Bringin' it Backwards

We had the pleasure of interviewing Gerry Beckley of America over Zoom video! Gerry Beckley, the illustrious singer, songwriter, performer and co-founder of legendary band, America, is set to release a greatest hits package featuring his solo work. Keeping The Light On – The Best of Gerry Beckley will be available via Blue Élan Records on March 26, 2021 with first single, "Self Image" streaming now. The album is now available to pre-order and will be released as a deluxe double cd, featuring a 44-page booklet including photos taken by Beckley during his tour travels over the last 50 years. The album will also be offered as a double LP set in translucent vinyl, or in a limited edition cloudy marbleized version. Included with each pre-order from BlueElan.com will be a bonus CD that contains nine tracks of Beckley-penned songs recorded by all-female contemporary indie artists, and includes covers of classic America tunes such as "Sister Golden Hair" and "Daisy Jane." Keeping The Light On – The Best of Gerry Beckley takes stock of Beckley's writing career so far. The album offers a generous 20-track overview of Beckley's output — and beyond. Songs culled from his first solo outing, Van Go Gan, whose ringing, uptempo "Emma," smoothly dynamic "Now Sue" and lush, lightly country-flavored "Goodbye Highway" -- all of which he co-produced with good pal Hal Linderman -- are featured on Keeping The Light On. The rest of the track listing is also culminated from his six subsequent solo albums -- 2000's Go Man Go, 2006's Horizontal Fall, 2009's Happy Hour, 2011's Unfortunate Casino, 2016's Carousel and 2019's Five Mile Road. – including "Watching the Time," a collaboration with Carl Wilson (the Beach Boys) and Robert Lamm (Chicago). There are also five previously unreleased tracks, including an unreleased America fan favorite, "Norman" and second single "(I'm Your) Heart Slave," that offer proof of how prodigious Beckley's output is when he's in songwriting mode. While Keeping The Light On focuses on a culmination of his solo work, Beckley has never stopped writing and recording, even amidst a global pandemic — and he shows no signs of abating any time soon. "This record is from this point back, and the stuff I've been writing and recording will be from this point forward," Beckley promises. "This is certainly a summation, I guess, but it's not the end of the story. It's amazing to have 50 years in this job. Now I can't wait to start the second half-century." We want to hear from you! Please email Tera@BringinitBackwards.com. www.BringinitBackwards.com #podcast #interview #bringinbackpod #foryou #foryoupage #zoom 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 Saint Disruption over Zoom video! Saint Disruption - the spirit-driven musical collective led by John Medeski and Jeff Firewalker Schmitt - have released their new single "Instant Gratification," a probing account of the dark underbelly of consumerism in the age of the internet. "Inspired by the landmark historical account of mass media and consumer culture 'All Consuming Images,' this is my exploration of what I believe to be the darkest dimension of consumer culture," says Schmitt. "The reduction of all that is sacred to the profane for the purpose of profit." "Instant Gratification," which features vocals from Asheville, NC-based artists Kimi Leger and Datrian Johnson, comes from Saint Disruption's debut album 'Rose In The Oblivion,' out April 8th. 'Rose In The Oblivion' "holds up a mirror to the darkness, because everything that lives is born in the darkness," says Schmitt. "In the face of adversity and struggle, the rose is an emblem of hope." 'Rose In The Oblivion' features contributions from a talented and diverse cast of musicians, including Lyric Jones and Last Poets founder Umar Bin Hassan. Other members of the Saint Disruption universe include GRAMMY winners Agent 23 and Debrissa McKinney, Datrian Johnson, multi-instrumentalist and producer Michael Hynes, and Austn Haynes of Free Radio. 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 Vaughns over Zoom video! Having met in a garage in their New Jersey hometown, The Vaughns, consisting of Anna Lies and Ryan Kenter, have been extensively touring the East Coast DIY circuits since they formed in 2014. With the past year bringing a record deal, lineup change, and COVID-19, The Vaughns found themselves diving deeper than ever into their songwriting. The band's experimentations are brought to life in their new EP, rom-coms + take-out, expertly engineered/produced/mixed by Joe Reinhart and superbly mastered by Ryan Schwabe. Using the quarantine to hunker down and continue to write the three track EP, Ryan and Anna were inspired by a variety of genres ranging from folk to pop. Keeping in mind the balance between interesting and over-complicated, they utilized new tools such as Ryan's electronic drum pad and orchestral strings to push the sound. "The concept was to simplify our songs, but focus on using different sounds, riffs and instruments to keep them really fascinating. We wanted to get to the roots of what makes a good song," Anna commented. This gives rom coms + take out an eclectic alternative sound that is heavily mixed with fresh indie melodies and vocals. With the debut of rom-coms + take-out marking a huge step in The Vaughns' career, they feel that it demonstrates a new beginning. This EP follows the main theme of finding oneself as chapters close and others begin to open. "It's okay to fail, as long as you get back up," Ryan added on. The Vaughns have some very exciting chapters in store, and this EP is like reading the back cover of a compelling novel - the best is yet to come. 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 Ava King over Zoom video! Ava was born and raised in France just outside of Paris. She attended Columbia university where she briefly studied Chinese and journalism (at 18 she published her first piece in the New York Times). After graduating she moved to China for a decade and worked as a TV host (hosting in Mandarin) and singer over there. She appeared on almost every single national network (including as a celebrity on the show "Stars in Danger: the High Dive"), accrued a social media following of 1 million and was covered by press including the Southern Weekend (the local equivalent of the New York Times). Notwithstanding this overseas success, she decided to return to the States. She later admitted that her time in China had been lonely, and she had also always longed to learn more about US pop music. She'd read about Dr. Luke and Kesha, and decided learning to produce music as a woman was very important: 1) she could help out other female artists and give them a respectful and safe creative space 2) she would be able to create music that truly resounded for her. Her songwriting and producing has since then landed on Crazy Rich Asians, the Ellen show, Empire and the Billboard World Charts #1 position. Ava is now focusing more on her own artist project. The message in her music is "love and acceptance of yourself no matter where you are at in life." In an industry where the charts are dominated by songs that champion sexuality and financial success as a basis for self-esteem, she wants to create a safe haven where people can feel good about themselves without those things. 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/

Together with American Songwriter, we had the pleasure of interviewing WESLEY over Zoom video! WESLEY will be releasing single "SLEEP ALONE" out April 2nd on all DSPs with Fire Tower Entertainment and FRTYFVE. The single comes as a precursor to his debut solo album "Spare Parts for Broken Hearts", out later this year, on the heels of his success as frontman of Emblem3, the boyband behind Billboard Hot 100 radio hit "Chloe," which toured internationally with Selena Gomez, and who holds the Teen Choice Awards Choice Breakout Group. WESLEY, the soloist, has experienced rapidly growing heat, with increased attention from Billboard, Hollywood Life, Young Hollywood, iHeart Radio, American Songwriter, Bringin' It Backwards Podcast, and more. He has seen increased DSP editorial support as well including on Spotify's "The Pop List", "Work From Home", "Varsity Bars", "Wholesome", "Fresh Finds", "Best of Fresh Finds Pop" and "Viral 50" Spain and Canada, as well as Apple Music's "Breaking Pop", "Virtual Hugs", "Feeling Blue", and their prestigious in-store "Today At Apple" shopping playlist. He has been grateful to be approached by today's hottest brands including Fashion Nova, iHeartMedia, Budweiser, and more in support of his new music. Anxious to get back on the road after a year of lockdown, Wesley has toured the globe both solo and with Emblem3, performing with the likes of Ed Sheeran, Demi Lovato, Macklemore, Fall Out Boy, MKTO and many more. He looks forward to seeing his fans both at home and internationally, and sharing all of the new music he has been creating in the studio this past year. 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/

Together with American Songwriter, we had the pleasure of interviewing Carsie Blanton over Zoom video! Carsie Blanton is on a mission to fight fascism. With her new single "Shit List," released today with an accompanying video, Carsie and producer Tyler Chester (Margaret Glaspy, Mandy Moore) pair her deceptively catchy farfisa riffs and folk-pop melodies with a blunt message: "That ain't the way we do it no more." In the official video for "Shit List,' Carsie juxtaposes footage of major historical moments both recent and archival: from the January 6th storming of the capitol building, and altercations with Neo-Nazis, to speeches from Black Panther Party leader Fred Hampton and Che Guevara. There are also lots of cheerleaders. Written in the wake of the 2017 Charlottesville riots that took place not too far from her hometown, Carsie reflects, "the scariest thing about fascism is that we've done it before, and we keep thinking we've beat it; we think its name is Hitler, or McCarthy, or Trump, and that it dies with those names. We won't beat it until we learn to see it, name it, and organize against it." Carsie has made a name for herself crafting songs that, beneath the veneer, "blend revolutionary politics with daring commentary about relationships, all laid out on a bed of clever, label-resistant songcraft" (Associated Press). On her new album Love & Rage (out April 30th), Carsie continues this tradition. The album -- which follows her 2019 album Buck Up (named one of NPR's Fresh Air's best albums of 2019 between Megan Thee Stallion and Billie Eilish) -- pairs her gift for timeless melody and sunny vocals with a pressing need to confront thorny issues. With the help of producer Tyler Chester and musicians like Griffin Goldsmith (Dawes) and Pete Thomas (The Attractions), Blanton brings the consequences of our politics and the precariousness of our economics into sharp focus. "Shit List" is the second single from Love & Rage. In January, Carsie released "Be Good," a rallying cry to embrace the radical teachings of people like Jesus and Dr. Martin Luther King: love your neighbor, take care of each other, we are all brothers and sisters. Listen here. Throughout 2020, Carsie and her band have hosted monthly Rent Party live streams (read more via Pollstar) to raise money to help support her band throughout the pandemic. In the last year, these monthly performances helped raise more for her band than in a typical touring year. Carsie has continued her Rent Parties into 2021 and is previewing her new album. Her next Rent Party is set for Saturday, March 27th at 2pm CST/3pm EST. 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 Jeff Whalen from the Maya Hotel in Long Beach! **This interview was recorded prior to the COVID-19 pandemic** As the guiding member of the glitter punk band Tsar, Jeff Whalen was well known to connoisseurs of bubblegum-flavored power pop. The band released two records in the 2000s before the music industry chewed them up, then after some recovery time (and a brief reunion) Whalen went solo. His debut album, 2019's 10 More Rock Super Hits, was a poppier version of the already sticky-sweet sound of Tsar. Whalen first hit the music scene as the singer, guitarist, and songwriter for Tsar, a quartet from Los Angeles who formed in 1998. Along with guitarist Daniel Kern, bassist Jeff Solomon, and drummer Steve Coulter, Whalen concocted a sound that was equal parts Cheap Trick, the Monkees, and Guns N' Roses. His knack for writing bubblegum melodies, then singing them with a knowing wink as the band thundered along caught the ear of record labels, and after a bidding war the group signed with Hollywood Records. After enlisting the production skills of Grammy winner Rob Cavallo, the band delivered their self-titled debut in 2000. The album was an exciting, hook-filled modern power pop record that nobody bought, despite (or perhaps because of) the band's subsequent opening slot on a Duran Duran tour. The group released a promo-only EP in 2001 (King of the School) and then, due to label politics, nothing. They continued writing songs and recording, finally winning their release from Hollywood in 2004. After some lineup changes (Chuck Byer replaced Steve Coulter in mid-2004, Derrick Forget replaced Jeff Soloman in early 2005), Tsar released Band-Girls-Money for new label TVT in June 2005. It was a spikier, more hard rock-influenced record and it met the same fate as their first album. The band decided to take a break and it wasn't until 2010 that the original lineup got back together to play some shows and record an EP, The Dark Stuff, which was released in 2012. They also released a split 7" with the band Killola that year. It wasn't until 2018 that Whalen re-emerged as a solo artist. Working with producer Linus of Hollywood plus a small cast of musicians including the Dollyrots, Tsar drummer Steve Coulter, and Os Tyler of the Aahs, Whalen recorded a batch of songs that took Cheap Trick at their power poppiest as a guide. The recording process was crowdfunded and the resulting album, 10 More Rock Super Hits, was going to be self-released in 2018, but the Supermegabot Music Concern label stepped in and issued it in early 2019. Artist Biography by Tim Sendra 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/

Together with American Songwriter, we had the pleasure of interviewing Leo Varella over Zoom video! Brazilian guitarist, singer and songwriter Leo Varella is a raw spirit in overdrive. Influenced by 80's Prince and Nile Rodgers' style of guitar playing, Leo offers a fresh take on retro, nostalgic pop writing, but with an alternative edge - he skillfully blends the style with the moody vocals of the Seattle grunge scene and 90's breakbeat instrumental loops to create a melting pot of nostalgic influences dotted with modern, catchy hooks and raw, visceral lyrical content. Leo discovered his love for music as early as he started playing guitar at the age of 5: since then, he hasn't stopped and kept developing his craft by navigating through all realms of music, with a particular interest for jazz, hip hop, rock and Brazilian music. The exposure to such genres sparked his interest in a career of writing, producing and touring as a guitarist - something he immediately pursued by moving to the US in 2016 by earning a spot at Berklee College of Music in a full tuition scholarship. That environment allowed his involvement with many projects from different artists and directors, most notably working closely under the wings of producer and musical director Rob Lewis (Christina Aguilera, Laura Jauregui, P Diddy). Released in early 2019, his debut single "Over It" has established a steadily growing following of loyal listeners. Gaining airplay from several Brazilian radio stations, international doors have begun opening for the artist. As a songwriter and producer, Leo has had the opportunity to write for an array of different artists through his collaborations with JIM ALXNDR (Australia) and DAMYE (Korea), such as Ravyn Lenae, IV Jay and DEAN. 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/

Together with American Songwriter, we had the pleasure of interviewing Merci over Zoom video! D.C. alternative quintet Merci released their brand-new single "Haunt Me" via Rise Records! A follow-up to the band's 2020 debut single "Foolish Me," "Haunt Me" expands on the band's indie-pop sound and is paired with a haunting video inspired by the Eggers' brothers psychological horror thriller hit The Lighthouse. The song was born from a voice memo Colby had sent me, along with my time spent in New York City living next to a fortune teller. Like a lot of our songs, it was a blind expression of that moment in my life, it encapsulates a lot of the weird darkness and fun inherent in our music. - Merci's Seth Coggeshall For Fans of: The Band Camino, 1975, Bleachers, lovelytheband About Merci: Washington, DC's Merci —Seth Coggeshall [vocals, guitar], Nick Jones [guitar], Colby Witko [vocals, keys], Justin Mason [bass], and Jack Dunigan [drums]—funnel dreamy nocturnal pop through the lens of dyed-in-the-wool rock underpinned by live instrumentation. Having woven themselves into the fabric of the DMV music scene, playing in various groups separately and together for years, the five members officially joined forces as Merci in 2018 and immediately began prepping for their debut album – due out 2021 via Rise Records. 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/

Together with American Songwriter, we had the pleasure of interviewing Mimi Webb over Zoom video! On the verge of a major breakthrough this year, 19-year-old UK singer/songwriter Mimi Webb returns with a new single and music video entitled "Reasons". The track pairs delicate clean guitar with her expansive delivery. Confessional verses give way to a sweeping hook as she declares, "We're just people made of broken pieces. I've got secrets. You've got secrets in your eyes." Meanwhile, the accompanying visual directed by Moon, captures the song's upbeat energy and undeniable magic all at once. Like an abstract painting in motion, the clip collects dazzling vignettes of Mimi on a playground swing, in a porcelain bathtub, and rotating on a mirrored circle as she dons stunning high-fashion couture looks for each scene. It ultimately reflects the emotional whirlwind of the single. About "Reasons," she commented, "For me, this song really represents the feelings of loneliness, but in the way where we are all just people made up of a bunch of different things. You only have yourself to rely on for this, but then it comes to meeting someone who has all the same broken parts as you do—which turns into a messed-up love. The making of this music video was such an incredible experience. The crew were all just so amazing, and glam really pulled it out the bag. It was the biggest video I've done so far and was so fun to really push myself out of my comfort zone from the looks we went for to the positions and movements I was throwing. I really felt my confidence take over and never felt more powerful." It's just one of many reasons to love Mimi Webb… Most recently, Mimi captivated fans and tastemakers with "I'll Break My Heart Again." It has already generated 1.5 million Spotify streams and 128K YouTube views on the music video. Receiving acclaim, FLAUNT premiered the video, while Wonderland put it best, "Already it seems Webb has carved out her own niche of balladic pop, packed with vocal dynamite and stirring instrumentals, and on "I'll Break My Heart Again" things are no different." Last year, her buzzing anthem "Before I Go" caught fire on Tik Tok when platform superstar Charli D'Amelio utilized it in not one, but two videos (here and here). This was unheard of and entirely unprecedented for a new artist. The track ultimately reached the famous creator's 106.4M million followers, generating a total of over 85.7million views, 13.5M likes, 304.2K comments, 118.7K shares in the app. Simultaneously, "Before I Go" amassed over 12.2 million Spotify streams and 615K YouTube views on the music video. Inciting tastemaker applause, Wonderland praised, "Webb's distinctive husky vocals and gut-wrenching lyricism." Meanwhile, Consequence of Sound raves that, "Mimi Webb has an unassuming sense of style and a voice that hits like a belt of brandy." Right now, she's preparing her debut EP set to arrive later this year. Get ready to fall in love with Mimi Webb. 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/