About this episode's guest Indie Artist FIREROSE.

The definitive version of her album's title track, "Shining Armor (Rise Again)" marks a powerful new chapter - one of independence, renewal, and self-rescue - and anchors the larger story she's finally ready to share publicly for the first time. That story continues next month with her new podcast, No One Asked Her, a series named for how the world once decided she didn't need to be heard.

Firerose is a survivor who has lived through more than her share of hardship - addiction, abuse, and years of being silenced in relationships - yet has emerged with her faith, strength, and perspective intact. She's smart, passionate, and deeply thoughtful, with a story that deserves to be heard on her own terms.

Born and raised in Sydney, music was her refuge amid a childhood marked by sadness and confusion. As a kid, she filled notebooks with lyrics, turning pain into songs. That survival instinct carried her across the world to Los Angeles, through addiction and a two-month stint in LA County jail that ultimately led to faith and sobriety in 2016. Even while trapped in controlling relationships that kept her from steering her own career, her voice still reached millions with charting singles and performances on Good Morning America, The Kelly Clarkson Show, and The Grand Ole Opry.

Now, with her new single and upcoming podcast, Firerose is finally telling her story in full - standing in her independence, her faith, and her truth. The title "Shining Armor" speaks to that turning point: after years of waiting for someone else to save her, she realized she had to be her own knight, fighting for her freedom, her music, and her life with God's strength behind her. Her podcast title, No One Asked Her, nods to the way she was often reduced to a one-dimensional figure in the tabloids - someone the world decided didn't need to be heard from. Now, she's claiming her voice and inviting others to do the same.

Website www.firerosemusic.com

Social Media www.Instagram.com/firerose 

Spotify https://open.spotify.com/artist/2hUvYMF6MBxiZVXjiglBPX?si=v3rJakPSRieeqGpShFuQJg 

About Music Matters with Darrell Craig Harris

The Music Matters Podcast is hosted by Darrell Craig Harris, a globally published music journalist, professional musician, and Getty Images photographer. Music Matters is now available on Spotify, iTunes, Podbean, and more. Each week, Darrell interviews renowned artists, musicians, music journalists, and insiders from the music industry.

Visit us at: www.MusicMattersPodcast.comFollow us on Twitter: www.Twitter.com/musicmattersdh

For inquiries, contact: [email protected]

Support our mission via PayPal: www.paypal.me/payDarrell (voice over by Nigel J. Farmer

Grammy Nominated Zydeco Master Corey Ledet

On a tour through Russia, Ledet was treated like royalty, complete with his own security detail. Fans rushed to touch the band’s signature zydeco rubboard — the metal, shoulder-slung vest used to scratch out those infectious rhythms. Enthralled by its sound, they nicknamed it the “magic instrument.”Ledet has taken his music everywhere — Hawaii, Canada, Europe — and always hoped to capture the electricity of his live shows. But the right moment for a live album never quite appeared.

That changed when the Anchorage Folk Festival invited him to perform.

“When that came up, I thought, this might finally be the chance,” said Ledet, 44, a two-time Grammy nominee. “When I arrived, they had everything ready to record. I started thinking about Clifton Chenier — a lot of his best live cuts were recorded far from home. It worked for the King of Zydeco, so I figured, let me try this.”

The result is Live in Alaska — the debut live album from Corey Ledet Zydeco, featuring Ledet’s mysterious new accordion, “Black Magic.” After combing through three days of recordings, the band chose 11 tracks that solidify Ledet’s well-earned nickname: The Accordion Dragon.

The album delivers high-energy, onstage versions of English and Creole favorites from Ledet’s 15 previous releases, plus a brand-new track, “Alaska Funk,” an impromptu jam born right there onstage alongside his tight-knit Louisiana crew.

website www.CoreyLedet.com

Social Media www.Instagram.com/coreyledetzydeco

About Music Matters with Darrell Craig Harris

The Music Matters Podcast is hosted by Darrell Craig Harris, a globally published music journalist, professional musician, and Getty Images photographer. Music Matters is now available on Spotify, iTunes, Podbean, and more. Each week, Darrell interviews renowned artists, musicians, music journalists, and insiders from the music industry.

Visit us at: www.MusicMattersPodcast.comFollow us on Twitter: www.Twitter.com/musicmattersdh

For inquiries, contact: [email protected]

Support our mission via PayPal: www.paypal.me/payDarrell 

(voice over by Nigel J. Farmer)

Viral Indie Artist Elise Trouw Just Dropped A New Single With A New Album To Follow In December! 

Elise Trouw - is a viral indie artist, singer-songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist known for her mesmerizing live-looping performances and genre-blending sound. Based in California, Elise writes, produces, and performs her own music - fusing pop, rock, and jazz with emotional honesty and technical mastery. Her debut album Unraveling and recent releases have earned millions of views and streams worldwide.

Connect & Stream:

Website https://www.elisetrouw.com  

www.Instagram.com/edlisetrouw

www.Facebook.com/elisetrouwmusic 

www.YouTube.com/@elisetrouw 

https://open.spotify.com/artist/6jeroC7T0j4Dvz9y3gtofR?si=jUVPX7PwRI2QakP0ST7wJw 

About Music Matters with Darrell Craig Harris

The Music Matters Podcast is hosted by Darrell Craig Harris, a globally published music journalist, professional musician, and Getty Images photographer. Music Matters is now available on Spotify, iTunes, Podbean, and more. Each week, Darrell interviews renowned artists, musicians, music journalists, and insiders from the music industry.

Visit us at: www.MusicMattersPodcast.com

Follow us on Twitter: www.Twitter.com/musicmattersdh

For inquiries, contact: [email protected]

Support our mission via PayPal: www.paypal.me/payDarrell 

(voice over by Nigel J. Farmer)

About the New Orleans-based group Captain Buckles, a band made up of top A-list musicians who have backed many household names! 

The majority of tracks on Hurry Up the debut album from "Captain Buckles" are funky, rockin' instrumentals written by guitarist Alexander Mallet: kickin', and organic. Captain Buckles takes risks, grooves and moves with powerful chemistry and a punk, irreverent attitude that prompts listeners to feel good to be human. "Bus Station Blues" and "Raindrops on Mardi Gras,” are soulful slinky tunes featuring masterful vocals by keys man Rob Davis. "This Time" is a rock ballad by a close friend of the group, Michael Darby. 

After years of incubating, Captain Buckles has found its own trademark sound steeped in the grooves and funk of New Orleans and the elements that make American music emotionally moving and stylistically unique. The band jams hard while emphasizing musical exploration and dynamic subtlety, showing the inspiration from of icons like The Meters, Allman Brothers, and The Band but utilizing those influences to create a style all their own. 

The members of Captain Buckles include New Orleans born-and-raised Rob Davis and Ezell Smith Jr., as well as Los Angeles transplant Smitti Supab, Pennsylvanian Phil Breen, who’ve both played professionally in the Crescent City for 13+ years. Florida ex-pat Alex Mallet is the newcomer of the crew having arrived a mere eight years ago. Before forming Captain Buckles, the members had performed with each other in various line-ups for years between touring as backing musicians with national and international acts like Eric Lindell, Samantha Fish, Russell Batiste, John "Papa" Gros, Glen David Andrews, and many others. They transitioned to working as a distinctive, butt-shaking unit all their own two years ago, a no-nonsense brotherhood of hard-working sidemen, championing good vibes and an intense love of music. 

The recording of Hurry Up was funded in part by a grant from the Threadhead Cultural Foundation (https://www.thcfnola.org/.). 

 www.captainbucklesband.com

facebook.com/captainbucklesband

instagram.com/captainbucklesband

open.spotify.com/artist/3q8yPNmKITP14G9YOEnnrV

www.youtube.com/@captainbucklesband

music.apple.com/il/artist/captain-buckles/1758847494

www.amazon.com/music/player/artists/B0D9WR9Y79/captain-buckles

captainbucklesband.bandcamp.com

About Music Matters with Darrell Craig Harris

The Music Matters Podcast is hosted by Darrell Craig Harris, a globally published music journalist, professional musician, and Getty Images photographer. Music Matters is now available on Spotify, iTunes, Podbean, and more. Each week, Darrell interviews renowned artists, musicians, music journalists, and insiders from the music industry.

Visit us at: www.MusicMattersPodcast.com

Follow us on Twitter: www.Twitter.com/musicmattersdh

For inquiries, contact: [email protected]

Support our mission via PayPal: www.paypal.me/payDarrell 

The International group "The Salt Collective" are releasing the follow-up to their critically acclaimed 2023 album debut, Life. Their second full-length release "A Brief History of Blindness" is a widescreen exploration of hope, memory, and resilience that features contributions from Aimee Mann, Mike Mills (R.E.M.), Andy Partridge (XTC), and Matthew Caws (Nada Surf) among others (writing credits and list of featured performers below). A Brief History of Blindness is being released on 12" LP vinyl, CD, digital download and streaming services by Propeller Sound Recordings November 21.

While the Salt Collective's first outing was recorded remotely with many vocalists and instrumentalists working separately on multiple continents at different times, A Brief History of Blindness features the core musicians gathered in the same space interacting together in real time. The bulk of the music was laid down by Rob Ladd (The Connells) on drums, Gene Holder (The dB's) on bass, Stéphane Schück on guitars & sound design, Mitch Easter (Let's Active) on guitars, and Wes Lachot on organ, piano, and Nord.

These full-band sessions took place at the Fidelitorium (Kernersville, NC), with other work at Studio Ferber (Paris), and various home studios. The album was produced by Chris Stamey and mastered by Dave McNair.

The first single, "In the Shadow of the Moon," followed up by the groups second single "Cloud To Cloud."

 Instagram.com/thesaltcollectivemusic 

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100036783560990

About Music Matters with Darrell Craig Harris

The Music Matters Podcast is hosted by Darrell Craig Harris, a globally published music journalist, professional musician, and Getty Images photographer. Music Matters is now available on Spotify, iTunes, Podbean, and more. Each week, Darrell interviews renowned artists, musicians, music journalists, and insiders from the music industry.

Visit us at: www.MusicMattersPodcast.com

Follow us on Twitter: www.Twitter.com/musicmattersdh

For inquiries, contact: [email protected]

Support our mission via PayPal: www.paypal.me/payDarrell 

Descenes and Discords: An Anthology is the new book release from longtime music publicist, writer, and musician Howard Wuelfing offering a powerful time capsule of the birth and early evolution of punk music through the pages of two influential fanzines: Descenes and Discords. These publications, originally printed and distributed in Washington, D.C. during the late 1970s and early 1980s, captured the raw energy, irreverent spirit, and revolutionary ethos of the underground music scene — the first locally, the second nationally.

Published by writer and musician Howard Wuelfing, Descenes was a hyperlocal chronicle of D.C.'s burgeoning punk, hardcore and new wave communities. It featured scene reports, interviews, and passionate live and record reviews of now-legendary acts like Bad Brains, Slickee Boys, and Half Japanese and dozens of others that never gained national recognition. As vital local music scenes sprung up around the country, Discords picked up the baton with a wider lens — covering bands like Black Flag, Pylon, Circle Jerks, Mission of Burma and many more, all with the same DIY authenticity and zero-corporate gloss. 

About Music Matters with Darrell Craig Harris

The Music Matters Podcast is hosted by Darrell Craig Harris, a globally published music journalist, professional musician, and Getty Images photographer. Music Matters is now available on Spotify, iTunes, Podbean, and more. Each week, Darrell interviews renowned artists, musicians, music journalists, and insiders from the music industry.

Visit us at: www.MusicMattersPodcast.com

Follow us on Twitter: www.Twitter.com/musicmattersdh

For inquiries, contact: [email protected]

Support our mission via PayPal: www.paypal.me/payDarrell 

The Silver Snails are an independent pop rock music project based in Italy and Portland, OR.

Our mission is to open human hearts through sound and light and our goal is to create the world's finest pop rock for a global audience.

We debuted our project with 'The 7 Melodies' in 2012 and are now releasing our sophomore album, Speed of Light. The new album consists of 9 originals and 1 cover lovingly crafted over a 10 year period. Speed of Light was co-produced by Dylan Magierek of Badman records, mixed by Peter Katis and Adam Selzer, and mastered by Greg Calbi of Sterling sound.

Website www.TheSilverSnails.com

www.Instagram.com/thesilversnails

www.Facebook.com/thesilversnails

About Music Matters with Darrell Craig Harris

The Music Matters Podcast is hosted by Darrell Craig Harris, a globally published music journalist, professional musician, and Getty Images photographer. Music Matters is now available on Spotify, iTunes, Podbean, and more. Each week, Darrell interviews renowned artists, musicians, music journalists, and insiders from the music industry.

Visit us at: www.MusicMattersPodcast.com

Follow us on Twitter: www.Twitter.com/musicmattersdh

For inquiries, contact: [email protected]

Support our mission via PayPal: www.paypal.me/payDarrell 

Born in the heart of Seattle's early '90s scene, Sweet Water forged their own path - mixing glam, punk, power pop into something raw, loud, soulful, and unforgettable. While the world was grunge-obsessed, they chased melody and groove, channeling rock's golden age with a high-voltage twist.

Their early records were lightning in a bottle.

Tracks like "Everything Will Be Alright" and

"Superstar" earned a cult following, fueled by massive hooks and frontman Adam Czeisler's Bowie-meets-Lou Reed swagger. As trends shifted, Sweet Water stayed sharp - Suicide

(1999) brought a leaner edge, while Clear the Tarmac (2009), Dance Floor Kills (2013), and Firebird (2018) proved they never lost the spark.

Now, with decades under their belt and fire still in their veins, Sweet Water returns with Shine On (dropping Sept. 2025) - a record that blends classic punch with new textures and deeper lyrical depth. The first single, "Kids" (out April 18), shows them wilder, wiser, and ready to blow the roof off. In a world of trends, Sweet Water is the real thing. And they're not done — not even close.

www.Instagram.com/sweetwaterrocks 

www.Facebook.com/adamcredocolechris 

www.sweetwaterrocks.com 

About Music Matters with Darrell Craig Harris

The Music Matters Podcast is hosted by Darrell Craig Harris, a globally published music journalist, professional musician, and Getty Images photographer. Music Matters is now available on Spotify, iTunes, Podbean, and more. Each week, Darrell interviews renowned artists, musicians, music journalists, and insiders from the music industry.

Visit us at: www.MusicMattersPodcast.com

Follow us on Twitter: www.Twitter.com/musicmattersdh

For inquiries, contact: [email protected]

Support our mission via PayPal: www.paypal.me/payDarrell 

Josh Hight's new release "In His Wake" from his project PINES was shaped by grief, disillusionment, and a search for something beyond the visible world. The songs here are intimate and expansive, fusing the weight of lived experience with a sense of mysticism and emotional pull. This is music made from memory, distance, and quiet intensity, possessing a rich sonic depth, blending shoegaze, slow-burn Americana, and dreamlike psychedelia. Special guests include Andy Bell (Ride, Oasis) on guitar, Emmett Kelly (Bonnie “Prince” Billy, The Cairo Gang, The Hard Quartet) on guitar and bass, and vocals from Dottie Cochran of Deary. 

The title track, “In His Wake,” is a reflection on being the only surviving child in a family touched by loss—haunted by absence but also frustrated by the dullness and complacency of adulthood. “Fifteen” explores a formative relationship marked by imbalance, looking back on it through the lens of maturity, with all its contradictions intact. “Uriel” is a ritual invocation—part hymn, part apocalyptic prayer—calling to the archangel in a time of digital saturation, collapse, and the possibility of transcendence. 

A professional photographer and director, Hight’s creative work lives at the intersection of image, sound, and emotion. His musical vision is is raw, cinematic, and steeped in atmosphere. Richard Norris’ first production was Jack The Tab, the seminal acid house album co-created with Genesis P-Orridge of Psychic TV. He went on to work with artists including Joe Strummer, Sun Ra, Robert Fripp, and Dave Ball of Soft Cell as part of The Grid, as well as Erol Alkan in the psychedelic duo Beyond The Wizard’s Sleeve. 

Josh met producer Richard Norris at a Stone Club event in London, where they discovered they lived minutes from each other in Lewes. What began as a collaboration on film soundtracks soon evolved into a deeper creative partnership. The EP was recorded at Norris’ Metal Box Studios in Lewes. 

www.Instagram.com/_p.i.n.e.s_

www.JoshHight.com 

About Music Matters with Darrell Craig Harris

The Music Matters Podcast is hosted by Darrell Craig Harris, a globally published music journalist, professional musician, and Getty Images photographer. Music Matters is now available on Spotify, iTunes, Podbean, and more. Each week, Darrell interviews renowned artists, musicians, music journalists, and insiders from the music industry.

Visit us at: www.MusicMattersPodcast.com

Follow us on Twitter: www.Twitter.com/musicmattersdh

For inquiries, contact: [email protected]

Support our mission via PayPal: www.paypal.me/payDarrell 

Frank Hannon Releases New All-Guitar

Instrumental music with a single titled "Walk in the Rain" as the first preview of the full length album titled "Reflections" due for release this coming May 2025.

Renowned for his soulful playing and electrifying guitar solos, Frank Hannon-legendary guitarist, songwriter, and co-founder of Tesla-returns with a brand-new album showcasing his mastery of the instrument. This latest release is an all-guitar instrumental record, highlighting Hannon's deep passion for melody, tone, and raw expression. Only guitars are used, and the entire album was recorded and produced using his cell phone.

website www.FrankHannon.com

www.instagram.com/FrankHannonofficial

www.Facebook.com/frankhannonofficial

About Music Matters with Darrell Craig Harris

The Music Matters Podcast is hosted by Darrell Craig Harris, a globally published music journalist, professional musician, and Getty Images photographer. Music Matters is now available on Spotify, iTunes, Podbean, and more. Each week, Darrell interviews renowned artists, musicians, music journalists, and insiders from the music industry.

Visit us at: www.MusicMattersPodcast.com

Follow us on Twitter: www.Twitter.com/musicmattersdh

For inquiries, contact: [email protected]

Support our mission via PayPal: www.paypal.me/payDarrell