Meet Our Makers

32. Juana Molina - How to Make an Omelette

In this episode, we get to meet singer, songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist Juana Molina. Speaking to me from her home in Argentina, Juana and I discuss the brand new, 21st century reissue of her 2nd album, Segundo. We talk about the origin of that album, her process then vs. now, as well as the journey of going back at it for the reissue. We also discuss her long-lost first album, her start in - and eventual departure from - TV comedy, her profound love of what she does, as well as her surprise punk-inspired EP, Forfun, from 2019. Thank you for listening, and please enjoy.

31. Japanese Breakfast - Year of Release

In this episode, we get to meet Japanese Breakfast, aka Michelle Zauner. Under the Japanese Breakfast name, Zauner has just put out her third record, Jubilee. She also recently released her debut memoir, Crying in H Mart, which landed on the NYT Bestsellers List. In this chat, she and I discuss the album -- sonic and lyrical inspirations, the concept of exploring joy, and more -- as well as the memoir, which deals heavily with her complex relationship with her late mother. We talk about fictional vs. personal in songwriting, the sort of complicated backstory of her single "Posing in Bondage", and much more. Thank you for listening, and please enjoy.

30. Skye Edwards - From the Heart

In this episode, we get to meet singer-songwriter Skye Edwards, who is best known as the lead singer of famed trip hop band Morcheeba. In this chat, Skye and I discuss their new record, Blackest Blue, and reflect on their 25 years in the business, including the group's origin and the conception of their first album. We also touch upon what led to her departure from and eventual return to the band, and why the music they're making now is, according to Skye, their best work yet. Please enjoy, and thank you for listening.

29. Sarah Neufeld - ...And Her Three New Babies

In this episode, we get to meet composer and violinist extraordinaire Sarah Neufeld. In this chat, Sarah and I discuss the very busy 2021 she's shaping up to have. Besides being a core member of Canadian giants Arcade Fire, Sarah is also part of music collective Bell Orchestre, and has numerous solo records. She and I talk about her new solo record, Detritus, out in May 2021, as well as the first new Bell Orchestre album in over a decade, which came out merely weeks prior. We also talk about what it's been like having a newborn baby, who was born just two weeks before our chat. Please enjoy, and thank you for listening.

28. Rosali - Leveling Up

In this episode, we get to meet singer-songwriter Rosali. Originally based out of the Philly scene, Rosali recently relocated to rural Michigan - in the midst of the 2020 pandemic. In this chat, she and I discuss some of the motives behind that move and the healing benefits of it. We also talk at length about her brand new album, No Medium, which just came out in May 2021. We talk about vulnerable and raw lyrics, and the cautious optimism regarding touring as 2021 moves along. Please enjoy, and thank you for listening.

27. Half Waif - Removing the Boundary

In this episode, we get to meet Nandi Rose, who records music under the alias Half Waif. Under the Half Waif name, Nandi has been putting out albums for quite some time, including last year's excellent The Caretaker. This year, she has a new one, Mythopoetics, coming in July. In this chat, we discuss the new album, as well as her connection to nature and healing, her desire to demolish the line between "celebrity" and audience, as well as how good it feels when you allow yourself to be proud of your work. Please enjoy, and thank you for listening.

26. Jenn Wasner - Paying Attention Now

In this episode, we get to meet Jenn Wasner. Best known as the lead singer and guitarist for indie rock band Wye Oak, Jenn has just released her second solo album under the name Flock of Dimes, called Head of Roses. In this chat, we discuss a lot about the new album, including the dark emotional place that led to much of its creation. We talk about compassion and hope, the healing beauty of the natural world, albums vs. touring, and why she feels happiest when making music. Please enjoy, and thank you for listening.

25. Peter Silberman - Cutting Out the Noise

In this episode, we get to meet Peter Silberman, frontman and chief singer/songwriter of indie rock band The Antlers. In this chat, Peter and I discuss the music he's made throughout his career, including the Antlers' landmark 2009 album, Hospice. We also talk a lot about their brand new album, Green to Gold, which comes after a 7-year hiatus from the group, a gap that saw Peter undergo a serious vocal cord surgery, and a big move to upstate New York, where he has found quite a sense of peace and quietude. Please enjoy, and thank you for listening.

24. Lia Ices - Energy of Freedom

In this episode, we get to meet singer, songwriter, and pianist Lia Ices. In this chat, Lia and I discuss many things, including her beautiful new album Family Album, which was put out via her own label Natural, in January 2021. We discuss what went into the album thematically, aesthetically, and spiritually, as well as what it was like working with the late JR White on production. We also talk a bit about her debut album as well as her 2014 album Ices, which saw Lia going down a very new electronic path for a change. Please enjoy, and thank you for listening.

23. The Besnard Lakes - A Goth Episode

In this episode, we get to meet Jace Lasek and Olga Goreas of The Besnard Lakes. In this chat, we discuss some of the backstory and the aesthetic of their new album The Besnard Lakes Are the Last of the Great Thunderstorm Warnings, as well as what led them to that very long and strange title. We discuss what they've been up to during quarantine, what it's been like for them to be operating so independently for so many years, how they channel life's struggles and questions into their music, and more. Please enjoy, and thank you for listening.