Rachel Syme

So you're approached about Waitress, Diane Paulus, and you are having this wonderful mind meld. You watch the Adrian Shelley movie, and how do you approach this project? I know the first song you wrote for it was She Used to Be Mine.

Do you like the workshop process for a new show? Because I know you just had your workshop for this and then it's like you have to go back and tear things apart, lose numbers, bring numbers in. I mean, is that exciting to you?

Do you like the workshop process for a new show? Because I know you just had your workshop for this and then it's like you have to go back and tear things apart, lose numbers, bring numbers in. I mean, is that exciting to you?

Do you like the workshop process for a new show? Because I know you just had your workshop for this and then it's like you have to go back and tear things apart, lose numbers, bring numbers in. I mean, is that exciting to you?

Do you feel like working in the theater sort of reinvigorated your love of the other side of the industry? Because you were saying, like, it's the hamster wheel, it's the hamster wheel. Do you feel like you felt revived?

Do you feel like working in the theater sort of reinvigorated your love of the other side of the industry? Because you were saying, like, it's the hamster wheel, it's the hamster wheel. Do you feel like you felt revived?

Do you feel like working in the theater sort of reinvigorated your love of the other side of the industry? Because you were saying, like, it's the hamster wheel, it's the hamster wheel. Do you feel like you felt revived?

But music can be such a bridge. You know, I think about how many people I know that feel so strongly about the song Gravity, for example. I mean, how for you is music your way of sort of both channeling your own insecurity and all the things you're still dealing with and then trying to connect?

But music can be such a bridge. You know, I think about how many people I know that feel so strongly about the song Gravity, for example. I mean, how for you is music your way of sort of both channeling your own insecurity and all the things you're still dealing with and then trying to connect?

But music can be such a bridge. You know, I think about how many people I know that feel so strongly about the song Gravity, for example. I mean, how for you is music your way of sort of both channeling your own insecurity and all the things you're still dealing with and then trying to connect?

On Radiolab, a story about how the country's most brilliant doctors did exactly what they were supposed to do.

On Radiolab, a story about how the country's most brilliant doctors did exactly what they were supposed to do.

On Radiolab, a story about how the country's most brilliant doctors did exactly what they were supposed to do.

The question we'll ask is how did this happen?

The question we'll ask is how did this happen?

The question we'll ask is how did this happen?

Find out on How to Cure What Ails You from Radiolab. Listen where you get podcasts or on the WNYC app.

Find out on How to Cure What Ails You from Radiolab. Listen where you get podcasts or on the WNYC app.

Find out on How to Cure What Ails You from Radiolab. Listen where you get podcasts or on the WNYC app.

I wanted to talk about a sentence from your book that I wanted to sort of hear what you think about it now, where you wrote, nothing makes me more panicky and rage-filled than the worry that I've done something in order to position myself for business over art. And I wonder where you feel like the seaside is right now between commerce and art, especially as the music business is ever changing.