Dead Wax

From Songwriter to Film Composer, with Mike Andrews (Elgin Park)

Episode Summary

Mike Andrews (aka Elgin Park) joins DeadWax for a deep, joyful hang that moves from Neil Young’s “The Last Trip to Tulsa” into the absurd brilliance of Walk Hard’s “Black Sheep,” which Mike composed. Along the way, they nerd out on Neil’s “wandering” harmony, how a song can feel cinematic without trying to be, and why you sometimes have to stop chasing structure and just enjoy the ride. Mike also tells the winding origin story of his path from bands and songwriting to scoring. They touch on Freaks and Geeks, Donnie Darko, and the real-world chaos of making music for film. The conversation keeps circling back to honesty: writing a ton, trusting your instincts, and finding “you” only in hindsight.

Episode Notes

Hosts: Jack Conte, Ryan Lerman, Kane Ritchotte

Guest: Mike Andrews

Executive Producer: Ryan Lerman

Production Manager: Rachel McGowan

Audio: Jack Light

Theme Music Mixed by: Caleb Parker