Startseite Podcasts Steal This Song | Creative Songwriting & Production Podcast

Steal This Song | Creative Songwriting & Production Podcast

Friedemann Findeisen (Holistic Songwriting) 19 Folgen Okt 21, 2026

Steal This Song is a podcast about creative songwriting and music production hosted by songwriter and producer Friedemann Findeisen of Holistic Songwriting. Each episode breaks down a breakout hit to uncover the techniques that make it memorable, covering lyrics, chords, melodies, and production. Listeners get practical methods they can adapt, remix, or "steal" for their own songs, from hooks and emotional contrast to arrangement, texture, momentum, and lyrical framing. The show is aimed at artists, producers, topliners, and obsessive music fans who want to hear music differently and write songs people remember.

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The Music Video That Almost Broke Me Okt 21, 2026 00:19:27 I thought this music video was going to be easy. We had the perfect location, a great team, and a clear vision. What could possibly go wrong?As it turns out, quite a lot.After the chaos of shooting Joanna's last music video, I thought I'd learned my lesson. This time, we'd planned everything. We had a beautiful location owned by friends, a story we believed in, and a song about being present and a

How I (Casually) Wrote A Hit Song Okt 7, 2026 00:12:07 I wrote a 35-million-stream hit song in one afternoon.It was a song called “Rakete” for the German band Mätropolis. I’d never written in the genre before, I’m not a writing-camp guy, and honestly… it’s not the kind of music I usually listen to.So how did it happen?In this video, I break down how the song came together, from the original “Wir starten die Rakete” hook to the countdown, Kölsch lyrics

My Sales Call Process as a Songwriter/Producer Sep 30, 2026 00:21:36 How do you actually sell yourself as a producer or songwriter without making the whole thing feel… salesy?In this video, I walk through my approach to sales calls with artists — from the preparation before a meeting, to the Zoom call itself, to pricing, contracts, and what happens after the artist says yes.But a good sales call isn't really about “convincing” someone to work with you. It’s about h

I Tried to Make a Video Game. Here's What Happened. Sep 16, 2026 00:21:24 Friedemann discusses his journey in creating his first video game, a tower defense game for musicians that uses ear training to fight enemies. He shares his fascination with game design, his experience with board game design, and his foray into learning programming for game development. Friedemann also reflects on the challenges and setbacks he faced in developing a music theory-based app and the

I’m Done Being Just a Songwriting Teacher Sep 9, 2026 00:08:13 What happens when the thing you’ve built your entire career around is no longer the thing you want to be known for?In this video, Friedemann talks about his transition from Holistic Songwriting toward a more personal creative brand—and the fear that comes with taking that next step.After years of teaching songwriting, building products, writing books, and creating all kinds of projects, he’s reali

Thinking of shooting a music video? Watch this. Sep 2, 2026 00:18:38 Ever wondered what it really takes to shoot a music video? In this video, I take you behind the scenes of our latest music video production and share the entire journey—from planning and preparation to unexpected problems, changing constraints, and the chaos of the actual shoot.This was my biggest music video production yet, with a larger cast, choreography, a script, multiple locations, and a lot

Holly Humberstone's Friendly Fire Took Me by Surprise Aug 26, 2026 00:21:20 What makes Holly Humberstone’s “Friendly Fire” such a compelling song?In this songwriting breakdown, Friedemann takes a deep dive into “Friendly Fire,” analyzing everything from the acoustic guitar intro and chord progression to the lyrics, vocal production, arrangement, and unexpected drum groove.The song starts out intimate and vulnerable, but its rhythmic choices introduce a surprising boldness

Why Do We Remember Certain Songs, And Not Others? Aug 19, 2026 00:14:52 Why do some songs get stuck in your head after just one listen — while others disappear from your memory almost instantly?In this video, we explore the psychology of memorable music and break down what actually makes a song memorable. Memorability isn’t random: there are specific psychological and songwriting principles you can use to make melodies, hooks, lyrics, and entire songs more memorable.W

MK.gee – Alesis: Why These Melodies Hit So Hard Aug 12, 2026 00:23:20 What makes a great song really great? In this songwriting breakdown, Friedemann analyzes a song he’s completely obsessed with — from its lyrics, melody, chords, and guitar playing to its drum groove, vocal performance, and arrangement.There’s a lot more going on here than meets the ear. We’ll break down how the song uses tension and release, rhythmic performance, vocal layering, chord progression,

BTS's Weird Song Structure (And Why It Works) | Steal This Song Ep 13 Aug 5, 2026 00:13:52 BTS don't just write catchy songs—they build them with a strong sense of structure, energy, and surprise.In this video, Friedemann starts by sharing his experience of attending a BTS concert before diving deep into the songwriting behind one of their tracks. Together, we'll analyze the chord progression, synth textures, live bass arrangement, and the song's unusual melodic structure. We'll also ex

Half Moon Run is Criminally Underrated! | Steal This Song Ep 12 Jul 29, 2026 00:31:48 Discover the hidden songwriting brilliance of Half Moon Run in this episode of the podcast as we dive deep into their song “You Can Let Go.” Often described as an underrated band, Half Moon Run combine incredible musicianship, unique arrangements, and emotional songwriting into a sound that feels both organic and meticulously crafted.We break down the song’s instrumentation, guitar parts, chord pr

Oliver Tree’s “I’m Gone” Has a Secret Weapon | Steal This Song Ep 11 Jul 22, 2026 00:23:12 What makes Oliver Tree’s “I’m Gone” such a fascinating piece of songwriting? In this episode, we break down the unusual choices behind the song — from its expressive vocal performance and unexpected chord progressions to the way it builds tension, release, and emotional impact.We explore how the song’s unconventional structure, including the midpoint bridge and reimagined final section, keeps the

AI and Creativity (My Thoughts as a Creator) | Steal This Song Jul 15, 2026 00:17:00 AI is changing the way we create, learn, and communicate — but should we embrace it, fear it, or reject it?In this episode, I explore my changing perspective on artificial intelligence: from the initial fear and uncertainty around AI to a more nuanced view of what it actually means for creativity, education, and the future of artists.We talk about whether AI is a threat to human creativity or simp

How Deftones' My Own Summer (Shove It) Builds Pressure Jul 8, 2026 00:23:51 In this episode, Friedemann breaks down “My Own Summer (Shove It)” by Deftones, focusing on what makes the track so powerful from a songwriting and production perspective.Rather than just analyzing surface-level details, we zoom into the mechanics: how tension is built and released, how sound design shapes emotional impact, and how lyrics and imagery contribute to the song’s eerie, restrained ener

Why Most Success Advice Is Useless | Steal This Song Jun 24, 2026 00:10:32 🎵 Join Next Level Songwriter:https://www.holistic-songwriting.com/next-level-songwriterWhat if everything you've been told about success as an artist is wrong?In this episode, we explore the myth of success, survivorship bias, the illusion of causality, and why fame often fails to deliver what artists hope it will. We discuss the tension between algorithms and authenticity, the importance of recon

The Genius of “Manchild” — Harmony, Humor & Delayed Resolution | Steal This Song Jul 1, 2026 00:21:27 🎵 Join Next Level Songwriter:https://www.holistic-songwriting.com/next-level-songwriterIn this episode, we break down Sabrina Carpenter’s hit song Man Child and uncover the songwriting and production choices that make it so effective. From its central theme and lyrical approach to its meticulously crafted production, we explore how the song balances sharp accusations with humor, creating a track t

APT. Breaks The Addiction Formula | Steal This Song Jun 17, 2026 00:37:49 Applications for the Next Level Songwriter Program are only open until July 1, and seats are limited. If you're serious about taking your songwriting to the next level, check out the link below before enrollment closes.https://www.holistic-songwriting.com/next-level-songwriterIn this episode, we break down the songwriting and production behind "APT." by ROSÉ and Bruno Mars, uncovering the techniqu

Stealing RAYE’s Wildest Melody Tricks | Steal This Song Jun 10, 2026 00:25:35 In this episode of Steal This Song, we break down the musical genius behind RAYE’s “Where Is My Husband?” — from its chaotic energy and layered melodies to the sneaky theory tricks hiding underneath the surface.We explore:• The song’s use of the Dorian and pentatonic scales• How selective coloration makes the melody feel fresh• Overlapping vocal melodies and controlled chaos• The challenge of fitt

“Ordinary” Is Just Two Melodies | Steal This Song Jun 3, 2026 00:22:44 Alex Warren’s “Ordinary” looks simple on the surface — but underneath, it’s doing something far more sophisticated.In this episode, we break down how emotional intensity is built through songwriting mechanics rather than complexity. We explore how register borrowing, lyrical contradiction, and hymn-like phrasing create a feeling of overwhelming emotional scale, even when the harmonic and melodic m

Why “Pink Pony Club” Feels So Emotionally Conflicted | Steal This Song Mai 27, 2026 00:17:15 Why did “Pink Pony Club” take years to become a phenomenon?In this episode, we break down the songwriting and production techniques that made Chappell Roan’s “Pink Pony Club” emotionally explosive long before the culture fully caught up to it. We explore how the song expresses internal conflict through dialogue, production style, melodic identity, and harmonic movement — turning a deeply personal

Lola Young’s “Messy” Is Brilliantly Unstructured | Steal This Song Mai 20, 2026 00:23:53 Lola Young’s “Messy” breaks a surprising number of songwriting “rules” — and that’s exactly why it works.In this episode, we dive deep into the writing and production techniques that make the song feel so raw, human, and addictive. We explore the conversational lyric style, the unusual verse structure, the hidden storytelling mechanics, the tension-filled chord progression, and the production choi

How Huntrix' "Free" Compresses 5 Minutes of Ballad into 3:30 Mai 15, 2026 00:49:48 In this episode, we dive into how long, sprawling ballads can be reshaped into lean, high-impact songs without losing their emotional weight.We explore “peak relabeling”—a powerful way of rethinking where a song’s emotional climaxes actually sit—and how shifting those peaks can completely transform structure, pacing, and listener impact. From there, we break down techniques for compression: how tr