The Magnificent Others with Billy Corgan
Diane Warren | The Magnificent Others with Billy Corgan
Wed, 05 Mar 2025
Billy Corgan sits down with legendary songwriter Diane Warren for an unfiltered conversation about her relentless work ethic, creative process, and groundbreaking career. Warren opens up about her daily routine, the organized chaos of her longtime writing space ("The Cave"), and her strong preference for working alone. They explore how the music industry has shifted from talent-driven opportunities to data-driven metrics like TikTok trends, why true artistry isn’t about following trends, how resilience, defying doubt, and proving people wrong are ongoing themes in her music and much more. Watch The Magnificent Others on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BillyCorganTMO
Chapter 1: How does Diane Warren approach songwriting?
Who's singing when you're writing?
Well, sadly, it's me.
I'm always oriented to, I've got to sing my own song. Yeah.
You're lucky you're a great singer.
I mean, you are a song assassin. I love it.
I love that.
Is it 1,500 songs at this point? You're up in Irving Berlin territory of first songs written. I've written a lot of songs. That's what the internet says, 1,500.
Wow. You know, the data that matters is, does it make the hair on your arm stand up? Does it make you feel something?
So... I'm intrigued about the cave. Do you have a name for the cave?
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Chapter 2: What is the significance of 'The Cave' in Diane Warren's creative process?
It's my happiest place. Me too.
Me too. Like it's like life to me.
It's where all the dreams come true or something, right?
Yes. I love it.
So I really, when you're talking, I can feel it. Yeah, you get it. Yeah.
But no, the, it's so weird now there's so many people like there'll be like 10 people in a room like a writing camp I'm like that you know I mean I you know can I talk like that I'll be believing me a lot um but yeah so uh it's to paint the picture for our great audience like
I know there's stuff all over the floor. There's cassettes.
Yeah, there's... I don't know.
Is there DAT tapes? Are we going like... Oh, there's DATs.
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Chapter 3: What role did Diane Warren's father play in her musical journey?
Weird, I know.
Is that enough for... No, nothing's enough. I love it. I love it.
It's never enough, no.
I got to tell you one moment that really connects me to you. We've met in the past, which was nice because I got to talk to you in the past, but... This is, let's call it the snobby musician not really understanding how great you were until this moment.
Oh, wow. You a snobby musician?
I'm a totally snobby musician.
Okay, so... But you're talking to me. And I'm like the most uncool person in the world.
Listen... You're a lot cooler than you think you are. I mean, when you can do what you can do, it's pretty cool to me. So I don't care what anybody thinks. Well, I think you're cool too, but you really are cool. Thank you. God bless you. But okay, so let me tell you this moment.
Okay.
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