The Self Portrait Gospel :: Podcast

LA-based singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Sam Blasucci was first introduced to music by his father, who was a prominent musician during Blasucci's childhood. Eventually learning to play himself and some influential relocating over the years, he soon connected with local friends and together formed Mapace, while he was still attending high school. With a number of incredible releases from the band that explore various themes on culture, cosmic community, elements of vibration, Blasucci makes an epic return with his highly anticipated follow-up to "Off My Stars" entitled "Real Life Thing", which is set for release in early November.

The Ohio-born, North Carolina-based singer-songwriter and poet, Wes Tirey has been releasing music for well over a decade now with such titles like "O, Annihilator", "Black Wind", "No Winners in the Blues" and his most recent effort entitled "Wes Tirey Sings Selected Works of Billy the Kid", that came out on Sun Cru earlier this summer. Based on the 1970 novel by Michael Ondaatje, Tirey successfully manifested the timeless spirit of Billy the Kid, while simultaneously narrating the landscape of an old American legend that is both infamous and melodically told. On this episode of the podcast we expore Tirey's past, present and future in music, iconic influences in the arts, his career in coffee culture, our mutual obsession with Dylan, literature and its romantic impact on society, his writing and recording process and much more. 

Multi-instrumentalist Nathan Bowles has been hard at work this year with the recent release of his Trio's debut album on Drag City entitled "Are Possible" as well as the highly anticipated follow up from Setting, "At Eulogy". These recent years haven't been in favor of anyone creative, or brave enough to share thier process with the certain ecosystems and landscapes that are seemingly drying up like that of something from a biblical text, but Bowles has always been someone known for his ability to pivot and make it happen. 

On this episode we talk about our mutual heroes and friends, the late Jack Rose, Joseph Allred and Ben Chasny (SOOA), the undeniable bridge that connects the skateboarding culture to the world of music, growing up in the country and finding that unique connection to the arts, Bowles' particular process and remarkable ability to conjure certain elements into his music, and so much more. 

Both prolific and philosophical, while also containing potential, Emil Amos is a legend in the world of music, art, culture and existential expressionism. A career that spans back some 30 odd years, Amos first began his jarring journey in music during his college years in NC, where he also met his longtime friend and cosmic brother, the great comedian, Duncan Trussell. Throughout the decades, Amos would go on to establish his solo outfit Holy Sons, the mighty Grails, Lilacs & Champagne, jumping on the chrome throne for OM and his impeccable podcast called, Drifter's Sympathy. 

We explore the depths of the chronic psyche, the immeasurable impact of the punk scene throughout the 1980s, more specifically Ian MacKye, and the landscape of emotion, motivation, meditation and perseverence as Amos takes on an ancient journey that begins and ends all at once in this epic practice in connnection, communication and cosmic camaraderie.

From Harlem to the holy land of music majesty, Chris Stein is a household name when it comes to being one of the founding members of one of the most infleuntial bands of the last 21st century, Blondie, but did you know he is also a world renowned photographer and writer? Stein captured some of the most iconic figures and their historical situations of the last century, from William S. Burroughs, The NYC punk/new wave scene, his longtime friend and bandmate, Debbie Harry, Andy Warhol, as well as a day in the life of a New Yorker during its monumental era in the 1970s.

With a new memior entitled, "Under A Rock" and new Blondie material on the forseeable horizon, we had the blessing of speaking to Stein about his love for all things music, art, film/photography, comedy, and above all, the creative cultures throughout histroy. His book is both radically revealing, incredibly moving and detailed, as it teleports its readers to an undeniably special and viseral time and place in history for the ones who were there and don't remember all too well, to the ones that were yet to be born. 

Born and raised in Kansas City, Lowe was first hit by music with an introdiction to The Bad Brains in the mid to late 80s. From there, the young musician played in such groups like Secular Theme, 90 Day Men and later OM before fully immersing himself in the world of sound and music with his outstanding career as a solo musician. Releasing a wide range of albums that transcend countless genres and atmospheres of philosophy, Lowe eventually branched into composing music for films like Candyman, Grasshopper Republic, Netflix's Power and most recently Nadia Latif's new film entitled "The Man In My Basement". Special dude, special conversation. Enjoy!

Born in Kingston, Jamaica, LA based legend and pioneer of 'Dub Music', Hopeton Overton Brown, known around the world as "The Scientist", first began his career in the 80s working alongside greats like King Tubby, Jung and countless others during the dawn of Dub. We have the legend sit down with us to talk about his most recent gig with Folk Yeah! Events a few weeks back, a career spanning over four decades, philosophy and politics, music's healing properties and much much more. Enjoy!

Born and raised in Wales, Moxham grew up with his brother and future YMG bandmate Philip Moxham during the late 50s and into the 60s with influences such as The Kinks and The Beatles. picking up the guitar on a cosmic whim, starting the incredibly infleuntial and acclaimed Young Marble Giants, signing with Rough Trade, the legend and legacy of the band,  his solo career and most recently his new album entitled "fabstract" that was released earlier this week. 

Acclaimed musician, multi-instrumentalist and prodcuer Sean O'Hagan sits down with us to talk about his youth growing up in England and being of Irish decent, early influences such as blues, jazz and the dawn of rock n' roll in America, our mutual obsession with David Bowie, meeting the late Cathal Coughlan and forming Microdisney, establishing The High Llamas, the band's new album entitled "Hey Panda" on Drag City Records, working with the mighty Brian Wilson and much much more. Enjoy!

You may have heard that Underwood's primitive classic from 1988 entitled "California Sigh" was recently reissued by Drag City Records, but did you know that he played alongside the late and great Tim Buckley? Underwood was responsible for laying down those incredible guitar and piano parts on esteemed albums such as Buckley's self-titled debut, the monumental "Goodbye and Hello", "Starsailor" and countless others throughout their short, but transcendent career together. Underwood eventualy stepped away from music all together to write for prestigious publications as well as publishing books like "Inside Paul Horn" and the accalimed "Blue Monday: Tim Buckley Remembered".