Today, the Spotlight shines On organist, composer, and sound artist Hampus Lindwall.

Hampus started as a guitarist who cut his teeth copying Steve Vai solos but who now sits behind a 78-stop church organ. He has been the organist at Saint-Esprit in Paris since 2005, but his latest album, Brace for Impact, throws tradition out the window. Recorded on a massive organ in Düsseldorf with guitarist Stephen O'Malley, this music draws on everything from experimental music pioneer Xenakis to heavy metal and more.

Hampus takes us through this remarkable project, sharing how a Swedish metalhead became one of the most adventurous voices in contemporary organ music.

If you enjoyed this episode, check out our discussion with Terence Hannum from earlier this year, or our 2024 interview with Hainbach, or even 2023’s with Brandon Seabrook, all available on spotlightonpodcast.com.

(The musical excerpts heard in the interview are from Hampus Lindwall’s new album Brace for Impact)

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Dig Deeper

• Visit Hampus Lindwall at hampuslindwall.com and follow him on Instagram and Bluesky
• Purchase Hampus Lindwall's Brace for Impact from Ideologic Organ, Bandcamp, or Qobuz and listen on your streaming platform of choice
• Dig into this episode's complete show notes at spotlightonpodcast.com

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• Looking for more? Visit spotlightonpodcast.com for bonus content, web-only interviews + features, and the Spotlight On email newsletter. You can also follow us on Bluesky, Mastodon, YouTube, and LinkedIn.

• Be sure to bookmark our online magazine, The Tonearm! → thetonearm.com

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Today, the Spotlight shines On writer Chris O'Leary.

Chris has spent over a decade and a half writing what's become the definitive study of David Bowie's songbook. His blog, Pushing Ahead of the Dame, covers every song on every album in Bowie’s extensive canon. The first post from 2009 covers David’s first single, 1964’s “Liza Jane”, and the most recent is about Chris’s latest work, a newly revised edition of Rebel Rebel, a collection of his writings on Bowie songs from 1963 - 1976. Chris has written for Pitchfork, Slate, and Billboard, and he's currently working on an online project called 64 Quartets, a series exploring musical quartets across genres.

I previously booked Chris back in 2021 to speak at the Bowie 75 pop-up I produced in New York City. There, he presented on Bowie and Brian Eno's 1995 album Outside.

Chris is here to discuss his updated book, what new archival releases have taught us about Bowie's creative process, and why he chose the blog format to tackle one of music's most ambitious projects.

If you are interested in more of our episodes touching on the life and work of David Bowie, check out last week’s episode with Donny McCaslin, 2022’s episode with Chris Duffy, or 2021’s episode with David Whitehead.

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Dig Deeper

• Chris O'Leary's blog "Pushing Ahead of the Dame"
• Rebel Rebel: The Songs of David Bowie, 1963-1976 (revised edition, July 2025)
• Ashes to Ashes: The Songs of David Bowie, 1976-2016
• Repeater Books
• Dig into this episode's complete show notes at spotlightonpodcast.com

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• Did you enjoy this episode? Please share it with a friend! You can also rate Spotlight On ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ and leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

• Subscribe! Be the first to check out each new episode of Spotlight On in your podcast app of choice.

• Looking for more? Visit spotlightonpodcast.com for bonus content, web-only interviews + features, and the Spotlight On email newsletter. You can also follow us on Bluesky, Mastodon, YouTube, and LinkedIn.

• Be sure to bookmark our online magazine, The Tonearm! → thetonearm.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, the Spotlight shines On saxophonist Donny McCaslin.

Donny's new album, Lullaby for the Lost, arrives September 26th on Edition Records, and what a record it is. It’s Donny’s saxophone with guitar-driven rock energy, drawing from influences like Neil Young and Nine Inch Nails, resulting in what Donny calls his most personal music to date.

You might know Donny from his pivotal role on David Bowie's final album ★ (pronounced Blackstar). His latest work demonstrates what may have drawn Bowie to him in the first place: an artist always willing to push into uncharted territory.

Donny is also bringing the Blackstar Symphony to stages across the US and Europe, reimagining Bowie's masterwork with a full orchestra.

I previously spoke with Donny in January 2022 in front of a live audience in New York City. That conversation, which goes much deeper into Donny’s early life as well as his work with David, is available on the official David Bowie YouTube channel, with a link in our show notes.

(The musical excerpts heard in the interview are from Donny McCaslin’s album Lullaby for the Lost)

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Dig Deeper

• Visit Donny McCaslin at donnymccaslin.com and follow him on Bluesky, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube
• Purchase Lullaby for the Lost from Edition Records, Bandcamp, or Qobuz and listen on your streaming platform of choice
• Lawrence Peryer Interviews Donny McCaslin Live From Bowie75
• Dig into this episode's complete show notes at spotlightonpodcast.com

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• Did you enjoy this episode? Please share it with a friend! You can also rate Spotlight On ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ and leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

• Subscribe! Be the first to check out each new episode of Spotlight On in your podcast app of choice.

• Looking for more? Visit spotlightonpodcast.com for bonus content, web-only interviews + features, and the Spotlight On email newsletter. You can also follow us on Bluesky, Mastodon, YouTube, and LinkedIn.

• Be sure to bookmark our online magazine, The Tonearm! → thetonearm.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, the Spotlight shines On Matt Piucci, founding member and principal guitarist of Rain Parade.

Rain Parade helped define LA's Paisley Underground scene in the early '80s, creating music with psychedelic textures with punk energy. Their 1983 debut Emergency Third Rail Power Trip remains a touchstone album of the era, cited as an influence by everyone from My Bloody Valentine to the Stone Roses.

Now Matt and the band are revisiting their catalog with deluxe reissues, including the newly expanded Crashing Dream, their so-called "lost double album" from 1985. It's part of an ongoing project that's given Matt a fresh perspective on work that continues to find new audiences decades later.

(The musical excerpts heard in the interview are from Rain Parade’s album Crashing Dream)

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Dig Deeper

• Visit Rain Parade at rainparadeofficial.com
• Purchase Rain Parade's Crashing Dream Deluxe Edition from Label 51 Recordings, Bandcamp, or Qobuz and listen on your streaming platform of choice
• Also be sure to check out these other Rain Parade albums: Last Rays of a Dying Sun (2023) and Emergency Third Rail Power Trip(deluxe edition)
• Steve Wynn of The Dream Syndicate on the Spotlight On podcast
• Dig into this episode's complete show notes at spotlightonpodcast.com

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• Did you enjoy this episode? Please share it with a friend! You can also rate Spotlight On ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ and leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

• Subscribe! Be the first to check out each new episode of Spotlight On in your podcast app of choice.

• Looking for more? Visit spotlightonpodcast.com for bonus content, web-only interviews + features, and the Spotlight On email newsletter. You can also follow us on Bluesky, Mastodon, YouTube, and LinkedIn.

• Be sure to bookmark our online magazine, The Tonearm! → thetonearm.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, the Spotlight shines On composer and pianist Robin Holcomb and cellist Peggy Lee.

These two musicians have been creating music together for the better part of two decades. Their new album, Reno, out September 12, captures something rare: the kind of musical conversation that happens when two artists know each other's musical language inside and out. Robin's songs draw from American folk traditions while her piano work moves into territories that feel both classical and completely free. Peggy brings a cello sound that's equally at home with composed melodies and total improvisation.

Their collaboration encompasses everything from Robin's early song cycles about utopian communities in the Pacific Northwest to pieces that came from her work on the Donner Party saga. It's music that's hard to categorize, which makes it all the more worth your time.

This conversation in the Fall of 2024, off-hours and in person at Seattle music venue The Royal Room.

(The musical excerpts heard in the interview are from Robin Holcomb and Peggy Lee’s album Reno)

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Dig Deeper

• Visit Robin Holcomb at robinholcomb.com and follow her on Instagram and Facebook
• Visit cellist Peggy Lee online
• Purchase Robin Holcomb and Peggy Lee’s Reno from Songlines or Qobuz, and listen on your streaming platform of choice.
• Wayne Horvitz - Robin's partner, frequent collaborator, and producer of Reno

• Dig into this episode's complete show notes at spotlightonpodcast.com

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• Did you enjoy this episode? Please share it with a friend! You can also rate Spotlight On ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ and leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

• Subscribe! Be the first to check out each new episode of Spotlight On in your podcast app of choice.

• Looking for more? Visit spotlightonpodcast.com for bonus content, web-only interviews + features, and the Spotlight On email newsletter. You can also follow us on Bluesky, Mastodon, YouTube, and LinkedIn.

• Be sure to bookmark our online magazine, The Tonearm! → thetonearm.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, the Spotlight shines On bestselling author and journalist Larry Tye.

Larry's latest book, The Jazzmen, tells the story of how Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, and Count Basie transformed America. But this isn't just another music biography. Larry explores nearly every aspect of the lives and music of these men and demonstrates how their artistry helped lay the groundwork for the civil rights movement.

This is Larry's ninth book, following acclaimed biographies of figures like Bobby Kennedy, Joe McCarthy, and Satchel Paige. As a former Boston Globe reporter who now runs Harvard's Health Coverage Fellowship, he's spent decades making complex stories accessible to all of us.

Larry's here to share how three jazz masters changed more than music—they changed America itself.

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Dig Deeper

• Visit Larry Tye at larrytye.com
• Purchase Larry Tye's The Jazzmen: How Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, and Count Basie Transformed America from Bookshopor other online retailers
• Larry Tye author page at HarperCollins

• Duke Ellington - Official website and musical legacy
• Louis Armstrong - Louis Armstrong House Museum
• Count Basie - Count Basie Theatre and legacy resources

• Dig into this episode's complete show notes at spotlightonpodcast.com

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• Did you enjoy this episode? Please share it with a friend! You can also rate Spotlight On ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ and leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

• Subscribe! Be the first to check out each new episode of Spotlight On in your podcast app of choice.

• Looking for more? Visit spotlightonpodcast.com for bonus content, web-only interviews + features, and the Spotlight On email newsletter. You can also follow us on Bluesky, Mastodon, YouTube, and LinkedIn.

• Be sure to bookmark our online magazine, The Tonearm! → thetonearm.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, the Spotlight shines On tenor saxophonist Rico Jones.

Rico's new album BloodLines captures something you don't hear much anymore—a live recording that feels like a complete story. Recorded at Brooklyn's Ornithology, it's five original compositions that explore his multicultural heritage, from his Indigenous and Latino roots to his deep connection with Black American musical traditions.

Based in Harlem, Rico's already performed with Esperanza Spalding at the Blue Note and co-led the first all-Indigenous big band. His approach to jazz honors the past while pushing forward, whether he's working with veterans like Joe Martin and Nasheet Waits or mentoring students in Jersey City.

(The musical excerpts heard in the interview are from Rico Jones’s album BloodLines)

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• Visit Rico Jones at ricojonesmusician.com and follow him on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube
• Rico Jones's Bloodlines album is out now on Giant Step Arts and can be purchased from Bandcamp or Qobuz, and you can listen on your streaming platform of choice
• Joe Martin, bassist - One of NYC's most sought-after bassists
• Nasheet Waits, drummer - Veteran drummer and Giant Step Arts co-curator
• Max Light, guitarist - Rising star in contemporary jazz guitar
• Dig into this episode's complete show notes at spotlightonpodcast.com

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• Did you enjoy this episode? Please share it with a friend! You can also rate Spotlight On ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ and leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

• Subscribe! Be the first to check out each new episode of Spotlight On in your podcast app of choice.

• Looking for more? Visit spotlightonpodcast.com for bonus content, web-only interviews + features, and the Spotlight On email newsletter. You can also follow us on Bluesky, Mastodon, YouTube, and LinkedIn.

• Be sure to bookmark our online magazine, The Tonearm! → thetonearm.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, the Spotlight shines On musician, software engineer, and plug-in developer Aqeel Aadam.

Aqeel's got deep roots in Philadelphia's music scene—his grandfather was a jazz musician who gifted him his first guitar. That foundation led him from Princeton's computer science and music programs to a five-year stint at Google, and eventually to creating his own company, Aqeel Aadam Sound.

His plug-ins aim to bring the magic of hardware synthesizers and modular workflows into the digital realm. His latest release, Waymaker, ties together his entire ecosystem of products in what he calls "an expansive, inspirational environment to get lost in." Aqeel's here to walk us through this unique approach to music technology and share how he's democratizing complex modular synthesis for producers everywhere.

(The musical excerpts heard in the interview are from Aqeel Aadam album Swim, Simian)

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Dig Deeper

• Visit Aqeel Aadam Sound at aqeelaadamsound.com
• Follow Aqeel on Instagram and Aqeel Aadam Sound Instagram
• Listen to Aqeel's music on Bandcamp and visit his personal site at aqeelaadam.com
• Watch Aqeel's videos on YouTube
• Waymaker - MIDI sequencer plugin on KVR Audio
• Weeping Wall - Microlooper effect discussion on KVR
• Ridgewalk - Granular looper (part of AAS ecosystem)
• Mystery Circles - Record label that released Aqeel's albums
• Dig into this episode's complete show notes at spotlightonpodcast.com

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• Did you enjoy this episode? Please share it with a friend! You can also rate Spotlight On ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ and leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

• Subscribe! Be the first to check out each new episode of Spotlight On in your podcast app of choice.

• Looking for more? Visit spotlightonpodcast.com for bonus content, web-only interviews + features, and the Spotlight On email newsletter. You can also follow us on Bluesky, Mastodon, YouTube, and LinkedIn.

• Be sure to bookmark our online magazine, The Tonearm! → thetonearm.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, the Spotlight shines On guitarist and composer Rez Abbasi.

Rez's new album with his Acoustic Quintet, Sound Remains, puts steel-string acoustic guitar at the center of a deeply personal meditation on presence and impermanence. The album adds master percussionist Hasan Bakr to Rez's long-standing quartet with Bill Ware, Stephan Crump, and Eric McPherson, creating what Rez calls music where "often the only thing that remains is sound."

The 2021 Guggenheim Fellow has spent decades finding his voice in jazz, blending his Pakistani roots with American musical traditions. Sound Remains, dedicated to his late mother, finds Rez returning to acoustic intimacy while furthering his exploration of mindfulness through music.

(The musical excerpts heard in the interview are from Sound Remains by the Rez Abbasi Acoustic Quintet)

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Dig Deeper

• Visit Rez Abbasi at reztone.com and follow him on Instagram and YouTube
• Purchase Rez Abbasi's Sound Remains from Whirlwind Recordings, Bandcamp, or Qobuz and listen on your streaming platform of choice
• Rez Abbasi: Top 5 Must-Hear Picks
• Dig into this episode's complete show notes at spotlightonpodcast.com

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• Did you enjoy this episode? Please share it with a friend! You can also rate Spotlight On ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ and leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

• Subscribe! Be the first to check out each new episode of Spotlight On in your podcast app of choice.

• Looking for more? Visit spotlightonpodcast.com for bonus content, web-only interviews + features, and the Spotlight On email newsletter. You can also follow us on Bluesky, Mastodon, YouTube, and LinkedIn.

• Be sure to bookmark our online magazine, The Tonearm! → thetonearm.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today, the Spotlight shines On someone we have not spoken to in a while…

Over the years, we have periodically turned the tables by having friends and colleagues interview me, most notably in episode 100, or by airing talks and interviews I have done in other forums.

Today is a little different. My longtime friend and colleague Jeremy Sirota is hosting a livestream series on LinkedIn called Creative Leadership. There, he interviews figures from the worlds of music, sports, business, and more to discuss their work in applying creativity to realms that are not often thought of as creative fields. I liked the idea and asked him to run his format on me. What follows is that talk.

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Dig Deeper

• Visit Jeremy Sirota at jeremysirota.com and connect with him on LinkedIn
• Visit Lawrence Peryer at lawrenceperyer.com and connect with him on LinkedIn
• Merlin - Digital rights music licensing partner for independent record labels
• Jazz Journalist Association - Professional organization for jazz writers and critics
• Lateral Thinking - Edward de Bono's problem-solving methodology
• Brian Eno Against Interpretation - The source of the quote that Jeremy references
• Dig into this episode's complete show notes at spotlightonpodcast.com

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• Did you enjoy this episode? Please share it with a friend! You can also rate Spotlight On ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ and leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

• Subscribe! Be the first to check out each new episode of Spotlight On in your podcast app of choice.

• Looking for more? Visit spotlightonpodcast.com for bonus content, web-only interviews + features, and the Spotlight On email newsletter. You can also follow us on Bluesky, Mastodon, YouTube, and LinkedIn.

• Be sure to bookmark our online magazine, The Tonearm! → thetonearm.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.