Inside the Musician's Brain

This is episode 50, and today Chris is joined by Taylor Goldsmith - standout singer, songwriter and guitarist for the amazing band Dawes. Their new album 'Oh Brother' just dropped, and Taylor breaks down the vision and songwriting process behind the project. He gets into the evolution of his process over the years, and how he's found his voice as a writer, leading to more personal, impactful songs. Taylor also talks about his approach to productivity, balancing the desire to have a wide knowledge base on writing and production with the ability to decide on a direction and go with it, ultimately allowing you to not get stuck, finish your work and get it out there. This is great experiential advice for any creator! Just like that, another season of the podcast is complete - thx so much for tuning in, and I'll see you bacon here in a few months, when we go back inside the musician's brain!

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This week on the podcast, Chris is joined by Grammy winning sisters Rebecca and Megan Lovell, the dynamic duo behind roots rock powerhouse Larkin Poe. Early in their career, Rebecca and Megan were 2/3 of the Lovell Sisters, a progressive acoustic band that was making waves in the bluegrass world before changing their sound, rebranding and starting their journey as Larkin Poe. Now well established in the blues/rock world, they are building a loyal fanbase drawn to their incredible musicianship, vocal harmonies and songwriting. In this conversation, Megan and Rebeccs break down the vision behind their career shift to start Larkin Poe and their amazing forthcoming record, 'Bloom.' They also offer some excellent advice for performers and players of all levels, in addition to some great stories from their many years on the road, including collaborations with some of the biggest names in popular music. 

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Chris' guest on episode 48 is Israel Nebeker, lead singer and songwriter of Oregon indie folk gem Blind Pilot. After an 8 year break between albums, Blind Pilot is back with an excellent new record, 'In the Shadow of the Holy Mountain.' Israel talks about that long break, his challenges writing new songs, how he got through the writing dry spell and ultimately how the new album came together. In the intro, Chris talks about the power of the mind and our ability to overcome obstacles and achieve new heights when we start believing in what we are doing. Just like almost everything else, it's a practice!

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On today's episode of Inside the Musician's Brain, Chris is joined by musical icon Ani DiFranco. Ani discusses her experience performing on Broadway as Persephone in the hit Anais Mitchell musical Hadestown. She also breaks down her new album, Unprecedented Sh!t, from the songwriting to the shift in production and sound. Ani shares some great thoughts on the power of stories, which can entrap us or set us free depending on how we understand them, and she also talks about her upcoming book, Show Up and Vote, which aims to inspire young voters. This is an eye opening talk with a musical legend, packed with great insight and experience!

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Episode 46 of Inside the Musician’s Brain features standout soul singer-songwriter JJ Grey. JJ just released his first album in almost 10 years, ‘Olustee.’ The long hiatus happened naturally, as did the flood of songwriting that followed, and JJ takes us inside that process. He also talks in depth about his spiritual journey, the realizations he’s made along the way, and the role they play in his life and his art. This is a fascinating talk loaded with honesty and insight from a truly unique artist! 

Inside the Musician's Brain is hosted and produced by Chris Pandolfi. Produced by Matt Dwyer and RJ Bee for Osiris Media. Production support by Matthew Fritz at Americana Vibes. Music by Chris Pandolfi. Art by Mark Dowd.

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Chris' guest on episode 45 is legendary singer-songwriter Mary Chapin Carpenter. After connecting on their shared love of dogs, this conversation explores many different aspects of Mary Chapin's long, successful career in music as a gifted writer, singer and performer. She breaks down her craft and reflects on the evolution of her career, including some great perspectives on how to keep inspiration flowing over many years, and the connective power of music. Mary Chapin has much wisdom to share!

Inside the Musician's Brain is hosted and produced by Chris Pandolfi. Produced by Matt Dwyer and RJ Bee for Osiris Media. Production support by Matthew Fritz at Americana Vibes. Music by Chris Pandolfi. Art by Mark Dowd.

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Episode 44 of Inside the Musician's Brain features an interview with the amazing Cris Jacobs. Cris is an outstanding singer/songwriter from Baltimore, MD, whose new album, 'One of These Days,' is already making waves. This talk goes deep into the creation of the album, including Cris' personal journey of reframing his relationship with music to rediscover the joy, overcome writer's block and put out something authentic and powerful. He also takes us inside his writing process and the meaning behind some of the lyrics on the new album. This is a story of self-discovery and perseverance and Cris Jacobs will leave you with plenty of inspiration!

Inside the Musician's Brain is hosted and produced by Chris Pandolfi. Produced by Matt Dwyer and RJ Bee for Osiris Media. Production support by Matthew Fritz at Americana Vibes. Music by Chris Pandolfi. Art by Mark Dowd.

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Today's episode features an interview with Amigo the Devil, a truly unique artist who straddles the line between folk and heavy metal with his banjo, his powerful voice, and his incredible original songs. Amigo (AKA Danny Kiranos) has built a fiercely loyal following with his brutally honest and sometimes dark perspectives that give a voice to what many experience in life. He takes us inside his unfiltered process, with a clear look at how he cuts through the noise and self-doubt to get to what matters in his art. Episode 43 also features a breakdown of the recent Bluegrass Generals Run in Denver, from bringing the band together (Chris Pandolfi, Andy Hall, Jarrod Walker, Emma Rose, Cris Jacobs & Sam Walker) to the endless show prep to the performances at Cervantes, which are always a highlight of the musical year.

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On today's episode, Chris is joined by Grammy winner and two-time IBMA fiddle player of the year, Bronwyn Keith-Hynes. Known mainly for her work as a member of Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway, Bronwyn is one of the best fiddle players on the acoustic scene. She does an amazing job of taking us inside her learning process, and her strategies for improving. This is really good stuff! Bronwyn also gives an in depth look at her excellent new solo album, 'I Built a World,' which features her as a singer for the first time, as well as her experience playing with Molly Tuttle and developing as a performer. 

Inside the Musician's Brain is hosted and produced by Chris Pandolfi. Produced by Matt Dwyer and RJ Bee for Osiris Media. Production support by Matthew Fritz at Americana Vibes. Music by Chris Pandolfi. Art by Mark Dowd.

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Inside the Musician's Brain is back for Season 5, and joining Chris to kick things off is one of the titans of acoustic/roots music, Mr. Jerry Douglas. Now well established as the greatest dobro player ever, Jerry fought prejudices against the instrument in the early part of his career, ultimately establishing its place in bluegrass forever more. He takes us through his early collaborations with JD Crowe, Tony Rice, Ricky Skaggs, and other bluegrass legends - a seminal time for the growth and evolution of the music. Jerry would go on to become a member of Strength in Numbers, and later Alison Krauss and Union Station feat. Jerry Douglas, cementing his place as one of the most influential acoustic musicians ever. His insights on performance and recording, not to mention his stories about the history of the music, are endless! This is a must listen for anyone interested in the history of bluegrass, as well as musicians looking to up their game with sage advice from one of the best to ever do it. 

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