EP 26: Ester - Weak

This episode marks the end of the first season of Weekly EP, and to celebrate I'm playing one song from each guest so far, without interruption. I hope it encourages anyone who hasn't heard some of the earlier episodes to go back and take a listen. I'll be taking a little time off now to work on new episodes, as well as focus on my other podcast, Another Berlin. On that podcast my co-host Katarina and I tackle unique and fascinating aspects of Berlin's present and past. So far we've released a four part series on squatting, and our new episode will be about one of the most interesting public parks in the world. I hope you guys give it a listen!  It's a great honor to put this podcast out into the world, and to have met and provided a platform for so many great musicians. As a songwriter myself, I've also loved learning so much about how other people write and record music, and I've been inspired every time to push myself and try out new ideas. I look forward to the next round of episodes and weekly eps, and I'll keep you all updated on Instagram and such as that time approaches. Until then, stay safe and make some cool music.  If you want to get involved in the next season, and make your own weekly ep, please get in touch on Instagram or at [email protected] We'd love to hear from you. And now, on to the music.

This is Episode 29 with three piece band, The Planes, from Brooklyn, NY. I chatted with singer and guitarist Stephen Perry about their Weekly EP, and we got pretty deep into songwriting, alternate tunings, and making music a part of your daily life.    Title: The Oracle of Marcy  Artist: The Planes    | Tracklisting: |    01 The Oracle  02 The Scandal  03 The Gallows  04 The Earthquake    | Artist Links: |  https://theplanesnyc.bandcamp.com/  https://bandnada.com/b/theplanes (Live show!)  https://www.facebook.com/ThePlanesNYC 

This is EP 28 with Fatboy Wilson & Old Viejo Bones, currently based out of somewhere near the California coast. Their album was recorded on a farm, and written in part on a hidden secret river bank. A bunch of eclectic influences and fun true stories all come together to make a really nice record. We talk about how this record was made, as well as hiking, combining real and software instruments and apocalyptic orange skies.   Artist: Fatboy Wilson & Old Viejo Bones Album Title: "Preparing For the Apocalypse"  Tracklisting:  ------------- 1. Lost Coast  2. El Mundo Se Va Acabar  3. All Things Pass  4. River Shaper  5. Yayabo     | Artist Links: |  https://jalopyrecords.bandcamp.com/  https://fatboywilsonoldviejobones.bandcamp.com/album/fatboy-wilson-old-viejo-bones  https://thefouroclockflowers.bandcamp.com 

This is Episode 27 with Hieronymus Bogs, based out of Truth or Consequences, New Mexico. The album is made up of three beautiful and haunting songs rooted in nature and the mind. One of them is even a painting turned song, which is really cool.   Title: "Untitled"  Artist: Hieronymus Bogs Tracklisting:  ------------- 1. Ship of Fools 2. The Hermit Song  3. Blessed Life    | Artist Links: |  https://www.hieronymusbogs.com/  https://hieronymusbogs.bandcamp.com/ https://www.facebook.com/HieronymusBogs/ 

This is Episode 26 with Anna Holmquist, from the band Ester, based out of Chicago, Illinois. We talk about Anna's Weekly EP, "Weak", finally learning to play instruments you find in the back of your closet, and only understanding the meaning behind your own songs weeks after you write them.   Title: Weak  Artist: Ester Tracklisting:  ------------- 1. Mouth 2. Danger  3. Rachel  4. One damn thing    | Links: |  https://estermusic.bandcamp.com/ https://open.spotify.com/artist/42rZgY4nZlTMktyuqg2ruj

This is Episode 25 with Oarlet, from Tampere, Finland. Oarlet and I talk about qwerty keyboards, how listening to music, especially your own, in new environments is important and writing a new song quickly, after you thought you'd lost "it". EP Title: Engendered  Artist: Oarlet Tracklisting:  1. This is how the worlds collide 2. I'll sing when all hope is gone  3. Estranged by the cause  4. Endless possibilities    | Links: |  OARLET  Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2ZeBnFi  IG: https://bit.ly/325OYAF  MAAJO Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2ZgW9nA  IG: https://bit.ly/35cq7Nn  FLYING Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2GE1ijh  IG: https://bit.ly/2F7po5b 

This week we're doing a special minisode, a 24h Single. Same general concept, but guests have 24 hours to write one song. The idea is to allow musicians to take part in the challenge and process, who otherwise wouldn't be able to because of an album release schedule, work, etc. Today our guest is Alex Rapp, from here in Berlin, Germany. We talk about her 24 hour single, as well as making music with Ableton, how fun and sometimes tricky (for me anyway) vocal harmonies can be, and how writing music can be therapeutic.  Song name: "Through My Sheets" | Links: |  https://www.alexrapp.com/  https://alexrapp.bandcamp.com/album/valencia-2   https://open.spotify.com/album/6IUHF7NMypWVGTLbpWoteg?si=617xmMEnR6yfqPgCW36l3A 

Episode 23 of Weekly EP is a strange, personal episode. Instead of a normal episode, this is a premiere of a long, and an even longer overdue record. It's not a record that anyone was waiting for, but it's one that shouldn't live only on a hard drive. This episode is simply the premiere of "Out of the Blue GoodNight" by your host, Cody Swanson, under the name Noisycrane. This record was recorded in New York City nearly four years ago and it was never released because I could never decide on a name, and I never got the tracks mastered. So I never put it out. In the spirit of the podcast though, which aims to just allow music to exist without being perfect or agonized over, I've decided to release it here and now. I did not interview myself this time, but I hope you enjoy regardless. More regular format episodes coming soon.   Links:  noisycrane.bandcamp.com

This is Episode 22 featuring guest Joshua Wentz, from Chicago Illinois in the US, with his Weekly EP, "Nostrums". I think this may be the longest Weekly EP episode so far and I think that's because I had a really good time talking with Joshua about how he makes music and I'm a little very jealous of his music basement studio. I think you'll really enjoy listening to Joshua's album and learning about all the acoustic and digital instruments that went into it. We also chat about Tubular Bells, Xylopipes... we get a little into the politics of the times, and then of course I also bring up my imaginary Waffle House podcast again.   Title: Nostrums  Artist: Joshua Wentz with Always Forever Now (J.Monteverde, J. Wentz, J. Yuan)  Tracklisting:  1. Reverse Out  2. CCTV  3. Artemis  4. Hand to Eye  5. Show of Force  6. Bromide Storm  | Links: |  www.joshuawentz.com @joshua_w_wentz (instagram) www.currentmoods.podbean.com (podcast)

This is Episode 21 with Music With the Boys, aka Joshua Wade Freeman and TJ, from outside Atlanta, Georgia in the US, with their Weekly EP, "Road Trip". The boys and I talk about, in no particular order: waffle house, gas stations, car troubles and having fun while learning how to record and make music. They made an honest and silly album about taking a road trip, and we had an equally absurd conversation. ////Tracklisting://// 1. Anywhere or Bust  2. Driving  3.Gas Station  4.Being There  5.Ithaka    | Links: |  Music With the Boys on Spotify:  https://open.spotify.com/artist/7yTAOI9Ck3aUMSVP8ho86W Josh's podcast, The Little Guys:  https://open.spotify.com/show/2qIeioEfIJKjVo19yMv4c3