Stereo Embers: The Podcast

“Another Round With Owen Vyse: Coronavirus And The End Of The World” In this special Coronavirus-themed episode, fan-favorite Owen Vyse (Starclub, Echo and the Bunnymen) calls in from Thailand for a chat about the current state of the world under the lens of the Coronavirus. He talks to Alex about historical precedent, the mishandling of the pandemic by the Trump Administration and why April 4th is such a pivotal date. The conversation may seem discursive and tangential but it’s also quite linear and Owen and Alex trace the cultural implications of the disease by referencing the past, examining the present and looking ahead to an uncertain and uneasy future.

“I Wasn’t Go To Be An Anthropologist” Ellen Starski’s major in college was Anthropology, but midway through her studies it became very clear to her parents that she wasn’t going to be an anthropologist. She was going to be a musician. Her dad might have had a hunch she would be headed that direction when he gave her a guitar during her freshman year, but either way, Starski’s calling was an artistic one and whether she was strumming that guitar in her dorm room or later on fronting a blues band in a bar, it was clear that her future was going to be in music. Although the Pennsylvania born Starski didn’t end up having a career that studied the evolution of human biology, evolution has been a big part of her musical career. In just two albums Starski’s sound has transformed from indie folk to an orchestral blend of textured pop that’s filled with nuance and soul. In this conversation Starski talks to Alex about motherhood, stillness and why she loves the Eurythmics. She also talks about the importance of travel, self-discipline and learning chords in Nova Scotia….

“They Let Me Live Rent-Free In The House Until I Was 26…” That’s Kieran Shudall’s response when asked if his parents were supportive of his choice to embark on a career in music. It sure paid off. The singer of the Liverpool outfit Circa Waves, Shudall has watched his band go from strength to strength since their 2013 inception. Circa Waves have filled their musical resume’ with Top Ten albums, tours with the Libertines and playing festivals like T In The Park. Their fourth album Sad Happy is a brilliant song-cycle that’s been delivered in two parts: the happy part in January and the sad part later this month. In this genial chat, Shudall talks to Alex about his love for Carole King’s tapestry, how fatherhood has changed his perspective and why he likes to pick the brains of fellow songwriters. They also chat about the power of collaboration, how demos are like first dates and why Kieran is super afraid to get into Echo and the Bunnymen…

“I’ve Known You For Ten Minutes And I’m Already Asking If You’re An Introvert” Well, these things happen. In this conversation with Eliza Klatt, lead singer of Australia’s Eliza and the Delusionals, it doesn’t take long for Alex and Eliza to get to the heart of the matter. In under 40 minutes they talk about how to cope with a fear of flying, being far from home for the first time and how an introvert can also be the leader of a band. Personable, charismatic and thoughtful, Klatt discusses the support of her parents for her rock and roll lifestyle, getting a stamp of approval from Liz Phair via Twitter and why she’d love to live in New York.

“Reverb As Long As A Hockey Rink” That’s how Alan Doyle describes the music he loved so much in the ‘80s. A huge fan of Def Leppard, the Newfoundland-born Doyle may have been a metalhead as a teenager, but he always had folk music in his blood. He played in his Uncle’s band as a young man, but branched out on his own in his early 20s to form Great Big Sea. One of Canada’s most beloved bands of all time, GBS may no longer be around, but Doyle has stayed very busy indeed. In this conversation he talks to Alex about challenging himself by working in different genres, and why it’s so hard to say no. They also chat about the community spirit of Newfoundland, Doyle’s new EP Rough Side Out and why at this point in his life Doyle feels inclined to say, “What the fuck do I know about the Coronavirus?"

“You Try Writing A Number One Techno Song In Italy” That’s exactly what Ian Gothe did. Back in the ‘80s Gothe decided to prove to a pal in a bar in England that writing a techno song was an easy thing to do. So he went home and did it. Little did he know, the song would later rise to the top of the charts in Italy. These things happen. Actually, in Ian Gothe’s life, a lot of things happen. Born in Iran to an Armenian family, Gothe’s life story is one that’s about as novelistic as it gets. His tale takes him from Iran to England to Baltimore to Los Angeles and along the way he got married, put down music for a decade, gots divorced and rediscovered his love of playing guitar through the…flute. That’s right. The flute. He’ll explain everything but until you hit PLAY, let us tell you this: Ian Gothe is a remarkable guitarist who plays with soul, finesse, groove and heart. His compositions are filled with dexterity, virtuosity and an otherworldly command of his instrument. Not only that, but on his debut album Memento, he takes on numbers by The Coral, The Bee Gees and The Doors. His journey is remarkable, his self-possession inspiring and his playing downright stunning. In this conversation Ian talks to Alex about how he learned to play guitar by deconstructing the music he loved, what it was like to not play music for so long and the shock of finding out he had a number one song in Italy.

“It Was Definitely Not Like Riding A Bicycle” That’s how Gary Douglas describes what it was like to get back onstage after not playing live for many years. Well, to cut him some slack, he’s been busy. Like, really busy. Douglas is not only an attorney, he’s in the Trial Lawyer Hall of Fame and he’s devoted his life to fighting the injustices that are dished out by corporations to those who can’t afford to fight for themselves. After playing in bands for most of his young life, Douglas ditched his rock and roll aspirations to go to law school but a decade or so ago, he couldn’t stay on the sidelines any longer. Now with a few albums under their musical belts, the Gary Douglas Band is in full swing and their new album Wild Life is a roots rock gem, filled with numbers that bring to mind the work of everyone from John Mellencamp to Tommy Conwell and the Young Rumblers. In this interview Gary talks to Alex about his love of Bruce Springsteen, how to juggle two occupations and the Mark Buffalo-Starring movie Dark Waters, which is about the DuPont case that he helped settle in a record-breaking class action lawsuit.

“Oh My God, This Is Over” That’s the exact thought K.C. Clifford had one night a few years ago as she put her kids to bed. She was referring to her career as a singer/songwriter, which had taken a backseat to motherhood. Not that Clifford was complaining—for years she had struggled with infertility and thanks to an infertility study and IVF, Clifford became the mother of two and she couldn’t have been happier. But her identity as an artist was something that was as essential to her soul as being a parent and Clifford was worried that having not nourished it for almost eight years, she didn’t know who she was anymore. But then she started to write in little bursts and then bigger bursts, and suddenly she had a record. In this conversation, Clifford talks about artistic doubt, motherhood and finding a new voice for her music. She also talks about being a woman in the music industry, coming to terms with being a woman in front of millions of gazes and her take on Lizzo.

“I Throw More Things In The Garbage Than I Should" That’s what Bob Perry says about the songwriting process when it comes to lyrics, but the singer/songwriter is being far too hard on himself. The former Winter Hours guitarist has quietly become one of the most wise and knowing songwriters around. In this conversation the New Jersey-born Perry talks to Alex about Winter Hours' ill-fated deal with Chrysalis, how he met his wife Stephanie Seymour (There Are Birds, The Aquanettas) and what his parents thought about him leaving college for a career in music. Perry also chats about his love of Jeff Beck, why the business is so hard to make a living in, his own creative process and what he learned from the magic of the words of Winter Hours singer Joseph Marques.

"This Actually IS An Outerspace Ship" A friend of mine asked me the other day to describe the music of Love Tractor and I tried (I said something like, "Brian Wilson singing for Can on Mars..."), but the fact is, words fail when it comes to that particular assignment. All I know is this: Love Tractor were one of the most innovative, inventive and truly wonderful bands of their era. And all these years later, their music doesn't sound rooted in a time or place; they exist out of time. In this comprehensive chat with Mark Cline, the guitarist talks about the band's back catalogue, the work ethic of R.E.M.'s Bill Berry and what the Athens Inside/Out movie got SO wrong. He also talks about why everyone wanted to be in Love Tractor, why they took a long hiatus and why 2020 will be the year of the Tractor!