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Electronica pioneer Martyn Ware extends his legacy with his latest project, Electronically Yours, a podcast featuring long form conversations with fellow artists of the genre including Thomas Dolby, Gary Numan, Róisín Murphy and Howard Jones. Martyn was a founding member of Human League and Heaven 17. He was a co-producer on Introducing the Hardline According to Terence Trent D’Arby. He also co-produced Tina Turner’s comeback single “Let’s Stay Together” from 1984’s Private Dancer.

In 1996 filmmaker Stephen Kijak released his debut narrative film, Never Met Picssso. 25 years later he returns to the genre with his homage to The Smiths, Shoplifters of the World. Set in Denver, Shoplifters follows a group of friends mourning the 1987 breakup of the British group, while another friend holds a local DJ hostage and forces him to play only The Smiths. In between the two movies, Kijak has crafted multiple music documentaries including 30th Century Man on Scott Walker and Stones in Exile, the making of the Stones’ classic Exile on Main Street album.

Black Diamond Queens, the second book from Maureen Mahon is an examination of African-American women in rock. The book is not only a fascinating study of their achievements, but also illustrates their wide influence in the genre. From Big Mama Thornton and her original version of “Hound Dog” to girl group The Shirelles and of course, Tina Turner. Despite their contribution, these legends weren't always paid their dues, figuratively and/or financially. Black Diamond Queens is a beautiful celebration of the talent and struggles of these women. Black Diamond Queens is available from Duke University Press, along with her first book, Right to Rock: The Cultural Politics of Race.

In 2001, The National’s self-titled debut was released on Brassland, a label co-founded by band members Aaron & Bryce Dessner and Alec Hanley Bemis. Two decades later, under Alec’s guidance, Brassland has consistently boasted an adventurous roster that has included Bartees Strange, Hannah Georgas, Fusilier, Las Palabras and Bryce Dessner/So Percussion’s Music for Wood and Strings. [This is episode features an exclusive ten-track Brassland playlist curated by Alec Hanley Bemis.]

Producer and guitarist BLKLN (pronounced Blacklion) says that he makes music like a visual artist. One listen to his avant-garde instrumentals and you'll swear you could lay your hands on them. His two EP’s on Cohrran Records (Speaking in snake tongue and Today I saw a slave become more powerful than the emperor of Rome) provide 13 neo post-punk reasons. [This episode features “Lafillequi” (Speaking in snake tongue) and “richard pryor” (Today I saw a slave become more powerful than the emperor of Rome) in their entirety.]

Singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Leo Sidran’s new studio album, The Art of Conversation, is a knowing wink to his interview podcast, The Third Story. In its 7th year, the podcast continues to celebrate the creative mind with long form conversations from the likes of Donald Fagen, Boz Scaggs, Butch Vig...and yours truly. The engaging interviewer helped me celebrate my 200th Talk Music Talk episode in 2019. The Art of Conversation is Leo’s follow-up to his Michael Franks’ tribute album, Cool School. [This episode features "Pop" and "The Art of Conversation" from The Art of Conversation in their entirety.]

Whatever setting you find hip-hop legend Mike Ladd rapping, he is resolutely himself. From the Paris- based rap artist’s solo albums or whether he's collaborating with jazz pianist Vijay Iyer on their multiple projects. Mike’s latest release continues his streak of restless creativity with TheDeadCanRap, a collaboration with street artist and producer Remi Rough. [This episode features “21st Century” from TheDeadCanRap’s self-titled album in its entirety.]

Soft Glas, the solo project of singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist Jõao Gonzalez, returns to TMT on the eve of his new release, How Strange. How Strange is the Grammy-nominee’s third full-length album and it unites the spirit of college radio, Cuban-laced rhythms and jazz-tinged instrumentation. The influences arrive effortlessly considering Jõao grew up on 2000s indie/ emo rock and his father is celebrated Cuban jazz pianist, Gonzalo Rubalcaba. His father’s 2021 Grammy-nominated ‘Best Latin Jazz Album’ Viento Y Tiempo (with Aymée Nuviola) features Jõao as the mixing engineer, post-production editor and keyboard programmer. [This episode is the third visit of Soft Glas and features “Fraud” and “Prudence and Poise” from How Strange in their entirety.]

Past guest Sam Pearce returns to TMT on the eve of two new projects: Hold Me Rare Animal, the just-released EP and a full-length (Bay State) arriving later in the year. While the singer- songwriter’s Bay State album bears the marking of a complete artistic statement, the EP is a collection of meaningful moments. All Bandcamp proceeds from Hold Me Rare Animal will benefit The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence. [This episode features “Honey” and “Beginners” from Hold Me Rare Animal in their entirety.]

The name of songwriter/multi-instrumentalist Rafael Cohen’s latest project is Las Palabras. Las Palabras’ self-titled Brassland debut finds him singing in Spanish for the first time and was inspired by post-tropicália Brazilian pop music. Rafael was previously in the Dischord band El Guapo and is a core member of !!!, who are working on their ninth album. [This episode features “Condesa” and “Juan Pared” from Las Palabras (Brassland) in their entirety.]

Neurologist Dr. Richard Cytowic is the author of multiple books on synesthesia. Synesthesia is a neurological condition where the stimulation of one of our senses leads to an automatic, involuntary triggering of one or more other senses. Musical artists such as Billy Joel, Kanye West and Stevie Wonder claim they can see colors when they hear music. Since the 70s, Dr. Cytowic has dedicated his career to what he calls a “young science” despite early criticism from his peers.

Singer-songwriter Ben Rice refers to his music as Big City Americana; a nod to both his New York roots and guitar-centered songs. His debut solo album, Future Pretend, details joy, loss and figuring out how to remain present in a fast-forward world. Ben is also a celebrated record producer and runs his own recording studio, Degraw Sound, located in Brooklyn. I first had the pleasure of working with Ben when he produced my debut album, How to Be An Adult. [This episode features “Everything Changes” from Future Pretend in its entirety.]

Singer-songwriter Chris Garneau’s new album, The Kind, charts his journey through the dirty work of healing from lifelong trauma and learning to experience actual joy. Chris’s fifth studio album is one revelation after another rooted in a ten-year estrangement from his father and his recent passing. The Kind is the first great album of 2021. [This episode features “Old Code” and “Telephone” in their entirety from The Kind.]

Even a pandemic couldn’t stop singer-songwriter James Tillman, who returns for his second TMT conversation. In a under year he’s released his first studio album in four years (Modern Desires), a mixtape (VM2) and a single (“Arizona”). James just dropped After Hours, a live EP released post-Inauguration, which feels apropos for this D.C. native who continues to expand his unique take on alternative-soul. [This episode features “Ways” from Modern Desires in its entirety.”]

Sonny Burnett is the electronic solo project of multi-instrumentalist and vocalist Sam Ford and was born in the wake of his prior group, Goodbye Heart. The Seattle-based musician just released his debut album, Death of an Empath, which features the single “Golden.” Sam also directed and shot the new “Golden” music video on an iPhone. [This episode features “Golden” from Death of an Empath in its entirety.”]

Ten years on and the Miami-based duo, TWYN, continue to evolve their sound. Comprised of Aaron Glueckauf (drums/vocals) and Jason Matthews (keys/synths), their music effortlessly careens through hip-hop, modern jazz, alternative and electronic elements coalescing into their singular style on both instrumental and vocal tracks. TWYN’s debut EP, Eudaemonia (la réserve), comes out on December 11. [This episode features “Good Demon” from Eudaemonia in its entirety.]

Happiness Becomes You is the book Tina Turner has been wanting to write for decades. A book about her 50 year Buddhist practice, specifically Nichiren Buddhism. Her dream is finally a reality and was made possible with one of its co-authors, Taro Gold (along with Regula Curti). However, Happiness Becomes You isn’t just for Buddhists; it’s for anyone who’d like to have more joy in their life. It’s also a wonderful insight into the spiritual life of the Queen of Rock and how her practice has impacted her career. Taro is a New York Times bestselling author whose titles include Open Your Mind, Open Your Life and one of Tina’s favorites, Living Wabi Sabi.

Producer Gian Stone is having a moment. A moment that is the result of years of putting in hard work. In May, he topped Billboard’s Hot 100 Producers Chart as the sole producer of Ariana Grande and Justin Bieber’s quarantine #1: “Stuck with You.” Gian is also a musician, engineer and songwriter with co-writing duties on Maroon 5’s “Girls Like You” and Jonas Brothers’ “Like It’s Christmas.” Additionally, he vocal produced Madonna (Madame X’s “Crazy” and “I Rise”) and Dua Lipa (“Physical”). You can find his name on the credits for recent hits by Katy Perry and Halsey. I first met Gian over ten years ago when he vocal edited my debut album, How to Be An Adult; produced by our mutual friend Ben Rice at his Degraw Sound studio in Brooklyn. For anyone that thinks nice guys finish last, they clearly haven't met Gian Stone.

Singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Mobley had a new EP, Young and Dying in the Occident Supreme, all prepped for release until the pandemic hit. His tour-in-progress was also shelved. The EP is forthcoming with the lead single/video from it “Nobody’s Favourite” out now. As for touring, that's up in the air, but the Austin-based performer has been making the most of his time. A Home Unfamiliar, a 25-minute visual album he curated, pairs 15 musicians and 15 filmmakers and includes music from Kelsey Wilson of Wild Child, Spoon’s Jim Eno and Mobley, himself. 100% of the proceeds will benefit pandemic relief efforts. [This episode features “Nobody’s Favourite” from Young and Dying in the Occident Supreme.]

Queens native Richardine Bartee is always ahead of the curve when it comes to music. As the CEO (and journalist) of Grungecake, an online music blog, she relishes the championing of up and coming artists, particularly from the Afrobeats genre. That's her thing: recognizing tomorrow’s talents today. In addition to being a tastemaker, Richardine also provides A&R and publicity/content management for celebrities. [This episode features a five-song playlist hand-picked by Richardine with music from Oxlade, CKay (ft. Joeboy & Kuami), Ricky Rikkardo/Dboy Lo, Esparo and UFO Fev (ft. Styles P).

For over three decades, the voice of Chris Cornell has deeply affected millions of fans including author and journalist Corbin Reiff. Corbin’s new book, Total F*cking Godhead: The Biography of Chris Cornell, is a respectful tribute to the legacy of the Soundgarden and Audioslave lead singer. Corbin deftly balances Cornell’s life and music without ever resorting to a salacious portrait. [Total F*cking Godhead: The Biography of Chris Cornell will be released on July 28 from Post Hill Press.]

When you listen to a Jessica Lynn song you can hear the passion in her voice. The same passion (and hard work) that has propelled the independent country artist through four years of international touring, multiple public television specials and Billboard takeovers. The Brooklyn- born songwriter and multi-instrumentalist’s new video for the ballad “Run To” was recently added to CMT.com and has yielded over 75,000 views in a month. [This episode features “Run To” in its entirety.]

The music of jazz pianist Kris Davis explores the exciting connection between improvisation and composition. 2019’s Diatom Ribbons (Pyroclastic) appeared on multiple year-end round- ups including the top spot from NPR’s jazz critics and on the NY Times’ jazz albums list. In addition to Kris’s daring playing, Diatom Ribbons features a wealth of talents including Terri Lyne Carrington Marc Ribot and Esperanza Spalding. [This episode features “Rhizomes ft. Nels Cline” from Diatom Ribbons in its entirety.]

The music of Allan Rayman is a dizzying array of genres including hip-hop, rock, r&b and grunge. The Toronto-based singer/songwriter continues on this path of exploration with his fourth full-length album, CHRISTIAN, which includes production by Alex da Kid. The title is named for Christian Slater who starred in Pump Up the Volume, a film that has inspired Allan. [This episode features “Madhouse” from CHRISTIAN in its entirety.]

In turbulent times we need audacious artists like Fusilier. His just released EP, Upstream (Brassland), features the title track about isolation plus a sinister take on Martha and the Vandellas’ “Dancing in the Street” that finds the classic twisted into a protest anthem. The Brooklyn-based vocalist and multi-instrumentalist has also released self-directed videos for both songs. [This episode features the full-version of “Upstream” in its entirety.]

In his second TMT interview, singer-songwriter Beau Borek returns with his new album, Realistic Weather, a collection inspired by the aspects of home—both the physical and the emotional. It's been three years since his debut Different Generations was released and in that time he's lived in four different states including his current residence in Durham, North Carolina. [This episode features “Puppy,” “Prograde” and “Santa Fe” from Realistic Weather in their entirety.]

Singer-Songwriter Kendal Conrad loves the storytelling you find in a contemporary country song. The Pennsylvania-native is an excellent student of the genre because one listen to her recent singles and you recognize all the integral elements. Instantly hummable? Check! Lyrics that mean something? Check! And a soaring voice? Triple check! If she keeps this up, any day now Kendal will be the one who's studied. [This episode features the singles “Leader of the Pack” and “Come to Your Senses” in their entirety.]

Brooklyn-based songwriter/keyboardist Aviv Goldgeier is the driving force behind the group Valipala, whose sound he refers to as “prog-soul”. Their latest EP, bubble, spends its six songs defining that term and blowing up just about every other genre mash-up into an original creation that results in one of the freshest collections you'll hear this year. [This episode features the bubble EP in its entirety.]

The best cover songs are both an homage and a compass directed to fresh territory. Say Goodbye to Pretty Boy (Brassland) is the solo debut from Bartees Strange and it features his interpretations of songs by the National. Like the (true) fan he is, Strange spans the catalog of the beloved band with deep cuts and well-known favorites. [This episode features “About Today” from Say Goodbye to Pretty Boy in its entirety.]

Singer/Songwriter Walter Martin continues his tradition of making great music. He was a co-founder of both Jonathan Fire*Eater and the Walkmen and just released a solo album, The World at Night. Night is dedicated to fellow Jonathan Fire*Eater member, Stewart Lupton, who died two years ago at the age of 43. [This episode features “Little Summer Fly” from The World at Night in its entirety.]

Producer Galcher Lustwerk returns with his third full-length release, Information (Ghostly International), that finds him expanding his unique take on Deep House that functions in your living room or the club. The Brooklyn-based DJ and rapper continues to explore the darker side of the genre with a complete immersion into beats, hooks and despair. [This episode includes “Bit” from Information in its entirety.]

A Thoughtful Collapse, the new album from guitarist/bandleader Pravin Thompson, is a whirlwind collide of genres and time signatures. A signature blend of jazz, metal, rock and…????? The Brooklyn-based artist’s full-length debut bristles with his well-honed chops and the perfect musicians to execute his composition skills. [This episode features “Devil at Your Heels” from A Thoughtful Collapse in its entirety.]

Whether you call it an EP or an album, singer-songwriter Clara Joy’s Far From Here is overflowing with hooks. Far From Here is self-performed and produced and independently released. The New York-based artist was inspired by the DIY culture of the city along with the Bandcamp ethos that anyone can distribute their own music. [This episode features “Drop Out” from Far From Here in its entirety.]

It hardly seems fair to have to wait more than two years between a Nick Pope release. But here we are…and the wait was well worth it. The singer-songwriter is not only back with a new album, Wowed Me Out, he's returning to Talk Music Talk for his second visit. Overflowing with melodies, Wowed Me Out was partly inspired by childhood nostalgia and features interludes from Nick’s family home videos from the 90s. [This episode features “Turned Ten” and “Holyoke” from Wowed Me Out in their entirety.]

On this very special episode of Talk Music Talk, the interviewer gets interviewed for his 200th podcast!!! boice hands over the reins to fellow podcaster and musician Leo Sidran. Leo is the host of The Third Story podcast which features longform conversations with “creative people of all types.” Leo pulls out both the personal and the professional from boice in this 80-minute conversation. boice has never talked so much! They discuss creativity, spirituality, depression, perseverance and of course, Tina Turner! Also, boice talks about his music, books and the genesis of Talk Music Talk five years ago. Plus, you'll get to hear boice’s song “Itchy Boys” from his debut album, How to Be an Adult.

On this prelude to a very special 200th episode, boice collects three of his favorite past episodes with music photographer Mel D. Cole and musicians Half Waif and Rue Snider.

There’s no such thing as too much glen E. friedman. The legendary photographer released three books in 2019. Expanded reissues of two classics: Keep Your Eyes Open featuring the Fugazi photographs and DogTown: The Legend of the Z-Boys (with C.R. Stecyk III) about the West Los Angeles skateboard scene from 1975-1985. Both titles are available from Akashic Books. The third, Together Forever (Rizzoli Books), features photos of Beastie Boys and Run-DMC. glen also shot the iconic album covers of Public Enemy’s It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back and Beastie Boys’ Check Your Head. glen’s reputation was built on documenting the cultures of hip-hop, punk and skateboarding but his photography is far from simple snapshots; it’s the work of an artist who possesses the craft to make you experience that singular moment his camera caught each and every time.

When Benny Benack III decided to pursue both singing and playing the trumpet, it meant jazz fans got the best of both worlds. Equally exciting at both, Benny hails from a musical Pittsburgh family. He's currently based in Harlem and is prepping the release of his sophomore album, A Lot of Livin’ to Do, coming January 2020. Livin’ is a mix of standards and Benny- originals that gets a seal of approval from Isaac Mizrahi, who scribed the CD liner notes. [This episode features “Later On” in its entirety from A Lot of Livin’ to Do.]

With all due respect, Mikey Buishas’ solo project, 0 Stars, feels ill-named. That's actually a zero! The Brooklyn-based singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist has released one of the best of albums of 2019 with Blowing on a Marshmallow in Perpetuity. While its not-quite, half-hour playtime may feel slight, it more than makes up for the length with Mikey’s fluid combination of endless melodies and complex musicality supporting his gently-bruised vocals. [This episode features “Round 2” from Blowing on a Marshmallow in Perpetuity in its entirety.]

Emergence (The Process of Coming Into Being), the debut album from Mwenso and the Shakes is a live set, which makes sense considering the Harlem-based group has earned its reputation as a powerhouse stage act. Led by the London-raised, Sierra Leonean Michael Mwenso, the Shakes' Emergence is a collection of well-chosen covers and original tracks that serve as the souvenir to one of their thrilling shows you can’t stop raving about or the sneak peek to whet the appetites of the uninitiated. [This episode features “No Regrets” from Emergence in its entirety.]

Listening the music of Brooklyn indie label, Gentle Reminder, is like tuning into the best college radio station. This might not be a coincidence since label head Reese Higgins first cut his teeth in great music curation at his alma mater’s radio station, WMUC (University of Maryland, College Park). Originally from the D.C./Maryland area, Reese’s label has been responsible for releasing the work of two past Talk Music Talk guests, James Tillman and Will Moloney. [This episode features a 7-song Gentle Reminder playlist handpicked by Reese Higgins.]

Drummer and jazz artist Antonio Sanchez has a long and storied CV that just keeps getting more and more impressive. From graduating Magna Cum Laude at the Berklee College of Music to being a longtime member of the Pat Metheny Group to his Golden Globe-nominated score for Alejandro González Iñárritu’s Birdman film. The five-time Grammy winner is equally astounding as a bandleader; his most recent release is this year’s Lines in the Sand, which features his band Migration and is the Mexican-American composer’s response to our current administration’s immigration policy. Most recently, Antonio scored his third season of the Get Shorty (EPIX) TV series. [This episode features the title track of Lines in the Sand in its entirety.]

There's something about YATTA that can neither be defined or contained, but is wholly familiar. It's somewhat akin to that feeling you experience when a dear friend crosses your mind and shortly thereafter they text you. In this way, the Brooklyn-based artist’s music, voice and poetry can be a comfort, yet like nothing you've ever heard. YATTA’s 2016 debut, Spirit Said Yes!, was merely a warm-up for this year's stunning WAHALA (PTP), an exploration of their many journeys that include being black and trans. [This episode features “Francis” from WAHALA in its entirety.]

Singer-Songwriter Rasha Jay instinctively knew that the path to her passion meant, as she says, writing her own story. Even if that meant shifting her focus from a career in theater or songwriting for other artists. Rasha’s intuition has led to her hard-won and exciting second EP, High Dive. Her sound is an eclectic palette of soul, rock and alternative music with that powerhouse voice always at the center of your attention. [This episode features High Dive’s title track in its entirety.]

It's the return of Public Speaking; the electronic solo project of Jason Anthony Harris. With his third appearance on TMT, Jason’s new album, Six Golden Tumors (Floordoor Records), is the brilliant reason for the occasion. The Brooklyn-based singer/songwriter and sound artist’s latest release is the outcome of his deep research into Old Testament violence and horror movies. [This episode features “A Fox with No Eyes and a Hole for a Mouth” from Six Golden Tumors in its entirety.]

There are many reasons to admire Sir Ari Gold, besides the fact that he was knighted by a drag queen: He's been an openly gay pop singer from the top of his career for nearly two decades. Anything with his name on it, from music videos to performances, is a thrilling mix of provocation and heart. And over the past 6+ years, Ari’s been fighting cancer with a determination most people will never possess. GoldNation-Remix to Freedom, Ari’s most recent album, is his celebration of life through dance music; it features new versions of songs from his 2015 studio release, Soundtrack to Freedom. [This episode features “Soundtrack to Freedom” and “Back in High School” from GoldNation-Remix to Freedom in their entirety.]

In the ‘90s you couldn't escape the sounds of Ruffhouse Records. Their roster included the classic hip-hop of Cypress Hill, Kris Kross, Kool Keith, Fugees and Lauryn Hill. In 1989, the label was founded by Chris Schwartz and his partner, Joe Nicolo. Chris’s new memoir, Ruffhouse: From the Streets of Philly to the Top of the ‘90s Hip-Hop Charts, not only chronicles his perspective on the music business but also his oftentimes, tumultuous personal life. Throughout its pages, Ruffhouse is a prime example of someone who never gave up on his dreams. Chris continues to be a music pioneer with his latest business venture, RuffNation.

There's a fluidity in the voice of Theo Bleckmann that allows him to swing between various musical genres without forsaking his uniqueness in his original compositions or on interpretations. Theo’s talent shines whether he's subverting jazz on his 2017 Elegy release, creating new color's with Kate Bush’s music on his Hello Earth covers album or experimenting with Joseph Branciforte on their duo project, LP1.

When you listen to the first Color Collage album, Pieced Together, it sounds so good you can’t help but think, This can’t get any better! Initially the solo project of Shane Conerty, the Brooklyn- based singer/songwriter decided to turn Color Collage into a full-band and proved that the debut was merely a warm-up. The first evidence is the new single (and cool video!) “Eye on You”. [This episode features an exclusive TMT four-song acoustic set with Shane on vocals/guitar and backing vocals by the Foxy Johnstons (Kim Foxen & Mel Johnston).]

Forget triple-threat, anyone can do that, Leo Manzari is some kind of multi-threat. Tap dancer. Rapper. Singer. Actor. And who knows what else he has up his sleeve. Since he was two-years- old and started dance lessons, the D.C.-native has carved out a fantastic path filled with highlights that include performing (alongside his brother, John) under the tutelage of mentor Maurice Hines in the Lincoln Theater D.C. production of Sophisticated Ladies, an acting stint on Homeland and the featured tap dancer in Hozier’s new music video, “Almost (Sweet Music)”. Based in Brooklyn, last year Leo released his debut album, Clockwork, and has been seasoning 2019 with a series of singles. When Leo becomes a household-name, the only obvious response will be “of course!” [This episode features “On Your Mind” from Clockwork in its entirety.]

It might have taken singer-songwriter Savannah Lancaster ten years to finally realize her career in music, but the wait was worth it. Last year’s debut, Letters, was released in the winter, but Savannah’s evocative vocals against a backdrop of elegant jazz, soul, pop (or whatever she touches!) are perfect for any season. [This episode features “Better Off” and “Love is Mean” from Letters in their entirety.]

It's the return of the Bright Smoke. When we last heard from the Brooklyn duo, Terrible Towns, their sophomore full-length, had just been released. Four years later, Mia Wilson and Quincy Ledbetter storm back with the forthcoming Gross National Happiness (July 5). It's a little harder and in response to our current political times, a little angrier. The Bright Smoke wouldn't have it any other way. In addition to a joint interview, this episode features a separate conversation with Quincy discussing both his recent solo piano album as Q.Ledbetter, Five Improvisations, and his forthcoming feature-length directorial debut, Alieu the Dreamer, which won BET’s Project CRE8 competition. [This episode features The Bright Smoke’s “Again Again” and Q.Ledbetter’s “Three Nights Adrift” in their entirety.]

Nothing is more refreshing than listening to the music of Imani Coppola. The Brooklyn-based singer/songwriter bounces from genre to genre, yet remains resolutely herself. From Chupacabra, her 1998 debut, to her forthcoming release, The Protagonist, out this September on Ipecac Records. If this all looks effortless, it’s simply because Imani is an authentic artist. This episode features “SAMO” in its entirety, from The Protagonist.

Nothing or no one stands in Suzann Christine’s way. The Philly singer-songwriter, who recently relocated to Brooklyn, is unstoppable. She’s shared stages with Musiq Soulchild and Wale and performed on Sirius/XM’s Shade45 channel. “Falling Tears” is the name of Suzann’s latest single and it sounds like a future r&b favorite you can’t get stop humming once you hear it. In 2019, expect even more greatness from this singular talent. 

The songs of Gabriel Kahane are so rich in their detail and character studies that it’s quite evident he’s a composer and pianist with the eye of a novelist. And that would be enough. But add a voice full of emotion and melodies that never evaporate from your consciousness and you instantly realize that Gabriel is the consummate artist. Talent this good is a gift to us all. His latest album, Book of Travelers (Nonesuch Records), is just another example in his arsenal. The 2018 song cycle was inspired by the people he met when he spent two weeks traveling across America via Amtrak. 

In Houston Rap Tapes, Lance Scott Walker’s oral history of Bayou City hip-hop, he didn't merely produce a perfunctory history of the musical scene. Lance has infused the book with the rich life stories of the participants including Scarface, Willie D and Paul Wall plus many of the best-kept secrets of the six wards. Side by side you'll witness the joys of making music and the social issues that have often plagued Texas’ largest city. In Lance’s hands, he deftly combines these elements and illustrates why Houston hip-hop is both enduring and singular in its sound.

It would hardly matter that hip-hop artist Darko the Super has released more than 70 albums- by his estimate-if the quality didn't measure up to the quantity. Based in Philly, Darko’s style is a playful mix of off-kilter rapping, non-sequitur wordplay and samples you've never heard of or ones utilized innovative ways. This episode features the track “MC Pee Pants” (Produced by BLKrKRT) from his forthcoming album, Card Tricks for Dogs.

No one will ever accuse writer Robin Green of not speaking her mind after they read her memoir, The Only Girl. The book explores the early 70s period when she was the only woman on the masthead of Rolling Stone magazine. The book is also a revealing deep-dive into who Robin was before landing the pioneering gig and her life after she left the magazine. Robin would go on to become an Emmy award-winning writer for her work on the Sopranos, alongside her husband, Mitchell Burgess. The couple were also the creators of the Blue Bloods TV series. 

At the center of a sea of percussionists stands the glorious saxophone of Cochemea on his new album, All My Relations (Daptone Records). It's a celebration of jazz and the rhythms of Cochemea’s indigenous background. The California-native conceived of the project (along with Daptone’s Gabe Roth) during Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings’ final year of touring. Cochemea spent nearly 15 years as a Dap-King until Jones’ 2016 passing. This episode features “Al-Mutasim” from All My Relations in its entirety.

It's always refreshing to catch a talented artist carving their path into a career that will be filled with highlights. Such is the case with singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Samuel Worthen. Maybe you recognize his face from his modeling gigs, but that's just a day job until your fall in love with his voice. Over the past year he's been refining his sound with top-notch singles including the latest “1 on 1” which is included in this episode along with 2018’s “Talk to Me”.

Music journalist Jesse Jarnow has a way of choosing enduring subjects. He writes about musicians whose artistry not only resonates in their music but explores deeper issues. Jesse continues what he does best in his just-released book on the 1950’s folk group the Weavers: Wasn't That a Time: The Weavers, the Blacklist, and the Battle for the Soul of America. Jesse is a leading Grateful Dead authority and his 2016 book on the Dead, Heads: A Biography of Psychedelic America, is out now in paperback. Both books are available on Da Capo Press. The Brooklyn writer also hosts the Frow Show on WFMU and the Alternate Routes podcast.

It doesn't matter under what moniker Matt Bachmann performs, the result is always remarkable. Previously recording as Big Eater, Matt’s new album Unconditional Love (Orindal Records)bears the Mega Bog bassist’s full name and is one of 2018’s best albums. Returning for his second visit (#105), this episode features “Thirty Days” and “To Be in Love” from Unconditional Love in their entirety.

Gaya Feldheim Schorr is an original artist finding herself through another original artist, Connie Converse. Originally from Tel Aviv and based in Brooklyn, Gaya has been exploring the genius of Converse in a live show entitled I Have Considered the Lillies: Gaya Sings Connie that features the songs and biography of the folk musician. Disappearing in 1974, Converse never achieved notoriety for her singular art. Gaya’s interpretations will no doubt shed a deserving light on the unsung singer-songwriter.

Whether it's his book on Public Enemy’s seminal album It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back or writing about vaporwave’s floppy disk movement, Rolling Stone writer Christopher R. Weingarten is always following what excites him. It’s that kind of clear-eyed curiosity that makes reading whatever topic this critic unearths such a pleasure.

Jazz saxophonist Caleb Wheeler Curtis’ debut recording as a bandleader, Brothers, is the dynamic sum of a career built for this moment. Performances at historic venues such as the Blue Note and Jazz Standard and a CV that boasts the Ann Arbor-native’s numerous sessions and recordings with peers like Orrin Evans (who produced Brothers) and Jason Moran (who plays on another CWC 2018 release, Freebird, by Walking Distance, a Brooklyn-based collective). This episode includes “Brothers” and “The Fallacy of Ancient Wisdom” from Brothers, in their entirety.

Brooklyn-based Jennae Santos is a self-professed performance artist, but the music of Wsabi Fox, her solo project, is visceral enough to stand on its own merits. Sure, you won’t experience the way Jennae commands a stage, but songs this sturdy don’t need smoke and mirrors to feel the viscerality. Karen O (Yeah Yeah Yeahs) & KK Barrett recognized this power when they recruited the Bay Area-native for their Stop the Virgens psycho opera. This episode features the Eternal Garb remix of Wsabi Fox’s “Flamingo” available on the digital release of the Gushing Remixes album (Floordoor Records).

There was a time when Stephon Alexander didn’t believe he could co-exist in the seemingly disparate worlds of music and science. As evidenced in his bestselling book, The Jazz of Physics, the Trinidad-native discovered the union between both fields and also made peace within himself. Theoretical physicist. Cosmologist. Jazz saxophonist. Stephon has also served as the science advisor on Ava Duvernay’s A Wrinkle in Time film adaptation (of Madeleine L’Engle’s 1962 book) featuring Oprah Winfrey. He’s currently a professor at Brown University.

Josh Madell has mastered the art of transitioning from one cool project to the next. As the co- founder of NYC’s beloved record shop, Other Music, which ended a nearly two-decade run in 2016, he quickly started the Come Together Label Fair & Music Festival at MoMA PS1. Both endeavors share Josh’s passion for sharing the best music—you may or may not have heard of —to other music fanatics.

Indie singer-songwriter Rue Snider’s music is a feat of grit and perseverance. And while those are admirable traits, they might all be for nothing if they weren't backed up with a sheer talent for strong hooks. The Brooklyn-based musician’s third full-length album, City Living, is the evidence with its inspiration rooted in a New York story of struggles and a love for 80s rock.

Joseph Cassara’s debut novel, The House of Impossible Beauties, finds its inspiration in the lives and music featured in the Paris is Burning documentary. The 1990 film is a vibrant examination of Harlem’s ball culture. A graduate of the Iowa Writers’ Workshop, Joseph recontextualizes the real life performers into his fictional world, offering a loving homage.

This episode is a repeat of my 100th show from October 2016 featuring my most-downloaded interview with Carlos Dengler. In another lifetime, Carlos D was the slick-haired, style- conscious, all-black wearing bassist of the band Interpol. Since leaving the "post-punk revivalists" group in 2010, he's returned to the public consciousness as theater actor Carlos Dengler. Carlos has never spoken publicly about his departure from Interpol, but in this exclusive TMT conversation he shares why he abruptly left after four studio albums and three tours.

Will Moloney is such a prolific songwriter (singer and multi-instrumentalist) that in the natural world there actually exists an 80-song tribute album dedicated solely to his band Old Table. Old Table is just one of the numerous projects he fronts. There’s also Climax Landers, Turbo Sleaze and whatever else he’s plotting to extend his brilliant lo-fi discography. [This episode features a song apiece from Old Table and TURBOSLEAZE in their entirety.]

The way you feel after hearing a Joanna Teters song can be a bit overwhelming. The emotions. The lyrics. And of course, that soulful voice! She isn't merely singing the words she writes; she's interpreting her side of the story through each and every note and syllable. Her new release, Warmer When It Rains, provides eight indelible reasons to be blown away by her artistry. [This episode features “Ride With You” and “Memories Remain” from Warmer When It Rains in their entirety.]

Regardless of the moniker (i.e. Nutshell) that brings you to the music of Dan Kleederman, his talent is the constant. The Brooklyn singer/songwriter and educator is currently in the studio working on his debut album...whose project name is also a work-in-progress. [This episode includes an exclusive "TMT Session with Dan Kleederman" featuring three intimate performances and accompanied by Chris Connors.]

The divide of technique between a performer's recorded work and their live performances can be cavernous. That's not an issue for singer/songwriter Taylor Simone. As co-founder of the adventurous soul group Jazze Belle (with Justin Carter), the LA-native delivers wherever she picks up the mic. If you're enthralled by Taylor's vocals on the New York group's EP, Go To Bed Standing Up, experiencing her on a stage will both meet and surpass any expectations.  [This episode features "Everyday's Tomorrow" and "Possibly" from Go To Bed Standing Up in their entirety.]

Swedish jazz vocalist (and visual artist) Sophie Dunér’s experimental approach to the genre is an adventure. On her most recent album, The City of Dizzy with cellist Jeremy Harman, she carves an endless maze of surprises to discover. No song ever sounds the same twice. [This episode features “Purple Bossa” and “The Express Train” from The City of Dizzy in their entirety.]

Brooklyn singer-songwriter Matt Meade's jazz background only spells part of the story of his musical career. The Texan-transplant's talent is broad enough to span the indie-chamber of his prior band Friend Roulette to the mongrel sounds of his new Spritzer solo project. With Spritzer, Matt sings lead vocals instead of handing the duty over to Julia Tepper, but his ingenious songwriting remains the common denominator. [This episode features the previously unreleased "Astronaut Bird" in its entirety.]

Over the course of ten years and five albums with the Mexican alt-rock band Ventilader, frontman Marrón has switched gears with his solo debut, etc. Co-produced by Van Rivers (Fever Ray, Blonde Redhead and !!!) after relocating to Brooklyn, the singer-songwriter’s album is awash with synths and sounds built for movement. [This episode features “Paladar” and “10 Años” from etc. in their entirety.]

Born in Britain to musical Japanese parents, GOCCO continues the lineage with her new song "New Century Meat" and its accompanying video. Her music is as vivid as her Technicolor personal style. The Brooklyn-based singer, songwriter and visual artist is currently prepping her forthcoming EP of avant-pop. [This episode includes "New Century Meat" in its entirety.]

Grandly heralded bands with more praise than sales under their belt could do no worse than to have their work documented by music journalists like Jenn Pelly. With her beautifully-crafted debut book on The Raincoats' self-titled 1979 post-punk classic, Jenn guides us through both a history of the all-female band and the influential album's place in music history. Also Pitchfork's Associate Reviews Editor, the Brooklyn writer's book-length essay is the 126th volume of the 33 1/3 series on a single album. 

A new Grooms album ever two years is the perfect clockwork for indie rock devotees. As the lead vocalist and guitarist, Travis Johnson heads up the Brooklyn-based band whose debut came out in 2009 when they were a part of the now-defunct Death by Audio DIY scene in Williamsburg. Grooms newly-released fifth album, Exit Index (Western Vinyl), continues to refine their pairing of sturdy vocal melodies and textured music production. [This episode features "Magistrate Seeks Romance" from Exit Index in its entirety.]

We need more fearless artists like Sarah Elizabeth Charles inhabiting the world. On Free of Form, the vocalist and composer's third incredible album in a row, she continues to question the expectations of jazz, soul and her own singular talent. It's an exhilarating expansion of her creativity. Sarah co-produced the album with trumpeter Christian Atunde Adjuah Scott who also plays on four songs. Free of Form is the inaugural release on Christian's Stretch Music imprint. Sarah previously appeared on episodes 021 and 036 of Talk Music Talk. [This episode includes Free of Form's title track and "March to Revolution Pt. 2" in their entirety. Both songs feature Christian Scott.]

Eric Morse’s second children’s book, What is Hip-Hop? (produced by journalist Nelson George) is a vibrant picture book on the rich culture and celebrates not only rap music but also breakdancing and graffiti art, from the Bronx block parties to the present day. Imagine that a picture book with a target audience of 4-7 year olds could be an opportunity for parents to discuss issues like race and feminism through the lens of hip-hop. With 3-D clay illustrations by Anny Yi, Eric’s follow-up to 2015’s What is Punk? is never heavy-handed or preachy. What is Hip-Hop? and What is Punk? are both available from Akashic Books.

Maestra Amy Andersson has toured throughout fourteen countries with an expertise that flourishes in a variety of settings. This versatility has allowed her to conduct operatic, symphonic, Broadway music and video operatic repertoire. As of this year, Maestra Andersson has founded her own ensemble, Orchestra Moderne NYC. Its premiere program, The Journey to America: From Repression to Freedom (Part 1), celebrates the legacy of immigration to America. The ensemble’s inaugural performance will additionally be its Carnegie Hall debut on October 7th, 2017 at 8pm. The program features world premieres and works by Peter Boyer, Lolita Ritmanis, Steve Lebetkin and Aaron Copland with guest artist Momo Wong on violin.

The 150th episode of Talk Music Talk: Grace Upon Grace (Floordoor Records/Already Dead Tapes) marks the return of Public Speaking, the solo project of Jason Anthony Harris. The new album is Jason’s response to our current political climate and the “vulnerability to demagoguery in…fractured, desperate times” without slipping into didacticism. The Brooklyn-based musician’s earthy baritone washes over his piano and startling processed sounds and provides about as much comfort as a fly in the salve. [This episode features “Backbone” and “Trespass (ft. Sophie Chernin of Madam West)” from Grace Upon Grace in their entirety.]

The latest release from Soft Glas, the solo project of João Gonzalez, is a centered meditation on receiving the comfort of loved ones and looking back to appreciate the joy in present moments. Premiering João’s lead vocals, Orange Earth is the second full-length album from the Brooklyn-based producer/multi-instrumentalist and is released in conjunction with his short film, The Undiminished Sky. Created with filmmaker Aaron Vazquez, The Undiminished Sky is a sumptuous visual representation of Orange Earth’s themes. Soft Glas was previously interviewed on Episode 090. [This episode features Orange Earth’s title track in its entirety.]

You have to admire someone whose journalism career owes a debt to Duran Duran. In 1987, for a college assignment, Lori Majewski started a Duranzine about her all-time favorite group. The publication once held a circulation of 5000 international Duranies. Her love of writing was sparked. Career highlights since those early days include co-founding Teen People plus various editor stints at US Weekly and Entertainment Weekly. In 2014, Lori co-authored (with Jonathan Bernstein) an oral history on ‘80s music, Mad World. The book features 36 new wave songs and the stories behind them with all-new interviews from some of the era’s greatest artists including the Smiths, Depeche Mode and of course, Duran Duran. Nick Rhodes, the group’s keyboardist, even penned the foreword. Currently, Lori hosts Feedback (with Nik Carter), a morning news show on SiriusXM’s talk music Volume (Ch. 106) station.

A. Savage's solo debut, Thawing Dawn, is the 20th release on his own label, Dull Tools. After five full-lengths (and two EP’s) with Parquet Courts, the Brooklyn-based band Savage founded in 2010, Thawing Dawn is the glorious result of a “songwriting bootcamp” as he puts it. Savage still sings and plays guitar in the band, they're returning to the studio this year, but his abundant productivity yielded a collection of songs that didn't quite fit the group. Thawing Dawn is an album in every since of the word; a complete statement that deserves to be heard in whole to truly experience its great rewards. The album claims just about every genre yet still remains the province of Savage. It's the best consecutive 44 minutes of the year. Savage is also a visual artist; he designed Parquet Courts’ Human Performance album cover which received a 2017 Grammy nomination for Best Recording Package. [This episode features Thawing Dawn’s title track in its entirety.]

Brazilian vibraphonist Victor Vieira-Branco wants to dirty up the percussion instrument. Perhaps an inspired connection from the São Paulo composer's love of punk music and its spirit. Earlier this year his group, Trio Repelente, released Ao Vivo Pra Ninguém, an intense study of jazz, post-rock and the kitchen sink all coalescing in shambolic harmony. Victor is also a member of the ensemble, Baoba Stereo Club. [This episode features "Shifty" and "Azul" from Ao Vivo Pra Ninguém in their entirety.]

The cover of multi-instrumentalist and tape-manipulator L'Rain's debut album simultaneously represents the memory of her mother and the music partly inspired by her. Taja Cheek's solo project is a phonetic respelling of her mother's name. The album image bears an eponymous cursive tattoo on the Brooklyn songwriter's forearm. Taja's genre is noise enveloped with melody, or sometimes the other way around, but always warmed by her vocals. [This episode features "A Toes (Shelf Inside Your Head) from L'Rain in its entirety.]

It takes a confident artist to title their album Shitty Hits. Singer/songwriter Katie Von Schleicher couldn't care less if you're in on the joke or not because, quite simply, her second release contains eleven reasons to the contrary. Think '70s Laurel Canyon on a cloudy day. For this Brooklyn-based artist, it's classic heart-on-your-sleeve songwriting that's justifying raves from the likes of NPR and Interview magazine. [This episode features "The Image" and "Midsummer" from Shitty Hits in their entirety.]

Whether on record or in a live setting, composer/multi-instrumentalist/vocalist Finnegan Shanahan's The Two Halves is hauntingly ambitious. The album, based on a Hudson River Railroad map (circa 1852), was released last year and has been performed with Contemporaneous, an ensemble Finnegan helped establish when he attended Bard College. New York's Rite of Summer music festival will feature the latest performance of The Two Halves during its 2017 season on Governors Island. This episode also includes an interview with Rite of Summer's co-artistic directors, Pam Goldberg and Blair McMillen. ["The Azimuth" from The Two Halves is included in its entirety.]

The best creatives often design from a place of not seeing themselves represented in certain spaces. In the case of Mars Dixon, seven years ago he formed the band Aye Nako because he wanted to see a stage populated with people of color, queer people or even trans people like himself performing punk music that shouts from the margins. The Brooklyn-based group recently put out their third release, Silver Haze. It's a vital collection of spiky, melodic songs where Mars splits guitar and vocal duties with fellow songwriter Jade Payne. Sheena McGrath (drums) and Joe McCann (bass) complete the quartet. [This episode features "Spare Me" and "Sissy" from Silver Haze in their entirety."]

It seems highly unlikely to stumble into excellence. There is a pathway to it regardless of an elusive success or ambitious destinations. The procedures to excellence are what yield artists like rapper Akinyemi. The Queens native is consistently honing his craft through a practice of reading, studying great hip-hop records and even sharpening his singing voice with vocal coaching. The 21-year-old is simultaneously wrapping up his final year of college as a computer science major while he pursues his musical ambitions to produce a body of work that he hopes affects an audience on an emotional level. His forthcoming EP, Summers, will be out later in 2017. [This episode features the single "Maple" in its entirety.]

While everyone is familiar with the term "indie", we just might need more performers like Jazzy Ash to make "kindie" a household word. Independent artists who make music for kids. Over the course of four albums, Ash has been building a thriving audience with originals and covers that appeal to both parents and their offspring. Swing Set is the latest release for the Southern California-native and her band the Leaping Lizards. The new album features Ash singing a selection of songs from the African-American folk canon that are at least 94-years-old in a New Orleans-jazz style. Many of these songs were handed down by children, generation after generation, with a particularly female heritage. [This episode features "Hambone" and "All the Pretty Little Horses" from Swing Set in their entirety.]

For singer-songwriter Nick Pope, musical inspiration is often found in memories. Revisiting those moments, those events with perhaps a little more clarity that is only accessible through distance. His perfect new album, Howl and Flood, is a study in sustaining a mood and arrives onthe heels of last year's compilation of EP's, the genre-hopping Souvenirs and Astronauts. Howl & Flood's consistency in sound is no less exciting in its execution, it merely highlights Nick's restless expansiveness. [This episode features "Matter" and "The Hours" respectively from Howl and Flood and Souvenirs and Astronauts in their entirety.]

There's this thing that singer-songwriter Beau Borek does whenever he reaches for his falsetto. His voice catches for a moment and it breaks your heart each and every time. Which is apropos since his debut release, Different Generations, is about familial loss and relationships and how the experiences can shape you. Although the lyrics are highly personal, Beau has discovered a way to translate an intimacy that affects us all. Listening to Different Generations feels more like a redemptive contribution than voyeuristically bearing witness. [This episode features "Lloyd, pt. 1" and "Goals" from Different Generations in their entirety.]

You know you've entered Gabriel Delicious Country when you hear his irreverent lyrics that scream to be rewinded and eight songs with more hooks than a tackle box. The LA-based singer/multi-instrumentalist's new album, I'm Wigging Out But I Feel Patient, is nearly 25 minutes of punk-wave gilded with Gabriel's talk-singing. It makes one wish that he'll quit his "day job" as a sound engineer ASAP, so we won't have to wait for the follow-up. [This episode features "Glossing" and "Stranger Danger" from I'm Wigging Out But I Feel Patient in their entirety.]

New York-based composer Amir ElSaffar has triumphantly found that sweet spot of innovation not reduction when uniting two musical genres. Not Two, his latest release as a bandleader, features his Rivers of Sound orchestra fusing elements of Middle Eastern music with jazz and vocals. The santur and trumpet player's 17-piece ensemble not only reflects the heritage of his Iraqi father but also finds its inspiration in Amir's spirituality. As with most double-albums, Not Two's ninety minutes are overflowing with possibilities that reward with each passing listen. [This episode features "Shards of Memory/B Half Flat Fantasy" from Not Two in its entirety.]

Regarding that old adage about asking a busy person if you need something done: well, in the case of bandleader/composer Mary Halvorson it may get completed but you could be waiting a long time. Since 2005 the Brooklyn-based jazz guitarist has released nearly two dozen albums in various permutations including in a duo, trio, quartet and on last year's octet release, Away With You. The avant-garde jazz of Away With You appeared on numerous "best of 2016" lists including number one on Nate Chinen's New York Times picks/round-up. With little sign of slowing down, Mary continues to tour all over the world and is working on her first album to feature vocals. [This episode features Away with You's title track.]

Multi-instrumentalist Josiah Woodson is an advocate of moment-to-moment thinking; it has served the Paris-based musician well. Instead of preoccupying his mind on matters of the future, he excels at whatever is currently in front of him. Whether it's winning a Grammy for his trumpet playing on Beyoncé's 4 album or as the bandleader on his debut, Suite Elemental, where he also handles the guitar, flute and flugelhorn. Additionally, Suite Elemental is a showcase for Josiah's classic jazz compositions inspired by the elements. [This episode features "Air" in its entirety from Suite Elemental.]

Who needs the weight of categories when they're all sourced from a strain of creativity that's almost dangerous in its execution? Behind the moniker of Eartheater, Alexandra Drewchin is a musician, performance and visual artist. Whether it's with her pair of 2015 albums (Metalepsis and RIP Chrysalis) or her acrobatic live shows encompassing singing, spoken word and dance, Alexandra's art is always on the verge of the future. From growing up on a Pennsylvania farm to Central Park busking to her forthcoming 2017 album, the journey of Alexandra is as unpredictable as her craft. [This episode features two previously unreleased Eartheater songs: "Central Nervous Sister" and "The Pond".]

Since the 1970s, armed with a 16mm camera and his curiosity, filmmaker and artist Charlie Ahearn was a pioneer chronicler of the nascent days of hip-hop and street culture in New York City. He soon migrated to movies including the super 8 kung-fu film The Deadly Art of Survival (1978) and the seminal Wild Style (1983) which documented the excitement of graffiti art and rap music and is recognized as the first hip-hop movie. Not limited to film, Charlie has also published books and created silkscreen paintings. A new solo exhibition, Scratch Ecstasy, is an exhilarating summation of his talents across mediums. The exhibit is currently running at New York's P.P.O.W. Gallery through June 24, 2017.

New York singer-songwriter Marc Cantone ambitiously splits his time. By day he works as a children's TV producer and at nite he crafts perfect pop songs. The City and Horses is the name of Marc's band project and as the frontman he's been releasing impossibly catchy albums since 2009's official debut I Don't Want to Dream. The new release, Ruins, continues the tradition of urbane lyrics and earworms. Marc has struggled with OCD over the past eight years and on this fourth album the South Jersey-native details his journey. [This episode features "Shades" and "Berlin" from Ruins in their entirety.]

Under the Vagabon moniker, singer-songwriter Lætitia Tamko built her reputation show by show through New York's indie music scene. The DIY environment was a supportive incubator that nurtured Lætitia from her first performance in 2014 at Brooklyn's Silent Barn community art space to the release of this year's Infinite Worlds album. The critically-acclaimed, full-length debut has garnered praise from Pitchfork, NPR and W magazine. What once seemed like an impossible dream to pursue music has led the Cameroon-born Lætitia from living room concerts in front of a handful of people to sold-out shows on her first UK four. [This episode features "Cold Apartment" and "Cleaning House" from Infinite Worlds in their entirety.]

Picking one art form to express himself has never been an issue for Hisham Akira Bharoocha. Equally adept as a drummer and a visual artist, he's simply followed his muse. Currently based in Brooklyn, Hisham was born in Japan to a Japanese mother and Burmese father. Musically, he can easily shift from the pop-centric sounds of his Soft Circle solo project to the experimental trio Kill Alters' latest release, No Self Helps. As for his art, Hisham is skilled in various mediums including photography, painting, drawing and collage with his work consistently featured in numerous group and solo exhibitions in North America, Europe, Australia and Asia. [This episode features "The Holder" by Kill Alters in its entirety.]

Consider Brooklynite Jordan Rothlein one of the fortunate few. His life is a complete immersion into his passion for music. Since 2016 Jordan has worked on the production side of Red Bull Music Academy's radio team where he's involved with both the documentary-style and techno/dance music shows. Originally from Orlando, FL, Jordan also writes about music with his recent feature on Preserved Instincts (fka Dope Jams), the legendary New York record store, appearing on RBMA's daily blog.

Bassist Jon Ehlers has always set music as his primary goal. As one-half of the New York duo Bangladeafy, with drummer Atif Haq, this attitude has produced one rich work after another. Included in the output is Bangladeafy's third release, Narcopaloma (2016), which only clocks in at 15 minutes, but whose seven tracks pack in more complexity and subtext than most double-albums. It's technique without sacrificing melody; agility with a clear plot. Plus, it bangs hard. Although the group name actually refers to both Atif's Bangladeshi heritage and Jon's hearing disability. A new Bangladeafy album is already in the works and should continue Jon's triumphant streak. [This episode features "Act Like an Adult" and "Trillionaire" from Narcopaloma in their entirety.]

We've all read the endless parade of "Ones to Watch" lists that music magazines trot out regularly. Then you never hear about the subjects again! For your consideration I suggest not another list, but one offering who is too good to be ignored. Benny Oyama. Benny is a singer-songwriter who's been successfully putting his spin on bossa nova music and often finds his inspiration through a long-held mediation practice. The son of a Jewish mother and Japanese- American father, the born-and-bred New Yorker currently resides in Brooklyn. [This episode features an exclusive TMT acoustic performance with Benny performing "Untitled", "Autumn Blue" and "Hazy River".]

Who wouldn't want to be GENG when they grow up? DJ. Producer. Runs PTP, a boutique music label/collective based in New York consisting of creatives with little regard for boundaries in their art. Formerly known as Purple Tape Pedigree, the imprint was created by GENG to not only give a platform to artists who otherwise might not have one, but additionally to produce live shows, workshops and fundraisers...and merch. There should always be merch. On the album front, 2017 has been an especially productive year for the born- and-bred New Yorker whose roster includes recent releases from Bonaventure, YATTA and Eaves. GENG has also produced "This Week" from Moor Mother's new album, The Motionless Present. [This episode features Moor Mother's "This Week" plus songs from Bonaventure, YATTA and Eaves in their entirety.]

Five years ago singer/songwriter Natasha Jacobs' band Thelma didn't even exist. But half a decade isn't a terribly long time. Only 60 months. 1,825 measly days! Especially when a long- held dream is conceived. Natasha utilized that period to finally focus on her music. When a fall from a ladder left her bedridden, she took advantage of the homebound solitude to study the guitar and write songs. Spurred by one-part inspiration and one-part tragedy, the glorious result is Thelma's debut LP. Their self-titled album just came out in February and has already claimed praise from Bandcamp Daily for Natasha and Co. [This episode features "If You Let It" and "Thelma" from Thelma in their entirety.]

Journalist Emil Wilbekin's name is synonymous with pop culture. A way of life he's been mining personally since his Cincinnati childhood where he once obsessed over magazines to his career working at some of the best periodicals in circulation. A celebrated dozen years at Vibe magazine culminated with his role as editor-in-chief in 2004 plus a National Magazine Award for the urban lifestyle magazine two years earlier. Emil has also helmed successful editorial stints at Essence, Giant and Marc Ecko's Complex. In his two latest endeavors, Emil is exploring his personal vision through the multimedia content brand World of Wilbekin (#WOW) and Native Son, a movement designed to inspire and empower black gay men.

The road of most musical careers doesn't include both medicine and math in the (ahem) equation, especially when it produces a wonderfully skewed country album. While studying math at Brown University, singer/songwriter Dougie Poole forwent a doctor's life to follow his passion for music. Replacing what's expected for exploration in less reliable waters is the norm for him. The title of his full-length debut, Wideass Highway is perhaps the first clue; the music within is the second. It's country music that bears a closer resemblance to '70s countrypolitan than today's bro-country. Dougie's lyrics don't even hint at pick-ups or parties but instead allow for laptops and the Port Authority as some of the subject matter. Wideass Highway is the greatest of joys--unexpected--because no saw it coming that one of the best contemporary country albums would be delivered by a Brooklynite reared in Providence, RI. [This episode features "Tripping with the One You Love" and "Less Young but as Dumb" from Wideass Highway in their entirety.)

Suzi Analogue isn't just her name; it's a way of life. Inspired by RZA's audio alter ego, Bobby Digital, Suzi took on her moniker as an emblem to be as free and honest as possible in her art. Suzi has boldly forged a singular path through the male-dominated beat scene in her numerous capacities as a beatmaker, songwriter, vocalist (and much more!). From her Virginian suburban roots to the borough of Brooklyn, Suzi is a consummate tastemaker. With her music label (Never Normal Records), eclectic style and positive energy, Suzi gives us all the permission to be our uncompromising, vivid selves. Never not creating, Suzi's prepping the third volume of her ZONEZ music series for a 2017 release. [This episode features "Gurl Sweatshirt" from ZONEZ V.2 in its entirety.]

Maddison Murphy has figured out the (seemingly) uncomplicated math of releasing a successful music compilation. Creation can often appear effortless when someone excels at what they do. Puppy Teeth Records, her Brooklyn-based cassette and digital label, recently released its Good Friends, Vol. 2 compilation. Maddison is the Great Curator. A genre-jumping collection of songs she carefully handpicked, culminating in your new favorite mixtape. An ordering of 25 tracks that produce a distinctive experience of moods and tones with enough variety to warrant a one-sitting listening experience. As if that musical journey wasn't enough, Maddison donates 100% of the compilation's proceeds to the ACLU and Planned Parenthood. [This episode features five of my favorite artists from Good Friends, Vol. 2 including Homeschool Friends (Maddison's solo project) and Beau Borek's three minutes of perfection "New Year's Day".]

Some people have a natural penchant or inclination in regards to their talent. The timeline of their experience doesn't appear to correspond with the execution. File Amy León into this category. Although she is undefinable and hard to pin down. She's been singing for only three years and has recently released her wise and beautiful debut, Something Melancholy. If she must be classified, "instinctive" is perhaps the only proper division. There is an intentional immediacy in Amy's voice and writing. Not only a singer and a poet, she's also an educator and an activist. The visibility and proper representation of brown people. The equal rights of women. These are some of the issues that captivate this formerly shy child of Harlem. Currently based in Brooklyn, Amy's mission statement is the continual utilization of her art as a tool to inspire people and to implement social justice. [This episode includes "Burning in Birmingham" and "Strange Grace" from Something Melancholy in their entirety.]

Isn't it the greatest gift when an artist shares their interior world through their chosen medium? An objective Nandi Rose Plunkett had decidedly been working towards through the experimental pop music of Half Waif. Half Waif is the solo project of the Brooklyn-based singer/ songwriter in which she eventually realized her intention with lyrics that have became more lucid and unguarded over the span of her recording career. The paring down of barriers to their core innocence. Since the 2011 inception of Half Waif, Nandi's released two EP's, two full-length albums and form/a, her stunning new EP consisting of six meditations that reflect on her childhood, relationships and the wages of bare honesty. This episode includes "Frost Burn" and "Night Heat" from form/a in their entirety.

Carina Zachary's path to being the lead vocalist of post-hardcore band Husbandry was not without its diversions. It was preceded by failed stints with bands of various genres and even a year where Carina had given up singing. The Brooklyn-based Husbandry became a four-piece after she answered a Craigslist post resulting in a 2014 EP and last year's Fera. The full-length debut is an embarrassment of riches: each song an exciting fruition of Carina's clear, powerful vocals intertwined with neck-breaking soundscapes from her fellow band mates (Jordan Usatch, Guitars; Arnau Bosc, Bass & Vocals; Andrew Gottlieb, Drums). As an Afro-Caribbean woman in the metal scene, Carina's rare presence (and voice) is an essential addition to the genre. This episodes includes "Grab Twist Pull" and "...With Codeine" from Fera.

The myriad proverbial hats that Tania León wears are a testament to her talent and longevity. Composer. Conductor. Educator. Arts Organization Advisor. Since her '60s emigration from Havana to the States she's accumulated milestone after milestone. A founding member of the Dance Theatre of Harlem with Arthur Mitchell. Grammy nominations. A Guggenheim Fellowship. Her compositions performed at institutions like the Kennedy Center while she has conducted esteemed orchestras around the world. Ms. León is also the artistic director of Composers Now, an organization she founded in 2010 to celebrate living composers from all backgrounds. In February 2017, Composers Now was honored with a Proclamation on behalf of New York Mayor Bill de Blasio.

The history of America is as beautiful and endearing as much its narrative can be ugly and traumatic. Journalist Brian Seibert's What the Eye Hears: A History of Tap Dancing is an exploration of those contradictions as seen through the lens of tap. The talent. The culture. The ups and downs. The indignities. A New York Times dance critic and features writer, Brian's epic tome is both timeless and (sadly) contemporary in its sensitive, incisive portrayal of race in America. Fourteen years in the making, What the Eye Hears easily takes it place as the definitive account of a classic art form.

There's something undeniable about singer-songwriter James Tillman's falsetto; it's the soulful hinge that swings his incredible Silk Noise Reflex album. Plaintive vocals that are unhurried but deceptively so because there's always a knowing backbone present. The D.C. native's full-length debut was executive-produced by Merrill Garbus of tUnE-yArDs after James served as an opening act on one of the group's tours. This episode features both "Rat Race" and "Human Behavior" from Silk Noise Reflex.

Some of us were born with a love for pop music that runs a mile deep and candy-sweet. Some of us run from it, deny it. Keeping in mind that the definition of pop has a wide enough chasm to fit both the Beatles and Beyoncé. But for the ones who can't hide our devotion, whether as a fan or in the case of singer Eric Nizgretsky, the sound of hooks on hooks on hooks is unabashedly embraced. Eric is the frontman for the four-piece band Loose Buttons. With its origins at Miami University, where Eric attended, Loose Buttons are currently based in New York and gearing up for the release of their latest EP, Sundays with Loose Buttons (2/24/17). Sundays proves that loving intelligent pop is all pleasure and no guilt. The remaining members of Loose Buttons are Adam Holtzberg, Zack Kantor and Manny Silverstein. This episode features "Milk and Roses" and "Am I the Only Reason?" from Sundays.

To call Brooklyn-based MICK a DJ isn't wrong; it's simply an incomplete description. Accurate, but ultimately a term that's slight. Nonetheless, his accomplishments as a DJ loom large and his selection of sounds cover the waterfront with hip-hop often at the foundation while still leaving space for house, rock and jazz. With tasteful precision, MICK has shaped the tenor of rooms at private events and parties for the likes of Beyoncé, LeBron James, Hillary Clinton and companies including Yahoo, MasterCard and Nike. The full list is both long and endlessly impressive. While your introduction to MICK was probably through his spinning, he's also a digital entrepreneur with his fingerprints on innovative tech projects like Dot Dot Dash and Localeur. Additionally, MICK finds the time to include gigs as a celebrated brand consultant, music curator and style influencer...and a fairly new dad. Cheers to being intentional with your time!

The final Talk Music Talk episode of the year is a departure from the usual long form interview. The 111th show is a three-hour, hand-chosen compendium (by yours truly) of music from some of the podcast's 2016 guests, hitting on just about every genre. From saxophonist Donny McCaslin (bandleader of David Bowie's "last band" on Blackstar) to LCD Soundsystem's synth player Gavin Russom to new and emerging artists like indie-psych act Corbu and rapper James Lanning. I'm calling this episode "Radio TMT" and I'll guide you through all the eclectic sounds you'll discover or perhaps enjoy again.

There's a metamorphosis procedure to being an outlier. The various traits, tics or dispositions that set you apart from them, are one day celebrated and cherished. Take Brandon Stosuy for example, he was raised in a southern New Jersey town prior to being led by music to leave a population of 800. After leaving his working class family there were eventual stints in Canada, Portland and Buffalo before honing in on Brooklyn. Along the way there was a collegiate education, nowhere jobs and drifting accompanied by desire and endurance. Brandon's perseverance eventually resulted in writing/editing at Pitchfork and Stereogum, publishing a few books including one for kids (Music Is..., 2016) and presently curating music events at MOMA PS1 and the Broad Museum. He's currently the Editor in Chief of Kickstarter's The Creative Independent, a site consisting primarily of daily interviews with creatives from various disciplines discussing both the personal and their process.

An album can be identified as a collection of singles surrounded by filler or ideally, a united suite with a statement or purpose. About Town, the third full-length release from Nicholas Nicholas occupies the latter role. The repetitive moniker is the solo project of Brooklyn-based singer/songwriter Chris Masullo. Bristling amongst the dark-night-of-the-soul vocals and forlorn music of the brilliant About Town belie words that celebrate love and its accompanying emotions. Shades of a red herring? Perhaps, but it forces the listener to not place total faith in their first impressions. It's not necessary to feel tricked or deceived because complex music doesn't ever reveal all that it knows within a first sitting. Or even multiple ones. If considered as a short story collection, About Town is a less a series of songs than an assemblage of lives circling and thriving on the themes of ardor. It appears we've stumbled into Nicholas Nicholas Country.

For Gavin Russom, the route to playing synths in LCD Soundsystem (and building instruments for the James Murphy-led group) was lined with dreams and false alarms. From the wrong friends to a wrong college decision to a fair share of the wrong dead end jobs. In addition to his LCD role, Gavin DJ's and also heads up several projects including Black Meteoric Star. The Xecond Xoming of Black Meteroric Star is the TBA double-album. An hour of raw, unencumbered Detroit-techno in the shape of a Rhode Island kid who grew up to traverse the world from stages to club booths, delivering on his childhood fascination with sounds. The episode includes a 2016 live performance of "Shelled Landscape" from a Devil's Night DJ set at "Thriller" in Dresden, Germany; a studio version will appear on The Xecond Xoming of Black Meteroric Star. [This is a companion podcast to episode #107 with Ryan Leas, author of the book LCD Soundsystem's Sound of Silver, an exploration of the group's second album: (http://bit.ly/TMTryanleas).]

Music journalist Ryan Leas is the author of LCD Soundsystem's Sound of Silver, the 116th volume in 33 1/3's series devoted to one album. Suffice it to say he's a learned listener with his byline appearing on numerous sites including Pitchfork, Stereogum and GQ. Ryan's writing can distinctly evoke a moment, a feeling or the nuances between the notes all within the constraints of a single declarative sentence. As detailed in the book, Ryan was in high school when the second album from the James Murphy-helmed project was revealed to him by that one teacher we all needed. Arriving in the midst of LCD's 2016 reunion, Ryan's debut effortlessly combines both memoir and music scholarship under one 5x7 cover. [This is a companion podcast to episode #108 with LCD Soundsystem's Gavin Russom, who plays synths and builds instruments for the group: (http://bit.ly/TMTgavinrussom).]

In the words of music editor/writer J. Edward Keyes, there is a remedy for nostalgia, specifically when you're discussing new music. The best recordings didn't cease when you left your teens. Amazing songs are in full abundance, but now you have to do a bit of online legwork to unearth them. Joe's background has been a statement of his receptivity with over two decades of writing about an array of styles from hip-hop to black metal to Christian rock. The latter? A signpost harkening back to Joe's nascent journalism career writing for Christian music magazines prior to contributing to secular publications like SPIN, Rolling Stone and Pitchfork. He also left behind an early calling to be a youth pastor. Joe's currently the editorial director at Bandcamp, a music platform for independent musicians to sell their music and merchandise. He oversees the Bandcamp Daily website that is an eclectic source of interviews, genre round-ups and in-depth articles. Joe also has a personal blog, An Atheist's Guide to Christian Rock, that explores and reevaluates some of his most beloved music of the genre.

What is that particular thrill of discovering a limited-edition cassette that came out late last year and slipped under your radar? It feels as if the artist created the music solely for you. The album in question is In Between and that artist is Big Eater. Big Eater is the solo project of singer/songwriter Matt Bachmann and the debut full-length release is one of the best albums you missed last year. Or this year. A hazy hodgepodge of folk, jazz, pop and the indescribable wrapped around the core of a break-up. The follow-up is in the works, but until its arrival, now is the time to revel in the hushed masterstroke that is In Between. This episode features two songs from In Between plus an exclusive TMT live performance of the unreleased "Drive."

Ice Choir frontman and multi-instrumentalist Kurt Feldman knows his way around a J-pop song: specifically from '83 to '89. With the synth-pop group's second release, Designs in Rhythm, that seven-year stretch abounds but through the native-New Yorker's filter of enigmatic lyrics, endless hooks and crisp vocals. Regardless of where the influence originates, the album's melodies are sturdy enough to be transported to any genre of music. Although Ice Choir bears a decidedly electronic sound, Kurt's wheelhouse is vast enough to accommodate a nearly seven- year stint as the drummer in the janglier indie band, The Pains of Being Pure at Heart. This episode features two songs from Designs in Rhythm.

Once upon a time vocalist Melanie Charles (a.k.a. D'Flower) had a sartorial period where she'd deftly mix contrasting patterns. Her mother likened her daughter's music to this phase; she couldn't be more apt. Melanie's musical style is a brew of her jazz training, soul influences and operatic dreams and perhaps, a splash of just about everything else, including her Haitian heritage. Last year's Rat Habitat EP (Guns That Shoot Bubbles with Jordan Peters) is the proof, but only a sliver of her electric talent. Melanie plays the flute, self-orchestrates with a SP202 classic sampler and the piano was her first instrument at age five. For this born-and-bred Brooklyn musician, her forthcoming solo album will truly reflect all the facets of her artistry. This episode features two Rat Habitat songs plus a TMT-exclusive live performance of Melanie's unreleased "Without Us" from her TBA solo project.

For James Lanning, hip-hop and photography are more than just modes of pure entertainment, they're the means to inspire people via rap and a Canon 5D Mark III. James has been vocal about his personal struggles with depression and suicidal thoughts and hopes that his art can be a part of the conversation to remove the stigma often attached to these issues. As evidenced by James' death-defying, bridge-hopping music video, "One," that went viral earlier this year, urban exploring has been another vehicle of artistic expression for the Brooklyn resident. "One" will also be included on James' forthcoming debut EP, Another Day Wasted, along with "Regina" and "Run Away (ft. Inas)," which are both included on this episode.

On David Bowie's final studio album, Blackstar, his vision was manifested by jazz saxophonist Donny McCaslin. Although the collaboration instantly threw Donny (and his core group of musicians) into the consciousness of both Bowie fanatics and the general public, diehard jazzheads have long been privy to the three-time Grammy-nominee for decades. Over the course of eleven studio albums as a bandleader and countless guest spots and side gigs, Donny has continuously pushed himself to discover new landscapes with each album. The present one building on the foundation of its predecessor. Beyond Now, Donny's twelfth release, is a continuing representation of this truth, finding its roots in the dynamic between himself and Bowie. In a collection of originals, challenging electronica/pop interpretations and two Bowie covers, Beyond Now is the ultimate evidence of what the legend saw in Danny and his expansive work.

In another lifetime, Carlos D was the slick-haired, style-conscious, all-black wearing bassist of the band Interpol. Since leaving the "post-punk revivalists" group in 2010, he's returned to the public consciousness as theater actor Carlos Dengler. Carlos has never spoken publicly about his departure from Interpol, but in this exclusive TMT conversation he shares why he abruptly left after four studio albums and three tours. This is his personal story of the highs, the lows and even the band therapy. In addition to his candid revelations about the band, Carlos discusses both his traumatic childhood and overcoming a drug addiction while still in Interpol. During the intervening six years, Carlos pursued a career in acting that would include receiving an MFA from NYU's Acting Program and staging his first solo show, Homo Sapiens Interruptus. In August, the hour-long monologue premiered in New York to positive reviews and sold-out performances as a part of the Fringe Festival. Due to its success, the show returns as a part of the festival's Fringe Encore series for a two-week October run.
 

A quick and dirty Google search for Brooklyn singer/songwriter Kamilah yields only one official video. An entry to NPR's Tiny Desk Contest for her slow-burning ballad "1600 Miles". Although Kamilah's submission didn't win last year, she's spent the time in between conducting a plan of action. Two new videos will premiere on her forthcoming website (IAmKamilah.com), which currently highlights Kamilah's social media links. If waiting isn't an option, this podcast includes an exclusive "TMT Session with Kamilah" featuring four intimate performances. Suggestion: Be seated when listening. Remember the first time you heard Tracy Chapman's "Fast Car"? Or how you felt listening to Joan Armatrading on vinyl? There's no doubt this born-and-bred Bahamian artist will conjure the same sensation.

Jazz and classical share the spotlight when it comes to the music of Brooklyn singer/songwriter Matt Kanelos. With his latest project, Violence, the multi-instrumentalist plumbs both the commonality and tension between the two genres while adding his own spin of cabaret, improvisation and avant-garde tendencies. Violence is the namesake of a generous 55-minute EP and a short film that feel wonderfully chaotic when absorbed as a whole. In addition to his own work, Matt plays piano for cabaret performer (and past TMT guest 045) Carol Lipnik at live performances and on her stunning album, Almost Back to Normal. This episode features two songs from Violence: "Nonviolent Man" and "God Is a Guy".

Computer Magic is the electronic music project of Danielle "Danz" Johnson. She is the very definition of prolificacy. One look at her CV and clearly Danz can not not make music. Under the guise of Computer Magic, she's released a handful of LPs in Japan and eight EPs worldwide. Last year's Davos was her first full-length American album and her latest EP, Obscure But Visible, comes out everywhere in October. Launched in a bedroom just"for fun", Computer Magic has since bloomed into a legion of diehard fans from the States to Japan and also a song featured in a Lexus commercial. This episode includes "Dimensions", the first single from Obscure But Visible.

Expanding Heart is the exquisite new gem of an album from jazz pianist and Bay Area-native Jarrett Cherner. His trio record is at once an artistic statement of meditative discovery and also a gift to the listener with its moods of tenderness and contemplation. Jarrett's second outing as a bandleader is a collection of original compositions plus a handful of covers including two by Ornette Coleman. Out on October 21, Expanding Heart is destined to find a place on every jazz aficionado's playlist. This episode features two tracks from Expanding Heart: "Distance" and "Meditation 1".

It's not often you bear witness to the eve of a musical movement. Floordoor Records first releases won't appear until late-September, but bloggers and social media are already hyped by the singles and videos that have been trickling out over the past few months. Not to mention a slew of incendiary live performances at the Bed-Stuy venue, C'mon Everybody. This September and October, Floordoor's inaugural two albums will arrive from A Bunch of Dead People and Public Speaking, the respective projects of founders Ruben Sindo Acosta and Jason Anthony Harris. Additional albums from label mates Supplier, My Love MHz and Eternal Garb will eventually round out the Brooklyn label's first wave. Their mission statement? Perhaps: hullabaloo and tumult in concert with harmonies and grooves. The fledgling collective plans to be a home for genre-daring music that attracts listeners who are as progressive as the artist roster. This podcast features a song a piece from A Bunch of Dead People and Public Speaking.

As founder of the Rabbit Rabbit Rabbit label, saxophonist/composer Éyal Hai has crafted a universe of invigorating music that hinges on jazz but also summons in influences like the Beatles and Brazilian sounds. The Brooklyn-based Rabbit operates as a collective featuring Éyal's fellow musicians Jonathan Greenstein, Daniel Meron and Arnan Raz. Since 2014, the label has produced five albums. Hailing from Israel, the collective's individual records are unique on their own but together form a complimentary mosaic that pushes and challenges the listener. This episode features four of my favorite songs from the label.  

This podcast episode of Talk Music Talk featuring Samora Pinderhughes was recorded July 22, 2016 at Rockwood Music Hall in New York City on the Lower East Side. It features an intimate performance with Samora on piano and vocals followed by my conversation with him. Samora's set highlights music from both his Venus Project and the Transformations Suite. The Transformations Suite album comes out on October 12, 2016.

Samora was previously interviewed on Talk Music Talk for back-to-back podcasts. Scroll down to episodes 078 and 079 for more information on Samora and to hear both interviews.

In her three decades plus career as an opera singer, Martina Arroyo has achieved one highlight after another. She's performed all over the world as a celebrated spinto soprano, including over 200 performances at the Met Opera with three opening nights to her credit. She's worked with top conductors like Leonard Bernstein and has performed the repertory of Mozart and Strauss, to name a few. Ms. Arroyo's hard work and immense talent has been recognized by her peers with a 2010 NEA Opera Honors Award and a Kennedy Center Honor three years ago. Although the Harlem native officially retired in 1989, it hasn't stopped her from using her legacy to educate others. In 2003, she established the Martina Arroyo Foundation, which fosters excellence in young opera singers in an educational setting. Kudos to Ms. Arroyo for allowing her expertise and command to inspire a new generation. This podcast also features an interview with the Foundation's music director, Maestro Willie Anthony Waters.

It is a fortunate few who not only love what they do, but also help others in the process. For over twenty decades, New York educator Adam Goldberg has done just that with music. As a teacher at PS 177Q in Fresh Meadows, Queens, he expands the world of children with learning challenges by utilizing iPads and a slew of music creation apps like GarageBand and iKaossilator. At the New York public school, Adam founded the "Technology Band", a successful example of education and innovation uniting. Since their inception, the high school ensemble have performed music as complex as Chick Corea's "Space Circus" and have also been featured on FOX News and NPR. Here's to Adam Goldberg for heralding the power of music.

Producer and photographer João Gonzalez has gone on record saying that the Soft Glas tag visually represents the way his music sounds. This feels apt considering the project is a glorious synthesis of not only haunting, electronic soundscapes but also well-considered aesthetics. From the curation of João's Instagram and promotional images to the release of last year's dos EP, there hasn't been one wrong step. Yet nothing ever feels clinical or over calculated, on the contrary only a warmth resonates through the entire Soft Glas canon. Whether João's working with collaborators for his own music or producing for others like the violin duo (and friends), CharGaux, the Brooklyn-based musician is in utter command of his talents. 2016 year will reveal an embarrassment of riches when the dos follow-up, Late Bloom, arrives along with the Soft Glas-produced CharGaux album. This episode features a selection from both Soft Glas albums.

For the past 20 years, independent publisher Akashic Books has blazed a path of nonconformity and subversiveness through literature. Johnny Temple, the bassist of 90s alt-rock band Girls Against Boys, funded the fledgling press with the spoils of a major label advance the group received. In the pass two decades, the Brooklyn house has released over 400 books including titles from Marlon James, Arthur Nersesian and imprints from Dennis Cooper and Mobb Deep's Prodigy, plus the bestseller "adult children's book" Go the F**k to Sleep. In 2016, Akashic Books continues its eclectic streak with the publication of both Ziggy Marley's cookbook and Ron Kovic's Born on the 4th of July follow-up.

Journalist and music/cultural critic Laina Dawes' book What Are You Doing Here? explores the race and gender issues of African-American female fans of metal, hardcore and punk music. Subtitled "A Black Woman's Life and Liberation in Heavy Metal", this is not only Laina's story but also of black musicians and their fans in a genre and culture that is primarily white and male. 

Frontman Jonathan Graves' Corbu are on the heels of releasing one of the best albums you'll hear in 2016. Crayon Soul is melodic when you want it, a bit psychedelic when you need it with expansive lyrics and soaring vocals from Jonathan. Fellow members Amanda (creative partner) and Todd Hoellerman (drums) complete the triumvirate.  Preceded by last year's two EP's, Corbu's debut was mixed by Dave Fridmann (The Flaming Lips, MGMT, Tame Impala). Although Crayon Soul isn't released until August, this episode features the latest single, "Battles", which is just one of twelve perfect songs. 

Singer/songwriter Arlene Gould christens her music Afro-Pop. It's a brew of all her musical influences and experiences that make her so dynamic. Currently based in Brooklyn, Arlene is originally from Israel and her heritage includes both Israeli and Caribbean roots. 2016 will see the release of Rollin', her debut album and also the name of the first single and video which premiered on the AfroPunk site. If the single is any indication, Rollin' will be the feel-good album of the year. This episode features the title track. 

In case you were wondering, it only takes ten hours to manifest innovation. From start to finish, Monthly Music Hackathon NYC reinvents the wheel on last Saturdays by uniting musicians, programmers, scientists or the merely curious for a musical think tank culminating in a performance (or presentation). Hackathon was founded four years ago by Jonathan Marmor and features a different theme each month such as "Glitch", "Music Games" or "Gender in Music". Jonathan is also a composer, tabla player and a Spotify engineer manager. This episode includes an excerpt from his composition "List of Songs" as performed by Tiny Big Band.

For any music lover, you have to admire someone who gets to spend their days in full-music submersion. Case in point, Bob Kosovsky. He's the curator of New York Public Library's Rare Books & Manuscripts Music Division. The Music Division is a genre-spanning public library that's home to a music clipping inventory (featuring over 46,000 names), more than 100,000 photographs and access to the papers of innovative artists like John Cage and Meredith Monk plus many more discoveries. The music library isn't just a resource hub for scholars and journalists doing research, it's also for the music geek or a tourist who wants to watch a taped performance of a Broadway show. Bob also teaches music theory through the Extension Division of Mannes College/The New School for Music and has been a Wikipedia editor since 2006.

From the start of her career, Nellie McKay made it abundantly clear that music wouldn't be the only device she'd utilize to be outspoken and provocative. Along with her genre-defying 2004 debut, Get Away From Me, her politics dared you to shy away from her intentions, whether it was for the environment, animal welfare or feminism. In the past dozen years, Nellie released five more eclectic studio albums including last year's My Weekly Reader, an album of 60's covers with themes of drugs and politics. Incidentally, the ensuing twelve years have not tempered her activism; Nellie is still fighting for the causes she's passionate about including her tireless, on-the-ground campaigning for presidential candidate Bernie Sanders. Our conversation took place on the eve of the New York primary, where ultimately Sanders would lose to Hillary Clinton.

Israeli trio Kadawa have been performing for a little under a year in their current incarnation of Tal Yahalom, Almog Sharvit and Ben Silashi. On guitar, bass and drums respectively, Kadawa's music is a collision of jazz and rock rooted in both mindbending improvisation and original composition elements. Between their organic interplay and prowess, it's hard to imagine that they haven't been playing together for years. This podcast features two songs from Kadawa's debut album which comes out in the fall.

When the title of your first album is i am DAJ, it's a proud mission statement representing both your simplicity and boldness. Born DeShawn Aaron Jenkins, DAJ traversed many journeys and evolutions to produce a full-length project that represents the summation of his hard-won life experiences. The debut release is also a masterclass in perfect album sequencing with songs that explore electronica, acoustic soul and house music with DAJ's vocals as the (un)common denominator. For anyone who claims "good" music isn't made anymore, submit a copy of i am DAJ as their research assignment. The podcast episode features two songs from the album.

From the Czech Republic to New York City, composer/performer Lucie Vítková has blazed a singular path of experimentation and creativity harnessed only by her limitless imagination. Whether it's through her voice, the harmonica, an accordion or even tap dancing, Lucie's music is marked by a sense of adventure found in both her improvised performances and recordings. The current Columbia University Visiting Scholar is completing her next album, Music Domestic, which consists of found sounds discovered within her home. The podcast episode features a Music Domestic demo and also a piece from Lucie's 2015 album, Chorals.

Artists like Samora Pinderhughes occupy that sliver of real estate which inhabits both talent and that certain something you can't quite name, but you immediately recognize its presence. These visionaries easily set themselves apart from the musical chaff. Pianist. Composer. Bandleader. Singer. Samora is a graduate of Juillard's prestigious Jazz Program where he received his Bachelors of Music degree. The Bay Area-native has shared stages with the likes of Ron Carter, Christian Scott and Branford Marsalis and has performed his original compositions all over the world including Cuba, Australia and in the States. For the past five years, Samora has been fine-tuning his large-scale composition "The Transformations Suite" in numerous live settings. The hour-long suite is a tapestry of music, theater and poetry united to invoke social change and will be released as an album in the fall. The second installment of this two-part interview features a Talk Music Talk exclusive: the recorded premiere of "Transformation", the opening song on the album.

Singer/Songwriter Paul Weinfield's spiritually-minded essays began as an intersection between music and meditation that happened to garner a sizable Facebook following. The synthesis makes sense considering music has been an integral part of his life including writing songs on his guitar at age nine and meditating helped him cope with both health issues and a 10-year writers' block. On the other side of these past challenges, the New York-native released six albums under his Tam Lin project and also teaches meditation. Paul is currently contributing to the forthcoming album from Fairytales for the Fatherless plus working on a 2016 solo release.

When a musician claims Prince, Steely Dan and Bob Dylan as a few of their influences, it's quite possible to expect a derivative hodgepodge from said musician's output. In the case of singer/ songwriter/multi-instrumentalist Ryan Thompson, those brilliant touchstones get filtered through a distinctive point of view with Feign Pathos. The enthrallingly-named moniker is Ryan's vehicle to showcase his slinky, soulful voice as it carves out a stirring path regardless of the setting. Whether it's the electronica foundation of the single "Sophisticated Lady" or with his acoustic solo performances, Ryan's brew of R&B and alternative music is evocative yet personal. He's currently perfecting Feign Pathos' forthcoming debut EP.

Mike Sniper's independent record label, Captured Tracks, was founded with $10k from selling his power-pop record collection and two releases: Dum Dum Girls' 2009 debut and his own project, Blank Dogs (2008). Since then, he's turned the Brooklyn imprint into one of the premier go-to places for exciting new artists and reissues of previously hard-to-find treasures. From homegrown acts like Mac DeMarco and DIIV to career retrospectives from Milk-n-Cookies, the mainly vinyl label continues to expand its influence and musical diversity with Mike's creation of the Omnian Music Group. This recent endeavor consists of nine sister labels that exist to produce more output without diluting Captured Tracks. Not just content with releasing music, Mike has also opened up two record stores in Brooklyn's Fort Greene and Greenpoint neighborhoods, both bearing the Captured Tracks name. This episode concludes with a five-song sampler.

Violinist Kelly Hall-Tompkins is one of those fortunate people who knew at an early age what they wanted to do with their life. She discovered her calling when she started playing the violin at age nine. Since then Kelly has hit many career highlights as a soloist and chamber musician including performances with numerous orchestras like the Dallas Symphony and the Chamber Orchestra of New York, over 800,000 YouTube views for her "Imagination" music video album and praise from the New York Times and the Strad magazine. Kelly's latest milestone is her Broadway debut in the revival of Fiddler on the Roof where she fulfills the titular role from the orchestra pit. In addition to her vast musical talent, Kelly is also a humanitarian who founded and directs Music Kitchen, a program that brings chamber musician performances to New York City homeless shelters with participation from over 100 acclaimed artists. Kelly's future plans include more music videos featuring her virtuoso playing.

You don't get to be on Broadway for nearly eighteen years by pure luck. You could say singer and actress Rema Webb's journey to the Great White Way began at age twelve when she first started singing lessons in our shared hometown of Clairton, PA, a suburb of Pittsburgh. Along the way she participated in choirs and pageants, trained in piano and classical voice, studied her craft at the University of Pittsburgh and in Italy. Rema's consistent work ethic eventually led to a role in Ragtime, her Broadway debut. She's since added nine more musicals to her resumé including 16 1/2 years in the Lion King, the Book of Mormon and the current revival of the Color Purple. In February, Rema was featured on cast recording albums of the Color Purple and A New Brain. She is also the founder/executive director of On Broadway Performing Arts Training Program, a organization dedicated to the performing arts, mentoring and education of young aspiring artists. On April 25, Rema reprises Children Will Listen, her celebrated one woman show at New York's 42 West. 

In between his travel and style gigs, photographer Nick Onken's musical forays have been quite impressive. He's aimed his camera at Justin Bieber, Usher, Asher Roth and Mary J. Blige, to name a few. As the official photographer for the non-profit Pencils of Promise, Nick utilizes his camera to help provide education to children in the developing world. He's also a successful podcaster with his inspiring SHOPTALKradio that features lively interviews with dynamic creatives from all fields. With Nick guiding the conversations, he's the perfect example of someone living their passions. Creative. Talented. Caring. Nick Onken is clearly the equal of his guests.

Electronica producer and artist Praveen Sharma's career is a study in fluidity. He easily moves from duos (Praveen & Benoit and Sepalcure) to his solo project, Braille. Last year, Braille was well-represented with two releases: the Everyone's Crazy EP and the full-length Mute Swan. From mysterious house tracks to brooding mood pieces featuring extraneous vocals, the common threads are innovation and melancholy. Expect a new Sepalcure release from Praveen and musical partner Machinedrum (Travis Stewart) later in the year.

Is it too soon to call Marcus Paul James' new single "Living in Dreams" the best song you'll hear in 2016? Yes, it might be a tad presumptuous, but I stand behind my prediction that you will play this ballad 10 times in a row. The Brooklyn-native singer/songwriter comes naturally to good music with a successful career performing on Broadway in musicals like RENT and the Heights. More recently he appeared in NBC's the Wiz Live last December. Marcus is currently working on his forthcoming EP tentatively scheduled for a Spring release.

After hearing the eclectic roster of cassette (and some vinyl) label Already Dead Tapes, it's no doubt that you'll be kicking yourself for tossing out that banana-yellow Walkman. It's okay; every ADT release comes with a digital download. But admit it, tapes are way more fun than MP3s. Based in Brooklyn via Chicago, ADT was founded in 2009 by Joshua Tabbia (and Sean Hartman). Since its inception, the label has carved out a respected reputation for its genre-defying list of artists from all over the world in small batches. Joshua says the curation process is a natural reflection of his own varied musical tastes. A graphic designer by day, the Kalamazoo-native also handles the creative design for the independent label. With dozens of releases every year from hip-hop to noise to alt-rock, ADT offers plenty to discover for music aficionados. Get a taste of the label with an exclusive 5-song sampler after our conversation.

Meshell Ndegeocello's CV may include collaborations with the eclectic company of Herbie Hancock, Basement Jaxx, Robert Glasper and Madonna, yet with every project she remains resolutely herself. Whether it's through guest spots or her own releases, Meshell's sound has always been her hallmark. In 1993, Madonna's fledgling Maverick Records released Plantation Lullabies, Meshell's debut which perfectly highlighted that sound: dual pleasures of baritone singing and spoken word with her distinctive bass-playing washing over and through you. For more than 20 years and 11 albums, this restless artist has touched upon genre after genre without sacrificing her identity or style. Utilizing her laptop as a new instrument, this year Meshell plans to release a new album that aims to fuse both politics and dancing.

To say that pianist Vijay Iyer covers the musical waterfront is quite possibly an understatement. His expertise finds him comfortably traversing from his namesake jazz trio to a hip-hop-rooted project with poet Mike Ladd to a classical album, Mutations. Vijay's eclecticism has not gone unnoticed. His talent has been praised by the New York Times, Chicago Tribune and Pitchfork. Last year, DownBeat magazine named him their Artist of the Year and in 2013 he was awarded a MacArthur Fellow "Genius Grant". Vijay is currently an Artist-In-Residence at the Metropolitan Museum of Art which will include multiple performances in a variety of settings along with curated works by fellow artists.

You've got to hand it to artist manager Marat Berenstein, he knows talent when he sees it. Since 2014, the Marat Berenstein Company has been shepherding the careers of young talent such as music and visual artist Daniel Bázan, Jr. and music supervisor Matt FX (Broad City, Difficult People). In addition to managing and developing content with MBC, the New York-based entrepreneur also specializes in music licensing as adjunct faculty at NYU's Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music. Marat is an expert in the field of licensing and has placed his clients' music in a variety of projects for major corporations including MTV, VH1 and HBO. With Marat's creative understanding of the music business and early success, it feels safe to say that it takes talent to know talent.

There's a good chance music writer Jesse Jarnow knows more about the Grateful Dead than you ever will. Understandably, he did get a head start when he was in middle school. Since then he's been on a slippery slope that would eventually lead to writing extensively about the iconic jam band. He's penned liner notes for Dave's Picks, the archive series of classic Dead shows; compiled the entire setlist repertoire for the band's 80 disc concert box set, 30 Trips Around the Sun and has a forthcoming book that explores the Dead community entitled Heads: A Biography of Psychedelic America, coming out in March. He's also the DJ of the Frow Show on freeform radio station WFMU...where, of course, he manages to squeeze in some Dead music.

As the premier opera music authority, Fred Plotkin possesses the history of Italy at his fingertips. Not by birthright, mind you, but still rooted in his DNA. A racially-diverse Brooklyn rearing included ample time spent in the homes of Italian friends which spawned a love for their rich culture. Fred also grew up on a constant diet of classical music in his own home. His love for all things Italian was set after Fred graduated high school and his mother rented a Tuscany apartment for them to spend a summer vacation. Eventually his twin passions of opera and Italian culture would lead to a storied career as journalist, lecturer and the author of nine books including Opera 101: A Complete Guide to Learning and Loving Opera and Italy for the Gourmet Traveler. Fred's expertise recently earned him the Cavaliere della Stella d'Italia, the Italian equivalent of knighthood, conferred by the president of Italy.

Kat Cunning is a star! There...I said it. Now catch up. Actor. Singer. Dancer. Photographer. If I've left out anything, it's only because there's nothing she can't do. Kat deftly moves from strength to strength in everything she touches. Transcendent as the Fairy Godmother in Company XIV's Baroque-Burlesque interpretation of Cinderella. Rapturous at a sold-out Joe's Pub performance in December 2015. The new year ushers in even more abundance of riches with Kat's leap to Broadway in Cirque de Soleil's Paramour as the lead actress' understudy in addition to her own character, Lila. The Portland native will also release her debut album of original material this year. Kat Cunning will own 2016!

Drummer. Feminist. Activist. Badass. Kiran Gandhi occupies these labels and also defies and expands them to her liking. Kiran is in constant motion from studying at Georgetown University to obtaining a Harvard MBA while simultaneously touring with M.I.A. to crafting a stint as Interscope Records' first digital analyst. She's also spoken at TEDxBrooklyn on her "Atomic Living" concept of finding multiple pillars that you're passionate about and then choosing the various moments and opportunities that arise to support them. Most recently, one of Kiran's pillars, gender equality, went viral in August of 2015. She ran the London marathon sans sanitary protection to give voice to "sisters who don't have tampons" and to end "period shaming". Post-race pictures display Kiran proudly posing with clear evidence of her menstrual cycle in effect. Yeah, just another day in the life of a badass. In 2016, Kiran will bring that same rebellious spirit to her debut album.

Music writer Marshall Yarbrough closes out Talk Music Talk's final episode of 2015 with his picks of the year. The Assistant Music Editor of the Brooklyn Rail newspaper explains in detail what albums, books and events in music excited him the most.

What's not to admire about music psychotherapist Brian Harris. For over the past 20 years he's dedicated himself to improving the lives of others through music. He's a nationally certified and state licensed therapist with two degrees in music therapy. Brian's innovative analytic and vocal psychotherapy techniques have helped people from all walks of life including trauma survivors, children with developmental disabilities and also, adults dealing with Alzheimer's and related dementia. Brian's astute understanding of the mind and body connection has led to a recent tenure at Beth Israel Medical Center's Louis Armstrong Center for Music and Medicine in New York City. He's also an adjunct at NYU where he received a Masters degree in their music therapy program.

Singer-Songwriter Steve Garvin first picked up the guitar at age 19 when he was a freshman at Villanova University. After graduation, he landed in Chinatown where his New York-sized bedroom doubles as a DIY recording studio. The result? His recently released EP, Don't Run Away, proves that maybe size really doesn't matter. The sound? A gorgeous rush of '60s- dappled harmonies and classic songwriting dipped in an array of '80s synth influences. The Midwestern transplant is intent on growing as an artist and perfecting his craft. So far? So good.

For label head Noah Padawer-Curry, Onamazu represents the rarefied challenge of releasing electronica music that succeeds inside of the club and inside of your flat. The label specializes in Downtempo Bass music with an eclectic roster of artists from all over the world that blow up the definition of the genre. Since its April 2015 conception, Onamazu has achieved eminent signs of a bright future including 2000-plus SoundCloud followers and multiple featured placements on Spotify. For Noah and business partner/graphic designer Max Burstein, 2016 will surely bring in continued milestones with upcoming plans to expand into touring the label's acts and also, producing a clothing line that will appeal to both fans and anyone who loves graphics that are as singular as Onamazu's sound.

Multi-woodwind player Yacine Boularès is the bandleader of Ajoyo, which means "celebration" in Yoruba. It's a fitting name for a group whose songs represent a joyous, whirlwind synthesis of jazz, soul and African music. As a Fulbright Laureate, Yacine attended the New School for Jazz, where the French-Tunisian musician first met and collaborated with vocalist/composer Sarah Elizabeth Charles. Ajoyo's self-titled debut features the two-time TMT guest (episodes #21 & #36) on six of the eight titles. Sarah served as my introduction to Ajoyo and was also my entry point to pianist Jesse Fischer. Listen to companion episode #56 of TMT to hear my conversation with Jesse.

Yacine was recently awarded a French American Jazz Exchange grant to produce his new trio with cellist Vincent Segal and drummer Nasheet Waits. The project will premiere next year with an album plus performances. Hopefully, 2016 will also see the sophomore Ajoyo release.

2015 has been an eventful year for pianist/composer/producer Jesse Fischer. He released two records that managed to reveal multiple aspects of his talent. First there was Vein Melter, a collaboration with horn player Sly5thAve, that was a powerful reimagining of Herbie Hancock's 70's fusion masterpiece, Headhunters. Then in September, Jesse returned as a bandleader with the diverse, poignant Day Dreamer that found him adding lyrics to his music for the time. Day Dreamer stars vocalist/composer and two-time TMT guest (episodes #21 & #36), Sarah Elizabeth Charles, on four titles. In addition to introducing me to Jesse, Sarah was also my connection to the group Ajoyo, who are led by multi-woodwind player Yacine Boularès with Sarah as the featured vocalist. Listen to companion episode #57 of TMT to hear my conversation with Yacine. NOTE: In my intro and outro, I mistakenly refer to Jesse's Vein Melter collaborator Sly5thAve as "Sly5thAvenue".

It's hardly a coincidence that the enthusiasm careening from J. Hoard's earworm of a single "Not So Fast" is an accurate portrait of the artist as a young man. Mildly pretentious James Joyce references aside, one can experience the celebration Jonathan demonstrates in his performances and on his aptly-titled debut EP, Feel Good. The Columbus, OH native currently resides in Brooklyn and is perfecting the upcoming full-length Feel Good album. Jonathan is also busy performing on stages from city to city including Gentei Kaijo's the Lesson, a Thursday nite jam at Arlene's Grocery, where you can catch Jonathan freestyle singing (and dancing) to weekly packed crowds. Just try to deny the unadulterated joy and immense talent of J. Hoard.

Is "Haunt" a musical genre? If not, may I humbly nominate Brooklyn duo the Bright Smoke as its progenitors? Consisting of Mia Wilson (vocals/guitar) and Quincy Ledbetter (multi- instrumentalist/filmmaker), their second full-length release, Terrible Towns, is the 2015 album most likely to break your heart before putting it back together. With Mia's soft-focus vocals and the evocative landscapes Quincy builds beneath her, the sustained mood is the highest example of why albums still matter. And if only to sweeten an already delicious aural dish, Quincy directed a video trilogy of Terrible Towns songs that premiered on Diffuser.fm. Yes, "Haunt" definitely feels correct.

Singer-songwriter and up-and-coming pop star Ellis Martin has easily fulfilled the willful maxim, "Give the People What They Don't Know They Want" with an innovative amalgamation of electronica, '60s Motown and doo-wop that he calls "Molly Pop". Although the label might ring as provocative, it doesn't detract from music that is simultaneously contemporary and timeless. For proof, just listen to his debut EP, Pornotopia, co-produced by fellow Stanford U. alum, Jidenna, whose "Classic Man" hit was released on Janelle Monae's Wondaland label. Originally from South Side Chicago, Ellis is now based in New York and working on volume two of Pornotopia which will see a 2016 release. In the meantime, he's preparing to spread his titular concept, an insanely melodic stance against society's inauthentic view of sex and love, with a slate of live performances. Welcome to Planet Pornotopia!

In just over five short years, Mindy Abovitz has expanded the narrow definition who gets to drum with Tom Tom magazine, the only magazine dedicated to female drummers. As its founder and editor-in-chief, Mindy has fused her passions of feminism and drumming to create a platform designed to dispel the ignorance, misogyny and flat-out neglect often lodged at female percussionists in a male-dominated field. What started out as a personal blog quickly grew into a printed quarterly that features an intentional broad palette of diversity from race to class to sexual identity that celebrates women and girl drummers and beatmakers from all over the world. The revolution begins with a pair of sticks and a dream!

Music business consultant Rick Goetz is standing tall at the crossroads of a rapidly changing industry where the gatekeepers are fewer and the musicians posses more beneficial options than ever. Your favorite band at the local dive bar can now foster their audience through social media, YouTube or SoundCloud. Between sluggish album sales and low-paying streaming, companies like Rick's appropriately named Music Consultant are giving the indie artist the chance for a fulfilling career sans a major label, but still providing many of the same advantages like creating marketing plans or A&R services. In an uncertain landscape, even major artists like Elton John and Sting have utilized Music Consultant to increase their odds for a blockbuster album. With 20 years of experience under his belt including stints as a major label A&R representative, a music supervisor, an artist manager and as a bassist in his own 90's band Dine-O-Matic, Rick has truly seen the music industry from both sides now.

I'm extremely honored to interview Highsnobiety's Jeff Carvalho for Talk Music Talk's 50th episode!!! As a partner and executive editor of the daily news site and coffee table worthy magazine (and their menswear site Selectism), Jeff is an astute overseer of what's vital in fashion, art, design and of course, music. Highsnobiety regularly features aural tastemakers like Pharrell and Oh Land with sumptuous layouts and insightful articles. Jeff says he's obsessed with music which is evident by Highsnobiety's consistent coverage and also through his lively Twitter feed. It's wonderfully common for Jeff to recommend the latest video or song that currently excites him. One more thing...he's also quite hyped about the return of cassettes. Sounds good to me.

As the Brooklyn Rail's Music Editor, critic at the New York Classical Review and with his own Big City blog, George Grella covers the musical waterfront with an informed and creative point of view. Often forceful and always entertaining, George doesn't shelter his opinions in hyperbole including in his just-released book on Miles Davis' Bitches Brew. It's the Brooklyn writer's exploration of the 1970 classic that isn't quite jazz and isn't quite rock; but its own island of a genius working at the peak of his powers. The book-length essay is the 110th volume in the 33 1/3 book series and also their first jazz title. George's writing provides an aerial view of not only the innovative creation of the album but also its history and influence. George Grella's book is the definitive map of a masterpiece.  

1WayTKT are hardly your typical DJ/production duo. Comprised of DJ U-Kno and J-Glaze, their singular blend of house music and live trumpet infuses their performances with an energy and soul so often lacking in computer-generated EDM. The same heart can also be found in their recorded output which has collectively garnered over 500,000 plays on SoundCloud. From remixes to original cuts, every sound that 1WayTKT create is designed for maximum joy through BPM.

A renowned former music critic, Kandia Crazy Horse's journey from scribing about music to performing her own happened unexpectedly. A Country-Western blend is her milieu which naturally reflects her rural Southern roots of Hee Haw and 1960s-70s free-form radio. Her exquisite 2014 debut, Stampede, was awarded "4-stars" from the British MOJO magazine. This year will hopefully see the release of Canyons, the second installment of a planned tetralogy. Fingers are crossed!

Rony's Insomnia is the creation of Rony Corcos and is a brilliant summation of her numerous talents: singer, songwriter, lead guitarist, producer and engineer. Count to Ten, the first title under her group name, is a dark and brooding song collection featuring mostly personal accounts with the exception of "Rose," which was inspired by the life and murder of four-year old Rose Pizem. The Jerusalem-born artist currently resides in New York where she regularly performs her unique brand of rock featuring threads of her jazz training and assorted influences. Count to Ten is one of the best albums I've heard this year; it should be yours, too!

With a four-octave voice and a madhouse sense of wonder, perhaps an influence of her Coney Island rearing, Carol Lipnik is not your usual cup of tea. She is without peers. Her buoyant performances are only equalled by the twisted beauty of her recorded output including this year's highly praised sixth album Almost Back to Normal. Released through her own Mermaid Alley imprint, it was generously funded by a grant from the Peter S. Reed Foundation. Produced by Jacob Lawson, who also played violin, Normal prominently features accompaniment by pianist Matt Kanelos who serves as the anchor to Carol's flights of fancy. Carol and Matt's musical collaboration can be experienced during their weekly Sunday residency at Pangea, an East Village cabaret and Italian-Mediterranean restaurant. New Yorkers? Run don't walk! Out-of-towners? Book your flight! Welcome to the wonderfully eccentric world of Carol Lipnik.

The upward trajectory of R&B singer/composer/producer Daniel Bazán, Jr. is undeniable. An alumnus of NYU's acclaimed Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music. Check! Profile in JAY Z’s Life + Times magazine. Check! Performances at SOB's and Pianos in New York City. Check! These exciting milestones are merely the evidence of hard work and talent from this Queens native. Raised in the Dominican Republic, Daniel started playing the piano at the age of eleven which led to him defining his craft in churches, schools and cultural centers before a return to his birthplace. Eventual forays into jazz and hip-hop were integral stepping stones to the artist he is today. After a recent rebranding, Daniel is crafting a new chapter that finds his music style more soulful with an underpinning of jazz chops. His recently released demo "Wrong For You" is a glorious example. In addition to music, Daniel's also a distinctive photographer with a beautifully-curated and well-respected Instagram account. Daniel Bazán, Jr. is definitely One to Watch!

In addition to being a singer-songwriter, Bryan Wade has created a practice to help musicians deal with anxiety called the Connected Musician or as Bryan explains: the intersection between music and mindfulness. Some musicians are at a loss for words between songs or judge themselves harshly at band rehearsals. Whatever the case, the CM is designed to allow musicians to fully enjoy their passion for music minus the tension and self-criticism. Even if you're not a musician you'll find plenty of transferable tips that will inspire more inner peace, along with discovering Bryan's personal journey of music, mindfulness and meditation.

Israeli born jazz guitarist and composer Idan Morim currently resides in New York where he recently graduated from the New School for Jazz. Prior to his move he'd been a professional musician since he was seventeen in his home country, served in their military (and band) and also toured China as a part of a theater company. Since graduation, Idan'sbeen busy overseeing group performances as a bandleader before heading into the recording studio. Look for his debut album late 2015/early 2016.

Witnessing Josh Dion drumming is as equally exciting as listening to his soulful voice. Whether he's performing with other acts (including previous TMT guest Nate Wood, episode #37) or in his own band Paris Monster, Josh's unique style is a visceral experience. Along with bassist Geoff Kraly, Paris Monster is the ultimate example of musical multitasking where Josh simultaneously drums, plays keys and sings. Their debut EP, It Once Had Been Kind, sacrifices none of the thrills of their live performances with five stunning examples from your new favorite duo.

JOE BUCKingham is a painter, illustrator and graphic designer. His connection to music is vast and celebrated beginning with his big break designing 1991's De La Soul is Dead album cover. Since then his artistic journey has been a series of reinventions and milestones including projects with Ecko and The Fader magazine, album covers for Redefinition Records and even the classic Native Tongue logo. Whether creating an aesthetic for brands or creating his own fine art, Joe's unique style is simultaneously timeless and fresh.

Brooklyn-based Songwriter/Musician/Artist Zachery Allan Starkey may find his inspiration in iconic synth touchstones like New Order & Depeche Mode but the glorious results are all his own. From working class Ohio to art-infused Bushwick, Zachery's path wasn't without challenges but it was all a set-up for his three solo albums. The most recent, 2013's DIY, was entirely performed and produced by Zachery and features the frosty new wave track "Into the Sun," inspired by the passing of his grandfather, who ignited his interest in the arts. His latest project is ZGRT, a collaboration with Rob Interface and Jo-Anne Hyun. Released April 2015, their debut single "Hard Power" was co-produced by Zachery and Gavin Russom (DFA Records, LCD Soundsystem) and is the first taste of more to come.

Shilpa Ananth, creator/bandleader of SA, tags her music Indian Soul. An amalgamation of East and West influences; an original stew consisting of Indian root melodies and lyrics with Jazz, R&B and Soul. Indian Soul is also the title of her debut and is a manifestation of a musical dream that began in India for Shilpa before moving to the States to attend Berklee College of Music in Boston and then New York City in 2014. With the release of Indian Soul under her belt, Shilpa, along with SA, is currently sharing her beautifully expansive music on tour. 

Multi-instrumentalist and mastering engineer Nate Wood first came to my attention through his singing and guitar playing via a live performance. In addition to his three solo albums, Nate is also the drummer in the Grammy-nominated jazz fusion group Kneebody. As Nate states, the primary difference between his solo and group are the lack of his vocals. For the complete Nate Wood, one should turn to his excellent third album, Another Time (2014), performed and recorded entirely by himself.

CATCHING UP WITH SARAH ELIZABETH CHARLES

When I first interviewed jazz singer Sarah Elizabeth Charles on episode #21, she was just days away from the release of her transcendent Inner Dialogue album. How fitting that my first repeat guest and I speak on the eve of her debut headlining performance at NYC's Blue Note with her S.E. Charles Quartet. In this mini-episode, we catch up on the time in between our conversations and discuss what she has planned for the future. Inner Dialogue is one of my favorite albums of 2015!

Harlem born and bred singer/songwriter/performer Dandy Wellington is both a delight to the eyes and ears. His seamless integration of music and style files him into that rarefied club of the Björks, Bowies and Madonnas. What makes him even more unique is that his taste harks back to the golden era of big band jazz artists such as Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington and Columbia-era Billie Holiday but with a modern Dandy-twist. His new album Harlem Rhythm is a prime example of his inspired originals and a redux of a classic 60s chestnut. Dandy's live shows are not to be missed where his thrilling performances are a highlight of the New York scene featuring His Band in accompaniment. On a stage or through your speakers, Dandy Wellington is a consummate experience.

Journalist James Gavin is the author of four acclaimed books each exploring the interior lives of music legends. His first book, Intimate Nights: The Golden Age of New York Cabaret, was published in 1991 followed by Deep in a Dream: The Long Night of Chet Baker, Stormy Weather: The Life of Lena Horne in 2009 and 2014's Is That All There Is?: The Strange Life of Peggy Lee.

Street photographer Ricky Powell is the master of wielding his camera to capture "right now" and creating a timeless picture. Basquiat and Warhol right before they enter their joint '85 exhibition. Run-DMC, in a mid-jump silhouette, photo-bombed by the Eiffel Tower. A born and bred New Yorker, Ricky synthesized what the classic era of hip-hop felt like whether you lived in the culture or not. The same honesty found in his celebrity photos is also found in his classic street photography.

Finnish-American singer/songwriter Janita (pronounced "YAH-nee-tuh") moved to Brooklyn at the tender age of 17, but not before setting her homeland afire as a highly popular singer and actor. Since then she's released several albums, including a stint on Sony, that have seen her style evolve from the very poppy to the evolved Didn't You, My Dear? Janita's just-released third American album is a lyrically honest and musically haunting statement from a talent crafting music on her own terms. In addition to performing music, she's also an activist for musicians receiving adequate payment for radio airplay; since early 2014 she's represented the grassroots #IRespectMusic campaign.

Singer/Composer/Pianist akie bermiss is the real deal! The one to watch! Possessor of a flexible gift that can veer from jazz to funk to hip-hop without losing his proverbial breath. The evidence is in his transcendent live performances and his EP akie. But perhaps the real proof is his opus- in-progress "Alien Love Songs", a 20 song suite akie's been performing songs from live.

California-native SiairaShawn currently calls New York home, the city where she recorded her acclaimed 2013 EP, Ghost and single "Lamb". The singer-songwriter continues to expand and refine her new soul sound with her latest release Flowers While You're Here, a sonically-beautiful trilogy of EP's. Camellia, the first installment is out now with Lily and Iris following later in 2015. SiairaShawn is also a consummate altruist sharing her talent and expertise with youth in educational settings. Day and night, this accomplished artist is living a life of music.             

Jazz/Folk singer-songwriter Ashley Daneman is only a few months out from her full-page feature in the prestigious Downbeat Magazine. The March 2015 issue celebrated the release of her debut album Beauty Indestructible. An achievement for any artist but especially for an indie artist without the luxury of a major-label backing. Currently based in NYC, the wife and mother of two kids saw the fulfillment of her album release at 37. Daneman's age should be an  unremarkable fact but it's really just a beautiful signpost of the adversities she's overcome on the path to Beauty Indestructible with the bonus that dreams don't have a deadline.       

There's an element to the music of David Rothschild that appears casual and comfortable to a listener's ear. But to quote an old ad, don't let the smooth taste fool you. There's a hard-earned craft to his songwriting that belies his EP, Simple Changes. This debut sounds like the lived-in effort of a seasoned veteran. Released February 2015, on the heels of a wildly successful Kickstarter campaign, David is just getting started with a sound that reminds you of The Band or early 70s Elton John, but of course is distinctively his own.

Christopher Botta calls his music electro-acoustic. An exciting intersection between his laptop and his electric guitar exploring the infinite possibilities between them. A musician, composer and engineer based in Brooklyn, Christopher is the co-founder (with drummer Joseph Branciforte) of the cellar and point, a 7-piece "garage-chamber" group, whose 2014 debut ambit was high-praised by everyone from The Brooklyn Rail to All About Jazz to BBC Radio. He also releases music through his solo project da kid.

To label Mel D. Cole a music photographer seems too thin a description. Yes, he was dubbed as one of Complex magazine's 50 Greatest Music Photographers. Yes, he's the "house photographer" of The Roots crew and Questlove hailed him as his favorite contemporary photographer. And of course, his exquisite black and white photos perfectly capture the performances of artists like Lauryn Hill, Nas and Common. However, Mel is equally adept at travel, nightlife and street photography. His talent is as immense as his creative choices regardless of the setting or subject.

Drummer and composer Ramsey Jones is creating his own legacy. As the oldest of six siblings that included the late rapper Ol' Dirty Bastard, the Brooklyn native has been a force in the New York music scene including 25 years in the Afro-Punk band Funkface. His band appeared in the classic Afro-Punk movie and Ramsey has played with Vernon Reid and of course on several Wu-Tang Clan albums featuring his cousins RZA and GZA.

Soulful singer-songwriter Aaron Pfeiffer is on the precipice of something big. The fellow Pittsburgh native currently lives in New York City. Since his relocation four years ago, he's been on a proactive path to his dreams. Last year he made it to the blind audition of The Voice; this year he has a July residency at NYC's Rockwood Music Hall to celebrate the June release of his debut EP Nightcall. "Can't Shake This", the first single from the EP is available now on iTunes: https://itun.es/us/VrxK6

Jack Rabid has not only lived through New York's early 80s punk movement, he's also a documentarian of the Lower East Side history. As editor/publisher (and co-founded with the late Dave Stein) of The Big Takeover magazine, he's spent the past 35 years detailing music in all its colorful forms. Jack is also a drummer. There was the early DIY band The Even Worse and the '90s critics' darlings Springhouse. He's also done stints with Last Burning Embers and Leaving Trains.

Hip-Hop producer Malik Abdul Rahmaan is an infinite source of music history spanning generations and cultures. It makes sense for the burgeoning musicologist who feels just at home in his Brooklyn residence or his home-away-from-home Tokyo. Malik is big in Japan where his beloved soulful beats keep him never lacking for production work. Everyone wants some of the Malik-style including Wu-Tang Clan's Ghostface Killah. His 2014 album 36 Seasons featured no less than three tracks with production by Malik. In addition to helming the sound for others, Malik is an artist in his own right; look out for his forthcoming project under his own name featuring field sounds.

French-American jazz vocalist Cécile McLorin Salvant covers the waterfront when it comes to her singular song selection. Songbook standards rub shoulders up against work songs, songs sung in her native French and smart originals. Her first US-release, WomanChild (2013), is the eclectic scene of the crime which has been rewarded by a worldwide fervent fanbase, a Downbeat Jazz Album of the Year and a Grammy Album of the Year nomination. It's been a long two years since WomanChild arrived, but fortunately we'll be rewarded with a late-August follow-up.  

Vocalist Sarah Elizabeth Charles is on the precipice of an exciting new career chapter. Her just released full-length album, Inner Dialogue, expands on the promise of her 2012 EP debut, Red. While the EP represented a moment in time of where she was as a bandleader with her S.E. Charles Quartet, Inner Dialogue captures her present vision. The sophomore album includes a lusher sound and lyrics that are vulnerable in their bare honesty with palette that includes jazz plus two Haitian folk arrangements and the premiere of horns in her music with the presence of co-producer/trumpet player Christian Scott.

Since 2008, Cuban pianist (and composer, producer & educator) Aruán Ortiz has released five albums--- three in 2012! From Alameda in 2010 to his most recent album, Banned in London with the Michael Janisch Quintet in 2012. Ortiz can as easily be found leading his own quartet or in a duo with fellow pianist Bob Glück or as a sideman with talents like Esperanza Spalding and Don Byron.

String Noise are an experimental violin duo comprised of husband and wife Conrad Harris and Pauline Kim Harris. Based in NYC, they've had over 30 new works composed specifically for them since their 2011 inception. Outside of their String Noise collaboration, Conrad and Pauline can be found performing as soloists and also in the case of Conrad, with his group The FLUX Quartet.

Treehaus is the solo music project helmed by pianist/singer/producer Josh Jacobson. Although his 2014 debut, Afterglow, was a Prince-like one man band affair, he regularly performs live in a trio.  Lyrically inspired by nature, Afterglow is an impeccable blend of jazz, electronic and even a little respect to his Chicago roots with tinges of house music.

Jesse Cohen is 1/2 of the Brooklyn-based synth duo Tanlines. Their first release, Mixed Emotions, came out in 2012 with the follow-up Highlights in 2015. During the interim, the percussionist has not only spent the time crafting the band's upcoming album, he's been busy hosting his most excellent podcast No Effects with Jesse Cohen. The year-old show not only features Jesse's discussions with fellow musicians like Mapei and How to Dress Well's Tom Krell but also insightful interviews with journalists and actors.

goste is Owen Ross. Owen Ross is goste. Whether he's flying solo or in a band setting, goste effortlessly combines organic and electronic sounds with his beautifully corrosive voice crashing through the mix. The Bushwick resident's latest EP, Eugene, is a deeper exploration of a sound he's been refining since his days at the Berklee College of Music.

Brooklyn singer-songwriter Reni Lane is busy busy busy! What with crafting her next batch of new music, being a spokesperson for the Keezy music creation app and planning her musical reintroduction. It's been five years since the Oregon native's sophomore album and after a brief career hiccup she's returned wiser and never more certain of her direction as an artist.

Jazz singer Nicole Henry possesses all the best qualities of a star: talent, beauty and presence. Of these three gifts, her talent takes centerstage. Over the course of four studio albums (and two live sets), the Miami-based vocalist's supple, versatile instrument has not only honored jazz, but also the blues, soul and originals.

Hailing from Columbus, OH, genre-defying violinist Christian Howes was classically trained on the string instrument from the age of five; an early signpost of the success that would follow him throughout his life. A soloist with the Columbus Symphony Orchestra at 16. Working with the legendary guitar pioneer Les Paul. Praise and accolades from prestigious jazz publications JazzTimes and Downbeat.

Paste Magazine once declared Jerry's Records "The Best Place To Spot World-Renowned Crate Diggers—And Nab a Bargain At The Same Time" in their list of the 17 Coolest Record Stores in America. Owner Jerry Weber has been providing a sanctuary for vinyl junkies and newbies for over 30 years. The Pittsburgh institution currently boasts over 2.5 million records, making it the largest store that only sales used vinyl.

Poet/Hip-Hop Artist Jack Wilson (aka D.J. Brewer) has successfully made the transition from Pittsburgh to New York in the few years since his relocation in 2012. Before he moved, he got his start through slam poetry, representing his hometown at national poetry slams from 2000-2003. During his short time in New York, he's already released three EP's and most recently a mixtape entitled HERE.

Nick Demos is known for his Word of the Day. Faith. Success. Envision. A few examples. He's also a director, creativity coach, web host and a TONY Award-winning producer of the musical Memphis. He also holds artistic retreats and workshops through his non- profit One Healing Arts Company. 2015 will continue his reign of inspiration and creativity with the premiere of his Word of the Day app, directing his first film Policy of Truth and two web TV series' HAG and as the host of The Broadway Style Guide. Nick is also a Hathavidya yoga teacher.

Thirteen albums into a storied career as a singer-songwriter, Darden Smith is also a humanitarian. I'd already been familiar with his music for some time and was intrigued to hear about his non-profit SongwritingWith:Soldiers.  His latest album, 2013's Love Calling, is a gorgeous organic tone poem.

I was turned onto Jason Gross and his online magazine Perfect Sound Forever by previous TMT guest Josh Medsker (Episode 007). Created in 1993, PSF is one of the earliest online music publications. He's also the social media manager and a writer/editor at TheBlot, a digital culture publication. Jason's also written for The Wire and Village Voice.

Daniel Givens is a writer, DJ, artist, poet, musician and more. Instead of only discussing 10 of his favorite albums of 2014, I was interested in hearing about his artistic career. It's the conversation that couldn't be contained within an hour.

Josh Medsker hails from Anchorage, Alaska and is the creator/founder of the music & literary 'zine, Twenty-Four Hours. His 'zine is the perfect example of how his writing straddles both music journalism and prose/poetry.

JackLucy describes her music as Urban Folk. It's the amalgamation of a sound that combines two different genres that simultaneously describes what she does and provides a starting point to a larger conversation of eclecticism. She hails from Pittsburgh and currently resides in NYC.

Eric Himan is an indie singer-songwriter with 7 studio albums released including his latest Gracefully. He's sold over 40,000 CD's and this year he opened for and performed with one of his musical heroes Ani DiFranco.

In a clear example of serendipity, I was in a TMT state of mind when I first heard Eyre's amazing voice. I was at the Barclays subway stop in Brooklyn and had just left my producer's studio. I was on a high because we'd completed "Liz"--the TMT theme song I'd written. My train was coming so I hastily typed in Eyre's website in my Notes app and checked out his website. I discovered through his blog he moved from California to New York nine months ago. He eloquently writes about his struggles in pursuing his musical dreams yet somehow maintains a positive attitude that is truly inspiring to anyone who's ever had a dream.

Susan Fast is a musicologist and  Professor in the Department of English and Cultural Studies and Director of the Graduate Program in Gender Studies and Feminist Research at McMaster University in Ontario, Canada. She is the author of Michael Jackson's Dangerous for Bloomsbury's 33 1/3 series. She has the honor of being the 100th book in the series and coincidentally the first album of Jackson's to be featured.

Von Decarlo is a singer, actress, TV personality, author, mother. Von and I are both from Clairton, PA, a small town outside of Pittsburgh. We were also in the high school band together. I was the drum major and she played clarinet.  Von was engaged to comedian Patrice O'Neal and was planning to marry him a month before his untimely death in 2011. In the podcast introduction, I reference that they were married based on our discussion.