Stereo Embers: The Podcast

“Finding Your Voice” Before we get to Kelly Monrow, let’s have a quick chat about Kelly Dowdle. The Oklahoma-born and Texas-raised Kelly Dowdle is an actress who has appeared on Billions, Lucifer and American Crime Story. Growing up, she always knew she loved music, but it wasn’t until recently that she discovered she also loved making it. Kelly found her voice. And her voice kept finding her—so much so, that she named her musical identity Kelly Monrow. Monrow dresses like a dreamy blend of Janis Joplin and Stevie Nicks and her music is a cross between '70s cosmic Americana and southern soul. Her new EP PRONOIA is just the start because as an artist, Kelly Monrow is picking up speed and realizing the world is hers to conquer. It’s kind of like waking up with a superpower and going out into the world to test it. Well, the testing is done. Monrow is the real deal and watching her spread her creative wings is going to be one of 2022’s great joys. This is a really cool chat because we cover what it means to find one’s voice and what to do with it when you do. But we also hit some really interesting territory that I’ve never hit before in these chats—I don’t want to spoil anything, but it has to do with maintaining your personal identity in a relationship and how if you’re not careful, you can sacrifice your artistic self without even knowing you're doing it. www.bombshellradio.com www.alexgreenonline.com Stereo Embers Twitter: @emberseditor Instagram: @emberspodcast Email: editor@stereoembersmagazine.com

“Observatory” Now the name Aeon Station might not sound familiar but their music probably does. And there’s a simple reason for that. Aeon Station is basically 3/4ths of the personnel of the legendary New Jersey band The Wrens. So why is the band Aeon Station and not the Wrens? Well, there’s also a simple reason for that but it’s one of those simple reasons that’s actually kind of complicated and probably deserves its own podcast by way of explanation. So let’s just go with this. The band is Aeon Station because it’s not the Wrens. Confused? This should clear things up. The Wrens formed in '89, put out three perfect albums, including Secaucus and The Meadowlands. The Meadowlands came out in 2003 and the band was poised to translate their critical acclaim capitol—of which they had a massive amount—into a profile that was bound to be larger, but, long story short: they didn’t. Now, almost twenty years later, Singer/guitarist Kevin Whelan who shared Wrens songwriting and singing duties with Charles Bissell in a kind of Jones and Strummer way, decided he would step forward with a batch of songs he’d been sitting on, including five that were intended for the follow up to The Meadowlands. Whelan's longtime Wrens comrades—his brother Greg and Jerry MacDonald—play on Aeon Station’s Observatory and the results are nothing short of captivating. A dramatic song cycle of indie rock soundscapes powered by wondrous melodies and lilting choruses, Observatory is stunning work. Falling somewhere between Remy Zero’s Villanelle, Radiohead’s OK Computer and the crunchy beauty of Canada’s Aerogramme, the album is a breathtaking blast of melodic wonder. It’s affecting, it’s arresting and it’s utterly thrilling—it reminds us that whether beauty rises or falls, its always spectacular. In this chat Kevin Whalen talks to Alex about The Wrens’ misadventures, the genesis of Aeon Station, his daily musical practice and what’s in the Whelan musical vaults…. www.facebook.com/aeonstationband www.subpop.com www.bombshellradio.com www.alexgreenonline.com Stereo Embers The Podcast Twitter: @emberseditor Instagram: @emberspodcast Email: editor@stereoembersmagazine.com

"A Creative Classical Cauldron" Formed in Miami in 2015, Nu Deco Ensemble have have completely reimagined what a modern orchestra can do. Sam Hyken and Jacomo Bairos are two of the most respected and in-demand artists in classical music and they’ve come together to create an innovative artistic collective that incorporates dance, mixed media, classical, hip-hop blues and well, pretty much everything else, into its creative cauldron. And what a cauldron it is—bubbling with innovation, nerve, craftsmanship, diversity, equity, equality and life, Nu Deco Ensemble is, quite simply, an astonishing fusion of culture and music that results in one of the most transfixing and inspiring experiences you’re likely to have in the arts. Or anywhere. The ensemble has collaborated with Macy Gray, Larkin Poe, Stephen Marley, Jacob Collier, Kimbra and Ben Folds, and they’re not stopping there. Their album with the Grammy-Nominated Larkin Poe is called Paint The Roses Live In Concert but that’s not even scratching the surface of what these guys do. We’ll let them explain... Nu Deco online: www.nu-deco-org Nu Deco Unfiltered Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/nu-deco-unfiltered/id1559846018 www.bombshellradio.com Stereo Embers The Podcast Twitter: @emberseditor Instagram: @emberspodcast Email: editor@stereoembersmagazine.com

“I Thought Of You” Julie Doiron got her start at 18 with the band Eric’s Trip. The first Canadian band to be signed to Sub Pop, Eric’s Trip put out modern classics like Forever Again and Purple Blue and though they called it a day in ’96, they reformed for shows as recently as 2007. As for the New Brunswick-born Doiron, she embarked on a solo career that to date has found her releasing close to fifteen albums, including Loneliest In The Morning, Woke Myself Up and her brand new one, I Thought Of You. We’ll get to that in a second—but before we do, here’s a partial list of her accomplishments. She won a Juno award with her collaborative album with the Wooden Stars, her 2007 effort Woke Myself Up was shortlisted for the Polaris Music Prize, she’s put out records in Spanish and French, she’s appeared on albums by The Tragically Hip, she was in the band Shotgun and Jaybird, June 7th was declared by the Mayor of Bruno, Saskatchewan to be Julie Doiron Day, and her track "The Life of Dreams" was used in an iPhone commercial. I Thought Of You is her first full length solo album in nine years, and it’s a stone cold killer. A riveting batch of wobbly indie rock that’s a perfect blend of fire, vulnerability and grace, I Thought Of You is one of the most moving listening experiences of 2021. In this intimate chat, Julie and Alex talk about relationships, the complexities of love and the difficulty of taking compliments. www.julie-doiron.com www.bombshellradio.com Stereo Embers: Twitter: @emberseditor Instagram: @emberspodcast Email: editor@stereoembersmagazine.com

“I’ve Always Wanted To Be Me” You might know Dave Monks from his work with his band Tokyo Police Club. Since 2005 The Canadian-bred TPC have been one of the most exciting indie rock outfits around, putting out winning albums like Champ and Elephant Shell. They played on Letterman and Craig Ferguson played festivals like Outside Lands, Lollapalooza and Coachella and though the beloved Juno-nominated band are still an ongoing proposition so is Monks' solo career. His sophomore album I’ve Always Wanted To Be Me is a nervy blast of life-affirming indie rock that’s big and crunchy, hook filled and catchy—but it’s also lyrically direct and emotionally vulnerable, making it one of the most memorable albums of the year. In this equally memorable chat, Monks talks to Alex about being competitive, the benefits of having a partner who’s also in the music business and the changing shapes of his daily practice. www.tokyopoliceclub.com www.davegoeswild.com www.bombshellradio.com Stereo Embers: Twitter: @emberseditor Instagram: @emberspodcast Email: editor@stereoembersmagazine.com

“Coup De Main” The category of “Things That Jude Cole Does" is pretty crowded because Jude Cole does a lot of things. A singer/songwriter, a guitarist, a band manager, a producer, a music critic, a record label founder, and a businessman—Jude Cole is a busy dude. The Illinois-born musician got his start playing in Moon Martin and the Ravens in the late 70s. In 1980 he joined the English band The Records and played on the Crashes album as well as touring with them all over Europe. After leaving the Records, Cole got his solo career going and he quickly knocked out a series of perfect pop albums like A View From 3rd Street and Start The Car. He put his solo career on hold to both manage and co-write songs for Lifehouse, then in 2003 he and Kiefer Sutherland formed Ironworks Studio and Records, signing artists like Ron Sexsmith and honey honey. He also recorded interview segments for Extra, where he interviewed The Rolling Stones and Bob Seger Over the years he’s collaborated with Dave Edmunds, Rhett Miller of the Old 97s, Beth Orton, Styx and Peter No-one. So yeah, Jude Cole is a busy guy. What’s he got going on lately besides a lot? Well, he’s got two new albums—Coolerator, which is comprised of doo-wop covers from the '50s and Coup De Main, an album that reminds us why Cole is one of the most talented and riveting songwriters on the planet. Filled with acoustic numbers, mid-tempo rockers, breezy '70s pop and an infectious synth-tinged number, Coup De Main is a poised and hook-laden collection that’s catchy, affecting and unforgettable. In this chat, Cole talks to Alex about playing the banjo, why not everyone is a champion and what it was like to be a young man in a band in England in 1980. www.judecole.com www.bombshellradio.com www.alexgreenonline.com Stereo Embers: Twitter: @emberseditor Instagram: @emberspodcast Email: editor@stereoembersmagazine.com

“You Are Magic” Alison Faith Levy is super busy. She was in the post Game Theory outfit the Loud Family, she’s one half of the McCabe and Mrs Miller duo, the other half being Camper Van Beethoven’s Victor Krummenacher, and you might also know her from the alt rock for kids outfit the Sippy Cups. So yes, Alison is always busy, but somehow between the music and raising a family with her husband Danny Plotnick, she went on to receive a master's degree at Boston's Hebrew College in 2020. She now serves as a cantorial soloist and educator at two Bay Area synagogues. And she has a new album. Her third solo effort, You Are Magic is a joyful blast of effusive and thoughtful pop for adults and kids alike. The album’s mission statement is to open up dialogue in families about all sorts of stuff that families should be talking about in the first place: morals, ethics, expression, mindfulness, creativity and connectivity. It’s a brilliant and refreshing collection that’s inspiring, heartwarming and rousing. And so is this chat! In this conversation, Alison talks to Alex about….well, about everything: Game Theory, XTC, Judaism, teaching and raising a son who loved John Fahey at age eight. www.alisonfaithlevy.com www.alisonfaithlevy.bandcamp.com Stereo Embers: Twitter: @emberseditor Instagram: @emberspodcast

“Kiss Off, Kiss Off” Erin McKeown is best categorized as un-categorizable. Whether the Virginia-born musician is playing guitar with the Mountain Goats, tearing through big band music in a tailored suit or writing an off-Broadway musical, McKeown pretty much does it all. A graduate of Brown, McKeown, over the course of her over 20 year career, has put out almost 15 solo albums, toured with Andrew Bird, Thea Gilmore, Josh Ritter and the Indigo Girls, played Bonnaroo and Glastonbury, had her music appear in commercials and TV shows, was a resident artist at Providence, RI’s revolutionary community arts organization AS220 and she was the 2011-2012 fellow at Harvard’s Berkman Klein Center For Internet & Society. Yes, she’s busy. The recipient of a 2016 writing fellowship from The Studios of Key West and a 2018 residency at the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts. McKeown is currently a 2020-21 Professor of the Practice at Brown University. Her new album KISS OFF KISS OFF is a raw blast of nervy rock and roll that’s got street smart grooves and real poetic grit. It’s fast and catchy and it swerves with all the lippy snarl of early Joan Jett. In this chat, McKewon talks to Alex about sports, creativity, self-preservation and why she won’t answer emails after 6pm. www.erinmckeown.com www.bombshellradion.com www.alexgreenonline.com Stereo Embers Twitter: @emberseditor IG: @emberspodcast Email: editor@stereoembersmagazine.com

“The Police: Deranged For Orchestra” Born in Virginia and raised in Cairo and Beirut by a Scottish archoeolist mother and an American father who founded the CIA, Stewart Copeland has had quite a life. So much so, that his biography deserves its own podcast but for the sake of time, let’s go with the expurgated version. Copeland started playing drums at 12 and after finishing boarding school in England and college at UC Berkeley, he returned to the UK to play drums for Curved Air. In 1977 he founded The Police with Sting and after recruiting guitarist Andy Summers to replace Henry Padovani, the new wave power trio locked in and the rest, as they say, is history. But in the case of the Police, let’s go with history to the 10th power. The Police are one of the best selling bands of all time, with record sales heading close to 100 million worldwide. They put out five albums from 1978 to 1983 and by the time their last one hit shelves, they were arguably the biggest band in the world. Their legacy is safely enshrined in the rock and roll hall of fame and Copeland is considered one of the greatest drummers to ever sit behind the kit, but his legacy doesn’t stop there. He’s scored movies like Rumble Fish, Wall Street, and Talk Radio; TV shows like The Equalizer, Dead Like Me and Star Wars: Droids. He’s also scored ballets that were commissioned by everyone from the San Francisco Ballet Company to the Seattle Symphony Orchestra. He’s collaborated with Tom Waits, Peter Gabriel, Les Claypool and Adam Ant; he played in other bands like Animal Logic and Oysterhead with Trey Anastasio of Phish. He’s scored video games, done voices for movies like South Park: Bigger, Longer and Uncut, he put out his memoir Strange Things Happen: A Life with the Police, Polo and Pygmies and he collaborated with the Long Beach Opera on a production of Edgar Allen Poe’s The Telltale Heart. Well, the always busy Copeland’s new project is called The Police: Deranged for Orchestra. It’s basically a fresh take on The Police songbook, by way of the 28 member ReCollecitve Orchestra. They reimagine songs like Roxanne and Don’t Stand So Close To Me and the results are captivating and spellbinding. In this conversation, Copeland talks to Alex about rock and roll bands as democracies, the elasticity of the Police’s compositions and why he speeds things up when Sting is in the audience. www.stewartcopeland.net www.bombshellradio.com www.alexgreenonline.com Stereo Embers: Twitter: @emberseditor Instagram: @emberspodcast Email: editor@stereoembersmagazine.com

“Psyche" Reb Fountain is one of the most beguiling, affecting and captivating musicians out there. And people are catching on. The California-born, but New Zealand raised Fountain has won the esteemed Taite Music Prize, she was shortlisted for the Silver Scroll award for her track "Don’t You Know Who I Am" and she was nominated for five New Zealand Music Awards, including Album of the Year and Best Solo Artist. She’s played sold-out shows across New Zealand, she opened for Crowded House on their To The Island Tour and she played a spellbinding set at the Splore music festival. Spellbinding is a great way to describe Reb Fountain’s music. Or at least it’s a good place to start because one word does not do the trick. Her songs are dark blasts of gothy noir infused with punk, folk and indie rock. And her new album Iris is as captivating as it gets—lush, jagged, and cinematic, Iris is stirring, hypnotic and unreasonably beautiful. In this conversation, Reb talks to Alex about how she ended up in New Zealand, what it was like working with the Finn family and why she’s happy to be an honorary Californian. www.rebfountain.com.nz www.bombshellradio.com www.alexgreenonline.com STEREO EMBERS THE PODCAST Twitter: @emberseditor Instagram: @emberspodcast Email: editor@stereoembersmagazine.com