

Bringin' it Backwards
Adam & Tera Lisicky
Bringin' It Backwards: podcast – giving driven musicians the invaluable insight they need to succeed in the music industry, by revealing how legendary musicians achieved stardom.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Mar 3, 2022 • 34min
Interview with Alexa Villa
We had the pleasure of interviewing Alexa Villa over Zoom video! While her classmates were playing with Barbies, Los Angeles-based Bubble Rockstress Alexa Villa was playing on The Warped Tour. She has opened for acts including Hinds, The Darkness, Drake Bell, and Ryan Cabrera to name a few and has honed her craft as the sharp yet charismatic artist she is today. With influences ranging from Miley Cyrus, Yungblud, 5SOS, Willow Smith, and Halsey to Gwen Stefani, and Alanis Morissette, the singer/songwriter/classically-trained pianist and producer empowers the listener to embrace their madness and be authentically imperfect, loud and abrupt. She also expresses individuality through fashion and works with various brands to further create her own world. Alexa's new single is entitled "Good Girl". Says Villa, "I wrote 'Good Girl' about all the times I felt I was not taken seriously as a woman in my industry and in my relationships. I wrote it about all the times I've felt confused about my place in the world and the times I felt like I needed to hide. I wrote this song to redefine what a 'Good Girl' is. I've caught myself and I've seen so many of my friends, strong and beautiful women, altering themselves to fit inside the box that was created for us. Why do we have to wear pink, have the perfect body, or be quiet and look pretty to be feminine? And if we do live outside the box why do we as women then become stereotypes? I wrote this song at a time when I was frustrated and angry about the rules. Rules that were so clearly made to be broken. I don't have to be anything but myself to be a woman. I wake up everyday and get to decide who I want to be. That's what this song is about." We want to hear from you! Please email Tera@BringinitBackwards.com. www.BringinitBackwards.com #podcast #interview #bringinbackpod #AlexaVilla #GoogGirl #NewMusic #zoom Listen & Subscribe to BiB https://www.bringinitbackwards.com/follow/ Follow our podcast on Instagram and Twitter! https://www.facebook.com/groups/bringinbackpod Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/bringin-it-backwards--4972373/support. https://bringinitbackwards.com/

Mar 2, 2022 • 38min
Interview with Aiyana-Lee
We had the pleasure of interviewing Aiyana-Lee over Zoom video! R&B-pop singer Aiyana-Lee releases her debut EP 'WEDNESDAY'S CHILD (SIDE A)' (HITCO). The seven-track project will lead into a forthcoming full-length album WEDNESDAY'S CHILD, out later this year. Also out today is the official video for "Gangster of Love", the Top 10 US R&B Radio track which she performed on the hit daytime talk show "The Real." Directed by Nayip Ramos, the gritty visual shows a playful Aiyana-Lee strutting through a jail cell as a wanted criminal while professing her innocence and her title as the "Gangster of Love". Ramos previously directed the video for "Killa Killa" (with KSI) which racked up over 8 million video views and hit #27 on the UK Singles Chart. Combining elements of pop, R&B and soul with poignant, heartfelt lyrics, Aiyana-Lee's powerhouse vocals have already captivated listeners and amassed over 60 million streams and video views. With athletic vocals that are both powerful and emotive, Aiyana-Lee's voice is a refreshing, powerful sight to behold. On 'WEDNESDAY'S CHILD (SIDE A)', Aiyana-Lee taps an impressive list of collaborators including GRAMMY Award-Winning producer Neff-U (Michael Jackson, Doja Cat), Sebastian Kole (Alicia Keys, Alessia Cara), Nathalia Marshall (Kiana Lede, Bebe Rexha) & multi-platinum singer-songwriter Nicole Daciana Anderson (BLUE), who is also Aiyana-Lee's mother, manager and creative partner. ABOUT AIYANA-LEE 21-year-old Aiyana Lee grew up surrounded by music— her uncle was David Ruffin of The Temptations, and her grandfather was famed American soul singer Jimmy Ruffin. Starting her journey of singing at the age of two, she jumped on stage whenever she had the chance and grabbed the mic and belt out lyrics as a toddler when her mother brought her on tour. She moved to Los Angeles from London with her mother at the age of 15 to further pursue her music career. An artist whose vocal depth speaks for itself, Aiyana-Lee is the most recent signing to legendary music producer & executive LA Reid's entertainment company HITCO. We want to hear from you! Please email Tera@BringinitBackwards.com. www.BringinitBackwards.com #podcast #interview #bringinbackpod #AiyanaLee #WednesdaysChild #SideA #NewMusic #zoom Listen & Subscribe to BiB https://link.chtbl.com/BiB Follow our podcast on Instagram and Twitter! https://www.facebook.com/groups/bringinbackpod Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/bringin-it-backwards--4972373/support. https://bringinitbackwards.com/

Mar 2, 2022 • 60min
Interview with Wolves At The Gate
We had the pleasure of interviewing Wolves at the Gate over Zoom video! WOLVES AT THE GATE have announced their fifth album Eulogies. It arrives on March 11 via Solid State Records. The band recently shared the video for the new song "Peace That Starts the War.". Regarding the development of the song, he shares the unique way it came together over time, saying, "Writing this song was a blast. Joey got the ball rolling when he dropped the main intro riff into our Dropbox. I built the rest of the song from there. We all got together in Columbus for a writing session to finalize the songs, and that's where it really came to life. Joey wrote the guitar solo and end riff on the spot, and we were all literally yelling, screaming, and cheering him on as he tracked it. The same went for Nick when he tracked his scratch vocals for the end of that song. It was good times." Unrestricted by genre conventions and determined to raise the bar with each successive album, Wolves at the Gate deliver music and a message with a firm commitment to passion and authenticity. Tirelessly seeking out the light in seemingly overwhelming darkness, the Midwestern post-hardcore group balances soaring melodies with unrelenting metal and emotional heaviness. Eulogies arrives with confidence and forward motion born from reflection, introspection, and isolation. The small-town Ohio-based five-piece band built the foundations for the album's 13 songs during the pandemic shutdown, shaping diverse tracks like "Shadows," "Peace That Starts The War," and "No Tomorrow" into stunning confessional epics. Wolves at the Gate's audience treasures each of the band's best-known songs for the emotional depth, passionate catharsis, and evocative power contained in them, as evidenced by the millions of streams for WATG anthems. These include "Counterfeit," "A Voice in the Violence," and "Drifter" (from 2019's Eclipse); "Asleep," "Flickering Flame," and "War in the Time of Peace" (from 2016's Types & Shadows); "Relief," and "The Bird and the Snake" (from 2014's VxV); "Dead Man," "The Harvest," and "Slaves" (from 2012's Captors), and "Heralds" (from 2011's We Are The Ones). We want to hear from you! Please email Tera@BringinitBackwards.com. www.BringinitBackwards.com #podcast #interview #bringinbackpod #WolvesAtTheGate #SolidState #Eulogies #NewMusic #zoom Listen & Subscribe to BiB https://link.chtbl.com/BiB Follow our podcast on Instagram and Twitter! https://www.facebook.com/groups/bringinbackpod Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/bringin-it-backwards--4972373/support. https://bringinitbackwards.com/

Mar 1, 2022 • 54min
Interview with Pete Sears of Moonalice
We had the pleasure of interviewing Pete Sears of Moonalice over Zoom video! San Francisco-based psychedelic soul group Moonalice is set to release their latest studio EP, 'Full Moonalice Vol. 1', on the high holy day of April 20. The six song record is the group's label debut on Nettwerk and features the previously released single "Woo Woo" and an extended version of the band's first single, "Time Has Come Today." 'Full Moonalice Vol. 1' is their first full body of work since transforming into a ten-piece in 2019 through the addition of Lester Chambers and Dylan Chambers of the New Chambers Brothers, and Erika, Rachel, and Chloe Tietjen of the T Sisters. Today, Moonalice shares "Let's Get Funky," the latest single from their upcoming EP. Mixed and mastered by 4x-Grammy Award-winning engineer Dave Way, "Let's Get Funky" is a fresh take on the Chambers Brothers' hit "Funky." Originally released in 1970, the song was written by Lester Chambers, a co-founder and lead vocalist of the Chambers Brothers, who is now a member of Moonalice. "Funky" broke the Billboard Top 100 despite being deemed "too risqué of a song for the time," explains the 81-year-old Chambers. Moonalice delivers a new version of the song with tight grooving from Pete Sears and John Molo on bass and drums, funky guitar riffs from Barry Sless, an electric synth solo by Jason Crosby, soulful harmonica playing by Lester Chambers, and lively backing vocals from the T Sisters and Dylan Chambers. Moonalice will spend the next few months on the road, touring across California, including festival performances at BottleRock and Skull & Roses. The group is also planning an extra special event in San Francisco to coincide with their annual 4/20 celebration. Stay tuned for more details and national headline dates to be announced soon. We want to hear from you! Please email Tera@BringinitBackwards.com. www.BringinitBackwards.com #podcast #interview #bringinbackpod #PeteSears #RodStewart #Moonalice #JeffersonStarship #NewMusic #zoom Listen & Subscribe to BiB https://link.chtbl.com/BiB Follow our podcast on Instagram and Twitter! https://www.facebook.com/groups/bringinbackpod Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/bringin-it-backwards--4972373/support. https://bringinitbackwards.com/

Feb 28, 2022 • 37min
Interview with Jenna Raine
We had the pleasure of interviewing Jenna Raine over Zoom video! Texas-born pop phenomenon Jenna Raine releases her major-label debut EP, see you later, via Warner Records. The three-song set contains her breakthrough "see you later (ten years)," which has amassed more than 36 million global streams since its release in 2021. Upon release, the single quickly shot to #1 on Spotify's Global and US Viral Charts and earned early radio support, debuting on Billboard's Adult Top 40 Chart. The EP also includes a new version of that romantic ballad featuring JVKE and the equally emotional, introspective, "2%" — a song fans have been aching for since the 17-year-old artist first teased it to her 1.5 million followers and counting on TikTok. All three songs on the EP are deeply personal and intimately relatable. "see you later (ten years)" captures the anguish of dating the right person at the wrong time. "It's heartbreaking when the timing is all wrong," says the singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist. "But now I'm dating the person that used to be my Right Person, Wrong Time." That happy ending inspired the song. She always envisioned a feature on it and found the right collaborator in viral hit singer-songwriter and GRAMMY® nominated producer JVKE – best known for his breakout hit "this is what falling in love feels like," JVKE has over 5.4M monthly listeners on Spotify and amassed over 300 million global streams. Raine has been working toward this moment since she entered a talent show at 8 years old. Encouraged by the rapturous response, she asked for singing lessons for her 10th birthday and joined Septien Entertainment Group, whose alumni include Beyoncé, Selena Gomez, and Demi Lovato. A four-year stint in a girl group called L2M followed as well as multiple world tours and two self-released solo EPs. She even found the time to act in Hulu's California Dreaming which premiered on Nickelodeon in December 2021. With her see you later EP, Raine takes another step toward superstardom, sharing more of herself with the world with each song she releases. Raine is currently working with some of today's top songwriters and producers, including GRAMMY-winning producer Ryan Tedder (Adele, Ed Sheeran) as well as Nathan Chapman (Taylor Swift) who produced "see you later (ten years)." With much more music in store for 2022, you'll want to keep your eye on Jenna Raine! We want to hear from you! Please email Tera@BringinitBackwards.com. www.BringinitBackwards.com #podcast #interview #bringinbackpod #JennaRaine #SeeYouLater #NewMusic #zoom Listen & Subscribe to BiB https://link.chtbl.com/BiB Follow our podcast on Instagram and Twitter! https://www.facebook.com/groups/bringinbackpod Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/bringin-it-backwards--4972373/support. https://bringinitbackwards.com/

Feb 27, 2022 • 34min
Interview with Elephant Stone
We had the pleasure of interviewing Elephant Stone over Zoom video! Montreal-based modern psych-pop band Elephant Stone announced their new EP Le voyage de M. Lonely dans la lune, out now via Elephants On Parade. In Elephant Stone, Dhir has woven stories of loss and grief, existential crisis and rebirth, and a world withering away, all set to elegant, intense droning music. What Dhir knows – and something so many of us can relate to over the past two years – is presented with such clarity on Le voyage de M. Lonely dans la lune. The EP is sung entirely in French, a departure for the English-speaking band. The record is what Dhir calls a "love letter to Montreal, Quebec, and all of our French-speaking fans around the world." While Dhir, a first generation Indian immigrant with very strong cultural ties to the motherland, was born and raised in Montreal, he's always had a strong connection with French-speaking friends and fans. Elephant Stone was born out of a need for refuge for Dhir. After playing in bands such as The Datsons and The High Dials, he picked up the sitar and began writing about personal experiences, leading to a carved out niche in the modern psych-rock genre by infusing it with some pop sensibilities. As a highly-regarded sitar player, Dhir has also collaborated with indie-rock icons like Beck, and legendary cult bands like The Brian Jonestown Massacre, The Black Angels, The Soundtrack of Our Lives, The Dream Syndicate, and many more. Dhir's journey with music, in and out of Elephant Stone, was wrought with trying to find a place that fit him until he decided that what he made was worth sharing in the space that he created for himself. The best kind of music, and the stories paired with those sounds, often begin with that internal excavation. We want to hear from you! Please email Tera@BringinitBackwards.com. www.BringinitBackwards.com #podcast #interview #bringinbackpod #TheDatsons #TheHighDials #ElephantStone #NewMusic #zoom Listen & Subscribe to BiB https://link.chtbl.com/BiB Follow our podcast on Instagram and Twitter! https://www.facebook.com/groups/bringinbackpod Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/bringin-it-backwards--4972373/support. https://bringinitbackwards.com/

Feb 26, 2022 • 38min
Interview with Gabriella Stella
We had the pleasure of interviewing Gabriella Stella over Zoom video! 23 year old Gabriella Stella is a high octane singer/songwriter with a burst of pop energy in a very petite package. Her fierce choices of surprise and righteous raw sound leaves you desiring one more rift. With her previous skills of acting and modeling; it separates her from the wave of other pop artists. Her explosive performances are filled with original choices, possibly eclectic musical ears. Her musical influences are Demi Lovato, Julia Micheals, and Miley Cyrus. Gabriella has performed at The House of Blues, Disneyland, Grand ole Opry Mills, and local venues. We want to hear from you! Please email Tera@BringinitBackwards.com. www.BringinitBackwards.com #podcast #interview #bringinbackpod #GabriellaStella #Paranoid #NewMusic #zoom Listen & Subscribe to BiB https://link.chtbl.com/BiB Follow our podcast on Instagram and Twitter! https://www.facebook.com/groups/bringinbackpod Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/bringin-it-backwards--4972373/support. https://bringinitbackwards.com/

Feb 25, 2022 • 44min
Interview with WizTheMc
We had the pleasure of interviewing WizTheMC over Zoom video! South African-born, Germany-raised, and Toronto-based singer, songwriter and producer WizTheMc recently released his sophomore EP Where Silence Feels Good. Leading listeners through a tale of love, including all its triumphs, trials and tribulations, the EP features previous singles "Stoned Nights," "Do It Over," "Break" and "Everything," which have gone on to rack up millions of streams and have been hailed by the likes of PAPER Magazine, Notion and HotNewHipHop. Where Silence Feels Good EP marks the follow up to his What About Now? EP. Released at the end of 2019, it features the breakout single "For A Minute," which has since amassed over 86M global streams and has been featured on Greys Anatomy, Facebook Messenger and the Netflix-original movie He's All That. ABOUT WIZTHEMC Fitting for an artist who spent formative years on three different continents, WizTheMc describes his sound as "borderless music." It's an apt description for the 22-year-old singer, rapper, and producer, whose DIY ethos to music-making combines an ear for sticky pop hooks with nimble rapping abilities, all bolstered by high-octane production and summery guitar loops. His career hit warp speed during summer of 2020, when his peppy love song "For A Minute" became a major online hit, following his signing with Elliot Grainge's 10K Projects and Homemade Projects. It's since accrued over 86 million global streams. The Toronto-based, Cape Town-raised artist is now bringing his magnetic records to the masses. We want to hear from you! Please email Tera@BringinitBackwards.com. www.BringinitBackwards.com #podcast #interview #bringinbackpod #WizTheMC #WhereSilenceFeelsGood #NewMusic #zoom Listen & Subscribe to BiB https://link.chtbl.com/BiB Follow our podcast on Instagram and Twitter! https://www.facebook.com/groups/bringinbackpod Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/bringin-it-backwards--4972373/support. https://bringinitbackwards.com/

Feb 24, 2022 • 36min
Interview with Devin Kennedy
We had the pleasure of interviewing Devin Kennedy over Zoom video! Shot inside of a hot air balloon, "Follow Through" was not only written and produced by Devin, but the video was also directed by him. To put it simply, "Follow Through" is about the sacrifices we all make in the pursuit of our life-long goals and aspirations. Missing birthdays, holidays, important moments, losing touch with old friends and family is, unfortunately, part of the equation for anyone with big ambitions. "Follow Through" showcases Devin's innate ability to craft deeply personal narratives into catchy melodies. With lyrics created from his own personal experiences; Devin balanced working 40 hours a week after graduating from high school to put himself through Berklee College of Music, while also releasing music independently. While in college, Devin saved-up his royalties from collaborating with artists like Ben Platt, Ryan Tedder, Andy Grammer, R3HAB, Jake Miller, James Maslow, Alex Aiono (and more), and started investing his profits into cryptocurrencies. This allowed Devin to remain independent by self-funding the release of his debut EP SunDayDreams in the summer of 2021. Since 2018, Kennedy has been steadily releasing successful singles including, "No Worries" and "Something Bout That Feeling," which featured a re-mastered sample of his late grandfather on the piano. Devin kicked off 2020 with his high-flying singles "Happy Yet" and "No Parachute," which received 2 million TikTok page views within two weeks of release. We want to hear from you! Please email Tera@BringinitBackwards.com. www.BringinitBackwards.com #podcast #interview #bringinbackpod #DevinKennedy #Songland #NewMusic #zoom Listen & Subscribe to BiB https://link.chtbl.com/BiB Follow our podcast on Instagram and Twitter! https://www.facebook.com/groups/bringinbackpod Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/bringin-it-backwards--4972373/support. https://bringinitbackwards.com/

Feb 23, 2022 • 48min
Interview with Nekrogoblikon
We had the pleasure of interviewing Nekrogoblikon over Zoom video! The self-proclaimed "Best Goblin Metal on the Planet" known as Nekrogoblikon have announced their new album The Fundamental Slimes and Humours. The album will arrive April 1. "We're excited to finally release 'This Is It,' the second single from our upcoming albumThe Fundamental Slimes and Humours," the band says. "This was the first song that got completed during the writing/demoing process, meaning it's also the one we've been waiting the longest for you all to hear. Hope you enjoy it!" Los Angeles, California's Nekrogoblikon are melodic hard rock pranksters who deploy gnarly death metal earworms filled with crafty hooks, claw-pumping choruses, lightning-fast riffs, and over the top, EDM-style keyboard flourishes. With their ostentatious goblin hypeman John Goblikon, the band takes cues from hyperbolic horror-metal enthusiasts like GWAR, Finntroll, and Dethklok, while maintaining an affable, self-referential sense of humor. The group's early outings, like 2007's Goblin Island, were largely low-fidelity affairs, but by the early 2010s, Nekrogoblikon were operating at a far higher technical level, and employing a rotating cast of talented players. Founded in 2006, Nekrogoblikon self-produced their debut album, the relatively lo-fi Goblin Island, in a basement. The LP was released in 2007, and an expanded lineup was quickly assembled to help flesh out the fledgling group's audacious live shows. The more technically proficient Stench arrived in 2011, and included the single "No One Survives" — the video written and directed by Brandon Dermer (Panic At The Disco, Every Time I Die, Diplo, Dillon Francis) became a viral hit, and landed the band festival slots at Download Festival in the UK and Rock Im Park/Rock Am Ring in Germany. The Power EP was issued the following year, and in 2014 the band joined Limp Bizkit on the Kerrang! Tour. In 2015 they released the concept LP Heavy Meta via their own Mystery Box label, and in 2018, Nekrogoblikon issued their fourth studio long-player, Welcome to Bonkers, which was followed by extensive touring including performing on the entirety of the final cross-country Vans Warped Tour and Summer Slaughter. In between touring stints, the band (along with Brandon Dermer and writer/actor Dave Rispoli) released 3 seasons of RIGHT NOW, a comedic talk show starring band mascot John Goblikon. The series features a wide array of high profile guests including comedian Bobby Lee, The Used, Keith Buckley from Every Time I Die, Wes Borland from Limp Bizkit, and Joe Trohman from Fallout Boy. We want to hear from you! Please email Tera@BringinitBackwards.com. www.BringinitBackwards.com #podcast #interview #bringinbackpod #Nekrogoblikon #JohnGoblikon #RightNow #NewMusic #zoom Listen & Subscribe to BiB https://link.chtbl.com/BiB Follow our podcast on Instagram and Twitter! https://www.facebook.com/groups/bringinbackpod Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/bringin-it-backwards--4972373/support. https://bringinitbackwards.com/


