In this episode, Jeremy sits down with musician, producer, and DIY lifer Tommy Rehbein to talk about his multi-decade journey through underground music—from the emotive soundscapes of Small Towns Burn a Little Slower, to the alternative grit of Farewell Continental, to his current synth-punk solo project Toilet Rats.

Tommy shares how his passion for creating never stopped, even as projects came and went. He opens up about his love for physical media (especially CDs), his experience working with Steadfast Records, and what it’s like making records entirely on his own terms from his Minneapolis home studio.

The conversation dives into topics like:

   •   The evolution of Toilet Rats, and the story behind his newest release Synth Redux Vol. 1

   •   Memories and milestones from Small Towns Burn a Little Slower’s emotionally raw run in the mid-2000s

   •   Playing guitar in Farewell Continental alongside Justin Pierre of Motion City Soundtrack

   •   The challenges of staying creative, sane, and self-sufficient as an independent artist in 2025

   •   Why making art for the right reasons still matters

Whether you were raised on basement shows and emo singalongs, or you’re just discovering the wild, weird world of synth-punk, Tommy’s story is a testament to how underground artists survive, evolve, and thrive.

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Links & Mentions:

🎧 Toilet Rats on Bandcamp

🏷 Steadfast Records

🎸 Small Towns Burn a Little Slower

🎤 Farewell Continental

📷 Follow Tommy on Instagram: @toiletrats

Produced by Wesley Hill @thebigwes

Artwork by Jared Chase Bowser @jaredchasebowser

Music by Brian Jerin R.I.P.