In this episode of The Lorenzo's Music Podcast, I meet Keith Marshall, also known as the musician of Key 13 as well as several other music projects. Keith shares his musical background, sparked by the purchase of a NanoKey 2 during the onset of the stay home order. We talk about his inspirations, including the backstory of his band name and the eclectic sounds he creates using virtual instruments.

Keith also discusses his role in createing the Faircamp Webring and being part of the Bonkwave community. We also talk about the role federated platforms have in fostering a collaborative music environment as well as the concept of Fair Traded Music Friday which is aimed at promoting independent artists and their releases across federated platforms.

We also explore the technical side of his music production, including his use of Logic Pro, plugins to achieve guitar sounds, and synth textures.

Keith also tells me about his latest compilation, "Pretentious Incongruity," which revisits and remixes his past works.

For more information on Keith's music and projects, visit key13.uk.

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Lorenzo's Music Website https://www.lorenzosmusic.com

In this episode of the Lorenzo's Music Podcast, I meet Ben Pate, the creator of Bandwagon.fm, an open-source platform designed for musicians to share their music online. Ben shares the inspiration behind Bandwagon, which emerged from a need for an open, federated alternative to traditional music platforms. We discuss the unique features of Bandwagon, including its integration with the Fediverse, allowing artists to connect with a broader audience while maintaining control over their music.

Ben explains how Bandwagon operates and the challenges he faces as a solo developer. We also discuss the collaboration between Bandwagon and The Indie Beat, an online radio station.

You can check out Bandwagon at https://bandwagon.fm

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Lorenzo's Music Website - https://www.lorenzosmusic.com

💿 Listen to the new album "Friction" by Lorenzo's Music https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/lorenzosmusic/friction

**(Updated sound, fixing clipping issue on AxWax's audio)**

In this episode of Lorenzo's Music Podcast, I meet Axel, also known as AxWax, a musician currently residing in Spain. Axel shares his background of studying music technology in the UK to becoming involved in creating a community radio station and tells us about getting started in the Bonk Wave music scene.

We dive deep into Axel's experiences in establishing a community radio station from scratch, the challenges of securing funding, and the evolution of his music career. He discusses his early days in hip-hop, collaborating with artists, and how he transitioned into creating music under his AxWax moniker.

To discover more about Axel's work and listen to his latest projects, visit https://faircamp.axwax.eu

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Lorenzo's Music Website - https://www.lorenzosmusic.com

In this episode of Lorenzo's Music Podcast, I meet Jason Erb, who is behind the music project Velcro Mary. Jason shares the origins of his unique band name and reflects on his evolution as a musician, from recording on four-track cassette tapes to his recent foray into remixing his earlier works. We talk about influences that shaped his sound, including grunge icons like Nirvana and the lo-fi aesthetic of the early '90s. Jason opens up about the challenges of finding his musical identity, especially as he juggles family life and his creative pursuits.

We also discuss his latest remix album, a project that allowed him to revisit and reimagine his past work with fresh techniques and insights gained over the years.

you can find his work on all major streaming platforms and visit his website at https://www.velcromarymusic.com

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Lorenzo's Music Website - https://www.lorenzosmusic.com

In this episode of Lorenzo's Music Podcast, I meet Simon Vansintjan, a web developer and musician, to explore the innovative platform Mirlo. Designed as a collectively owned digital marketplace for music, Mirlo aims to provide an open-source alternative to conventional platforms like Bandcamp, emphasizing community and transparency.

Simon shares the story behind Mirlo and discusses the challenges of building a music platform without venture capital. We delve into the unique features of Mirlo, including its subscription model that allows artists to offer their music and merchandise directly to fans while fostering a sustainable income stream.

We talk about the importance of cooperative ownership in the music industry, the platform's support of Creative Commons licensing, and the vision for creating a supportive community for musicians. Simon also highlights the technical aspects of Mirlo, including its user-friendly interface and the ongoing development to enhance the listening experience for users.

To learn more about Mirlo and join the conversation, visit mirlo.space

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Lorenzo's Music Website - https://www.lorenzosmusic.com

In this episode of Lorenzo's Music Podcast, I meet Simon Repp, a talented software developer focused on creating tools for musicians. We delve into Simon's projects, primarily Faircamp, a static site generator for musicians that allows them to host their music independently, much like Bandcamp but without the platform constraints.

Simon shares the origins of Faircamp, inspired by his own experiences as a musician and his desire for a platform that prioritizes simplicity and independence over commercial competition. We explore the technical aspects of Faircamp, including its foundation on Rust for efficient and bug-free coding, and its innovative use of FFmpeg for audio file conversion. Simon explains the concept of a "soft pay curtain," a unique approach to voluntary payments for music downloads.

We also discuss the challenges and opportunities of self-hosted platforms, the role of static site generators, and Simon's commitment to maintaining Faircamp as a low-maintenance, accessible tool for musicians. Additionally, Simon talks about his other project, Hyper 8, a similar tool for video producers, and his vision for the future of these projects.

Discover more about Simon's work and explore Faircamp at simonrepp.com/faircamp.

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Lorenzo's Music Website - https://www.lorenzosmusic.com

In this episode of the Lorenzo's Music Podcast, I chat with Honeychild Coleman, a multifaceted musician and visual artist based in Brooklyn, NY. Our conversation kicks off with the unique story of how I first learned about this musician and quickly delves into Honeychild's journey from art school illustrator to street-performing musician. Honeychild shares insights into managing multiple bands, including the blues-punk group The 1865, and discusses her solo projects and collaborations with various artists.

Honeychild also talks about her experience busking in the New York subway, the creative process behind her music, and her involvement in the documentary "Rock Chicks." The discussion touches on her recent foray into writing and her contributions to the anthology "Black Punk Now." Honeychild reflects on the challenges of promoting her work across different platforms and maintaining a distinct voice for each of her creative ventures.

Discover more about Honeychild Coleman and her work at honeychildcoleman.com.

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Lorenzo's Music Website - https://www.lorenzosmusic.com

In this episode of Lorenzo's Music Podcast, I meet Meljoann, a multidisciplinary artist from Ireland, now based in Brighton, UK. I heard about Meljoann on the federated social platform Mastodon, where I learned about our mutual passion for free and open-source music creation.

We talk about Meljoann's unique music style, "Hyperjack," a term they coined to describe their blend of New Jack Swing influences with modern electronic elements using tools like Reaper and a mix of hardware and software synthesizers.

The conversation also explores the challenges and opportunities of releasing music independently in the digital age. Meljoann discusses their use of Fairamp, a self-hosted platform for musicians, and their involvement in the federated music community, including involvement on Radio Free Fedi and Peertube.

Additionally, Meljoann talks about their upcoming album "Status," set for release in March, and their innovative approach to music promotion.

Discover more about Meljoann and their work at meljoann.com.

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Lorenzo's Music Website https://www.lorenzosmusic.com

In this episode, we delve into the process behind a collaboration for Lorenzo's Remixes Volume 1. Toucon aka Connor Lipke, provided a beat that became the foundation for a remix of the song "Slippery friction". The discussion covers the nuances of beat creation, starting with the basics of a drum loop and building upon it with synth layers using the VST, Serum.

We look at the original FL Studio session for the beat Toucon made using a Novation Launchkey MIDI keyboard. We talk about the use of one-shot drum samples and drum packs from various producers for the beat-making process.

Toucon also discusses the challenges and strategies of selling beats online, including the use of platforms like BeatStars and maintaining relationships with artists for the beats he creates.

This interview was recorded during an Instagram live session.

Toucon on Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/artist/5m9Arsu1Lxf5DPPGDYL7Ww

Lorenzo's Music album "Lorenzo's Remixes, Volume 1" is available now: https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/lorenzosmusic/lorenzos-remixes-volume-1

Lorenzo's Music Website - https://www.lorenzosmusic.com

In this episode musician Nicholas Burgess, returns to the show. This time, we talk about Nicholas's creative process for remixing our song "Rainy Day Friction" for our EP Lorenzo's Remixes Volume 1. We have a discussion about the techniques Nicholas used and the artistic decisions he made on the track.

This interview was recorded during an Instagram live session, Nicholas shares his method of starting with the original song's stems, selectively retaining parts like the bass, and building upon them with his own musical style. He explains his focus on the song's chorus and how it influenced the structure of the remix, drawing parallels to contemporary pop songwriting methods.

You'll also hear about Nicholas's approach to layering instruments, MIDI synths, and the creative effects he applies to achieve the remix's unique sound. Additionally, Nicholas discusses his vocal contributions to the track and how he balanced them with the original vocals.

Nicholas also has a new album release, "MEJORA MAJORA" that came out in October. He provides a glimpse into the album's production process including physical formats.

Listen to the remix https://youtu.be/dXRctm2uPRY

Nicholas Burgess Website https://nicholasburgess.com

Discover more about Lorenzo's Music at https://www.lorenzosmusic.com