Joseph Terrell of the band Mipso: I'm not against positivity in the sense of what we're doing is getting together and there's a powerful, spiritual, communal aspect to that. That's really important. But I'm a sad person. I don't know, how can you live in the world and not experience some sadness? To me, that's powerful stuff. I want to hear that. And so, I want to give that to other people, too.
 
I'm not sad all the time, just to be clear. I feel good right now. I will be sad alone later.
 
Cris Cohen: [laughs] Okay. Also, I believe it's a confirmation for the audience, "Oh, someone else is feeling the way that I feel." 
 
Joseph Terrell: Yeah, that's it, right? You don't want to express your sadness alone. You want to offer it to someone. I think it's a gift. So that you can see yourself in this. 
 
Cris Cohen: Yeah. And the gift is, "Oh, someone else gets this. I'm not the only one who is feeling this way." You get that invisible bond with that band or that artist. That's where it becomes magic, where the feelings are being exchanged, more than just words in a beat.
 
Joseph Terrell: Yeah. And more than just a commercial exchange. I think a lot about how all the spaces (where) we gather are commercial spaces to share music. And then there's a barrier to entry in terms of having to pay something. So in my mind, the exchange that you're talking about best happens in a place where it's like, I invite you into my home, or “Let's go to a place together.” It's the thing that you balance as a professional musician

​Cris Cohen: Over the years occasionally you brought in new band members. What were you looking for in musicians? What made for a good member of The News? 

Huey Lewis: Well, obviously they have to be good musicians. But it's a good question, because the hardest part about being in a touring band is the other 22 hours, right? You want somebody who is going to be fully committed, improve every night, and fit in the band as a good band member. They need to travel well, not complain, and be a good road soldier. That's very important. 

And you don't necessarily want the guy who auditions the best. It's the guy who is going to eventually be the best. 

Let's face it, rock and roll is not brain surgery. Most people can learn the music. But you want somebody who really cares about it and is going to improve all the time.

It's always tough replacing somebody. But what's nice about it is that a new member brings a new sensibility to the songs. And that's always been the thing I've cared about most: That our catalog stays current, that our songs live for a long time. And what's interesting is that a new member of the band gives the song a completely different setting somehow. And I really enjoy that. They sound differently in different hands. 

Cris Cohen: So it kind of it makes it more of a living, breathing entity. 

Huey Lewis: That's it. And it's fun to see the song that you wrote now take on these different versions. 

Cris Cohen: And then I find it interesting… I have never heard that before, that you don't necessarily want the guy or girl who auditions the best. 

Huey Lewis: There are session musicians who can come in and can get 90% of it on the first take. But that might be all they're going to get, because they don't care enough maybe or they're bored with it after a while. You want somebody who might only audition at 70%, but he's going to get to a hundred percent. It's a tough thing to judge, but that's what you're looking for I think.

No photo. No video. No hashtags. No questions for readers. No gimmicks to trick people into clicking. No boost. No ad. 

Bands To Fans: Anyone can publish a post. We help you tell your story. 

​Cris Cohen: I have never heard anyone talk about that line that you do not cross as a songwriter before. Where is that line in your mind?

Paige King Johnson: I feel like those boundaries start coming up whenever you are pulling from very personal things. Usually for me it is places of hurt. Whether it's loss, whether it's heartbreak, in those situations, especially if they pertain (not to me but) to people who were close to me, that's their life and that's their story. And if they want to tell it on their own, then great. But I respect my family, I respect my husband, and I am very cautious of delving into that very personal life when it comes to those scenarios. Because pain and heartbreak and loss…  everyone deals with differently. 

How much should you kowtow to the social media algorithms? Lately I am thinking the answer should be: Not at all. The algorithms for Facebook, Instagram, etc. are essentially batches of code that mimic someone with narcissistic personality disorder. You might make them happy here and there, but they will constantly turn on you. And there is no logic or consistency to their actions. What made the algorithm happy yesterday will enrage it today. 

Also, the more people try to make the algorithms happy, the worse their content becomes. A lot of material out there is not made for humans anymore. If someone emailed you with the same style of writing, images, or videos that they post with, you would think they were having a stroke.

So, I think it is better to ignore the algorithms and instead make posts meant for humans.

Intimidated by a blank text box? With my process, I draw out your best stories and insights. Your words. My work.

​Drummer Michael McDermott on the recording of the Joan Jett and the Blackhearts album "Changeup"

Joseph Terrell of the band Mipso - defining what it means to become a better musician.