This episode features pieces of an audio recording from an online Love Bravely event earlier this year: the Department Store Song Premiere and Artist Talk. The event took place on Zoom on February 23rd and features Love Bravely host, Matre, telling the story of the newest Love Bravely song, “Department Store,” while also diving deeper into an exploration of what he refers to as “A Church With No Walls”—the possibility of a sacred space created through popular musical styles.

This event recording also features a conversation with producer, singer-songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist, Rick Ellis, who produced “Department Store.” Matre and Rick tell stories about their musical journeys, and their journeys with inner development and spirituality, exploring the interconnection of the two, and discovering new connections and commonalities between their paths. Together, they take a step further in Love Bravely’s ongoing exploration of the sacred roots of popular music—from the blues, to soul, jazz, rock ’n’ roll, and hip hop—and the sacred, transformative currents continuing to move through these, and other, musical styles.

The song “Department Store” is now streaming on all platforms, including Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube. The song was written by Matre and Peter David Walden, and features Matre on vocals; Peter David Walden on guitars and cello; Rick Ellis on guitar, keys, sound design, and production; Lesley Kernochan on backing vocals; Evan Cristo on drums; and Blaise Moriarty on bass.

Love Bravely is a community-supported project and we’re deeply grateful for your contributions, which make it possible for this work to move forward. We invite you to join our Patreon community and become a monthly subscriber at patreon.com/lovebravely, or to make a one-time donation here. Thank you for joining us on this journey and helping to make it possible!

To check out more music from Love Bravely and Matre, as well as Love Bravely articles and other collaborations, visit us on Substack at lovebravely.substack.com.

“Department Store” cover art / episode art by Laura Summer. Podcast logo art by Laura Summer. “Department Store” cover design by Joshua Temkin.

Recorded during the week leading up to inauguration day, 2025, this episode considers the unlikely timing of this year’s U.S. presidential inauguration lining up with Martin Luther King Day. Love Bravely host, Matre, takes this discordant moment as an opportunity to reflect on the power of Dr. King’s life and legacy, and his profound connection with the force of love. Matre shares the feeling that Dr. King’s presence may hold a particularly significant invitation for us at this time, and explores his own journey of working to turn from fear to love.

This episode features a demo, rehearsal recording of a forthcoming Love Bravely song, “The Time” (Matre on vocals and Kai Naor on piano), as well as a Matre verse from an unreleased song, “The Force” (forthcoming studio version produced by Jericho J).

Love Bravely is a community supported project and we’re deeply grateful for your contributions, which make it possible for this work to move forward. We invite you to become a monthly subscriber at patreon.com/lovebravely, or to make a one-time donation here. Thank you for joining us on this journey and helping to make it possible!

To check out music from Matre and Love Bravely, as well as Love Bravely articles and other collaborations, visit us on Substack @ lovebravely.substack.com.

Episode art by Laura Summer. Podcast cover art by Laura Summer. Graphic design by Joshua Temkin.

This first episode features a reading of the first Love Bravely Substack article, “Love Bravely: An Introduction.” It tells the story of an inspiring encounter with legendary rapper, educator, and cultural leader, KRS-One, and explores the power of love as a force—a presence with which we can cultivate a relationship, and which is essential for deep-reaching social change.

Love Bravely is a community supported project, and your contributions make it possible for this work to move forward. We invite you to become a monthly subscriber at patreon.com/lovebravely, or to make a one-time donation here. Thank you for joining us on this journey and helping to make it possible!

To check out music from Matre and Love Bravely, as well as podcast episodes, Love Bravely articles, and all kinds of collaborations, visit us on Substack @ lovebravely.substack.com

Podcast cover art by Laura Summer. Graphic design by Joshua Temkin.