Stereo Embers: The Podcast

“I Started Listening To All These Dead People” Relax. In the above quote Hamish Anderson isn’t talking about taking directives from those beyond the grave. He’s talking about how when he was a kid he discovered the blues and Charlie Chaplin and Alfred Hitchcock and his love of the past began informing his personal aesthetic of the present. In this interview the Australian-born blues guitarist talks to Alex about his love of history, his friendship with Gary Clark Jr. and his willingness to explore any musical genre. They also talk about hearing the White Album for the first time, the brilliance of Prince, what makes Ringo Starr a great drummer and the advice he would give a young musician.

“That's The Way My Bones Creak” That’s how Dylan Hartigan describes the thematic balance of darkness and light in his work. And though that’s a fair appraisal of his creative process, that creak of his produces some of the most sonorous, achingly lovely and deeply stirring music you’ll hear all year. The New Jersey-born singer/songwriter talks to Alex about the early discipline of his child actor youth, how he found his voice and the rigors of what was ultimately an essential creative double pivot that found him leaving music only to come back to it reinvigorated and revived. He also talks about the existential dilemma of new relationships, why teachers never liked him and the simple joyful memory of seeing his father come home from work at 9pm and pick up the guitar. Hartigan’s marvelous debut solo album will be out this fall….

“Nobody’s Coming Out Of This Fluent In German” It’s a fair point. Salt Ashes thinks it’s important during these Sheltering In Place months to not put pressure on ourselves and feel we have to get more done than we should. Like learning to speak German. Or reading the entire works of Dickens. Creativity is essential, but there’s no need to have unrealistic ideas about what we have to get done. In this conversation, the singer/songwriter talks to Alex about her new EP, covering the Cure and how she’s spending her time as the world seems to have come to a standstill. They also chat about feeling comfortable in photos, the benefits of supportive roommates and what the world is going to look like for artists once the pandemic subsides….

"Sheltering In Place With Bandits On The Run” So the Bandits on the Run aren’t on the run right now. Like everyone else on the planet, the NYC-based trio is grounded for now but they’re doing it together. The Quaran-team are hanging out in North Carolina working on new songs, making fancy drinks and hosting back porch concerts that are live streaming to their fans all over the world. The rootsy outfit are one of the most exciting live acts around, their shows a spirited collage of puppetry, costumes, bits and banter and great, great songs. A rousing blast of indie rock soul and wistful folk, Bandits On The Run are a testament to the idea that a creative life is one that sustains and enriches the spirit. In this chat the Bandits talk to Alex about love in the underground, life during a pandemic and growing up with creative fire. This conversation covers the members’ theatrical roots, their effortless collaborative process and how they make every live show a singular and unique experience that can’t be repeate

“Inside The Electric Moment” The electric moment is the one where Joan Wasser steps up to the plate in front of her fellow accomplished collaborators to show them what she’s got. And even after being in the music industry all these years, that moment is still one that she finds terrifying. Exciting, but terrifying. Wasser, who’s better known as Joan As Policewoman also happens to be terrifyingly talented and in this conversation she talks to Alex about creativity in the time of COVID-19, her lifelong friendship with Mary Timony and what it was like to see Siouxsie and the Banshees in the ‘80s. A discursive but also perfectly linear conversation, she also talks about why a violinist like her was attracted to Rites of Spring, how she’s staying sane while sheltering in place and why she has no regrets about the life she’s chosen. Joan As Policewoman’s Cover Two album is out now.

"Emergency Whiskey” While it might be true that a shot of whiskey might calm the nerves during an emergency, the wiser choice is probably music. As we wade our way through a global pandemic, actor/musician Ed Helms and The Bluegrass Situation have put together a four-episode variety series called The Whiskey Sour Happy Hour. A seamless blend of comedy and music, the show is a heartening reminder that laughter and art have powerful healing qualities. In this conversation with BGS Executive Director Amy Reitnouer Jacobs, the ripple effect of the COVID-19 pandemic and how it’s impacted working musicians is discussed in great detail. Alex and Amy also chat about how musicians survive during times like these, how she and Helms built out the Whiskey Sour Happy Hour idea and what live music might look like in a post-pandemic world. Remember, all proceeds from the Whiskey Sour Happy Hour go to MusicCares’ COVID-19 Relief Fund and Direct Relief, benefitting musicians and first line responders impacted by the COVID-

“I Was So Sure Of Myself, I Put Myself In Danger” That’s how Phantom Planet frontman Alex Greenwald describes for Alex the downside of a little hubris during the creative process. He’s joking about being in danger, but he’s serious about feeling so self-assured about one’s work that it doesn’t allow creative input in from others. In this conversation, Greenwald talks to Green about silencing the critical voice, how he’s become better at collaboration and how his home state of California has influenced his work. He also talks about the 12 year gap between Phantom Planet albums, how he’s coping with Sheltering In Place and he found stillness by escaping from Hollywood...

“I Never Want To Leave This Space” That’s exactly what Hockey Dad singer/guitarist Zach Stephenson thought to himself as soon as he started his career in music. Being in the company of fellow musicians, playing live and writing songs with his longtime drummer pal Billy Fleming was the exact life he wanted for himself and since he’s gotten started, he’s never looked back. Sheltering in place in his native Australia, Stephenson talks to Alex about his love of Paul Kelly, his recent discovery of country music and how COVID-19 forced his band’s U.S. tour to be cancelled. They also chat about his jazz-playing grandparents, the creative process during a quarantine, and Hockey Dad’s new album Brain Candy.

"De-bubbling In London” Look, New Zealand is not a large country—everyone seems to know everyone else (or even dated them). Yumi Zouma singer Christie Simpson decided that the best thing for her to do is escape the bubble of her hometown of Christchurch and head for London. In this conversation Simpson talks about leaving her country behind, creative life amidst the Coronavirus and how an outsider becomes an individual. Simpson tells Alex about growing up loving Fleetwood Mac, how a band that’s not in the same locale stays together and how her parents recognized early on that she was headed towards a life in art. Yumi Zouma have just put out their third album Truth Or Consequences and it’s a spry and charming effort that’s lustrous, clever and catchy.

"Shake The Disease" When we last spoke to Owen Vyse we were told that by April 4th the Coronavirus would have all but vanished. Well, it didn't. In fact, it hasn't even flexed its full strength yet. In this engaging chat, the former Echo and the Bunnymen guitarist and Starclub frontman talks to Alex about what life is like amidst a global pandemic from where he lives in Thailand. The conversation veers from breaking curfews to the absence of gyms to life in Thailand vs. life in England, to how people will re-enter society and finally to just what we're doing on this planet in the first place.

“A Musical Shark Keeps Swimming” The San Diego-born musician Illan Rubin is one of those guys that’s been moving non-stop since he was nine and he’s not slowed down the pace one bit. The youngest performer to ever grace the stage at Woodstock (Rubin was 11!), Illan Rubin is very much like a musical shark—he never stands still. Over the course of his career the powerful and inventive drummer has played with Nine Inch Nails, Paramore and Angels & Airwaves, and his own band The New Regime just put a new record out a few weeks ago. Even the global pandemic hasn’t slowed him down—Rubin’s been spending his time reading, writing new music and learning the clarinet. Although his band’s tour with Silversun Pickups got cancelled, Rubin’s not one to get down about these things—he just keeps making music. In this conversation, Rubin talks to Alex about quarantine reading, his fascination with World War II, Trent Reznor’s perfect pitch and why it’s important for musicians to learn a new instrument.

"If It Doesn’t Make Sense I Just Don’t Do It” Makes sense, doesn’t it? Well, it sure does to John Dolmayan. The System of a Down drummer has reached a point in his life where if something seems pointless, he sees no reason to even bother. That said, when John Dolmayan does do something, he does it with 100% purpose, commitment and heart. His first solo album, which operates under the moniker These Grey Men, is a burning testament to his life’s mission statement. A muscular platter of covers of songs by Radiohead, the Talking Heads and David Bowie, Dolmayan gathered an all-star group of musicians to assist him on his album. From Tom Morello to Serj Tankian, Dolmayan’s murderers row of guests on this record really make it shine. In this honest and candid chat, Dolmayan talks to Alex about listening to Iron Maiden and Stan Getz, why he sees no point in practicing, and how when he was a kid, mix tapes were the keys to the world. He also talks about the power of SOD’s democracy, and why it’s okay to have disagree

“Why Would You Stop What Your Mission Is On This Earth?” Well, the answer is, you wouldn’t. Or, more specifically, you shouldn’t. For the New York-born Rachael Sage, the details of her earthy mission came to her quite young as she taught herself how to play piano while listening to Beatles albums. Sage knew she was destined for the arts and her CV certainly agrees. She spent her teenage years as a classically trained ballerina, her college years at Stanford found her finishing with a degree in drama and her Graduate work earned her an MFA in theatre from the Actor’s Studio in Manhattan. Yes, Sage was artsy. But once her formal education ended, she dove headfirst into music. For the better part of 25 years Sage has been putting out album after album of some of the finest indie pop you’ll ever hear. Her new album Character explores what comprises the nuances of someone’s personality and it’s a catchy, moving and stirring journey through what keeps us up at night as much as what helps us sleep. In this candid c

“Another Round With Owen Vyse: Coronavirus And The End Of The World” In this special Coronavirus-themed episode, fan-favorite Owen Vyse (Starclub, Echo and the Bunnymen) calls in from Thailand for a chat about the current state of the world under the lens of the Coronavirus. He talks to Alex about historical precedent, the mishandling of the pandemic by the Trump Administration and why April 4th is such a pivotal date. The conversation may seem discursive and tangential but it’s also quite linear and Owen and Alex trace the cultural implications of the disease by referencing the past, examining the present and looking ahead to an uncertain and uneasy future.

“I Wasn’t Go To Be An Anthropologist” Ellen Starski’s major in college was Anthropology, but midway through her studies it became very clear to her parents that she wasn’t going to be an anthropologist. She was going to be a musician. Her dad might have had a hunch she would be headed that direction when he gave her a guitar during her freshman year, but either way, Starski’s calling was an artistic one and whether she was strumming that guitar in her dorm room or later on fronting a blues band in a bar, it was clear that her future was going to be in music. Although the Pennsylvania born Starski didn’t end up having a career that studied the evolution of human biology, evolution has been a big part of her musical career. In just two albums Starski’s sound has transformed from indie folk to an orchestral blend of textured pop that’s filled with nuance and soul. In this conversation Starski talks to Alex about motherhood, stillness and why she loves the Eurythmics. She also talks about the importance of trave

“They Let Me Live Rent-Free In The House Until I Was 26…” That’s Kieran Shudall’s response when asked if his parents were supportive of his choice to embark on a career in music. It sure paid off. The singer of the Liverpool outfit Circa Waves, Shudall has watched his band go from strength to strength since their 2013 inception. Circa Waves have filled their musical resume’ with Top Ten albums, tours with the Libertines and playing festivals like T In The Park. Their fourth album Sad Happy is a brilliant song-cycle that’s been delivered in two parts: the happy part in January and the sad part later this month. In this genial chat, Shudall talks to Alex about his love for Carole King’s tapestry, how fatherhood has changed his perspective and why he likes to pick the brains of fellow songwriters. They also chat about the power of collaboration, how demos are like first dates and why Kieran is super afraid to get into Echo and the Bunnymen…

“I’ve Known You For Ten Minutes And I’m Already Asking If You’re An Introvert” Well, these things happen. In this conversation with Eliza Klatt, lead singer of Australia’s Eliza and the Delusionals, it doesn’t take long for Alex and Eliza to get to the heart of the matter. In under 40 minutes they talk about how to cope with a fear of flying, being far from home for the first time and how an introvert can also be the leader of a band. Personable, charismatic and thoughtful, Klatt discusses the support of her parents for her rock and roll lifestyle, getting a stamp of approval from Liz Phair via Twitter and why she’d love to live in New York.

“Reverb As Long As A Hockey Rink” That’s how Alan Doyle describes the music he loved so much in the ‘80s. A huge fan of Def Leppard, the Newfoundland-born Doyle may have been a metalhead as a teenager, but he always had folk music in his blood. He played in his Uncle’s band as a young man, but branched out on his own in his early 20s to form Great Big Sea. One of Canada’s most beloved bands of all time, GBS may no longer be around, but Doyle has stayed very busy indeed. In this conversation he talks to Alex about challenging himself by working in different genres, and why it’s so hard to say no. They also chat about the community spirit of Newfoundland, Doyle’s new EP Rough Side Out and why at this point in his life Doyle feels inclined to say, “What the fuck do I know about the Coronavirus?"

“You Try Writing A Number One Techno Song In Italy” That’s exactly what Ian Gothe did. Back in the ‘80s Gothe decided to prove to a pal in a bar in England that writing a techno song was an easy thing to do. So he went home and did it. Little did he know, the song would later rise to the top of the charts in Italy. These things happen. Actually, in Ian Gothe’s life, a lot of things happen. Born in Iran to an Armenian family, Gothe’s life story is one that’s about as novelistic as it gets. His tale takes him from Iran to England to Baltimore to Los Angeles and along the way he got married, put down music for a decade, gots divorced and rediscovered his love of playing guitar through the…flute. That’s right. The flute. He’ll explain everything but until you hit PLAY, let us tell you this: Ian Gothe is a remarkable guitarist who plays with soul, finesse, groove and heart. His compositions are filled with dexterity, virtuosity and an otherworldly command of his instrument. Not only that, but on his debut album M

“It Was Definitely Not Like Riding A Bicycle” That’s how Gary Douglas describes what it was like to get back onstage after not playing live for many years. Well, to cut him some slack, he’s been busy. Like, really busy. Douglas is not only an attorney, he’s in the Trial Lawyer Hall of Fame and he’s devoted his life to fighting the injustices that are dished out by corporations to those who can’t afford to fight for themselves. After playing in bands for most of his young life, Douglas ditched his rock and roll aspirations to go to law school but a decade or so ago, he couldn’t stay on the sidelines any longer. Now with a few albums under their musical belts, the Gary Douglas Band is in full swing and their new album Wild Life is a roots rock gem, filled with numbers that bring to mind the work of everyone from John Mellencamp to Tommy Conwell and the Young Rumblers. In this interview Gary talks to Alex about his love of Bruce Springsteen, how to juggle two occupations and the Mark Buffalo-Starring movie Da