Afleveringen
-
Today, the Spotlight shines On singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Paul Chastain.
Paul is one half of the duo The Small Square, with drummer, percussionist, and vocalist John Louis Richardson. He is also a songwriter for and co-founder of the group Velvet Crush and has worked with Matthew Sweet, Roger McGuinn, Susanna Hoffs, the late Tommy Keene, and many others.
Paul and John released the second record from The Small Square, Ours & Others, on Farm to Label Records in October 2023. While separated by a continent and ocean (Paul lives in Japan, John in Wisconsin), they co-produced the record and created a modern sound using modern techniques rooted in classic songwriting and musicianship in the Beatles, Beach Boys, and Big Star tradition.
Enjoy!
(The musical excerpts heard in the interview are from The Small Squareâs album Ours & Others)
â
Dig Deeper
Purchase The Small Squareâs Ours & Others from Qobuz, Bandcamp, or directly from Farm to Label Records. You can also listen to the album on your streaming platform of choiceFollow The Small Square on Facebook and InstagramVelvet Crush | Trouser PressA beginners' guide to the heyday of power-pop, 1972â1986Paul Chastain Talks Synthesizers, Songwriting, and The Small Squareâs âOurs & OthersâBe sure to peruse this episodeâs extensive show notes at spotlightonpodcast.comâ
⢠Did you enjoy this episode? Please share it with a friend! You can also rate Spotlight On âď¸âď¸âď¸âď¸âď¸ and leave a review on Apple Podcasts.
⢠Subscribe! Be the first to check out each new episode of Spotlight On in your podcast app of choice.
⢠Looking for more? Visit spotlightonpodcast.com for bonus content, web-only interviews + features, and the Spotlight On email newsletter. You can also follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Mastodon.
⢠Check out Spotlight Onâs next live event at The Royal Room in Seattle on Saturday, June 22! More info here.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
-
Today, the Spotlight shines On musician, songwriter, journalist, and returning guest, Jeff Slate.
Jeff joined us about two years ago and while that discussion was more focused on his work as a writer and cultural observer, this talk focuses on his music career.
Based in New York City, Jeff has traveled quite an interesting road from his roots in the mid-80s post-punk world to rubbing shoulders and working with luminaries like Steve Jones of the Sex Pistols, Pete Townshend, Roger McGuinn, Jeff Tweedy, Willie Nile, Margo Price, and Sheryl Crow.
Jeff has a new record out, The Last Day of Summer, featuring Dave Stewart, Duff McKagan, Earl Slick, as well as members of Paul Wellerâs band and Noel Gallagherâs High Flying Birds. The album even boasts photos shot by famed rock photographer Bob Gruen.
It was a real blast getting to know this side of Jeffâs life and work. Heâs fun to spend time with and is someone who speaks his mind and who clearly cares. Check out Jeffâs music (links are in the show notes) and enjoy our talk.
(The musical excerpts heard in the interview are from Jeff Slateâs album The Last Day of Summer)
â
Dig Deeper
Visit Jeff Slate at jeffslatehq.comPurchase Jeff Slateâs album The Last Day of Summer on Qobuz or listen on your streaming platform of choiceFollow Jeff Slate on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter (X), and YouTubeJeff Slate visits Spotlight On in 2022James Honeyman-Scott: The Complete 1981 Pretenders InterviewBe sure to peruse this episodeâs extensive show notes at spotlightonpodcast.comâ
⢠Did you enjoy this episode? Please share it with a friend! You can also rate Spotlight On âď¸âď¸âď¸âď¸âď¸ and leave a review on Apple Podcasts.
⢠Subscribe! Be the first to check out each new episode of Spotlight On in your podcast app of choice.
⢠Looking for more? Visit spotlightonpodcast.com for bonus content, web-only interviews + features, and the Spotlight On email newsletter. You can also follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Mastodon.
⢠Check out Spotlight Onâs next live event at The Royal Room in Seattle on Saturday, June 22! More info here.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
-
Zijn er afleveringen die ontbreken?
-
Today, the Spotlight shines On bassist and vocalist Katie Ernst. In addition to many other things, Katie is one half of the duo Wayfaring with last weekâs guest James Falzone.
Katie is also co-leader of the Chicago-based jazz trio Twin Talk, and the indie rock band Edith Judith, and has garnered much acclaim for her Dorothy Parker poetry song cycle Little Words, which premiered at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC.
Katie is a working musician, performing as part of many jazz and improvised music ensembles in the Chicago area. She is also a committed educator, working with young musicians in her work as a teaching artist for the Jazz Institute of Chicagoâs Jazz Masters Residency Program in Chicago Public Schools, and by serving on the faculty at Birch Creek Music Academy summer program.
I was very fortunate to see Katie perform as part of Wayfaring earlier this year and even more fortunate to have this conversation. Enjoy.
(The musical excerpts heard in the interview are from Twin Talkâs 2019 album Weaver and Wayfaringâs recent Intermezzo)
â
Dig Deeper
Visit Katie Ernst at katieernst.comListen to music from Katie Ernstâs projects: Wayfaring, Twin Talk, and Edith JudithFollow Katie Ernst on Instagram, Facebook, and BandcampTwin Talk (website)Edith Judith â Bones And StructureKatie Ernst joins Iron & Wine on tourBe sure to peruse this episodeâs extensive show notes at spotlightonpodcast.comâ
⢠Did you enjoy this episode? Please share it with a friend! You can also rate Spotlight On âď¸âď¸âď¸âď¸âď¸ and leave a review on Apple Podcasts.
⢠Subscribe! Be the first to check out each new episode of Spotlight On in your podcast app of choice.
⢠Looking for more? Visit spotlightonpodcast.com for bonus content, web-only interviews + features, and the Spotlight On email newsletter. You can also follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Mastodon.
⢠Check out Spotlight Onâs next live event at The Royal Room in Seattle on Saturday, June 22! More info here.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
-
Today, the Spotlight shines on clarinetist, penny whistle player, composer, improviser, and educator James Falzone.
James and I have been collaborating on an upcoming live event, Improvisation in Music and Life, taking place on June 22 at the Royal Room in Seattle. This will be a unique program of performance and conversation between me and the five-piece James Falzone Division Ensemble. We will explore the nature of improvisation in music and how its principles can be useful in all aspects of life, not just for musicians. Tickets are available at theroyalroomseattle.com.
We recorded this talk in person in a very special space at Cornish College, where James is both a Dean and Professor of Music. It was a thrill to consider that I passed through rooms where John Cage and Merce Cunningham likely met or spent time.
James and I spoke for nearly two hours. His instinct to record in person on a Saturday in Seattle allowed us to go slow and let the conversation unfold. Enjoy!
(The musical excerpts heard in the interview are from Six Artifacts, James Falconeâs new improvised collaboration with Lisa Cay Miller and Bonnie Whiting, as well as the song âWho Put the Bloodâ by Wayfaring)
â
Dig Deeper
Visit James Falzone at allosmusica.orgPurchase music from James Falzone and Allos Documents on Qobuz or Bandcamp, and listen on your streaming platform of choiceFollow James Falzone on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTubeSpotlight On: Improvisation in Music and Life with the James Falzone Division EnsembleBe sure to peruse this episodeâs extensive show notes at spotlightonpodcast.comâ
⢠Did you enjoy this episode? Please share it with a friend! You can also rate Spotlight On âď¸âď¸âď¸âď¸âď¸ and leave a review on Apple Podcasts.
⢠Subscribe! Be the first to check out each new episode of Spotlight On in your podcast app of choice.
⢠Looking for more? Visit spotlightonpodcast.com for bonus content, web-only interviews + features, and the Spotlight On email newsletter. You can also follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Mastodon.
⢠Check out Spotlight Onâs next live event at The Royal Room in Seattle on Saturday, June 22! More info here.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
-
Today, the Spotlight shines on jazz pianist, composer, and educator Francesco Crosara.
Francesco was born and raised in Rome, Italy, where both jazz and classical music came into his life early on, particularly through his mother, the influential jazz singer, broadcaster, and educator Lilian Terry. Lilian presented many of the most important names in American jazz, and someâlike Max Roach, Abbey Lincoln, Chick Corea, and Dizzy Gillespieâinfluenced young Francescoâs artistic growth.
We spoke in early March, several weeks after Francescoâs recent album, Circular Motion, was released on Origin/OA2 Records. The record consists of all original material, including a revisiting of his compositions dating back over 40 years.
It was a treat to sit across the table from Francesco, in person, and talk about music, pianists, and his work as an educator and mentor. Enjoy our talk.
(all musical excerpts heard in the interview are taken from Francesco Crosaraâs album Circular Motion)
â
Dig Deeper
Visit Francesco Crosara at francescojazz.comPurchase Francesco Crosaraâs Circular Motion from Qobuz or Bandcamp, and listen on your streaming platform of choiceFollow Francesco Crosara on Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTubeMusic Discovery Center (MDC)Listen: Bill Anschell and Francesco Crosara Piano Duo | KNKXBe sure to peruse this episodeâs extensive show notes at spotlightonpodcast.comâ
⢠Did you enjoy this episode? Please share it with a friend! You can also rate Spotlight On âď¸âď¸âď¸âď¸âď¸ and leave a review on Apple Podcasts.
⢠Subscribe! Be the first to check out each new episode of Spotlight On in your podcast app of choice.
⢠Looking for more? Visit spotlightonpodcast.com for bonus content, web-only interviews + features, and the Spotlight On email newsletter. You can also follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Mastodon.
⢠Check out Spotlight Onâs next live event at The Royal Room in Seattle on Saturday, June 22! More info here.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
-
Today, the Spotlight shines On award-winning vocalist, composer, ethnomusicology researcher, and educator Kavita Shah.
Kavitaâs work sits at the intersection of modern jazz, new creative music, and world traditions. The impetus for her visit today was her 2023 tribute to African legend CesĂĄria Ăvora, Cape Verdean Blues (2023). We discuss that music as well as her personal experiences as a lifelong New Yorker of Indian origin, her work as an advocate for gender and racial equity in the arts, and more.
(all musical excerpts heard in the interview are taken from Kavita Shahâs album Cape Verdean Blues)
â
Dig Deeper
Visit Kavita Shah at kavitashahmusic.comPurchase Cape Verdean Blues on Qobuz or Bandcamp, and listen on your favorite streaming platformFollow Kavita Shah on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, Twitter (X), and YouTubeCheck out Folkalist Records at folkalistrecords.comMorna: on the trail of traditional music in the Cape Verde islandsOri-Gen Live Stream Rebroadcast | A Concert with Kavita ShahPermission to Daydream: A Conversation with Gwen Laster and Kavita ShahBe sure to peruse this episodeâs extensive show notes at spotlightonpodcast.comâ
⢠Did you enjoy this episode? Please share it with a friend! You can also rate Spotlight On âď¸âď¸âď¸âď¸âď¸ and leave a review on Apple Podcasts.
⢠Subscribe! Be the first to check out each new episode of Spotlight On in your podcast app of choice.
⢠Looking for more? Visit spotlightonpodcast.com for bonus content, web-only interviews + features, and the Spotlight On email newsletter. You can also follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Mastodon.
⢠Check out Spotlight Onâs next live event at The Royal Room in Seattle on Saturday, June 22! More info here.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
-
Today, the Spotlight shines On legendary writer, vocalist and digital culture commentator, Ken Goffman, better known as R.U. Sirius.
Most will know R.U. from his time as co-publisher and editor-in-chief of the 1990s cyberpunk magazine MONDO 2000. MONDO covered topics like transhumanism, virtual reality and smart drugs at a time when these things offered hope for a better or at least more interesting world, though the editorial tone always subversively poked at the soft white underbelly of technoculture. If Wired has become Kenny G, MONDO was Sun Ra, through and through.
R.U. is author or coauthor of books including Counterculture Through the Ages: From Abraham to Acid House, Everybody Must Get Stoned: Rock Stars on Drugs, How to Mutate and Take Over the World, and nearly a dozen more.
We covered a lot of ground, including but not only: online subcultures, societal repercussions of digital technologies, conspiracy theory, the shortcomings of transhumanism, post-scarcity philosophy, the limitations of irony, and a ton more.
Music is a big part of the R.U. experience, as you will hear in our talk. Heâs been a lyricist and composer for projects including Phriendz, Party Dogs and Mondo Vanilli.
R.U.âs various works have served as a guidepost for me since I was a much younger man. It was a special treat to connect with him now, in this time of reckoning with what the digital and internet revolution has wrought, to talk about the state of life and affairs.
(all musical excerpts heard in the interview are taken from R.U. Siriusâs Infinite Gesture (A Work in Progress))
â
Dig Deeper
Visit R.U. Sirius on his Bandcamp page and mondo2000.comFollow R.U. Sirius on Instagram, Twitter (X), Facebook, and LinkedInBe sure to peruse this episodeâs extensive show notes at spotlightonpodcast.comâ
⢠Did you enjoy this episode? Please share it with a friend! You can also rate Spotlight On âď¸âď¸âď¸âď¸âď¸ and leave a review on Apple Podcasts.
⢠Subscribe! Be the first to check out each new episode of Spotlight On in your podcast app of choice.
⢠Looking for more? Visit spotlightonpodcast.com for bonus content, web-only interviews + features, and the Spotlight On email newsletter. You can also follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Mastodon.
⢠Check out Spotlight Onâs next live event at The Royal Room in Seattle on Saturday, June 22! More info here.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
-
Today, the Spotlight shines On returning guest, the innovative musician and composer Markus Reuter.
Markus originally joined us for Episode 130 back in November 2022. He joins us now to discuss his project Sea of Hopeless Angels (Unsung Records), which began as several unedited studio solo improvisations by Markus on his electric touch guitar. Those recordings were turned over to mixer Stefano Castagna, whose sonic wizardry included not only mixing but fully collaborating with the recordings, adding new sounds and instruments as inspiration struck, including his own voice, various samples, bass, synthesizers, and other electronics.
There are other inspirations at work in this project, but we will leave those to be revealed in the course of our discussion. It is important to mention the final collaborator for Sea of Hopeless Angels, though, and that is Aldo Grazzi, an Italian painter and video artist, who, back in the early 1980s, made visual experimentations interfacing a video camera with a cathode ray TV screen. The resulting video retains every imperfection of what was then state-of-the-art technology. All of the pieces on Sea of Hopeless Angels feature video accompaniment drawn from these videos, which are in the Grazzi archives, with two of them also accompanied by studio footage of Markusâ original performances.
(all musical excerpts heard in the interview are taken from Markus Reuter and Stefano Castagna's album Sea of Hopeless Angels)
--
Dig Deeper
Visit Markus Reuter at markusreuter.comDownload Sea of Hopeless Angels on Qobuz or Bandcamp, and listen on your streaming platform of choice.Follow Markus Reuter on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTubeSea of Hopeless Angels visuals + videosBe sure to peruse this episode's extensive show notes at spotlightonpodcast.com--
⢠Subscribe! Be the first to check out each new episode of Spotlight On in your podcast app of choice.
⢠Looking for more? Visit spotlightonpodcast.com for bonus content, web-only interviews + features, and the Spotlight On email newsletter. You can also follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Mastodon.
⢠Check out Spotlight On's next live event at The Royal Room in Seattle on Saturday, June 22! More info here.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
-
Today, the Spotlight shines On Berlin-based electronic music composer and performer Hainbach.
I have come to view Hainbach as much an archeologist or audio specimen collector as he is a musician. While he makes beautiful music and soundscapes, they are often showcase pieces for the devices he works on, which include not only vintage and rare modular synthesizers but also tape machines, test equipment, and other industrial machinery. A particular highlight of his work is his YouTube channel, where Hainbach brings experimental music techniques and the history of electronic music to a wider audience, frequently displaying how he gets usable sounds from these forgotten devices. We have included a link to that in the show notes.
He is a fun and creative human, someone I am grateful to have spent some time with.
(all musical excerpts heard in the interview are taken from Hainbach's The One Who Runs Away Is the Ghost soundtrack)
--
Dig Deeper
Visit Hainbach at hainbachmusik.com and on his excellent YouTube ChannelPurchase Hainbach's music on Qobuz or Bandcamp, and listen on your favorite streaming platformFollow Hainbach on Patreon, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and Twitter (X)Meet the German Producer Making Music With Salvaged Nuclear Lab EquipmentBe sure to check out this episode's complete show notes at spotlightonpodcast.com--
⢠Did you enjoy this episode? Please share it with a friend! You can also rate Spotlight On âď¸âď¸âď¸âď¸âď¸ and leave a review on Apple Podcasts.
⢠Subscribe! Be the first to check out each new episode of Spotlight On in your podcast app of choice.
⢠Looking for more? Visit spotlightonpodcast.com for bonus content, web-only interviews + features, and the Spotlight On email newsletter. You can also follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Mastodon.
⢠Check out Spotlight On's next live event at The Royal Room in Seattle on Saturday, June 22! More info here.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
-
Today, the Spotlight shines On saxophonist/composer Kevin Sun.
Kevin joined us to discuss, among other things, his dramatic double album from 2023, The Depths of Memory, which was released in two halves: From All This Stillness in July of that year and The Depths in Slow Motion in October of that year.
Kevinâs an intense yet accessible player and composerâand a true working musician. He leads an ensemble most Tuesday nights at Lowlands Bar and appears regularly at Bar Bayeux and Ornithology, all three in Brooklyn, NY.
In the time since we recorded this talk back in January, Kevin has released a new record, a live one, recorded at Lowlands. Fate of the Tenor has him leading a trio which, to my ears, gives more than a passing nod to Joe Hendersonâs great 1985 live trio recordings with Ron Carter and Al Foster, State of the Tenor. Even the cover art seems a bit of an homage. The saxophone trio is one of my favorite configurations, and Kevinâs new record is a terrific contribution to the canon.
(all musical excerpts heard in the interview are taken from Kevin Sun's double album The Depths of Memory)
--
Dig Deeper
Visit Kevin Sun on kevinsun.comPurchase Kevin Sun's music on Qobuz and Bandcamp, or listen on your favorite streaming platformFollow Kevin Sun on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter (X), and YouTubeFifteen Questions with Kevin SunKevin Sun Quintet plays Ryuichi Sakamoto's "Riot In Lagos" at LowlandsBe sure to peruse this episode's extensive show notes at spotlightonpodcast.com--
⢠Did you enjoy this episode? Please share it with a friend! You can also rate Spotlight On âď¸âď¸âď¸âď¸âď¸ and leave a review on Apple Podcasts.
⢠Subscribe! Be the first to check out each new episode of Spotlight On in your podcast app of choice.
⢠Looking for more? Visit spotlightonpodcast.com for bonus content, web-only interviews + features, and the Spotlight On email newsletter. You can also follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Mastodon.
⢠Check out Spotlight On's next live event at The Royal Room in Seattle on Saturday, June 22! More info here.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
-
Today, the Spotlight shines On Will Barnes, leader of the Will Barnes Quartet, who joins me to talk about his life in music and, specifically, his ongoing collaboration with landscape artist Erin Hughes.
Their first album together, Source of the Severn, is a 21st-century take on classic bebop-era sounds. Erinâs nine original works of art respond to Will and the Quartetâs music, using her own hand-marbled papers as a palette to create collages that evoke the Mid-Wales landscape in which the participants all dwell.
The Will Barnes Quartet, featuring Erin Hughes, will tour throughout the year. At each performance, Erin will provide a special live visual show, leading to unique interactions between her, the band, and the audience.
(all musical excerpts heard in the interview are taken from the album Source of the Severn by the Will Barnes Quartet)
--
Dig Deeper
Visit Will Barnes and the Will Barnes Quartet at willbarnesmusic.co.ukVisit Erin Hughes and check out her artwork at erinlaurahughes.comPurchase Source of the Severn by the Will Barnes Quartet on Bandcamp or Qobuz, or listen on your streaming platform of choiceFollow Will Barnes on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTubeFollow artist Erin Hughes on InstagramRob Williams â Truly Inspiring Hand Crafted Guitars and BassesBe sure to peruse this episode's extensive show notes at spotlightonpodcast.com--
⢠Did you enjoy this episode? Please share it with a friend! You can also rate Spotlight On âď¸âď¸âď¸âď¸âď¸ and leave a review on Apple Podcasts.
⢠Subscribe! Be the first to check out each new episode of Spotlight On in your podcast app of choice.
⢠Looking for more? Visit spotlightonpodcast.com for bonus content, web-only interviews + features, and the Spotlight On email newsletter. You can also follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Mastodon.
⢠Check out Spotlight On's next live event at The Royal Room in Seattle on Saturday, June 22! More info here.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
-
Today, the Spotlight shines On in a much different way than usual, as I am turning the microphone over to guest host Miriam Boulos.
Miriam has been a guest contributor to Bonus Tracks, the official blog of Spotlight On, since August 2023. Miriam publishes with us frequently, and her work has included interviews with and essays about a diverse array of artists like James Walsh of Starsailor, Chappell Roan, Fuera, Ella More, Chagall, and most recently PEPTALK. As an international contributor, MIriam consistently broadens our view and uncovers new voices for us. Even more importantly, she is shining the spotlight on gender inclusivity and other forms of diversity that we are very grateful for. It has been a privilege to share our platform with her.
Miriam is joined in conversation for this episode by Swedish alt-pop artist Lucky Lo. This bit about the artist, quoted from her bio, gives a glimpse of what to expect in their talk: âLucky Lo unites people through her music by shedding light on the dark side of existence and turning trauma into triumph.â As a mission statement, itâs pretty strong.
Enjoy MIriam Boulos's conversation with Lucky Lo.
(all musical excerpts heard in the interview are taken from Lucky Lo's album The Big Feel)
--
Dig Deeper
Visit and learn more about Lucky Lo at luckylo.netLIsten to Lucky Lo's latest album, The Big Feel, released by TAMBOURHINOCEROS, on Bandcamp or your favorite steaming platformFollow Lucky Lo on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and YouTubeFollow MIriam Boulos on Instagram--
⢠Did you enjoy this episode? Please share it with a friend! You can also rate Spotlight On âď¸âď¸âď¸âď¸âď¸ and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. ⢠Subscribe! Be the first to check out each new episode of Spotlight On in your podcast app of choice. ⢠Looking for more? Visit spotlightonpodcast.com for bonus content, web-only interviews + features, and the Spotlight On email newsletter. You can also follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Mastodon.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
-
Today, the Spotlight shines On the Belfast, Ireland, band Chalk.
Chalk is Ross Cullen on vocals, Ben Goddard on guitar, and Luke Niblock on drums. They cook up a pretty stunning racket with a unique sound that is nonetheless recognizable in its post-punk, dance, and industrial lineages. If that makes sense to you, you will love Chalk. If it does not, give them a listen. Chances are you will dig what they do.
This is the second of two episodes I recorded on-site, in my hotel room/recording studio, at the SXSW Conference and Festival in Austin, Texas.
The recording took place two days after Chalk pulled out of SXSW to protest the festivalâs commercial alignment with the US Army and multiple weapons manufacturers, one of at least ten Irish artists to do so.
The band opened up about their process and development in this great discussion. Enjoy.
(all musical excerpts heard in the interview are taken from Chalk's new EP, Conditions II)
--
Dig Deeper
Listen to Chalk's latest EP, Conditions II, on Bandcamp or your streaming platform of choiceFollow Chalk on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter (X), and YouTubeWatch Chalk play live on KEXPIrish Bands Cancel SXSW Concerts Over Arms Companies and US Army SponsorshipSXSW Protest is About More than PalestineChris W. Ryan â Producer / Musician / ComposerMeet Chalk, the Belfast experimentalists making âtrauma technoâ--
⢠Did you enjoy this episode? Please share it with a friend! You can also rate Spotlight On âď¸âď¸âď¸âď¸âď¸ and leave a review on Apple Podcasts.
⢠Subscribe! Be the first to check out each new episode of Spotlight On in your podcast app of choice.
⢠Looking for more? Visit spotlightonpodcast.com for bonus content, web-only interviews + features, and the Spotlight On email newsletter. You can also follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Mastodon.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
-
Today, the Spotlight shines On Chinese-Malaysian Australian artist, musician and creative producer, Sui Zhen.
This is the first of two episodes I recorded on-site at the SXSW Conference and Festival in Austin, Texas.
This yearâs edition of South By Southwest has been the subject of controversy related to eventâs work with the US Army and several weapons manufacturers as sponsors for various programming segments throughout, and the reactions â including withdrawals from and boycotts of the event â by artists.
Sui Zhen spoke in both personal and general ways about the different options available to artists. She discussed who the protests help and harm and how, as an artist visiting through an arts visa, she had binding commitments tied to her participation in the festival. There is also a case for artists to use SXSWâs platform to stay engaged and present their points of view.
This was not why Sui Zhen joined us. We got together to talk about her compelling new work, the 13-minute piece âSleepless.â To quote from the artistâs website, âSleeplessâ is ââabout grief and persevering through it⌠first conceived in 2018, as a stream-of-consciousness response to her motherâs passing. The catharsis of musical improvisation served as a refuge, a way to navigate the fog of sleepless nights and immense pain. The track has evolved gradually, transforming through reiteration and further losses⌠the piece stretches out like a horizon, more a landscape than a song, mirroring the way grief warps our perception of time.â
We did get to discuss her work, though not to the extent intended. But we agreed that we had the conversation that needed to be had. Enjoy.
(all musical excerpts heard in the interview are taken from Sui Zhen's latest single, "Sleepless")
--
Dig Deeper
Visit Sui Zhen at suizhen.com.auListen to Sui Zhen's latest release, "Sleepless," on Bandcamp or on your streaming platform of choiceFollow Sui Zhen on Instagram, Facebook, SoundCloud, and YouTubeSee Sui Zhen's Instagram statement on on SXSWBe sure to peruse this episode's extensive show notes at spotlightonpodcast.com--
⢠Did you enjoy this episode? Please share it with a friend! You can also rate Spotlight On âď¸âď¸âď¸âď¸âď¸ and leave a review on Apple Podcasts.
⢠Subscribe! Be the first to check out each new episode of Spotlight On in your podcast app of choice.
⢠Looking for more? Visit spotlightonpodcast.com for bonus content, web-only interviews + features, and the Spotlight On email newsletter. You can also follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Mastodon.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
-
Today, the Spotlight shines On musician and songwriter Nicholas Dembling, aka Nic North, aka Nic West, of seminal New York CIty New Wave Pop band, Comateens.
The New York that birthed Comateens was in the midst of a particularly vibrant musical moment. There was new music everywhere. Jazz cats were staging loft concerts in pre-glitz SOHO. The punks and no wavers were holding court on the Lower East Side. Philip Glass and the minimalists were premiering new works and way up in the Bronx, hip hop was coming on strong.
Nic was working at New Yorkâs MediaSound recording studio where he and co-worker Ramona Lee Jan began to write songs together. With necessity as the mother of invention, Nic and Ramona began to play gigs with only a bass, a guitar and an electronic rhythm box, so that the band and its equipment could fit into one New York City taxi cab. This self-imposed constraint led to the original Comateens, a concept shared by Alan Vega and Martin Rev, who were doing something with a similar lineup with their duo, Suicide.
Nic takes us through both his and Comateens musical upbringing and development, as well as how he is documenting and preserving the bandâs legacy.
(the musical excerpts heard in the interview are taken from the Comateen's reissued 1979 single "Danger Zone"/"Elizabeth's Lover")
--
Dig Deeper
Check out the exhaustive Comateens archive at comateens.comListen to the Comateens' 1979 single "Danger Zone"/"Elizabeth's Lover" on BandcampFollow Comateens on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter (X), and YouTubeRamona Jan & Nic North Reflect on Their Life and Times as Synth-Punk Band ComateensNew Wave Central: CBGBs And The Birth Of New York PunkGoFundMe for Romona JanDon't miss this episode's extensive show notes at spotlightonpodcast.com--
⢠Did you enjoy this episode? Please share it with a friend! You can also rate Spotlight On âď¸âď¸âď¸âď¸âď¸ and leave a review on Apple Podcasts.
⢠Subscribe! Be the first to check out each new episode of Spotlight On in your podcast app of choice.
⢠Looking for more? Visit spotlightonpodcast.com for bonus content, web-only interviews + features, and the Spotlight On email newsletter. You can also follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Mastodon.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
-
Today, the Spotlight shines On drummer, composer, and improviser Phil Haynes.
Phil published a unique memoir last November, which includes not only his reflections on a life in and of music but also stands as an important document of nearly 40 years of music in New York City and beyond.
Phil delivers plenty of inside observations of his work with figures like Lee Konitz, Anthony Braxton, Dave Liebman, and Paul Smoker, as well as his own poetry, musical analysis, philosophical musings, and lessons learned along the way.
Itâs a charming book, and Phil has created a towering body of musical work. This conversation is classic Spotlight On, with an engaged, sincere guest. Listen to our talk and then get yourself a copy of Chasing the Masters: First Takes of a Modernist Drumming Artist.
(all musical excerpts heard in the interview are taken from Phil Haynes's 62-track retrospective, A Life Improvised - Chasing The Masters)
--
Dig Deeper
Visit Phil Haynes at philhaynes.com, Bandcamp, and FacebookLearn more about Phil Haynes' memoir Chasing The Masters at chasingthemasters.com and purchase the book from AmazonHerb RobertsonPaul SmokerLee Konitz on Spontaneity, Originality, Drugs & Playing SharpEllery EskelinEllery Eskelin, Paul Smoker, Drew Gress, Phil Haynes - Joint Venture4 Horns and What?Brooklyn Academy Finds Room for the Outsiders of JazzBe sure to peruse the rest of this episode's extensive show notes at spotlightonpodcast.com--
⢠Did you enjoy this episode? Please share it with a friend! You can also rate Spotlight On âď¸âď¸âď¸âď¸âď¸ and leave a review on Apple Podcasts.
⢠Subscribe! Be the first to check out each new episode of Spotlight On in your podcast app of choice.
⢠Looking for more? Visit spotlightonpodcast.com for bonus content, web-only interviews + features, and the Spotlight On email newsletter. You can also follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Mastodon.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
-
Today, the Spotlight shines On Dave Wish, founder and Chief Vision Officer for Music Will. This nonprofit organization funds and runs one of the largest instrumental and vocal music programs in US public schools.
Dave, a former Palo Alto, California school teacher, launched Music Will due to frustration with the lack of music programming in his school. He started by borrowing instruments from friends and hitting area flea markets for deals. From there, he began offering free guitar lessons after school using popular musicâthe actual music his students wanted to play. What started out as an informal effort to provide musical education to his students has become the largest nonprofit music program in the U.S. public school system. Music Will has taught over a million and a half students how to play music. To hear the story in detail, as you will, is amazing.
Daveâs enthusiasm for his cause is infectious, and we are very happy to bring Music Will to the attention of our listeners.
--
Dig Deeper
Visit Music Will and learn more at musicwill.orgFollow Music Will on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, TikTok, and YouTubeBabyface Brings Music Education To 20 Indianapolis Schools With Nonprofit Music WillTom Morello brings his âschool of rockâ to Van Nuys High SchoolPhoebe Bridgers Re-Releases âWaiting Roomâ for CharityBe sure to peruse this episode's extensive show notes at spotlightonpodcast.com--
⢠Did you enjoy this episode? Please share it with a friend! You can also rate Spotlight On âď¸âď¸âď¸âď¸âď¸ and leave a review on Apple Podcasts.
⢠Subscribe! Be the first to check out each new episode of Spotlight On in your podcast app of choice.
⢠Looking for more? Visit spotlightonpodcast.com for bonus content, web-only interviews + features, and the Spotlight On email newsletter. You can also follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Mastodon.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
-
Today, the Spotlight shines On musician and producer Daniel Ăgren.
Daniel is one of the artists propelling Swedenâs contemporary new music scene. He has an extensive body of work as a solo artist and as a member of Sven Wunder, The Greys, and, most notably, Dina Ăgon. He also works as a producer and musician for other artists.
Daniel joined us upon the release of his album Fastingen-92 on the Mr Bongo label. The record âdraws from Daniels's love of South American folk music, soul, Nordic folk music and film soundtracks, resulting in something unique, dreamlike and transformational.â
It is a terrific record, very much worth a listen, as is our talk with Daniel. Enjoy.
(all musical excerpts heard in the interview are taken from Daniel Ăgren's album Fastingen-92)
--
Dig Deeper
Listen to Daniel Ăgren's Fastingen-92 on Bandcamp or your favorite streaming platformFollow Daniel Ăgren on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTubeAnd be sure to check out the other projects Daniel is a part of: Dina Ăgon, Sven Wunder, and The GreysDigging Deeper: An Interview with Daniel ĂgrenThe Essential Pat MethenyEvolution of Swedish Folk MusicFifteen Questions Interview with Daniel ĂgrenBe sure to peruse this episode's extensive show notes at spotlightonpodcast.com--
⢠Did you enjoy this episode? Please share it with a friend! You can also rate Spotlight On âď¸âď¸âď¸âď¸âď¸ and leave a review on Apple Podcasts.
⢠Subscribe! Be the first to check out each new episode of Spotlight On in your podcast app of choice.
⢠Looking for more? Visit spotlightonpodcast.com for bonus content, web-only interviews + features, and the Spotlight On email newsletter. You can also follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Mastodon.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
-
Today, the Spotlight shines On Mareike Wiening.
Mareike is a drummer and composer who joined us on the occasion of the release of her third record as bandleader, Reveal, out on Greenleaf Music. Featuring her long-time group: tenor saxophonist Rich Perry, pianist Glenn Zaleski, guitarist Alex Goodman, and bassist Johannes Felscher, the band is joined on three tracks by trumpeter and Greenleaf founder Dave Douglas.
After several years in New York City, Mareike is now based in Cologne, in her native Germany, where she has observed and been personally impacted by the upheavals â personal and global â in the world today. Reveal is not an album of despair. Instead, the music channels hope, joy, and connection, with an uncommon sensitivity amongst the players in the group.
Marieke studied jazz drums in Mannheim, Copenhagen, and New York City. In addition to her performing and recording work, she is a jazz drum instructor at the Zurich University of the Arts.
Please enjoy our talk and the album Reveal, which is linked to this episode in the show notes.
(all musical excerpts heard in the interview are taken from Mareike Wiening's album Reveal.)
--
Dig Deeper
Listen to Mareike Wiening's Reveal on Bandcamp or your streaming platform of choiceVisit Mareike Wiening online at mareikewiening.comFollow Mareike Wiening on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter (X), and YouTubeMareike Wiening about Drumming, Doubts, and the Disappearance of EducationMareike Wiening - "The Girl By The Window" (live video version 1)Mareike Wiening - "The Girl By The Window" (live video version 2)Be sure to peruse this episode's extensive show notes at spotlightonpodcast.com--
⢠Did you enjoy this episode? Please share it with a friend! You can also rate Spotlight On âď¸âď¸âď¸âď¸âď¸ and leave a review on Apple Podcasts.
⢠Subscribe! Be the first to check out each new episode of Spotlight On in your podcast app of choice.
⢠Looking for more? Visit spotlightonpodcast.com for bonus content, web-only interviews + features, and the Spotlight On email newsletter. You can also follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Mastodon.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
-
Today, the Spotlight shines On music impresario Jonathan Shank, the CEO and Founder of Terrapin Station Entertainment.
Jonathan is known for his instincts and successes in sniffing out unique opportunities in under-served spaces in the live entertainment industry, creating business successes in categories and markets often overlooked by the large corporations that dominate so much of the entertainment sector today.
Jonathan has developed projects for names as disparate as the Bob Marley Estate, Mickey Hart of the Grateful Dead, and multiple family entertainment properties: Disney Junior Dance Party On Tour, Peppa Pig Live!, and The Fresh Beat Band Live - all while generating more than $80 million in gross box office sales.
Jonathan earned a Grammy Award in 2009 for his role in creating the groundbreaking album Global Drum Project with Mickey Hart and in 2020, he received the T.J. Martell Trailblazer Award for his work producing such charity events as The Homeward Bound Concert and A Tribute to the Music of Linda Ronstadt.
Jonathan has had a fascinating run so far, and by the end of this talk, you will see that heâs just getting started.
------------------
Dig Deeper
Be sure to check out Terrapin Station Entertainment at terrapinent.comFollow Terrapin Station Entertainment on Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTubeQâs With Jonathan Shank: On Terrapin Stationâs Legacy Of IntelligenceHow Jam Bands inspired Terrapin Station Entertainment's Jonathan ShankBob Marley One Love Experience at the Saatchi GalleryThe Future Of Immersive Entertainment Is Now â The Sphere Experience Has BegunBe sure to peruse this episode's extensive show notes at spotlightonpodcast.com------------------
⢠Did you enjoy this episode? Please share it with a friend! You can also rate Spotlight On âď¸âď¸âď¸âď¸âď¸ and leave a review on Apple Podcasts.
⢠Subscribe! Be the first to check out each new episode of Spotlight On in your podcast app of choice.
⢠Looking for more? Visit spotlightonpodcast.com for bonus content, web-only interviews + features, and the Spotlight On email newsletter. You can also follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Mastodon.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
- Laat meer zien
