HOMOPHONIC

This week on HOMOPHONIC, I’m joined by a very special guest—my brother and lead singer of Future Killer, Alex W.G. Rickel! 🎤🎸

We kick things off by venting about the evolution (or devolution?) of social media and how it’s changed the way we experience music. Then, we dive into the age-old debate: What is pop music, really? Is it a genre? A catch-all term? A sound?

And of course, no sibling episode would be complete without a trip down memory lane—reminiscing about our very first concert (Weird Al Yankovic, naturally), the golden era of TRL, and the legendary mixtapes our dad made for us as kids. His passion for music shaped who we are today, and we’re unpacking it all.

Tune in for nostalgia, music talk, and some good ol’ sibling banter! 🎶🔥

🔥 This week on HOMOPHONIC, DJ John Michael is back to break down Kendrick Lamar’s history-making Super Bowl Halftime Show! We’re diving into his next-level visuals, that legendary Samuel L. Jackson cameo, and the double standards male and female performers still face today.

But that’s not all—
🚗 We rev up for Tate McRae’s scorching new single “Sports Car”
🎶 Get into the latest banger from Bentley Robles & Zee Machine
✨ Unpack the mystery of Lady Gaga’s “Abracadabra”
🎧 Give LeAnn Rimes’ underrated remixes the love they deserve
🎉 And, of course, we celebrate Janet Jackson Appreciation Day!

DJ John Michael returns to dive into everything Grammy Awards! Could this be the best music award show since the iconic 2009 VMAs? We cover it all—from Beyoncé and Lady Gaga to Shakira and Dave Chappelle, plus Raye and Diana Ross. Join us as we break down the winners in the Big Four categories, discuss the Best Pop Vocal Album, and get the scoop on Charli XCX’s stunning new décor. Plus, don’t miss our take on Gaga’s brand new single, “Abracadabra,” which made its magical debut alongside the official music video during the show!

New year, new vibes, and a brand-new type of episode! 🎉 This week, I’m joined by a very special guest—my fabulous friend and registered dietitian, Camille Adams—to chat all things diet and nutrition. 🍎✨ I get tons of questions over on @afunctioninggay about my health and wellness journey, but let’s be real: I’m not a certified expert. That’s where Camille comes in! Together, we dive into how nutrition ties into mental health, food accessibility, and so much more. Grab a snack (healthy or not, we don’t judge) and tune in!

DJ John Michael returns to "Homophonic" for a much needed pop music catch-up! We kick things off with a chat about JADE’s “IT Girl,” detour to Swedish one-hit wonder Amanda, and groove through Katy Perry’s “143” and its deluxe edition’s bonus tracks. Together we also dissect Lady Gaga’s latest hits, speculate on Beyoncé’s postponed announcement, and drop takes on Madonna and Stuart Price working on new music, and Ellie Goulding’s collab with Anyma.

This week’s podcast is a nostalgia-packed pop extravaganza! I’m joined by Jesse Chambliss, host of Jesse’s Girls Podcast and certified pop music aficionado, as we relive the joy of discovering our favorite international popstars growing up. From the edgy charm of Fefe Dobson and The Veronicas to the glittering hits of Kylie and Dannii Minogue, we’re diving deep into the icons who shaped our playlists. Expect shoutouts to Sugababes, Girls Aloud, Mis-Teeq, Utada Hikaru, BoA, and so many more. Plus, bonus love for Christina Milian, Willa Ford, Britney Spears, and beyond. If you’re ready for a trip down memory lane with a pop-loving twist, you won’t want to miss this one! 🎤✨

This week I am joined by upcoming electronic-dance-pop artist KYZR BLUE.  Based out of Chicago, he is a master of his craft who writes and produces all of his music from scratch.  Together we talking about everything from how he got started to his musical inspirations to what his creative process is like.  We also get  to take several moments to talk about all the pop girlies including Adele and Robyn.

Happy Holidays, everybody!  With the Christmas season upon us, I thought it would be fun to compile a list of top 10 under-appreciated Christmas songs that everyone needs to know and love.  We all know the classics like "All I Want For Christmas Is You," "Rockin' Around The Christmas Tree," and "It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year" ... but there are so many others that deserve to shine!  Join me in my first ever solo episode where I cover songs from our favorite pop girlies including Christina Aguilera, Willa Ford, Céline Dion, Sarah McLachlan, Britney Spears and the queen of Christmas herself, Mariah Carey.

ZEE MACHINE, DJ John Michael and myself continue our conversation about Billboard's 25 Greatest Popstars of the 21st Century with the final six acts:  Britney Spears, Lady Gaga, Drake, Rihanna, Taylor Swift and Beyoncé.

On this episode I am joined by independent pop superstar ZEE MACHINE and the iconic friend of the pod DJ John Michael where we cover numbers 25 through 7 of Billboard Magazine's Greatest Popstars of the 21st Century.  We discuss everyone from Katy Perry, Ariana Grande and Adele to Kanye West, Bad Bunny and Lil' Wayne.  Lots of thoughts and lots of hot takes so always remember that much like my voice ... it's not that deep!