Matthias Interviews Musicians: A Pop Songwriting Podcast

This week, I speak with Paul Johnson, who performs under the moniker Canyon City, about two of his latest singles - Catch Fire and Purple Horizon.

Since its inception in 2015, Canyon City has become known for its distinctive whispery vocals layered over intimate acoustics orbiting candidly emotional storytelling. As Johnson self-released a series EPs and LPs over the last five years, the industry took notice, with Canyon City frequenting Spotify editorial playlists and winning praise from media like NPR, Paste, American Songwriter and more.  His combined streams on Spotify alone surpass 100 million, with an average of 1.3 million monthly listeners. It’s quite easy to see exactly why Johnson is a streaming giant. His songwriting—fusing conversational narratives with modern-folk textures in the vein of Gregory Alan Isakov, The Tallest Man On Earth, and Noah Gundersen—is rich in emotional detail.

Now, Canyon City prepares to release Circling The Sun, a warm, inviting and sweetly cinematic EP primarily written and produced in household settings, save for a bit of recording at the local Library. He teamed back up with Nashville-based producer Zachary David who added his own homespun elements to the project. David, who is also a TV/film composer, used found objects (think couch kickdrums, t-shirt slapping snares and crumpled paper percussion) around the home when producing the EP, partially out of necessity due to Covid19. But the unorthodox arrangements only enhance the EP’s lived-in aesthetic.

Please go and follow Canyon City at:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6TdfKQvrdHZdr4DIzjuWOr

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You can follow me on Twitter at http://twitter.com/MKLikesMusic

This week, I speak with Paul Johnson, who performs under the moniker Canyon City, about what "modern folk" means to him, growing up and playing in a folk trio with his parents in Fargo, North Dakota, and writing emotional and vividly descriptive songs (and speculate as to why so many of them revolve around fire and water). Since its inception in 2015, the project has become known for its distinctive whispery vocals layered over intimate acoustics orbiting candidly emotional storytelling.

As Johnson self-released a series EPs and LPs over the last five years, the industry took notice, with Canyon City frequenting Spotify editorial playlists and winning praise from media like NPR, Paste, American Songwriter and more.  His combined streams on Spotify alone surpass 100 million, with an average of 1.3 million monthly listeners. It’s quite easy to see exactly why Johnson is a streaming giant. His songwriting—fusing conversational narratives with modern-folk textures in the vein of Gregory Alan Isakov, The Tallest Man On Earth, and Noah Gundersen—is rich in emotional detail.

Now, Canyon City prepares to release Circling The Sun, a warm, inviting and sweetly cinematic EP primarily written and produced in household settings, save for a bit of recording at the local Library. He teamed back up with Nashville-based producer Zachary David who added his own homespun elements to the project. David, who is also a TV/film composer, used found objects (think couch kickdrums, t-shirt slapping snares and crumpled paper percussion) around the home when producing the EP, partially out of necessity due to Covid19. But the unorthodox arrangements only enhance the EP’s lived-in aesthetic.

Please go and follow Canyon City at:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6TdfKQvrdHZdr4DIzjuWOr

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You can follow me on Twitter at http://twitter.com/MKLikesMusic

This week, I chat more with Alex Walker (drums) and George Coulson (guitar / lead vocals) of The Valla, your favorite new pop/indie-rock band - about their two newest singles - Ice Cream and Shut My Mouth. The Valla also includes bassist Hamish Knowles and lead guitarist Jay Williamson. Native of nowhere, the four-piece emanate from England, Wales, Australia, and Germany, but currently reside in London, UK. Holding the line between pop and rock, inspired by the likes of Cage The Elephant, Gang of Youths, and Catfish and the Bottlemen, the band plays what they describe as ‘music for damaged souls’, writing with beautiful insecurity and vulnerability, appealing to anyone searching for a deeper meaning of life in the modern world.

Please go and follow The Valla at:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thevallabandInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/thevallabandYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBoAThtMnT7eY9z1shMgaugTwitter: https://twitter.com/TheVallabandSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4YhQHwK37kKWxXGiNbCu1R?si=x6dChabrRH-1WpmmWNgY0QiTunes: https://music.apple.com/gb/artist/the-valla/1464715257

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You can follow me on Twitter at http://twitter.com/MKLikesMusic

This week, I chat with Alex Walker (drums) and George Coulson (guitar / lead vocals) of The Valla, your favorite new pop/indie-rock band - formed in late 2018. The Valla also includes bassist Hamish Knowles and lead guitarist Jay Williamson. Native of nowhere, the four-piece emanate from England, Wales, Australia, and Germany, but currently reside in London, UK. Holding the line between pop and rock, inspired by the likes of Cage The Elephant, Gang of Youths, and Catfish and the Bottlemen, the band plays what they describe as ‘music for damaged souls’, writing with beautiful insecurity and vulnerability, appealing to anyone searching for a deeper meaning of life in the modern world.

Please go and follow The Valla at:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thevallaband

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You can follow me on Twitter at http://twitter.com/MKLikesMusic

In this episode, I chat with Professor Joshua Fairfield on the current state of music copyright law, with a focus on how the law treats the new generation of content creators who are reacting to and utilizing existing media in creative ways, what the future may hold, and how content creators can navigate a complex legal landscape that isn't necessarily well-tailored to new technological and social advances. Joshua Fairfield is an internationally recognized law and technology scholar, specializing in digital property, electronic contract, big data privacy, and virtual communities. He has written on the law and regulation of e-commerce and online contracts and on the application of standard economic models to virtual environments. Professor Fairfield's current research focuses on big data privacy models and the next generation of legal applications for cryptocurrencies. His articles on protecting consumer interests in an age of mass-market consumer contracting regularly appear in top law and law-and-technology journals, and policy pieces on consumer protection and technology have appeared in the New York Times, Forbes, and the Financial Times, among other outlets. Before entering the law, Professor Fairfield was a technology entrepreneur, serving as the director of research and development for language-learning software company Rosetta Stone.

You can follow Josh on Twitter at https://twitter.com/joshfairfield, and look out for his new book "Runaway Technology: Can Law Keep Up" in 2021!

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You can follow me on Twitter at https://twitter.com/MKLikesMusic

In this episode, I chat with Tim Ouyang of Tim Be Told. Trying to make an honest living by being honest, Tim Ouyang is a recording artist, producer and song writer who originated in Charlottesville, VA. His band, Tim Be Told, developed a strong grassroots following in 2007 after releasing a self produced album recorded in his college apartment. Today, Tim resides in the California Bay Area and has amassed a devoted fanbase and a large catalogue of music. Tim has had the honor of performing the national anthem for NBA champions, The Golden State Warriors. He produced and wrote for legendary 106 and Park rapper and actor, MC Jin. He has also performed in famed venues such as the The Beverly Hilton and the Walt Disney Concert Hall with the LA Philharmonic's KA Youth Symphony. He wrote the song "Secrets" for Grammy award winning artist Israel Houghton. The performance of the song was nominated for an Emmy in 2019. Tim Be Told’s original music has been streamed over 8 million times on Spotify, and listened to in 79 different countries.

Please go and follow Tim at:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/timbetold

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You can follow me on Twitter at http://twitter.com/MKLikesMusic

In this episode, I chat with Michigander. Michigander emanates a magnetic Midwest spirit, delivering uplifting anthems, raised even higher by six-string fireworks, empowering lyrics, and understated arena ambition. Garnering 3 million-plus streams and the acclaim of NPR, Paste, NME, Metro Times and more by 2019, the sonic alter ego of Michigan native, singer, producer, and guitarist Jason Singer bottles the feeling of the region on the 2019 EP, Where Do We Go From Here [C3 Records]. Jason brought Michigander to life during 2014 while moving across his home state to Kalamazoo. In 2016 the independent single “Nineties” took off, claiming real estate on multiple major Spotify playlists and cracking 1 million streams on the platform. Between releasing the 2018 Midland EP, the group shared the stage with the likes of Ra Ra Ra Riot, Tokyo Police Club, Twin Peaks, and JR JR in addition to gracing the stages of festivals with alt-j, Solange, Foster The People, and Run The Jewels, to name a few. Signed to C3 Records, he recorded Where Do We Go From Here and expanded the sound in 2019 as illuminated on singles such as “Misery” and "Poplar", of which the later saw placements on Spotify's The New Alt, Fresh Finds, and Rock'n Vibes.

Please go and follow Michigander at:

Facebook: https://fb.me/michiganderband

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You can follow me on Twitter at http://twitter.com/MKLikesMusic

In this episode, I chat with Noah Kahan. Stepping out of his childhood home located on a 133-acre tree farm in Strafford, VT (pop. 1,045) and onto stages worldwide, Noah Kahan introduced one side of himself. Since 2017, he has generated half-a-billion combined streams and views, garnered a gold plaque for “Hurt Somebody” with Julia Michaels, and launched sold-out headline tours in North America, Europe, and the UK. His 2019 full-length debut, Busyhead, attracted acclaim from Billboard, Entertainment Weekly, NYLON, Idolator, Ones To Watch and more. Along the way, he performed on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert, Late Night With Seth Meyers, and Today Show. As he breached radio airwaves and infiltrated popular playlists, he quietly penned songs at a feverish pace.

He unveiled another side of himself on the five-track Cape Elizabeth EP, which he completed within six days in April 2020. The opener and first single “Troubled Mind” pairs sparse delicately plucked acoustic guitar with a soft and soothing vocal. “When you hear Cape Elizabeth, I want you to feel like you can escape for a second,” he leaves off. “I want you to feel recognized and know your thoughts aren’t scary or crazy. I hope you’re drawn into the stories and connect to the characters in the lyrics. Relax, chill out, listen to this, and look out the window. This is my ‘Thank You’ to the fans who stuck around, came to shows, watched my livestreams, and listened.”

Please go and follow Noah Kahan at:

Facebook: http://facebook.com/noahkahanmusic

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You can follow me on Twitter at http://twitter.com/MKLikesMusic