VERSED: The ASCAP Podcast

Lucius, the Grammy-nominated indie-pop quartet led by Holly Laessig and Jess Wolfe, have been crafting innovative, exciting and absolutely otherworldly music for nearly 20 years. Driven by Holly and Jess's intricately-blended vocals and backed by masterful musicians, drummer Dan Molad and guitarist Peter Lalish, Lucius's songs deliver provocative and soulful journeys into the human heart, all set in soundscapes that are by turns edgy and cinematic. On the heels of releasing their fourth studio album, a self-titled work that is their most personal and purposeful work to date, and which Rolling Stone calls "The best album of their career," Holly and Jess took a break from their 2025 Gold Rush Tour to talk to VERSED about their roots, the art of collaboration and harmonizing and how their long-enduring friendship and partnership has carried them through music-making, motherhood and more. We also share insights from singer-songwriter Alex Warren's appearance at the 2023 ASCAP Experience in LA that set him up for success with "Ordinary," Billboard's 2025 Song of the Summer. Catch Lucius on tour Listen to their new album Watch the video for "Final Days" Download the ASCAP Mobile App  

Award-winning jazz pianist, composer and bandleader Jahari Stampley was born in Chicago and started playing piano at age 14. Within two years of exploring his instrument, he started winning competitions. By the age of 18, he was recognized and followed by such world-renowned musicians as Yebba Smith, Jill Scott, Robert Glasper, Jacob Collier and others. In 2023, Jahari won first place in the Herbie Hancock Institute International Competition, was named Chicagoan of the Year in Jazz, became the first non-classical musician to receive the Chicago Youth Symphony Alumni Award, and was awarded the 2023 LuminArts Fellowship for his debut album Still Listening. That album, by the way, rose to #1 on Apple iTunes in the first weeks of its release.  In May of this year, Jahari released the single "To Be Alive" from his second album, What a Time, set to be released in the US in September.  Also this year, Jahari was presented with an ASCAP Foundation Herb Alpert Young Jazz Composer Award and was selected to perform at DC JazzFest as part of the Foundation's partnership with the festival. As he geared up to take the DC JazzFest Transit Stage in August with his Jahari Stampley Family Band, featuring his mother, the Grammy-nominated multi-instrumentalist D-Erania Stampley, and some special guests, he shared what brought him to this moment in his career, what he has learned on his journey so far, and what he hopes to achieve with his music. Also in this episode are excerpts from ASCAP's Etan Rosenbloom's interview with songwriter, producer, multi-instrumentalist and Laufey collaborator Spencer Stewart about how jazz has impacted the way he makes music.   Visit Jahari Stampley online Listen to "To Be Alive (Solo Piano)" from Jahari's forthcoming album, What a Time Check out Laufey's new album, A Matter of Time Download the ASCAP Mobile App

Daniel Levitin is an award-winning neuroscientist, musician, ASCAP songwriter and the New York Times best-selling author of several books, including This is Your Brain on Music, The World in Six Songs, The Organized Mind and Successful Aging. His latest book, entitled I Heard There Was a Secret Chord: Music as Medicine, explores the healing powers of music and shows how and why it is one of the most potent therapies today. He brings together the results of numerous studies on music and the brain and demonstrates how music can contribute to the treatment of ailments such as neurodegenerative diseases, Parkinson's and Alzheimer's to cognitive injury, depression and pain.   But Dan brings so much more to his work than an incredible scientific background. As a songwriter and musician who has worked closely with music icons such as Joni Mitchell, Steely Dan, Stevie Wonder, Rodney Crowell and many more, he speaks eloquently about these topics from a music creator's perspective. In this fascinating conversation, he also touches on human vs AI created music, how some of the most legendary songwriters tapped into their unconscious mind to create indelible lyrics and his work in getting music therapy as a covered treatment.   Learn more about Daniel's work and read the book Watch Daniel perform "Just a Memory" with Renée Fleming, Victor Wooten and Hardy Hemphill Download the ASCAP Mobile App    

For the past decade, megahit songwriter Justin Tranter has penned hit after beloved hit for massive acts like Chappell Roan, Selena Gomez, Imagine Dragons, Fall Out Boy,  Justin Bieber, Ariana Grande, Maroon 5, Lady Gaga, Dua Lipa, Janelle Monáe – the list goes on and on. Justin's keen ear for catchy hooks, resonant lyrics and an endless supply of infectious melodies has secured their near constant presence on the top of the charts for the past 10 years – and their ambitions only grow stronger with every smash, most recently Chappell Roan's undeniable anthem "Good Luck, Babe!" nominated for "Song of the Year" at the 2025 Grammy Awards.  To celebrate their joining the ASCAP family, Justin recently joined us at NightBird Recording Studio for a behind the song look at some of the most beloved hits from this dynamic songwriting talent, outspoken activist and community advocate. We also picked their brain about their songwriting process, the issues facing songwriters today and why they joined ASCAP.  Music. Truth. Community. Get your tickets to the 2025 ASCAP Experience

Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter Aoife O'Donovan got her start as lead singer with the celebrated roots music group Crooked Still. She also founded the Grammy-winning folk trio, I'm With Her, alongside Sara Watkins and Sarah Jarosz, and has released three critically-acclaimed solo albums, including  2022's Age of Apathy, which garnered a Grammy nomination for Best Folk Album. She has performed, recorded and collaborated with an extraordinary number of musical artists, from the Boston Pops Orchestra and the National Symphony Orchestra to folk, jazz and bluegrass luminaries such as Chris Thile, Edgar Myer, the Kronos Quartet and Yo Yo Ma, among many others. O'Donovan's latest album, All My Friends, is an ambitious, expansive and orchestral venture, with songs inspired by the life and mission of Carrie Chapman Catt, a leader of the suffragist movement who fought for and won the passage of the 19th Amendment, which granted women the right to vote. At its heart, the album is a collection of folk songs that tell a powerful story. But Aoife's collaborative spirit brought in an array of incredible musicians that give the music an epic scope. Guests include The Knights, an orchestral collective conducted by O'Donovan's husband Eric Jacobsen; the Westerlies, a brass quartet; and the San Francisco Girls Chorus, made up of young women from the ages of 12 to 18.  Other guests include folk music all-stars such as Noam Pikelny, Anaïs Mitchell and Sierra Hull. The result is an extraordinary work that is provocative and passionate. And in a very heated election year, it addressed big themes in the most personal way, as the greatest folk music always does. As a result, Aofie's vision garnered her Grammy nominations for Best Folk Album and Best American Roots Song for the title track. In this episode Aoife shares what inspired the creation of the album and the joy of making music with her ever-widening circle of friends. She also treats us to two special performances: the traditional German carol, "Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming" and "All My Friends." Visit Aoife on the web Watch Aoife perform "All My Friends" with the National Symphony Orchestra Listen to All My Friends Get your ticket for the 2025 ASCAP Experience

The ASCAP Lab is ASCAP's innovation initiative, where the organization experiments to create the ASCAP of the next 100 years. Its mission is to explore advanced technologies, new business approaches and creative collaborations with the intent to foster and expand new ways to serve and support ASCAP members - all part of our commitment to being "creator first, future forward." One way it is achieving this goal is with the ASCAP Lab Challenge. Launched in 2020, this annual innovation accelerator program, operated in partnership with the NYC Media Lab led by the NYU Tandon School of Engineering, provides selected startups and university teams with mentorship and small grants to develop and expand upon their emerging technologies during a 12-week program. The ASCAP Lab works closely with each selected team to optimize their strategies and product offerings for the music creator community. The 2024 program, dubbed the AI and the Business of Music Challenge, brought together ASCAP's senior strategy, operations, and legal experts; key ASCAP writer, composer, and publisher members; and five of the most promising music tech entrepreneurs and early-stage startups in an effort to shape how AI tools can benefit music creators. In this episode you'll meet the 5 teams - CRESQA, Music Tomorrow, RoEx, SoundSafe.ai and Wavelets AI, and ASCAP composer member Gregg Lehrman (trailers for Avatar, Inglourious Basterds) who is also a startup founder (Output) and participated in the Challenge as a mentor to learn more about their experience and their unique contributions. Access the full show notes for this episode. Timestamps 00:00 – Intro 01:55 – Gregg Lehrman (ASCAP composer and Output founder) 11:43 – CRESQA's Maria Brachmańska and Karol Musur 23:30 – Music Tomorrow's Julie Knibbe and Pierre Niboyet  33:49 – RoEx's Dave Ronan and Aggela Mourgela 44:25 – SoundSafe.ai's Don Dada and Johnny Stevenson 54:05 – Wavelets AI's Dave Thurlow 1:01:30 - Outro Explore the ASCAP Lab and other on-demand content about ASCAP and AI Learn more about the NYC Media Lab

Following her debut as a composer for Broadway's The Notebook, singer, songwriter and producer Ingrid Michaelson released For the Dreamers, a masterful collection of orchestral pop songs and treasured classics that feels like a golden-hued, heartwarming musical hug for our anxious times. She talked to VERSED about the joy of making the album, following your artistic muse, facing your creative fears and building a trusted team. Then, pianist, composer and bandleader Joe Block, hailed by Jazz at Lincoln Center as one of "jazz's most promising young composers" and a recent winner of an ASCAP Foundation Herb Alpert Young Jazz Composer Award, talks to us about working with Wynton Marsalis and other jazz giants and what it takes to reach your full musical potential. Listen to For the Dreamers See Ingrid perform "Backyard" on the Today show Watch Ingrid perform R.E.M.'s "Nightswimming" at the Sundance ASCAP Music Café Visit Ingrid's website Visit Joe Block's website Make sure you are ready to vote at Headcount.org/ascap

Singer-songwriter extraordinaire, actor, designer and superstar Lenny Kravitz has been crafting his unique fusion of rock, funk, reggae and soul for more than three decades, creating such massive hits as "It Ain't Over 'til It's Over," "Again," "Let Love Rule," "Are You Gonna Go My Way," "Fly Away" and "American Woman." He's a Grammy winner and has won numerous awards, including American Music Awards, MTV Video Music Awards, Radio Music Awards, Brit Awards and has old over 40 million albums worldwide - all done with his distinctive flair, passion and drive. As an actor, Lenny has appeared in numerous films, including Precious and the Hunger Games series, among others. Recently he took his work in film to a whole new level by pouring his heart and soul into writing a powerful song, "Road to Freedom,"  for the inspiring Netflix film Rustin.  Directed by George C. Wolfe, scored by Branford Marsalis, and starring Colman Domingo, Chris Rock, Da'Vine Joy Randolph, Jeffrey Wright and Audra McDonald, Rustin tells the story of Bayard Rustin, the architect of 1963's March on Washington, who, along with Martin Luther King Jr. inspired a movement and blazed a path forward toward a better world. Lenny recently talked to VERSED to share how he wrote "Road to Freedom," how Martin Luther King, Jr.'s march continues today and his plans for hitting the road himself this year in support of his new album due for release in March. Listen to "Road to Freedom" and other Kravitz classics Watch Lenny perform "Road to Freedom" on Jimmy Kimmel Live Visit Lenny's website  

Over his 15-year career, writer-producer Henry "Cirkut" Walter has quietly emerged as one of the most trusted collaborators in music. He's worked with a veritable Mt. Olympus of today's biggest artists, from Britney Spears, Nicki Minaj and Rihanna to Maroon 5, Sam Smith and The Weeknd. You can hear Cirkut's production skills on many of the most iconic pop songs and albums of the past decade, including Katy Perry's "Roar" and "Dark Horse," MiIey Cyrus's "Wrecking Ball," and The Weeknd's multi-platinum Starboy album, which earned him a Grammy in 2018.  While Cirkut's enjoyed plenty of success throughout his career, the past year has been one of his biggest yet. He co-wrote and produced "Seven," the irresistible solo single from BTS's Jungkook that set a record for the most opening-day streams for a male artist in Spotify's history, and made Jungkook the first K-pop act to reach #1 on Spotify. His Sam Smith/Kim Petras co-write "Unholy" became a culture-shaking, Grammy-winning phenomenon. And when the Ariana Grande remix of The Weeknd's "Die for You" dropped in 2023, it gave Cirkut a third #1 in less than year – nearly six years after the original version stormed the charts.  Here Cirkut narrates his entire creative journey. He takes us from his humble beginnings in an uninsulated studio in Toronto, on to his early days in LA and into the writer room with some of the biggest musical stars in the world. You'll hear the stories behind some of his biggest hits, and find out what he's excited about for the future.  Follow @cirkut on Instagram Listen to the Cirkut Songbook on Apple Music Hear the massive Written by Cirkut Playlist on Spotify

Singer, songwriter, superstar Lainey Wilson left Baskin, Louisiana and moved to Nashville in a camper trailer 12 years ago. She spent her early years building her career, song by song, show by show, before breaking through with her #1 hit "Things a Man Oughta Know" in 2021.  Since then, Lainey's been on a wildly successful ride. Her second #1 song, "Never Say Never" with Cole Swindell in 2022 was followed by the #1 hits "Heart Like a Truck" and her collaboration with HARDY, "Wait in the Truck."  Her critically-acclaimed 2023 album, Bell Bottom Country, overflowing with amped up, guitar-driven, rockstar energy, continues to gain new fans all over the globe and crank out more modern classics like "Watermelon Sunshine," "Smell Like Smoke" and "Hold My Halo." She has been headlining and selling out shows all across the map, while also gracing festival stages at Lollapalooza, Stagecoach and at arenas with the likes of Luke Combs and other leading country stars. She just made history by nabbing nine 2023 CMA Award nominations, including Entertainer of the Year, Single of the Year, Album of the Year and Female Vocalist of the Year. She is the only artist to top the nominations list in her first two appearances on the final ballot. This on the heels of winning big at the 2023 Academy of Country Music Awards, receiving, among others, top honors for Album of the Year and Female Vocalist of the Year. She also received Billboard's Women in Music "Rulebreaker" Award this year and is the most nominated woman at the People's Choice Country Awards as well. Full of heart, soul, grit and gratitude, Lainey shares what has inspired and challenged her, advice for fellow music creators and how she feels about this hard-won moment in her career. Also, Jordan Smith Reynolds, the winner of our Green Theme Song Contest, powered by Studio Green @ ASCAP, joins to chat and share a special in-studio performance of his winning work. Check out Lainey's website. Watch the video for Lainey's multiple CMA-nominated song "Heart Like a Truck" Learn more about Studio Green @ ASCAP  

Counting nearly 3 billion music streams to his name, Steve Aoki is a true visionary. A two-time Grammy-nominated music producer, artist, fashion designer, entrepreneur, philanthropist, NFT futurist and Dim Mak Records founder, he has been described by Billboard as "one of the most in-demand entertainers in the world." He holds the Guinness World Record for the "Most Traveled Musician in a Single Calendar Year" and has performed at nearly every top music festival around the world, including Coachella, Ultra Music festival, Lollapalooza, Fuji Rock Festival, Tomorrowland, Electric Daisy Carnival, among others.   As a globally successful solo artist, Steve has transcended multiple genres of music and collaborated with an impressive array of artists, from BTS, Maluma, Snoop Dogg and Linkin Park to blink-182, Machine Gun Kelly, 2 Chainz and Daddy Yankee. In addition to his musical achievements, Steve dedicates himself wholeheartedly to every project, including the Grammy-nominated Netflix documentary I'll Sleep When I'm Dead, his memoir Blue: The Color of Noise and his influential record label Dim Mak, which celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2021, and is best known as a launching pad for the careers of prominent acts like Bloc Party, The Chainsmokers, Bloody Beetroots, The Kills, Zedd and Diplo.  Steve talks to ASCAP Associate Director Pop/Rock Membership Brian Reyes about how his Japanese heritage has impacted his craft and career. As May is also Mental Health Awareness Month, he shares some of his most effective wellness practices and how he takes care of his mind, body and spirit to be his creative best. Check out all things Steve Aoki Register for the ASCAP Experience - June 21 in LA  

May is Mental Health Awareness Month. And as the weather warms up and music festival season starts, so many artists will hit the road to do what they do best - share their music, live-in-person, with the world, and bring joy to millions of people. But the challenges of being a touring artist can take a terrible toll on creators' mental and physical health. In a 2022 paper in the Journal of Psychiatric Research, Dr. Chayim Newman and Zack Borer - revealed some sobering statistics from a 239-question survey of more than eleven hundred touring professionals. They discovered that people working in the music industry have rates of depression, anxiety and suicide risk five to 10 times higher than the normal population. That's an astonishing statistic, but probably not surprising to many of our members who spend much of the year on the road facing many challenges. Newman and Borer recently launched Amber Health, a company that offers a broad suite of mental health services to help treat the root causes of this mental health crisis and to provide solutions for the music industry. To date, with science-based research under their belt, they've worked with such organizations as the Newport Folk and Jazz Festivals, the Country Music Association, Live Nation as well as top artists in the industry. In an illuminating conversation, Newman and Borer share insights into the unique challenges artists face as working music professionals and some of the ways we can take care of ourselves and each other. Check out the ASCAP Wellness Program Learn more about Amber Health Read how the industry is confronting music's mental health crisis Register for the ASCAP Experience - June 21, 2023 in LA    

As part of our Earth Day celebration in partnership with Studio Green @ ASCAP, we talk to James Valentine, founding member, songwriter and lead guitarist for one of the biggest bands on the planet - three-time Grammy Award winners Maroon 5. James's work with the band has led to more than 135 million albums sold and created a steady stream of hit singles, including "She Will Be Loved," "This Love," "Payphone," "Moves Like Jagger," "Maps," "Sugar" and more. James also serves as an advisory board member for REVERB, the non-profit environmental advocacy organization made up of music creators and music lovers who are working to create a better future for people and the planet through actions on the road, at concerts and beyond. James discusses how he and Maroon 5 have worked with REVERB on tour since 2005 and how REVERB artist expeditions to the rainforests of Guatemala and Peru has helped him raise awareness about the harmful effects of deforestation on people and the environment. We also talk to independent music entrepreneur, author and Relix magazine publisher Peter Shapiro and how he has made sustainability a core part of his career, from creating and owning music venues like Brooklyn Bowl to producing over 10,000 shows, including concerts such as 2015's Fare Thee Well: Celebrating 50 Years of the Grateful Dead and 2010's Earth Day 40th Anniversary climate rally and concert featuring The Roots on the National Mall. Find out the latest on Maroon 5 Welcome to Studio Green @ ASCAP Check out REVERB, leaders of the green music movement Watch excerpts from Instruments of Change

2023 Songwriter of the Year Grammy nominee Amy Allen is one of the most in-demand songwriters in pop music. Her credits include songs written for Selena Gomez, Halsey, King Princess, Charli XCX, Harry Styles, Lizzo, Alexander23 and many more.  She has landed a coveted spot on Forbes' 30 Under 30 List and was featured as one of Variety's "Hitmakers of the Month." In 2021, Amy was honored at the Ivor Novello Awards, along with Tyler Johnson, Kid Harpoon and Harry Styles, for their GRAMMY-nominated song "Adore You." On this episode Amy talks about her roots in Maine, what it means to be among the first five Songwriter of the Year nominees in the inaugural Grammy category, the creative lessons learned writing with some of today's top artists and her desire to share more of her own music as a solo artist with the world, which she plans to do in the new year. Listen to a playlist of Amy's songs here. Visit Amy here. Follow Amy here.

This episode is about all that jazz. Esperanza Spalding is a five-time Grammy Award-winning bassist, singer, songwriter and composer. Recently, she has expanded her gifts to include work with fellow creators, teachers and practitioners in various fields to explore the therapeutic potential of music. Her last two albums, 2018's 12 Little Spells and 2021's Songwrights Apothecary Lab, reflect this new direction in her evolution as an artist.  She wrote an opera with Wayne Shorter, which premiered in fall 2021, and is presently working with Harvard University to co-create and learn with students there. We talked to her as she prepared to grace the legendary Newport Jazz Festival Fort Stage. Also, we talk to Michael R. Dudley, a trumpet player,  educator and recipient of the ASCAP Foundation Herb Alpert Young Jazz Composer Award. Michael was selected to perform at this year's Newport Jazz Festival as part of the Newport Festival Foundation's enduring partnership with the ASCAP Foundation to promote emerging jazz talent. Visit Esperanza's website Check out Michael R. Dudley's website Learn more about The ASCAP Foundation RSVP for the ASCAP Experience

In celebration of AAPI Heritage Month, we share highlights of two conversations from recent ASCAP Experience sessions featuring a diverse group of voices from ASCAP's AAPI community. You'll hear a provocative discussion with playwright, librettist and lyricist David Henry Hwang and composer and conceptual artist Huang Ruo about art, identity and the power of music to help us fight racism and understand each other better. Then international superstar Amber Liu of K-pop royalty f(x), and Justin Park, a rising singer-songwriter recently endorsed by BTS's Jungkook, talk about how their identities have shaped their lives and music careers, and the joys and challenges of growing up in the AAPI community. Watch "Chinese as Apple Pie" from David Henry Hwang and Huang Ruo's opera THE RIFT Watch "The Perfect Woman" from David Henry Hwang and Huang Ruo's opera  M. BUTTERFLY Watch "Easier" by Amber Liu (featuring Jackson Wang) Watch "Shady" by Justin Park Check out the ASCAP Experience You can also check out past VERSED episodes here

In celebration of Earth Day, we talk to Guster frontman and guitarist Adam Gardner, whose nonprofit environmental organization, Reverb, partners with fellow music makers like Billie Eilish, P!nk, Maroon 5, Dead & Company, Bonnie Raitt, Sleater-Kinney, Jack Johnson and more, as well as festivals and venues, to green their concert events while engaging fans to help tackle today's most pressing environmental issues and create real, measurable change for people and the planet. Adam shares some of the actions music creators and music lovers alike can take to reduce their footprint. He also highlights the positive impact that Reverb's recent campaign, Music Climate Revolution, has made within the last year, and how more sectors of the music industry are supporting their mission. Learn more about Reverb Join the Music Climate Revolution See Guster live  Check out The ASCAP Experience You can also check out past episodes here

In celebration of Women's History Month, we talk to one of today's most exciting singer-songwriters, mxmtoon, who is set to release a new 12-song album, rising, that is "a triumph of pop-and-disco confessionalism," while prepping a major North American tour. She opens up about the meaning behind her uplifting new song (and our podcast's new theme song), "Mona Lisa," how moving to New York City has affected her creativity, the storytelling benefits of playing video games, the women who have inspired her and how she needs to create to feel fulfilled. PLUS we catch up with Grammy Award-winning engineer Ann Mincieli, longtime collaborator with Alicia Keys and a co-founder of the pivotal music industry organization, She is the Music. Watch the official video for mxmtoon's "Mona Lisa" Visit Women Create Music: ASCAP Celebrate Women's History Month Learn more about She is the Music Check out Ann Mincieli's Jungle City Studios RSVP for The ASCAP Experience Listen, Watch & Subscribe!  

We talk to virtuoso violinist, composer, performer and producer Tim Fain about his adventurous and boundary-pushing career that spans film, the concert stage and virtual reality, and his collaborations with everyone from Philip Glass to The National. Then we talk to participants from the ASCAP Lab's 2021 Immersive Music Studio Challenge, our partnership with the NYC Media Lab, that offers grants to startups and university teams to develop and expand upon prototype technologies that demonstrate new ways artists can create music, connect with fans and reimagine how we interact with music and sound. Watch Tim Fain's Resonance: A Jump VR Video Listen to Tim Fain Plays Philip Glass: Partita for Solo Violin Watch Algorithm Nation: Four Tech Tools Pointing to Music's Future Watch the ASCAP Experience - the ultimate music creator community and event series. Check out The ASCAP Lab  RSVP for The ASCAP Experience Listen, Watch & Subscribe: i Apple Podcasts | YouTube | Spotify | Stitcher 

We talk to one of the most celebrated songwriters in music, Diane Warren, about Diane Warren: The Cave Sessions Vol. 1, her fantastic new cross-genre album of original songs recorded with some of the world's best artists, including Ty Dolla $ign, Maren Morris, John Legend, Luis Fonsi, Jon Batiste, Pentatonix, G-Eazy, Carlos Santana, Rita Ora, Celine Dion, Darius Rucker and many others. She also talks about her Academy Award nominated work writing for film and what it's like hearing The Beatles sing your song. PLUS: We get some sound advice from master composer-producer of instrumental hip-hop, RJD2, about making beats - without rhymes. Watch video for "Seaside" featuring Diane Warren, Rita Ora, Sofía Reyes and REIK Watch video for "She's Fire" featuring Diane Warren, G-Eazy and Santana Here is Diane Warren's official website Check out this course! RJD2: From Samples to Songs on SoundFly ASCAP Members get a discount on a Soundfly subscription. Just go to Member Access to activate it. RSVP for The ASCAP Experience Listen, Watch & Subscribe:  Apple Podcasts | YouTube | Spotify | Stitcher