Songwriting Magazine | Spring 2025 | Issue 38

Skunk Anansie, The Lathums, Vashti Bunyan, Ocean Colour Scene, Counting Crows, Sirens Of Lesbos, Laura Nyro, The Indie Renaissance and much more…

As the seasons shift, so too does the soundtrack to our lives. The Spring Issue arrives just as the musical world begins to bloom again – fresh releases, festivals on the horizon, renewed creativity, and stories that deserve to be heard. Whether you're looking to hone your craft or simply enjoy the rich tapestry of music past and present, this edition should provide you with a blend of interviews, insights, and ideas to keep your songwriting journey moving forward…

A band more than entitled to rest on their laurels and beloved back catalogue of anthems – Weak, Hedonism (Just Because You Feel Good) and Charlie Big Potato – Skunk Anansie are not that kind of group. Instead, they continue to forge ahead with purpose. In our cover interview, Skin and Ace take us deep inside the creation of their upcoming new album, The Painful Truth, spilling the beans on their songwriting process and creative momentum.

In a more reflective mode, we catch up with songwriter Vashti Bunyan. The 20th anniversary reissue of her 2005 album, Lookaftering, gives us the chance to revisit her extraordinary return to music following the re-discovery of her now-classic debut, Just Another Diamond Day. Her story is one of quiet resilience and artistic renewal.

Also featured is The Lathums' frontman, guitarist and songwriter, Alex Moore. With the Wigan band’s third album, Matter Does Not Define, freshly released, Moore opens up about how the new songs came together and the evolving path of his musical journey.

In our How I/We Wrote section, we dig into the genesis of three standout tracks. Claude Kelly and Chuck Harmony reveal how they penned Fantasia’s Bittersweet, the final winner of the Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance. We also revisit two 90s favourites: Adam Duritz discusses the origins of Counting Crows’ career-defining Mr Jones, while Simon Fowler and Steve Cradock talk us through the making of Ocean Colour Scene’s Britpop staple, The Riverboat Song.

Our Technique section ventures east to Korea, where – with the help of a panel of experts from Concord Music Publishing – we uncover the secrets of breaking into the world of K-pop. Closer to home, Will Knox shares practical advice on navigating the music industry, SHEARS reveals how to get the most from your home studio, and resident expert James Linderman returns with another instalment of the Songwriting Help Desk.

But that’s not all. Inside your Spring Issue we also introduce emerging artists Nikhita, Extrazen, and Hannah Maryse, take a peek inside meka’s diary, and explore the essential songwriting kit of Sirens Of Lesbos. We reflect on the enduring influence of Laura Nyro, an artist whose music continues to resonate deeply with both her collaborators and contemporary songwriters. Finally, we head back to the early-to-mid 2000s to re-evaluate The Indie Renaissance, a final, spirited hurrah for ramshackle guitar bands.

Throw in the usual mix of gear, news, and reviews, and your next three months of reading – and songwriting inspiration – are well and truly sorted. As always, thank you for supporting us and letting us be part of your creative process. Enjoy the read!