Jenny Spear and Bridget Croft are two good friends who write intense, energetic songs with awesome harmonies - think Vika and Linda meet Gillian Welch and Dave Rawlings in a roadside diner. They have both written and performed songs separately in different bands over many years but are really enjoying co-writing in their current duo (although sometimes 3, 4, 5 or 6-piece outfit) "What She's Having".

We played a recording of their single "The Sky" written about a fictitious character who was in jail but now she's on the road. Bridget wrote the lyrics whilst driving and sent them to Jenny who wrote the music in Bridget's preferred key and sent the song back. Jenny describes receiving lyrics from Bridget as like getting Christmas presents.

We then discussed other songs that Bridget and Jenny have written around the theme of the same fictitious character. She's broken out of jail, she's on the road, on the run and there is a murder ballad!

They played their song Blood Moon live in the studio which is in the episode and look out for two other ones - Good to You and Still on the Run - we recorded which are included after the closing credits. These are all powerful songs with beautiful harmonies.

Bridget and Jenny described a range of things that help them with their songwriting and are good advice for other songwriters - capture ideas in the moment, share them with people you trust, listen to lots of music for ideas, don't let your self-critic get in your way, don't try to make your songs too complex, leave spaces in the songs, enjoy yourself!

Having fun is paramount and I reckon Jenny and Bridget spent as much time laughing as they did talking and singing in the studio. It was great to meet both of them.

Here is where you can find the songs in the episode:

The Sky (recording) - 19:05

Blood Moon (live) - 26:16

Good to you (live) - 40:05

Still on the Run (live) - 44:10

To check out more of Jenny and Bridget's music:

https://linktr.ee/whatsheshaving