Songland ends its season one run with one of their own. Panelist Ryan Tedder and his band OneRepublic will be looking for a song from four aspiring songwriters. Band mate Zach Filkins and songwriter/producer Jason Evigan (Demi Lovato, Kelly Clarkson, Maroon 5, Clean Bandit) also take part.
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Check out aspiring songwriter JT Roach performing his selection for the show, “Somebody to Love.”
In an online bio, JT describes himself as a “singer/songwriter based out of Los Angeles signed with BMG Chrysalis for publishing,” The Madison, Wisconsin native continues,”I have written songs for Jason Derulo, Lil Jon, Becky G, Krewella, Jake Miller, Daniel Skye, and many others.” After college, JT worked for Comcast before having an epiphany that inspired him to quit his day job and move to Los Angeles to pursue a career in songwriting.
Ryan calls the lyric “classic” adding that it’s “familiar in the best way.” He sings a bit of it at the keys. Producer Jason Evigan wouldn’t change the song much–perhaps speed up the tempo a bit. Ryan notes that OneRepublic’s 2008 hit, “Apologize,” is the only relationship song that the band has ever released as a single. Shane jokes that he’s pitched a lot of songs to OneRepublic and “they’ve never responded like this!” Ester tinkers with the verse. “The hook was so great,” she says, but she lost the verse.
Ryan admits that the band has never taken an outside song. Hm. Last week, Charlie Puth, who writes his own music, guested on Songland and ended up not recording the song he chose. Will OneRepublic break the trend?
The Songland finale airs at 9 pm Wednesday September 11 on NBC.
https://youtu.be/FedpS4QtRq8
UPDATE: OneRepublic chose JT Roach’s song. Shane McAnally produced JT’s song. Here’s the finished tune. Click to read the FULL recap of the episode.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=glgANSVa3aI
And check out the OneRepublic versions below.
OneRepublic performs “Somebody to Love” Live at Red Rocks
OneRepublic’s studio recording of “Somebody to Love”
