It's been a minute but on our latest podcast we chat with members of the San Antonio-based rock band, All Stories End. 

AES music is a culmination of their diverse influences explosive with high energy guitar and drums, but also an impressive vocal range and command from singer, multi-instrumentalist, and music teacher Chris Purcell. After only a short time from their inception in 2017, the band released their debut album, 'The Architecture of Sound' in 2018 which included their first single, Let the Devil Play. Minus an obvious unfortunate global setback, they've been performing consistently since that time. After a steady stream of singles including their most recent song, Taurus, the band did a 2022 Texas tour.

This podcast took us back to our origins (a distant two years ago)... it's full of laughs, ranting, and overly opinionated views on other bands etc. (some good, some not so much), but we had a blast talking with some seriously cool guys who are all about creating music and having fun on stage. All Stories End are a current staple of the San Antonio rock and metal scene, carrying on a that tradition in the country's most metal city \m/

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Our guest on this episode is the passionately "purple" pop artist Anastasia Elliot. Drawing inspiration from early exposure to opera and ballet, this Houston native relocated to Nashville at age sixteen to further explore her musical passion. In the years since, Anastasia has written over 300 songs alongside several renowned songwriters and producers as she continues to navigate the ever changing tides of the modern music industry. 

A visionary in every aspect, this classically trained pianist and vocalist approaches each project with a big picture in mind. She aims to immerse her listeners in a symphonic pop-rock musical universe mixed harmoniously with mind-bending visuals, and her impressive string of videos from the forthcoming LP “La Petite Mort” brilliantly demonstrate Anastasia's innate artistic prowess and meticulous attention to detail. Anastasia’s vocal range captures an array of emotions to comprise the very concept of the phrase “la petite mort,” which roughly translates to “the brief loss or weakening of consciousness,” “the little death,” and “orgasm.” Songs like The Boy Who Cried Love and Cigarettes and Gasoline each take the listener on different journeys, as do the stunning visuals implemented in her music videos. Further impressive is the fact that every visual element from the props, set design, and costuming are painstakingly created by Anastasia!  

With influences ranging from Rachmaninoff and Chopin to 80s' power pop females and even the lesser known Dope Lemon and The Black Angels, the eclectic nature of Anastasia's personal catalogue comes as no surprise. From the deeply personal Crash Landing, which ironically coincided with Anastasia experiencing the horror of actual plane crash, to "Elfastasia's" fun cover of George Michael's Last Christmas, we do a one by one run down of each single and related music video, including awesome cover's of No Doubt's Hella Good and Soft Cell's Tainted Love. We also discuss the ups and downs of our modern technological landscape, the necessity of social media, importance of marketing, the NAMM show, Godin Guitars, shower singing, TikTok and the viral "sigh guy", "vanity metrics" and her senior Pomeranian's demand 3am chicken patties.

In a relatively short time Elliot has accumulated over a million views on YouTube and over half a million streams. She has toured, performed on television, and hosted her own panel at NAMM on the future of technology for independent musicians. Also very active in public speaking, Anastasia has given seminars at high schools, colleges, and corporations focusing on healing trauma and mental illness. She partnered with the National Alliance on Mental Illness for high schoolers during Covid and also headlined a benefit show with The Great Khalid Foundation for families of the victims of the Walmart massacre in El Paso, Texas. This ever-changing artist constantly seeks outlets that allow her to stay open and inspired, that prevent. “I will never paint you a picture with a scene of obvious fixtures.” Check out Anastasia Elliot's latest singles London and Masquerade, as well as her podcast The Purple Sessions.

After a "false start" due to technical problems, we gain insight into various world music, musicians, and instrumentation via Joshua Thomson (alto Saxophone, Flute) and Josh Peters (Oud, Lavta), the core members of Austin's Atlas Maior. Since their inception more than a decade ago, this evolving ensemble of eclectic musicians have been steadily creating original compositions combining elements of progressive jazz with Middle Eastern, Latin American, traditional Indian, and other worldly musical styles. “Riptide combines the fire and excitement of eastern musical culture with probing, Coltrane-like solos from Joshua Thomson on sax.” - The Jazz Journal

To date the acclaimed group has released 5 albums and several singles, each pushing boundaries and exploring new harmonic and rhythmic territory. Incorporating an array of ethnic musical systems (such as the Middle Eastern maqamat modes) and instrumentation into something uniquely their own, Atlas Maior has received many accolades in their tenure, including the City of Austin's Proclamation of March 27th as "Atlas Maior Day". They have toured both on their native soil as well as through France, Spain, and Turkey and have opened internationally for such praised artists as Kaki King, Vieux Farka Toure and Tal National. Atlas Maior has also performed at prestigious music festivals such as SXSW, Pueblos Blancos, Wobeonfest, and the City of Austin's F1 Fanfest, and have collaborated with a plethora of talented musicians across the world including Lou Lou Ghelichkani of Thievery Corporation, Raquy Danziger, Ali Pervez Mehdi, Fared Shafinury, Indajit Banerjee, and Alan Chehab Quartet

We talk about projects past and present, the Austin of yore, the two Josh's early influences and musical backgrounds in both Michigan and Texas, and the importance of consistent practice, performance and professionalism. If you are a fan of world music, jazz, musical improvisation, and unique instrumentation, Atlas Maior is a band you want to check out!

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On this episode we chat with lead singer and songwriter A.L.X. from the NYC-based rock band, Love Crushed Velvet. LVC's music, like New York City, is diverse, edgy and enticing. Carefully crafted songs combine elements of alternative, glam, post punk, new wave, modern & classic rock, and the roster of producers and musicians A.L.X. has worked with is impressive to say the least.

After collaborating with drummer Thommy Price (Billy Idol, Joan Jett, Blue Öyster Cult) and acquiring lead guitarist Jimi Bones (Joan Jett, Blondie) and bassist Enzo Penizzotto (Joan Jett), Love Crushed Velvet recorded their debut album at Shabby Road Studios, Kingsland Recording in Brooklyn, NY, and at Brian McGee's NY studio. Mixed by veteran producer and engineer Dave Bascombe, the album was released in 2011.

In 2015 the band released both the EP 'Delusions' and the album 'Firefly'. The next few years saw the singles "Other Places", a re-release of "Rise Up" and "It's a Holiday, Come Over" a Christmas song accompanied by a fun animated video. Now, after teasing with singles and cutting-edge videos for the past few years, Love Crushed Velvet has released their latest full-length album, Souls and the Barren Heart.

We chat about A.L.X.'s background growing up around NYC, his songwriting process, Nashville, collaborations, the new music and the impressive Virtual Reality videos such as The Light Inside and The Future that have accompanied recent singles. The latest, Saddened Eyes, was just released to coincide with the new album. 

The band's lineup has varied for live performances but some veteran players include keyboardist Linda Leseman, bassists Drew Mortali & Darren Korb, drummers Aaron A. Brooks & Massimo "Max" Majorana and guitarist and long-time songwriting partner, Jay Stone. A.L.X. has been performing shows in Italy and has toured around Europe as well as the U.S. The band even did a sponsored tour of Australia.

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On this episode we chat with New York City native, Chris Mardini. At only 20 years old, he has released an impressive string of singles along with his self-titled debut album. Hailing from Greenwich Village, an epicenter of New York's 1960s counterculture movement, it's no surprise Chris inherently possesses an eclectic pallet of influences which come through in his music. 

Mardini began playing guitar and drums at age 10 and cut his teeth as a teen playing in bands around the New York tristate area at venues like The Bitter End and Rockwood Music Hall but ultimately decided to embark on a solo career as a songwriter. His first endeavor at songwriting, I'll Try, is a fantastic example of Mardini's intuition and maturity as a young songwriter; the song masterfully weaves through genres while maintaining a sound all his own, and the chorus will have you eagerly setting this track to repeat. SPIN Magazine stated “We’re keeping a close eye on him, you might want to do the same.”

Each new release coincides with an equally interesting music video, and we discuss the concepts of each of Mardini's videos along with related topics such as films, directors, actors, and production. His latest single, Pockets, combines modern hybrid musical stylings juxtaposed visually against a simplistic vintage backdrop, but the two collectively express the timeless feelings of agitated youth, angst and unrest. From the aesthetically clean Sleepless directed by Shantie Midnight, to the abstract Herd created by Nick Wolf of Howl Peak Productions, to the animation of Gabriela Sibilska on Skin Tight, each visual representation elevates Chris's songs and further engages his audience. 

Though the overall content of his songs often tap into a more serious and visceral realm, they are undeniably residing in a pop neighborhood. Punk, indie, classic rock, grunge, and hip hop all mesh into a style that is Chris Mardini. Unafraid to venture into uncharted waters, express vulnerability and take chances both in the audio and visual mediums, Chris has left an immediate unapologetic mark as an artist. “I feel like I owe it to myself and to the people listening to be as genuine as possible in my music. Being cheap with the lyrics or writing something that’s just filler is taking the easy way out, so I make sure to put real meaning into every line and melody.”

Currently Chris splits his time between college in St. Louis and his home in Manhattan, as he continues to produce new content. Even through the pandemic some notable shows took place, including a live-streamed concert at the prestigious Brooklyn Bowl, and an opening performance for DJ Zedd in St. Louis. Keep an eye out for Chris's new single coming soon...

Follow Chris Mardini on

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Greek-Canadian singer and songwriter, Katerine Duska, joins us from her home in Montreal and sheds some light on her impressive music career.  

A "late bloomer", and initially a self-trained singer, Katerine began her music career after exploring various academic options including law school. Her debut album "Embodiment" was released in 2015 and quickly gained prominence when her songs "One in a Million" and Arctic Monkeys' cover "Do I Wanna Know" reached over 2 million views on Youtube. The viral success helped facilitate a deal with Minos EMI, a Universal Music Company, and in 2018 her single 'Fire Away' was selected for the official "Nescafe Canada" television & radio ad campaign. 

Duska gained further international recognition when she represented Greece in the Eurovision Song Contest 2019. The competition, held in Tel Aviv, Israel, featured artists from 41 countries and was "like a master class on performing arts". The theme of the contest was Dare to Dream with a focus on unity, diversity, inclusion, and confidence. Katerine performed her 2019 single "Better Love" and placed 21st in the grand final. She states, “Love has nothing to do with gender, it’s a very pro-human song”. Cowritten by Leon of Athens and David Sneddon and produced with Phil Cook, the song received extensive international airplay, charting in over 40 countries and making the Global Viral Top 50 chart on Spotify and topping Greece's iTunes Charts. The same year she was a coach & mentor on the Greek hit talent show "The Final Four" and released "ANEMOS" featuring friend and musical colleague, Leon of Athens. The song reached the top 3 of Greece’s Viral Top 50 chart on Spotify. 

Throughout the pandemic Katerine released several singles including "Sanctuary", "Athenian Skies", "Of Time", and "Muse" which culminated into a five song EP. Call Me Nyx was released in 2022 and was followed by a string of shows in the United States including several performances at the prestigious Austin-based festival, SXSW.

Katerine talks about some of her influences ranging from rock artists Gwen Stefani and the Red Hot Chili Peppers to soulful jazz greats Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, and Nina Simone. She also cites R&B influences like Lauren Hill and a plethora of Greek music. Her musical and vocal style blends the powerful and pensive with the uplifting and empowering, and Duska's trademark soulful rasp has earned her comparisons to such vocal titans as Adele and Amy Winehouse. 

The trilingual vocalist, who splits her time between Athens, Montreal and London, believes in seeking beauty in her surroundings and experiences and strives to incorporate a positive message in her music. We highly recommend exploring her audio and video catalogue! 

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On this episode we chat with Rom and Diana of the instrumental progressive metal band, Static Limit. The south Texas-based group was formed in 2003 by Rom Garza (guitars & synth) along with Jay Juarez (bass) and Mario Rivera (drums). After cutting their teeth playing regional shows around "The Valley" and cultivating a sound incorporating elements of metal, thrash, progressive rock and cinematic scores, the band eventually recorded their debut album and released A Thing About Machines in 2014.

In 2016 Juan Garza was added as an additional guitarist & keyboardist for live shows and Justin Garcia replaced Mario Rivera on drums. Shortly after, Diana De Hoyos, a long time fan and musical colleague, auditioned and took over on bass guitar after the departure of Jay Juarez. After a few teaser singles, the band's long-awaited 2nd album, Existentia, was released in late 2021. The album, mixed at Widowmaker Studios, showcases a variety of instrumentation, techniques, and styles ranging from crunchy riffing guitars and soaring solos to progressive rhythmic juxtapositions and unique synth soundscapes. Check out the play-though video of "Veil of Illusion".

Rom, an accomplished multi-instrumentalist and producer, grew up in the small Texas town of San Juan in the Rio Grande Valley and began playing guitar at age 13 after being inspired by thrash and death metal bands. He cites influences such as guitar virtuosos Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, Marty Friedman, John Petrucci and Chuck Schuldiner but also pulls from a vast list of Sci-Fi, action and horror film scores. Rom attended The University Of Texas Pan American where he earned Bachelors and Masters degrees in Mathematics and Electrical Engineering. He is also the guitarist and founding member of the TV/Film/Video Game Tribute band Sonic Boom.   

Born to musician parents in McAllen, Texas, Diana grew up in Weslaco, TX and was immersed in music from a young age. She played percussion and guitar before moving to bass to perform in her family's band. After graduating from high school she enrolled at the University Of Texas Pan American where she earned a Bachelors in Political Science and Philosophy. Recently she has been focused on getting her Masters with a focus on Special Education. Diana has an eclectic pallet of influences ranging from Dolly Parton to Rush and describes her playing style as one that feeds off of her band mates.

Rom and Diana talk about their musical origins, the creative process, gear, writing, drum programming and production, and we talk The Matrix, Star Wars, Aliens, Nick Cage, fine dining, favorite Megadeth albums, and of course, Bermuda Triangle bands.

Skunk met Static Limit when Runescarred shared a bill at The Hop Shop in Harlingen, TX.

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On this episode we chat with Zarate Zaalo (aka Squiggly Finesse), keyboardist, vocalist and mastermind of the Bourgeois Mystics. This fantastically eclectic group of intergalactic eccentrics currently reside at their 38 acre Austin-based commune (definitely not a cult) and make outer worldly music to inspire (or conquer?) us mere mortals here on Earth. With names like Countess Von Boopenstein, Tonto Luigi, Oochie Galluccio, and Mathilda Bilderberg, you can expect the unexpected from this Zappa-esque orchestra that ranges from a 5 to 12 piece ensemble. But here's the kicker, be ready to dance! For as progressive as the band gets, they always keep your feet moving. 

Founded in 2014, the Bourgeois Mystics released their debut, self-produced album Eureka! in 2017. Their cover of Bollywood classic, “Jaan Pehechan Ho” won the Keepin’ It Weird Award at the 2018 Austin Music Video Fest and best music video at the Austin Music Video Festival. They have since released a string of singles including "The Most Spiritual" and "Biomimicry" along with music videos and are currently in post production on a new full-length album. 

Zaalo (a name that will be endlessly mispronounced throughout the podcast) tells us about the core band members and their unique names and roles at the commune (definitely not a cult). He discusses his love of dance and hip-hop and cites some lyrical and phonetic influences like MF Doom. However, the band incorporates just about every genre under the sun. Picture Eminem hiring Mr. Bungle as a backing band and that's a start. From Prog-Rock, Hip-Hop, Surf, Afro-Beat, Dance, Disco, Funk, Fusion and everything in between, the Mystics leave practically no sonic stone unturned. Well, maybe Pop Punk and Bro Country. Their idiosyncratic sound and local popularity has lead to national tours where the band performed over 150 shows sharing bills with a wide variety of underground bands (Zaalo cites Trap Rabbit as personal favorite) as well as musical giants like George Clinton.

This podcast was particularly fun (and juvenile), ridden with dick jokes, tentacle porn talk, and a bizarre strip show. We learned of an adult site called Fuck for Forests (yet to google) and what life is like in a commune (definitely not a cult). We talk veganism and the art of herbivorious over-indulgence, Skunk's under-indulgent poverty stricken Vegas trip, Zaalo's reasons for moving to Austin, a biomimetic chicken labor force, investments in Oat Milk, guns, Sacha Baran Cohen, Curb Your Enthusiasm, nerdy Sci-fi shows and God forbid, Nickelback. This podcast may not be for the faint of heart or easily offended, but if you want to have a laugh along with some musicians embracing their eternal adolescence, then it just might be for you. And seriously, do yourself a favor and check out the Bourgeois Mystics! They are "a genre-defying dance party waiting to explode" and a band who "display the tongue-in-cheek humor of a psychedelic Monty Python and an absurdist splatter of funk-rock, hip-hop, and jazz."

Thanks for listening!

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On this episode we're joined by Nathan Ruyle from his new post sound facility in Burbank, CA. Nathan is a sound designer, supervising sound editor, re-recording mixer and founder of the independent post-production sound company, This is Sound Design. He has created original sound for more than 150 projects, including feature films, indie pictures, television shows, documentaries and more, in a career spanning over 20 years. Many of Nathan's works have premiered at major film festivals around the world and have even received awards via of Sundance, Cannes and SXSW. The television series, Every Act of Life was nominated for an Emmy in 2020 and most recently the films I love My Dad, a dramatic comedy starring Patton Oswalt, and Crows are White, a world-spanning documentary that starts as a vérité examination of a secretive sect of Buddhist monks, premiered at SXSW 2022. 

After attaining his undergraduate degree at the Southern Illinois University, Nathan received an MFA in Sound Design and Integrated Media from the California Institute of the Arts in 2008. He then taught for 7 years as a member of the CalArts film and animation faculty while building his clientele and has become a frequent lecturer at the American Film Institute. TiSD continues to build relationships with filmmakers and digital media creators via design-centric audio post-production.

We learned a lot on this episode about the origins, history, and evolution of "sound design". This non-silent, unsung hero plays an integral and vital role in film, TV, etc. and Nathan's state-of-the-art studios in both New York and Los Angeles offer cutting edge technologies in this field. His new Burbank facility includes 3 mix stages, emulating different rooms and listening environments, as well as ADR (Automated Dialogue Replacement) and Foley recording studios. Nathan discusses influences and sheds light on some sound design pioneers who have been integral to the success of ground-breaking films and the evolution of the motion picture in general. Nathan has several published articles and interviews where he discusses the importance of this "invisible art".

Thanks for listening!

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On this episode we chat with up-and-coming pop/rock artist, Luke Revyn. Luke began his musical endeavors at a young age by playing in punk rock bands and recording demos with friends at his home in Hawaii. He simultaneously participated in school theatre and choir with early aspirations of becoming a professional entertainer, but a general sense of isolation and disconnect led to self-destructive behaviors which left Luke feeling further frustrated and detached. After struggling with school, substance abuse, and depression throughout his teens Luke decided to get clean and fully immerse himself in music, and on new years eve of 2021 the twenty year old songwriter boarded a plane headed for Los Angeles to fulfill a childhood dream. Originally from New Jersey, the now LA-based artist hopes to reach the masses and provide catharsis and comfort for youth struggling with addiction and feelings of alienation. 

“The purpose of my music is to share my stories and life experiences to make a positive impact. I want to connect with as many listeners as I can, empower others to better their lives, and inspire those that need help to get it. I worked through a lot of inner struggles, and I’m passionate about mental health.”

We discuss Luke's broad array of influences, the impact his parents had cultivating his love of music, and his early desires to be a famous rockstar. Both his image and songs reflect his eclecticism and Reyvn's knowledge of bands is impressive. Right off the bat we were talking about his heavily patched denim jacket; he literally wears influences on his sleeve, and of course we dove right into talking about iconic classic rock titans like Pink Floyd, Guns N' Roses and his all time favorite band, Led Zeppelin. Although clearly well versed and capable of churning out rock n' roll, Luke's eclectic palette spans beyond just the rock medium. We talk hip-hop and pop idols as well, and elements of these genres along with EDM & alternative stylings are apparent in his growing catalogue. 

Very much a hands-on arranger, Luke is not afraid to follow his innate talent and experiment with a wide variety of recording techniques. Gritty distorted guitars and punk rock angst blend brilliantly with catchy pop melodies, slamming beats, modern production techniques, and a harmonious blend of meaningful and infectious hook-laden lyrics. 2021 saw a steady stream of catchy, viscerally emotive singles crafted by Luke along with powerhouse producers. Check out the immediately infectious Goodbye, Sweet Revenge & Kiss Me Girl and you'll get a sense of the multi-dimensional aspects of the music. Luke cites influences like Post Malone and Ed Sheeran, "artists who aren’t afraid to make big personal statements without being boxed in by labels or genres." 

We're thrilled to release this podcast the same day as Luke's latest single, Another Day, which is accompanied by a brand new music video.

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Thanks for listening!