Hi there and welcome to So the Jerker on songwriting.

Simon and Brian here.

And with us for episode 311 is an American musician, songwriter and producer,

known best to the wider public as the frontman of Platinum selling band One Republic.

Behind the scenes, however, he's one of the most in-demand writer-producers in the business.

His considerable talents have been called upon by the likes of Taylor Swift, Beyonce, Paul McCartney, Ed Sheeran, Adele, U2 and Arianna Grande. In spite of his relentless schedule, a little while ago, he managed to find a small window in which he shared with us some of his hard-earned wisdom. We're delighted to welcome to the show, the brilliant, Ryan Tedder. Our guest was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma in 1979, and raised in a Pentecostal Christian

family. His dad Gary was also a gospel songwriter in the 70s. He learned piano via the Suzuki

method from the age of three, began singing around seven, and later picked up guitar,, bass and drums. Ryan was also interested

in acting and musical theatre as a youngster. In fact, it was his drama teacher who first

spotted his singing ability. He wrote his first song at 15 and his early influences included

Peter Gabriel, Nirvana, Oasis and Benfold's 5. Ryan majored in public relations and advertising

at college but would skip classes to go to the music room and write at the piano. Ryan majored in public relations and advertising at college,

but would skip classes to go to the music room and write at the piano.

He'd studied the songs of Diane Warren, David Foster and Babyface,

and deconstruct them, writing his own songs over the existing chord sequences.

In 2000, Ryan won a talent contest on MTV's Total Request Live,

but the promised prize of a record deal failed to transpire.

He did, however, secure a publishing deal with DreamWorks, where at the time he was working

as an intern for its publishing arm in Nashville, producing demos for songwriters and labels on the

side. Between 2002 and 2004, he was mentored by Timberland, and in 2003 got his first album cut with the song

She Tried for Bubba Sparks, the proceeds from which paid for him to move to L.A.

It was also during this period that Ryan co-founded one republic with his old schoolmaid

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