Tom Petty, Rick Rubin give free masterclass in collaboration, songwriting, music production

A new documentary available free on YouTube offers an extensive look at the creative process of Tom Petty and producer Rock Rubin.

“Tom Petty: Somewhere You Feel Free – The Making of Wildflowers” offers any music fan an exceedingly watchable behind-the-scenes look at the writing and recording of Petty’s Wildflowers album.

But viewed through the creator’s lens the documentary is also a masterclass in songwriting, arranging, music production, and the art of collaboration between Petty, his band, Rick Rubin, and others.

In early 2020, a collection of 16 MM films from 1993-95 were discovered in Petty’s archive. It had been shot while the usually very private musician was on a prolific songwriting streak making what he intended to be a double album called Wildflowers.

Watch and learn.

Bruce Houghton is Founder and Editor of Hypebot and MusicThinkTank and serves as a Senior Advisor to Bandsintown which acquired both publications in 2019. He is the Founder and President of the Skyline Artists Agency and a professor for the Berklee College Of Music.