Music That Matters Podcast

What a privilege it was to speak with the Knee-Hi’s: a refreshing indie rock band from Chicago who arrive somewhere between a dreamy 50’s doo-wop and a power-pop garage sound. Each member brings their own raw, unique and charismatic energy to a band you're guaranteed to fall in love with!

They've released three singles ("Darlin' Darlin'", "Action" and "Make You Mine") and their debut EP is coming out this summer! Stay tuned!

Up-and-coming indie artist, Jaguar Sun, is a self-taught musician and producer from a small town in southern Ontario. He is an artist that is constantly creating. Mark my words, you'll be hearing more about him soon!

For now, check out his 2020 album, This Empty Town, and his 2021 collaborative EP, Blooms. Both are streaming everywhere!

Coming out of Atlanta, Georgia is a new 5-piece Folk Rock/Americana band fronted by Kate Coleman. In this interview, I learned about her origins as a singer/songwriter as well as the diversity in genres on her new EP, Running On Love.

Running On Love is streaming everywhere and for fans of all guitar-based music, this is definitely something to check out!

There have been many artists cut from the same branch as Max Clarke, who goes by Cut Worms in his musician life. For me, it was his humility and mystery as an artist which intrigued me from the first time I heard him. He is dedicated to the long-standing traditions and lineage of music and doesn't focus on what will get him fame and fortune.

His 2020 album, Nobody Lives Here Anymore, is streaming everywhere and is well-worth the listen.

Hope Dunbar started making music after most have given up. I got the sense that there was always an innate desire for her to write songs through her passionate outlook on music, as well as being an avid journaler. She lives out in a small town in Nebraska and I got the chance to ask her about her life as a singer/songwriter and the beautiful world of the America's vast landscape.

Her album Sweetheartland is out everywhere, take a listen!

Born and raised in Mobile, AL, Duncan cut her teeth on music at a very early age. Listening to bluegrass, rock ’n’ roll, church songs, Celtic music, and classical compositions, Duncan enjoyed a wide variety of inspirations from early on. Her parents and big brother (Christopher Duncan), all musicians themselves, helped to foster an appreciation for playing and performing. With her mom teaching her, Duncan started playing piano at the age of 5 and slowly picked up different instruments along the way. She found an extra level of musical passion when she started playing violin in her teens. With determination to share music and make it her career, she began touring and freelancing with rock bands, jazz players, folk artists, local record studios, and chamber groups.

In addition to counting the members of her family as musically encouraging and motivating, Duncan has also drawn inspiration from artists as diverse as Freddie Mercury, Alison Krauss, Elton John, Chris Thile, and James Taylor. “They are masters of their craft, and they make technically savvy music readily enjoyable to all types of audiences,” says Duncan. “Listening to their music makes my heart happy. The music keeps me company and makes me feel inspired. My hope is to pass that on, to add light, inspiration, and encouragement to other people. I feel that music can be like a prayer, a hope, a connection to our deepest source of light.”

Duncan plans to play live shows when possible within COVID guidelines, but, in the meantime, fans can follow her on Facebook for announcements about her upcoming livestreams.

www.MelodyDuncanMusic.com

Coming into his own as a singer-songwriter and visionary solo artist, former Chordaes frontman Leo Sawikin wrote his recently released debut single, the soaring, ethereal pop/rock ballad  “Golden Days,” before the era of COVID-19 – yet its prescient lyrics capture our anxious collective moment perfectly: “We were chasing dreams/Way back then life was serene, but we blew it all to smithereens. . .can't help but long for the golden days.”

Huntington Beach, CA-based classic country singer-songwriter Victoria Bailey’s timeless country music has an inviting warm tone with the occasional flutter that transports you back in time to a classic honky tonk, one where Patsy Cline, Loretta Lynn, Dolly Parton, Emmylou Harris were all in heavy rotation. Bailey brings the classic country spirit to the 21st century through relatable raw, non-sugarcoated songwriting, evoking a fiery, no-holds-barred lyrical approach in the vein of Margo Price.PopMatters.com called her music “…a country romp... a rollicking, narrative-driven sound,” while Cowboys & Indians lauded her “storytelling soul-twang,” and Americana Highways praised her “grit mixed with personality, fluency in her musicality, she’s expressive and imaginative... Sawdust thick, whiskey-smooth...” Saving Country Music said: “If you’re looking for a honky tonk sweetheart, then you’ve found one in native Californian Victoria Bailey, who comes sauntering out of the painted desert on a Palomino like a singin’ cowgirl from the days of old, seducing you with... a sweet soprano with the most perfect country warble... a full package of country music goodness… Classic, but cool.” The video for her song “Spent My Dime on White Wine” has been in rotation on CMT. Bailey has also been honored to guest DJ three times over the past six months for streaming radio station Gimme Country.

Die Jim Crow Records is the first Record Label in the United States for formerly and currently incarcerated musicians. Their mission is to provide artists with a high quality platform for their voices to be heard.

Die Jim Crow Records began as an idea to basically make the greatest concept album of all time. In 2013, inspired by Michelle Alexander’s landmark book The New Jim Crow and Pink Floyd’s rock opera The Wall, artist/activist Fury Young embarked on the quixotic journey to make an epic double album about racial injustice in the U.S. prison system.

The initial idea was to work with formerly and currently incarcerated black musicians to form a collective narrative that spanned pre-prison, prison, and reentry. Though Young, who identifies as a “New York Jew,” had never been incarcerated or produced a single song before, his personal experiences with friends who had been to prison led to him pioneering the project with a ceaseless conviction.

For six years, while working full time as a carpenter, Young pursued DJC as a passion project and had the diligence to gain access to prisons across the country for recordings. During this time he built close relationships with several musicians and writers both in and once-in of the system.

In 2020 Die Jim Crow Records officially launched as the nation’s first non-profit record label for formerly and currently incarcerated musicians, with Young as Executive Director and label artist BL Shirelle as Deputy Director. While Shirelle’s debut LP, Assata Troi, was released to critical acclaim and media attention in June 2020, the team also helped send over 30,000 masks to prisons across the country with their PPE Into Prisons campaign between April and October.

With four projects in the works for 2021, and a monthly concert series showcasing justice-involved musicians alongside popular performers, Die Jim Crow Records is both a music platform and catalyst for social change.

Last year, during perhaps the most challenging time ever for independent artists both emotionally and economically, Casey Ahern remembered something one of her flight instructors once told her: “Your number one priority is to keep the plane flying no matter what distractions arise.”

Fueled by her trademark optimism, country singer-songwriter Casey Ahern keeps her artistry flowing and connection to her fans thriving with popular singles and livestream shows for The Boot and Americana Highways.