Tell You What! the Podcast

Jobi Riccio is a Nashville based musician and songwriter. Jobi was born and raised in the mountains of Colorado before heading to Boston and The Berklee College of Music; eventually finding her way to her current musical home of Nashville. Jobi has just released her debut album, Whiplash, on Yep Roc Records. We discuss the origin stories of some of these excellent songs, as well as the winding road story of the album's creation itself. Also covered: Jobi's adventure at Newport Folk Festival, water glass sounds, and our mutual admiration for Jonathan Richman.

Chris Pierce is an L.A. based musician, singer, and songwriter. He has released a number of solo records, is a part of the duo War and Pierce with Sunny War, the trio Leon Creek, writes songs for television and movies, teaches songwriting and the business of music. I got tired just typing that and I missed a number of his projects. Chris' latest record, “Let All Who Will” will be released in September; he joins us to talk about his songwriting, his lifelong passion for music, and his thoughts around a few of his excellent and powerful songs.

Idaho based musician and songwriter Eilen Jewell discusses her latest record, Get Behind the Wheel, and her difficult personal journey of the last few years that shaped this collection of songs. Eilen went through a divorce from her husband, who was also her drummer and manager, and the untimely deaths of some close friends and family. We hear about how through meditation practices and beneficial use of psychedelics she came out the other side with this excellent album and a renewed approach to her life and her music.

Blair Howerton is a songwriter, vocalist and guitarist for the Austin based band Why Bonnie. We discuss the making of their recent album 90 in November, comprised mainly of songs Blair wrote during quarantine in her New York City apartment. The songs, self described by the band as “shoegazeicana” in style, blend fuzzy 90's guitars with some country twang, and Blair's lyrics evoke wonderful imagery while still allowing the listener to find his own way.

Nashville singer-songwriter Brit Taylor joins us to talk about her 2023 record Kentucky Blue, which was produced by Sturgill Simpson. Brit talks about what she learned from working with Sturgill, how she got her first guitar by singing “Landslide' in a music store, how her first song “fell out the sky” when she was a youngster and how songs have continued to appear to her from her muse. Also covered: the martial arts, hillbilly disco, and hollering donkeys.

I had the chance to sit down and chat at the Folk Alliance International Conference in Kansas City with all three members of the Brooklyn based band Damn Tall Buildings: Sasha, Max, and Avery. Damn Tall Buildings make smart, witty, infectious music that has a bluegrass heart but swirls in some swing, blues, jazz, and other stuff-it's a winning recipe. The band met at Berklee College of Music, and we hear their take on the academic approach to songwriting and creativity and talk about songs from their excellent 2022 album Sleeping Dogs. Also discussed: rocking the Pasta Loft, writing with a lot of words, and does Sasha really hate me and my podcast?

Folk singer and poet Willi Carlisle talks about his excellent record "Peculiar, Missouri"; exploring folk traditions in the Ozarks; his love for (addiction to?) live performance and touring; and his messages of optimism and love for a slightly broken world. Also discussed: square dance calling, advice from a clown, and bad puppeteering.

Kevin McKeown is one half of the high octane Austin rock duo Black Pistol Fire, providing guitar and vocals alongside drummer Eric Owen. They have released 6 albums over the last 10 years, the most recent being 2021's Look Alive, and the band has built a reputation for their incendiary live performances. As a big fan of the band, I was quite excited to sit down with Kevin to discuss his creative process, the band's approach to live performance, and get his thoughts on the various aspects of the rock duo concept. We also cover the stories behind a few of Black Pistol Fire's latest songs, the evolution of the band's music towards more complex arrangements, Kevin's origin story as a traditional Scottish/Irish Highland style drummer, and other fun stuff. Kevin was a wonderful guest, full of insight and energy; we had a great conversation.

We recorded this episode in person at AmericanaFest in Nashville. Early James released “Strange Time to Be Alive”, his second album produced by Dan Auerbach at his Easy Eye Studios, earlier this year. We hear about the process of working with Dan and his band of legendary musicians as they interpret James' songs, working with Sierra Ferrell on their duet “Real Low Down Lonesome”, how he developed his unique singing voice because he did not like or trust the sound of his “church voice”, and how his songs are like Japanese video games.

We talk with Canadian artist Abigail Lapell about her recent album Stolen Time. Abigail tells us that writing melodies, for her, is “like breathing…I can't avoid it”, while lyric writing she finds more challenging, as she struggles to find the language to express the moods and feelings her melodies carry-“…words are ...very definite…” We also hear tales of canoes and bicycles, guitar for dummies, and walls of reeds.

Fellow Pynins is a contemporary folk duo from Portland, Oregon. Dani Aubert and Ian George sat down with us at the Folk Alliance International conference in Kansas City to discuss their beautiful new album, Lady Mondegreen. All the songs on the album are traditional songs that were learned person-to-person from various people they met while traveling with their two children through Europe/UK/Ireland. We hear some fascinating tales of how these songs were found, and about the threads that connect the traditional songs of centuries ago with current songwriting and creative processes.

For this particularly special episode, we are joined by Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award winner, folk music legend and prolific songwriter Tom Paxton; along with Shane McLaughlin and Lucy Clabby, principal songwriters for the band Buffalo Rose. Tom tells us how he discovered the music of Buffalo Rose and was so taken by it that he reached out to Lucy and Shane to suggest they work together writing songs. The fabulous EP Rabbit, released earlier in 2022, was the result of this collaboration. We talk with Tom about his creative process, and how at age 84 he continues to write songs almost every day. Lucy and Shane share the insights they have gleaned from working with Tom. And we get one bonus Bob Dylan anecdote from Tom as he relives a bit of the early 60's NYC folk scene in which he was a central figure. Also, I get to talk about my Dad-the original music nerd. “How can a band be loose and tight at the same time? Listen to Buffalo Rose for the answer. I flat love them.” — Tom Paxton, folk music legend and Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award recipient

Maya de Vitry joins us from her home in Nashville to discuss her recent album, Violet Light. Maya co-produced this record with partner Ethan Jodziewicz in their home studio during quarantine, collaborating with a different cast of musical guests (including her three siblings) for each song. Maya discusses her musical youth, her time as a touring musician as part of The Stray Birds, and how she has created a new musical life around her solo work. We also get to hear the story of her chickens-all the important stuff.

Ryan Anderson, songwriter and frontman for the Louisville based band Bendigo Fletcher is our guest, in a conversation recorded at SXSW in Austin. We hear about working with producer Ken Coomer (Uncle Tupelo, Wilco) on their amazing 2021 release “Fits of Laughter”, playing a gig at Willie's ranch, and the element of surprise in music making. Also covered: sword fighting with rock stars, and which is better for songwriting ideas-digging trenches or mowing grass? Ryan also politely requests that we call our mothers.

Margo Cilker released her debut full length album Pohorylle late in 2021 on Portland label Fluff and Gravy, and it has quickly received a lot of attention. She joins us to talk about working with producer Sera Cahoone, how her time living in various parts of the globe has impacted her creative process; and singing songs to the elk on the prairie. Also, it turns out Margo and I approached higher education with similar gameplans: no homework! (I see you econ majors.)

We sit down at AmericanaFest 2021 in Nashville with Vivian Leva and Riley Calcagno to discuss their wonderful self titled record released earlier in the year. We also talk about their upbringings immersed in the world of string band music, and how they view the creative and performing processes of the two projects they are involved in: the Vivian and Riley duo and the traditional string band The Onlies. Also: contest winner announced!

Winnipeg musician Liam Duncan records and performs under the name Boy Golden. We discuss the quite excellent Boy Golden record Church of Better Daze, which is also the name of the church of which Boy Golden is founder and minister. The goal of his church is to “enjoy each day and make better music”, and Boy Golden has made some great music with this album. Liam reflects on his creative journey, and he offers some useful insights into his process and the thoughtful way he approaches making music. Have I found a new spiritual advisor? Tune in to find out!

Buffalo Nichols joins us from Austin to discuss his debut solo self-titled album, just out on Fat Possum Records. While the record certainly showcases his masterful skills on the acoustic slide guitar, it is also a collection of great songwriting: soulful, emotional and often challenging lyrics sit atop the beautiful guitar work. Nichols talks about his musical journey, from a childhood spent teaching himself guitar licks by obsessing over his family's records and songs on the radio, playing in a wide variety of bands as a hired gun guitarist, to losing and eventually finding his musical way as a solo performer and songwriter. We also discuss his feelings and intentions as a young black musician creating new music within the traditions of the American blues format. Songs discussed in this episode (all contained on the “Buffalo Nichols” album): “Another Man”, “Lost and Lonesome”, “How to Love”, “These Things” Also: our first ever listener contest! Tune in for your chance to win valuable prizes! Email your entry (or anything else you have to say) to tellyouwhatpodcast@gmail.com

Kentucky musician Jeremy Pinnell joins us to talk about the making of his third studio album, “Goodbye L.A.” This time around, Jeremy went for a record that “would make people feel happy, make people dance”, but the themes are still weighty as on his previous critically acclaimed albums. Here he sings of the conflicts inherent in the lifestyle of touring musicians who try to balance their musical calling with their longing for home, relationships, family. We hear about his early days singing in church, getting his first guitar (“it was all Ovation round backs and Kung Fu), connecting with his lifelong musical pal Arlo McKinley, and how he sometimes writes complete songs without picking up his guitar or a pen/paper.

We are joined by Nashville based musician and songwriter Rachel Baiman, who discusses her recently released record Cycles. Rachel has travelled an interesting and varied creative path: from young fiddle prodigy to Nashville session and touring band musician to producer and noted songwriter. Our conversation centers on the transitions in Rachel's musical journeys. For her new album Cycles, Rachel travelled to Australia to record with producer Olivia Hally (Oh Pep), as she tried to capture the influences of the gritty Melbourne indie rock scene. Also covered: interior design and spaghetti rhymes.

Beth Whitney joins us from her home state of Washington to discuss her album “Into the Ground”, recently released on Tone Tree Music. It is a wonderfully rich, at time orchestral collection of songs that draws deeply from the forests and high desert landscapes of Beth's home state. We hear about Beth's early years singing with her family, how a procrastinated school assignment birthed her first song, and what the heck is a swarmatron?

We are lucky enough to be joined by the full complement of the indie power-trio band The Accidentals for Episode 31. Sav Buist, Katie Larson, and Michael Dause join us to discuss their just released EP Time Out (Session 1). Recorded during quarantine, the EP is the product of online collaborations with some of the band’s favorite songwriters, including Kim Richey, Dar Williams, Maia Sharp, Tom Paxton, and Mary Gauthier & Jaimee Harris. We had much to discuss with this multi-faceted band, including songwriting workshops, string arrangements that sound like fire, and musical saws.

David Wax returns to Tell You What! to discuss the new David Wax Museum album Euphoric Ouroboric and what else they have been up to during quarantine. For the full David Wax Tell You What! interview, check out Episode 14.

Texas born and raised and now Nashville based musician/songwriter Katy Kirby joins us to talk about her excellent debut album Cool Dry Place and her approach to songwriting and music making. Cool Dry Place is an intriguing and marvelously put together collection of musical gems, songs that combine catchy pop melodies with poetically askew, thought provoking lyrics, all wrapped in complex and sometimes surprising arrangements and productions. We talk about how Katy’s early exposure to the melodic hooks of contemporary Christian music has worked its way into her creative process; the mystery of how or why a song is never actually finished; and how, on one of her songs, the swirl of the song is contained within itself. Also, I finally get to talk about autotune.

Cincinnati native Arlo McKinley released his debut solo album Die Midwestern in 2020 on John Prine’s Oh Boy Records, an album that ended up on a number of “best of 2020” lists. These are songs of deep personal truth, snapshots from a difficult time in Arlo’s life. His soulful voice, songwriting talents, and the services of an all-star Memphis studio band combine to produce beautiful and wonderfully compelling music. We discuss Arlo’s hip-hop influenced vocal style, the absolute mystery of the songwriting process, and musical debts owed to the formal wear industry.

James Bradshaw, who records under the Pony Bradshaw moniker, joins us to talk about his new album Calico Jim. The songs on the record, most of which were written during quarantine, are stories and poems about the north Georgia territory that James calls home. It is a truly remarkable collection of songs, evoking images and characters that come to life through his finely crafted lyrics and subtly complex arrangements. James talks about how he finds musical inspiration through literature, how he feels about being a “late bloomer” in the music field, and his love of a non sequitur verse in a song.

In this episode we talk with Dave Senft and Harris Paseltiner, who, along with Don Mitchell and Auyon Mukharji, make up the Massachusetts based band Darlingside. The band recently released their fourth full length album Fish Pond Fish. We talk about how this album’s creation took some different paths than Darlingside’s previous work, some of which were planned (different approaches to group song writing) and some not so planned (the album had to be mixed and finished during quarantine). The band’s highly entertaining approach to live performance is also discussed. Also covered: knee slapping, pecking pigeons, and enthusiastic washing machines.

We are joined by Dani Stone and Nick Stone, two of the members of self described "folk forward indie rock" band South for Winter. They discuss their amazing new record Luxumbra, their musical paths from Colorado (Dani) and New Zealand (Nick) to Nashville, and their approaches to songwriting and collaboration. Also discussed: dancing the Carlton, murder, and it turns out that one of the three of us is a badass.

For our 25th(!) episode of Tell You What! we are joined by Canadian musician and songwriter Jeremie Albino. Jeremie talks about his late teen years when he moved from the Toronto suburbs to the farmlands of Ontario, working the soil while writing songs. We discuss the songs on his amazing debut record Hard Time, how the sounds of creaking floorboards made their way onto the album, and how he works hard to try to stay true to the original inspiration of his songs-the reason he “fell in love with the song in the first place”. Also covered- what the heck is the “pompatus of love”?

We talk in this episode with musician and songwriter Joy Ike. Currently based in Philadelphia (after moving from Pittsburgh), Joy’s latest album, “Bigger Than Your Box”, released in 2018, is a wonderful record. Joy talks about the Nigerian praise music that was the soundtrack to her childhood and how its percussive sounds influence her songwriting, her interesting on and off relationship with the piano, and ideas she has for her next project, which may turn out to be a spoken word album. We hear about the making of the delightful video for her interpretation of “Won’t You Be My Neighbor”, the Mr. Rogers theme. Joy is also generous enough to share her thoughts on current events shaking the United States, the Black Lives Matter movement and the George Floyd killing.

We spend this episode with Nashville based singer/songwriter Michaela Anne, who released her third full length album (her first with label Yep Roc Records), the wonderful Desert Dove, in 2019. We discuss the diverse arrangements and songwriting styles on the record, which, while a country record at its core, integrates a variety of sounds and influences. Michaela has an interesting background, moving around a lot as she grew up; we discuss how this has impacted her creative style. Michaela also provides two helpful public service announcements (everyone keep singing!), and we spend some time deconstructing Chopin’s Nocturne #72 and Donnie Osmond’s “Puppy Love”, finding their shared musical core.

We are joined by Cara Luft and JD Edwards, who make up the Canadian duo The Small Glories. Recently named artist of the year by the International Folk Alliance, as well as Vocal Group of the Year at the Juno Awards, (where their recent album "Assiniboine and the Red" garnered Contemporary Album of the Year), The Small Glories are a product of both JD and Cara’s individual veteran singer/songwriter talents as well as the dynamic creative combination they become together. They offer great insights into why their particular vocal talents works so wonderfully together, the various ways their different songs come to be, and what they feel is important in their wholly engaging, entertaining, and energetic live performances.

In this bonus episode, we talk again with Logan Ledger, whose long awaited debut album was recently released on Rounder Records. Logan discusses the process of putting the album together, how his co-write with Steve Earle came about, and the origin stories of several of the tracks. Also, Logan dishes out some heavy font knowledge.

We talk with Joe Bordenaro and Max Loebman from the Chicago band ROOKIE. Their self titled debut, just out on legendary Chicago label Bloodshot, is a wonderfully full throated blast of rock music; influenced by classic guitar bands of the last century but with their own distinctive and energetic twists. We talk about the making of the record, touring with Cheap Trick, covering Tears for Fears, underwater vocals, and cheesy drum effects. Also covered: my dance moves, and I get fitted for my official ROOKIE jumpsuit.

The three members of The Ballroom Thieves, Callie Peters, Martin Early, and Devin Mauch, have been making music together for a while, and they have recently released their third full length album, Unlovely. The record is a collection of songs that are mostly a reaction to events in our world and country of the last few years, and it is a wonderfully diverse swirl of folk influenced rock sounds. There is anger, and there is hope, all threaded through gorgeous, intriguing, and engaging musical landscapes. We talk with all three members about the creation of these songs. We also about their lives as a band on the road, including the years they spent as virtual vagabonds with no permanent addresses; how their approach to songwriting and creativity has changed as their personal relationships within the band have evolved, and we attempt to answer a big question-what is a song, anyway?

Nashville based musician and songwriter Katie Pruitt possesses a powerful voice and an equally powerful and brave spirit. Her debut album, just out on Rounder Records, “Expectations”, is a wonderful collection of songs addressing difficult personal topics: mental health, toxic relationships, and her personal journey as a gay woman growing up in a southern Christian family. Katie is generous and thoughtful in our discussion as she talks about these tricky issues and how writing and singing these songs, ultimately, led to a greater understanding of herself and with her family and those close to her. We also hear about how her early jam band fandom influences her live performance approach, high school wake and bakes, and we attempt to answer that age old question: is it cool to be a theater kid?

Jason Hawk Harris released his debut album in 2019 on Bloodshot Records, the critically acclaimed “Love and the Dark”. Rolling Stone named “Phantom Limb” one of the 25 Best Country and Americana songs of the year. Though he currently resides in Los Angeles, Jason was born and raised in Houston, where he heard a lot of country music in his home. However the music of Queen led him to pursue training in classical composition as a teenager. The songs on “Love and the Dark”, many of which draw lyrical themes from personal stories of loss, pain and addiction, swing with the soul of country while being carried along by dynamic and orchestral arrangements; an intriguing and compelling combination. We discuss Jason’s creative process, including how some of his songs start out as a single unbroken line drawn on a sheet of blank paper; how he likes to “wrap a sad song in a happy jacket”; and one of his first musical projects, “Mr. Meticulous and the Sloppy Joes”.

A life long native of the Pacific Northwest, Anna Tivel currently makes her home in Portland. Anna released her fourth full length album earlier in 2019, The Question, which NPR Music called “one of the most ambitious folk records of 2019”. She was also the recipient of No Depression’s singer songwriter award for 2019. Anna has a remarkably poetic lyrical style; we discuss her deft use of concrete imagery as she, in her words, attempts to have her “stories sit on a landscape of sounds”. We also talk about point of view in songwriting, as she has several songs in which she inhabits different characters to tell their tales, and her related admiration of John Prine. Anna and I also invent a new bar trivia game, and she agrees to join the postcard revolution.

Our guest is Swedish musician, songwriter, and one person band Bror Gunnar Jansson. How did a Swedish born and bred musician find his way to becoming an authentic interpreter and creator of songs steeped in the traditions of the American blues, channeling legends such as John Lee Hooker, Lightnin’ Hopkins, Muddy Waters? In addition, Gunnar has written a series of songs revolving around the lives of fictional characters of his own creation: criminals, murderers, and their mothers, who seemingly walked out of a Tarantino script. His latest release, “They Found My Body in a Bag” is a concept album of sorts, with a number of songs inspired by true crime stories; however Gunnar’s diverse musical interests show through on various tracks including two instrumental numbers. A fascinating discussion with an intriguing musician.

Adam and David Moss are identical twin brothers who create music as The Brother Brothers. They put out an excellent album in 2018 called Some People I Know; and are headed toward the studio soon to record its follow up. We cover their early years training as classical musicians, how they found their way individually to different parts of the country and through different types of music and eventually back together again to form the Brother Brothers, hanging out with other young songwriters in the “hippie mansion” in Austin, their time with the Anaïs Mitchell project Hadestown, and of course the wonderful songs they have created. I also learn how to properly pronounce Kerrville.

David Wax and his wife, Suz Slezak, form the core of the band David Wax Museum. Their new album, Line of Light, features songs that are reflections on and reactions to events of the past few years: family life, the tragic events of 2017 in their hometown of Charlottesville, and in the country and world at large. While thematically consistent, the varied production of the cuts on the album (produced by Carl Broemel of My Morning Jacket) make for a compelling, and ultimately, uplifting listen. In the episode David also discusses how his time in Mexico studying the musical and related social/cultural traditions there continues to inform both his process and the band’s live performance; his early attempts at a mini rock-opera about brainwashing; and blindfolded concerts.

Heather Maloney is a writer song-singer based in western Massachusetts. She has recently released her fourth full length album, the beautiful and expressive “Soil in the Sky”. We talk with Heather about her collaborations on the album with Lake Street Dive's Rachel Price and Taylor Goldsmith from Dawes, how her years spent living at a meditation center helped her find songwriting, and the misquoting of Walt Whitman. Heather also performs a song from her new album live in the studio at the tail end of the episode.

Logan Ledger grew up on the west coast, went to school on the east coast, and currently makes his musical home in Nashville. His music made its way to the ears of T Bone Burnett, who quickly recognized Logan’s incredible talents and signed on to produce his first full length album, which will be released early next year on Rounder Records. We discuss the impact his study of the history of country music has had upon his craft, linguistic frameworks, and how he ended up playing and singing at a barbecue at Bono’s house. Logan also performs a song live in the Tell You What! Studios, a first for our podcast.

We talk with young Nashville guitar whiz Daniel Donato, who is now writing, playing, and singing his own songs. We talk about his recently released songs, the influence Jerry Garcia's musicianship has had on him, and does he really get up that early every morning?

We chat with Nashville based singer/songwriter Caroline Spence. Topics include her wonderful new album Mint Condition, how Emmylou Harris makes a guest appearance on the record, and why everyone should sing in the shower forever.

We talk with Northern Irish experimental folk songwriter and producer Joshua Burnside. Joshua’s 2017 album Ephrata won the Northern Ireland Music Prize, and he has followed that up with two EP’s: All Round the Light Said, and the more recent Wear Bluebells in Your Hat If You’re Goin’ That Way. We talk about dreams, how writing songs is like building tables, and yoga music. Also, one of us may have been out way too late the night before the interview.

We talk in this episode with Mali Obomsawin and Eleanor Buckland, who, along with Isa Burke, make up the group Lula Wiles. The three attended fiddle camp as youngsters in Maine, and eventually formed Lula Wiles as classmates at Berklee College of Music. They have recently released their second album (and first on Smithsonian Folkways Recordings), What Will We Do. We discuss their collaborative process as “an exercise in friendship building”, the pros and cons of the academic approach to songwriting, and the making of their fabulous new record.

Chris West and Deni Hlavinka make up the duo The Western Den. They have been making music together since 2011 when they met as first year students at Berklee College of Music. They have recently released their first full length album, the gorgeous "A Light Left On". We talk about the making of the record, the academic approach to songwriting, Bermuda, Catch Phrase Junior, and how most of us are "just winging it" through life.

Izaak is a talented young singer/songwriter hailing from Montana. We talk about Warren Zevon, ghosts in the amplifiers, the pros and cons of an itinerant lifestyle, and making things out of leather. Izaak has an interesting backstory: born and raised in Montana, for nearly 10 years he spent 5 months of extended summers working on trail crews in the back country of Glacier National Park, and the remaining months in various places as he wandered his musical path. We discuss how this lifestyle influenced the songwriting on his excellent recent album “Mariachi Static”.

Carson McHone is a tremendously talented singer-songwriter; she recently released a great new album "Carousel". We talk growing up in Austin, performing in the bars and honky-tonks there as a teenager, and postcards from the road. I also reveal my fear of horses.

In episode four we talk with Joe Firstman and Lucca Soria, two of the primary songwriters for Nashville based band Cordovas. We discuss Mexico, scientology, dropping pennies from the 151st floor penthouse of Tell You What! Towers, and lots and lots of music stuff.