Music 3.0

Horror movie writer, director, and resurgent garage rock legend? Can things get any more October than Tommy McLoughlin? Tommy walks us through his beginnings playing the famous Sunset Strip in the 60s with his band The Sloths, how rock n’ roll and protest went hand-in-hand, and his memories of sharing stages with a young Jim Morrison of The Doors. At 19, he moved to Paris on a whim to learn the art of comedy, where he took up street performing as a mime to make ends meet. It wasn’t long before he was rubbing shoulders with the likes of Dick Van Dyke and Andy Kaufman, before eventually writing and directing his own films such as the cult classic, Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives. Tommy was also kind enough to share touching stories of his lifelong friend, rock legend Eddie Van Halen, and how their kinship came to be. Last but not least, he lets us in on how he’s channeled the feeling of teenage angst into his myriad of life experiences while playing with his band The Sloths, who have been reinvigorated by a recent resurgence of their music!

You can keep up with Tommy at thesloths.org, and follow them on Instagram @thesloths65.

ill Nicky sees the world with a kind heart and an open mind, encouraging everyone to “go out there and start being better people.” This mindset is evident everywhere, first and foremost in his name - the word "ill" morphing into the movement that is "I love life." And the world appreciates that energy, reciprocating it in one form by way of a fan club being started in India, much to Nicky's surprise. Join us on the PlusMusic Podcast as we sit down with alternative hip-hop artist ill Nicky where we talk about starting his own label, sampling vs. stealing, getting his song “FourThirty” in NBA 2K20, and much more.

Find him on Instagram @theillnicky!

Will Reynolds has music in his blood. It's the same music that had his grandfather drumming for jazz bands in the 40s, who taught Will drums and piano at a young age. Now, as the guitarist and frontman of Billy King & The Bad Bad Bad, Will has his feet firmly planted in the Austin, TX music scene. Join us on the BLKBOX Music Podcast as we talk about the imminent release of their new album, his thoughts on live-stream shows, and more!

Find all things Billy King & The Bad Bad Bad here on their website.

On this episode of the BLKBOX Music Podcast, we spoke all things music with Ruben Zarate of Dante Elephante! From searching for bandmates on Craigslist and working with a producer for the first time, to viewing his band through the lens of a small business!

And for those of you who can't get enough of indie musicians and podcasts, we also learned a little about the Dante Elephante Podcast, which features one-on-one conversations between Ruben and his favorite artists! For all things Dante Elephante, check www.danteelephante.com!

Self-taught drummer Jake Najor has amassed a highlight reel of moments in his career, including drumming for the likes of Karl Denson and Big Daddy Kane, but it's his journey that offers incomparable insight for the DIY musician. Join us as Jake talks us through his network-building beginnings, developing a style built for breakbeats, and his new band, Jake Najor & The Moment of Truth!

Stay up to date with Jake by following him @thenaj.

Tatiana Hazel is the definition of a Renaissance woman. As the primary (and most of the time, only) singer, songwriter, producer, and engineer of her music, she’s in full control of her artistry. Add to that her passion for designing clothes, and eye for photography, Tatiana Hazel is a powerhouse of creative energy. We’re excited to welcome Tatiana to the BLKBOX Music Podcast where we discussed getting her start on YouTube, TikTok and the future of digital music, and her writing process.

Find her everywhere @tatianahazel.

The boys of Bronze Radio Return have been busy. They've released two new singles - "Tell It To Me" and "Still Wandering" - alongside holding a social media contest and releasing custom vinyl records. We spoke with drummer (and the bands first "manager") Rob Griffith about their concert experience in China, reaching your fans via social media, the viability of Patreon, and more! The BLKBOX Music Podcast is for musicians, by musicians.

As two-thirds of Los Angeles-based garage band FriendlyBear, married bandmates Meg Speer and Adam Bones were undoubtedly impacted by COVID-19. To pass the time, they began to record daily song covers for Adam's Instagram under the moniker MegaBones. The videos became so popular, the result of friends and fans making requests and donations, that they never stopped making them. Meg and Adam have since recorded over 115 videos - one for every day of quarantine - and counting! Join us as we speak with MegaBones about their "Live in Self-Quarantine" series, mastering live-stream shows, and the future of live music!

Follow Meg and Adam: @friendlybearband, @adambones, and @megsbones

If you're looking for inspiration for live-stream performances, look no further than industrial artist Curse Mackey's "Live Exorcism." Post-cancellation of over 60 shows, interrupting the tour of his 2019 album Instant Exorcism, Curse Mackey pushed on via Twitch, YouTube Live, and more. Truly the gold standard of the live-stream experience, Live Exorcism includes a full concert, Q+A session, and art show, all free! Welcome Curse Mackey to the BLKBOX Music Podcast, where we talk music, live-streaming, the future of the music industry, and more!

Go to cursemackey.com/signup and follow @cursemackey everywhere to stay in touch with Curse!

It's no coincidence that electro goth duo Weird Wolves found a home for their music in the video game universe. The vision was crafted long ago by Raf Colantonio, musician and founder of Arkane Studios (creators of titles such as the cult-classic Arx Fatalis, and 2017's AAA sci-fi epic, Prey). It was during the creation of the soundtrack for Prey that Colantonio first worked with singer Ava Gore. Their love for both music and video games fostered a connection that led to the formation of Weird Wolves in 2018. You'll get to hear Weird Wolves meld their passions on Raf's next project, Weird West, currently under development at his new home (which he founded), WolfEye Studios.  The BLKBOX Music Podcast is for musicians, by musicians.