Dreams Not Memes Podcast

I spoke to Brooke Williams, a Philadelphian native who is a professional in the life sciences industry. Williams has worked as a biomedical technician and researcher covering varying topics from genomics, gene therapy, and other topics in the biomedical field. Currently, Brooke works as a Business Development Manager for a life sciences and biomedical research firm. In today's episode, Brooke discusses her career, her curiosities, and how she continues to move forward in her career. Learn more on Dreams Not Memes. 

With expressive, soulful vocals soaring over a mix of ambient pop, electronic, and alternative R&B sounds, Lia Menaker’s music moves beyond genre to sit in a world of its own. Dubbed “Noirtronica” by WXPN radio, Menaker’s music calls back to jazz vocalists like Nina Simone and Amy Winehouse - while also experimenting with space and percussive electronic elements reminiscent of Bjork and Portishead.

Learn more about Lia's journey and her journey of discovery and rediscovery on today's episode of Dreams Not Memes. 

Socials 

IG: instagram.com/liamenaker; 

FB: Facebook.com/liamenaker 

Bandcamp: https://liamenaker.bandcamp.com; 

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/37NS0lpeIGIA2qNDr5HtyM;

 YouTube: youtube.com/liamenaker

One of the freshest new artistic voices standing out amongst the backdrop of the City of Brotherly Love’s many multi-faceted and musically talented artists. Archpalatine the singer, songwriter, pianist, performer, and charismatic band front-man Derek Anthony Wilson is poised to not only create a lane for himself and his bandmates (Anthony Pompey - vocals, Aaron Wolf - percussion, Ben High – bass, and John Palmer - Synths/Direction), but also blaze a trail for creative risk takers, soulful story tellers, and theatrical musicians who challenge the old guard of musical gate keepers.

Wilson is a classically trained concert vocalist, National Marian Anderson Historical Society scholar artist, and internationally touring musician who’s accolades both on and off-stage are only rivaled by his desire to use his musical platform and gifts to initiate and support social change, engage spirit and talent, and course ambitions within the musical landscape. With a penchant for beautifully and seamlessly blending genres, Archpalatine sires a sound that is just as difficult to pigeonhole into one category as it is to forget.

Archpalatine breaks down genre to create a new sound that may eloquently and appropriately be called “Histrionic Cosmic Soul”.  The feel-good music gifted to the audience at an Archpalatine show offers a long-time abandoned experience that can be enjoyed by every group of people from all walks of life, every taste in entertainment, all preferences and interests, and moves the soul, be it in the form of smiles on faces to dancing out of your seat.Archpalatine infuses his musical presentations with theatrics traditionally reserved for stage shows and are reminiscent of large-scale Broadway features — be they performed on a grand scale, in intimate rooms, or at the trendiest outlets.  

Performances by this musical powerhouse develops rapport with the audience, encourages audience participation through call & response, and incorporates danceable rhythms. Shows regularly include one-of-a-kind fashion designs and electronic components that engages both the audible and visual senses, alike.  Not content with mere showmanship and intriguing music that makes you feel elation. Archpalatine aims to leave his audience so infused with good vibes and positivity that any in attendance is prone to leave a show feeling more jubilation than possessed upon arrival.

In our conversation we talk to Derek about his beginnings as a musician from the choir to what he does today. Learn more on Dreams Not Memes. 

https://linktr.ee/Archpalatine

Elin Rehn discovered music very early in her life through her mothers piano. She would writesongs instead of practising her piano assignments and quickly found her own world throughsongwriting.She grew up in Bjursås. A small village in Dalarna where the outdoors were just around the corner.But life as a musician was much more distant. Yet it was the music that was more exciting forRehn. The road off of the beaten path is always more interesting. After studying at couple of yearsat a Folkhögskola, a Batchelor at the Royal college of music in Stockholm and a small detour at thereputable Studio Rymden(First Aid Kit etc) she found herself lost in a new formed, newly buildstudio collection in Sickla. At that moment she decided tofinish an album she already started.The album as a whole is (as good albums often are) a reflection of a difficult time in Reins lifewhere dealing with the emotions that comes from loosing someone, being mortal, sadness, to bepresent, to be lost without direction. And about following ones dreams. All these things wereimportant components in the end result.“When I wrote the first song I was inspired by an image of two clouds. One cloud above the otherand with rain in-between. The one on top is bright and the one below is dark. It’s could also havebeen a hourglass. As you turn it, there’s no up or down. This image is something that’s beenpresent throughout the whole album.

Learn more about Elin's story on Dreams Not Memes Podcast. 

Linktree:

https://linktr.ee/elinrehn

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/elin.rehn/

Spotify

https://open.spotify.com/artist/2889x1Ew8NMybENNE6BQWJ?si=MXXhTaDSSx2ya62F5lZ0fQ

Susana Raya is a Spanish singer, guitarist and composer based in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. A pure, honest, unaffected voice that will captivate you. The woman who American music critic and historian Ted Gioia coined “the Andalusian Eva Cassidy” made her way into international music scene along with her inseparable guitar. “Her songs are rich and emotional performed with great creativity and spontaneity”, AAAmusic, UK.

After getting her classical guitar propers at a conservatory in her native Cordoba (Spain), spending a good chunk of the aughts racking up titles in European jazz vocals competitions and graduating in jazz guitar in Amsterdam, Susana found her personal   voice: a melting pot of different influences from folk to jazz.

She has toured extensively in Europe,USA, and abroad: Saitenprünge (Germany), Holland Festival (Netherlands) Silk Road Festival (Syria), Music Festival Amman, etc.

Her Spanish roots come to the surface in the songs on her album Wind Rose, which was recorded with a five start team: Steve Swallow, Clifford Carter (James Taylor), Ira Coleman (Sting, Dee dee Bridgewater), Leo Amuedo (Ivan Lins, Chris Botti), Cyro Baptista (Paul Simon, Yo-yo Ma, Herbie Hancock). The producer, Gary Burke (Bob Dylan), says: “Susana Raya is the most accomplished debut artist I have ever come across in all the years I have been doing this. She can sing, she can play and she can write. A triple threat as we say here in the States.”

In our conversation we talk about her diverse experiences and how it has shaped her own creativity. Learn More on Dreams Not Memes. 

Susana is endorser of Rick Turner Guitars (Santa Cruz) and Labella Strings.

AWARDS

– International Young Jazz Singers Contest Nomme Jazz, Tallinn, Estonia,2006.

– International Jazz Singers Contest Lady Summertime, Finland, 2006.

– International Jazz Soloist Competition”, Monaco, 2007.

– International Jazz Competition for Singing Musician, Zory, Poland. 2011

– Best Spanish Group II International Jazz Granada Festival Contest. 2003

Social Media 

facebook.com/susanarayamusic

instagram.com/susanarayamusic/

youtube.com/user/susanaraya/videos

susanarayamusic.com/

open.spotify.com/artist/3K1JeIUlWJ2fGjqIR3KcHY

Tina Fung is a Service Designer at Meld Studios; Organiser of the Sydney Speculative Future Meet-Up; Design Studio Tutor at the University of Technology Sydney. With a dose of pragmatism, she believes designers can make more ethical and rigorous decisions by understanding the human needs of the present, drivers, and trends of the future. In our conversation, we discuss Tina's journey , her career and her hopeful ambition in this field. Learn more on Dreams Not Memes. 

Born in London, England, moving to the capital of the United States, and now residing in Brooklyn, New York, DIE the Monk has evolved into an expressive persona and presence to be reckoned with. DIE the Monk first became a pursued character in 2018 when Sebastien Carnot felt the urge to express his energy outwards and publicize his emotions. Today, the stage is his battleground as he tells stories through dramatized lyrics and industrial sounds, the essential elements to his craft.

Sebastien and I speak about his journey as an artist, his values for community and his explorations between Vermont, DC and New York. Learn More today on Dreams Not Memes and reivew his social media links to follow. 

https://www.instagram.com/die.the.monk/

https://open.spotify.com/artist/1Maev3xOwLLdl4IqciJ4k4?si=TEmAdNpMTcGn54n32S8gvw

As a child, Eydís Evensen would stare out at the Westfjords as the wind howled around her, pretending to conduct the clouds. In these daydreams, she was a meteorological maestro: controlling the Icelandic stormfronts in the distance, bending the weather and the world to her will like an orchestra. “The weather was intense where I grew up but so inspiring. There was such harshness to our winters, but at the same time, such beauty. I used to sit there for hours,” recalls the Blönduós-born composer. Years later, Evensen is still finding musical expressions for the awe she feels when staring out at the vastness of nature.

Eydis and I spoke about her album, living in Iceland, learning about her own needs as an artist and staying genuine. Learn more on Dreams Not Memes. 

@eydisevensen (Instagram)

www.eydisevensen.com

Jude Morrow is an autistic entrepreneur, TEDx speaker, consultant, philanthropist, and the founder of Neurodiversity Training International, the world’s premier neurodiversity-led training and consulting firm (neurodiversity-training.com). In 2001, Jude was diagnosed autistic at the age of eleven, after having been viewed as having communication and social difficulties. Jude’s journey to becoming a proud autistic adult is chronicled in his first book Why Does Daddy Always Look So Sad?, which also follows Jude’s experience of being an autistic dad to his non-autistic son, Ethan. Jude graduated with an honors degree in social work in 2012 and brings his personal and professional experiences to all the work he does. His most recent book Loving Your Place on the Spectrum: A Neurodiversity Blueprint released in September 2021.

Jude and I talk about the importance of inclusion in the world of mental health, inclusion, and his career. Learn more on Dreams Not Memes. 

Social media

https://twitter.com/judemorrow10

https://www.instagram.com/judemorrow/

https://www.facebook.com/judemorrowauthor/

Catherine Sarah Young is an artist, designer, and writer born in Manila, the Philippines. She uses her background in molecular biology, fine art, and interaction design to create interdisciplinary and experimental artworks on the environment. She has an international award, exhibition, publication, and fellowship profile, most recently in China, Southeast Asia, Austria, and the Amazon rainforest. She is currently doing her PhD at UNSW Sydney, is an Obama Foundation Leader for Asia-Pacific, and is a Creative Peacebuilder for The Peace Studio. In our conversation we discuss petrichor, fine art, and the global climate crisis. Learn more on Dreams Not Memes Podcast. 

Social Links 

 Facebook: www.facebook.com/catherinesarahyoung

 Instagram: @catherinesarahyoung

 Twitter: @catherineyoung