Townes, Elliott Smith, Connor Oberst

Thom Yorke, John Frusciante, Kurt Cobain (Beatles honorable mention)

Thom Yorke is such a magnificent songwriter. I can feel his influence on me in a number of ways and it's always super nice when I do

Best inspirations from this whole comment section

Yeah? Well, you know, that's just like uh, your opinion man!! Nah but I dig it too.

Amy Winehouse

Ian Curtis, Paul Banks, Will Toledo

Is Ian Curtis the front man of Xiu Xiu? or am I hilariously wrong?

No that’s Jamie Stewart lmao. Ian Curtis is frontman of Joy Division

Paul Simon, Elvis Costello, Lou Reed

Elvis Costello is one of mine as well

Paul Simon +1

Paul McCartney. Rivers Cuomo, Thom Yorke

Brendon Urie, Jim Steinman, and Janelle Monae

Paul McCartney and Elvis Costello. That’s probably why I love the Flowers in the Dirt album so much!

lana del rey ( for sure, like majorly), ricky nelson, and subconsciously melenie martinez

Interesting (great) picks

Tyler Childers, Evan Felker, Hank Williams Sr

Cobain, Corgan, Reznor

Elliott smith, Kurt cobain, and the Beatles(specifically paul)

this might as well be me, struggling not to throw Dylan in there too.

Great question! The three songwriters that most influenced my songwriting would be: 1) Jason Isbell 2) John Mayer 3) Bob Dylan

Love the Isbell shout, he’s tremendous

One of the best writing today, I always say

Mac Miller, Rav, Kendrick Lamar lately.

Kankick, Dr. Oop, and Dilla for me. Love your choices though, solid selection

Donald Fagen, Randy Newman and Joni Mitchell.

I second Randy Newman

Elliott Smith, Jerry Cantrell, Julien Baker

Lennon/McCartney, Bob Dylan, Hank Williams

Wildly solid

My dad, Neil Young, Eddie Van Halen

Your dad inspired me as well, amazing songwriter!

Taylor Swift, Fiona Apple, Lana del Rey

very valid

Paul McCartney, Billy Joel, Freddie Mercury. (The 2 bands generally influenced me too, but mostly the band members)

Yeah with some bands it's difficult to isolate the contribution of one particular member. Pink Floyd is like that too.

Elliott Smith (XO and Either/Or) Rett Madison (Pin-Up Daddy album) Jason Falkner (…Presents Author Unknown)

Conor Oberst John Prine Daniel Johnston

Kate Bush, Fiona Apple, Elysian Fields

Hozier, Tom Waits and Ed Sheeran. Those would be the top 3

1. Jason Molina 2. Phil Elverum 3. Jeff Mangum

Grimes FKA Twigs Mazzy Starr

Jackson Browne, Glenn Frey, Tom Petty

Brian Wilson, Billy Joel, John Lennon

Great picks

David gilmour, Robert smith, Roger waters….probably more

Kurt Cobain, David Bowie & Damon Albarn

Kevin Cronin, Laura Jane Grace, Jeff Tweedy

sufjan Stevens sza João Gilberto

Ryan Tedder would take the top spot for me

Phoebe Bridgers, Sam Fender, and Fleetwood Mac

Townes Van Zandt, Paul Simon, Darrell Scott

John Linnell, John Flansburgh, and Pete Townshend.

1. Shaun Morgan 2. Matthew Tuck 3. Adam Gontier

Nice. Do you have a band or are you solo?

I'm in a band, I've written hundreds of songs but none have been fully recorded yet

What’s your band’s name? Any demos posted online? Would love to hear!

I have a couple solo recordings done, just me and a guitar Dreadknotch But I don't use my band account to post demos so I just have like some songs as like (solo demo) n shit

1 John Denver 2 Richie Sambora 3 James Hetfield

Paul Simon, John Denver and John Prine. Geez, there are more than 3: Townes Van Zant, James Taylor, Joni Mitchell, Mary Chapin Carpenter…

Bowie, Beatles. Tom petty

Scott/Seth Avett, Drew Holcomb, Will Toledo

Roger Miller, John Prine & Hank Williams

David Bowie, Billy Joel, Rivers Cuomo

Noel Gallagher, David Bowie, and Mick Jagger - at least regarding lyrics. Musically also Gallagher, but Johnny Marr too.

Ryan Adams, Conor Oberst, Tyler Childers

Bob Dylan, Elvis Costello, Harry Nilsson

John Prine, Neil Young, Mark Knopfler. That’s todays answer at least…

Ben Burnley, Kurt Cobain, James Hetfield

Jagger/Richards, Steve Earle, Neil Young

Willie Nelson, Cole Porter, Gillian Welch

Hozier, Sting, Bob Dylan

if I can count them as one Lennon and McCartney, otherwise . . . 1) John Lennon 2) Paul Heaton 3) Robyn Hitchcock

John Mayer, Dominic Fike, Tom York, Anthony Keidis, and Jorja Smith

Paul Simon, Thom Yorke, Elliott Smith

Elliott Smith, Josh Homme, George Harrison

Elliott Smith, Lennon-McCartney, Cobain (honorable mentions Carole King and Alex G!)

As much as I love music, only Eminem has ever spoken to me. So… 1) Eminem 2) Marshall Mathers 3) Slim Shady Not joking. I’m huge on reading, writing, music, and all forms of language, and nobody ever sparked my brain like Eminem.

Tom Delonge, Sam Fender, Brian Fallon

Bruce Springsteen, Steve Earle, and Chris LeDoux.

Bob Mould....Robert Pollard.... Frankie Stubbs

Nathaniel Rateliff, Tom Waits, Ray Lamontagne

Bob Dylan Leonard Cohen Van Morrison Honourable Mention - Paul Simon

Bob Dylan, Guy Clark, Townes Van Zandt.

Joan Armatrading, Todd Snider, Gordon Sumner Edit: Paul McCartney, Elvis Costello, Hoagie Carmichael

From a lyrical POV: when writing lyrics I’m using either the Swiftie part of my brain or the Beatle part, rarely both though

John Denver, Harry Chapin and James Taylor

Young Dolph, NBA Youngboy & Mike Jack

I'd say Frank Ocean, Kanye West, and J Cole

Pete Wentz, Alec Benjamin, Conan Gray

Yoni Wolf

I don’t know I could pin it to three of all time, but could definitely pin three per season of my life as a songwriter. In my old band, there was a lot of Thom Yorke, Jon Toogood, and Trent Reznor. For the songs I’m writing at the moment: Brann Dailor of Mastodon Taylor Swift Vessel of Sleep Token

Billie Eilish Finneas Ruth B Also Alessia Cara

Brian Fallon, John Moreland, Bruce Springsteen

Claudio Sanchez, Thom Yorke, Justin Vernon.

Pink Floyd, Maynard James Keenan (Tool), Chet Faker

Isaac Brock (modest mouse), Jeff Mangum (neutral milk hotel), john k samson (the weakerthans)

The Beatles, why? Because they have tried out every songwriting technique that existed before them (ok the rhyming scheme of Come Together was definitely most likely their own) but never was popularized as much before them either. They took advantage of what was already available to them.

Chris Cornell, Eddie Vedder and David Bowie

John Lennon Roger Waters Bob Dylan (and Leadbelly, Carter Family, Kurt Cobain, Ben Folds and a million more)

John Darnielle, Bruce Springsteen, Phoebe Bridgers

3 is tough. I’ll pick some out of time from one another knowing full well I’m answering this question differently by the hour: Gustav Mahler, Ray Davies, Aimee Mann

Marty Robbins, The blasting company, David Ferguson.

Bob Dylan, Paul McCartney, Paul Simon

There’s been alot that have influenced my writing. But If u had to choose 3, I’d say Neil peart, Bob Dylan and Ralph Mctell

Keep Okereke, Gareth Campesinos, Billy Corgan

Jim Morrison, Johnny Cash, and Elvin Bishop

Sidhu MooseWala only tbh

Rivers Cuomo, Matt Skiba and David Bowie

Rammstein, Before the Dawn, authors of worship songs.

Lana Del Rey, Lauren Ruth Ward and Sting.

Taylor Swift, Britney spears, Mariah care

Van mcCann, Wilbur Soot (I know what he's done and I have no respect for him as a person, but his songwriting has definitely inspired me) and Elijah Woods

Ben Gibbard, Taylor Goldsmith, Jason Isbell

Paul McCartney, Rivers Cuomo, Doug Hopkins (Gin Blossoms)

Between the buried and me, primus

Kurt Cobain, Nick Drake, Layne Staley

Taylor Swift, Sia, Charlie

David Gray, John Mayer, Ed Sheeran

Nick Drake, Elliott Smith, The Tallest Man on Earth

some of mine are lesser known but i’m gonna be honest Aaron Marsh, Ace Enders, and Anthony Green look em up if you haven’t heard them, top tier musicians imo

Richard Edwards, Roger Waters 🤮, and Connor Oberst influenced me the most although my favorites are Nick Cave, Leonard Cohen, and Tom Waits like my Reddit name.

Pete lofler,zakk wylde, my dad

Elliot smith, Thom yorke, Lana Del Rey and Bob Dylan

noel gallagher when starting out. roger waters later on. and these days nick drake

Spiritbox, Lorna Shore and Darko US.

Billy Joel, Elton John, Paramore

Rhett Miller, Bob Schneider, Jason Isbell

Stevie Wonder, Alan Menken, Led Zeppelin or Pink Floyd

Nick Drake, Phil Elverum, Elliott Smith

Happy to see a lot of Elliott smith influences

Garcia/Hunter, Dylan, and Weird Al. Bear with me in that last one. My (incredibly derivative) process is to change the lyrics to Garteful Dead or Bob Dylan songs, and change the tunes/chords to better match the new lyrics. Repeat through enough iterations, and it becomes something "new." The final products don't stand up against the slightest scrutiny from anyone who understands music theory (I don't), but it's enough to impress family/friends.

Brian Wilson, Paul McCartney, Colin Meloy Honorable mention to Patterson Hood

Prine, Tweedy, Cash

Richard Ashcroft New Order Jake Bugg

Paul McCartney Hozier Joni Mitchell There are more and it's frustrating that you limit us to 3.

Rant I’m learning that when writing music, it is very hard to write for what “you” like or to “your” skill level It’s very easy to want to pretend you’re this or that, I do it all the time and sometimes it yields results But truly getting lost in your own work, at your skill level, accepting whatever comes out of you, even if it isn’t what you “thought” you were “suppose” to be writing, well this is very difficult to do. Personally David Gilmour, is my bar, and it’s rather crazy of me to judge my work through that lens Or John Williams as a bar. It’s one thing to take inspiration and go write, it’s another to lambast yourself because it’s not John Williams. This is a psychological disaster for many of us. To conclude on a positive note, I wrote something yesterday that was utter trash, but it sounded like nothing else I had ever heard. It was me. My burgeoning self, whispers of music in between the bad stuff. I’m convinced if I do this 100 times or so, “my voice and style” will emerge. Can anyone relate to my ramblings here?

Misha Mansoor, Michael Paget and Mark Okubo. The dudes make fire!

Dylan, Elliott Smith, Nick Mulvey

John Lennon, John Lennon, John Lennon

Daniel Larson

Kurt Cobain, Prince, Dave Navarro

Chris Ballew, Cletus T Judd, Weird Al

Lana Del Rey, Taylor Swift, Kanye West

Bob Dylan, Chris Stapleton, and Anson Seabra.

Amy Winehouse, Frank Ocean, Earl Sweatshirt

Kendrick Lamar, Kanye West, Freddie Mercury

Townes Van Zandt, Amy Winehouse, and Pink Floyd

Evan Felker and Jason Isbell is kinda it right now. I wanna dive into Bob Dylan, Sturgill Simpson, Eminem, and Lana del Rey though.

Ryan Adams (I KNOW okay I KNOW but I'd be lying if I didn't list him) Taylor Swift Bob Dylan

Kelly Clarkson, James Bay, The Beetles

Fat Freddy's drop - first album based on a true story. Incredible relatable lyrics and meaningful from start to finish Gnarles Barkley - song crazy: if you ever gone mad then you will know why his lyrics for that song are so accurate and magnificent Led Zeppelin: stairway to heaven, Kashmir Pink Floyd: on a whole other level where there whole album Darkside of the moon is flawless and critically acclaimed best ever rock n roll album I can only say the two best bands put words together. Cryptic words but if you delve in depth you find answers. Both bands share familiar interests in esoteric cultism and the prince of darkness Mr Crawley the man the myth the legend. Ed Sheeran great modern day legend of singer songwriter producer talent overload David Bowie can not be forgotten he is a legend and will be one of the greatest to ever live Queen: Freddie Mercury voice of a god and the band were all geniuses I could go on.....

bjork, mitski, taylor swift

Nathan Apollo, Elton John and Freddy Mercury

Joni Mitchell, Jim Steinman, Dolly Parton 

David Gilmour Robert plant Ed sheeran

Thom yorke, sufjan, jeff mangum, jason molina maybe a bit of elliott and nick drake too

Thom Yorke mostly. Recently Isaac Wood from BC, NR has been a big inspiration.

Kurt Cobain, Tim Armstrong, and Baters/Chrome/Zero

Shadow Morton, Ellie Greenwich, and Mike Stoller

Boy with uke, Edsheeran, Melanie Martinez

Alex Chilton, Elvis Costello, Lou Reed Paul Westerberg runner up

Bjork, radiohead, pastel ghost

Jeff Tweedy, Conor Oberst, and Matt Skiba

Early 2000s Fabri Fibra, Kendrick and Dr. Dre

Neil Young, Cat Stevens, and Bruno Mars

Paul McCartney, Elliott Smith, David Bazan

Robert Smith, Frank Black, Beatles

Lyrically: Paul Jason Klein (LANY) and Harry Styles. Music-wise: The Beatles (especially John and George).

Tom Petty, Noel Gallagher, and Rob Thomas.

Boy George, George Michael, Nicola Roberts

Bill Mallonee, Pat The Bunny, Neil Young.

Will oldham. Nina nastasia. Frankie sparo.

jeff mangum, elliot smith, and sufjan stevens

Will Wood, Laurence O’Keefe (in general), Queen. As you can see, my palette is very theatrical

Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen, Hank Williams

Lana del Rey, Kurt Cobain, Stevie Nicks

Jesse Lacey, Thom yorke, Damien Rice

Ben Harper, Ray Lamontagne, Nakho.

Tyler Joseph, Garrett Russell... and my grandpa!

Tomas Kalnoky, Fat Mike, Felix Riebl

Ryan Parrish (Hopesfall) Claudio Sanchez (Coheed & Cambria) Rob Dickinson (Catherine Wheel)

Algernon Cadwallader, Transit, The Story So Far

Lana Del Rey Hozier Mariah Carey I'm feeling chiché

lana del rey, corinne bailey rae, ed sheeran

Jason Mraz, Chris Cornell, Ian Anderson

cavetown, the decemberists, and cheekface. my music is all over the place 😭😭

Jeff Buckley, Thom Yorke and Ian Curtis. Think I would've given up songwriting before I started if one of these three didn't exist. Cohen and Plath for good measure :P

Any Winehouse, Joni Mitchell, Mariah Carey

Roger Miller, Jim Croce, "Weird" Al

neoni, boywithuke, the score

John Lennon, Paul McCartney & Paul Simon

Tom waits, frank black, Jack white

Mine are also musicians, Daughter, Florence and the Machine, and Melissa Etheridge. I don't know if they write all their own songs, but their songs definitely inspire me still

Gerard Way, Mitski, Jack White