For our first episode, we invited singer/songwriter Octavio Gonzalez from bands Westbound Departure, Fader Friend and his most recent project SleepSlow to make us a mixtape of five of his favorite album openers. We discuss what makes a good first album track, what inspires songwriting, and what happens when listeners start to notice influences in your music you didn't realize were there.

Listen as we discuss each of the tracks below and why Octavio wanted to include them on this mixtape:
1. Thursday - For the Workforce/Drowning
2. Semisonic - Closing Time
3. The Wallflowers - One Headlight
4. Len - Steal My Sunshine
5. Jimmy Eat World - Bleed American

SleepSlow will be releasing a new song "Seeing Stars" on 10/24. Be sure to check it out!