Waterproof Records with Jacob Givens

By Jacob GivensMusic Music Commentary Music Interviews

Waterproof Records with Jacob Givens episodes

October 30 Ep. 113 - David Lynch's Lost Highway: The Darkest Soundtrack of the '90s?
Some soundtracks don't just accompany a movie. They pull you into an entirely different world.
Just in time for Halloween, we're taking a trip down David Lynch's Lost Highway and revisiting one of the darkest, strangest, and most unforgettable soundtracks of the 1990s.
Produced by Trent Reznor and featuring music from David Bowie, Nine Inch Nails, The Smashing Pumpkins, and more, this 1997 soundtrack perfectly captures the eerie, dreamlike atmosphere of Lynch's filmmaking.
I'll share how The Smashing Pumpkins first drew me into this film, memories of seeing it in theaters, and why these songs still give me chills nearly 30 years later.
So turn down the lights, put on your headphones, and join me for a wonderfully strange journey into the music of Lost Highway.

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47 min
October 30 Introducing Before The Moment with Nile Rodgers
Pantheon Media CEO Christian Swain invites you to check out the Before The Moment podcast. Legendary producer Nile Rodgers sits down with artists to explore the decisions, setbacks, and unexpected encounters that came before the breakthrough. Follow the show, you will love it!
3 min
October 16 Ep. 112 - My Top 10 Power Ballads
Before grunge took over the world, there was a time when soaring guitar solos, enormous choruses, and a whole lot of heartbreak ruled our Walkmans.
This week on Waterproof Records, I'm revisiting my 10 favorite power ballads from the late '80s and early '90s! From Def Leppard and Skid Row to Bon Jovi, Poison, and beyond, we're traveling back to a time when a childhood crush could feel like the end of the world.
Along the way, I'm sharing personal memories of roller rink romances, awkward adolescence, MTV, and the songs that somehow made all those big feelings even bigger.
Grab your headphones, embrace the nostalgia, and let me know which power ballad still gets you right in the heart.

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1 hr 4 min
October 03 Ep. 111 - I'm a fan of Neil Diamond
Neil Diamond on Waterproof Records?! Yep. This is happening.
In my first solo episode in six months, I’m stepping outside the usual world of 90s alternative and grunge to talk about an artist who has been part of my musical life since childhood. From hearing The Jazz Singer on family road trips to discovering just how deep Neil Diamond’s songwriting catalog really goes, this episode is about nostalgia, memory, and the music that sticks with us whether it was ever considered “cool” or not.

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55 min
September 18 Ep. 110 - Craig Wedren and Adam Wade from Shudder to Think
Craig Wedren and Adam Wade of the legendary Shudder to Think join me on Waterproof Records!
We talk about the band’s return to making new music, their new EP Who Sent You?, and why creating together again feels different after nearly 30 years.
We also travel back through Shudder to Think’s history—from the DC scene and Dischord Records to Pony Express Record, MTV, and the wonderfully strange musical world they created along the way.
And, as always, we dig into the records that helped shape Craig and Adam when they were young, and the memories that come rushing back when you hear those albums again.
This one covers a lot of ground: punk rock, growing older, parenthood, creativity, nostalgia, and what happens when you reconnect with the music—and the people—who helped make you who you are.

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1 hr 19 min
August 28 Ep. 109 - Scott Hackwith from Dig
Dig frontman Scott Hackwith joins me to trace the band’s journey from the early ’90s Los Angeles music scene and the MTV success of “Believe” to their long-awaited new album, [i].
Scott shares how an album discovered during an isolated childhood became his musical escape, how a punk-rock girlfriend reshaped his world, and how Dig found its sound alongside influences like My Bloody Valentine, Fugazi, Ride and Jane’s Addiction. We also talk major-label chaos, the fear of “selling out” in the ’90s, making the “Believe” video on a shoestring budget, and why the band is creating and performing again after more than three decades.
Plus, Scott reveals the wonderfully simple origin of Dig’s name—and tells a truly unforgettable story from the road with Bad Brains.

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1 hr
August 14 Ep. 108 - Kira Roessler from Black Flag / dos
Kira Roessler joins me to trace a remarkable musical journey—from discovering Billie Holiday and witnessing the birth of the Los Angeles punk scene to playing bass with Black Flag, forming dos with Mike Watt, and creating her new solo album, Enigma.
We talk about the evolution of punk, surviving brutal Black Flag tours while attending UCLA, her innovative approach to intertwining bass lines, and how her award-winning career in sound editing continues to shape the way she hears and creates music.And, of course, Kira reveals the waterproof record that first made music feel like it truly belonged to her.

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1 hr 4 min
July 31 Ep. 107 - Petey USA
This week on Waterproof Records Podcast, Petey USA joins me to talk about his journey as a musician and songwriter—and how his viral absurdist comedy introduced his work to an even wider audience. We explore the strange magic of the Midwest, the humor and vulnerability behind his music, and the formative records that helped shape his creative DNA.

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1 hr 8 min
July 10 Ep. 106 - Cheekface
This week, Greg Katz, Mark "Echo" Edwards, and Mandy Tannen of the L.A. band Cheekface join me for a conversation about how they came together, embracing creativity without expectations, the surprising success that followed, and the albums that shaped each of their musical journeys. Along the way, we talk about art, songwriting, nostalgia, and why making something just because you love it can sometimes lead to the best results.

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1 hr 18 min
June 26 Ep. 105 - Mark Hennessy from Paw
On this episode of Waterproof Records, I sit down with Mark Hennessy, the voice of Paw, an underrated band to emerge in the '90s from Lawrence, Kansas with their own special "heartland grunge" sound.
Mark shares a bit about his stage 4 cancer diagnosis, how it changed his outlook on life, rediscovering the joy of performing, and why music continues to give him purpose. It's an honest conversation about creativity, gratitude, and the power that great records still have to connect us.If you grew up on '90s alternative rock—or you're discovering Paw for the first time—this is an episode you won't want to miss.

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40 min