‘Sinners’ Songwriter Raphael Saadiq

This episode of Fresh Air features an interview with Raphael Saadiq, a Grammy-winning musician, songwriter, and producer. Saadiq discusses his early musical experiences in the church, his unexpected journey to becoming a frontman, and his love for older music, which he integrates into his contemporary work. He shares insights into co-writing "I Lied to You" for the film *Sinners*, emphasizing the line "they say the truth hurts, so I lied to you." Saadiq also details his work with Beyoncé on her *Cowboy Carter* album, highlighting the collaborative environment and her unique artistic choices, such as extending a guitar solo in "Bodyguard." The conversation explores his creative process, including scoring movies in his head and his philosophy of "daring to suck" to push artistic boundaries. The episode also includes a remembrance of jazz clarinetist Ken Peplowski.