The Art Is Hard Podcast

This week Kiel talks with Bret Bender of the indie, pop, electronic duo Bogan Via. Kiel and Bret cover the origin of the band as a folk two piece, its metamorphosis into the more electronic focused band it is today, how to find the right tools of creation when you have so many available to you, and how to navigate and collaborate in a very interesting band dynamic.

This week is a special episode! Due to a scheduling issue with a guest following a sickness, this week is a solo episode where Kiel gets real and talks about honesty in art. The idea has come up several times on the show so far and Kiel shares his thoughts on why honest art makes great art.

This week on the Art is Hard podcast, Kiel is joined by his friends Anthony Quiroz and Tevita Maliu, guitarist and vocalist of the Arizona hardcore band The Beautiful Ones. This conversation goes back to the early days of the band, covers the Beautiful Ones unique writing process, and how the band has evolved to culminate in their newest EP entitled Beautiful Crü all over some delicious drinks! This one is a good one so get into it!

This week, Kiel sits down with local Phoenix comedian, Anwar Newton, to talk about Anwar's foray into the world of comedy, how he has navigated the comedic path over the last few years, all the elemnts that go into constructing and developing jokes, an how to work with different crowds at open mics to clubs and everywhere in between. This is a really fun, yet informative episode so get into it!

On this episode of the Art is Hard Podcast Kiel sits down and talks with Danielle Durack, a local singer/songwriter all about how she got started in music, how insecurity and isolation played a role in her creative development, the process of making her first album Bonnie Rose, and much more.

In this episode of the Art Is Hard Podcast, Kiel sits down with long-time friend and folk artist Steven Cosand who creates under the moniker Quaker Folk. This time around the discussion focuses on Steven's entrance into the world of graphic art, what constitutes "folk" art in the first place, and how spirituality factors into creating art. This is a good one so get into it!

On this episode of the Art Is Hard Podcast, Kiel sits down with a veritable queen of the Arizona zine scene and operator of Viva Vox Press, Marna Kay! Some topics covered in this episode are how Marna got started and involved with zine making, how the zine scene has evolved from it's DIY punk origins into the age of the internet, and how zines exist as a platform to give a voice to the voiceless!

In this episode of the Art Is Hard Podcast, Kiel sits down with the frontman and driving force behind the Arizona stoner doom band Goya. Jeff sheds some light on how Goya got started, how certain "substances" play a part in writing and performing, and how to stay true to yourself and release music in a very DIY way!

In this episode Kiel talks with Nate Garrett, creator and frontman of the Psychedelic Doom band Spirit Adrift, about the origins of the project, the struggle Nate went through to get there, how to find authenticity in creating art, and what Nate thinks makes a piece of art great.

Welcome to Art Is Hard with Kiel Siler! In this episode Kiel talks about the purpose for the Art Is Hard Podcast, how it came to be, and what it hopes to accomplish. Join Kiel as he tries to find the answer to the question that has plagued the creative community throughout history: how do you make great art?