Watch Wolfgang Van Halen Show Off His Finger-Tapping Skills on New Music Series Song Cake

A Fresh Take on Music Shows

The long-running TV series Later… With Jools Holland has long been a staple for live music fans, but a new show may be ready to challenge its crown. Song Cake, a freshly launched program, takes a more in-depth look at how music is made—breaking songs down on a mixing desk while artists discuss the details behind their creative process.

The show aims to treat musicians and their craft with serious attention, focusing on how their songs come together rather than relying on surface-level interviews. Its unique concept has already caught attention, offering fans a chance to hear familiar music in an entirely new way.

Wolfgang Van Halen Opens the Series

The first artist to appear on Song Cake is Wolfgang Van Halen, whose band Mammoth WVH just released their third album, The End. In the debut episode, Van Halen joins host Jason Perry, frontman of British alt-rock band A, as they explore the album’s title track.

The two experiment with the mix, isolating and blending different parts of the song. “This is cool!” Van Halen says during the session. “I’ve never really done this with my music before.” The moment highlights the show’s hands-on approach, giving both musicians and fans a deeper appreciation of how songs take shape in the studio.

Finger-Tapping and Family Legacy

A second clip from the episode shows Van Halen demonstrating two distinct finger-tapping techniques on guitar—an homage to his father, the late Eddie Van Halen. As he breaks down the layers of The End, viewers get a rare look at the technical and emotional depth behind his music.

The team behind Song Cake describes the format as one that lets “some of the biggest names in music push up the faders on the Song Cake mixing desk while we chat about the sounds, stories and the magic behind the music.” They add, “You’ve never seen or heard it done like this before—it’s huge!”

Behind the Scenes of Song Cake

The show was created by executive producer Matt Willis, bassist and singer of pop-punk band Busted, and written by Philip Wilding, a contributor to Classic Rock and Prog magazines. Wilding explains the show’s purpose: “With AI coming for our art, Song Cake aims to show the world the human side of creating music. Real people, real struggles, the highs and lows, heartbreaks and triumphs.”

Filmed before a 200-person audience at Olympic Park in East London, Song Cake also plans future episodes featuring other major artists, including Coheed and Cambria. Tickets for upcoming recordings will be available on the show’s website.