The Guys are back with Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey writer Davy Nathan! We owe this interview to our good friend Shoshana Bean. Davy and Shoshana have been collaborators for years and we're so grateful she connected us with Davy. Ok... this movie is about to be a BIG DEAL. Jingle Jangle is out TODAY (breaking news podcast over here) on Netflix so be sure to get into the holiday spirit early. Davy and his writing partner, Philip Lawrence (of Bruno Mars fame) wrote 8 out of the 9 songs, John Legend wrote 1, and Davy and Phillip produced all 9.
Written and directed by David E. Talbert, the film is set in the town of Cobbleton and follows legendary toymaker Jeronicus Jangle (Forrest Whitaker), whose fanciful inventions burst with whimsy and wonder. But when his trusted apprentice (Keegan-Michael Key) steals his most prized creation, it’s up to his equally bright and inventive granddaughter (Madalen Mills) and a long-forgotten invention to heal old wounds.
Our guest, Davy Nathan, collarborated with Bruno Mars' right hand man, Phillip Lawrence, on the songs for Jangle. It was his first movie, his first musical, his first movie-musical, and we certainly hope it's not his last. As a songwriter, producer, pianist and musical director, whose work was considered for a Grammy in 2017. As a producer and songwriter he's worked with: Rodney 'Darkchild' Jerkins, Toni Braxton, Mary J Blige, Jennifer Hudson, Robin Thicke, Tamar Braxton, Kenny 'Babyface' Edmonds, Queen Latifah, Daya, Eric Benet and others.
As a pianist and musical director he's toured the world with: Christina Aguilera, Toni Braxton, Patti LaBelle, Kenny 'Babyface' Edmonds, Colbie Calliat, Natasha Bedingfield, Nicole Scherzinger, TLC, Sean Kingston, Brian McKnight, Jason Derulo, NKOTB and others. NOT A BIG DEAL!!!
This week we talk about ear training as a skill, writing a song in fifteen minutes, and what it was like to tour with Patti LaBelle. Listen in!