Bringin' it Backwards

We had the pleasure of interviewing morgxn over Zoom video! morgxn shares an animated lyric video for his recently released single "DON'T THINK ABOUT IT;" "DON'T THINK ABOUT IT" was released last month. morgxn explains "There is so much pressure and attention on gender as if it's something new. It's not… why [has] gender become such a heated debate when we are debating something that is, at its core, deeply personal." The highly anticipated new EP from the Nashville-born and based artist, MERIDIAN: vol 2, will now be released on November 11 ERIDIAN: vol 1 was heavily inspired by a rollercoaster 24-hour period in which morgxn experienced some of his highest highs and lowest lows. Just as the world was going into lockdown due to the pandemic in March 2020, morgxn saw a lifechanging day in which Billie Eilish included morgxn's single "home" in a list of inspirations behind her Grammy-award winning track "bad guy." Nashville-born Morgan Isaac Karr, best known as morgxn, released his debut album vital in 2018 including the hit lead single "home" featuring Walk The Moon. The track was a Top 10 Alternative Radio hit, landing on the Billboard Alternative Songs Chart and Billboard Rock Airplay Chart. He has toured extensively with the likes of X Ambassadors, Phoebe Ryan, miike snow, Skylar Grey and more, and has played festivals worldwide including Lollapalooza, Firefly and Hangout. morgxn will hit the road with Smallpools for a U.S. tour kicking off in November in support of the forthcoming MERIDIAN: vol 2. We want to hear from you! Please email Tera@BringinitBackwards.com. www.BringinitBackwards.com #podcast #interview #bringinbackpod #morgxn #zoom Listen & Subscribe to BiB Follow our podcast on Instagram and Twitter! 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 Opus Orange over Zoom video! Santa Monica indie-rock collective Opus Orange recently released his new album Object Lessons, The recent single "Got it All Wrong" is accompanied by a mesmerizing music video shot by award-winning film & television director Ric Serena, which finds power in its simplicity. This is not the first time Serena and Opus Orange's Paul Bessenbacher worked together. Bessenbacher co-composed the soundtrack for Serena's hit feature-length documentary Mile...Mile & a Half while hiking 219 miles of the John Muir Trail in 25 days with the cast, and 2018's My Indiana Muse which took home awards from the NYC Independent Film Festival, Beverly Hills Film Festival, The San Luis Obispo International Film Festival, The Florida Film Festival, and the Prescott Film Festival. Never one to make the same record twice, Bessenbacher drew inspiration for Object Lessons from 90's indie-rock and enlisted mixing engineer Tucker Martine (My Morning Jacket, Sufjan Stevens, Modest Mouse) and mastering engineer Doug Van Sloun (Bright Eyes, First Aid Kit, Damien Jurado) to round out the LP. In addition, the classically trained musician's work as a producer and composer has been featured in films by Catherine Hardwicke and Brin Hill, TV shows Grey's Anatomy, Broad City, Younger, and The Detour, and in national ad campaigns with Google, Apple, and Samsung. For all up-to-date information on Opus Orange, stay tuned to: https://www.instagram.com/opusorange. We want to hear from you! Please email Tera@BringinitBackwards.com. www.BringinitBackwards.com #podcast #interview #bringinbackpod #OpusOrange #zoom #aspn #americansongwriter #americansongwriterpodcastnetwork Listen & Subscribe to BiB Follow our podcast on Instagram and Twitter! 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 Alt Bloom over Zoom video! There is something intrinsically unique about multi-instrumentalist and lyricist Alt Bloom. With his seamless blend of alternative and timeless singer/songwriter pop, Alt Bloom has made himself known for crafting songs that encourage his listeners to escape; tracks that infuse dreamlike introspection paired with atmospheric melodies and, of course, Thompson's signature tongue-in-cheek wordplay. His music has been described as "smooth indie pop" and his songwriting as introspective, confessional storytelling. He's a lover of the outdoors and is becoming known for connecting his music with nature. Last year, he released a series of videos, called the California Sessions – shot in some of the most beautiful places across California and recently released and collaborated with National Geographic for their "Planet Possible" initiative to preserve the planet by releasing their new theme song for the initiative "I Believe". We want to hear from you! Please email Tera@BringinitBackwards.com. www.BringinitBackwards.com #podcast #interview #bringinbackpod #AltBloom #zoom Listen & Subscribe to BiB Follow our podcast on Instagram and Twitter! 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 Freindzone over Zoom video! Hayden Warzek & Jesse Woods, better known as Friendzone, have been creating quite a stir in the dance music scene as of late. Friendzone has set themselves apart from the herd by creating their own high energy, open format electronic sets. These two have let their fun-loving, care-free attitudes loose both on the stage and in their production. They share a passion for the finer things in life, such as: tequila, White Claw, beautiful people, and a good Henley. After making their mark in local clubs with well over 20 packed shows, the future appears bright for this young and thirsty duo as they build themselves in the dance music world... one White Claw at a time. We want to hear from you! Please email Tera@BringinitBackwards.com. www.BringinitBackwards.com #podcast #interview #bringinbackpod #Friendzone #zoom Listen & Subscribe to BiB Follow our podcast on Instagram and Twitter! 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 Tai Verdes over Zoom video! Billboard chart-topping singer-songwriter, Tai Verdes, teamed up with acclaimed rapper 24kGoldn to record a reimagined, RnB version of his current smash single "A-O-K," from his debut album TV. The revamped track releases today via all digital and streaming platforms and comes on the heels of what has been a red-hot summer for the Los Angeles-based recording artist. To date, "A-O-K" has amassed 100M+ total streams since its May release, and is currently averaging 1M+ streams daily across all streaming platforms. The track also recently hit the 1M TikTok creations benchmark, and is currently charting top 20 at both Pop and Alternative radio, as well as top 40 at Hot AC. Following Verdes' debut broadcast performances on The Today Show and Jimmy Kimmel Live, "A-O-K" was recently added to Spotify's Top Hits Playlist, Good Vibes (#7), Morning Stroll and Top Songs - USA; and is currently bringing in a new peak of 1M daily Spotify steams, crossing the 10M monthly listeners mark and landing at #474 in the world on Spotify. The track is currently at #52 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #168 on the Billboard Top 200, with TV album back to #1 Heatseekers Album. "A-O-K" has amassed 875K+ TikTok creations to-date. Verdes is currently on the road supporting Quinn XCII + Chelsea Cutler's tour; and later this fall, will perform at the All Things Go Festival in Columbia, MD, as well as, will continue supporting his debut album TV with a sold-out 14-date solo headline tour. The shows begin November 2nd in Houston, TX and will include stops in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, New York, Washington D.C. and Toronto. For more info, please visit www.taiverdes.com/tour . We want to hear from you! Please email Tera@BringinitBackwards.com. www.BringinitBackwards.com #podcast #interview #bringinbackpod #TaiVerdes #AOK #Sheesh! #zoom Listen & Subscribe to BiB Follow our podcast on Instagram and Twitter! 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 Marko DeSantis of Sugarcult over Zoom video! In August 2001, SoCal rockers Sugarcult burst onto the scene with their anthemic debut album Start Static. Combining high-energy punk riffs and irresistible power-pop melodies with a heavy dose of youthful angst, Start Static quickly earned the group a legion of fans, and spawned three hit singles, "Bouncing Off the Walls," "Pretty Girl (The Way)," and "Stuck in America." Now, two decades later, Craft Recordings commemorates this enduring favorite with a deluxe 20th anniversary vinyl and digital reissue. Set for an October 8 street date and available for pre-order, the vinyl edition of Start Static (20th-Anniversary Edition) will feature the original album — newly remastered by the GRAMMY®-winning engineer, Paul Blakemore — plus three special bonus tracks: an early demo of "Say I'm Sorry," a live version of "Bouncing Off the Walls," plus a spirited cover of Elvis Costello & The Attraction's "No Action." The album comes housed in a gatefold jacket, featuring sculpted emboss printing and updated liner notes from the band. Fans can also find a special variant of the LP — pressed on clear vinyl and limited to 500 units — exclusively on Sugarcult's website and at Craft Recordings' online store. The digital edition, also available October 8, features an additional, previously unreleased live version of the band's hit single, "Stuck in America." and "Bouncing Off the Walls (Live)" Formed in Santa Barbara, CA, in 1998, Sugarcult — whose original lineup consisted of Tim Pagnotta (vocals/guitar), Airin Older (bass/vocals), Marko DeSantis (guitar), and Ben Davis (drums)— made their mark as one of the most dynamic and entertaining pop-punk bands to come out of the 2000s. After independently releasing two demos and two EPs, the quartet caught the ears of Ultimatum Music, who signed Sugarcult and connected them with producer Matt Wallace (Maroon 5, Faith No More, The Replacements) to work on their debut full-length. Start Static went on to sell more than 300,000 copies, while the band embarked on nearly three years of non-stop touring. In addition to playing the main stage of Warped Tour and appearing at festivals like Glastonbury (UK), Summer Sonic (Japan), and Soundwaves (Australia), the group joined Green Day's American Idiot tour in the U.S. and Japan, as well as Blink 182's European arena tour. They would go on to headline hundreds of shows across North America, Europe, and Japan. Multiple songs off Start Static, meanwhile, could be heard on popular shows like MTV's Laguna Beach and in films like Van Wilder (the stars of which, Ryan Reynolds and Tara Reid, appeared in the music video for "Bouncing Off the Walls.)" In the liner notes, guitarist DeSantis recalls that Start Static "was our confrontation and/or handshake with the world; our chance to get people to pay attention, earn their respect, and then, hopefully, win their hearts. The album title fit the narrative of the songs—which are mostly vignettes of young adult anxiety over the trials of messy romance and post-adolescent dissatisfaction and uncertainty. [Start Static] was our album title and our mission statement." Following Start Static, Sugarcult went on to release two more acclaimed albums (2004's Palm Trees and Power Lines and 2006's Lights Out), and two DVDs before embarking on an extended hiatus in 2008. Since then, each band member has excelled in a variety of fields within the music industry. Tim Pagnotta is an award-winning, multi-platinum-selling songwriter and producer who has collaborated with the likes of Weezer, Blink 182, Neon Trees, Walk the Moon, and Elle King. Airin Older went on to become a founding member of Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros and joined British alt-rock group thenewno2, featuring Dhani Harrison. Marko DeSantis is now a professor of music business, artist development and artist coaching at Los Angeles College of Music, Musicians Institute College of Music and Citrus College. He has also enjoyed several DJ residencies in the U.S. and Japan and has been featured as a guest speaker and panelist at SXSW, UCLA, and Sonos LEAD, among others. Ben Davis, meanwhile, enjoys a successful career writing and producing music for film, TV and commercials. We want to hear from you! Please email Tera@BringinitBackwards.com. www.BringinitBackwards.com #podcast #interview #bringinbackpod #MarkoDeSantis #zoom #Sugarcult #StuckInAmerica #BouncingOffTheWalls #StartStatic #20Years #20thAnniversary #20YearAnniversary #TwentyYearAnniversary Listen & Subscribe to BiB Follow our podcast on Instagram and Twitter! 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 R. Miller over Zoom video! Emerging singer-songwriter and guitarist John R. Miller released his debut solo album Depreciated, July 16 on historic record label, Rounder Records! Depreciated blends a vast array of classic sounds from countrypolitan and swamp rock to the Tulsa sound, which attracted multiple Grammy nominee Justin Francis (Leon Bridges, Kacey Musgraves, Margo Price) and renowned guitarist Adam Meisterhans to produce the album. Miller was signed after a moment of industry serendipity: another producer walked past the studio where Francis was mixing the album, and was so impressed with what he heard that he passed the music on to an A&R person for Concord. Miller began playing music as a young teenager in a tight-knit DIY scene in West Virginia. Miller's first band was a punk quartet he and his friends formed at 14 years old. They would rent out church halls and Ruritan clubs to put on shows since they were not old enough to perform in bars. Before long, he gravitated toward folk and country music, which ignited a burning desire to travel as a touring musician and eventually drove him to quit school. He busked with a string band to earn a living and traveled to D.C., New York, and Knoxville, and would pen his own songs in his downtime. He spent the next 15 years as a touring musician, both leading bands and playing as a side man and bass player for a litany of other songwriters including the Hackensaw Boys, Sierra Ferrell, and J.P. Harris. Depreciated takes us back to Miller's time growing up in the eastern panhandle of West Virginia and reflects on his relationship with his childhood home and the way things diminish over time, whether they be the car he drove off the lot, or the relationships he left behind. Depreciated was recorded at the legendary Studio A of Sound Emporium in Nashville. Miller was ably backed on the sessions by Meisterhans, who contributed guitar and production; co-producer Francis on congas and Wurlitzer, Chloe Edmonstone offering a plaintive fiddle, John Looney on mandolin, Jonathan Beam providing bass, Russ Pahl's shimmery pedal steel, John Clay on drums, and Robbie Crowell playing the Wurlie and Hammond B3. We want to hear from you! Please email Tera@BringinitBackwards.com. www.BringinitBackwards.com #podcast #interview #bringinbackpod #JohnRMiller #zoom Listen & Subscribe to BiB Follow our podcast on Instagram and Twitter! 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 SZNS over Zoom video! Los Angeles based pop-quartet SZNS premiered the music video for new single "Build A Boy" recently with People Magazine. Now SZNS are following up with the TV debut of the music video for "Build A Boy" with MTV's Spankin' Brand New. SZNS give a fresh take on the classic 90's girl group music we all know and love with blending elements EDM, Latin-synth, and House inspired beats. The single was written by SZNS along with Stefan Litrownik (One Direction, Boyz II Men) and Jason Hahs, with production by K-Kov & Stefan Lit . Each member Winter, Spring, Summer, and Autumn bring their own unique vocals and styles that blend together to create the vibrant SZNS sound. Their conversational lyricism stems from the four's collaborative writing style - a late night kitchen heart-to-heart. Their relatable and empowering tracks call to not only girls and women, but anyone regardless of their gender, race or sexual origination that might be feeling pressured into submission to address and disrupt the status quo. Now following the successful release of "Build A Boy," that included a billboard in Time Square, SZNS is ready to hit the road to bring their live performance to fans across the US. When asked about their new single "Build A Boy" SZNS's said, "When we came together to write Build a Boy, the energy in the studio was a bit different from our usual confident selves. We were all feeling very vulnerable and even a little lonely. Each of us has experienced a relationship that wasn't fulfilling us mentally, physically and/or spiritually. Build a Boy is our way of saying I deserve more than the bare minimum & I have to do what's best for me. We realized some people are only in your life for a reason or a season and if you want the perfect partner, you have to find that within yourself first, because you can't Build a Boy." In order to better understand SZNS, one must first understand the unique personalities of each member Winter, Spring, Summer, and Autumn and how their names uniquely play into seasons they represent. Winter for instance is your shoulder to cry on, a listening ear, and your biggest advocate, someone who is there for you during those tough times. All Spring wants in life is to connect and heal people through her music, using her talents to help others grow through her art similar to how the showers of April bring help to bring the beautiful flowers of May. Autumn on the other hand is troublemaker of the group, some might see her tough exterior but those closest to her in SZNS know she's a real softie, you may find her out on town on Friday night but you have just a good chance of finding her curled up on the couch watching NetFlix. While Summer is known for being the bubbliest of the group, and can be found dancing everywhere she goes bringing her energy that turns even your darkest times to a bright sunny day. Together these four personalities come together to create the fresh high energy sound of SZNS. With this in mind SZNS are getting ready to release a series of four EP's each specifically crafted for each member/season, emanating power, vulnerability, wit, and reality ranging from bass dropping dance beats to sultry ballads! We want to hear from you! Please email Tera@BringinitBackwards.com. www.BringinitBackwards.com #podcast #interview #bringinbackpod #SZNS #BuildABoy #zoom Listen & Subscribe to BiB Follow our podcast on Instagram and Twitter! 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 Breagh Isabel over Zoom video! Breagh Isabel – the Halifax-based and Cape Breton Island-born recording artist, songwriter and producer – has released her debut single, "Girlfriends," (LISTEN HERE) along with the official video (WATCH HERE). The song helps usher in her new recording contract with Warner Music Canada. "Girlfriends" is a pop-leaning, coming-of-age story about a very specific type of heartbreak; the kind that comes from being a lovesick teenager in less welcoming times. The song emerged from a session with one of her Canadian songwriting crushes, Simon Wilcox (Nick Jonas, Selena Gomez, Lennon Stella). Isabel offered up the lyrics, "maybe we were homophobic" and like an astute therapist, Wilcox instantly started peeling back the layers, unravelling a closely kept story that needed to be told, and thus "Girlfriends" was born. "I had no firm intention of delving into a solo artist project when I wrote 'Girlfriends,' but the song easily became the most honest thing I had ever written. I started to feel like I had something to say that might resonate," says Isabel. "The song is about little – and sometimes big – moments and thoughts I didn't know what to do with at the time, but now realize were just expressions of me figuring out who I am." The theme of heartbreak is vivid in the accompanying music video, filmed in both Vancouver and Halifax. The video follows two high school students (played by Carolyn Yu and Cassidy Foley) as they explore burgeoning feelings, echoing the lyrics of Isabel's song. The video was funded in part by the MVP Project, produced by Shelby Manton of Boldly and directed by Tamara Black. Sonically, "Girlfriends" pairs thought-provoking, emotive storytelling with dynamic percussion and bouncy electric guitar that counterintuitively make the song feel catchy and calming all at once. Airy vocal swells and synths off the top of the track set the stage for the song's dream-like reflection. In her signature smoky timbre, Isabel sings, "I wanted to be girlfriends, but we were just girl friends," revealing the painful standstill of confusion and loss that comes from love unrequited. "It's a bit of a sad song wrapped up in a happy-sounding package. The lyrics don't really tell a hopeful story," Isabel spills. "The resolution comes from the fact that I can own the experience and re-tell it from a place of happiness." Though Girlfriends signals the start of her own solo career, Breagh Isabel's creative handiwork will likely already be familiar to music audiences. Isabel has written for and been featured on the records of artists like Classified, Ria Mae, Donovan Woods and BANNERS. While the world was in lockdown, she cut her teeth in production and signed a publishing deal with Concord Music. Her tracks have already been featured on the megahit show Grey's Anatomy and the superhero series Batwoman. She also toured throughout Canada and Europe and gained international recognition during her time as a member of the band Port Cities. Mostly writing for others, she would often tuck little ideas away that seemed overly personal, but with "Girlfriends, Breagh Isabel is now ready to begin a new chapter all her own. We want to hear from you! Please email Tera@BringinitBackwards.com. www.BringinitBackwards.com #podcast #interview #bringinbackpod #BreaghIsabel #zoom Listen & Subscribe to BiB Follow our podcast on Instagram and Twitter! 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 SOJA over Zoom video! SOJA's new album, Beauty In The Silence (their first in four years), was released on September 24th via ATO Records. Earlier this summer, the band released the album's first three singles, "Something To Believe In" ft. Stick Figure, "Press Rewind" ft. Collie Buddz + J Boog and "The Day You Came" ft. UB40 + Rebelution which have racked up millions of streams across DSPs in the weeks since their debut. Fueled by the sheer force of the band's connection and chemistry, Beauty in the Silence makes for a much-needed antidote to fractured times, infusing so much warmth and wisdom and unstoppable joy into each and every track. Like 2014's acclaimed Amid the Noise and Haste (a GRAMMY nominee for Best Reggae Album), the title to Beauty in the Silence references the opening lines of Max Ehrmann's beloved poem "Desiderata": Go placidly amid the noise and haste and remember what peace there may be in silence. "My dad had that poem memorized, and before I'd go out on tour he'd sort of whisper it in my ear," said Hemphill. "To me, it's a reminder of what we lose when we get caught up in the distractions all around us. You get so used to life being loud and fast and goal-oriented, but then you go out in nature and hear the silence and realize, 'Damn, I got tricked.' Life doesn't have to be all go, go, go. The real key to life is in being still." SOJA deliberately took their time in creating Beauty in the Silence as they explored new sonic terrain—recording in such iconic spots as Miami's Circle House Studios and Dave Matthews Band's Haunted Hollow, and teaming up with producers like Niko Marzouca (Pharrell, Rick Ross, A$AP Rocky, Damian Marley), Mariano Aponte, and Johnny Cosmic—the band eventually phased into working remotely as stay-at-home orders set in across the country. In that process, lead guitarist Trevor Young (formerly SOJA's guitar tech) took on a much greater role in the band's creative direction, co-producing alongside Hemphill and carefully shaping the album's hypnotic sound. "I really love that this record is a mix of all of us together in a room and all of us far apart," said Hemphill. "It's something that I'd love to keep doing in the future: let's get together, let's get the vibe and the groove, and then let's go off into our own worlds and discover what's there." SOJA deepens that communal spirit by collaborating with some of the biggest names from all corners of the reggae world including: UB40, Slightly Stoopid, Stick Figure, Dirty Heads, Rebelution, Common Kings, Mihali, Nanpa Básico, Eli Mac and more. And while each artist brings their own distinct sensibilities to the mix, all of the guest musicians are deeply aligned with the band's mission of uplifting the masses. For more than two decades, SOJA has elated audiences across the globe with their fresh yet timeless take on roots reggae, a sound born from their shared passion for making music that transports and inspires. The band was originally formed by a group of friends while still in middle school and has since built a massive, dedicated global fan base. In the years following, SOJA has headlined shows in over 30 countries around the world, generated 7 million social media fans and more than 1 billion streams. We want to hear from you! Please email Tera@BringinitBackwards.com. www.BringinitBackwards.com #podcast #interview #bringinbackpod #SOJA #Reggae #zoom Listen & Subscribe to BiB Follow our podcast on Instagram and Twitter! Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/bringin-it-backwards--4972373/support. https://bringinitbackwards.com/