Bringin' it Backwards

We had the pleasure of interviewing Roosevelt over Zoom audio! After causing a stir in June with "Sign", his first new studio recording since 2018 which Stereogum called "a thumping house-pop jam with an emotional ballad at its gooey center", acclaimed artist and producer Marius Lauber AKA Roosevelt recently released the follow-up single "Echoes". This late summer special showcases a totally different side of Roosevelt – a space disco opus with layers of vocals revealing a wide narrative arc that simultaneously taps into euphoria and nostalgia. "I often see the recording process as an experiment as to how much of a band sound I can create on my own. It still really excites me to produce something that sounds larger than my little recording studio, so even when I could hire musicians to come in and play parts, to me there's something magic about doing it all by myself with my sometimes mediocre skills on some of the instruments I record. 'Echoes' is a good example, as I wanted to create a really rich and lush production, a 'disco orchestra' kind of sound, with lots of layers of sound. Something I did on Echoes, which I haven't done for quite a long time, was to have a musical and lyrical resolution as a second part of the track, that works as a reply to the beginning. While the first half is about being worried about never being able to forget a person that was important to you, the second half is about coming to terms with the fact that you've made these memories, knowing you can always slip into your memory to dive back into those feelings you once had. It builds into a very nostalgic and euphoric moment and turns dealing with the past into something positive and ecstatic." Marius Lauber The song, which Billboard said "balances '80s-inspired synth, disco, driving beats and cinematic textures into a musical amalgamation that simultaneously manages effervescence and heft," pays homage to early house and vintage pop and is already streaming in the millions. Roosevelt is and always was a dedicated music lover, with a rich knowledge of several decades of music, from yacht rock to Balearic textures, house euphoria to sub-zero techno, he's drawn to all forms of dance music. Guided by the emotional and physical connection to music, he uses his outstanding skills in electronics to create music that pushes and pulls between the body and the mind. It's the warm emotional touch that drives his music and made people fall in love with his tunes since his very early singles, his outstanding debut album 'Roosevelt' (2016) and the bold, addictive follow up 'Young Romance' (2018). And it is Roosevelt's warm emotional touch that also drives 'Sign' forward again. When not locked in his studio cranking out the hits, Roosevelt is also an in-demand producer, collaborating with Classixx and Washed Out or remixing artists like Rhye, Chvrches and Charlotte Gainsbourg. Alongside his successful live career, relentlessly touring with his band all over the world, he has also DJ'd at landmark clubs like Berlin's Panorama Bar and London's Fabric, rocked festivals such as Primavera Sound, Glastonbury, while also appearing on Boiler Room. 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 --- 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 Cedric Jackson II over Zoom video! Cedric Jackson, II illuminates the ongoing aesthetic of blackness as a perceived threat to those who would prefer to uphold oppression, while his collaborator from Dallas, Scuttino calls upon the methods of historical figures to fight back. As artists (and corporations) flood the atmosphere with statements of solidarity, Jackson presents a sonic resilience and authenticity that extends past a blanket statement of support into a call to action from personal experience. 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 --- 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 Wafia over Zoom video! For L.A.-based singer/songwriter Wafia, the possibilities in pop music go way beyond escapism. Since breaking through as a featured vocalist on Louis the Child's gold-certified smash "Better Not," the Iraqi-Syrian, queer-identifying artist has brought a deep sense of purpose to her kaleidoscopic dance-pop, turning each track into a powerful conduit for self-discovery. On her new EP Good Things, Wafia shares her most impactful body of work yet, boldly detailing the end of a bad relationship and the life-changing transformation that followed. Hailed by VOGUE as "the 24-year-old, Muslim, Iraqi-Syrian, queer artist that is single-handedly shaking up the music industry with her 'purposeful pop,'" Wafia has made waves for magnifying identifiable and idiosyncratic experiences in the form of alternative electro anthems rich with keen observation and lyrical power. With over 300 million worldwide streams, and widespread acclaim from the likes of W, LADYGUNN, NPR, PAPER, Teen Vogue, and more, Wafia is keenly aware of her position in life and is committed to empowering marginalized communities, at home and abroad, while also helping women of all shapes, sizes, and nationalities find themselves in her music. Through her unique art is distinctly personal, Wafia firmly believes creative gifts are meant to be shared and is passionately determined to create a positive environment that says all are welcome here. 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 --- 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 Daniel Rodriguez over Zoom video! Colorado singer-songwriter, Daniel Rod­­riguez, turns to his acoustic guitar for memorable, melodic hooks to accompany his poetic and contemplative folk songs. Boulder Weekly refers to Rodriguez's voice as "a timeless voice, deep and hearty, weathered but comforting. With over a decade under his belt as one of the founding members and lead songwriters of the transcendental folk band, Elephant Revival, Rodriguez is well-versed in the Americana tour circuit. Before going on hiatus, after their third headlining Red Rocks show in May 2018, Elephant Revival had released six albums and performed countless shows and festivals across the nation as well as overseas. Needing to fill the musical void that might have become following Elephant Revival's hiatus announcement, Rodriguez immediately headed out on tour as a solo artist. He's been chosen as main support for bands and shared stages with such acts as The Lumineers, Jim James, Gregory Alan Isakov, Mandolin Orange, Josh Ritter, Fruition and John Craigie in addition to being added to numerous festivals like Northwest String Summit, Lyons Folk Fest, Jam Cruise and WinterWonderGrass. Daniel Rodriguez released his debut collection of songs as an EP titled Your Heart The Stars The Milky Way on February 15, 2019. Since then, he has release two singles from his upcoming debut album, Sojourn of a Burning Sun, due to come out in August 2020 via BMG's sub-label Renew 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 --- 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 Madison Olds over Zoom audio! Madison is a bubbly, young pop artist making waves in Canada and the global music scene. Best Part of Me is the first single of her sophomore album out January 2021. As recent winner of Best Musician 2020 in her hometown, winner of the Screenshot Category in the International Songwriting Competition 2019 and the winner of the theme song for the Fairmont Pacific Rim, listeners can expect some great upcoming music this 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 --- 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 Be Well over Zoom video! Brian McTernan, former vocalist of DC straight-edge band Battery, and most known for his production work on albums for Thrice, Circa Survive, Turnstile, Senses Fail, and Hot Water Music to name a few. He has a new melodic-hardcore band, Be Well, and released their debut full-length, The Weight and The Cost, on August 21st via Equal Vision Records (US) and End Hits Records (UK/EU). The album chronicles McTernan's deeply personal experiences of anxiety, depression, and the ability to move forward and reflect on the darkest times of his life. The band also includes guitarists Mike Schleibaum (Darkest Hour) and Peter Tsouras (Fairweather), bassist Aaron Dalbec (Bane), and drummer Shane Johnson (Fairweather). The Weight and The Cost was recorded at McTernan's famed Salad Days Studio in Baltimore. "Confessional" is the album's final track, and serves as an emotional ode to McTernan's hopes for his daughter's future as he works on pulling his own life together. Both optimism and pain are palpable in the song, which serves as an anthem for these isolated times. This record is refreshingly real and at times emotionally raw, pushing well outside of the confines of what you already know about its members' previous bands. You can find more from Be Well on Twitter and Instagram. 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 --- 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 Shannon LaBrie over Zoom audio! With over 12 million streams on Spotify and Apple Music, Shannon LaBrie brings to life insightful stories of a woman who remains true to herself in a life where uncertainty is certain. She is a fearless performer and guitar player whose music possesses a unique blend of Americana and Soul, and has already earned praise from Rolling Stone, CMT, Paste Magazine, and more. LaBrie has performed across the U.S. alongside artists ranging from Valerie June and ZZ Ward to Robert Randolph and Gabe Dixon. Her music is filled with emotionally-charged lyrics that give a voice to the love and loss in which LaBrie has experienced throughout her life. The talented wordsmith's songs have been recorded by a diverse lineup of artists including Gabe Dixon, Lillie & Madaline, and the European DJ, Boogie Pimps. A notable cut of LaBrie's includes a co-write with Robert Randolph that resulted in, "She Got Soul," a song off his Grammy-nominated album, Got Soul. Shannon's music has been featured in many television shows, including Jane By Design, Army Wives, and The Client List, amongst others. 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 --- 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 Mammals over Zoom audio! The Mammals can hear the Earth calling, and they're asking us to listen. Why is the societal pain and political-environmental challenge in this album actually so listenable? Our ears can hear it because it's been composed with great care by two of folk-Americana's most heartfelt topical songwriters and lovingly performed by an ensemble of nine musicians. The Mammals are a warm-blooded party band with a conscience, equally inspired by their folk predecessors and Americana peers. One wintry week in New York's Hudson Valley, they descended upon the studio with an abundance of emotionally potent songs and an expansive nine-piece ensemble to create an album worthy of their nearly 20 year history. At the creative heart of the project are songwriting multi-instrumentalists and founding members Mike Merenda and Ruth Ungar Merenda. While they generally tour as a quintet they chose a "more the merrier" approach to this session, inviting both veteran bandmates (Jacob Silver, Ken Maiuri, Konrad Meissner and Charlie Rose) and recent collaborators (Will Bryant, Brandon Morrison, and Lee Falco). Like a shimmering wall of sound, with sparkling piano and banjo, and soaring fiddle, pedal steel, and organ, these ten energizing, uplifting arrangements were performed live and captured in real time by co-producer Adam Armstrong. Coming Down Off Summer kicks off the set with pulsating double drums, an ocean of feeling, and an intimate end-of-the-tour confessional by Ruth Ungar and her ukulele. After a delicately psychedelic jam we're launched into Radio Signal, Mike Merenda's new-folk classic that lands sonically somewhere between Paul Simon and The Who yet, if you listen closely, is heavily informed by the traditional folksong, Shenandoah. Already the hooks and choruses are strong and memorable when a plaintive fiddle and the sweet, unforgettable refrain of Merenda's What It All Is carry us even further into the band's take on humanity's place in nature. The song with the deepest emotional resonance is most certainly If You Could Hear Me Now. Arranged sparsely with fingerpicked guitar, graceful Wurlitzer and dulcet pedal steel, it powerfully pairs Merenda's poetic songwriting and Ungar's magnetic voice. From the moment they first tried rehearsing this one it has been a room-quieting stunner, and therefore has been tapped as the album's first single, released along with the pre-order launch on March 6th, 2020. Someone's Hurting is a darkly edgy banjo-driven song by Ungar, conceived on tour amid the beautiful Scottish countryside while witnessing, along with countless others, the horror of police violence playing out at home via live-streamed video. Lighter tracks like the dreamy California, soulful East Side West Side and Petty-esque You Can Come to My House balance the scales and remind us that this band is still optimistic at heart with 20 years of on-the-road experience winning new fans, leading sing-alongs, and building community one room, one hillside at a time. Whether this album helps us slow to hear Earth's call and reflect on our collective experiences or serves as a rallying call to action depends on the listener. Either way, we feel reassured that it's our combined responsibility to stay alert, use our strength to protect the fragile, and remember to stay welcoming and kind. Everyone's invited to plant their roots, hoist their antenna, and tune in to The Mammals. 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 --- 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 Sevana over Zoom video! Born Anna-Sharé Blake in Jamaica's parish of Westmoreland, Sevana coined her name after Savannah-La-Mar, the picturesque coastal town where she grew up. Her musical awakening began at eight years old over a hearty Sunday morning breakfast, when she broke out in an impromptu rendition of Celine Dion's "A New Day" for her family. She has come a long way since this epiphany at such an early age to now fulfilling her passions to the fullest. The 28-year-old singer, who is also an actress and model, is a quintessential triple threat of talent. Her burgeoning abilities are now backed by reggae star Protoje's management and label company In.Digg.Nation Collective. Sevana recently signed with Six Course/RCA Records as part of In.Digg.Nation's partnership to release her major label debut. Hailing from Jamaica gives any artist a certain legitimacy, but it also brings certain expectations — ones which Sevana lives up to and exceeds. While reflecting the island's musical sensibilities in some ways, her vocals are strongly influenced by modern R&B, evoking such soul queens as Beyoncé, Jazmine Sullivan and Adele. Although Sevana got her musical break in 2008 with the girl group SLR, placing third place on Digicel Rising Stars (Jamaica's equivalent of American Idol), it was not until years later that her career came into focus. In 2014, she impacted the chorus of "Sudden Flight" from Protoje's album Ancient Future. She made regular live appearances alongside Protoje and his band Indiggnation. Instantly comfortable, confident and engaging in live performances, she flourished on stage. In July 2015, she joined the Ancient Future Tour across Europe where she got her first taste of life on the road. Her 2016 self-titled EP was a six-song project that shared honest stories from her childhood, feelings of love and thoughts of letting go. Sevana's first European solo tour followed. Two years later the singer delivered her infectious anthem "Sometime Love." The single received heavy rotation in Jamaica and the U.K. (featured as BBC 1Xtra's Mista Jam's "Jam Hot" Record of the Week). Sevana has also recorded live sessions for BBC in Jamaica with David Rodigan. In Summer 2019, she dropped her upbeat dancehall-flavored jam "Nobody Man" (released via Easy Star Records/In.Digg.Nation Collective), which showcased her "stunning vocal range" (COMPLEX). Later in the fall, she joined a cast of Jamaica's leading singers – including Jaz Elise, Lila Iké, and Naomi Cowan – on the all-female riddim compilation Rock & Groove. Sevana's contribution "Haul and Pull" was selected as the Coldest Record for BBC Radio 1 with Toddla T. Over the past year, Sevana landed festival performances at Boomtown (UK), Reggae Geel (Germany) and Rototom Sunsplash (Spain), Sole DXB (Dubai) and joined Protoje on some of his major shows, including BRIC's Celebrate Brooklyn! NYC concert and Jamaica's largest annual music festival Reggae Sumfest. Sevana has earned notoriety by The FADER, NYLON, COMPLEX, VICE/Noisey, BBC (1Xtra), LargeUp and graced the cover of RIDDIM Magazine's SPRING 2019 issue. In addition to her singing career, she played the starring role in the groundbreaking Jamaican web series, Losing Patience, which aired on the country's most popular TV network TVJ. Her photogenic, naturally radiant look has made her a favorite of photographers and fashion labels. Most recently, she was included in PUMA Middle East's 2020 campaign along with labelmate Lila Iké. Be Somebody, Sevana's 2020 EP is the next chapter in her song book. This latest release consists of all-new tracks that peel off Sevana's layers in a metamorphosis of self, reflecting on personal growth, love and relationships. The EP's title track "Be Somebody" sets an aspirational tone of Sevana becoming an individual and reaching one's full potential despite overwhelming feelings of doubt amidst the pressures of the world. "Let me be greater than this," --- 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 opportunity to interview MAKEOUT. Pop-punk phenoms Makeout, have debuted "Home" their first single with new frontman Kyle Dee (formerly a Season 11 American Idol contestant, and lead singer of Chicago mainstays, The Frantic) and bassist AJ Khah (who was previously a member of Sleep On It). Dee and Khah join founding members Tyler Young (Lead Guitar) and Scott Eckel (Drums) for a more mature sounding yet still a super melodic new version of MAKEOUT which should make longtime fans super stoked. Now joined by vocalist/guitarist Kyle Dee and bassist AJ Khah, MAKEOUT is ready to share 'Home', their first new material with the new lineup, and their first new music in almost three years. "We couldn't ask for better new members with the band, and it's really changed the mood moving forward," says Young. "Everybody's gung-ho and onboard and really wants to do this." Producer and manager Matt Holmes describe the making of 'Home' as a unique process: "We were fortunate enough to have Travis Barker and Matt Malpass work with Scott on the drums and programming, which definitely took the songs and production to another level." Barker had a hands-on approach to production, changing song structures and drum parts and even playing on the EP ("Some parts it's hard to tell and some parts it's quite obvious, but he drums a little bit in every single one of those songs," Eckel explains). The EP's title track also came as a collaboration with Jayden Seeley of With Confidence. We want to hear from you! Please email Tera@BringinitBackwards.com www.BringinitBackwards.com --- 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/