Can't Get Much Higher

Can't Get Much Higher

Home
Data Dives
Interviews
Mailbag
Link Drops
Playlist Help
Industry Notes
Odds & Ends
Guest Essays
About

March 2025

The DIY Pop Star: A Conversation with Bonnie McKee
After decades writing hits for Katy Perry, Taio Cruz, and Kesha, Bonnie McKee decided to spend more time on her own music.
 • 
Chris Dalla Riva
Revisiting the Death of the Key Change
I look back on the piece that made me "famous" to see if anything has changed
 • 
Chris Dalla Riva
8
When Did We Stop Using Saxophones in Pop Songs? Mailbag
This month we dive into questions about songs named after people, rappers working in odd time signatures, and so much more.
 • 
Chris Dalla Riva
3
The Greatest Two-Hit Wonders
Sometimes one hit isn't enough
 • 
Chris Dalla Riva
47
The Eternal Life of the Original Rock Palace: A Conversation with Stefanie May
Stefanie May, the marketing director of the famed Capitol Theatre, sat down for a conversation about all things live music.
 • 
Chris Dalla Riva
I'm All Lost in the Supermarket
I can no longer shop happily
 • 
Chris Dalla Riva
18
Conan Does a Dance, Sony Bets on AI, and Spotify's Recount: Link Drop
The news, podcasts, albums, and ephemera that I've enjoyed in the last month.
 • 
Chris Dalla Riva
2
Is Old Music Eating New Music?
Nom nom nom
 • 
Chris Dalla Riva
7
The Journey of a Serial Songwriter: A Conversation with Shelly Peiken
Having written hits for Christina Aguilera and Meredith Brooks, Shelly Peiken sits down to talk about the biggest issues in modern songwriting.
 • 
Chris Dalla Riva

February 2025

How Many Artists Did The Beatles Kill?
The sinister side of rock 'n' roll
 • 
Chris Dalla Riva
19
Mac Miller and Emo Rappers: A Conversation with Donna-Claire Chesman
Donna-Claire Chesman stops by to talk about her two most recent books
 • 
Chris Dalla Riva
What's the Point of a Concert?
Why the worst concert I've ever seen might be the best
 • 
Chris Dalla Riva
7
SNL Turns 50, the Rock Hall Loses Its Mind, and TikTok Returns: Link Drop
The news, podcasts, albums, and ephemera that I've enjoyed in the last month.
 • 
Chris Dalla Riva
2
Why Did the CD Die but the Book Lived?
Ruminations on the lifespan of physical media
 • 
Chris Dalla Riva
14
When Did Rock & Roll Die? A Statistical Analysis
When did rock fall out of the zeitgeist, and why?
 • 
Chris Dalla Riva
 and 
Daniel Parris
17

January 2025

Why is Everyone Singing About Whiskey?
Pour me a double shot of whiskey
 • 
Chris Dalla Riva
7
Is Hip-Hop a Young Man’s Game?
It's time for more bars about colonoscopies
 • 
Chris Dalla Riva
 and 
Darius Mullin
4
My Book is Getting Published
Let me tell you why it took 7 years to make it happen
 • 
Chris Dalla Riva
24
In the 70s, We Got Married. In the 80s, We Got Divorced.
On the rise of the divorce ballads in the 1980s
 • 
Chris Dalla Riva
 and 
Jeff Takacs
5
The Thin Side of Heavy
Journalist Tim Riley takes us on a tour of Led Zeppelin's catalog
 • 
Chris Dalla Riva
 and 
Tim Riley
14

December 2024

© 2025 Chris Dalla Riva
Privacy ∙ Terms ∙ Collection notice
Start WritingGet the app
Substack is the home for great culture