On today’s episode of Creative Space, we have the pleasure of speaking with Academy Award-winning songwriter and producer John DeNicola. Without a doubt, you know his work, as he co-wrote the iconic song, “(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life” from the iconic film that we all know and love, Dirty Dancing. Through his record label, Omad Records, he’s also nurtured the careers of up and coming artists, like Kara’s Flowers, who would go on to become Maroon 5.
John goes into depth about his creative journey that led him to team up with Franke Previte and Donald Markowitz to write the iconic song from Dirty Dancing. We also discuss the art of collaboration and how John has never felt more creative than now.
For more on John DeNicola visit: john-denicola.com.
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SHOW NOTES:
0:00—Introduction
2:00—Growing up in a creative Italian-American family
3:00—”He sounds like he’d be good on guitar…”
4:15— I never had a question that I was going to do music
6:30—Picking three LPs from his cousin’s one-stop
7:35—Working with Peter Lewis of Moby Grape
8:30—Getting signed to Motown as the bassist in Flight
9:26—Rehearsing 6 days a week, 6 hours a day
10:20—John’s songwriting beginnings
11:00—Teaming up with Franke Previte on “Hungry Eyes”
11:50—Dirty Dancing and co-writing “(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life”
17:06—The most important lessons about songwriting collaboration
20:50—If you’re an artist and it’s your calling, nothing is going to stop you
24:45—John’s definition of creativity
27:37—Shakespeare in the Valley and letting it flow
30:50—Drawing inspiration from Tame Impala and Alex G
32:45—John’s first experience recording as an artist
40:14—The fear and/or excitement of the blank page
41:36—Why “(I’ve Had)The Time of My Life” is so uplifting musically
44:10—Taking off the blindfold and seeing the world as it is
47:32—Why records are a better experience for the listener
49:53—What’s next
BONUS:
51:34—Discovering Kara's Flowers (soon to become Maroon 5)