Elizabeth & the Catapult on Writing "Responsible Friend," Grief, and 16 Years in the Music Industry

In this episode, Matt sits down with Elizabeth of Elizabeth & the Catapult to talk about her sixth studio album, "Responsible Friend." Elizabeth shares the story behind the band's name, the emotional weight she carried while writing the record (including loss, illness, and the heaviness of the news cycle), and how a grant called the DAG Prize allowed her to fully produce the album with a band of longtime collaborators rather than writing it alone. The conversation covers a lot of ground: her early classical training and the artists who shaped her ear (Stevie Wonder, Joni Mitchell, Nirvana, and more), how her live performances have evolved to favor improvisation over note-perfect renditions, and the surprising afterlife of her song "Thank You For Nothing," which found its way into an Anne Hathaway film. Elizabeth also gets candid about the realities of being on a major label versus releasing music independently, and offers a piece of advice every young musician should hear before signing a record deal. She closes out with her five required-listening albums for anyone studying songwriting and a look ahead at her tour schedule, including dates opening for Amy Helm and a possible songwriting retreat in the French countryside. Elizabeth & the Catapult's new album "Responsible Friend" is out now. Follow Me On Socials • Instagram:   / fuegostine   • TikTok:   / fuegostine   • YouTube:    / @fuegostine   • Patreon:   / fuegostine   (https://www.patreon.com/fuegostine?ut...)