Bringin' it Backwards

We had the pleasure of interviewing Man on Man over Zoom video! Roddy Bottum (Faith No More, Imperial Teen, Nastie Band, CRICKETS) and his boyfriend Joey Holman (Holman, Cool Hand Luke) built a record in quarantine around the celebration of gay love. MAN ON MAN stare down homophobia, ageism, and xenophobia and bite back with a display of queer tenderness and triumph. What started as an outlet for expression at the onset of COVID-19, MAN ON MAN quickly realized, after the release of their first single and video for their song Daddy, they were doing more than making songs in quarantine - they were speaking for people who didn't feel like they had a place in the queer scene. MAN ON MAN are an invitation for true expression and representation. By design, the music is as heavy as it is soft. Bottum and Holman's fondness for fuzzy guitars and punchy synths matches the same velocity as their appetite for acoustic guitars and upright pianos. The vocals reach gospel heights while allowing space for rawness, loudness, and vulnerability. The instrument lineup was forced simplicity: two guitars, the upright piano that Bottum grew up playing, a keyboard, and a microphone. MAN ON MAN prove you can do a lot with very little, only getting help with a couple of bass tracks remotely from their friend Joey Howard (Paramore, Hayley Williams) and recording their music videos on an iPhone. Their new release, Baby, You're My Everything, is a queer hymn of devotion, underscoring the very best parts of being with a lover in quarantine. The track was amongst the first songs written as a duo, and it serves a soft landing thrown from the whirring chaos of a new life sheltering in place. The video is a wander into the baptism of rainbowed fellowship. MAN ON MAN remove the gatekeepers of straight and LGBTQIA+ establishments and create music and visuals that celebrate broadening the identity of DIY scrappiness. "The quarantine and the isolation of the new world isn't a time for sitting still. As a pushback to the virus it's our job to create and to force ourselves to push boundaries. MAN ON MAN has been an exercise in liberating the queer voices in ourselves and expressing the notions of love, loneliness and the things we hold close," Bottum says. "The project of MAN ON MAN is creating space for people who don't live within platitudes and monoliths - everyone is actually welcome to express themselves how they want. As artists, we have varied interest, and the part of our project I'm most excited about is how every song is its own entity, leaving room for a wide range of emotions." Holman says. 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 Ricky Byrd over Zoom video! On September 25, Rock and Roll Hall of Famer (2015 inductee with Joan Jett and The Blackhearts) and guitarist/singer-songwriter Ricky Byrd presents Sobering Times (Kayos Records). Sobering Times is an honest and intimate reflection of recovery delivered through his signature brand of Rock 'N' Roll. As Goldmine Magazine states "...The Faces and The Rolling Stones with a dash of Otis...It rocks like a b*tch. His vocals are the best of his career...early indications make it seem likely that this will be his career statement." Following the path he carved with his 2017 album Clean Getaway, Sobering Times (produced by Ricky Byrd and Bob Stander) continues his mission to deliver the message of hope to those recovering from addiction. He expresses the roller coaster of emotions and every day trials of recovery, from hitting rock bottom, to the gratitude of surviving and thriving in a sober life. On Sobering Times, Byrd is joined by an all-star cast of musicians: Bob Stander (bass guitar, percussion), Jeff Kazee of Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes (keyboards/ accordion/background vocals), Steve Holley (of Wings / Ian Hunter / Joe Cocker, contributed drums to most of the album), Liberty DeVitto (Billy Joel, drums), Rich Pagano (The Fab Faux, session drummer), Thommy Price (Joan Jett, Billy Idol, Mink DeVille, drums) and Christine "The Beehive Queen" Ohlman (vocalist, Saturday Night Live band). Additionally, he collaborated with Richie Supa ("I Come Back Stronger") and Willie Nile, who duets with Byrd on "Recover Me", in addition to Emily Duff, who co-wrote "Ain't Gonna Live Like That." Fittingly, he also recorded a cover of Merle Haggard's "The Bottle Let Me Down". Byrd chose the Sobering Times release date of September 25 as it's also the 33rd anniversary of the day he started his sober journey. Having lived through the disease of addiction himself, Byrd has made it his mission to help others as a recovery coach and drug/alcohol counselor, who visits schools, rehab facilities, and detention and detox centers to perform, talk, and lead recovery music groups. In fact, he gave away almost 2500 copies of Clean Getaway at these facilities, so clients could take the message of recovery home with them. He dedicates Sobering Times to all of those who struggle with addiction, as well as the recovery warriors who help those who are struggling, those that support a clean and sober lifestyle, and of course, those that still love loud and proud Rock 'N' Roll. "As far as third acts go, I couldn't be more grateful for mine," says Byrd. "I get to use the undeniable power of R'n'R to spread the recovery message to those that are struggling....pretty... pretty... pretty good." "I Wanna Sing About How Lucky I Am You're Looking At One Grateful Man I Should Be Long Gone Yet Here I Stand Hear My Song" Quittin' Time (Again) Together Hear My Song Tired I Come Back Stronger Starlit Night Recover Me (feat. Willie Nile) Ain't Gonna Live Like That Pour Me The Bottle Let Me Down Life Is Good Just Like You Although best known for his time with The Blackhearts, Byrd has also recorded and played with Roger Daltrey, and toured with Ian Hunter and Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes, respectively. He is also proud to have shared stages with such music royalty as Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, Alice Cooper, Bruce Springsteen, Steven Van Zandt, Smokey Robinson, and Mavis Staples, among others. www.RickyByrd.com PHOTO CREDITS: Frankie Byrd 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 Ego Kill Talent over Zoom video! "We all develop a self-image that we want to show to the world. We make decisions and actions that feed that image and in the attempt of making it real we end up believing that is what we are. (EGO) Little by little, our frantic and desperate effort to keep this illusion gradually blinds us to what we truly are. (KILL) Our true self is a silent witness of our essence, completely independent of the character, and with full potential for anything. (TALENT)" Google identified Ego Kill Talent's vibrant debut album as one of the twenty (20) most relevant artists of 2017. It became a Top 50 Viral Spotify release in the UK, France, Portugal and Brazil with over five weeks in the 4th position. It also attained Spotify "Playlisting" in the U.S., Canada, France, Mexico, UK, Portugal and Spain, racking up over 20 million plays on streaming platforms. Formed by, Jonathan Correa (vocals), Jean Dolabella (drums and guitars), Raphael Miranda (drums, bass), Niper Boaventura (guitar, bass), and Theo Van Der Loo (bass, guitars), Ego Kill Talent (an abbreviation of the saying "too much ego will kill your talent") toured Europe for the first time in 2017, playing Download Festival Paris, the legendary Arènes de Nîmes supporting System of a Down and the iconic Melkweg in Amsterdam. The band was also invited for an interview and full live performance at 3FM, the biggest Rock radio station in Holland. In addition, performed at premiere festivals in South America, including Rock In Rio, Planeta Altantida and Santiago Gets Louder (Chile). 2018 began with 5 dates supporting the Foo Fighters and Queens of the Stone Age in Brazil, including Maracanã Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, 2 nights at Allianz Parque in São Paulo, Pedreira Paulo Leminski in Curitiba and Beira-Rio Stadium in Porto Alegre. Then to Europe again in June, touring with Shinedown at iconic venues such as Pumpehuset in Copenhagen and Melkweg in Amsterdam, as well as the festivals Rock Am Ring, Rock Im Park, Graspop Metal Meeting, Download Festival Paris (again), Download Festival Madrid and Nova Rock. 2018 wrapped up with a third European tour, this time supporting Dutch band Within Temptation playing most of the O2 venues throughout Europe, including a sold-out O2 Brixton Academy in London and 2 sold-out nights at AFAS Live (former Heineken Music Hall) in Amsterdam. Ego Kill Talent received great reviews from European press on each tour including a 5 "K" rating from Kerrang! UK magazine for the Download Paris concert in 2017. The Dutch press (Aardschok, 3FM and Smash Press) compared the band's sound and performance to Foo Fighters, Stone Sour and Royal Blood. The band is currently putting finishing touches on their second album at the famed 606 Studios, owned by The Foo Fighters. The album will feature 12 tracks with special guests John Dolmayan (System of a Down), Roy Mayorga (Stone Sour) and skateboarder Bob Burnquist (13 times X Games Champion). The album release date and title are to be confirmed. EKT has just signed with C3 Management and are now preparing for their second Rock In Rio performance later this year. "When Rock music is made with emotion and truth, it really touches us. I believe we have captured something that encompasses all of these feelings", says Theo Van Der Loo regarding the messages featured within the album. "All the lyrics and musical creation are part of a questioning process. The intention is to use these questions as paths to free ourselves from anything that causes us pain", he adds. 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 Movements over Zoom video! Growth occurs across different layers. Reflecting personal changes from a whirlwind five years, Movements realize the full scope of their storytelling, musicianship, and vision. Not only does the music address the emotional push-and-pull of relationships, but it also explores loss, love, mental health, and even intimacy through a prism of newfound clarity soundtracked by post-punk grit, alternative expanse, heartfelt spoken word, expensive rock, and subtle pop ambition. The Southern California quartet—Patrick Miranda [vocals], Ira George [guitar], Spencer York [drums], and Austin Cressey [bass]—reach this place on their second full-length album, No Good Left To Give [Fearless Records]. "When we started this band, I was 19-years-old," says Patrick. "I'm 24 now. I've learned a lot about myself in the last five years. Those lessons influenced my writing style in terms of how I incorporate my experiences into the lyrics. There's more I want to be able to portray. There are more themes I want to talk about. Our preferences have changed. The changes come through the record." "Over the course of making this record, we found ourselves as people," Austin concurs. "It allowed us to really discover what we can do musically. We've evolved as musicians. Every instrument, the bass, the drums, the guitars, and vocals have been stepped up to a different level—but it's still Movements." Movements quietly worked towards this moment since forming in 2015. Following the 2016 EP Outgrown Things, the group cemented a singular sound on their 2017 full-length debut, Feel Something. Eclipsing 40 million total streams by 2020, it immediately connected by way of "Daylilly" [11.1 million Spotify streams], "Full Circle" [6.1 million Spotify streams], and "Colorblind" [5.5 million Spotify streams]. Along the way, the four-piece received acclaim from Brooklyn Vegan, AXS, Rock Sound, Culture Collide, and more. In between packing shows worldwide, they joined forces with Alzheimer's Association for the "Deadly Dull" video and covered "Losing My Religion" by R.E.M. for the Songs that Saved My Life compilation. During 2019, the guys entered the studio with longtime producer and frequent collaborator Will Yip [Title Fight, Turnover] to record No Good Left To Give. Movements spent the most time they ever had in the studio, which resulted in the most collaborative effort to date with Will, adding another dimension to the tunes. "At its core, the new record is what we've always been, which is emotional, real, and honest music," Patrick goes on. "We all know each other very well and understand our respective styles. We're discussing mental health, struggles with relationships, and relatable things from our lives. At the same time, it's a little darker." "The mood is a little heavier, for sure," Austin elaborates. "It wasn't based on any sort of influences. We didn't try to emulate anyone. It's very pure. We uncovered our originality." This original spirit shines on the first single "Don't Give Up Your Ghost." Ethereal guitars ebb and flow with a spectral glow as Patrick's voice engages and enchants. Lyrically, it confronts the darkness of suicide head-on, "Don't give up your ghost." "It talks about depression and suicidal thoughts and tendencies," he sighs. "It's told from the perspective of a person who is dealing with a friend who confides that he or she has attempted to kill him- or herself. However, this person has been there as well and has even made suicide attempts too. The person tries to console the friend and let him or know she's not alone. It's about not giving up when there's so much more the world can offer. Even though you're in a certain place right now, it doesn't mean you're going to be in the same place forever." On the other end of the spectrum, "Skin To Skin" slinks along on a bedpost-rattling beat as Pat's voice snakes through seductive verses—"I wanna be inside"—towards an --- 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 Powfu, RXSEBOY, and Sarcastic Sounds over Zoom video! Rapper Powfu, acclaimed singer-songwriter Alec Benjamin and rapper-producer RXSEBOY have officially teamed up for a brand new version of Italian producer Sista Prod's breakout phenomenon "Eyes Blue Like The Atlantic." With production from Toronto-based Sarcastic Sounds, "Eyes Blue Like The Atlantic Part 2" is available now at all DSPs and streaming services HERE. The companion visualizer is currently streaming via Alec Benjamin's official YouTube channel HERE. Sista Prod's "Eyes Blue Like The Atlantic" has already proven a true social media sensation, featured in over 250,000 TikTok videos thus far. The 18-year-old Italian producer's original version is rapidly shaping up as an equally popular streaming favorite, currently ascending towards the top 20 on the Spotify US Viral 50 Chart while climbing the overall Global Viral 50. "Eyes Blue Like The Atlantic" is also rising up the chart in an array of international markets, including #12 in New Zealand, #20 in Australia, #26 in Singapore, #29 in Switzerland, #30 in Canada, and #37 in the UK. ABOUT SISTA PROD Sista Prod is an 18-year-old producer from Italy who first started making beats on a Launchpad after finding out his friends at school had a strong interest in singing. Since then, he started working professionally with the help of his father and created his own studio. As Sista Prod collaborated with other artists and producers, he fell in love with the lo-fi aesthetic. He came across Ollie MN's verse on the internet and thought it was perfect for a full song. Two years, later "Eyes Blue Like The Atlantic" began taking off on TikTok and climbing the Spotify Viral charts. ABOUT POWFU Emotive singer and songwriter Powfu has quickly emerged as an important player in bringing the unique sound of lo-fi hip-hop genre into the worldwide mainstream, racking up millions of global streams with tracks such as this year's RIAA platinum certified breakthrough, "death bed (coffee for your head)." The track reached #23 on Billboard's "Hot 100," fueled in part by over 1 billion combined plays across YouTube, Spotify, Shazam, and of course TikTok, where it inspired countless user-created videos. The Vancouver, BC-native followed the global success of "death bed" with his recently released debut EP, poems of the past (Columbia Records). The 6-song EP showcases the 21-year-old artist's rapid growth since his early independent releases, alongside collaborations with such lo-fi peers as Sarcastic Sounds, Jomie, ivri, sleep.ing, and RXSEBOY. poems of the past also includes a bonus remix of "death bed (coffee for your head)" featuring one of Powfu's all-time favorite bands, blink-182. ABOUT ALEC BENJAMIN Alec Benjamin initially bonded to listeners everywhere by way of relatable ruminations over lo-fi beats and glassy acoustic guitar. He built the perfect platform to transmit these messages. In 2018, the platinum-certified Phoenix-born, singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist delivered his first mixtape, Narrated for You. To date, he has generated over 2 billion total worldwide streams and earned a platinum certification for his breakout single "Let Me Down Slowly." Alessia Cara joined him for a duet version of the latter, which soared on the Billboard Hot 100. In addition to supporting Lewis Capaldi in arenas, he sold out headline dates across North America, Europe, and Asia on and performed on The Late Late Show with James Corden and The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. Beyond acclaim from The New York Times, TIME, Rolling Stone, he converted longtime idol John Mayer into an outspoken fan—joining the ranks of fellow high-profile supporters such as Billie Eilish, Bryson Tiller, and Kevin Abstract. As life happened around him, Alec compiled ideas and turned his keen perception on himself for his full-length debut, These Two Windows [Atlantic Records] which dropped earlier this year. By doing --- 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 Jehry Robinson over Zoom video! Genre-mixing Jehry Robinson delivers a bold blend on his Strange Music debut album, 20/Twenty, released in August. On the album, Jehry delivers emotional confessions with the dynamics and diversity of a one-man music festival. "I'm taking all of those genres and emotions and fusing them into one sound," he explains. "You'll get the happy side. You'll get the depressed side. If there's a reggae vibe or rock energy, that's just how I felt that day. That's the blueprint of what 20/Twenty is, I'm leveling up this hybrid and bringing it to the next plateau." After seeing an interview with Strange Music C.E.O. Travis O'Guin on Forbes.com, Jehry urged Tara to reach out. Thinking it was a long shot, she sent a message to him via Instagram. Much to her surprise, the label head responded, eventually locking in a meeting that saw Jehry and Tara booking a flight to Strange Music headquarters in Kansas City. After months of planning, and many conversations with O'Guin, Jehry got to work on his Strange Music debut album, 20/Twenty. As Jehry became part of the Strange Music family, he collaborated with label mates Tech N9ne, Joey Cool, Krizz Kaliko, JL, and King Iso. He also introduced some of the songs from his upcoming album via three chapters: 20/Twenty Chapter 1, 20/Twenty Chapter 2, and 20/Twenty Chapter 3, with all garnering spots on iTunes charts and collectively racking up nearly 1 million cumulative views and streams. 20/Twenty mixes reggae flavors, raw rock, rapid-fire rap and euphonious pop into a boundary-bending 20-song set. "Closer to the Sun" hops along on sun-kissed reggae guitars as Jehry's nimble rhymes stretch towards a bright and bouncy refrain. Meanwhile, finger-snaps underscore an impressive vocal performance on "In My Feels," which "is about saying, 'Fuck it' and tuning out for a day." Whether it be the emotionally charged message of "Daddy Issues" (ft. Jelly Roll), the island swing of "No Refunds", or the blistering rap of "Daylight" (ft. Tech N9ne), he effortlessly bounces between styles. 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 John McEuen of Nitty Gritty Dirt Band over the phone! John McEuen, founding member of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, has been continually performing since 1964- logging 9,500 concerts and 300 television appearances while traveling more than 3 million miles on the road - both with the band and as a solo performer. In 2017 John was inducted into the Banjo Hall Of Fame and honored with the Folk Alliance Organization's "Best in the West Award" for his solo performances. McEuen has made over 40 albums (6 solo) and has earned four platinum and five gold recognition awards, Grammy nominations and wins, CMA and ACM awards and an Emmy nomination. He's performed on another 25 albums as a guest artist and produced more than 300 concerts throughout his career. His production of Steve Martin's The Crow won the 2010 Grammy award for Best Bluegrass Album Of The Year, and his popular "Acoustic Traveler" show on Sirius/XM's The Village is now in its 15th year. John McEuen's countless performances include everything from picking with street performers to joining the likes of Phish, Earl Scruggs and Levon Helm on stage… and even a memorable performance on Sesame Street with a herd of goats and a cow! In 1977 the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band became the first American band to tour the Soviet Union, performing 28 sold out shows in May of that year. The tour included a television broadcast reaching 130 million people and the trip is featured in 2017's Free to Rock documentary about how American Music brought down the Iron Curtain. Arguably, McEuen's most endearing accomplishment may be his instigation of what Rolling Stone called "The most important record to come out of Nashville" and what a 2004 ZAGAT survey called "the most important record in country music"- Nitty Gritty Dirt Band's 1972 album Will the Circle Be Unbroken. The album is in the Grammy Hall of Fame as well as The Library of Congress. 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 CHASER! Established in 2000 in the heart of the SoCal punk scene, CHASER made a name for themselves playing fast and melodic skate punk. With energetic, infectious, and heartfelt performances, they always leave you wanting more. Comprised of Mike LeDonne (vocals), Jesse Stopnitzky (bass/vocals), Bill Hockmuth (guitar), and Davey Guy (drums), CHASER is your classic example of 4 close friends that share a deep love for this music and hope to make a difference with it. On September 4, 2020, CHASER released "Look Alive", a 2-song 7" record in collaboration with Thousand Island Records, Sound Speed Records, SBAM Records, and Pee Records. Jesse from CHASER shares, "Our proceeds from the record will be donated to 4 carefully handpicked charitable organizations: Equal Justice Initiative, Educational First Steps, Crisis Aid International, and Surfrider Foundation. 2020 has been a year like no other. In the face of such unprecedented crises, one's impact feels further minimized. However, if we have learned anything from these experiences, it is that we are all in this together and have a responsibility to do our part. At the minimum, manage what we can control." CHASER also finished recording their 5th full-length album, "Come Alive!", comprised of 13 catchy and energetic tracks with self-reflecting lyrics. Jesse mentions, "We're at a unique moment in time where it feels like the powers of good vs. evil are at play more than ever before in modern society. The general population is quick to attack each other without mercy, compassion, or understanding, and the rest of us are grasping on any sort of hope for the future. 'Come Alive!' will undoubtedly have you rocking out and singing at the top of your lungs, while also challenging you to take a look inside and declare which side you're on." For the last two years, CHASER toured internationally, playing some of the biggest punk festivals in Europe and Canada. They quickly developed a reputation of a "can't miss" live show and rightfully earned main stage festival time slots. In 2018, CHASER released, "Sound the Sirens", on Effervescence Records. With over 500 vinyl LP's and 1,000 CD's sold, it was voted by fans as a top punk album of the year. For CHASER, it was a return to the basics of what started it all for them. Jesse shares, "Growing up in the 90s, no sound struck a chord for us like the Fat and Epitaph era punk bands. Although the scene continues to evolve, we stuck to what we love most about this genre...catchy melodies, anthemic choruses, passionate lyrics, and as always, a beat that has you rushing for the pit." More at: chaserpunkrock.com 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 Jonatha Brooke over Zoom video! Formerly of the New England-based folk-rock duo The Story, Jonatha Brooke has been writing songs, making records, and touring since the early 90's. After four major label releases, she started her own independent label in 1999 and has since released eight more albums including her most recent: 2019's EP Imposter, Jonatha has co-written songs with Katy Perry and The Courtyard Hounds among others. She's also written for four Disney films and numerous television shows including composing/performing the theme song for Joss Whedon's Dollhouse. In 2014, Brooke debuted her one woman musical and companion album My Mother Has Four Noses at the Duke Theater in New York City. The show ran for three months to rave reviews and was a critic's pick in the New York Times who called it "both funny and wrenching." 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 JJ Sterry of Gang of Four over Zoom video! The surviving members of Gang of Four, singer John Sterry, bassist Thomas McNeice and drummer Tobias Humble, joined with Andy Gill's widow Catherine Mayer to celebrate Andy through music - and in raising funds for Guy's and St Thomas NHS Foundation Trust, the London hospital that tried so hard to save his life earlier this year. "Forever Starts Now," a brand new Gang of Four track written by Andy and John. Its original working title was "Hero," a reference, John explains, to the lyrics about "a character who sees himself as the hero of his own life and manipulates his partner into supporting this fantasy. The line, 'She sings along with his song / she thinks it's like having the radio on...' always brings a wry smile." The EP takes its title ANTI HERO from the single and to reflect Andy's lifelong mistrust of narratives around supposedly great men. "Andy always had a healthy scepticism about celebrity culture and populist politicians," says Catherine. "And he could always spot when someone was blowing smoke." She adds: "Even so, he would be moved and delighted that artists he loved and admired have come together to celebrate him by launching this EP and for such a good cause." The cover artwork is a variant of a full-scale portrait of Andy that Shepard Fairey created as a tribute after the Gang of Four founder's death on February 1, 2020. Shepard Fairey says: "Gang of Four has been a profound inspiration for me because the band demonstrates that great art can powerfully merge pleasure and intellectual provocation. I was devastated to hear of Andy Gill's passing, but honoured to make a portrait of him in the hope of creating an iconic image of one of my heroes—with apologies to Andy, to me he was a hero—to serve as a reminder that though life may be fleeting, Andy's potent art and ideas will endure." The second single, "Day Turns To Night," was written by John Sterry just days after Andy's death and will be the first single for his solo artist project, styled as JJ Sterry. "I had no intention of it being about him," says John. "It just came out that way and also I didn't intend for it to be released. I often cloak lyrics with ambiguity and this felt too raw. But listening now, I'm glad I wrote it with no thought of where it might go—it's just a pure distillation of the years I'd spent with Andy and the band." Other tracks on the EP are vibrant new versions of Gang of Four's "Change The Locks" and "Glass," both of which feel apt for the times we live in. "Both tracks were completed at the time of Andy's death; yet both have incredible resonances for these lockdown times," says John. "His ability to write songs that remain relevant was unparalleled." Gang of Four's longtime bassist Thomas McNeice worked with Santi Arribas of the Mixing Factory, another of Andy's firm friends and collaborators of many year's standing, to produce and mix the EP. "It was strange, to say the least, to work on a Gang of Four EP without the wisdom and guidance of Andy, but it was nice to feel his presence and influence again," Thomas says. "I like to think that this EP exhibits a progression in Gang of Four, while paying tribute to a unique talent that I was extraordinarily lucky to work with." Everyone who worked on the album provided their services for free. All net receipts received by Gang of Four from sales and streams of the forthcoming EP and associated singles will be donated to Guy's and St Thomas' Charity. Music distributor Republic of Music have also waived their distribution fees for this project, to maximise the income generated for the Charity. Listen here: https://open.spotify.com/album/7bXxnrzsxd7hoJVhw88LIQ?autoplay=true https://www.facebook.com/gangoffourofficial/ https://twitter.com/gangof4official https://www.instagram.com/gangoffourofficial/ https://www.instagram.com/jjsterry We want to hear from you! Please email Tera@BringinitBa --- 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/