Bringin' it Backwards

We had the pleasure of interviewing Robert Finley over Zoom video! "The greatest living soul singer," Robert Finley, has released his career defining new album on Easy Eye Sound. A soulful masterpiece written by Finley and co-written by Dan Auerbach, it features blues veterans and studio legends who have worked with everyone from Elvis to Wilson Pickett. Finley appeared on NPR's Morning Edition today, discussing his new record and remarkable story with Vince Pearson. The piece reflected on the power of perseverance and how Finley has found musical success, after many decades of hard work. He debuted a new music video for the track, "Make Me Feel Alright," which premiered exclusively with SPIN.com, who also interviewed Finley about his new album and proclaimed it, "one of the finest albums of the year." Reflecting on the track, Finley stated, "'Make Me Feel Alright' is about not looking for love, but for companionship. Sometimes you want to find someone to have a good time without judgment or baggage. There's nothing like going to a club and having a good time. You meet someone, have a fun night and then go your separate ways with your own problems at the end of the night but still experience love in the moment." Sharecropper's Son received high praise from tastemaker media including Rolling Stone who described Finley's vocals as the perfect combination of "weathered and expressive." Mojo described the album as "pure Hill Country hypnotic boogie." AVClub claimed, "Finely has a voice so distinctive and compelling that it can't be ignored." GRAMMY.com discussed how Finley defies genres stating, "Finley's mesmerizing voice... defies neat categories." Under The Radar said, "There's an undeniable element of authenticity with Finley's music and 'Country Boy' is no exception." Before his rapid ascent, Finley overcame a divorce, house fires, an automobile accident, and losing his sight in his 60s, to finally pursue his musical dream and become an overnight soul sensation. Since the release of his Dan Auerbach produced debut, Goin' Platinum, he's toured the world, received critical acclaim, and even made the semi finals of America's Got Talent. His latest album tells his life's story and is rooted in the classic sounds of southern soul, country, rhythm and blues. With songwriting by Finley, Auerbach, Bobby Wood, and contributions from respected country songwriter Pat McLaughlin, Sharecropper's Son also features an all star band including guitar expertise from Auerbach himself, Kenny Brown, Russ Pahl and Billy Sanford. They are joined by other notables: Bobby Wood, Gene Chrisman, Nick Movshon, Eric Deaton, Dave Roe and Sam Bacco. The fire behind the conflagrant performances on Sharecropper's Son is ignited by Finley, who has cited a range of vocal influences, including Al Green, Jimi Hendrix, Ray Charles, Elvis, James Brown and The Beatles, all inspiring his genre diverse and formidable vocal approach, which take centre stage and encapsulate his remarkable life. Finley's tales of pain and joy uplift as he shares his belief that you are never too young to dream and never too old to live. Sharecropper's Son is out now on Easy Eye Sound. Exclusive sunrise yellow vinyl, available from the Easy Eye Sound store only. We want to hear from you! Please email Tera@BringinitBackwards.com. www.BringinitBackwards.com #podcast #interview #bringinbackpod #RobertFinley #DanAuerbach #TheBlackKeys #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 Arthur Moon over Zoom video! Arthur Moon - the Brooklyn avant-pop group fronted by Lora-Faye Åshuvud alongside collaborators Cale Hawkins (Quincy Jones, Bilal, Linda Perry), Martin D. Fowler (a composer for This American Life), Dave Palazola and Aviva Jaye - shared a surreal dreamlike new single, "Chaos! Chaos! Chaos!" The cool slice of electropop is also the title of their just-announced new album, out this fall - which will accompany a hometown Brooklyn show at Elsewhere Zone 1 on September 29 (tickets here). Directed by Garrett Weinholtz, the haunting video features spellbinding idiosyncratic dance moves to match with Lora-Faye Åshuvud and partner Jordan Kisner. Weinholtz explains: "This video started with Lora-Faye telling me she saw herself dancing with a solo audience member to 'Chaos! Chaos! Chaos!' which also played into the realities of live music during Covid. From there, I took cues from David Lynch's 'Mulholland Dr.', 'Twin Peaks', Anna Biller's 'The Love Witch', a bit of Lucio Fulci's 'City of the Living Dead,' and the painting 'Garden of Earthly Delights' to create a mix of kitsch and chaos." Åshuvud continues: "Chaos! Chaos! Chaos! is a queer date wandering through New York as it burns, a new love growing up in the ruins of an old one, a debauched night walk across a scorched earth. We started the instrumental on this one in the summer of 2019, and then it sat untouched on my hard drive for a year until I reopened it again last summer. Hearing it for the first time in all those months, I was captivated by its swampy energy, and immediately heard these thick, tickling vocal harmonies that would float on top of the instrumental, never quite resolving, always wanting more. Initially it was called 'Hieronymous Bosch,' for context, but we ended up changing it to the title track of the album, because writing this song was a moment that really solidified for me what the album would end up being about - a chaos theory of pain and love, our deep connections and their utter incoherence." Arthur Moon is the moniker of Lora-Faye Åshuvud, a multi-instrumentalist from New York. Åshuvud takes an intuitive and unusual approach to rhythm and harmony, queering pop, electronic, and experimental sensibilities to make music that is as unpredictable and playful as it is intricate and controlled. NPR's Bob Boilen says Arthur Moon "has the quirky freshness I first heard from New York artists such as Laurie Anderson and Talking Heads in the late 1970s and more recently with Dirty Projectors." Åshuvud collaborates on the Arthur Moon project with musicians like Cale Hawkins (Quincy Jones, Bilal, Linda Perry), Martin D. Fowler (a composer for This American Life), Dave Palazola and Aviva Jaye. The 2019 debut full-length Arthur Moon was met with support from the likes of NPR, BBC Radio 6, Spotify's New Music Friday, Billboard and more. Arthur Moon's next full-length is forthcoming later this year. We want to hear from you! Please email Tera@BringinitBackwards.com. www.BringinitBackwards.com #podcast #interview #bringinbackpod #ArthurMoon #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 Shreea Kaul over Zoom video! Shreea is a Houston-Born songstress who converges sounds of R&B and more on her latest EP The Seven Deadly Sins. The lead single on the and music video for project is called, "Gluttony" Shreea finds a beautiful way to channel the essence of The Seven Deadly Sins that grabs attention while introducing her identity as an Indian-American woman who is inspired by the world. Her project was highlighted by NYLON and Lyrical Lemonade organically for its tantalizing make since its release and she also was featured on Houston Chronicle to support her 2017 project 'Skin' Shreea on "The Seven Deadly Sins": "I've always been a fan of themed projects. They're like secret passageways- they always have deeper meanings and nuances that are so interesting to explore. I really wanted this project to describe the seven deadly sins from a more innovative perspective that relate to our modern society. I wanted to incorporate themes of sensuality, power, and overconsumption into this LP because I feel that they're so relevant to our society today. So much intention went into this project, and i hope that listeners are able to understand the subtleties and intricacies behind it." Shreea on the Gluttony music video: "My friends and I poured our blood, sweat, and tears into this. From drawing the costume and getting it made, to envisioning the set and bringing it to life, the entire journey has been so magical. It's crazy that this is my first music video. I am so excited for the world to see it. " Bio Shreea Kaul is an Indian American, singer-songwriter, who seamlessly blends South Asian sounds with contemporary R&B. Her latest project, "The Seven Deadly Sins" conceptually explores the beauty and malice of every sin while sonically fusing the sounds and languages of her roots. The project has amassed nearly one million streams across all streaming platforms since its debut in 2020. The artist is currently working to release visual content surrounding the LP alongside new music which continues to fuse her Indian-American heritage. We want to hear from you! Please email Tera@BringinitBackwards.com. www.BringinitBackwards.com #podcast #interview #bringinbackpod #shreea #shreya #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 Tall Heights over Zoom video! Tall Heights launched a new song of yearning, "Hear It Again," out now everywhere you get music. "Hear It Again" is about the blurry lines between home and touring. we started it on tour with Ben Folds and finished and recorded it deep within pandemic isolation. accordingly, it is impregnated with this tension between 2 lost sanctuaries : home at home and home on the road. Tall Heights have relentlessly built a career from the ground up. Starting as buskers on the streets of Boston and now performing in packed venues across North America, Europe, and beyond, the duo has distilled their sound in an organic and unselfconscious way. The unmistakable DNA of their music draws on many elements, but the blend of their two distinct voices, in both harmony and unison, is what elevates it and separates it from the pack. Hailing from the Boston area, Paul Wright and Tim Harrington met each other in their hometown of Sturbridge through Tim's older brother. The friendship blossomed in high school when they both took up the guitar and began working on music together. It didn't take long for them to see the potential hidden in these casual jam sessions. As Paul recalls, "Tim transformed from kid brother to musical collaborator over the course of a summer." Combining Paul's lifetime of classical training, Harrington's spontaneous artistic instincts, and the prismatic union of their unique voices, Tall Heights' sonic imprint is in a category all its own. Tall Heights' recordings have amassed over 275 million streams. They regularly serve as Ben Folds' backing band, and have toured alongside CAKE, Judah & the Lion, Colony House, and The Paper Kites. They've also performed on both Conan in 2016 and CBS Saturday Morning in 2018. We want to hear from you! Please email Tera@BringinitBackwards.com. www.BringinitBackwards.com #podcast #interview #bringinbackpod #TallHeights #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 Matt Vinson of CAAMP and The Wonderfool over Zoom video! The Wonderfool—the recording project of singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and producer Matt Vinson—has announced his fourth full-length studio album, Shiner, will be released Wednesday, August 11 via Gjenny Records. Notably one-third of the chart-topping folk group CAAMP, Vinson was stuck indoors by the pandemic after the band had to cancel their touring plans. Vinson found himself with ample time on his hands and turned that isolation into an opportunity to create something new: a combination of modern folk melodies, forward-thinking production, and lyrics about fighting off one's inner demons. The nine-track Shiner is a soundtrack for early mornings and late nights mixing the organic with the synthesized, the intimate with the collaborative, and folky with the pop-inspired. "The album has a blend of happy, poppy songs that are filled with themes of personal betterment," Vinson explains, "and moody songs with a sonic space that lets the emotion of the song ring true. It's something you can listen to in the morning, before you go to bed, or while sitting in a hammock. It's reflective music. With Shiner, I finally encapsulated that feeling." A 1980s Omnichord adds vintage, sun-baked shimmer to "Cool Shade." A MicroKORG arpeggiator weaves its way in and out of the album's kickoff track, "Much Better." Banjo, baritone guitar, saxophone, and keyboards fill the remaining tracks, lacing Vinson's writing with a mix of atmosphere and ambiance. Shiner Track Listing: "Much Better" "Time (Done Being Late)" "Shake the Dust" "Cool Shade" "Counterweight" "The Man You Knew" "Truth of the Matter" "Young & Able" "The Day Before Your Last" Vinson encapsulated The Wonderfool in 2015 while studying at Ohio University. From there he solely worked alone recording, producing, and writing. However, as Shiner took shape, the record proved to be something quite different, full of guest appearances from fellow road warriors (including CAAMP frontman Taylor Meier) and fueled by Vinson's sharpest songwriting to date. We want to hear from you! Please email Tera@BringinitBackwards.com. www.BringinitBackwards.com #podcast #interview #bringinbackpod #CAAMP #TheWonderfool #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 Tisoki over Zoom video! Multifaceted electronic producer Tisoki recently released his debut album '01953' on Monstercat. '01953' is an ode to the small town Tisoki grew up in - Wymondham, UK - as the number sequence is a direct callout to the area's postal code. Unable to leave SoCal during the pandemic, Tisoki's urge to reconnect with his UK roots and lean into new sonic styles resulted in a collection of unexpected songs that feel raw and nostalgic. Reflecting on the last decade of his career, he's earned support from household names like DJ Snake, Skrillex, and Excision, as well as collabs alongside Grabbitz, Borgore, and Crankdat to name a few. His musical influences stem from his early years of playing in rock bands, which equipped him with versatile performance chops that have landed him on global stages from Red Rocks to EDC Las Vegas. We want to hear from you! Please email Tera@BringinitBackwards.com. www.BringinitBackwards.com #podcast #interview #bringinbackpod #Tisoki #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 Leslie Mendelson over Zoom video! Brooklyn-based singer/songwriter Leslie Mendelson is supporting her most recent studio album 'If You Can't Say Anything Nice…,' as well as a solo acoustic EP 'In The Meantime,' that was recorded during the 2020 lockdown. Described by Relix Magazine as an artist with "a loyal, cross-generational audience that hugs the hippie, hipster, coffee shop and society crowds," Leslie's timeless musicality and evocative songwriting indeed cuts a wide swath. All Music writes that Leslie evokes "1970s songwriter influences in the vein of Carole King and Carly Simon," while The Aquarian calls her "the closest thing one can get to a truly honest musical experience." Leslie Mendelson's previous work, including 2009 Grammy-nominated debut album 'Swan Feathers' and 2017 album, 'Love & Murder' dealt with matters of the heart. When it came time to compose the songs that comprise 'If You Can't Say Anything Nice…,' however, she and her longtime writing partner Steve McEwan set out to examine the anxiety stemming from the current socio-political climate with songs like "Medication," "I Need Something To Care About" and "Would You Give Up Your Gun." It's fitting extension of a more socially conscious outlook offered on "A Human Touch"—Leslie's duet with Jackson Browne for the documentary film, '5B,' released in 2019. If Leslie Mendelson's only collaboration with a legendary musician was Jackson Browne, it would be a worthy point to celebrate. What's truly telling is that Leslie has also drawn the attention of The Grateful Dead's Bob Weir who recorded a duet with her on Roy Orbison's standard, "Blue Bayou," while no less than classic rock royalty The Who invited her to open two shows at Madison Square Garden last year. She was set to open three more dates for the band in 2020 that were unfortunately postponed due to the pandemic. With some of rock music's most legitimate voices seeking Leslie out, it leaves no doubt the rarefied air she inhabits as an artist. We want to hear from you! Please email Tera@BringinitBackwards.com. www.BringinitBackwards.com #podcast #interview #bringinbackpod #LeslieMendelson #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 Jameson Ketchum over Zoom video! Jameson Ketchum is a writer, podcaster, and publicist. He currently hosts The Godspeed Podcast where he continues to interview musicians, authors, actors, and comics. Namedropping: Seeking Creative Truth Through Trendy Altruism and Punk Rock is his second book. He lives in Portland, Oregon with his wife Maria and Chihuahua Jasper. Namedropping: Seeking Creative Truth Through Trendy Altruism and Punk Rock Summary: Detailing Ketchum's time touring with Christian heavy metal bands and trendy non-profits, Namedropping: Seeking Creative Truth Through Trendy Altruism and Punk Rock is a fly on the wall perspective of trends in "hip" Christian culture told through the eyes of a self-doubting rock journalist begging to belong. Witnessing healings, demonic possession, and the ever-present rock star ego, Ketchum's stories are hilarious and heartfelt. One minute he's sleeping under vans in Wal-Mart parking lots and the next he's staring A-list creatives in the face, likely asking how he can work for them one day (or in the case of world-renowned rappers, fumbling over the simplest of questions). This book shows Ketchum exploring artistic doubts while pursuing truth in all aspects of his professional life. Name Dropping is one part memoir and one part self-help. It's Saved! meets Almost Famous sprinkled with a healthy dose of The Perks of Being a Wallflower. We want to hear from you! Please email Tera@BringinitBackwards.com. www.BringinitBackwards.com #podcast #interview #bringinbackpod #NameDropping #NameDroppingBook #EMO #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 Veio over Zoom video! Portland based Rock Trio Veio are set to release a deluxe edition of their 2020 album Vitruvian featuring reimagined versions of their singles "Ascendancy", "Penumbra", "Flair of Defiance", and "Centauri". These new reimagined tracks take fans a step closer to a more stripped back version of the original songs, allowing the listener to focus solely on the messages. Veio has become known for consistently creating soaring, singable material without compromising their love for odd time signatures and challenging polymeters. These soaring lyrics are no better heard than on the band's new reimagined singles where fans are given more intimate versions of hits from Vitruvian, bringing the lyrics and message to the forefront of the songs. When asked about these new reimagined singles on the upcoming deluxe version of Vitruvian, Veio vocalist/guitarist Cam Byrd said, "Given the state of the world right now, we wanted to write these reimagined tracks as a way to support the album without touring. Rewriting some of our favorite tracks from Vitruvian gave us the opportunity to view our music through a different lens and push ourselves artistically with an approach we've never taken before." The roots of Veio – a name taken from an ancient Etruscan city – reach back to the childhood musical collaborations of brothers Cam and Brett Byrd (vocals/guitar and drums respectively). The brothers formed Veio after college, with the lineup completed by bassist/vocalist Kris Lewis. Since their 2017 debut album Infinite Light/Desperate Shadows Veio has been busy creating music as well as tirelessly touring across the country with the likes of Seether, Tremonti, RED, and more earning them legions of loyal fans over the years. To date, the band has grown to have over 1 million streams and 1 million video views on their respective channels. A highlight of that being their release of the first single off of Vitruvian, "Flare of Defiance," that debuted in the top 30 on active rock radio, growing to become a Top 10 Metal single. Now a part of the revamped Silent Majority Group (Paramore, Creed, Sevendust), Veio's music is garnering lofty comparisons to the thoughtful, artsy rock of Tool and A Perfect Circle, along with Thrice's muscular, ultra-authentic optimism and the technical yet tuneful prog metal of Tesseract and Mastodon. Produced by Stephan Hawkes (Chelsea Grin, Attila, I Declare War) at Interlace Audio in Portland, with additional production by Sylvia Massy (Tool, System of a Down), Vitruvian stunningly redefend Veio's unique sonic alchemy and now the band is back with the deluxe version of the album featuring new reimagined versions of their single to give fans a new perspective to Veio's sonic alchemy. Stay connected with Veio via social media for more updates on what the band has in store for 2021. We want to hear from you! Please email Tera@BringinitBackwards.com. www.BringinitBackwards.com #podcast #interview #bringinbackpod #Veio #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 The Wandering Hearts over Zoom video! The Wandering Hearts had already enjoyed the phenomenal experience of recording their second album deep in the Catskills with producers Simone Felice and David Baron, but their adventure would be extended with another remarkable chapter. They met up with the legendary Marty Stuart (a five-time Grammy Award winner and a former member of Johnny Cash's band) in Nashville, who offered them "Dreams," a song he had written with his wife, the country star Connie Smith. They then headed to the iconic Cash Cabin in Hendersonville, where he joined the band, playing mandolin and guitar on the record. It was fortunate timing, as COVID-19 halted all international travel just a few days later. The story started when The Wandering Hearts supported Marty Stuart and His Fabulous Superlatives during their 2017 UK tour. Marty invited them to perform at his annual Late Night Jam at Nashville's Ryman Auditorium the following summer on a bill that also included Margo Price, John Prine and Chris Stapleton, and they also joined him at the Grand Ole Opry a few days later, making them the first UK band to debut at Music City's two most historic venues in the same week. They were reunited a week later to play at another historic place of music: Graceland. Together with the recent tracks "Dolores," "Gold," "Over Your Body," and "Dreams" provide a compelling taste of their new self-titled album (out now). Already praised by both long-term Americana devotees (Bob Harris) and young tastemakers, it's a record that celebrates life, new beginnings, and striving to shine through a darkening world. The Wandering Hearts' own style and personality is fused with echoes of some of their key influences: the timeless songcraft of Fleetwood Mac and Simon & Garfunkel with the pure passion of Jade Bird and The Lumineers. We want to hear from you! Please email Tera@BringinitBackwards.com. www.BringinitBackwards.com #podcast #interview #bringinbackpod #TheWanderingHearts #WanderingHearts #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/