Songcraft: Spotlight on Songwriters

Ep. 111 - DAVID GAMSON ("Stronger [What Doesn't Kill You]")

Episode Summary

The two-time Grammy nominee and co-writer of Kelly Clarkson's global hit "Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You) reveals what happened when he played songs for Miles Davis over the phone; tells us why he says it's a good thing there are more writers on songs today than ever before; and explains how he partially inspired Kesha to ditch the guitars. Before the interview Scott and Paul talk about whether or not it's still OK to listen to Michael Jackson's music.

Episode Notes

Two-time Grammy nominee and co-writer of Kelly Clarkson's global hit "Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You) joins us to discuss his multifaceted career. But first, Scott and Paul talk about whether or not it's still OK to listen to Michael Jackson's music. EPISODE DETAILS: PART ONE Scott and Paul talk about the loss of Dick Dale and Hal Blaine, and remind listeners of their friends at Pearl Snap Studios. PART TWO - 5:15 mark Is it still OK to listen to Michael Jackson's music? How do we separate artists from their art? Or can we? PART THREE -13:00 mark Scott and Paul head over to David's studio in downtown LA to find out why he wanted his earliest music to sound like a machine; what he discovered about his hero Nile Rogers after meeting him in real life; what happened when he played songs for Miles Davis over the phone; why he says it's a good thing there are more writers on songs today than ever before; how he partially inspired Kesha to ditch the guitars; why he says writers shouldn't get in too early on an artist's project; and what major artist rejected "Stronger" before Kelly Clarkson made it a massive hit. ABOUT DAVID GAMSON Two-time Grammy nominee David Gamson established himself as an innovative and influential musician, programmer, and producer with his distinctive synth work and arrangements as a member of the band Scritti Politti. Though classically trained, he gravitated toward the pop, funk and prog-rock influences he absorbed as a teenager, forging his own sound as exemplified by the group’s Top 10 UK hits “Wood Beez” and “The Word Girl,” as well as their successful US single “Perfect Way.”   Outside his work with the group, Gamson is best known as the co-writer of “Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You),” a massive pop hit for Kelly Clarkson that spent three weeks at #1 on the Billboard pop chart in the US, hit #1 in nearly a dozen other countries, and became one of the best-selling singles of all time.  As a producer, programmer and musician he has collaborated with Roger Troutman, Meshell Ndegeocello, Maxwell, Angie Stone, George Benson, Nile Rogers, Beth Hart, Michael McDonald, Hans Zimmer, will.i.am, legendary producer Arif Mardin, and many others. His songs have been recorded by Miles Davis, Jessi J, Charli XCX, LP, Luther Vandross, Chaka Khan, Al Jarreau, Sheila E., Adam Lambert, Nick Lachey, and more.