Songwriting is like keeping a flower alive, with Skin, Nona Hendryx and Paolo Nutini

Music Life - A podcast by BBC World Service

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Skin, Nona Hendryx and Paolo Nutini discuss writing songs in your dreams, knowing when to grab at an idea, why playing piano can take you to places you have no right to go, and fighting on stage.Skin grew up in a Jamaican family in Brixton, London, and as a child, wanted to be a pianist. She formed Skunk Anansie in 1994 and they became pioneers of the Britrock scene, speaking out against racism, homophobia and sexism. She was also the first Black artist to headline the Pyramid stage at Glastonbury Festival when the band performed there in 1999.Vocalist, songwriter, producer, author and actress Nona Hendryx was a member of the pioneering girl group Labelle in the 1960s and 1970s. Since then, her avant-garde solo career has taken in everything from hard rock to RnB to house music, and she intends to become a cyborg and still make music.Following an 8 year absence from the music scene, Scottish singer-songwriter Paolo Nutini is back with his latest project Last Night in the Bittersweet, and pop superstar Lewis Capaldi has declared himself a huge fan.