GUEST Q&A - Scott Interrante
Scott Interrante is an Astoria, Queens-based composer for reality tv shows and the co-host of two podcasts: This Is The Greatest Song I’ve Ever Heard In My Entire Life (@gr8songpod) and a new podcast about movie musicals Big White Elephants (@bigwhiteelephantspod)
(Editor's note: Ryan was a guest on This is The Greatest Song I've Ever Heard in My Life, right before the episode where Scott's guest was CHAPPELL ROAN)
What’s your favorite soundtrack of all time?
I always like to distinguish soundtrack from score–I know on the podcast you sometimes blend them, and sometimes the CD or Vinyl releases blend them too!--but thinking about Collection Of Songs only, it’s gotta be That Thing You Do!, which I do have on vinyl. Original songs by Adam Schlesinger and some others for The Wonders, plus a great collection of other period-styled originals for other artists in the movie. 90s-era 60s nostalgia is always a lot of fun!
As a kid, what song were you obsessed with? We’re talking replay until you annoy your parents, here.
My first favorite song was “I Don’t Wanna Miss A Thing” by Aerosmith from the Armageddon soundtrack. I didn’t know who Diane Warren was at the time, but now I get to look back on it as just one of many incredible hits for movies she wrote! I don’t think my parents ever got annoyed by me playing it too much though, but I’m not sure! We’ll have to ask them
What was the last concert you went to?
Wow, this is making me realize I haven’t been to a concert in a long time! Ballet, Opera, Broadway show, but it’s been a couple months since a concert, unfortunately! But it was Ben Kweller at the Bowery Ballroom before the release of his 2025 album Cover The Mirrors. During the first song, I leaned over to my girlfriend and jokingly said about the bass player, “Is that McLovin??” And she said, “Actually I think it is.” And it was!!
You’re going on a road trip. Do you make a playlist in advance or throw caution to the shuffle?
Am I able to say both? I love to make a playlist, but I usually make it designed for shuffle. I’m sorry if that makes me LAME! I do occasionally design them more specifically to be played in order, but especially for something long like a road trip, I’m putting on too many songs to think about ordering it that way. But also I don’t drive
Give us your elevator pitch for an artist or song or show that is criminally underrated or under the radar but more people should know about.
MICHELLE is my favorite current* band. They’re cool gen-z new york kids, 4 female vocalists, 2 guys playing instruments. A mix of girl-group harmonies and choreography with indie rock and RnB and cool funky chords. I especially recommend their album After Dinner We Talk Dreams.
*I say current, but after they finished their last tour, they’ve all been putting out solo music and jeez, idk what’s gonna happen!
What are you listening to right now?
Two albums I’ve really been loving this year are Improvement Movement - Slump and Boys Go To Jupiter - Meet Me After Practice. Improvement Movement is cool indie rock with a more experimental streak, but in a Steely Dan sort of way? Some great Yacht Rock harmonies and grooves. Boys Go To Jupiter have big theater kid-energy but also a pop punk spirit. Big ol’ vocals and fun cute songs!
You’re making a mixtape to impress your crush. What song are you putting on it to make them fall madly in love with you?
My hidden gem I like to pull out is the U-Tern remix of Britney Spears’s “If U Seek Amy”. It turns the song into a full on disco groove, and did so before disco was cool again. Great strings, funky synth solos, dancey percussion! Will you fall in love with me? Idk.
Best wedding song and worst wedding song. Go.
There are those who will tell you “Uptown Funk” is corny, overplayed, not good. Those people are wrong! Get everyone dancing. The boomers, the kids, the distant cousin you might have weird sexual tension with. “I’m too hot/Make a dragon wanna retire, man” Can you imagine how hot that is?? Worst is “Sweet Caroline” or any Billy Joel. Get outta here!!
If your life were a movie, what would it be called?
The Guy Who Might Be Watching Too Many Movies. It’s very meta
And what would your main character’s theme song be?
I think I gotta go with “Lovefool” by The Cardigans
