Wild Pink
Summary
John Ross of Wild Pink discusses his new album *Still Coming Down*, explaining how he shifted from intimate, headphone-focused songwriting to a louder, live-oriented heartland rock sound following his cancer diagnosis and becoming a father. The conversation explores his Florida roots, creative influences like Tom Petty, and his collaborative recording process with producer Alex Farah and friends from the Drop of Sun Studios community. Ross also shares his daily writing habits, favorite movies, and offers advice to a listener considering a move back to the South.
Topics discussed
Introduction and guest John Ross of Wild Pink
Early discography and the 'Ilys' album context
Analysis of 'Fences of Stonehenge' and songwriting style
Production, live performance, and post-pandemic trends
Recording logistics and life in Queens
Neighborhood connections and community in Ridgewood
Narrative structure and sense of place in new songs
Florida influences and Thomas Dolby comparisons
Tom Petty as a creative north star
Memories of Tom Petty and the Cameron Crowe documentary
Commercial break and 'Dead for a Set' preview
Sponsorship and the turn to heartland rock
Shift from headphone-focused to live-ready songwriting
Recording 'Ilys' during cancer treatment
Fatherhood, new life, and changing perspective
Avoiding narrative labels like 'cancer record'
Daily writing habits and moving forward
Touring logistics and lifelong songwriting goals
Musical influences: Springsteen, Hornsby, and Jesu
Fleetwood Mac, Tusk, and short-form video content
Brain smoothing with movies while writing
Recording at Drop of Sun and collaborating with friends
The 'dad rock' phenomenon and Jeff Tweedy
Clip of 'Disintegrate' and Anthropic sponsorship
Listener question: moving back to the South
Closing remarks and social media links
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