Kyleen Downes is a professional musician, and our music community here in the Dayton area is better off for having her here.  I truly enjoy seeing her play live, I like her songs, and I'm sure you'll agree after you hear this conversation that she has an infectious enthusiasm.  She has benefitted from the encouragement of others in her career, and is passing that on by teaching a new generation of folks here in Dayton how to play rock and roll.   Kyleen tells us about how she got started making music, who…

Why am I being so secretive when it's just a song?

I met Nina Nepa in Los Angeles at an open mic event.  Both of us managed to overcome our nerves from being in a room full of strangers and play our songs.  Since listening to her play that day, I've wanted to chat with her about her music for this podcast.  Well here you are, Nina is the guest on today's episode.

Nina is from Pittsburgh, currently living in Los Angeles.  She plays piano and writes songs. She describes herself as a mechanical engineer…

Exactly one year ago, on 30th December 2021, Juliet Fromholt joined me for a chat about our favorite albums of 2021.  I released that conversation the next day, 31st December, and it was Episode ½ of this podcast.  It was so much fun, I just HAD to have her back this year. Taylor Ruckle joins us for this conversation.  You might remember him from Episode 27 and Episode 43, where we talked about our favorite albums of the first and second quarters of 2022 respectively. 

All three of us are completely…

Yuppie is happy music about hard things.

Zack Sliver is the gentleman in the red shirt in the above picture, taken during Dayton Music Fest at Blind Bob's.  His project is called Yuppie.  Zack is altruistic, kind, and talented, and comes with a polished elevator pitch.  How did wearing a wig in Okinawa help make him a better performer and musician?  What's his songwriting process like?  Does he still like Peculiar, the album that he released this year? Why should you eat Lee's Famous Recipe chicken…

Cara Van Thorn is an Austin, Texas based new swing jazz fusion sort of nineties alternative band that just plays whatever we like to hear...

I'm sure you're wondering why this lovely lady is in a room in this nice dress whilst being surrounded by musicians in their underwear.  Well, there's a lot to wonder about Cara Van Thorn, this eclectic band from Austin. This band was founded by active musicians in the metal and punk scenes, and they came together to create a style of music that has more in…

At some point, you know, it's hard to carry a piano around...

Mary Beth Carty is a fascinating individual, a songwriter, an artist, and a multi-instrumental musician. She can be heard singing in four (4!) different languages on her new album, Crossing the Causeway. How did the diversity in the area she grew up contribute to her music?  How did she get started playing accordion?  What did her childhood smell like?  You'll get the answers to these questions - as well as hear me list some names of a musical…

Photo by Harish Pathak

I definitely was not thinking about writing a book for people who teach music lessons, but it's funny how these weird little intentions... if we keep following the thread, we can get to it...

Lesley Barth is a singer, songwriter, recording artist, musician, author, teacher, and mom who is currently based in Nashville. She released her second full-length album, called Big Time Baby, in May 2020. We talk about the album and some of the songs on it.  (Many of them have music…

that train has sailed...

Brandon Berry makes his triumphant return to the podcast for this episode. He directed my latest music video, which was released on Tuesday, June 21st.  The idea behind this conversation was for us to talk about that, but as you'll soon see, our conversation went in all sorts of completely different directions. In the links below, you'll find several of my videos that Brandon directed.

LINKS

Music Video for "Str8 Up Downhill From Here"

Music Video for "Hold the Wick"

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If I can't think of anything, then I go on with my life.

Isaac Robledo now holds the distinction of being my youngest podcast guest.  I've known him more or less since he was born. Isaac is interested in all sorts of things: games, movies, music, video, and canines are among his interests.  What's his favorite movie in the Star Wars franchise?  What's his songwriting process like?  What two ways are acceptable pronunciations of his first name?  Does a video of someone playing video games quality as art…

I love putting together videos to a rhythm and music videos are a great way to do that

In what may very well turn out to be a decision I live to regret, I present to you my conversation with Brandon Berry mostly unedited. We had this conversation on Wednesday, December 22nd of last year, after the shooting of the first music video for "Hold the Wick".  Brandon directed 7 of the 8 music videos that accompany the various versions of "Hold the Wick". I think the first one is a quality work of art, and I…