Meet Our Makers

65. Empty Country - Haunted Places

In this episode, we get to meet Joseph D'Agostino, the frontman and lead songwriter of indie rock outfit Empty Country. Previously known for his now-defunct band Cymbal Eat Guitars, D'Agostino's newest record as Empty Country - aptly titled Empty Country II - is out now, and it's a real treat of high-emotion, high-impact, literary songwriting. In this chat, Joe and I discuss his specific lens through which he shoots his songs and subjects, tracing a litany of fictional characters and their various throughlines across his work and across the hour-plus of material on this new album. Joe has a knack for fictionalizing the real life heart ache and tragedies of the world around him, transposing them into appropriately emotional but never depressing or dreary mini-epics. We talk about his new life in Connecticut, his songwriting inspirations, and more. Thank you for listening.

64. Illeana Douglas - Connecticut in the Movies

In this chat, we get to meet actor and writer Illeana Douglas. Illeana is best known for her film work, costarring in films as wide-ranging as Scorsese's Cape Fear, Gus Van Sant's To Die For, or (one of my personal favorites) Terry Zwigoff's Ghost World. In addition to her film and television, Illeana is also an accomplished writer and film historian, and she has just published her second book, entitled Connecticut in the Movies. In this chat, Illeana and I discuss a LOT about her new book, which was especially exciting given that I grew up in Connecticut just like she did. We talk about the many different versions of CT that have been seen in the movies, the cliches and stereotypes, and the varied styles of films made or set here - from dark suburban dramas to sex comedies. We talk about how surprisingly integral CT has been to filmmaking, and how the state's perception has shifted and ping-ponged from accurate to, well, less-so. We touch on Mystic Pizza's place as our emblematic film, the idea that characters from CT have something odious to hide, and much more. Now, we recorded this while the SAG strike was still ongoing, so we couldn't talk much of her acting work. But fear not - there was plenty to talk about. Thank you for listening.

63. Marnie Stern - Call it a Comeback

In this chat, we get to meet Marnie Stern. Marnie is a singer, songwriter, and electric guitar wizard, who's back after more than a decade-long absence with her fifth record, The Comeback Kid. In this chat, she and I talk a lot about this new album - the songwriting, the production - and what it felt like to get back into her specific style and groove after so long out of the studio. We also discuss what she was up to in the interim, which included having two children and also playing in the house band on Seth Meyers. So needless to say - she's been busy in between albums. But now she's back! And she's ready to melt you. We also talk drumming's importance to her work, the fading glory of blogging, and that one time she ripped the sleeve of a record I bought from her at a show (it's cool). Thank you for listening.

62. Land of Talk - Impulse & Defiance

In this chat, we get to meet Lizzie Powell, the lead singer, guitarist/multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, general jack-of-all-trades of indie rock band Land of Talk. Lizzie and I get deep into the newest Land of Talk record, Performances, which is just out on Saddle Creek. We talk aboutart and creativity, their goals for this record (and beyond), weirdness in music, the almost-defiant attitude that drive a lot of their recent work, Twins Peaks, doggos, and more. We even get a little meta on your butts and talk about the very show that Lizzie is on, which gave me a nice chance to express my profound gratitude for everyone who's agreed to come on and everyone who's listened. (That's you, by the way.) It was such a fun time, and I think you'll really enjoy it. Thanks for listening.

61. Matana Roberts - The Weave

In this chat, we get to meet acclaimed composer Matana Roberts. Best known for their work as a saxophonist, clarinetist, and composer in the world of avant garde and improvisational jazz, Matana Roberts has been making a name for themselves for quite a while. We met on the cusp of the release of the fifth chapter in their ongoing Coin Coin series -- Chapter 5: In the Garden. In this chat, Matana and I go long on this new album, and how it fits into the overall arc of Coin Coin, which sees Matana exploring their own personal and familial history alongside some bitter truths and explorations of American cultural and social history. The new record tells the story of a relative of theirs from the 1920s who died following an illegal abortion, and it's just as beguiling and beautiful as the chapters that preceded it. It's a bit of a circuitous talk, but in the best way - it felt like an alive conversation, and I had such fun diving head first into these complex and nuanced waters with Matana, who met me with warmth and wisdom. Thanks for listening and please enjoy. 

60. Sally Potter - I Don’t Want To Be Suzanne

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In this chat, we get to meet the fantastic, storied filmmaker Sally Potter. The writer-director of such acclaimed and varied films such as Orlando and Ginger & Rosa, Sally is actually just now releasing her debut full-length album (!) which is called Pink Bikini. In this conversation, Sally and I talk a lot about the new record - its themes, its songs, its lyrics, its music, some of her influences and inspirations - as well as what drove her to recording and releasing such a personal singer-songwriter album now, after such a robust career in cinema. We talk about her film work (especially the Tilda Swinton-starring, Virginia Woolf adaptation Orlando), how her filmmaking overlaps with her music making, and so much more. It was a humbling honor to talk to a cinema great, and her new album is such a delightfully wondrous surprise. I think you'll enjoy this as much as I did. Thank you for listening.

59. Regina Spektor - A Beautiful Circle

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In this chat, we get to meet singer-songwriter Regina Spektor. In this chat, Regina and I talk a lot about her last album, Home Before and After, which incidentally had come out almost exactly a year prior to our conversation. In light of this, we discuss the songwriting, producing, release, and extensive touring surrounding the record, as well as what it means to her now, a year on. We talk about the joys and gifts of live performance, her particular songwriting methods and styles, and her deep love for her fans (as well as how those very fans are almost single-handedly responsible for keeping some of her older songs alive -- like "Loveology", which finally got a proper studio recording on Home). We also talk about an old song I had never heard of that's been almost lost to the years, but may make a comeback yet. We talk about more, too, and it was a beautiful and fluid conversation I was very humbled to get to have. Thank you for listening.

58. Emile Mosseri - Naked and Terrified

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In this chat, we get to meet Oscar-nominated composer Emile Mosseri. Though best known for his film work, Emile is also a singer-songwriter, and has been for much of his life. He was in a band called The Dig for years prior to his career as a composer, and now he's just put out his debut full-length studio record, Heaven Hunters. Here, Emile and I talk quite a bit about this record - what it means to him, how he got here, and what led him to feeling comfortable and ready to release such bluntly personal songs. We do also touch on his film work, some of his specific scores for films like Kajillionaire and his Academy Award-nominated work on Minari, his love of film music, and more. Thank you for listening and I hope you enjoy.

57. The Tallest Man on Earth - In the Scape of Songs

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In this chat, we get to meet The Tallest Man On Earth, otherwise known as Kristian Matsson. In this chat, Kristian and I talk a lot about his brand new record, Henry St., including some of the themes behind its songs and music, the production with Nick Sanborn in North Carolina, the writing process, and how the album felt a little different from his past work, especially his prior record, I Love You. It's a Fever Dream. We touch upon his time seeing Joni Mitchell at Newport Folk Festival, the greatness of "Both Sides Now", and more. We also debut a little game I call Setlist Pop Quiz. Thank you for listening!

56. AC Newman - Making Music and Farting Around

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In this chat, we get to meet AC Newman (aka Carl Newman), the lead singer and songwriter of Canadian indie rock supergroup The New Pornographers. In this chat, Carl and I discuss quite a lot about the band's lovely new album (their ninth overall), Continue as a Guest. We also talk a bit about music philosophy, aspirations within the business, and how his attitudes have shifted a bit (or not) over the years. If you are a fan of the record or of any NP record, I think you'll find a lot to enjoy - lots of little yummy morsels for us to chew on. Thank you for listening.