Inside the Songwriting World of Judah Michael

Judah Michael has spent years figuring out what makes a song stick with someone. From his early days playing in punk rock bands to writing acoustic music and creating pop songs for other artists, his sound has never been limited to one genre. During his appearance on PressPlay Radio Conversations with Dean Baldwin, Tina Hauser, and The Don, Judah talked about his approach to songwriting, the stories behind some of his older recordings, and why the best songs often come from the most unexpected places.“I've always liked really, really catchy music,” Judah said. He's always been interested in what makes someone want to replay a song over and over again, but he admits there's no exact formula. For him, it comes down to the moment when the melodies, chords, and music all fall into place. A good song doesn't necessarily need to be complicated. Sometimes, it just has to make you feel something.
One approach that has stuck with him is pairing upbeat music with sad lyrics. Judah recalled writing songs for other artists in 2018 when his manager pointed out that one of his tracks had the makings of a strong pop song. The idea was to put sad lyrics over an upbeat instrumental, creating something people could sing along to while still connecting with the emotion behind the words. He pointed to Lauv's “I Like Me Better” as an example of that balance. It's an approach that also comes through in his own song “No Friends,” which Hauser praised for its catchy beat and relatable lyrics.
The conversation also brought Judah back to “Losing Me,” a duet he recorded when he was around 18 or 19. He remembers making the song in his bedroom and realizing it needed a female voice. After another singer passed on the opportunity, he reached out to Maddie, someone he had met at a college party who enjoyed singing. He loved her voice, invited her to record the track, and the collaboration came together. The song eventually found an audience through YouTube channels in different countries, including anime-related content. Looking back, Judah said the whole experience felt like the stars had aligned.
Part of what made “Losing Me” work was the way it presented two sides of a relationship. As the hosts discussed the song's arrangement, Judah explained that the different vocal perspectives helped communicate the emotions of both people, even when they were singing the same lyrics. He also admitted he had a crush on Maddie at the time, adding another layer to the story behind the recording. Hearing it again years later gave him a chance to revisit a song he was still proud of.
For Judah, personal experiences have always played a role in his writing, particularly heartbreak. He explained that difficult emotions can become some of the most honest material a songwriter has to work with. Rather than avoiding those feelings, he tries to channel them into music. “There's no point in beating around the bush when everyone has gone through a traumatic heartbreak, everyone's gone through like crazy stuff,” he said. He believes those moments can lead to lyrics that connect with people because the emotions behind them are familiar.
That doesn't mean every song is about a specific person. Judah recalled writing breakup songs and songs about admiring someone else while he was in a relationship. His girlfriend at the time would ask who the songs were about, but he explained that he was often drawing on emotions he had experienced at different points in his life. A song can come from something that happened years ago without being a direct account of a current situation. For him, the feeling matters more than whether every detail is literal.
He also described songwriting as something that sometimes happens without much explanation. A chord, a melody, or a line can come out of nowhere, leaving the writer wondering how it happened. Judah agreed with the idea that songwriters can act as a vessel for something they don't fully understand. Sometimes, he said, you find yourself writing lyrics and wonder where they came from. Rather than trying to force that experience, he believes in making room for it to happen.
His approach to writing for other artists has changed over the years, too. When he first moved to California, he participated in songwriting sessions with producers and other writers, often creating songs specifically for artists who were looking for new material. Although those sessions gave him experience, he eventually found that writing with the goal of creating a hit could feel limiting. These days, he prefers to write on his own and see where a song goes. If another artist wants to record it, great. If not, he can release it himself. “You never come out with a hit song when you go in trying to write a hit song,” he said.
Judah was equally honest about how long it took him to find his footing as a vocalist. Mostly self-taught, he admitted that he still doesn't particularly enjoy hearing his own voice. He believes getting better at music requires a willingness to be bad at something for a while and keep working at it anyway. At the same time, he understands that criticism can discourage people before they have a chance to improve. He doesn't want to be the reason someone gives up on music, especially when he knows how much his own abilities have changed over time. His advice is to keep learning and surround yourself with people who challenge you to get better.
The interview also gave Judah a chance to revisit older recordings he hadn't heard in years. The hosts played “Beast,” “Tongue Tied,” and “Don't Have to Wait,” bringing back memories of earlier writing sessions and collaborations. Judah revealed that he was around 17 when he recorded “Tongue Tied” and joked about hearing the lyrics again as an adult. After listening, he even considered recording a new version with his more mature voice. “Don't Have to Wait” also caught his attention, although he explained that the track was still in demo form. The hosts encouraged him to revisit both songs, suggesting there could still be something worth developing.
Outside of his own music, Judah gravitates toward songs that give people a place to put their emotions. When asked what gets him through tough times, he chose sad music, mentioning The Script's “Breakeven” and “The Man Who Can't Be Moved,” along with Calum Scott's version of “Dancing on My Own.” He also remembered Aerosmith's “I Don't Want to Miss a Thing” as the song he slow-danced to with his first love at a homecoming dance when he was 15. More recently, he's been listening to Harry Styles' “Sign of the Times,” a song he said he can't help singing along to whenever it comes on.
For Judah, a great song can work in almost any genre as long as the songwriting holds up. During the conversation, he pointed out that a strong pop song can be covered by a metal band or a country artist and still connect with listeners. The arrangement might change, but the melody and lyrics remain. It's another reminder of why he's drawn to catchy music in the first place: the best songs have a way of reaching people regardless of how they're performed.
Toward the end of the interview, Hauser asked Judah to choose a song the world needs to hear right now. His answer was War's “Why Can't We Be Friends?” His reasoning was simple. “Everyone just needs to focus on loving each other and realizing we're all on the same planet at the same time in the universe, which is crazy,” he said.
After revisiting old recordings and talking through the experiences that have shaped his writing, Judah left the conversation with plenty of music to reconsider. Some songs have already found their audience, while others are still waiting to be finished. Either way, his approach remains the same: follow the feeling, keep writing, and let the song become what it's supposed to be.