John Caramonica

If you couldn't tell, that is Mariah Carey.

I'm John Caramonica, one of the critics behind the New York Times' 30 Greatest Living American Songwriters Project.

We interviewed some of the songwriters on our list, including Taylor Swift, who hasn't sat for a video like this in a long time.

These are not ordinary conversations.

You're going to watch these videos and learn about intimate approaches to craft in ways that you rarely have access to.

Okay, Jay-Z's teenage notebooks.

I need to see those.

Watch all the video interviews for free and check out the entire 30 Greatest Living American Songwriters Project at nytimes.com slash 30greatest or in the app.

And let us know if you agree with our picks.

I bet you won't.

Criticism has been a huge fuel for me, like a creative writing prompt.

If you couldn't tell, that is Taylor Swift, who hasn't sat for an interview like this in a long time.

I'm John Caramonica, one of the critics behind the New York Times' 30 Greatest Living American Songwriters Project.

We interviewed some of the songwriters on our list, and these are not ordinary conversations.

Watch all the video interviews for free and check out the entire 30 Greatest Living American Songwriters Project at nytimes.com slash 30greatest or in the app.

That is, of course, Jay-Z.

I'm John Caramonica, one of the critics behind the New York Times' 30 Greatest Living American Songwriters Project.

We interviewed some of the songwriters on our list, including Taylor Swift, who hasn't sat for a video like this in a long time.

These are not ordinary conversations.

These creative superstars are sharing parts of their process in ways that you rarely have access to.