Sisters In Song

 In the first interview we talked to James Hatem. Talking to James was like talking with someone we’ve known forever. He told us about learning guitar at the age of 11, his Billy Joel obsession, and how listening to music can be practice too! 

In the second part of the interview, we talk with Kevin Gordon about his health scare that almost stopped his album “ The In Between “ (released September 13, 2024) from being released, his poetry background, and some great advice for new artists.  

Check them out here: 

James Hatem 

Kevin Gordon: 

 We had a great time talking to Bronte Fall about her new album “Not Done Yet” (released October 25, 2024) and the special meaning behindthe title. We talked about having a good support system to help silence that inner critic, and how you don’t have to “do it all at once.” 

  Teri Bracken’s career as Brontë Fall began almost accidentally. The singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist who was born and raised in the Chicago suburbs had always been a music obsessive, dreaming of forming her own bands and playing on stages. While working as the “door girl” at an indie music venue in Chicago, a chance opportunity allowed her to bookher first gig as an artist. She quickly came up with a band name (honoring her favorite writers, the Brontë sisters), compiled all the original songs she had, and never, ever looked back. Fall's road to acclaimed songwriter began in childhood when she picked up piano at age 7. Classical violin lessons soon followed, and eventually she was tapped as the singer/violinist in a collegerock band with a group of nineties rock loving frat boys. After leaving the guys, she further pursued her passion for violin playing at Berklee, which is where she fell in love with songwriting once and for all. Fall eventually made her way to Nashville—a dream come true considering it is a songwriter’s mecca.   

Though most of her instrumental focus is on guitar these days for pure convenience’s sake, Fall still brings out her violin and even performs on piano during her shows—she never sings a note empty handed. These live shows and releases have earned her plenty of praise, with Music Mecca noting: "Finding beauty at the end is what Brontë Fall seems to always know how to do and listeners get to follow her journey alongside her.” 

After a family tragedy struck in 2022, Fall rededicated herself to her craft, emerging with plenty of scar tissue and a batch of new songs that she considers her best yet. That lineup is highlighted by "Woman Like Me.” The track is both a reminder of Fall’s skills as asongwriter and a significant leap forward in both sound and style. It’s a defining statement, the culmination of years grinding for a shot and, at the same time, a new beginning.   

Check her out here: 

 In this live from AmericanaFest episode we chat with Arkansauce.Please note this was recorded directly after their set in a very warm and loud brewery! Thanks New Heights Brewing for the space (and the beer!)

We talk with them about their roots in metal and classicalmusic, their longevity as a group, and their motto of ‘last man standing.’ Be sure to check out their winter tour! 

Check them out here: 

 We had such a good chat with Carolyn about her new album “Each Machine” (released 12/6/24), all the researchthat went into the songs, the “satanic panic,” and the importance of rest.  

 Carolyn Kendrick is a Los Angeles-based singer-songwriter, fiddler, guitarist, and producer. Aftergraduating from Berklee College of Music, Kendrick crisscrossed the country with her former duo project The Page Turners. 

In addition to her songwriting career, Kendrick is active in the Bluegrass and Old-Time fiddlescene and produced and written music for the award-winning podcasts "You’re Wrong About"(Podcast of the Year, iHeart Radio) and "You Are Good". 

 Her new album, "Each Machine", released December 6, 2024 is a collection of traditional andoriginal political folk songs inspired by her time researching The Satanic Panic for the history podcast "You’re Wrong About". These songs are modern, electric re-imaginings of hymns, murder ballads, pagan chanting, and even songs of devil-worship.  

Check her out here: 

  Also shout outs to:

You're Wrong about Podcast-- yourewrongabout.com and You are Good Podcast -- www.podpage.com/you-are-good/blog/

 In this live from AmericanaFest episode, we talk to Denver’sClay Street Unit.   

We talked with the gentlemen of Clay Street Unit about writing songs that say the things they want to say, their upcoming album, and putting yourself out there.    

Check them out here:    

We had a great time talking with Juliet Lloyd about her soul-pop-folk sound, Gem and the Holograms, burn out, and the utility of therapy.

Juliet Lloyd is an acclaimed singer/songwriter who splits her time between Nashville, Tennessee, and Washington, D.C. 

Across her 20-year career as a writer and artist, Juliet has released three albums, garnering placements on television shows on MTV and VH1 and airplay on more than 175 radio stations across the country. 

Released on October 25th, Lloyd’s new album Carnival is the culmination of years away from the music industry grind, the hours spent writing through some of life’s hardest challenges, and the reintroduction of an artist now ripe with wisdom and experience. Recorded in an unhurried process over nearly 15 months and produced by Todd Wright (Lucy Woodward, Butch Walker, Toby Lightman), Carnival’s nine songs are a study in contrasts: Light and dark, devastating and self-deprecating, apologetic and angry, conversational and conceptual. They are genre-fluid, weaving elements of pop, folk, soul, and rock to create a vibrant and often unexpected platform for Lloyd’s unflinching storytelling.  

Check her out here: 

 Part one of the episode is our talk with the uber-talented Bryan Simpson. We talk with Bryan about his first project under his own name, his most recent release “The Oldest,” and howAmericana music is like a Hot Pocket. 

 Part two of the episode is our talk with the amazing Catherine Britt and Lachlan Bryan who make up The Pleasures. We talk about their unique sound, their origin story, and the interesting story of how they got their name.  

Check them out here: 

Bryan Simpson-- 

The Pleasures— 

 From getting gold stars and scratch and sniff stickers on poems in primary school to becoming obsessed with guitar playing, Matt Joe Gow is an artist through and through. We talk with himabout learning from the craft of your favorite artists because music is a craft! 

‍When Matt Joe Gow sings, everything else stops, such is the power of his voiceand his songs. Those songs have won awards, from Music Victoria Country Albumof the Year (twice) to a New Zealand Country Music Award, with nominations andchart positions along the way. 

Matt’s voice has been heard in festivals in the United Kingdom and the UnitedStates; in venues small and large across Australia and New Zealand; on radioand playlists, and supporting artists such as Chris Isaak and Justin TownesEarle. And every time, he wins new fans, drawn to his amazing vocal tone andhis way of bringing the listener closer, telling them stories they will carrywith them. 

Check him out here: 

 Part one of the episode is our hilarious chat with Adam Monda (guitar and vocals), Ethan Anderson (guitar, vocals, and the occasional flute), and Dave Goedde (drums)of Massy Feguson (and a cameo by keyboardist Fred Slater). We discussed how they started out with their first gig at a farmer's market, working with Damien Jurado, and their newly released album “You Can’t Tell Me I’m Not What a Used to Be” their first vinyl release! 

Part two of the episode features Cindy Emch and Clint Cleveland of Secret Emchy Society. We talked about Cindy’s starting the band under the guise of filling in on egg shaker for some friends, curating the Queer Country events at AmericanaFest and being ‘outlaw countrythat lives at the intersection of shit-kickery and tenderness.’ 

Honestly our faces hurt from smiling after these two conversations! 

Be sure to listen for the plug for Bolton’s Famous Hot Chicken in East Nashville.  

Find them here:  

Massy Ferguson— 

 Secret Emchy Society— 

 We are so excited to share this episode featuring FrankTurner. We are long-time fans and loved visiting with him before his show atthe Bourbon Theater in Lincoln, Nebraska about his writing process, his currentrelease “Undefeated” and the dark Covid years. 

Frank Turner is an English punk and folk singer-songwriterfrom Meonstoke, Hampshire. He began his career as the vocalist ofpost-hardcore band Million Dead, then embarked upon a primarily acoustic-basedsolo career following the band's split in 2005.  

In the studio and during live performances, Turner isaccompanied by his backing band, The Sleeping Souls, which consists of BenLlyod (guitar, mandolin), Tarrant Anderson (bass), MattNassir (piano, mandolin) and Callum Green (drums). 

To date, Turner has released ten solo albums, four raritiescompilation albums, one retrospective "best of" album, one splitalbum and five EPs. Turner's ninth studio album, “FTHC” was released on 11February 2022 and reached number 1 in the UK albums chart in the week followingits release. –Taken from Wikipedia 

Frank’s most recent album, “Undefeated” was released May 3,2024. It is his 10th full-length album.  

Check him out here: