Episode 014 – Kelsey Dower | MAKE // BREAK

Kelsey Maree Dower is a symphonic metal vocalist, composer, and multi-instrumentalist whose cinematic writing style turns orchestration into front-line storytelling. Best known for her single “Rage” and the concept-driven album project Rebirth, she builds massive arrangements with a DIY, self-composed precision that still hits emotionally. She’s also a featured vocalist and co-writer on Björn Hofer’s In the Shadow symphonic metal trilogy through B-Track Records. In Episode 014 of MAKE // BREAK with host Lance Marwood, Kelsey digs into the real work behind ambitious music: MIDI composition, mixing battles between strings and guitars, creative control, and navigating the music business as an autistic artist.

🎯 ONE MORE THING // free, weekly, zero fillerV13 runs three newsletters: one for artists building a career on their own terms (Industry Insider), one for writers who refuse to be ignored (Verse & Vision), and one weekly roundup of music, entertainment, culture & literature (V1LLAG3 Voice). Pick your lane, or take all three.→ https://v13.net/newsletter

👀 What you’ll hear

• Trace her path from piano prodigy to symphonic metal songwriter with a clear creative compass

• Learn why orchestral parts feel easy, and why guitars and drums still challenge the mix

• Hear how collaboration stays open while protecting vision and keeping creative control intact

• Reframe ambition when your genre is niche, expensive, and hard for algorithms to surface

• Unpack the myth of getting signed young and the practical planning that replaced it

• Break down Rage, cathartic anger, and how growls became a new tool in her voice

🕰️ Chapters
00:00 Symphonic metal origin story and why it finally clicked

02:49 First metal exposure, emotional catharsis, Within Temptation moment

05:44 Moving childhood, Carnegie Hall, opening for Clay Aiken

08:09 Piano and vocals foundation, ear training, early performance discipline

09:40 MIDI composition workflow, Ableton-style arranging, finding the spark

11:58 Production challenge: orchestra width vs guitars, drums, and mixing presence

14:51 Collaboration mindset, creative control, and working through disagreements

17:35 Ambition in niche genres, costs of scale, algorithm invisibility

22:52 Inspiration vs showing up, building ideas over time without forcing it

26:50 Music industry myth: getting signed young, budgeting, planning, side jobs

30:54 Autism, gatekeepers, reading intent, navigating predatory dynamics

38:46 Rage single inspiration, bullying, catharsis, learning growls

42:58 Rebirth album arc: build-up, catharsis, post-release aftermath

🔗 Guest Links
https://promo.v13.net/2025/11/kelsey-dower/
https://www.instagram.com/kelsey_music2024/
https://www.youtube.com/@kelsey_music2024
https://open.spotify.com/artist/23z1Xwhfvf5B0zVQyzlCdu

🔗 MAKE // BREAK & Host Links

https://open.spotify.com/show/5GDOUd909p7ir2W74M9teg?si=cbc7e01e13ba4a20
https://instagram.com/lowkeyhellish
https://tiktok.com/@lowkeyhellish

🔗 V13 Media Links

https://v13.net

Subscribe for more MAKE // BREAK, and comment: when has anger fuelled your best creative work?

[Minor audio dropouts in the early minutes]

#MakeBreak #KelseyDower #MusicBusiness

Episode 013 – Scot Little Bihlman | MAKE // BREAK

Scot “Little” Bihlman is an Emmy Award-winning multi-instrumentalist, singer-songwriter, and SAG-AFTRA actor, best known as the drummer/vocalist in Grinder Blues alongside dUg Pinnick (King’s X). In Episode 013 of MAKE // BREAK with host Lance Marwood, he unpacks what it takes to last: choosing quality of life over noise, staying present through drumming and motorcycle riding, and protecting your creative identity in a culture obsessed with imitation. Little also gets real about touring pressure, the seductive comfort of sideman work, and why technique only matters if it serves the song, as he builds toward his next chapter under Little Bihlman.

🎯 ONE MORE THING // free, weekly, zero fillerV13 runs three newsletters: one for artists building a career on their own terms (Industry Insider), one for writers who refuse to be ignored (Verse & Vision), and one weekly roundup of music, entertainment, culture & literature (V1LLAG3 Voice). Pick your lane, or take all three.→ https://v13.net/newsletter

👀 What you’ll hear

• Hear how four Emmys happened through timing, fit, and staying ready for the call
• Unpack why motorcycle riding and drumming force presence, and how that unlocks writing
• Learn the boundary he draws around tribute bands, authenticity, and scene culture
• Get a candid look at tour pressure, sideman perks, and the hidden costs of what’s next
• Compare technique to songwriting, and why songs are the only currency that lasts

🕰️ Chapters

00:00 Intro, Emmys, and the Little Bihlman pivot

01:29 Emmy awards and luck in film/TV placements

03:22 Finding your voice and honouring influences

06:52 Tribute bands, covers, and authenticity

09:16 Hollywood sets, Spider-Man, and staying grounded

13:42 LA vs Nashville quality of life for artists

17:43 Motorcycle meditation and staying in the now

24:08 Tour pressure and make-or-break moments

38:56 Sideman life vs solo career focus

45:24 Drumming book, teaching, and technique in service of songs

51:58 Link Wray, Audioslave, and music that moves the room

57:24 Heavy Head singles and the upcoming book

🔗 Guest Links

https://scotbihlman.com

https://instagram.com/littlebihlman

https://open.spotify.com/artist/2NNnYU4KcqqNMf1Qki92AP

https://youtube.com/channel/UCwJRSkgFax5H8XNsGRhQ0mA

🔗 MAKE // BREAK & Host Links

https://open.spotify.com/show/5GDOUd909p7ir2W74M9teg?si=cbc7e01e13ba4a20

https://instagram.com/lowkeyhellish

https://tiktok.com/@lowkeyhellish

🔗 V13 Media Links

https://v13.net

Subscribe for more, and comment: are you chasing chops or songs right now?

[Contains explicit language]

#MakeBreak #Bihlman #Touring

Episode 012 – Aaron Farrell | MAKE // BREAK

Welsh-born writer Aaron Farrell returns to MAKE // BREAK for a candid, high-signal conversation about discipline, identity, and creative survival. Author of The Lost and Found and the poetry collection Artbeat, The Ekphrastic Spastic, Aaron traces the path from lockdown essays and his “Violent Expression” column to an unflinching Barcelona manuscript, while reopening his work with V13. We get into stay-at-home parent realities, pandemic PPE and burnout, martial arts as a writing method, and why killing perfectionism is the only way forward. With Jung in one hand and Eastern philosophy in the other, Aaron makes a case for truthful prose, pragmatic publishing, and showing up when it’s hardest.

🎯 ONE MORE THING // free, weekly, zero fillerV13 runs three newsletters: one for artists building a career on their own terms (Industry Insider), one for writers who refuse to be ignored (Verse & Vision), and one weekly roundup of music, entertainment, culture & literature (V1LLAG3 Voice). Pick your lane, or take all three.→ https://v13.net/newsletter

👀 What you’ll hear

• Trace the leap from lockdown columns to longform books without waiting for permission
• Compare discipline in martial arts to muscle memory in writing and creative practice
• Unpack honest fatherhood, neurodivergence, and why progress is jagged not linear
• Reframe perfectionism with pragmatic publishing habits you can start today
• Map the “violent expression” era to a new V13 chapter and concrete next steps

🕰️ Chapters
00:00 Cold open and return-guest banter

00:22 Who is Aaron Farrell now and why he’s back on MAKE // BREAK

03:05 Stay-at-home dad energy, sick kids, showing up anyway

05:22 PPE reality check and pandemic life in hospitals

08:31 Barcelona move, curfews, and starting over

12:18 Transmetropolitan, Spider Jerusalem, media cynicism

16:45 Violent Expression origin, truth-telling, culture shock

22:06 Self-publishing in lockdown, first books and columns

26:24 Beat of Barcelona draft, decadence and discipline

32:48 Style over fitting in, permission to write as yourself

40:03 Breaking down, autism context, rebuilding identity

55:43 Jung, sense vs nonsense, closing notes and next time

🔗 Guest Links

https://v13.net/tag/violent-expression

🔗 MAKE // BREAK & Host Links

https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/makebreak
https://instagram.com/lowkeyhellish
https://tiktok.com/@lowkeyhellish

🔗 V13 Media

https://v13.net

Subscribe for more and drop a comment: do film or game scores help your writing focus?

(explicit language)

#MakeBreak #AaronFarrell #Writing

Episode 011 – Dave Fowler | MAKE // BREAK

Dave Fowler is a Nashville-based bassist, producer, and songwriter whose career spans work with icons like Dolly Parton, Dr. John, Cinderella, and Billy Ray Cyrus. A sought-after live and studio player, he’s also the co-founder of GET JOE Records, a producer at Fowler–Wells Productions, and the force behind Running With Giants, his mentorship and clinic platform for musicians. In this episode, Dave joins Lance to unpack the realities of a lifelong career in music—from the discipline behind professional performance to the humility that keeps great players in demand—and what it really takes to build both longevity and legacy in an ever-changing industry.

🎯 ONE MORE THING // free, weekly, zero fillerV13 runs three newsletters: one for artists building a career on their own terms (Industry Insider), one for writers who refuse to be ignored (Verse & Vision), and one weekly roundup of music, entertainment, culture & literature (V1LLAG3 Voice). Pick your lane, or take all three.→ https://v13.net/newsletter

👀 What you’ll hear

• Tracing Dave Fowler’s roots from Southern gospel to touring with Dolly Parton and Dr. John

• The truth about persistence and why “not quitting” is the only real career plan

• Inside Nashville’s studio culture and how pros record songs they’ve never heard before

• The moment Dave nearly quit music — and what pulled him back

• Lessons from decades in the industry: humility, discipline, and creative adaptability

• A look ahead to Dave’s upcoming memoir and his mentorship platform Running With Giants

🕰️ Chapters
00:00 Welcome + intro to Dave Fowler
02:00 Finding bass and early church influences
06:30 What separates musicians who last from those who don’t
08:00 The myth of “making it” and the persistence mindset
11:20 Lessons to his younger self and Nashville’s evolution
14:30 Inside the studio: how pros build songs on the spot
18:00 The bass player’s role: when to lead vs. blend in
24:40 Make-or-break moments and personal resilience
28:00 The story behind Dave’s upcoming book
33:30 Running With Giants and mentoring new artists
37:00 GET JOE Records, new projects, and Texas success stories
39:30 Final reflections + closing thoughts

🔗 Guest Links
https://davefowler.com
https://www.instagram.com/davefowler1963
https://www.youtube.com/@davefowlerbass
https://www.facebook.com/davefowlerbass
https://x.com/davefonbass

🔗 MAKE // BREAK & Host Links
https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/makebreak
https://instagram.com/lowkeyhellish
https://tiktok.com/@lowkeyhellish

🔗 V13 Media Links
https://v13.net

If this conversation hit home, subscribe and comment: what’s your definition of “making it” in music?

#MakeBreak #DaveFowler #MusicBusiness

Garrett Barbuto is the frontman of Garrett Barbuto & The Hot Pursuit, a Calgary-based rock outfit blending classic energy with modern grit. Known for his soulful voice and grounded songwriting, Barbuto has carved out a space between old-school musicianship and new-era independence. With the band’s 2024 EP One More Glimpse and recent collaborations like “Why Be Lonely?” with Accidental Martyr, he’s proven both versatile and fearless in his evolution. In this episode of MAKE // BREAK, Garrett joins host Lance Marwood to talk about building creative momentum, redefining success on your own terms, and how the best work often comes from chasing passion over perfection.

🎯 ONE MORE THING // free, weekly, zero fillerV13 runs three newsletters: one for artists building a career on their own terms (Industry Insider), one for writers who refuse to be ignored (Verse & Vision), and one weekly roundup of music, entertainment, culture & literature (V1LLAG3 Voice). Pick your lane, or take all three.→ https://v13.net/newsletter

👀 What you’ll hear (4–6 bullets, no quotes)

• Reframing “success” in the music business and why he chose to go slow and methodical

• How bar-band seasons forged his live instincts and what authenticity really looks like onstage

• A practical songwriting system that favours motion, multiple ideas, and deadlines over waiting

• Collaboration lessons with a mentor–producer and the moment he pushed back to keep a song’s soul

• Tactics for beating creative blocks with inputs, routines, and small constraints that create momentum

🕰️ Chapters

00:00:00 Intro, why Garrett Barbuto is on MAKE // BREAK

00:00:45 Move to Calgary, bar-band beginnings, deciding to lead a band

00:02:42 Writing with a mentor, learning by failing fast, demo-to-studio pipeline

00:05:48 Timmins roots, classic rock imprint, the open-mic setlist laboratory

00:07:16 What still works in bars and why those songs matter for new writing

00:19:20 Performance persona, crowd energy, and letting moments happen instead of forcing them

00:22:05 Authenticity through subtraction, delegating banter, playing to strengths

00:30:56 Measuring creative progress beyond metrics, phrasing, and micro-choices that level up songs

00:36:22 Collaboration friction, earning your voice, and protecting a song’s character

00:39:04 Advice to musicians: seek real pros, expand your writing toolkit beyond acoustic guitar

00:50:41 Inspiration vs discipline, systems, deadlines, and making ideas move

00:59:08 Non-musical inputs, Canada stories, and stealing like an artist

01:04:14 Plugs, new solo project timeline, where to follow

🔗 Guest Links (site first, then socials)

https://www.thehotpursuityyc.com

https://instagram.com/garrettbarbutomusic

https://instagram.com/thehotpursuityyc

🔗 MAKE // BREAK & Host Links

https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/makebreak

https://instagram.com/lowkeyhellish

https://tiktok.com/@lowkeyhellish

🔗 V13 Media Links

https://v13.net

If this helped, subscribe and tell us in the comments: does discipline beat inspiration in your songwriting

(explicit language)

#MakeBreak #GarrettBarbuto #Songwriting

Episode 029 – Garrett Barbuto | MAKE // BREAK

Garrett Barbuto is the frontman of Garrett Barbuto & The Hot Pursuit, a Calgary-based rock outfit blending classic energy with modern grit. Known for his soulful voice and grounded songwriting, Barbuto has carved out a space between old-school musicianship and new-era independence. With the band’s 2024 EP One More Glimpse and recent collaborations like “Why Be Lonely?” with Accidental Martyr, he’s proven both versatile and fearless in his evolution. In this episode of MAKE // BREAK, Garrett joins host Lance Marwood to talk about building creative momentum, redefining success on your own terms, and how the best work often comes from chasing passion over perfection.

👀 What you’ll hear (4–6 bullets, no quotes)

• Reframing “success” in the music business and why he chose to go slow and methodical
• How bar-band seasons forged his live instincts and what authenticity really looks like onstage
• A practical songwriting system that favours motion, multiple ideas, and deadlines over waiting
• Collaboration lessons with a mentor–producer and the moment he pushed back to keep a song’s soul
• Tactics for beating creative blocks with inputs, routines, and small constraints that create momentum

🕰️ Chapters

00:00:00 Intro, why Garrett Barbuto is on MAKE // BREAK

00:00:45 Move to Calgary, bar-band beginnings, deciding to lead a band

00:02:42 Writing with a mentor, learning by failing fast, demo-to-studio pipeline

00:05:48 Timmins roots, classic rock imprint, the open-mic setlist laboratory

00:07:16 What still works in bars and why those songs matter for new writing

00:19:20 Performance persona, crowd energy, and letting moments happen instead of forcing them

00:22:05 Authenticity through subtraction, delegating banter, playing to strengths

00:30:56 Measuring creative progress beyond metrics, phrasing, and micro-choices that level up songs

00:36:22 Collaboration friction, earning your voice, and protecting a song’s character

00:39:04 Advice to musicians: seek real pros, expand your writing toolkit beyond acoustic guitar

00:50:41 Inspiration vs discipline, systems, deadlines, and making ideas move

00:59:08 Non-musical inputs, Canada stories, and stealing like an artist

01:04:14 Plugs, new solo project timeline, where to follow

🔗 Guest Links (site first, then socials)

https://www.thehotpursuityyc.com

https://instagram.com/garrettbarbutomusic

https://instagram.com/thehotpursuityyc

🔗 MAKE // BREAK & Host Links

https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/makebreak

https://instagram.com/lowkeyhellish

https://tiktok.com/@lowkeyhellish

🔗 V13 Media Links

https://v13.net

If this helped, subscribe and tell us in the comments: does discipline beat inspiration in your songwriting

(explicit language)

#MakeBreak #GarrettBarbuto #Songwriting

Episode 009 – Aaron Farrell | MAKE // BREAK

Aaron Farrell is a Welsh-born writer and editor whose work spans travel-lit grit and sharp cultural criticism. He’s the author of The Lost and Found: A Contemporary Travelling Thriller of Good, Bad and Bohemian All Pursuing Their Passions – However Pure or Perverse and the poetry collection ArtBeat: The Ekphrastic Spastic, alongside essays that thread music, class, and mental health. A former co-founder/editor at Cape Magazine, Aaron is now restarting his work with V13, where his “Violent Expression” columns distill lived experience into clear, hard-hitting prose. In this episode of MAKE // BREAK, we talk turning miles into pages, building durable writing habits, and navigating independent publishing with honesty, resilience, and a bias toward action.

🎯 ONE MORE THING // free, weekly, zero fillerV13 runs three newsletters: one for artists building a career on their own terms (Industry Insider), one for writers who refuse to be ignored (Verse & Vision), and one weekly roundup of music, entertainment, culture & literature (V1LLAG3 Voice). Pick your lane, or take all three.→ https://v13.net/newsletter

👀 What you’ll hear

• Trace the Welsh roots and working-class grit that shaped Aaron’s voice and worldview as a writer

• Follow the leap from youth work to Camp America and how that unlocked a decade of travelling and ages

• Steal simple, repeatable writing habits Aaron used to draft and redraft his first novel over four years

• Learn the low-budget systems he used in Australia to write a book from a van and library desks

• Hear why martial arts discipline and film scores became his engines for consistency and atmosphere

🕰️ Chapters

00:00 Intro, names, why this conversation on MAKE // BREAK

01:52 Welsh identity, Swansea upbringing, Dylan Thomas influence

05:11 Welsh language history, the Blue Books, finding a voice

11:34 Youth work, teaching, and the first sparks of writing

15:21 Camp America, New York summers, horizons opening

24:31 Returning to craft, reading more, building habits

33:45 Blogging in 2013, film reviews, keeping momentum

48:41 Deciding to travel long-term, Thailand to South Africa

53:32 Australia farm work, the van, Byron Bay library pages

56:47 Drafting the novel that became The Lost and Found

58:55 Self-publishing in 2020 and what he learned

1:08:37 Writing at V13, “Violent Expression,” next book in development

🔗 Guest Links (site first, then socials)

https://v13.net/author/aaron_farrell/

🔗 MAKE // BREAK & Host Links

https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/makebreak

https://instagram.com/lowkeyhellish

https://tiktok.com/@lowkeyhellish

🔗 V13 Media Links

https://v13.net

If this helped, subscribe and tell us in the comments which part of Aaron’s indie publishing journey you want us to dig into next.

(explicit language)

#MakeBreak #AaronFarrell #IndependentPublishing

Episode 008 – Ger Carriere | MAKE // BREAK

Geraldine “Ger” Carriere is a Cree singer-songwriter, bestselling author, speaker, and the founder of Wild Woman Personal & Professional Development. Based in Saskatchewan, Ger’s work spans music, literature, and empowerment, each rooted in her mission to help women, especially Indigenous creatives, reclaim their voice and lead with purpose. Her recent singles Can I Be Her, Are You My Type, and Blessed in My Heels continue a run of soulful pop that balances strength with vulnerability. In this episode of MAKE // BREAK, Ger joins host Lance Marwood to talk identity, resilience, and the ongoing act of choosing yourself, again and again, in a world that often asks you to shrink.

🎯 ONE MORE THING // free, weekly, zero fillerV13 runs three newsletters: one for artists building a career on their own terms (Industry Insider), one for writers who refuse to be ignored (Verse & Vision), and one weekly roundup of music, entertainment, culture & literature (V1LLAG3 Voice). Pick your lane, or take all three.→ https://v13.net/newsletter

👀 What you’ll hear

• How Ger turned the label “wild” into a movement empowering Indigenous women and creatives

• The moment she swore she’d never undersell herself again — and how it shaped her career

• Why her singles “Can I Be Her” and “Are You My Type” explore femininity, freedom, and permission

• The truth about self-validation, fear, and faith that drives her music and coaching work

• How therapy, purpose, and self-belief keep her grounded while she builds across music, books, and business

🕰️ Chapters

00:00 Opening reflections on love, fear, and purpose

01:20 Ger introduces herself in Cree and shares her origin story

06:00 Rejecting “niche down” advice and embracing creative duality

10:36 On identity, underdog energy, and reclaiming representation

16:18 Early influences from Tupac, Prince, and Tina Turner

23:41 The high-school moment that taught her to never shrink again

41:11 Surviving without safety nets and betting on herself

42:50 The making of Wild Woman and her newest singles

49:53 Vulnerability, personas, and authenticity in performance

52:39 Lessons from therapy on validation and self-worth

1:00:36 Closing thoughts on faith, fear, and finding your voice

🔗 Guest Links

https://www.wildwomanwithin.me

https://instagram.com/gercarriere

https://tiktok.com/@gercarriere

https://www.youtube.com/@GCARRIER23

https://open.spotify.com/artist/3fbfbBjMDl5zUeJXdmIn8g

🔗 MAKE // BREAK & Host Links

https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/makebreak

https://instagram.com/lowkeyhellish

https://tiktok.com/@lowkeyhellish

🔗 V13 Media Links

https://v13.net

Subscribe and drop a comment: how do you balance being multifaceted without losing your core?

(explicit language)

#MakeBreak #GerCarriere #WildWoman

Episode 007 – Robert Stahl | MAKE // BREAK

Robert E. Stahl is the Dallas-based horror author behind Show Me Where It Hurts (JournalStone, 2025), a debut collection of 30 short stories and poems exploring grief, transformation, and the monstrous within. A former bartender turned writer and filmmaker, Stahl built his voice at the intersection of prose and comics, drawing on influences like Swamp Thing while developing a pragmatic editing and submissions routine. In this episode of MAKE // BREAK with host Lance Marwood, he breaks down the “rejection math” behind landing pro-market placements, the origins of that unforgettable teeth cover, and the mindset that carried him from first readers to a book deal and Texas tour. It’s equal parts craft talk, resilience playbook, and indie-publishing reality check.

🎯 ONE MORE THING // free, weekly, zero fillerV13 runs three newsletters: one for artists building a career on their own terms (Industry Insider), one for writers who refuse to be ignored (Verse & Vision), and one weekly roundup of music, entertainment, culture & literature (V1LLAG3 Voice). Pick your lane, or take all three.→ https://v13.net/newsletter

👀 What you’ll hear

• Distil the title and teeth cover into a surprising origin story from a poem and a monster

• Share the rejection-to-acceptance ratio and how persistence finally cracked pro markets

• Explain how Swamp Thing and Monkey’s Paw tropes shaped a devastating reunion scene

• Map the indie publishing path through grief, resilience, and landing with JournalStone

• Detail a pragmatic editing system — cooling time, trusted first readers, revision boundaries

• Offer brass-tacks routines for writing, submissions, and surviving the industry’s noes

🕰️ Chapters

00:00 Why Show Me Where It Hurts and the iconic teeth cover

01:52 Rejections, first pro-market sales, contest experiences

04:29 Political horror and placing in Story Unlikely

06:20 Swamp Thing influence and Monkey’s Paw mechanics

10:18 Publishing gauntlet, grief, and finding JournalStone

13:28 Resilience mindset — “the action is the juice”

16:39 Blood onstage story and Halloween gig

17:50 Books that reset creatives — King, Pressfield, Gilbert

18:44 Comics craft — Moore, Hickman, Gaiman shaping horror voice

25:37 Contemporary horror influences — Jones, Ketchum, Barker

39:45 Top films — Hereditary, The Descent, Talk To Me

48:06 Editing, first readers, routine, and rejection-proof habits

🔗 Guest Links

https://www.robertestahl.com/

https://www.instagram.com/robert_e_stahl_author/

https://www.facebook.com/RobertEStahlAuthorhttps://x.com/RobertStahlTX

🔗 MAKE // BREAK & Host Links

https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/makebreak

https://instagram.com/lowkeyhellish

https://tiktok.com/@lowkeyhellish

🔗 V13 Media Links

https://v13.net

If this helped, subscribe and tell us in the comments how you handle rejection in the publishing grind

(explicit language)

#MakeBreak #RobertStahl #HorrorWriting

Episode 006 – Brandon O’Neill | MAKE // BREAK

Brandon O’Neill is the founder, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and vocalist behind Wine & Warpaint, the Richmond-based indie rock project whose debut album Disassociate (2024) earned recognition as one of the year’s standout independent releases. Known for blending raw emotion with meticulous production, O’Neill has built Wine & Warpaint into a self-sustaining project that thrives at the intersection of DIY ethos and professional polish. In this episode of MAKE // BREAK, he joins host Lance Marwood to discuss recording with producer Kyle Black (Paramore, Pierce the Veil), the mental shifts that come with travelling for art, and the constant push-pull between algorithms, AI, and authenticity. O’Neill’s perspective offers a grounded, thoughtful look at what it means to create meaningful work in today’s music business.

🎯 ONE MORE THING // free, weekly, zero fillerV13 runs three newsletters: one for artists building a career on their own terms (Industry Insider), one for writers who refuse to be ignored (Verse & Vision), and one weekly roundup of music, entertainment, culture & literature (V1LLAG3 Voice). Pick your lane, or take all three.→ https://v13.net/newsletter

👀 What you’ll hear

• Unpack how Wine & Warpaint built momentum with their debut album Disassociate and a fiercely DIY approach

• Share what Brandon learned working with producer Kyle Black (Paramore, Pierce the Veil) and why meticulousness matters

• Debate the rise of AI tools, social media burnout, and whether content creation helps or hurts real artistry

• Expose the broken incentives of algorithms that reward rage and novelty instead of genuine music discovery

• Explore why local community, collaboration, and micro-level choices are how artists can break out of toxic systems

• Leave with Brandon’s advice on how artists can stay humble, experiment, and keep making the work they believe in

🕰️ Chapters

00:00 Intro and welcome with Brandon O’Neill

02:00 Flying cross-country to record with Kyle Black

05:00 Shifting headspace and finding inspiration in LA

09:00 Discovering meticulous creativity in the studio

13:00 Lessons from producers vs DIY recording

18:00 Fast workflows, Pro Tools shortcuts, and setup hacks

20:00 Debating AI tools, artistry, and the algorithm

26:00 Social media, content grind, and why he deleted Instagram

32:00 How algorithms gatekeep discovery and reward rage

40:00 Community, DIY ethos, and breaking the system locally

50:00 Responsibility, regulation, and cultural shifts

01:06:00 Generosity, art, and finding meaning through action

01:11:00 What’s next for Wine & Warpaint and upcoming music

🔗 Guest Links

https://wineandwarpaint.com

https://www.instagram.com/wineandwarpaint

https://www.youtube.com/c/winewarpaint

https://www.facebook.com/wineandwarpaint

https://wineandwarpaint.bandcamp.com

https://open.spotify.com/artist/4IDDdNItHvj6aRkZ2LnCRe

🔗 MAKE // BREAK & Host Links

https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/makebreak

https://instagram.com/lowkeyhellish

https://tiktok.com/@lowkeyhellish

🔗 V13 Media Links

https://v13.net

Subscribe for more and drop a comment: should musicians fight the algorithm or ignore it and focus only on the art?

(explicit language)

#MakeBreak #WineandWarpaint #MusicBusiness