Why We Write with Kim Ruehl, Eps. 43: Oliver Wood

Oliver Wood was a blues player before he joined forces with his brother Chris (a jazz bassist) to form the Wood Brothers. His songwriting is based heavily on improvisation, on capturing the magic that takes place when two or more people get together for a musical conversation. And though this kind of collaboration is at the heart of the Wood Brothers’ music (including on their new album, Heart is the Hero, due April 14), Oliver notes that, “It takes practice to collaborate.”

In this newest episode of the Why We Write podcast, he talks about all of this, plus the importance of connection in songwriting, how craft can sometimes get in the way of great musical magic, and how to surmount that.

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