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Artwork for Chris DeMakes A Podcast

Chris DeMakes A Podcast

Chris DeMakes
Distrokid
Punk Rock
Music Production
Punchline
Music Industry
Less Than Jake
Christmas
Songwriting
Queen
Nirvana
Weezer
The Beatles
Bohemian Rhapsody
80s Music
We Are Young
Descendents
Fun
Shopify
Lemonade
Gangsta's Paradise

You may know Chris DeMakes as a founding member of the band Less Than Jake, but what you may NOT know is that he's a true music historian. On Chris DeMakes A Podcast, he welcomes accomplished songwriters to sit in and discuss the writing and recording of beloved songs from their back catalogs.

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes490Founded6 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Music CommentaryMusicMusic History

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Artwork for Chris DeMakes A Podcast

Latest Episodes

This week’s Throwback Thursday episode was originally released as Episode 229 on October 21st, 2024. In this conversation, Chris DeMakes and co-host/producer Chris Fafalios dive into the hit 1994 single "Zombie" by The Cranberries, written by the lat... more

YouTube

Dolly Parton was known far and wide as the Queen of Country Music, which is a title that was well-earned when you look back at her prolific career that spanned six decades. It was in 1980 that she made the leap onto the silver screen, starring alongs... more

YouTube

Over on the One Hit Thunder podcast, Chris and Matt compiled the Top 10 lists of listeners to arrive at the 100 greatest one hit wonders of all time. In this episode, they discuss some of the songs that did NOT make the list.

Chris DeMakes A Podcast... more

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Chris Cresswell makes his return to Chris DeMakes A Podcast, this time to discuss the writing and recording of the 2026 single from The Flatliners, “Good, You?” Lyrically, this hard-hitting, 90s-influenced song is built around a familiar scenario: so... more

YouTube

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Chris Cresswell
Lead vocalist and guitarist for The Flatliners
The Flatliners
Episode: Ep. 321: Chris Cresswell discusses The Flatliners “Good, You?”
Craig Wedren
Lead vocalist and songwriter for Shudder to Think
Shudder to Think
Episode: Throwback Thursday: Craig Wedren discusses Shudder to Think’s “X-French Tee Shirt”
Patty Walters
Guitarist and lead vocalist for As It Is
As It Is
Episode: Ep. 320: Patty Walters discusses As It Is “Live, Laugh, Love, Los Angeles”
John Corabi
Lead vocalist and guitarist from Mötley Crüe (1994 era)
Mötley Crüe
Episode: Ep. 319: John Corabi discusses Mötley Crüe’s “Hooligan’s Holiday”
Nick Thomas
Lead vocalist and guitarist for The Spill Canvas
The Spill Canvas
Episode: Throwback Thursday: Nick Thomas discusses The Spill Canvas “All Over You”
David McWane
Lead vocalist for Big D and the Kids Table
Big D and the Kids Table
Episode: Ep. 318: David McWane discusses Big D and the Kids Table’s “Opportunity”
Gerry Beckley
Singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist from America
America
Episode: Ep. 317: Gerry Beckley discusses America’s “Sister Golden Hair”
Rou Reynolds
Keyboardist and lead vocalist of Enter Shikari
Enter Shikari
Episode: Throwback Thursday: Rou Reynolds discusses Enter Shikari's "(pls) set me on fire"
Garrett Klahn
Guitarist and vocalist of Texas Is The Reason
Texas Is The Reason
Episode: Ep. 315: Garrett Klahn discusses Texas Is The Reason’s “Back And To the Left”

Hosts

Christopher DeMakes
Founding member of a well-known ska-punk band and music historian hosting conversations with top songwriters about the writing and recording of iconic tracks.
Matt Milligan
Co-host providing perspective and banter, helping drive interviews and keep conversations engaging.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 1.9k ratings
  • Deep Dive Musical Insights

    This podcast is fantastic. I’ve been a big fan of Less Than Jake for over 25 years, but I had no idea how knowledgeable Chris was on songs of all genres. If you think you’ve listened to a song before, you haven’t until you’ve heard Chris DeMakes deep dive into every detail!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Dave___S
    United Kingdom2 months ago
  • Suggestion for episode(s)

    Love this podcast!

    I think it would really cool to do a whole album the way you do a song on each episode.

    Since a lot of the punk and related genre’s most influential or breakthrough or whatever albums are turning 20, 25, 30 years old now, and the bands are even playing them in their entirety at shows, it would be cool to do a podcast where you breakdown maybe not all the songs but a good number of them and at least talk about and discuss the making of, importance of, etc of the album and song... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    ArgyleSoul
    United States3 months ago
  • I guess I’m A Fake Fan

    I honestly didn’t realize I never left a review, but having been a listener and supporter since day one, here it is 300+ episodes later.

    Listen to this podcast. Don’t think about it, just listen. Enjoy the ride. You won’t regret it.

    With now over 300 episodes to choose from, there’s something for everyone.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    HeyHeyHeyItsMattAlbert
    United States5 months ago
  • Loving it!

    Just listened to your latest episode with Will Gold (Lovejoy has been my favorite band since 2023) and I was absolutely hooked. Im a 17y/o girl that’s been unofficially studying music for nearly 9 years and the way you broke things down was so easily digestible and engaging. Safe to say you’ve gained a new fan of the show :3

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Queen_Blockhead
    United States6 months ago
  • Easter Egg podcast

    Every episode I listen to I learn something new about the song I don’t know before. (It blew my mind to find out Aaron Barrett sang back up on Superman?!) It’s nostalgia and new all wrapped into one. Keep it up guys.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Florida Is Sinking Podcast
    United States7 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Feels like you're sitting in the studio with the artist and producer.
Clean, insightful breakdowns that reveal the craft behind great songs.
Deep-dan dive into the writing process keeps every episode interesting.
Great guests across rock, punk, and indie scenes with thoughtful facilitation.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Ep. 321: Chris Cresswell discusses The Flatliners “Good, You?”
Q: How did the lyrics for Good, You? come together?
The lyrics were developed after the riff had existed for a while; the melody came first, and fragments from voice notes and notebooks were later organized to fit the moving riff, with the theme focusing on fear of discussing personal feelings and the burden of sharing them.
Throwback Thursday: Craig Wedren discusses Shudder to Think’s “X-French Tee Shirt”
Q: Was there a specific influence that shaped the vocal delivery and phrasing?
Yes, the vocal delivery was theatrical and character-driven, drawing on a theater background and artists who played with voice as a storytelling tool; the aim was to make the lyrics feel cinematic and emotionally charged rather than purely melodic.
Throwback Thursday: Craig Wedren discusses Shudder to Think’s “X-French Tee Shirt”
Q: How did you approach writing such an unorthodox song structure?
We built it brick by brick, starting from a simple idea and letting grooves, accents, and time signatures emerge in the room; the goal was to keep it surprising yet cohesive, so the track could still feel like us when performed live.
Throwback Thursday: Michael "Fitz" Fitzpatrick discusses Fitz and The Tantrums "Out of My League"
Q: Why was the opening lyric omission from the official video considered, given that the line 'More Than Just a Dream' is a key hook?
Fitz explains that the label felt the phrase didn't function as a strong enough final hook, but the artist stood his ground, believing the lyric and its relationship to the album title would still carry the song's narrative power.
Ep. 315: Garrett Klahn discusses Texas Is The Reason’s “Back And To the Left”
Q: Did Jay Robbins significantly trim the fat or capture their live sound during recording?
Garrett indicates Robbins mostly captured their live sound rather than heavily editing songs, with some coaching but the approach was to preserve their essence.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About Chris DeMakes A Podcast

What is Chris DeMakes A Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Listeners of this show get an in-depth look at how songs are written and recorded, guided by a musician-host who digs into the craft with a rotating roster of accomplished songwriters and producers. Episodes mix technical breakdowns of arrangement, production choices, and lyric storytelling with behind-the-scenes anecdotes, personal journeys, and high-profile collaborations. A standout alternating between focused technical analysis and candid career stories makes it particularly useful for aspiring songwriters, producers, and music marketers seeking a granular view of the creative process across genres. Notable strengths include the host's breadth of historical context, guest variety, and a steady weave of practical takeaways for crafting c... more

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1. One Life One Chance with Toby Morse
2. The First Ever Podcast
3. Turned Out A Punk
4. HardLore
5. Dean Delray's LET THERE BE TALK

How many episodes of Chris DeMakes A Podcast are there?

Chris DeMakes A Podcast launched 6 years ago and published 490 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Chris DeMakes A Podcast?

Recent guests on Chris DeMakes A Podcast include:

1. Chris Cresswell
2. Craig Wedren
3. Patty Walters
4. John Corabi
5. Nick Thomas
6. David McWane
7. Gerry Beckley
8. Rou Reynolds

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