Ep 7. Macklemore

In Season 1 Episode 7 of Songland, the focus is on rapper Macklemore, who is on the lookout for the perfect track to feature on his new album. The episode starts off with a brief profile of the Grammy-winning Seattle-based artist, where he talks about his love for music, his creative process, and his desire to work with up-and-coming songwriters.

The episode then introduces the four aspiring songwriters who will be pitching their songs to Macklemore and the panel of esteemed producers - Shane McAnally, Ester Dean, and Ryan Tedder. First up is IRO, a French-American singer-songwriter who performs his song "Bulletproof Heart." The judges are impressed with IRO's unique voice and catchy lyrics, but they feel his song needs more depth and a stronger chorus.

Next up is Kole, a young singer-songwriter from Montana who performs her song "Hurt Someone." Kole's haunting vocals and emotive lyrics strike a chord with Macklemore and the judges, who see her potential as a songwriter. However, they feel the song needs more structure and they urge Kole to focus on the chorus.

The third songwriter to perform is Levi Hummon, a Nashville-based singer-songwriter who comes from a musical family. Levi performs his song "Workin,'" which is an upbeat country-inspired song that talks about chasing your dreams. Macklemore and the judges love the energy of the song, but they feel it needs to be more personal and to better showcase Levi's unique story.

Finally, the fourth songwriter is Maddy Vance, a talented but shy singer-songwriter from Tennessee who performs her song "What You Need." The judges are blown away by Maddy's soulful voice and emotional lyrics, but they feel the song needs more structure and a stronger hook.

After hearing all four songs, Macklemore and the producers deliberate and choose three songwriters to work with - IRO, Kole, and Levi. Each songwriter gets paired with a producer who will help them refine their songs and prepare for the final performance in front of Macklemore.

IRO works with Ester Dean, who helps him add more layers to his song and create a stronger chorus. Kole works with Shane McAnally, who suggests some changes to the melody and helps her focus on the message of the song. Levi works with Ryan Tedder, who encourages him to tell his own story more authentically and add a more personal touch to his lyrics.

The three songwriters then perform their final versions of the songs in front of Macklemore and the judges. Macklemore is impressed with all three songs and the progress the songwriters have made with their respective producers. After some deliberation, Macklemore chooses Kole's song "Hurt Someone" as the winner, which he plans to feature on his new album.

The episode ends with Kole and Macklemore performing "Hurt Someone" in the studio together, showcasing the power of collaboration and the magic of Songland.