Today, the Spotlight shines On drummer and composer Devin Gray.

Like me, Devin is a born New Englander who made his way to Brooklyn, though unlike me, he splits his time between Brooklyn and Berlin.

Devin has performed with Spotlight On alumni Angelica Sanchez and Satoko Fuji, as well as a who’s who of the creative music scene: David Liebman, Sylvie Couvoisier, Tim Berne, Nate Wooley, and many others.

Our conversation ranged from Devin’s earliest exposures to music, his self-taught approach to drumming, genre divisions in music, local and regional art scenes, the different approaches to arts funding he’s encountered in the US and Europe, the appeal of creating an artistic universe of work, sincerity and authenticity, more.

Devin will be performing in Seattle in the next few days and I hope to continue our conversation then. Enjoy.

(The musical excerpts heard in the interview are from Devin Gray’s album Most Definitely)

–

Dig Deeper

• Visit Devin Gray at devingraymusic.com
• Purchase Devin Gray’s Most Definitely on Qobuz or Bandcamp, and listen on Spotify
• Follow Devin Gray on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, Twitter (X), and YouTube
• 7 Questions for Devin Gray
• Satoko Fujii: composing beyond the jazz spirit
• Melt All the Guns (feat. Ralph Alessi & Angelica Sanchez)
• Dig into this episode’s complete show notes at spotlightonpodcast.com

–

• 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 Instagram, Facebook, and Mastodon.

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

Today, the Spotlight shines On Brad Mindich, an entrepreneur who works directly with artists, athletes, and others in music, culture, and sports to expand their legacies and create powerful connections with their fans.

Brad currently does this work as the founder and CEO of Inveniem/Definitive Authentic, which helps its clients organize, catalog, present, and oftentimes monetize their archives directly to their audiences.

Brad has worked with Metallica, Def Leppard, Stephen Stills, basketball star Devin Booker, Monty Python co-founder Eric Idle, and many others.

Our conversation took some fascinating turns, exploring the concept of “pre-nostalgia”, the longing for a future that was imagined in the past. We discussed the powerful impact of nostalgia on individuals and communities and how it can evoke positive or negative emotions.

We also talked about the cultural influences and connections between various subcultures, particularly Rastafarianism, with its historical and social roots in and connection to Hinduism and Indian immigrants.

At its most basic, Brad’s work is about preserving cultural heritage, something his family has contributed to. Brad’s father owned the Boston rock station WFNX and was the longtime publisher of The Boston Phoenix, the fabled underground newspaper with roots stretching back to 1965.

–

Dig Deeper

• Visit Definitive Authentic at definitiveauthentic.com and Inveniem at inveniem.com
• Follow Definitive Authentic on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter (X)
• The Inveniem Company: Dedicated to Preserving and Expanding the Cultural Legacies of Bands, Artists, and Others
• What Happened to the Boston Phoenix?
• WFNX | The Music Museum of New England
• Behind The Metallica Black Box
• Dig into this episode’s complete show notes at spotlightonpodcast.com

–

• 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 Instagram, Facebook, and Mastodon.

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

Today, the Spotlight shines On Andy McCluskey, the singer, songwriter, musician, and producer best known as the lead singer and bass guitarist of Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark (also known as OMD). Andy joined Spotlight On producer and guest host Michael Donaldson to discuss topics as varied as the political messages behind their latest work, post-modern society, Kraftwerk, and the Bauhaus art school.

OMD is not working the nostalgia circuit, though no one would blame them if they were. Instead, they continue to release new music that fans and critics rate as among the best of their classics and already have plans to spend a large portion of 2025 on the road.

Bauhaus Staircase, OMD’s latest album, and their recent EP, Kleptocracy, are out everywhere you get your music.

(The musical excerpts heard in the interview are from the OMD album Bauhaus Staircase)

–

Dig Deeper

• Visit Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark at omd.uk.com
• Purchase OMD’s Bauhaus Staircase from The OMD Store or Qobuz, and listen on your streaming platform of choice
• Follow OMD on Facebook, Instagram, Threads, YouTube, and Twitter (X)
• Kraftwerk changed my life: 20 artists pick their favourite Kraftwerk records of all time
• The Man in the Machine: How Oskar Schlemmer’s Triadic Ballet left its mark on David Bowie and New Order
• Dig into this episode’s complete show notes at spotlightonpodcast.com

–

• 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 Instagram, Facebook, and Mastodon.

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

Today, the Spotlight shines On JUNO Award-winning oud player and guitarist Gordon Grdina.

Gordon’s work defies limitations, be they geographical, distance, time, or genre. He incorporates avant-garde jazz, free improvisation, indie rock, and Arabic tradition into his music.

So much music, so many collaborators, and so much ground to cover in our talk. We made the most of our time together, exploring projects, processes, the fusion of musical traditions, appropriation, authenticity, and more.

If you are open to the idea that music can be a tool for communication and understanding between people and peoples, Gordon Grdina will give you plenty to consider.

(The musical excerpts heard in the interview are from Gordon Grdina’s The Marrow with Fathieh Honari and the Grdina/Lillinger album Duo Work)

–

Dig Deeper

• Visit Gordon Grdina at gordongrdinamusic.com
• Purchase Grdina/Lillinger’s album Duo Work from Qobuz or Bandcamp, and listen on your streaming platform of choice
• Purchase Gordon Grdina’s The Marrow with Fathieh Honari from Qobuz or Bandcamp, and listen on your streaming platform of choice
• Follow Gordon Grdina on Instagram and Facebook
• Gordon Grdina - Free Form Improvisation on Oud
• Dig into this episode’s complete show notes at spotlightonpodcast.com

–

• 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 Instagram, Facebook, and Mastodon.

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

Today, the Spotlight shines On trailblazing songwriter and now memoirist Steve Wynn.

Steve first hit public consciousness in the early 1980s with his band The Dream Syndicate, frequently mentioned in the same breath as REM and The Replacements as the pioneers of American indie rock.

The Dream Syndicate’s initial run did not outlast the decade that birthed them, but Steve’s career did, with over 30 years of solo albums and collaborations to his credit—including a relaunched Dream Syndicate in the early 2010s.

Steve’s latest projects are something of a pair—I Wouldn’t Say It If It Wasn’t True, a memoir recounting his early life through the initial run of The Dream Syndicate, and Make It Right, a new album of music inspired by the writing and reflections for the book.

Our conversation spanned Steve’s formative years, his musical relationships over time, his process, roads not taken, and a glimpse into his near-term future activities, which include a bunch of time on the road promoting the book and dates with the indie rock “supergroup” The Baseball Project.

(The musical excerpts heard in the interview are from Steve Wynn’s album Make It Right)

–

Dig Deeper

• Visit Steve Wynn at stevewynn.net
• Purchase Steve Wynn’s memoir I Wouldn’t Say It If It Wasn’t True from Bandcamp or Amazon
• Purchase Steve Wynn’s album Make It Right from Fire Records, Qobuz, or Bandcamp, and listen on your streaming platform of choice
• Follow Steve Wynn on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter (X)
• Dig into this episode’s complete show notes at spotlightonpodcast.com

–

• 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 Instagram, Facebook, and Mastodon.

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

Today, the Spotlight shines On the acclaimed and intriguing composer, bandleader, and improviser Graham Reynolds.

The Austin-based Reynolds has composed for countless film, television, dance, and theatrical productions, serving most notably as the sonic collaborator of director Richard Linklater. He is also Artistic Director of the new music-focused non-profit Golden Hornet.

Graham joined me on the occasion of his solo release from earlier this year, Music for Prophet (Parts 1–4), on Fire Records. We discussed the benefits of having a dedicated workspace at home and the importance of balancing practical tasks with creative ones. We explored the relationship between composition and improvisation in music, Graham’s feelings about live performance, our musical upbringings, the state of the arts and film, and, my favorite, the role of humor in music.

(The musical excerpts heard in the interview are from Graham Reynolds' latest release, Music For Prophet)

–

Dig Deeper

• Visit Graham Reynolds at grahamreynolds.com
• Purchase Graham Reynolds' Music For Prophet at Fire Records, Qobuz, or Bandcamp; and listen on your streaming platform of choice
• Follow Graham Reynolds on Facebook and Instagram
• Graham Reynolds | composer (IMDb)
• Golden Hornet | a composer laboratory for the 21st century
• Another fearless collaboration: Graham Reynolds & Bill Burgess & Utah Hamrick at TEDxAustin
• Dig into this episode’s complete show notes at spotlightonpodcast.com

–

• 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 Instagram, Facebook, and Mastodon.

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

Today, the Spotlight shines On pianist and composer Satoko Fujii, an incredibly unique and prolific artist.

Satoko works at the intersection of jazz, contemporary classical, rock, and traditional Japanese music, composing for ensembles of many sizes and configurations. However, she is especially adept with the jazz orchestra format. For all of her efforts, Satoko is widely decorated as an improviser, composer, arranger, and band leader.

Satoko has released over 100 albums as leader or co-leader, at a clip of several each year. Music seems to tumble out of her.

The discussion you are about to hear was recorded back in late March of this year. Satoko was a thoughtful and generous conversationalist and provided insight into her creative and production process and her evolution as an artist. She also shared a bit about the unique challenge of making a life as an artist in Japan.

(The musical excerpts heard in the interview are from the albums Jet Black by the Satoko Fujii Tokyo Trio and Unwritten by the quartet Kaze, also featuring Satoko Fujii)

–

Dig Deeper

• Visit Satoko Fujii at satokofujii.com
• Purchase Unwritten by Kaze (featuring Satoko Fujii) on Qobuz and Bandcamp and listen on your streaming platform of choice
• Purchase the Satoko Fujii Tokyo Trio’s Jet Black on Bandcamp and listen on Apple Music
• Follow Satoko Fujii on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter (X), and YouTube
• Satoko Fujii, a Pianist Who Finds Music Hidden in the Details of Life
• Dig into this episode’s complete show notes at spotlightonpodcast.com

–

• 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 Instagram, Facebook, and Mastodon.

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

Today, the Spotlight shines On the musician and producer David John Haskins, better known to the world as David J, bassist and co-founder of both post-punk goth band Bauhaus and, subsequently, Love and Rockets.

As if having such a luminary visiting our podcast isn’t enough, today’s talk is guest-hosted by Spotlight On producer Michael Donaldson, who filled in for me for this and another special episode we will tell you about soon.

David came by to talk about Tracks from the Attic (released on Independent Project Records), his career-spanning triple album made up of home demos recorded between 1984 and 2004, hand-selected for inclusion by the artist himself. He also discussed the Love and Rockets tour opening for Jane’s Addiction (which kicks off this week) and a lot of very, very interesting esoterica.

(The musical excerpts heard in the interview are from David J’s album Tracks from the Attic)

–

Dig Deeper

• Visit David J at davidjhaskins.com
• Purchase David J’s Tracks from the Attic from Independent Project Records, Qobuz, or Bandcamp, and listen on your streaming platform of choice
• Follow David J on Patreon, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter (X)
• Love and Rockets (Bandcamp)
• The ultimate beginner’s guide to Bauhaus
• Shiva Saves
• Dig into this episode’s complete show notes at spotlightonpodcast.com

–

• 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 Instagram, Facebook, and Mastodon.

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

Today, the Spotlight was meant to shine On drummer, percussionist, and composer Ches Smith, whose album Laugh Ash was released earlier this year on Pyroclastic Records. As we arranged to get together, Ches suggested we include Shara Lunon, the transdisciplinary poet, vocalist, composer, and improviser featured on the album.

Laugh Ash is one of the most intriguing records I have encountered in quite some time, with its mix of form and improvisation, acoustic and synthetic, quiet and explosiveness.

In addition to Ches and Shara, the album includes an all-star cast from today’s creative music scene: flutist Anna Webber, clarinetist Oscar Noriega, tenor saxophonist James Brandon Lewis, trumpeter Nate Wooley, violinist Jennifer Choi, violist Kyle Armbrust, cellist Michael Nicolas, and bassist/keyboardist Shahzad Ismaily.

It is an exciting work and we had a great conversation. Enjoy.

(The musical excerpts heard in the interview are from Ches Smith’s album Laugh Ash)

–

Dig Deeper

• Purchase Ches Smith’s Laugh Ash on Qobuz or Bandcamp, and listen on your streaming platform of choice
• Visit Ches Smith at chessmith.com and follow him on Instagram and Facebook
• Visit Shara Lunon at sharalunon.com and follow her on Instagram
• Ches Smith’s ‘Laugh Ash’ Is Exhilarating Music
• Ches Smith About Improvisation
• ListN Up Playlist: Shara Lunon
• Dig into this episode’s complete show notes at spotlightonpodcast.com

–

• 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 Instagram, Facebook, and Mastodon.

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

Today’s episode is a recording of our recent live event, which took place at The Royal Room in Seattle, WA, on June 22, 2024. The event, Improvisation in Music and Life, featured me in conversation with and performances by James Falzone’s Division Ensemble.

The Division Ensemble is a group of master improvisers that includes James Falzone on clarinet, Ray Larsen on trumpet, Wayne Horvitz on piano, Abbey Blackwell on bass, and Rocky Martin on drums.

During the live show, we explored the nature of improvisation in music and how its principles are relevant to all aspects of life. James and the band performed his compositions and a completely free, composed-in-the-moment piece.

The music in this episode:

1. G.F.O.P. (Falzone)
2. There Is Often Another Way (Falzone)
3. Brooklyn Lines (Falzone)
4. Everything Is Now Equalized (an open improvisation) (Falzone/Larsen/Horvitz/Blackwell/Martin)
5. Room 307 (Falzone)
6. A Dream In Which Appeared Marc Chagall (Falzone)

We are offering a poster, t-shirt, and mug based on the artwork from our live show, which is now available at spotlightonpodcast.com/store. Have a look.

Special thanks to James Falzone and the members of his Division Ensemble: Ray Larsen, Wayne Horvitz, Abbey Blackwood, and Rocky Martin. Thank you to Aleida, Sheridan, Simon, Ben, and the entire team at the Royal Room. Thank you to David Gorman for the wonderful poster art. Thank you to Alyssa Seng, JazzED, and Tim Carey at Jazz Night School. And thank you to everyone who attended the live show.

–

Dig Deeper with the extensive show notes and links found at https://www.spotlightonpodcast.com

–

• 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 Instagram, Facebook, and Mastodon.

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