Listening Lyrics

Nat Lefkoff is 29 and has a cat named Sweetie who is just the best. Nat likes going on long walks and listening to books about history. He also likes bugs, birds, and especially roller blading. The Central Valley that dominates the interior of California is his home. Big open skies and fields with swampy spots and woods scattered throughout. Family and friends are super important, but so is the music he makes.

In his own words, "I'm so grateful to be able to call this my life. Best job I ever had. I'm a happy person but I get real down sometimes and these songs are the product of that. The pearls of my pain, the rainbows of my rain, the Ernie to my Bert, the worm in my dirt."  

Natt will appear for his latest album release event at the Davis Odd Fellows on Sept. 14, 2024 at 6:30 p.m. Check out ticket availability here

This show is streamed at KDRT.ORG and available on most podcast apps under Listening Lyrics.

Weekly Playlist These are selected songs from Listening Lyrics, songs talked about but not necessarily played. Enjoy. Updated weekly.

After the Deluge is a music podcast about songwriting, albums, and whatnot hosted by Justin Cox, a KDRT friend. I replay most of this podcast in this week's Listening Lyrics. Seasons about Bright Eyes, Jackson Browne, and Against Me! are in this feed, plus other interviews.

We talk about my failed attempt to interview poets in the “late 1900s,” open mic nights, recording live and not overthinking it, interviewing locals > interviewing pros, KDRT, Rita Hosking, don’t be lame just make stuff, biking across Holland, Jackson Browne (ding ding), The Lovin’ Spoonful, Bright Eyes’ “We are Nowhere and it’s Now,” Paul Simon’s “Graceland,” Pieter reads a poem, Phil Ochs, Bob Dylan’s “Tempest,” Herb Alpert, The Avett Brothers, and: what was the best five-year stretch of your life?

This week Listening Lyrics shares music from host Pieter Pastoor's Shazam list with music he has never heard before, music he had forgotten, or songs he just loves.

The musicians include Rita Hosking, The Pogues, Patti Smith, The J.B.'s, Billy Swan, Smog, Nat Lefkoff, Mohama Saz, The Gold Souls, and Tracy Bonham.

Rumi Shimada is a perfect description of a singer-songwriter. He plays his songs primarily on a guitar and keyboard, with a vocal delivery that creates a perfect package of an up-and-coming musician. He can focus on his craft and block out both the outside world and internal distractions -- a skill apparent today in today's broadcast, when technical difficulties didn't alter his delivery. Rumi's enthusiam for creating music, for helping and promoting others in their musical journey, and for life in general, is contagious.