Trial and Error Collective's Podcast

Alright nerds, load up on quarters because we're going on a video game adventure from 8-bit chirps to orchestral symphonies in 7.1 surround sound. Whether at the arcade or in your mom's basement, Video Game Music (VGM) is the soundtrack that literally takes shit to the next level. From the sweeping melodies of Final Fantasy, to the underground punk rock of Tony Hawk Pro Skater, to the cinematic soundscapes of Call of Duty, VGM has become so critical it's now a music genre in and of itself. In this episode we explore the past, present and future of this world of VGM, which is much more than just a backdrop for mowing down pedestrians in Grand Theft Auto...

Alright nerds, load up on quarters because we're going on a video game adventure from 8-bit chirps to orchestral symphonies in 7.1 surround sound. Whether at the arcade or in your mom's basement, Video Game Music (VGM) is the soundtrack that literally takes shit to the next level. From the sweeping melodies of Final Fantasy, to the underground punk rock of Tony Hawk Pro Skater, to the cinematic soundscapes of Call of Duty, VGM has become so critical it's now a music genre in and of itself. In this episode we explore the past, present and future of this world of VGM, which is much more than just a backdrop for mowing down pedestrians in Grand Theft Auto...

It's time to get like, totally nostalgic about the '90s in our special trivia themed episode of The Melody Feed podcast! Your hosts Mike, Brittne and Parisa try to tackle what Eddie Vedder is ever even saying in "Guess That Grunge Lyric", reminisce on our favorite TV shows with "Otamatone Theme Songs", and flex our Wait Wait Don't Tell Me fandom with our own version of '90s music limerick challenges! Featuring a very special guest interview with recent March Plaidness essay winner and author of the new book The Poetics of Noise from Dada to Punk, John Mellilo!

It's time to get like, totally nostalgic about the '90s in our special trivia themed episode of The Melody Feed podcast! Your hosts Mike, Parisa, and guest host Brittne try to tackle what Eddie Vedder was ever even saying in "Guess That Grunge Lyric", reminisce on our favorite TV shows with "Otamatone Theme Songs", and flex our Wait Wait Don't Tell Me fandom with our own version of '90s music limerick challenges. Featuring a very special guest interview with recent March Plaidness essay winner and author of the new book The Poetics of Noise from Dada to Punk, John Melillo! ​

In part 2 of our farout music and aliens discussion, we team up with special guest Samba (host of Tarantula's Dream TV) to explore connections between the UFO phenomenon and musicians like Sun Ra, Tom Delonge, Miley Cyrus, Jim Sullivan, ? and the Mysterians, and more. We also share some of our favorite science-fiction themed albums and film soundtracks. And listen until the end for a very special Q&A with everyone's favorite galactic wiseman, Spumoni!

For decades, earthlings have used music as a means to make contact with extraterrestrials. What does this say about music as a universal language? How can we better understand the UFO phenomenon through sound? Join us in this transmission of The Melody Feed podcast where we explore the intersectionality between music, science fiction, UFOs and beyond. Featuring a very special guest co-host, Samba, of Tarantula's Dream TV, a weekly call-in show discussing the paranormal and extraterrestrial activity.

In Part 2 of the Role of Music in Cults, we talk to Hannah Yeun, a musician and ex-Moonie, about her experiences growing up in the Unification Church, the role music played in the cult and the role the cult played in her music.

Do you believe rock & roll can save your soul? From The Source Family to Scientology, the connection many cult leaders and fringe religious groups have to music is undeniable. Why is that? Can music be used as a tool for mind control? Is cult leadership a valid backup plan for a failed music career? Join us... join us as we explore the integral role of music in CULTS!

We've all heard about how the Devil went down to Georgia, but how else has the Devil influenced music history? For the 11th episode of the T&E podcast, Mike and Parisa discuss deals with the devil throughout history, music and pop culture. They also discuss backmasking, the battle between the church vs. rock music, and list off their favorite songs about Satan. And stay tuned 'til the end for a very special surprise guest interview!

Do we hear a song differently after an artist has gone through a public scandal? Do our own expectations change the way we perceive music? For the tenth episode of the T&E podcast, your hosts Mike and Parisa take on Part 2 of the Context & Continuity topic, focusing on the "I'm big in Japan" phenomenon, public scandal, early death, context of time and age, and comeback albums.

How does an artist's persona affect our relationship to the music? When a band goes through multiple lineup changes, how does this affect our overall fanship? For the ninth episode of the T&E podcast, your hosts Mike and Parisa discuss examples of how continuity and context affect our music perception - with part one focusing on lineup changes, creative musical departures, identity and appearance evolution, and the idea of "selling out".

Do frequencies have the power to heal? It's said that 432 hz is the natural vibration of the universe, and music set to this tuning has cosmic healing powers. For the eighth installment of the Trial and Error Collective podcast, Parisa and Mike discuss their research on the history of music standardization, the scientific and theoretical framework behind the concepts of 432 hz, and their takeaway points on the validity of its healing nature.

In his new autobiography "War, Momma and Me", author Jaycee Kesh Akinsaya describes his experiences of growing up during the Liberian Civil War and his mother's wisdom that guided them through it all. For the seventh installment of the T&E podcast, we spoke with Kesh about how he and his mother used music as a compass to navigate through trials of political unrest, and furthermore how music help him shape his understanding of spirituality, sexuality and personal identity.

For the sixth episode of the T&E podcast, your hosts Parisa and Kit bring up an essential topic for anyone who grew up in the late 90s/early 2000s - learning to cope with your closeted love for nu-metal. Your hosts shamelessly discuss their favorite nu-metal albums, the impact that the genre had on them and their generation, and why people should admit that nu-metal was an important aspect of their musical upbringing too.

For the fifth episode of the T&E podcast, your host Parisa talks with contributor Andrej Simeunovic about all things black metal. They delve into the history of the genre, discuss the distinct qualities of the music, recommend their favorite albums, and contemplate the ethical concerns of some of the prominent artists of the scene.

Burning Man. Consciousness. Visionary. Gatherings. All key words you've probably heard surrounding the idea of "transformational music festivals". We’re not talking about your Coachellas or Bonnaroos, but rather the headier side of festival gatherings that offer the intention of spiritual growth and togetherness. For the fourth podcast, T&E contributors Brittne and Parisa discuss their personal experiences of growth from these festivals, as well as their critiques and concerns as they’ve seen these fests evolve with more commercial appeal.

Cultural Appropriation - two words you can't escape in today's music culture. While there are many concerning issues of artists appropriating culture for their benefit, there has also been an increase of fans becoming overly critical on this subjective. The over-labeling and misuse of the term "cultural appropriation" has led to this issue to become a grey area and more difficult to discuss. Throughout this podcast, Sieya and Parisa discuss examples of appropriation in music, the importance of understanding what is and is not appropriation, and why you should care.

The age old question - what is the perfect album? Though there may not be a single answer, discussing this subject can reveal a lot about a person's music taste and can bring up some great music discussions in general. This podcast gains six different perspectives as Parisa interviews three T&E writers (Ronny, Andre, and Andrej), reads a list from writers Hannah and Alex, and discusses her opinions as well.

For the first episode of the Trial and Error Collective podcast, Parisa spoke with Thomas Brown of RISE Phoenix: Suicide Awareness and Mental Health through Art and Practice of Self-Awareness. She picked his brain about how music played a vital role in creating the cross-country RISE bicycle tour, and how music can aide people to raise their self-awareness and create their life story. All the music in this podcast was created by Altrice.