Meet Our Makers

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In this chat, we get to meet singer-songwriter Regina Spektor. In this chat, Regina and I talk a lot about her last album, Home Before and After, which incidentally had come out almost exactly a year prior to our conversation. In light of this, we discuss the songwriting, producing, release, and extensive touring surrounding the record, as well as what it means to her now, a year on. We talk about the joys and gifts of live performance, her particular songwriting methods and styles, and her deep love for her fans (as well as how those very fans are almost single-handedly responsible for keeping some of her older songs alive -- like "Loveology", which finally got a proper studio recording on Home). We also talk about an old song I had never heard of that's been almost lost to the years, but may make a comeback yet. We talk about more, too, and it was a beautiful and fluid conversation I was very humbled to get to have. Thank you for listening.

MEET OUR MAKER IS NOW ON PATREON! Go to patreon.com/meetourmakers to pledge and become a patron today. You'll get access to fun stuff, including exclusive moments from interviews and the chance to submit questions for future guests. Woo!

In this chat, we get to meet Oscar-nominated composer Emile Mosseri. Though best known for his film work, Emile is also a singer-songwriter, and has been for much of his life. He was in a band called The Dig for years prior to his career as a composer, and now he's just put out his debut full-length studio record, Heaven Hunters. Here, Emile and I talk quite a bit about this record - what it means to him, how he got here, and what led him to feeling comfortable and ready to release such bluntly personal songs. We do also touch on his film work, some of his specific scores for films like Kajillionaire and his Academy Award-nominated work on Minari, his love of film music, and more. Thank you for listening and I hope you enjoy.

MEET OUR MAKER IS NOW ON PATREON! Go to patreon.com/meetourmakers to pledge and become a patron today. You'll get access to fun stuff, including exclusive moments from interviews and the chance to submit questions for future guests. Woo!

In this chat, we get to meet The Tallest Man On Earth, otherwise known as Kristian Matsson. In this chat, Kristian and I talk a lot about his brand new record, Henry St., including some of the themes behind its songs and music, the production with Nick Sanborn in North Carolina, the writing process, and how the album felt a little different from his past work, especially his prior record, I Love You. It's a Fever Dream. We touch upon his time seeing Joni Mitchell at Newport Folk Festival, the greatness of "Both Sides Now", and more. We also debut a little game I call Setlist Pop Quiz. Thank you for listening!

MEET OUR MAKER IS NOW ON PATREON! Go to patreon.com/meetourmakers to pledge and become a patron today. You'll get access to fun stuff, including exclusive moments from interviews and the chance to submit questions for future guests. Woo!

In this chat, we get to meet AC Newman (aka Carl Newman), the lead singer and songwriter of Canadian indie rock supergroup The New Pornographers. In this chat, Carl and I discuss quite a lot about the band's lovely new album (their ninth overall), Continue as a Guest. We also talk a bit about music philosophy, aspirations within the business, and how his attitudes have shifted a bit (or not) over the years. If you are a fan of the record or of any NP record, I think you'll find a lot to enjoy - lots of little yummy morsels for us to chew on. Thank you for listening.

MEET OUR MAKER IS NOW ON PATREON! Go to patreon.com/meetourmakers to pledge and become a patron today. You'll get access to fun stuff, including exclusive moments from interviews and the chance to submit questions for future guests. Woo!

In this chat, we get to meet Youth Lagoon (aka: Trevor Power). Trevor is now back with his fourth Youth Lagoon record (and first since resurrecting his original moniker) called Heaven is a Junkyard. In what was really his first extensive interview of this album cycle, we discuss so much about this gorgeous album, including the story behind its creation, the inspiration behind some of its songs, and why he decided to bring back the Youth Lagoon name in the first place. We also chat about the medical event that nearly derailed everything for him, and how that experience directly impacted his work. We touch upon the troubling but also the beautiful things about his beloved home state of Idaho, as well as how - especially in light of current and recent events - religion and legislation have been usurped by bigotry. It's a very far-ranging and at times quite serious talk, but Trevor spoke to me with such candor and warmth and a sense of humor, which I think you'll enjoy. I had such a good time. Thank you for listening, and please enjoy.

MEET OUR MAKER IS NOW ON PATREON! Go to patreon.com/meetourmakers to pledge and become a patron today. You'll get access to fun stuff, including exclusive moments from interviews and the chance to submit questions for future guests. Woo!

In this chat, we get to meet Jeff Hiller. Jeff is an actor who, most recently, is best known for playing Joel on the HBO dramedy Somebody, Somewhere. It's a gorgeous, human, authentic show, and in this chat, Jeff and I talk about all of it. We talk about the show's themes, characters, its rarity in this current TV landscape, and what it means to Jeff to be able to play a character like Joel on a show like this, alongside the great Bridget Everett. We talk the winding road of his career that led him to this great part, and how he came to land this role. We also touch on some current events, pop culture, and Betty Gilpin. (Hi Betty Gilpin! My door is always open for you.) I think you'll like this one. It was an utter delight talking with Jeff, who has an infectious laugh and smile and was so warm, a little irreverent, a touch tangential, but always inviting and personable. Thank you for listening.

MEET OUR MAKER IS NOW ON PATREON! Go to patreon.com/meetourmakers to pledge and become a patron today. You'll get access to fun stuff, including exclusive moments from interviews and the chance to submit questions for future guests. Woo!

In this chat, we get to meet Avey Tare, aka Dave Portner. Dave is one member of the experiment indie rock outfit Animal Collective, which has been active for over 20 years. Now, Dave is putting out a new solo record under his alias, 7s, and in this chat, he and I talk a lot about this record - what went into it, the production, the songwriting, the themes, and more. We also touch upon Animal Collective's past and present, pop music, the infamous Pullhair Rubeye project, and more. Please consider becoming a Patron today to gain access to a Patreon-exclusive interview clip from the chat. Thank you for listening!

In this episode, we get to meet actor and musician Caleb Landry Jones. Though Caleb is known best as an actor - appearing in projects such as Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri, Get Out, and even the Twin Peaks: The Return miniseries - he is also an accomplished an eclectic musician. In this chat, Caleb and I talk about his newest record, Gadzooks Vol. 2, and how music has shaped him as a person, both as a performer and as a listener. We do also discuss his diverse and varied film career, including his latest movies like the powerful and dark Nitram, for which he won the Cannes Best Actor award. We talk about his love of cinema, his foundational films, and more. He also gives me some spicy hot takes on contemporary cinema that you won't want to miss. Thank you for listening, and enjoy.

In this episode we get to meet Kaitlyn Aurelia Smith. A multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, singer, producer, Kaitlyn is best known as a leading user of the rarified Buchla modular synthesizer. In this chat, she and I discuss what draws her to this instrument, and we talk quite a bit about how the sounds of it (and other sounds) cohered to create her latest album, Let's Turn it Into Sound. We talk about the power of sound, the power of collaboration, and her relationship with music - both recorded and live performance. It's a great chat, especially for your synth-heads out there. Thanks for listening!

In this -- the FIFTIETH (!!!) episode -- of Meet Our Makers, we meet singer-songwriter Alela Diane. In this chat, Alela and I discuss her brand new record, Looking Glass, and some of what went into making it. We talk recording, we talk writing, we talk musicality, we talk theme -- she's got it all. We talk a bit about memory, and how we process things in our art so that we can live a regular day-to-day life. We talk about the symbolism of selling her longtime home, as well as some of our favorite ladies, like Joni and Judee and Joanna. I think you'll enjoy it. Thank you for listening.