Bringin' it Backwards

Together with American Songwriter and Sean Ulbs of The Eiffels, we had the pleasure of interviewing Revenge Wife over Zoom video! Elizabeth Nistico, co-founder and lead singer of indie darling duo HOLYCHILD, unveils her new solo art project, Revenge Wife, and releases her debut single "Earthquake" from her Background Songs for Your Boring Life, Part I. "Earthquake" kicks off Revenge Wife's new sad girl bedroom pop four track EP featuring pulsating, lo-fi vintage synths. It combines minimalist indie pop production with catchy melodies, clever 90s' video game inspired sample, and raw lyrics that focus on relationships and trying to trust love. Inspired by dreams, mystical experiences, and a lot of self-reflection, the songs provide a vehicle for Nistico to open up about the trauma that shaped her life. The EP will be accompanied by a series of horror-themed videos directed by Nistico herself, which will culminate in a surreal nightmarish short film. "Earthquake" was recorded in Los Angeles. "I actually came up with the chorus melody when I was by myself, walking around Highland Park," Elizabeth recalls. "Earthquake" is an earnest song about unrequited love... which is a nice way of saying 'rejection.' It's about loving someone who doesn't love you back." "If there was an earthquake, would you think about me?" she questions her heartbreaker in the chorus. "You're the only one I want/but you won't have me/ How is that I can never make you happy/ Every little word I said I always meant it./ Wish you loved me..." Background Songs for Your boring Life, Part I is part of a larger album and art project that tells a single story. Unlike her days in HOLYCHILD, Nistico is more involved in the production process, leading to a more authentic sound as Revenge Wife, and a more empowering experience for her as an artist. "It's been uplifting to listen to my music, knowing that this is how I want my voice to sound. I just wanted this song to feel really honest. It's almost like cringe-honest when I listen to it. It feels like a page in my diary." "David Bowie had this quote about making art and how if you are an artist and you want to keep evolving you have to go out into the water where you can't touch the ground anymore, you have to feel uncomfortable," recounts Elizabeth. With Revenge Wife, Nistico steps out of her comfort and into a captivating new persona that allows her to explore trauma through music, video, and art like never before. Tune in next week, as Revenge Wife unveils this music video for "Earthquake", which is part of a greater visual story. We want to hear from you! Please email Tera@BringinitBackwards.com. www.BringinitBackwards.com #podcast #interview #bringinbackpod #zoom #aspn #americansongwriter #americansongwriterpodcastnetwork Listen & Subscribe to BiB Follow our podcast on Instagram and Twitter! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/bringinbackpod/support Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/bringin-it-backwards--4972373/support. https://bringinitbackwards.com/

We had the pleasure of interviewing MILOŠ over Zoom video! Celebrating 10 years with Universal Music, superstar and bonafide "Classical Guitar God" (The Times) MILOŠ releases a brand new album, featuring two outstanding original concertos, both specially-commissioned for the star musician – a testament to his outstanding musicianship and pioneering spirit, showcasing new guitar repertoire on the world stage. The Moon & The Forest, released on April 30th 2021, features works for guitar and orchestra by award-winning composers Howard Shore (Lord of the Rings, The Departed) and Joby Talbot (The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, Winter's Tale). Inspired by his now legendary artistry and unique personal heritage, both Shore and Talbot worked closely with MILOŠ in order to create two distinctive, groundbreaking scores. Best known for his epic scores to the Lord of the Rings and Hobbit films, Howard Shore's guitar concerto 'The Forest' partially deviates from his works on the screen, drawing instead from the symbiotic relationship between people and the earth. Montenegro and its dark forests have been an inspiration to Howard and MILOŠ from the beginning, when the work was first commissioned by Canada's National Arts Centre. Taking its title from a collection of Japanese love poetry, the concerto very much places the guitar – and its soloist – at the very centre of proceedings. Cast in three movements that flow into one another, changes in mood and atmospheric timbre permeate the work, exploring sonorous landscapes that bring the vivid imagery to life. The album also includes innovative new arrangements for solo guitar of Ludovico Einaudi's 'Full Moon' and Robert Schumann's 'Träumerei' – two moving pieces from the Romantic and Modern classical repertoire. Canada's National Arts Centre Orchestra and the BBC Symphony Orchestra feature on the recording, conducted by Alexander Shelley and Ben Gernon respectively. To mark a decade of incredible music-making with Universal Music, MILOŠ's new album cements his position as not only "the hottest guitarist in the world" (Sunday Times), but also a pioneer and innovator of contemporary guitar repertoire for the ages. We want to hear from you! Please email Tera@BringinitBackwards.com. www.BringinitBackwards.com #podcast #interview #bringinbackpod #zoom #aspn #americansongwriter #americansongwriterpodcastnetwork Listen & Subscribe to BiB Follow our podcast on Instagram and Twitter! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/bringinbackpod/support Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/bringin-it-backwards--4972373/support. https://bringinitbackwards.com/

We had the pleasure of interviewing Matt and Lizzy of Fairview over Zoom video! Dreamy acoustic pop duo, Fairview, brings a timeless element to the industry. The vocal harmonies of Matt and Lizzy paired together not only draw you in, but leave you wanting more. The duo has been writing songs together as long as they have been a couple: 9 years. Fairview is the perfect storm of classic acoustic love song, meets catchy pop radio. Since signing a record deal with Humans Were Here, Fairview has continued to release catchy pop singles, like the single Loving You Hurts, a song that shows exactly who they are: current, young, and in love. We want to hear from you! Please email Tera@BringinitBackwards.com. www.BringinitBackwards.com #podcast #interview #bringinbackpod #zoom #aspn #americansongwriter #americansongwriterpodcastnetwork Listen & Subscribe to BiB --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/bringinbackpod/support Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/bringin-it-backwards--4972373/support. https://bringinitbackwards.com/

We had the pleasure of interviewing The Skints from The Casbah in San Diego, CA. ** This interview was recorded prior to the COVID-19 pandemic ** An eclectic and spirited London four-piece, the Skints deliver a versatile amalgamation of reggae, ska-punk, dub, grime, hip-hop, soul, and dancehall that's as feel-good and soul-stirring as it is hard-hitting and politically charged on the lyrical front. Founded in Northeast London in 2007 by high school friends Marcia Richards, Joshua Waters Rudge, Jamie Kyriakides, and Jonathan Doyle, the group got their start in the ska-punk circuit. Their eponymous debut EP and first full-length, 2009's Live, Breathe, Build, Believe, helped build a loyal fan base that would eventually follow them out of the squat party scene and into the touring underground. After releasing 2012's Part & Parcel, the quartet inked a deal with influential New York City-based reggae and dub label. The resulting FM, released in 2015, was a critical and commercial success, and was supported by a lengthy U.S. tour alongside genre luminaries like Sublime, Easy Star All-Stars, and The Mighty Mighty Bosstones. They returned in 2019 with the introspective Swimming Lessons, which added 8 Bit-influenced dancehall and melodic grunge to the group's arsenal, and featured guest spots from Grammy-nominated Jamaican reggae artist Protoje, freestyler Runkus, and dub and roots reggae star Jesse Royal. ~ James Christopher Monger, Rovi We want to hear from you! Please email Tera@BringinitBackwards.com. www.BringinitBackwards.com #podcast #interview #bringinbackpod #zoom #aspn #americansongwriter #americansongwriterpodcastnetwork Listen & Subscribe to BiB Follow our podcast on Instagram and Twitter! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/bringinbackpod/support Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/bringin-it-backwards--4972373/support. https://bringinitbackwards.com/

We had the pleasure of interviewing Zuli Jr. over Zoom video! Sitting in your pocket, on your screen, and in your home, one monolithic brand listens in, makes "suggestions," and subconsciously informs the world around you. It lies in the background only to entirely shape the foreground. Sound familiar? We needn't cite any real-life names as we know they're probably listening right now, but this idea remains the crux of Zuli Jr.'s second full-length album, Stop It God., due out spring 2021. In his case, Daisy serves as the ever-present corporate overlord with a HAL 9000-style computer to navigate daily life. Crafting a story of his own, the New York singer, songwriter, and alternative R&B insurgent opens up a wormhole between future-facing pop, Platonic allegory, science fiction, and eerily parallel truths. Zuli hinted at such ambition with early projects such as the Supernatural Voodoo EP. The latter yielded favorites including "Forget My Name" [1.1 million Spotify streams] and "Better All The Time" [1 million Spotify streams]. Meanwhile, Rolling Stone described his 2017 full-length, OnHuman Freakout Mountain, as "the sweet spot of a Sixties-tinged summer hit" and "infectious, abrasive yet melodic indie-pop." In 2019, Zuli bridged the gap between his indie-rock roots and newfound sound with "Ur Mistaken," a soulful croon showcasing his expanding palette while continuing to straddle the line between timeless and timely. Throughout late 2019 and early 2020, he recorded what would become Stop It God. at an Upstate New York retreat with close friends and collaboratorsZachTK Zanghiand Aire Atlantica, drawing on inspirations as diverse as SZA, Radiohead, King Krule, and The 1975. Overall, Zuli touches on the spectrum of what we put our faith into and how we choose to cope and find meaning in our lives. Stop it God. plays as a deliberate statement on the human condition, yet open-ended and up for interpretation. He introduces this journey with the laidback funk of the first single "How To Feel." Sunny production and a steady beat strut underneath his dynamic vocal performance, fluttering from intimate verses into fiery falsetto. Ultimately, ZuliJr. invites full-scale immersion on par with that of a film via Stop It God. We want to hear from you! Please email Tera@BringinitBackwards.com. www.BringinitBackwards.com #podcast #interview #bringinbackpod #foryou #foryoupage #stayhome #togetherathome #zoom #aspn #americansongwriter #americansongwriterpodcastnetwork Listen & Subscribe to BiB Follow our podcast on Instagram and Twitter! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/bringinbackpod/support Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/bringin-it-backwards--4972373/support. https://bringinitbackwards.com/

We had the pleasure of interviewing The Besnard Lakes over Zoom video! The Besnard Lakes have passed through death and they're here to tell the tale. Nearly five years after their last lightning-tinted volley, the magisterial Montreal psych-rock band have sworn off compromise, split with their long-standing label, and completed a searing, 72-minute suite about the darkness of dying and the light on the other side. The Besnard Lakes Are The Last of the Great Thunderstorm Warnings is the group's sixth album and the first in more than 15 years to be released away from a certain midwestern American indie record company. After 2016's A Coliseum Complex Museum - which saw Jace Lasek and Olga Goreas attempting shorter, less sprawling songs - the Besnards and their label decided it was time to go their separate ways; with that decision came a question of whether to even continue the project at all. Ignited by their love for each other, and for playing music together, the sextet found themselves unspooling the most uncompromising recording of their career. Despite all its grandeur. The Last of the Great Thunderstorm Warnings honours the very essence of punk rock: the notion that a band need only be relevant to itself. At last the Besnard Lake have crafted a continuous long-form suite: nine tracks that could be listened together as one, like Spiritualized's Lazer Guided Melodies or even Dark Side of the Moon, overflowing with melody and harmony, drone and dazzle, the group's own unique weather. Here now, the Besnard Lakes finally dispensed with the two/three-year album cycle, taking all the time they needed to conceive, compose, record and mix their opus. Some of its songs were old, resurrected from demos cast aside years ago. Others were literally woodshedded in the cabanon behind Lasek and Goreas's "Rigaud Ranch" - invented and reinvented, relishing this rougher sound. The Besnard Lakes Are The Last of the Great Thunderstorm Warnings is a double LP. "Near Death" is the title of the first side. "Death," "After Death," and "Life" follow next. It's literally a journey into (and back from) the brink: the story of the Besnard Lakes' own odyssey but also a remembrance of others', especially the death of Lasek's father in 2019. Being on your deathbed is perhaps the most psychedelic trip you can go on: in Lasek's father's case, he surfaced from a morphine dream to talk about "a window" on his blanket, with "a carpenter inside, making intricate objects." That experience pervades the album, catching fire on the song "Christmas Can Wait"; elsewhere the band pays tribute to the late Mark Hollis and, on "The Father of Time Wake Up," they mourn the death of Prince. In late 2020, as the world burns, there might be nothing less trendy than an hour-long psych-rock epic by a band of Canadian grandmasters. Then again, there might be nothing we need more. We want to hear from you! Please email Tera@BringinitBackwards.com. www.BringinitBackwards.com Listen & Subscribe to BiB Follow our podcast on Instagram and Twitter! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/bringinbackpod/support Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/bringin-it-backwards--4972373/support. https://bringinitbackwards.com/

We had the pleasure of interviewing Kat Leon of Holy Wars over Zoom video! Los Angeles' dark pop-rock band Holy Wars have released their latest single "TV Dinner" with a bold, eye-catching new music video. A twisted take on mid-century America, the track puts consumer culture on blast with singer Kat Leon's searing vocals and biting lyrics. "TV Dinner" is the second single off the band's highly anticipated debut full-length LP tentatively titled Eat It Up / Spit It Out. The track follows lead single "Little Godz" which was featured on Allison Hagendorf's Spotify show "Rock This" (Ep 4 - with Bring Me The Horizon). It also appeared on "Best Rock Songs of 2020", "New Alt" and "New Noise" playlists. The video for "TV Dinner," directed by Erin Naifeh (Hereditary, Stoker, Light As A Feather), is a wild ride into maniacal psychosis that is reminiscent of the trappings of human nature and society that 50's and 60's TV icon Rod Serling warned of in the classic series The Twilight Zone©. Holy Wars is: vocals and lyrics, Kat Leon; guitarist and producer, Nicolas Perez; and drums, Greg Garman. ABOUT HOLY WARS: Holy Wars' music expands genres with a sound that feels like a punch to the face. Unapologetically honest with clever, thought provoking lyrics over a driving, aggressively fun and energetic body. The imagery behind the music tells even more of the story through their creative approach to style and artistic visuals revealing a commentary of the self and society. They connect so deeply to the listener which in turn has made a long lasting fan feel more like family. Holy Wars is vocalist/songwriter Kat Leon and guitarist/producer Nicolas Perez (Poppy, The Beta Machine, Kitten). Their story begins with the loss of Kat Leon's late parents inspiring their debut EP Mother Father. Following this, Holy Wars would erupt with explosive music dripping with gritty guitar tones, Leon's incredible vocal range laced with a fusion of dark pop, indie rock, punk and hip hop. As accomplished writers/composers for tv/film, they have garnered an incredible and authentic versatility in their music that makes them unique and leaves you wanting more. We want to hear from you! Please email Tera@BringinitBackwards.com. www.BringinitBackwards.com #podcast #interview #bringinbackpod #foryou #foryoupage #stayhome #togetherathome #zoom #aspn #americansongwriter #americansongwriterpodcastnetwork Listen & Subscribe to BiB Follow our podcast on Instagram and Twitter! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/bringinbackpod/support Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/bringin-it-backwards--4972373/support. https://bringinitbackwards.com/

We had the pleasure of interviewing Frankie Zulferino over Zoom video! Chart topping NYC-based Singer, Dancer, Choreographer, TikTok star, Frankie Zulferino is authentically himself with his first release of 2021, "Hit That," featuring Melii. Frankie's authenticity has not gone unnoticed by those who have inspired him to be who he is, like icons Janet Jackson, Neyo and Paula Abdul sending love to him and posting about his tribute videos to them. This past year alone he has garnered over 700K followers on TikTok; "it's been the height of my career for sure which is crazy considering it's in the middle of the worst times of most peoples career. My fans are everything to me; I wanted to really connect with people. Instead of just shutting down I made sure to get super involved. Performing for my fans, posting everyday and going live. Paying tribute to my inspirations. My fans kept tagging Janet, Neyo and Paula Abdul on social media until they each reposted. Paula even reached out to collaborate on a video. It was definitely a turning point in my career and I'll forever be grateful for all these moments." On top of that, Frankie has been releasing other cover videos such as "Let's Get It On" by Marvin Gaye and "I Feel For You", both of which landed a spot within the Top 15 iTunes Pop Chart. Frankie's release of "Hit That" seeks to bring back the 80's, 90's, 2000's nostalgia. All that has inspired him. To make people feel good again, to dance, to forget about their troubles in the midst of these crazy times. "I want to do great things with my platform and give back and make changes. I'd like to eventually open up dance studios for kids and bring in the best dancers for them to learn from. That's super important to me. Of course I have a lot of goals in my career that I always want to elevate. My personality forces me to always want more and to always be bigger and better to hopefully inspire people and make a positive difference in the world." "When I recorded "Hit That", I had my mind set on bringing on a female artist , I wanted that female energy and power to complete my vision. When I connected with MELII I instantly knew she was the perfect artist for this, but what really got me was our first conversation. She said she loved the song and saw the vision, that this is something really different for her and would love to be a part of it. She really is such a humble person with a natural gift and talent and I couldn't be more excited for our collaboration and for the world to dance this one with us!" We want to hear from you! Please email Tera@BringinitBackwards.com. www.BringinitBackwards.com #podcast #interview #bringinbackpod #zoom #aspn #americansongwriter #americansongwriterpodcastnetwork Listen & Subscribe to BiB Follow our podcast on Instagram and Twitter! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/bringinbackpod/support Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/bringin-it-backwards--4972373/support. https://bringinitbackwards.com/

We had the pleasure of interviewing Bahari over Zoom video! Every so often, two separate journeys collide to form the perfect union in just the right place at just the right time. Bahari blossom from a similar confluence of circumstances. Singer and keyboardist Ruby Carr hails from the tiny island of Lamu off the coast of Kenya, while singer and bassist Natalia Panzarella calls Nashville home. Each of their experiences shapes a dynamic, diverse, and dark take on alternative pop. Generating over 200 million streams and receiving acclaim from Ladygunn, Nylon, Billboard, Ones To Watch, and more, the Los Angeles-based duo bring a shared vision to life across their music. Lifelong musical obsession bonded the girls. Ruby refers to the village of Lamu as "a little family." She attended a school of only five students. Mom introduced her to Bob Dylan, Rolling Stones, and The Eagles. She also endlessly played a Tupac tape. Without easy access to music, she requested albums from visitors and discovered Rihanna and Black Eyed Peas via MTV, watching videos all day. Eventually, she enrolled in boarding school where she picked up piano. About 8,521 miles away from Kenya, Natalia split her childhood between Nashville and the South Bay of Los Angeles. Her mother worked as a professional songwriter and passed on a passion for music. She listened to everyone from Christina Aguilera, Alicia Keys, and Destiny's Child to Fleetwood Mac, Stevie Nicks, Elvis, Johnny Cash, and Dolly Parton. She penned her first song at 10-years-old for a boy and never stopped writing. At 16-years-old, she met Ruby during a songwriting session at Rock Mafia studio. Ruby and Natalia also completed homeschool together in between releasing music as Bahari. Bahari initially made waves with "Wild Ones," which generated 38.1 million Spotify streams. They maintained a consistent pace with the Dancing on the Sun EP [2016] and singles "Get Together" and "Fucked Up." Along the way, they supported Selena Gomez and Birdy on tour and teamed up with Zedd and Grey for collaborations. After quietly grinding, Bahari earned a viral hit with 2018's "Savage." Not only did the song generate over 100 million total streams, but it also went gold. Signing to Epic Records, the pair reup "Savage" with an Official Remix featuring rapper BIA. "Savage" paves the way for the album. Ruby and Natalia moved in together, built a studio, and primarily took production into their own hands. Drawing on influences as diverse as the scores of Hans Zimmer and Air, they carefully crafted an expansive, ethereal, and entrancing body of work. On one end of the spectrum, warbling bass and woozy melodies distill "a pure feeling of paranoia" into the chaotically catchy "Waking Up The Neighbors." Then, there's "Jackie Kennedy." Upheld by nothing but solo piano and soft strings, the track culminates on the mournful crescendo, "We've lost a lifetime, you and I." In the end, the power of Bahari arises from this empathy. We want to hear from you! Please email Tera@BringinitBackwards.com. www.BringinitBackwards.com #podcast #interview #bringinbackpod #zoom #aspn #americansongwriter #americansongwriterpodcastnetwork Listen & Subscribe to BiB Follow our podcast on Instagram and Twitter! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/bringinbackpod/support Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/bringin-it-backwards--4972373/support. https://bringinitbackwards.com/

We had the pleasure of interviewing Charlie Houston over Zoom video! Each song from 19-year old artist Charlie Houston is an emotional timecapsule with relatable self-discovery storytelling and breathy, androgynous vocals evoking the captivating immediancy of contemporaries, Empress Of, King Princess, Faye Webster and​ Charlotte Day Wilson. Freshly signed to Arts & Crafts, the genre-bending artist has recently released her debut I Hate Spring EP. Though Charlie's studies at the Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music at NYU was short-lived due to a bout with severe anxiety, that period inspired two standout EP singles: ​"19​,​"​ a track about managing those mental health struggles with reckless behaviour, and ​"Calls​,​"​ a song about the unwanted dissolution of a long distance relationship. Throughout the collection, Charlie bravely bares her personal struggles such as mental health issues, romantic heartbreak, first kisses and discovering the fluidity of her sexual identity along the way. Working with producer ​Chris Yonge​, I Hate Spring features five downtempo pop tracks infusing progressive electronic sounds with raw, melodic guitar and pop-R&B vocals. The poetic lyrics intentionally do not include pronouns because the beautifully crafted stories are authentically relatable to any listener. We want to hear from you! Please email Tera@BringinitBackwards.com. www.BringinitBackwards.com #podcast #interview #bringinbackpod #zoom #aspn #americansongwriter #americansongwriterpodcastnetwork Listen & Subscribe to BiB Follow our podcast on Instagram and Twitter! --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/bringinbackpod/support Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/bringin-it-backwards--4972373/support. https://bringinitbackwards.com/