In early 2020 before Covid-19 found us inside for months and before we hit the streets in protest to mourn the deaths of innocent Black men & women calling out racist cops and to shine a bright light on systemic racism, LaunchLeft sat down with the self identified “Queer Pop” band MUNA at Gold Diggers to talk about their music and activism. They shared about their writing process, Black Lives Matter, racial injustice and the watershed moment at USC when they experienced firsthand the racial disparity on campus. The lyrics to their song “I know a place” directly spoke to their growing awareness that while the marriage equality act had passed, for trans women of color, to be physically safe was still an issue that needed our attention. Their record ‘Muna Saves the World’ centered largely on the idea that “the personal is political” and it was a privilege to hear how these young women use their music to activate their activism. Their inspirational conversation including their personal picks of favorite new music is followed by a quick Q&A with Simi Stone highlighting her new single “Beautiful One (Simi’s Remix)” - the third drop from our “Launched Artist Digital Singles”.

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#MUNA #LaunchLeft #SimiStone #artistslaunchingartists #MUNAsavestheworld #beautifulone #blm #golddiggers #artivism #activism #leftofcenter #LaunchedArtistDigitalSingleSeries #RiverPhoenix50

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Flaming Lips frontman Wayne Coyne goes deep and head on with us into the universality of loss, grief, art and our shared humanity. Wayne says, “If you accept that the world is beautiful but it’s also brutal, what do you do about that? it’s up to us to put some light into it, put some love into it…” This wisdom and more in a conversation that bounces between the exultation of the mundane, painting, the middle way, helping, staying in the moment and the importance of impermanence. Deep cut, we get first hand story time about Yoshimi’s stream of consciousness origin story. The best possible palate cleanser? FUNKILLER’s new single “Divided Highway”, the second drop from the “Launched Artist Digital Singles” on LaunchLeft.

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Join LaunchLeft in a very introspective conversation with Thao & The Get Down Stay Down. How do we as artists adapt to these times? What can we do to inspire while also balancing our own anxieties? What led us to art? Will it comfort and ignite our inspiration? A deep 30 minutes before we showcase the bands highly inventive music video Phenom; a truly emblematic piece for these strange times!

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Icon, rebel, legendary songwriter, artist and forward thinker Lucinda Williams joins the LaunchLeft conversation to discuss her new record, politics, finding her soul mate, and just plain ‘ol caring about people. She opens up about collaboration, songwriting, true love, the magical musical time she grew up in and the importance of music and poetry in her life. We close the episode with a 5 minute Q&A with Capes, LaunchLeft label’s first “launched artist” of 2020 + their beautiful first single “Looking Out For Me”.

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This week we welcome 1 half of Tenacious D and 100% of the one and only Jack Black. We dig deep into his fascinating and often hilarious mind touching upon his early musical influences and experiences that led him down the creative path. He also discusses the importance of being your authentic self and the things that allowed him to find his “own voice” in music and film. Joining the conversation is Jack’s launched artist, The Haden Triplets where we explore their unique formula of blood harmony. Strap yourself in for this truly meaningful conversation with these totally unique left-of-center beauties.

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LaunchLeft welcomes Simón Mejía of Bomba Estéreo to talk about the power of nature and music through his travels from Afro-Colombian communities on the Pacific coast of Colombia to indigenous communities in the mountains as part of a new film project, Stand For Trees. Bastian Velasco won the global remix contest for the Stand For Trees teaser soundtrack and we close the show with Simón launching his song.

To listen to the full song visit LaunchLeft.com or wherever you hear podcasts.

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The conversation travels far and wide with actor/director/writer/playwright and friend of LaunchLeft John Cameron Mitchell while he’s quarantining in Palm Desert. Art, theatre, music, sex, film and humanity -- AIDS, MacGayver auditions, drag queens and non-essential oils- it all gets covered in just over 40 minutes! Sob Sister pops in to close the show.

Find us at www.LaunchLeft.com or wherever you hear podcasts. #LaunchLeftatHome #LaunchLeft  #Podcast #artistshelpingartists #johncameronmitchell

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LaunchLeft welcomes Kathy Valentine of the Go-Go’s as she discusses her ups and downs as a touring musician, sharing the stage with the likes of David Bowie, The Police and The Rolling Stones and what it takes to be a female in a world class rock n’ roll ensemble. Kathy also gives us a vignette of her newly released memoir “All I Ever Wanted” and launches her favorite Toronto-based all girl band The Beaches!

Find us at LaunchLeft.com or wherever you hear podcasts. #artistshelpingartists #LaunchLeftatHome

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Rufus Wainwright: Portrait Launched Artist: Ane Diaz We begin Episode #33 with an honest and topical discussion with Mr. Wainwright, whose been sharing his music freely on social media for some time now. Since quarantine he has redoubled/tripled/quadrupled his efforts with his robe recitals daily! We get 22 glorious minutes with him to discuss the current affairs and how artists are engaging in the quarantine landscape. Then on to one of our favorite artists for many years Ms. Ane Diaz. The Venezuelan chanteuse and long time Phoenix Family friend let’s us in on her gardening tips, her early days in America, her love of music, + a surprise pop in by Devendra Banhart before she plays us a Venezuelan folk song. Find us at LaunchLeft.com or wherever you hear podcasts.

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When LA went into a “stay-at-home” mandate because of Covid-19, she masterfully was able to pivot the release of her newest shoe from her brick and mortar stores to the web in 2 days! She, like other artists are adapting quickly and making the best of a difficult situation. But, what we found most impressive about Melody is who she is on a soul level, her practice, her resilience, her passion, her grace. “The unknown is where all the magic happens” is just one of our favorite quotes of hers in this conversation- we received so much inspiration and think you will too! 

Bonus track, we even got a little quality time with her author/musician husband Flea to close the show. Find us at http://LaunchLeft.com or wherever you hear podcasts.

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