EP187: Starcleaner Reunion

Brooklyn musician, songwriter, and former pastor Jamison Wake joins us in the studio for this one. We get into Jamison’s musical upbringing, his years in ministry, and the road back to songwriting and creative expression. He talks about The Wheel, an album nearly a decade in the making, and the personal journey behind it, from youthful optimism to a more complicated relationship with the American dream. We also discuss the role of music in building community, his experience establishing a faith community in Brooklyn, and what led him to eventually step away from church leadership. Jamison Wake

We have Jo Roman, Pat Drummond, and Neil Torman of Starcleaner Reunion in the studio for this one. We talk about the band's debut album Umbrella, a record that blends retro-futurist pop, psychedelic textures, jangle, and experimental sounds into something entirely their own. We get into the band's history as longtime friends from Springfield, New Jersey, how their sound has evolved through years of playing together, and the process of recording their most ambitious project to date. Plus, we discuss their upcoming show at TV Eye on November 7 and what comes next for Starcleaner Reunion. Starcleaner Reunion

Eddie Kam of Summer Fling joins us in the studio for this one. We talk about the band's chaotic summer schedule, from four shows over Labor Day weekend to a three hour vineyard set in the Hamptons, a rooftop gig in Bushwick, and a 1:30 AM set at an EDM festival in the Poconos. All while the sake is flowing and Halloween is right around the corner. Eddie tells us how a sixth grade production of The Wizard of Oz helped set the stage for the band, how Summer Fling built an audience through word of mouth and persistent emails, and why they sneak original songs into their cover sets without telling anyone. We also get into what makes a great live show, how to keep a rowdy crowd in check, and the 12 hour music video shoot for their single "Gave Me a Sign." Stay tuned to the end for a live in studio performance of "Gave Me a Sign" by Summer Fling. Summer Fling "Gave Me a Sign" Music Video

We have Nick Gomez in the studio for this one. Nick just got back from touring with Haircut 100, Adam Ant and Squeeze, scored the film You Are Here, and somehow found time to build Dispatch, an email platform for independent musicians. We talk about life on the road, scoring films, and why he decided to make another tool for musicians to pay attention to instead of just posting on Instagram and hoping for the best. Dispatch helps artists collect fan emails, organize contacts, and build campaigns without making the whole process more of a headache than it already is. Nick Gomez Dispatch by Rehearsal Space

We have Dominic Manna of Austin psych band Strange Lot in the studio for this one. Dominic talks about the band’s self titled album Strange Lot, nearly calling it quits, and finding a new direction through late night demos and working with Alex Maas of The Black Angels. We get into the making of “All I Know,” moving from garage psych into a more synth driven sound, and building a new live setup. Dominic also talks about touring Europe, playing with Psychedelic Porn Crumpets and Melody’s Echo Chamber, and figuring out how to keep a band moving forward when things aren’t working. Strange Lot

We have Outer Shapes in the studio for this one. Laura and C talk about how a two person band became a fully built creative world, from the way they shape their sound around elements like fire and water to the visual language of masks, costumes, comics, CRT videos, and character driven storytelling. They get into how they met, how a 2020 apartment project became a serious band, and why keeping Outer Shapes to just two people is central to the project. They also talk about using Ableton, a Prophet synth, old Boss pedals, and a Metal Zone to build their recordings, along with their one song a month approach to avoid endless tweaking and decision making. The conversation also gets into making music while working full time, creative routines, ADHD, burnout, staying motivated, and finding a balance between discipline and play. Their new EP INNERSTATE was released October 2, and Outer Shapes are already deep into what comes next. Outer Shapes

Ensnared Live! at For the Record with Mister Neth and Fox Frazier. This was the first ever live recording of Ensnared, filmed in front of a live audience at For the Record BK in Greenpoint. Mister Neth and Fox Frazier joined us for a night of conversations, music, performances, and whatever else happened once we turned the microphones on. We talked music, making things in New York, the strange process of trying to build a life around art, and a bunch of other things that probably made more sense in the room. Featuring live performances and conversations with Mister Neth and Fox Frazier. Thanks to everyone who came out and made the first Ensnared Live! what it was. Recorded live at For the Record BK, Brooklyn. Credits Host / Producer: Sam WolffMixing & Mastering: Sam WolffSound Engineer: Calvin WilliamsVideographer / Editor / Co-Producer: Nick KaschakGuests: Mister Neth (Ken O'Rourke) and Fox Frazier

We have Atlanta band Improvement Movement in this one. Recorded while the band was on tour, we get into how its members crossed paths through Atlanta’s DIY scene, local shows, shared connections, and eventually decided to make a band together. We talk about the making of their new album, Your Perfect Real Life, from a focused week of writing to recording between tour dates, and what it’s like bringing those songs to the stage. The conversation also gets into the band’s vocal harmonies, ambitious box truck music videos, and the ideas behind “Common Place,” including surveillance, rising costs, and the disappearing third places where people actually gather. Along the way there’s plenty of tour banter, stories about elaborate stage stunts, the relationship between anxiety and hope in the band’s music, and a brief investigation into what exactly makes a band a jam band. We also talk about touring as a way to connect with different communities and how absurdism can be useful when everything around you starts feeling a little ridiculous. Improvement Movement

Special bonus episode! We have Josh Klinghoffer back in the studio for this one. We get further into his approach to recording, performing, collaboration, and figuring out what actually matters when you’ve spent most of your life making music. Josh talks about his work on A Drop In The Ocean and other records, the difference between playing in a room with people and being in the studio, and why he tends to gravitate toward more intimate live settings. We also get into working with artists like Chelsea Hodson and Danger Mouse, his massive catalog of unreleased music, and whether he sees himself playing more live in the future. We talk about the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, which he sees less as a goal and more as something that came along with the career, along with staying modest, respecting other people’s contributions, and not letting the business side of music dictate the creative process. * This was recorded back in July, and took a little longer to get up than expected. The original recording got corrupted, so this is what I was able to salvage. Sorry about the delay, but we got there. * Pluralone

We're joined by NYC comedians Julian Hewitt and Carlos Cruz in this one. A lively conversation about magic, stage fright, and the creative pressure behind comedy. The guys discuss performance, storytelling, bombing, self-editing, hypnosis, and the challenge of staying original while building a career onstage. Julian Hewitt Carlos Cruz