Stereo Embers: The Podcast

"De-bubbling In London” Look, New Zealand is not a large country—everyone seems to know everyone else (or even dated them). Yumi Zouma singer Christie Simpson decided that the best thing for her to do is escape the bubble of her hometown of Christchurch and head for London. In this conversation Simpson talks about leaving her country behind, creative life amidst the Coronavirus and how an outsider becomes an individual. Simpson tells Alex about growing up loving Fleetwood Mac, how a band that’s not in the same locale stays together and how her parents recognized early on that she was headed towards a life in art. Yumi Zouma have just put out their third album Truth Or Consequences and it’s a spry and charming effort that’s lustrous, clever and catchy.

"Shake The Disease" When we last spoke to Owen Vyse we were told that by April 4th the Coronavirus would have all but vanished. Well, it didn't. In fact, it hasn't even flexed its full strength yet. In this engaging chat, the former Echo and the Bunnymen guitarist and Starclub frontman talks to Alex about what life is like amidst a global pandemic from where he lives in Thailand. The conversation veers from breaking curfews to the absence of gyms to life in Thailand vs. life in England, to how people will re-enter society and finally to just what we're doing on this planet in the first place.

“A Musical Shark Keeps Swimming” The San Diego-born musician Illan Rubin is one of those guys that’s been moving non-stop since he was nine and he’s not slowed down the pace one bit. The youngest performer to ever grace the stage at Woodstock (Rubin was 11!), Illan Rubin is very much like a musical shark—he never stands still. Over the course of his career the powerful and inventive drummer has played with Nine Inch Nails, Paramore and Angels & Airwaves, and his own band The New Regime just put a new record out a few weeks ago. Even the global pandemic hasn’t slowed him down—Rubin’s been spending his time reading, writing new music and learning the clarinet. Although his band’s tour with Silversun Pickups got cancelled, Rubin’s not one to get down about these things—he just keeps making music. In this conversation, Rubin talks to Alex about quarantine reading, his fascination with World War II, Trent Reznor’s perfect pitch and why it’s important for musicians to learn a new instrument.

"If It Doesn’t Make Sense I Just Don’t Do It” Makes sense, doesn’t it? Well, it sure does to John Dolmayan. The System of a Down drummer has reached a point in his life where if something seems pointless, he sees no reason to even bother. That said, when John Dolmayan does do something, he does it with 100% purpose, commitment and heart. His first solo album, which operates under the moniker These Grey Men, is a burning testament to his life’s mission statement. A muscular platter of covers of songs by Radiohead, the Talking Heads and David Bowie, Dolmayan gathered an all-star group of musicians to assist him on his album. From Tom Morello to Serj Tankian, Dolmayan’s murderers row of guests on this record really make it shine. In this honest and candid chat, Dolmayan talks to Alex about listening to Iron Maiden and Stan Getz, why he sees no point in practicing, and how when he was a kid, mix tapes were the keys to the world. He also talks about the power of SOD’s democracy, and why it’s okay to have disagreements with your brother-in-law.

“Why Would You Stop What Your Mission Is On This Earth?” Well, the answer is, you wouldn’t. Or, more specifically, you shouldn’t. For the New York-born Rachael Sage, the details of her earthy mission came to her quite young as she taught herself how to play piano while listening to Beatles albums. Sage knew she was destined for the arts and her CV certainly agrees. She spent her teenage years as a classically trained ballerina, her college years at Stanford found her finishing with a degree in drama and her Graduate work earned her an MFA in theatre from the Actor’s Studio in Manhattan. Yes, Sage was artsy. But once her formal education ended, she dove headfirst into music. For the better part of 25 years Sage has been putting out album after album of some of the finest indie pop you’ll ever hear. Her new album Character explores what comprises the nuances of someone’s personality and it’s a catchy, moving and stirring journey through what keeps us up at night as much as what helps us sleep. In this candid chat, Sage talks to Alex about recording the new album, her recovery from cancer and the complexities of persona.

“Another Round With Owen Vyse: Coronavirus And The End Of The World” In this special Coronavirus-themed episode, fan-favorite Owen Vyse (Starclub, Echo and the Bunnymen) calls in from Thailand for a chat about the current state of the world under the lens of the Coronavirus. He talks to Alex about historical precedent, the mishandling of the pandemic by the Trump Administration and why April 4th is such a pivotal date. The conversation may seem discursive and tangential but it’s also quite linear and Owen and Alex trace the cultural implications of the disease by referencing the past, examining the present and looking ahead to an uncertain and uneasy future.

“I Wasn’t Go To Be An Anthropologist” Ellen Starski’s major in college was Anthropology, but midway through her studies it became very clear to her parents that she wasn’t going to be an anthropologist. She was going to be a musician. Her dad might have had a hunch she would be headed that direction when he gave her a guitar during her freshman year, but either way, Starski’s calling was an artistic one and whether she was strumming that guitar in her dorm room or later on fronting a blues band in a bar, it was clear that her future was going to be in music. Although the Pennsylvania born Starski didn’t end up having a career that studied the evolution of human biology, evolution has been a big part of her musical career. In just two albums Starski’s sound has transformed from indie folk to an orchestral blend of textured pop that’s filled with nuance and soul. In this conversation Starski talks to Alex about motherhood, stillness and why she loves the Eurythmics. She also talks about the importance of travel, self-discipline and learning chords in Nova Scotia….

“They Let Me Live Rent-Free In The House Until I Was 26…” That’s Kieran Shudall’s response when asked if his parents were supportive of his choice to embark on a career in music. It sure paid off. The singer of the Liverpool outfit Circa Waves, Shudall has watched his band go from strength to strength since their 2013 inception. Circa Waves have filled their musical resume’ with Top Ten albums, tours with the Libertines and playing festivals like T In The Park. Their fourth album Sad Happy is a brilliant song-cycle that’s been delivered in two parts: the happy part in January and the sad part later this month. In this genial chat, Shudall talks to Alex about his love for Carole King’s tapestry, how fatherhood has changed his perspective and why he likes to pick the brains of fellow songwriters. They also chat about the power of collaboration, how demos are like first dates and why Kieran is super afraid to get into Echo and the Bunnymen…

“I’ve Known You For Ten Minutes And I’m Already Asking If You’re An Introvert” Well, these things happen. In this conversation with Eliza Klatt, lead singer of Australia’s Eliza and the Delusionals, it doesn’t take long for Alex and Eliza to get to the heart of the matter. In under 40 minutes they talk about how to cope with a fear of flying, being far from home for the first time and how an introvert can also be the leader of a band. Personable, charismatic and thoughtful, Klatt discusses the support of her parents for her rock and roll lifestyle, getting a stamp of approval from Liz Phair via Twitter and why she’d love to live in New York.

“Reverb As Long As A Hockey Rink” That’s how Alan Doyle describes the music he loved so much in the ‘80s. A huge fan of Def Leppard, the Newfoundland-born Doyle may have been a metalhead as a teenager, but he always had folk music in his blood. He played in his Uncle’s band as a young man, but branched out on his own in his early 20s to form Great Big Sea. One of Canada’s most beloved bands of all time, GBS may no longer be around, but Doyle has stayed very busy indeed. In this conversation he talks to Alex about challenging himself by working in different genres, and why it’s so hard to say no. They also chat about the community spirit of Newfoundland, Doyle’s new EP Rough Side Out and why at this point in his life Doyle feels inclined to say, “What the fuck do I know about the Coronavirus?"