmy winner, and New York Times best-selling author who has released ten studio albums to date.  They discuss Brandi Carlile’s stunning new deluxe release, Returning To Myself (Sad Gay Version),  which features intimate, reimagined versions of all ten songs from the original album. Brandi details the meticulous and vulnerable choices behind reshaping these tracks, including a deep-dive discussion into Brandi’s latest single "Human (Sad Gay Version)," her beautiful collaboration with Jon Hopkins.  Fresh off winning Song of the Year at the 2026 Americana Awards for the title track "Returning To Myself" from her acclaimed 2025 album of the same name, Brandi Carlile joins the show to discuss her incredible career and collaborations with idols like Joni Mitchell and Elton John. She also reflects on how the music she listened to in her adolescence influenced both versions of Returning to Myself, and what sad songs got her through her younger years.  Laura, Lindsay and Brandi share their love for sad songs and go through many of their favorites to determine what makes a song “sad gay” - a genre in and of itself, according to Brandi - while playing a game of "Sad vs Sad Gay,”  They also share stories about the shows’ past guests whom she has been inspired by and worked with, including Sara Bareilles, Bernie Taupin, the Secret Sisters, and Lucius, celebrating the tight-knit community of incredible artists she continually champions. Whether you are looking for a good cry, a deep dive into the craft of songwriting, or simply an inspiring conversation about community and creativity, this episode has it all. Grab your tissues, check out the show notes for the full playlist of every track discussed, and tune in now to experience this unforgettable chat with Brandi Carlile! Keywords: Brandi Carlile, Returning To Myself Sad Gay Version, Human featuring Jon Hopkins (Sad Gay Version), story behind the song, indie folk music, singer-songwriter interviews, music supervision, acoustic sad songs, music supervisor podcast, Lindsay Wolfington, Laura Webb, Sad Song Queens podcast Support the show To help support these artists’ as well as their favorite sad songs, please check out our Official Spotify Playlist!  Find us elsewhere:  https://linktr.ee/sadsongqueens If you like what you hear, you can buy us a coffee! Our theme song is "All My Favorite Songs" by Weezer, courtesy of Crush Music, Atlantic Recording Company, and WEA International Inc, a Warner Music Company. Our Sad Song Queen image was created by Keahu Kahuanui.  Check out our friends at The Songwriting School of Los Angeles!

Singer-songwriter duo, The Secret Sisters, join Sad Song Queens hosts Laura Webb and Lindsay Wolfington to dive into the emotional backstory behind their poignant track, “Hold You Dear” from their 2020 album Saturn Return.  In this intimate conversation, real-life sisters Laura Rogers and Lydia Slagle, reflect on the raw vulnerability of early motherhood, family, and the fleeting nature of time that inspired the song.    Known for their close vocal harmonies, traditional Southern roots, and introspective songwriting across country, folk, and Americana music, The Secret Sisters have carved out a unique space in modern roots music.  They share details of their music career journey that started unexpectedly when a spontaneously open audition in Nashville led to a record deal and their 2010 self-titled debut, produced by T-Bone Burnett and Dave Cobb. The album brought rapid national attention and tour slots alongside Paul Simon, Willie Nelson, and Ray LaMontagne.    The Secret Sisters tell Lindsay and Laura about their challenging experiences in the music industry, and how they almost left the business before Brandi Carlile encouraged them to continue making music. Carlile then co-produced two of their albums, You Don't Own Me Anymore (2017) and Saturn Return (2020) - both earning them Grammy nominations for Best Folk Album.  Their most recent album, Mind, Man, Medicine (2024), is a deeply emotional exploration of human connection, self-reliance, and post-pandemic healing co-produced alongside Ben Tanner (Alabama Shakes, St. Paul & the Broken Bones) and John Paul White (formerly of Grammy-winning duo the Civil Wars).    To wrap up the episode, Laura and Lydia break down their personal favorite cry-worthy tracks from legends like John Prine and George Jones to modern masters like Big Thief and Madison Cunningham, making this an essential listen for anyone who loves a good cry.  So grab your tissues and prepare for tears as you dive into this deeply moving episode! Keywords: The Secret Sisters interview, Hold You Dear, Laura Rogers, Lydia Slagle, Cry-worthy songs, songs about motherhood, acoustic folk harmonies, Sad songs podcast, music supervisor podcast, Lindsay Wolfington, Laura Webb Support the show To help support these artists’ as well as their favorite sad songs, please check out our Official Spotify Playlist!  Find us elsewhere:  https://linktr.ee/sadsongqueens If you like what you hear, you can buy us a coffee! Our theme song is "All My Favorite Songs" by Weezer, courtesy of Crush Music, Atlantic Recording Company, and WEA International Inc, a Warner Music Company. Our Sad Song Queen image was created by Keahu Kahuanui.  Check out our friends at The Songwriting School of Los Angeles!

In this episode of Sad Song Queens, hosts Laura Webb and Lindsay Wolfington sit down with Andrew Bird—Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter, violinist, whistler, and recent Emmy winner for Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics. Recorded prior to his big win, this conversation dives into the award-winning track "Need Someone," co-written with composer Gavin Brivik for HBO Max's hit medical drama The Pitt. Whether you are a longtime fan of Andrew Bird, an admirer of his work across film and television, or simply a lover of deeply emotional, melancholy music, this episode offers a captivating look into his creative process and collaboration with The Pitt composer Gavin Brivik. During the interview, Andrew reveals that he wrote "Need Someone" in just an hour and a half after watching a single poignant scene. He reflects on how writing to picture provided a refreshing constraint, pushing him to be far more emotionally direct than on his solo albums. He also breaks down the song's core theme: the universal human need for connection and comfort during end-of-life care, and the profound reality that healthcare workers are often the last people by our side. Beyond his 18 studio albums and contributions to projects like The Bear, Ted Lasso, and Disney's The Muppets, Andrew Bird touches on scoring Netflix's upcoming series Pride and Prejudice. He also opens up about his broader artistic philosophy—how fatherhood alleviated his career anxieties, why playing guitar keeps his songwriting grounded compared to complex violin arrangements, the real story behind his iconic whistling, and why live performance offers a far deeper connection than studio recording. To wrap up, Andrew shares some of his personal favorite sad songs and what makes his musical style so unique. Grab your tissues, tune in, and enjoy this deep dive into music, emotion, and storytelling! Keywords: Andrew Bird interview, Andrew Bird Emmy, Need Someone Andrew Bird, The Pitt, Gavin Brivik, Emmy-winning song, whistling, Sad songs podcast, music supervisor podcast Support the show To help support these artists’ as well as their favorite sad songs, please check out our Official Spotify Playlist!  Find us elsewhere:  https://linktr.ee/sadsongqueens If you like what you hear, you can buy us a coffee! Our theme song is "All My Favorite Songs" by Weezer, courtesy of Crush Music, Atlantic Recording Company, and WEA International Inc, a Warner Music Company. Our Sad Song Queen image was created by Keahu Kahuanui.  Check out our friends at The Songwriting School of Los Angeles!

Grammy-winning songwriter Dan Wilson (Semisonic, "Closing Time") returns for part two of his Sad Song Queens interview with hosts and award-winning music supervisors Laura Webb and Lindsay Wolfington.  In this episode, he goes deep on co-writing Adele's heartbreaking hit "Someone Like You." Dan shares the untold story behind the song's iconic piano part, how Adele's iconic “screechy” falsetto note almost got cut, why her mum's tears convinced them to finish the song, and what really happened in the studio during those two legendary writing days. Plus: Dan breaks down his personal (comprehensive) list of the saddest songs ever written — from "Fast Car" and "Somewhere" to "Rainbow Connection" and "I Can't Make You Love Me" — and explores why nostalgic songs like "In My Life" and "Night Swimming" hit just as hard as the openly heartbreaking ones.  Dan Wilson is a Minneapolis-born, Los Angeles-based artist with four Grammy wins across seven nominations, including Song of the Year for the Chicks' "Not Ready to Make Nice," Album of the Year as producer on Adele's 21, Best Country Song for Chris Stapleton's "White Horse," and Best Song Written for Visual Media for "It Never Went Away" with Jon Batiste. As the frontman of Semisonic, he also co-wrote generation-defining hits like "Closing Time" and "Secret Smile."    This episode is a must-listen for fans of Dan Wilson, Semisonic, Adele, and lovers of iconic sad songs. Topics covered: Adele songwriting process, appoggiatura in sad songs, Someone Like You, Saddest songs of all time, Dan Wilson interview, Music production stories, Grammy-winning songwriters. Support the show To help support these artists’ as well as their favorite sad songs, please check out our Official Spotify Playlist!  Find us elsewhere:  https://linktr.ee/sadsongqueens If you like what you hear, you can buy us a coffee! Our theme song is "All My Favorite Songs" by Weezer, courtesy of Crush Music, Atlantic Recording Company, and WEA International Inc, a Warner Music Company. Our Sad Song Queen image was created by Keahu Kahuanui.  Check out our friends at The Songwriting School of Los Angeles!

In this episode of Sad Song Queens, hosts Laura Webb and Lindsay Wolfington sit down with Grammy-winning songwriter, producer, and Semisonic frontman Dan Wilson to unpack one of the most quietly devastating songs in his catalog: "Fly Safe." For a podcast built around the songs that make people cry, Dan turns out to be the perfect guest — a self-described "earnest" songwriter whose melodies, he admits, sound sad even when he's trying to write something hopeful. Dan Wilson is a Minneapolis-born, Los Angeles-based artist with four Grammy wins across seven nominations, including Song of the Year for the Chicks' "Not Ready to Make Nice," Album of the Year as producer on Adele's 21, Best Country Song for Chris Stapleton's "White Horse," and Best Song Written for Visual Media for "It Never Went Away" with Jon Batiste. As the frontman of Semisonic, he also co-wrote generation-defining hits like "Closing Time" and "Secret Smile."  This episode's conversation focuses on "Fly Safe," a song many fans read as purely comforting, and which Dan reveals is anything but simple underneath the surface. Laura and Lindsay walk through their own theories of the song — pointing out that lyrically, "Fly Safe" reads like reassurance: get high, travel light, think about the good times, we can start again.  Dan agrees, and then goes further, explaining that the phrase "fly safe" itself carries an inherent unease — you only say it to someone you love, and only because there's a real chance something could go wrong. That tension, it turns out, wasn't accidental. Dan opens up about the real circumstances behind the song: he wrote it during a genuinely difficult period in his marriage when he and his wife were both preparing to leave for separate trips, and the phrase "fly safe" became loaded with everything neither of them was saying out loud. Dan describes the uncertainty of the lyric — a hope that they'd find their way back to each other.   They then discuss the songwriting process, and true to what he calls his "Nashville habit," Dan says the title came before anything else.  He explains the song's minor-to-relative-major chord movement, and why it never fully resolves — a trick he credits to years of working with producer Rick Rubin, who trained him to take the "easy, sweet resolves" out of his chord progressions.  The result is a song that ends on a minor chord after a swelling, hopeful instrumental section — leaving listeners suspended between reassurance and doubt, which is exactly the emotional trick that makes "Fly Safe" so effective as a sad song.   The episode also touches on his history with Semisonic, including how their label initially rejected their album Feeling Strangely Fine outright before offering the band money to re-record it — a moment that was talked down by his longtime manager, Jim Grant, who convinced him not to touch songs like "Closing Time" and "Secret Smile."  Toward the end of the episode, Dan shares what's next for him, including Semisonic's new single "Don't Give Up Yet," written as a love letter to Minneapolis. He explains how the song began as an unfinished tribute to bassist John after John suffered a stroke that initially took away his ability to play — and how Dan eventually finished the lyrics under very different, heavier circumstances tied to his hometown. A recent Semisonic performance in front of over 35,000 people in the Twin Cities, was made even more meaningful by John's return to the stage, relearning bass with a pick after his stroke. This episode is a must-listen for fans of Dan Wilson, Semisonic, Adele, and anyone who has ever choked up over a song that sounds happier than it feels.  Don't miss part two of this conversation with Dan Wilson next week, where we go deep into the making of Adele's "Someone Like You," plus Dan Wilson's definitive, handwritten list of the saddest songs of all time. Topics covered: Dan Wilson, Fly Safe, Semisonic, Minneapolis, Adele Someone Like You, Sad Song Queens Support the show To help support these artists’ as well as their favorite sad songs, please check out our Official Spotify Playlist!  Find us elsewhere:  https://linktr.ee/sadsongqueens If you like what you hear, you can buy us a coffee! Our theme song is "All My Favorite Songs" by Weezer, courtesy of Crush Music, Atlantic Recording Company, and WEA International Inc, a Warner Music Company. Our Sad Song Queen image was created by Keahu Kahuanui.  Check out our friends at The Songwriting School of Los Angeles!

Music supervisors Laura Webb and Lindsay Wolfington kick off this episode with a summer catch up. From travel tales and rock biographies to the tracks on heavy rotation, the Sad Song Queens sync up on everything that defined their summer break. The duo peels back the curtain on the raw realities of music supervision and clearance, and music coordinator Jordan Linsley steps into the studio to talk shop—and host a high-stakes, hilarious game of Misunderstood Songs. Play along as Laura and Lindsay throw down, attempting to decode famously botched lines from your favorite bands. Equal parts industry insider track and laugh-out-loud song trivia, this is the ultimate listen for music lovers and trivia nerds alike. Stick around to the very end to see who takes the crown! Support the show To help support these artists’ as well as their favorite sad songs, please check out our Official Spotify Playlist!  Find us elsewhere:  https://linktr.ee/sadsongqueens If you like what you hear, you can buy us a coffee! Our theme song is "All My Favorite Songs" by Weezer, courtesy of Crush Music, Atlantic Recording Company, and WEA International Inc, a Warner Music Company. Our Sad Song Queen image was created by Keahu Kahuanui.  Check out our friends at The Songwriting School of Los Angeles!

New York rock veteran Jesse Malin joins Sad Song Queens hosts Laura Webb and Lindsay Wolfington to break down "My Little Life," a song that's taken on an entirely new meaning after the health crisis that nearly ended his career. Malin has spent more than two decades as one of New York's most beloved rock artists — his 2003 solo debut The Fine Art of Self-Destruction earned him praise from Rolling Stone, and his songs have since been covered by Bruce Springsteen, Lucinda Williams, Green Day, Elvis Costello, Bleachers, and Counting Crows. In 2023, Malin suffered a rare spinal stroke that left him paralyzed from the waist down. Rather than step out of the spotlight, he learned to stand again and returned to the stage the following year, later channeling the experience into his off-Broadway debut, Silver Manhattan, a Drama Desk–nominated autobiographical production, and his new memoir, Almost Grown: A New York Memoir. "My Little Life" plays a pivotal role in Silver Manhattan, and the hosts open by unpacking why the song — written years before Malin's stroke — feels almost prophetic now. Malin explains that he originally wrote it about people in his life who struggled with the simplest, everyday things: friends and family members who felt like they never quite fit in, for whom just getting through the day carried real weight.  The conversation moves into how "My Little Life" ended up in Silver Manhattan in the first place. Malin describes handing his entire back catalog over to the play's director and co-writer to cherry-pick from, and being genuinely surprised by some of their choices — only to find that hearing his own songs performed in a new context, in front of an audience, changed how he understood them. He's candid about the physical challenge of performing at all after his stroke, describing the months of physical therapy it took just to stand and balance long enough to sing one song upright for his sold-out Beacon Theater shows. Malin also opens up about the origins of Silver Manhattan itself — conceived the day after that Beacon Theater show, when a friend suggested he turn his catalog and his story into an ongoing New York residency rather than retreat. What started as that idea grew into a 92-minute rock show built with his full band, tracing his life from his old hardcore band Heart Attack and his punk band D Generation through his solo career, while also functioning, in his words, as a love letter to Manhattan and to the freewheeling, walking-the-streets life he lost and then had to rediscover from a wheelchair. Elsewhere in the episode, Malin talks about writing "Shane," a song named for his friend and hero Shane McGowan of the Pogues, and how singing that song live took on new weight after McGowan's death, and after Malin himself began touring in a wheelchair. He and the hosts also dig into Malin's reflections on chasing music before the internet made it instantly accessible,  his teenage years in the New York hardcore and punk scenes and its DIY attitude, and how PMA became a guiding life mantra. Don’t miss this candid and reflective conversation between the Sad Song Queens and a New York music legend. Support the show To help support these artists’ as well as their favorite sad songs, please check out our Official Spotify Playlist!  Find us elsewhere:  https://linktr.ee/sadsongqueens If you like what you hear, you can buy us a coffee! Our theme song is "All My Favorite Songs" by Weezer, courtesy of Crush Music, Atlantic Recording Company, and WEA International Inc, a Warner Music Company. Our Sad Song Queen image was created by Keahu Kahuanui.  Check out our friends at The Songwriting School of Los Angeles!

Grammy-winning, Tony- and Emmy-nominated singer-songwriter Sara Bareilles joins Sad Song Queens hosts Laura Webb and Lindsay Wolfington for one of the most emotionally raw conversations the podcast has ever recorded. The episode centers on “Forever,” the penultimate track from Bareilles’ seventh studio album, Good Grief, released August 28th — a record built entirely around loss, memory, and the power of music to heal.  Sara Bareilles broke through in 2007 with “Love Song,” pushing her platinum debut Little Voice into the Billboard 200’s top ten, and later composed the music and lyrics for Broadway’s Waitress, earning a Tony nomination before also performing in the show and in the 2022 revival of Into the Woods. The making of Good Grief was documented in the film Sara Bareilles: Good Grief, which premiered at Tribeca before moving into theaters — companion viewing the hosts reference throughout the episode. At the center of the conversation is the origin story of “Forever” itself, a discussion which brings all 3 ladies to tears. Bareilles details how the song developed over time, initially written while grappling with two overlapping losses in 2020. The song sat unfinished until Bareilles’ close friend and Waitress co-star Gavin Creel was later diagnosed with the illness that eventually took his life, and she reshaped the song with him in mind. By the end, she says, it had absorbed multiple losses, including her own experience with infertility. The episode also digs into the song’s winding production and Sara’s experience claiming production ownership on this record for the first time in her career, after years of having her demos routinely replaced in the studio. Grief itself is the philosophical backbone of the conversation. Bareilles reframes it not as something to fix, but as proof of enduring love, drawing on a conversation with poet Andrea Gibson about how the people we lose live on through the people who loved them. Host Laura Webb shares her own experience of ambiguous loss watching her father live with Alzheimer’s, and she and Bareilles connect on “signs” they receive from loved ones and what helps them move through loss. Sara also discusses the upcoming Good Grief Tour — her first since 2019 — and the fan voicemail project she launched alongside it, inviting listeners to share their own stories of loss. Beyond “Forever,” the episode traces melancholy as a throughline across Bareilles’ catalog, reflecting on earlier songs like “Gravity” and “Manhattan” to this new album, and how her songwriting has widened over time from romantic breakups to the many other ways people leave each other. Whether you’re a longtime fan, a Good Grief documentary viewer, a songwriter curious about her process, or someone processing your own grief, this is an unusually candid look at how Bareilles turns loss into something you can hold onto. Grab those tissues for a good cry with Sara Bareilles and the Sad Song Queens. Support the show To help support these artists’ as well as their favorite sad songs, please check out our Official Spotify Playlist!  Find us elsewhere:  https://linktr.ee/sadsongqueens If you like what you hear, you can buy us a coffee! Our theme song is "All My Favorite Songs" by Weezer, courtesy of Crush Music, Atlantic Recording Company, and WEA International Inc, a Warner Music Company. Our Sad Song Queen image was created by Keahu Kahuanui.  Check out our friends at The Songwriting School of Los Angeles!

My Morning Jacket frontman Jim James joins Laura Webb and Lindsay Wolfington to unpack “Get The Point,” a beautiful and sincere breakup song from the 2015 album, The Waterfall. Recorded in a cliffside Stinson Beach studio, the track was written during the collapse of a relationship James describes as an “unbelievable cosmic love” tangled up with active alcoholism and self-hatred. Jim opens up about writing from inside the fog of addiction, learning to trust his own truth over someone else’s, and why his favorite songs — like his own — are always “sad yet hopeful.” He also gets candid about sobriety, mental health, and why musicians talking openly about struggle matters more than ever. The conversation lands just ahead of Wowed Out, James’s first solo album in eight years, dropping August 28. Expect deep-dive musicianship talk (that pedal steel!), reflections about the universe, music and Kermit the Frog, and one of the most honest discussions of a breakup song you’ll hear this year. Support the show To help support these artists’ as well as their favorite sad songs, please check out our Official Spotify Playlist!  Find us elsewhere:  https://linktr.ee/sadsongqueens If you like what you hear, you can buy us a coffee! Our theme song is "All My Favorite Songs" by Weezer, courtesy of Crush Music, Atlantic Recording Company, and WEA International Inc, a Warner Music Company. Our Sad Song Queen image was created by Keahu Kahuanui.  Check out our friends at The Songwriting School of Los Angeles!

Legendary lyricist Bernie Taupin — Elton John’s songwriting partner of over 50 years and the mind behind “Your Song,” “Tiny Dancer,” “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road,” and “Candle in the Wind” — returns to the Sad Song Queens podcast for part two of an intimate conversation with hosts Laura Webb and Lindsay Wolfington. This episode dives deep into “One Hundred Ways,” the poignant closing track from Taupin’s new solo album The Sea Has No Mercy (out October 23rd), his first solo record in nearly four decades. The song features a duet with his daughter, Georgey Devon Taupin, and Bernie opens up about writing directly to his children, confronting mortality, and why he chose to end the song abruptly rather than fade it out. The conversation ranges far beyond the single track: Bernie reflects on what he calls his “late-life manifesto,” the emotional and creative differences between writing alone versus with Elton John, his process of people-watching for song inspiration, his honest (and blunt) advice for aspiring songwriters, and the true stories — and fabricated ones — behind some of his most beloved lyrics, including “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me” and “I’m Still Standing.” Whether you’re a longtime Elton John fan, a songwriter looking for insight from one of music’s greatest lyricists, or just here for a good cry, this episode delivers the raw honesty Sad Song Queens is known for. Guest: Bernie Taupin Featuring: “One Hundred Ways” ft. Georgey Devon Taupin, from The Sea Has No Mercy (out October 23rd Topics:Elton John songwriting partnership, mortality and legacy, fatherhood, songwriting advice, autobiographical vs. fictional lyrics Support the show To help support these artists’ as well as their favorite sad songs, please check out our Official Spotify Playlist!  Find us elsewhere:  https://linktr.ee/sadsongqueens If you like what you hear, you can buy us a coffee! Our theme song is "All My Favorite Songs" by Weezer, courtesy of Crush Music, Atlantic Recording Company, and WEA International Inc, a Warner Music Company. Our Sad Song Queen image was created by Keahu Kahuanui.  Check out our friends at The Songwriting School of Los Angeles!

Have you ever felt the weight of emotional pain wrapped in a melody? Join us on this heartfelt journey in the latest episode of the Sad Song Queens podcast, where hosts Laura Webb and Lindsay Wolfington sit down with the indie pop duo Lucius—Jess Wolfe and Holly Laessig—to explore the profound intricacies behind their poignant song "White Lies" from their album "Second Nature. " Lucius opens up about their creative process, sharing the stories behind songs that emerged during a challenging period, motherhood, and the lingering shadows of the COVID-19 pandemic. As they discuss the complexities of relationships, love, and longing, listeners will discover how sadness can be both a source of inspiration and a powerful tool for healing. The conversation touches on the importance of collaboration in songwriting, revealing how their sisterhood in music has fostered artistic growth and resilience.  As the Sad Song Queens, Laura and Lindsay guide this intimate discussion, inviting listeners to embrace their feelings and find solace in sad songs. The episode also highlights the unique challenges faced by mothers in the music industry, offering valuable tips on how to navigate life on the road with young children.   Join us as we uncover the stories behind songs that resonate with loneliness, introspection, and the bittersweet reality of life. Tune in for a blend of artist interviews, songwriting stories, and the magic that happens when music meets emotion.  Don’t miss this chance to experience the artistic journey of Lucius and the emotional depth of their music. Let the Sad Song Queens guide you through a world where sadness is celebrated, and every note tells a story. Press play and immerse yourself in the soft and sentimental sounds of "White Lies. " Your heart will thank you. Support the show To help support these artists’ as well as their favorite sad songs, please check out our Official Spotify Playlist!  Find us elsewhere:  https://linktr.ee/sadsongqueens If you like what you hear, you can buy us a coffee! Our theme song is "All My Favorite Songs" by Weezer, courtesy of Crush Music, Atlantic Recording Company, and WEA International Inc, a Warner Music Company. Our Sad Song Queen image was created by Keahu Kahuanui.  Check out our friends at The Songwriting School of Los Angeles!

What happens when heartbreak meets empowerment? Dive into the world of emotional songs with the latest episode of Sad Song Queens, where hosts Laura Webb and Lindsay Wolfington engage in an inspiring conversation with Aino Jawo and Caroline Hjelt, the dynamic duo behind the Swedish pop sensation Icona Pop. Their new track "Hurt" from the album "Ritual" serves as the backdrop for a deep exploration of the complexities of moving on after relationships, and the powerful catharsis that comes from expressing vulnerability through music.  Join us as we unravel the poignant storytelling behind "Hurt," delving into the songwriting stories that shaped this emotional anthem. Aino and Caroline open up about their personal experiences with heartbreak, sharing how these feelings have influenced their artistry and the importance of channeling sorrow into uplifting melodies. The Icona Pop conversation highlights the duality of their music—how soft and sentimental lyrics can coexist with infectious beats that make you want to dance.  Throughout the episode, our guests reflect on the evolution of their friendship, especially during challenging times, emphasizing the sisterhood in music that has helped them navigate the ups and downs of life and motherhood while pursuing their careers. They discuss the therapeutic aspects of dancing and how their emotional journeys inform their work.  As we dive deeper into the creative process behind "Hurt," Aino and Caroline reveal the significance of their shared experiences and the cathartic power of music. This episode of Sad Song Queens not only celebrates the art of songwriting but also serves as a reminder to embrace both the joy and sorrow that life brings. Whether you're a music supervisor looking for emotional songs for film soundtracks or simply a fan of heartfelt artist interviews, this Icona Pop episode is a treasure trove of insights and inspiration.  Join us on this journey of discovery, as we celebrate the stories behind songs that resonate with our hearts and minds. Tune in to Sad Song Queens for an unforgettable experience that will leave you reflecting on the power of music and emotion.  Support the show To help support these artists’ as well as their favorite sad songs, please check out our Official Spotify Playlist!  Find us elsewhere:  https://linktr.ee/sadsongqueens If you like what you hear, you can buy us a coffee! Our theme song is "All My Favorite Songs" by Weezer, courtesy of Crush Music, Atlantic Recording Company, and WEA International Inc, a Warner Music Company. Our Sad Song Queen image was created by Keahu Kahuanui.  Check out our friends at The Songwriting School of Los Angeles!