LaunchLeft

By LaunchLeft and Kast Media

LaunchLeft is a music discovery podcast where famed creatives launch emerging artists. Hosted by Rain Phoenix you can expect in-depth conversations with well-known musicians discussing th

... more

4.5

178178 ratings

Download on the App Store

Download on the App Store

Get it on Google Play

FAQs about LaunchLeft:

How many episodes does LaunchLeft have?

The podcast currently has 167 episodes available.

LaunchLeft episodes:

March 15, 2022BAND OF HORSES
Ben Bridwell of Band of Horses joins Rain today on the podcast to talk all about going out on his own creatively and releasing his new album. Ben talks all about music, bands, and albums that influenced him from a young age and how that directed his own musical career. Tune in to hear more from Rain and Ben on this episode of LaunchLeft.
-----------------
LAUNCHLEFT OFFICIAL WEBSITE
https://www.launchleft.com
LAUNCHLEFT PATREON
https://www.patreon.com/LaunchLeft
TWITTER
https://twitter.com/LaunchLeft
INSTAGRAM
https://www.instagram.com/launchleft/
FACEBOOK
https://www.facebook.com/LaunchLeft
---------------------
LaunchLeft Podcast hosted by Rain Phoenix is an intentional space for Art and Activism where famed creatives launch new artists. LaunchLeft is an alliance of left-of-center artists, a curated ecosystem that includes a podcast, label and NFT gallery.
---------------------
IN THIS EPISODE:
[04:00] Ben talks about going out on his own creatively and professionally
[08:00] Ben talks about how music found him at a young age
[14:00] Bands and records that influenced Ben’s teenage years
[18:00] Rain asks what Ben has done differently on this album compared to his others
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
Having the confidence to pursue your own path may take some time, but believing in yourself and your message can help you feel like you need to share it with others.
It’s okay to pay homage to your influences, but don’t get too caught up in re-creating what they’ve already done! The key is in finding your own voice.
Creating art is often a journey of self-discovery, and it can be rewarding to see how your work has evolved over time. Be proud of where you’ve come from and let that reflect in your music.
RESOURCE LINKS
Band of Horses
Band of Horses on Instagram
Band of Horses on Twitter
Band of Horses on Facebook
Band of Horses on YouTube
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
...more
28min
March 01, 2022HURRAY FOR THE RIFF RAFF launches Amelia Jackie
On this episode of LaunchLeft, Alynda Segarra of HURRAY FOR THE RIFF RAFF, launches artist Amelia Jackie. Turning to music as a young kid, Alynda was inspired by Amelia’s songwriting to write songs and play their music. Alynda talks about how their move to New Orleans influenced many things in their lives and how it helped shape their life and music career. Stick around to the end to hear the song “All Around Town” from Amelia Jackie.
-----------------
LAUNCHLEFT OFFICIAL WEBSITE
https://www.launchleft.com
LAUNCHLEFT PATREON
https://www.patreon.com/LaunchLeft
TWITTER
https://twitter.com/LaunchLeft
INSTAGRAM
https://www.instagram.com/launchleft/
FACEBOOK
https://www.facebook.com/LaunchLeft
---------------------
LaunchLeft Podcast hosted by Rain Phoenix is an intentional space for Art and Activism where famed creatives launch new artists. LaunchLeft is an alliance of left-of-center artists, a curated ecosystem that includes a podcast, label and NFT gallery.
---------------------
IN THIS EPISODE:
[1:15] Alynda talks about how they turned to music as a young kid and moving to New Orleans when leaving home
[11:00] Alynda talks about identifying as an adventurer and stepping out of themselves to finish projects and start a new chapter in life
[17:00] How Amelia Jackie inspired Alynda to write songs
[20:00] Rain introduces Amelia Jackie and talks about meeting Alynda
[28:00] Hear Amelia Jackie’s song, “All Around Town”
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
Stepping out of your comfort zone can help start a new chapter in life as well as inspire projects and career paths. A new city can help to inspire those feelings.
HURRAY FOR THE RIFF RAFF LINKS:
HURRAY FOR THE RIFF RAFF
HFTRR on Wikipedia
HFTRR on Instagram
HFTRR on Twitter
HFTRR on Facebook
HFTRR on YouTube
AMELIA JACKIE LINKS:
Amelia Jackie
Amelia Jackie on Instagram
Amelia Jackie on Facebook
Amelia Jackie on Sound Cloud
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
...more
33min
February 22, 2022EPISODE REWIND | Black Violin
On today’s episode REWIND of LaunchLeft, Summer & Rain Phoenix get to talk with Kev Marcus and Wil B. of the musical duo, Black Violin. Kev and Wil B. are classically trained string instrumentalists who have combined classical music with hip-hop. Today, our guests share with us their musical influences, their goal for others to be inspired and active in the music community, and to help provide others with opportunities. Tune in to this episode and stick around to the end to hear a LIVE performance at Gold Diggers LA of one of their songs!
-----------------
LAUNCHLEFT OFFICIAL WEBSITE
https://www.launchleft.com
LAUNCHLEFT PATREON
https://www.patreon.com/LaunchLeft
TWITTER
https://twitter.com/LaunchLeft
INSTAGRAM
https://www.instagram.com/launchleft/
FACEBOOK
https://www.facebook.com/LaunchLeft
---------------------
LaunchLeft Podcast hosted by Rain Phoenix is an intentional space for Art and Activism where famed creatives launch new artists. LaunchLeft is an alliance of left-of-center artists, a curated ecosystem that includes a podcast, label and NFT gallery.
---------------------
IN THIS EPISODE:
[03:00] Kevin & Wil B. of Black Violin, talk about their musical style and new album
[06:00] Kevin & Wil B. explain how they found music in their lives, studying classical music, & how they decided to marry classical music with hip hop
[13:00] The musical influences in their lives that have inspired their music
[21:00] How the duo’s music creates common ground among people
[26:00] Kevin & Wil B. share how their hope to inspire others
[37:00] How they use their artistry as a form of activism
[40:34] Listen to a LIVE song from their latest album
LINKS:
https://blackviolin.net
https://www.instagram.com/blackviolin/
https://www.facebook.com/BlackViolinMusic/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC13qVNV7MWSB54MegD5C19w
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
...more
45min
February 08, 2022SPOON launches Andrew Cashen
Spoon’s tenth album, Lucifer on the Sofa, is the band’s newest record to date. Texas-made, it is the first set of songs that the quintet has put to tape in its hometown of Austin in more than a decade. Today, Britt Daniel sits down to chat with Rain about the band's upcoming tour, how music found him, recording their new album and even some 4 track nostalgia! Stay tuned till the end as Britt launches Andrew Cashen and discusses their recent collaborations.
-----------------
LAUNCHLEFT OFFICIAL WEBSITE
https://www.launchleft.com
LAUNCHLEFT PATREON
https://www.patreon.com/LaunchLeft
TWITTER
https://twitter.com/LaunchLeft
INSTAGRAM
https://www.instagram.com/launchleft/
FACEBOOK
https://www.facebook.com/LaunchLeft
---------------------
LaunchLeft Podcast hosted by Rain Phoenix is an intentional space for Art and Activism where famed creatives launch new artists. LaunchLeft is an alliance of left-of-center artists, a curated ecosystem that includes a podcast, label and NFT gallery.
---------------------

IN THIS EPISODE:
[01:00] Britt talks about recording Spoon’s new album, Lucifer on the Sofa
[07:00] Rain and Britt chat the upcoming tour for their new album
[09:00] Britt’s journey with music starting at a young age and learning the bass
[16:00] Rain and Britt discuss the recording process and editing
[20:00] Britt introduces artist Andrew Cashen

LaunchLeft SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Exclusively today on our YouTube channel, the legendary George Clinton of Parliament - Funkadelic. Watch this full video conversion with P-Funk’s Clinton for the first time and don’t miss the end as he’s launching 3GP aka 3 generations of P-Funk, the group that includes himself alongside his daughter and grandaughter. We reach him at his home in Florida for this very special episode chock full of wild stories from his life on the road and many otherworldly experiences.
Haunted Summer’s pre-save link is live.
We are happy to share about our new label artist Haunted Summer and celebrate by posting the pre-save of their first single You Put My Love Out the Door a Daniel Johnston cover) streaming everywhere Valentine’s Day. Did you know PRE SAVES allow more streaming algorithms to detect the release, which translate into streams on release day…?
We appreciate your support. PLEASE PRE SAVE TODAY!

SPOON LINKS:
https://spoontheband.com
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spoon_(band)
https://www.instagram.com/spoontheband/
https://twitter.com/spoontheband
https://www.facebook.com/spoontheband
https://www.youtube.com/user/spoontheband
https://soundcloud.com/spoontheband

ANDREW CASHEN LINKS:
https://www.agiantdog.com/newwp/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Giant_Dog
https://www.instagram.com/agiantdog/ ; https://www.instagram.com/andrewcashen/
https://www.facebook.com/agiantdog ; https://www.facebook.com/andrewcashenmusic/
https://twitter.com/agiantdog ; https://twitter.com/andrewcashen
https://agiantdog.bandcamp.com ; https://andrewcashen.bandcamp.com
BIO:
Spoon’s tenth album, Lucifer on the Sofa, is the band’s purest rock ’n roll record to date. Texas-made, it is the first set of songs that the quintet has put to tape in its hometown of Austin in more than a decade. Written and recorded over the last two years – both in and out of lockdown – these songs mark a shift toward something louder, wilder, and more full-color.
From the detuned guitars anchoring “The Hardest Cut,” to the urgency of “Wild," to the band’s blown-out cover of the Smog classic “Held,” Lucifer on the Sofa bottles the physical thrill of a band tearing up a packed room. It’s an album of intensity and intimacy, where the music’s harshest edges feel as vivid as the directions quietly murmured into the mic on the first-take. According to frontman Britt Daniel, “It’s the sound of classic rock as written by a guy who never did get Eric Clapton.”
While Spoon’s last album, Hot Thoughts (2017), bristled with drum machines, synths, and astral moods, the nonstop touring that followed in its wake tugged the band back toward a stripped-down sound. “I liked where we’d gone on Hot Thoughts – it had a specific style and it covered new ground for us – but we kept noticing on the road that the live versions of the songs were beating the album versions,” says Daniel. “And it got us thinking”.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
...more
30min
January 25, 2022US GIRLS launches Dottie.Imax
On this episode of LaunchLeft, Rain is joined by Meg Remy of US Girls to talk about life, art, music, authenticity and her connections to humanity and the world through her music. Rain shares a dream about water which leads to discussions about the planet and shared life experiences. Stay tuned at the end of the episode as Meg launches artist Dottie Imax on the podcast, and they talk about their art and collaborations. Listen to this episode to learn more from Rain, Meg, and Dottie. And be sure to look out for U.S. Girls sublime cover Born in a Prison from the tribute album Ocean Child: Songs of Yoko Ono coming February 18th.
-----------------
LAUNCHLEFT OFFICIAL WEBSITE
https://www.launchleft.com
LAUNCHLEFT PATREON
https://www.patreon.com/LaunchLeft
TWITTER
https://twitter.com/LaunchLeft
INSTAGRAM
https://www.instagram.com/launchleft/
FACEBOOK
https://www.facebook.com/LaunchLeft
---------------------
LaunchLeft Podcast hosted by Rain Phoenix is an intentional space for Art and Activism where famed creatives launch new artists. LaunchLeft is an alliance of left-of-center artists, a curated ecosystem that includes a podcast, label and NFT gallery.
---------------------

IN THIS EPISODE:
[00:51] Meg from US girls talks about her dedication to authenticity
[09:29] Rain and Meg discuss the lost appreciation of our shared humanity
[14:10] Meg’s experience as a mom
[19:23] Dottie joins Meg and Rain on the podcast to chat art and how they met and know each other
[22:11] Dottie talks about her work and collaborations
LINKS:
U.S. GIRLS LINKS:
https://yousgirls.blogspot.com/
https://www.instagram.com/usgirls.and.remy
https://twitter.com/yousgirls
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCh0oPo8AHsibYz9p0CWJhNw
https://soundcloud.com/usgirls
DOTTIE.IMAX LINKS:
https://imaxdottie.storenvy.com
https://www.instagram.com/dottie.imax/
https://soundcloud.com/dottieimax
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
...more
26min
January 11, 2022NORMAN REEDUS launches Jake Lamagno
You probably know Norman Reedus best from his portrayal of the character, Daryl Dixon on AMC’s The Walking Dead. In this episode, Rain gets to speak with Norman about his many current endeavors including photography, acting, writing a book, and his production company, Big Bald Head. Tune in to this episode of LaunchLeft to hear more from Rain and Norman as they chat about life and what the future has in store for him.
-----------------
LAUNCHLEFT OFFICIAL WEBSITE
https://www.launchleft.com
LAUNCHLEFT PATREON
https://www.patreon.com/LaunchLeft
TWITTER
https://twitter.com/LaunchLeft
INSTAGRAM
https://www.instagram.com/launchleft/
FACEBOOK
https://www.facebook.com/LaunchLeft
---------------------
LaunchLeft Podcast hosted by Rain Phoenix is an intentional space for Art and Activism where famed creatives launch new artists. LaunchLeft is an alliance of left-of-center artists, a curated ecosystem that includes a podcast, label and NFT gallery.
---------------------
IN THIS EPISODE:
[01:27] Norman talks about what brings him joy, his early years and current happenings in his life
[7:20] Norman talks about writing a book and the production company he started, Big Bald Head
[12:30] Norman’s experience acting on the hit show, The Walking Dead
[22:10] Norman waxes romantic about the burgeoning art scene in Los Angeles in the 90’s
[42:12] Jake Lamagno closes the show to share a bit about his early entry into art, his sculpture and his work with thehuntnyc.com
LINKS:
https://www.instagram.com/bigbaldhead/
https://twitter.com/wwwbigbaldhead
https://www.normanreedusonline.com
https://www.facebook.com/normanreedus
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005342/
Jake Lamagno
https://www.instagram.com/instastupid/
Thehuntnyc.com
ABOUT NORMAN REEDUS:
Norman is perhaps best known for playing the role of Murphy MacManus in the 1999 movie The Boondock Saints (1999) opposite Sean Patrick Flanery and Willem Dafoe. He also starred opposite Flanery in the 2009 sequel The Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day (2009).
As of 2010 he stars as Daryl Dixon in the AMC television series The Walking Dead (2010). The character was not originally in the comic book series of the same name, but was created specifically for Reedus after his audition for the character of Merle Dixon. The Walking Dead comic creator Robert Kirkman has stated he feels "absolutely blessed [Reedus] has honored the show with his presence, and the way he has come in and taken over that role and defined Daryl Dixon. A lot of Norman's portrayal of the character in the first season inspired all the writers to do what we did with him in the second season. We love writing him and end up doing cool stuff with him."
In 2019, Norman founded Big Bald Head, a television and film production company. Big Bald Head is dedicated to quality storytelling at the highest level, with a strong emphasis on shining a light where others don’t. They recognize the role of pop culture in fostering progressive change and are deeply committed to making art that makes a difference.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
...more
48min
December 28, 2021BROKEN SOCIAL SCENE'S KEVIN DREW | Portrait
On this episode of LaunchLeft, artist Kevin Drew of Broken Social Scene and K.D.A.P. joins Rain to talk about his new instrumental album and influences. They talk about his experiences as an artist, collaborating with others, and how social media affects music and artists today. Stay tuned to the end of the episode to hear Dooms Dive, a song from his new album.
-----------------
LAUNCHLEFT OFFICIAL WEBSITE
https://www.launchleft.com
LAUNCHLEFT PATREON
https://www.patreon.com/LaunchLeft
TWITTER
https://twitter.com/LaunchLeft
INSTAGRAM
https://www.instagram.com/launchleft/
FACEBOOK
https://www.facebook.com/LaunchLeft
---------------------
LaunchLeft is an alliance of left-of-center artists, a label, a podcast, a curation engine. LaunchLeft Podcast hosted by Rain Phoenix is an intentional space for Art and Activism that enlists famed creatives to launch emerging bands. LaunchLeft begins with music, but ultimately aims to launch left-of-center artists in all creative fields.
---------------------
IN THIS EPISODE:
[01:10] Kevin talks about his journey in creating his instrumental album
[05:00] The magic and importance of collaborating with others
[10:00] Social media and its effect and influence on artists
[15:00] Finding new systems and putting things into place
[22:00] Kevin talks about how music found him
[25:00] Hear Kevin’s song from his new album, Dooms Dive
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
It truly takes a village to work together and learn what does and doesn’t work in the music world.
Collaboration with others can create amazing things, as long as you are willing to compromise and deal with obstacles to accomplish your goals together.
Having more failures than successes isn’t a bad thing. It’s how you learn and grow as an artist and leads to better collaborations. It helps you create what you really want to and helps you not care about the critics.
ARTIST LINKS:
https://kevindrewmusic.com
https://www.instagram.com/kevinselection
https://www.facebook.com/kevinselection
https://kevindrew.bandcamp.com/album/influences
https://brokensocialscene.ca
https://www.instagram.com/brokensocialscene
https://twitter.com/bssmusic
https://www.facebook.com/brokensocialscene
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCy0NJ35DKvV05GD3KEUW83g

ABOUT KEVIN DREW:
As a founding member of the experimental indie pop group Broken Social Scene, as well as a member of the label that puts out its music, Arts & Crafts, Kevin Drew worked with ten or more musicians in a collective that helped usher in the chamber pop movement. He grew up in Toronto and got his creative start attending high school at the prestigious Etobicoke School of the Arts along with two future members of BSS, Emily Haines and Amy Millan. After his interests changed from acting to music, he teamed up with Charles Spearin for a recording project called K.C. Accidental and released two records. The duo gradually blossomed into the more ambitious Broken Social Scene, and in 2007 he recorded his first solo release, Spirit If..., the first in a proposed series of solo records by various members of the mega-group. His second solo record wouldn't appear until seven years later, following the success, and eventual 2011 hiatus, of Broken Social Scene. While recording his solo follow-up, Drew began working with Canadian singer/songwriter Andy Kim of classic pop group the Archies, which reignited his creative flair and inspired him to finish his second offering Darlings, which was released in March 2014.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
...more
33min
December 14, 2021WOLF ALICE | Portrait
On this episode of LaunchLeft, Rain is joined by Ellie Rowsell and Joel Amey from the band Wolf Alice as they talk about their newest album, Blue Weekend. Learn more about the process of producing the new album for the band and their tour across the US. Stay tuned to the end as we play a song from their new album, “The Last Man on Earth.”

-----------------
LAUNCHLEFT OFFICIAL WEBSITE
https://www.launchleft.com
LAUNCHLEFT PATREON
https://www.patreon.com/LaunchLeft
TWITTER
https://twitter.com/LaunchLeft
INSTAGRAM
https://www.instagram.com/launchleft/
FACEBOOK
https://www.facebook.com/LaunchLeft
---------------------
LaunchLeft is an alliance of left-of-center artists, a label, a podcast, a curation engine. LaunchLeft Podcast hosted by Rain Phoenix is an intentional space for Art and Activism that enlists famed creatives to launch emerging bands. LaunchLeft begins with music, but ultimately aims to launch left-of-center artists in all creative fields.
---------------------

IN THIS EPISODE:
[01:39] Ellie and Joel of Wolf Alice explain their musical backgrounds and how they found each other and became bandmates
[05:27] The band’s form of activism
[07:43] The experience the band had working with a producer for their recent album
[13:25] Hear song “Last Man on Earth” from the band’s new album
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
The band uses different ways to share and collaborate on songs and lyrics and this helps them keep track of everything as they create.
Having all band members involved in the creation process keeps the ideas open and flowing allowing for better results in the end for the album
ARTIST LINKS:
https://wolfalice.co.uk
https://www.instagram.com/wolfaliceband
https://twitter.com/wolfalicemusic
https://www.facebook.com/wolfalicemusic
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCE3uvMO3ERiFphvVX_ct3GA
https://www.tiktok.com/@wolfalicemusic
https://soundcloud.com/wolfalice

About Wolf Alice:

With their distinctive blend of vintage '90s indie rock, folk, electronic, and dream pop, Wolf Alice are one of the most eclectic bands of the 2010s and 2020s. They're also one of the most acclaimed: The North London group's 2015 debut album My Love Is Cool -- which highlighted the delicacy and ferocity of Ellie Rowsell's vocals and lyrics -- counted Grammy Award and Mercury Prize nominations among its many accolades. The band won the Mercury Prize for 2017's Visions of a Life, an album that added more elements, as well as more polish, to their music, and on 2021's anthemic yet atmospheric Blue Weekend, Wolf Alice's ambitions and horizons continued to grow.
Wolf Alice formed in 2010, when singer/songwriter Ellie Rowsell and guitarist Joff Oddie began playing as an acoustic duo and took their name from a short story by Angela Carter. After issuing a self-titled EP, the group expanded into a quartet with the addition of drummer Joel Amey and bassist Theo Ellis.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
...more
20min
November 30, 2021CRAIG WEDREN | Portrait
Composer, singer, and songwriter Craig Wedren joins Rain today to talk about his work and ongoing projects. Music has always been a part of Craig's life, and it's evolved over the years to include his work composing music for feature films and tv shows and as a solo artist. Tune in to this episode of LaunchLeft to hear more from Craig, and we close the podcast with his song, "You Are Not Your Feelings."
-----------------
LAUNCHLEFT OFFICIAL WEBSITE
https://www.launchleft.com
LAUNCHLEFT PATREON
https://www.patreon.com/LaunchLeft
TWITTER
https://twitter.com/LaunchLeft
INSTAGRAM
https://www.instagram.com/launchleft/
FACEBOOK
https://www.facebook.com/LaunchLeft
---------------------
LaunchLeft is an alliance of left-of-center artists, a label, a podcast, a curation engine. LaunchLeft Podcast hosted by Rain Phoenix is an intentional space for Art and Activism that enlists famed creatives to launch emerging bands. LaunchLeft begins with music, but ultimately aims to launch left-of-center artists in all creative fields.
---------------------
IN THIS EPISODE:
[01:38] Craig talks about his current composer work on TV shows, films and working on his projects in the evening hours
[05:40] Craig describes his musical 'aha moment.'
[11:17] Craig talks about his newest project and record
[13:35] Listen to "You Are Not Your Feelings" from Craig's new album
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
As an artist, you set out to do something different and end up getting it wrong, but you might discover something new about yourself along the way that can put you on a fresh new artistic path.
Allowing yourself as an artist to be open to working with other people can give you the opportunity to learn new things and create new projects, keeping your artistic perspective fresh.
ARTIST LINKS:
http://www.craigwedren.com
https://www.instagram.com/craigwedren
https://twitter.com/craigwedren
https://www.facebook.com/craigwedrenmusic
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCo7tugZSuH8ZmIro4uLq3Bw
https://soundcloud.com/craigwedren

Craig Wedren:
Craig Wedren is a composer, a songwriter, and a singer. He got his start fronting avant-punk pioneers Shudder To Think, before expanding into composing scores for film and T.V. As a composer, Wedren has scored a host of popular feature films including Wanderlust, Role Models, The School of Rock, Wet Hot American Summer, By The People: The Election of Barack Obama, Laurel Canyon, Roger Dodger, Afternoon Delight, How To Be A Latin Lover, and A Futile, Stupid Gesture. He has also written and performed music for television shows including New Amsterdam, Shrill, GLOW, Wet Hot American Summer, Fresh Off The Boat, Hung, The United States of Tara, Reno 911!, Children's Hospital, Burning Love, and The State.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
...more
27min
November 09, 2021MELANIE CHARLES | Portrait
On this episode of LaunchLeft, Rain welcomes Melanie Charles to talk about her new reimagined album, Y’all Don’t (Really) Care About Black Women. Melanie wanted to pay homage to known songs, and modernize and reimagine them in her own way to share. Learn more about Melanie’s background, working on her album during the pandemic, and her take on community involvement and activism. Also, stay tuned to hear Melanie’s reimagination of Marlena Shaw’s song, “Woman of the Ghetto.” Follow Melanie on Twitter and Instagram.
-----------------
LAUNCHLEFT OFFICIAL WEBSITE
https://www.launchleft.com
LAUNCHLEFT PATREON
https://www.patreon.com/LaunchLeft
TWITTER
https://twitter.com/LaunchLeft
INSTAGRAM
https://www.instagram.com/launchleft/
FACEBOOK
https://www.facebook.com/LaunchLeft
---------------------
LaunchLeft is an alliance of left-of-center artists, a label, a podcast, a curation engine. LaunchLeft Podcast hosted by Rain Phoenix is an intentional space for Art and Activism that enlists famed creatives to launch emerging bands. LaunchLeft begins with music, but ultimately aims to launch left-of-center artists in all creative fields.
---------------------
IN THIS EPISODE:
[00:53] Melanie tells Rain all about her newest project developed
[02:45] How music found Melanie at a young age, including piano, dance, and band classes as she grew up
[07:30] Melanie’s reflection on past and current events, and her take on community involvement and activism
[12:36] Listen to Melanie’s reimagination of Marlena Shaw’s song, “Woman of the Ghetto”
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
Melanie was inspired to create this album by wanting songs everyone knew, but reimagined in fresh new ways. The help of talented musicians and mixers helped Melanie create the sound she was looking for.
To create her versions of the songs she chose, Melanie faced the challenge of working on her songs during the Pandemic lock-down. She had to pivot to create these songs at home instead of in a studio, truly putting blood, sweat and tears into the project.
As an artist, she feels the need to reflect on experiences and share them with others, and Melanie sees her album as a way of connecting with her community about past and current struggles with racial tension.
ARTIST LINKS:
https://www.melaniecharles.com
https://www.instagram.com/melaniecharlesisdflower
https://twitter.com/melaniecharles
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFV1KSWQHnFHEiZjt35j3Fw
https://soundcloud.com/melaniecharlesisdflower
https://melaniecharles.bandcamp.com
Melanie Charles:
There are very few artists whose sound can capture the sentiments of a generation. The Brooklyn born and raised, Melanie Charles, is one of these artists. Over the past few decades, she has made a name for herself through dynamic engagements with jazz, soul and R&B. Her bold genre-bending style has been embraced by a range of artists including Wynton Marsalis, SZA, Mach-Hommy, Gorillaz and The Roots. In 2021, she appeared on NPR’s Tiny Desk and stunned with her eclectic style. Through it all, she has remained committed to making music that pushes listeners to consider new possibilities—both socially and politically. “Make Jazz Trill Again,” a project that she launched in 2016, demonstrates her allegiance to everyday people, especially the youth and is focused on taking jazz from the museum to the streets. “I love jazz, I really fell in love with it deeply. But I was interested in young people interacting with it,” Charles says. The album Y’all Don’t (Really) Care About Black Women is reflective of Charles’ tremendous versatility and imagination as an artist but of also her deep care for community.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
...more
19min

FAQs about LaunchLeft:

How many episodes does LaunchLeft have?

The podcast currently has 167 episodes available.

More shows like LaunchLeft

All One Song: A Neil Young Podcast by Aquarium Drunkard

All One Song: A Neil Young Podcast

233 Listeners

This American Life by This American Life

This American Life

90,802 Listeners

The Moth by The Moth

The Moth

27,078 Listeners

Stuff You Should Know by iHeartPodcasts

Stuff You Should Know

77,665 Listeners

WTF with Marc Maron Podcast by Marc Maron

WTF with Marc Maron Podcast

29,153 Listeners

Duncan Trussell Family Hour by Duncan Trussell Family Hour

Duncan Trussell Family Hour

10,426 Listeners

99% Invisible by Roman Mars

99% Invisible

26,147 Listeners

Monday Morning Podcast by All Things Comedy

Monday Morning Podcast

32,006 Listeners

Gilbert Gottfried's Amazing Colossal Podcast by Starburns Audio

Gilbert Gottfried's Amazing Colossal Podcast

3,915 Listeners

We'll See You In Hell by Starburns Industries

We'll See You In Hell

665 Listeners

Office Hours Live with Tim Heidecker by Forever Dog

Office Hours Live with Tim Heidecker

1,488 Listeners

Pod Save America by Crooked Media

Pod Save America

86,492 Listeners

The Daily by The New York Times

The Daily

110,865 Listeners

Broken Record with Rick Rubin, Malcolm Gladwell, Bruce Headlam and Justin Richmond by Pushkin Industries

Broken Record with Rick Rubin, Malcolm Gladwell, Bruce Headlam and Justin Richmond

4,092 Listeners

Small Doses with Amanda Seales by Amanda Seales

Small Doses with Amanda Seales

30 Listeners

Conan O’Brien Needs A Friend by Team Coco & Earwolf

Conan O’Brien Needs A Friend

59,228 Listeners

Ghosted! by Roz Hernandez by Exactly Right and iHeartPodcasts

Ghosted! by Roz Hernandez

3,269 Listeners

The Patdown with Ms. Pat by Ms. Pat

The Patdown with Ms. Pat

6,706 Listeners

The Daily Beans by MSW Media

The Daily Beans

5,266 Listeners

Ruined with Alison Leiby and Halle Kiefer by Ruined with Alison Leiby and Halle Kiefer

Ruined with Alison Leiby and Halle Kiefer

1,706 Listeners

The Ezra Klein Show by New York Times Opinion

The Ezra Klein Show

15,371 Listeners

Cleanup on Aisle 45 with AG & Harry Dunn by MSW Media

Cleanup on Aisle 45 with AG & Harry Dunn

1,832 Listeners

The Weekly Show with Jon Stewart by Comedy Central

The Weekly Show with Jon Stewart

10,284 Listeners

Fly on the Wall with Dana Carvey and David Spade by Audacy

Fly on the Wall with Dana Carvey and David Spade

12,809 Listeners

On with Kara Swisher by Vox Media

On with Kara Swisher

3,303 Listeners