Jam Chats

Hosts CJ and Reimy talk with singer-songwriter Debra Fotheringham about building emotional equity in relationships, giving honest feedback with care, and practicing vulnerability. Debra shares her family’s history with mental health, her own bouts of depression, and how therapy helped her accept life’s “ebb and flow” rather than seeing happiness as a constant default. She performs “Ebb and Flow” live, discusses her love of poetry and folk influences through her band The Lower Lights, and explains how a sincere compliment from a junior high friend gave her the confidence to sing publicly. The episode also features “Blue West,” a love letter to Utah inspired by time living in Ireland and Vermont, and “Protagonist,” about not assuming you’re the main character in someone else’s life, all from her album Valley of Annihilation. 00:00 Feedback And Trust 34:38 Love Sandwich Communication 35:29 Mental Health And Therapy 37:48 Live Ebb And Flow 42:56 Poetry And Songwriting 46:14 Finding Her Voice 49:09 Blue West And Utah 55:58 Defining Success As An Artist 59:06 Why Music Keeps Calling 01:00:48 Final Song Protagonist 01:06:20 Wrap Up And Where To Listen

CJ and Reimy host guests Riah and Dallin Major from the eight-piece band The Penny Candies, discussing how the group formed through BYU and Velour open mics, including Dallin accidentally performing at a memorial open mic where they met. Riah shares a musical childhood, years of performance anxiety after being ridiculed, a songwriting breakthrough after learning guitar, and how music helped her through a toxic relationship, divorce, and single motherhood; Dallin describes a musical upbringing, losing confidence after comparison, and returning to songwriting while coping with depression. They perform “Lemon,” live “Underground” (about reclaiming power after abuse), “Color and Fire” (inspired by hot air balloons), a new unreleased “Molly Brown” co-written with Riah’s husband Brandon, and the single “Rain Song.” They also discuss Velour’s Corey Fox, whom “The Fox” honors, and the band’s “sweeties” fan community. 00:00 Meet the Hosts and Band 00:19 Hats and the Band 01:22 How the Band Formed 02:37 Velour Venue Spotlight 03:20 Memorial Open Mic Mishap 07:22 Riah Musical Origins 15:02 Dallin Finds His Voice 20:03 Song Spotlight Lemon 22:44 Why They Clicked 28:52 Building the Whimsical Sound 32:58 Live Performance Underground 39:30 Underground Meaning and Healing 44:58 The Fox and Velour Lore 48:00 Movie Quote Sampling 48:21 Corey Fox Tribute 55:30 Clarinet And Marimba 56:47 Studio Foley - Chains 01:00:02 Color And Fire 01:05:45 Divine Intervention Talk 01:09:04 Creating Through Hard Times 01:11:47 Exclusive Molly Brown 01:22:59 Sweeties And Yin Yang 01:28:57 Rain Song Finale 01:36:20 Creative Visual Process 01:38:28 Where To Find Them 01:39:11 Closing

CJ and Reimy welcome Nashville-based singer-songwriter Aurora Sage to the Jam Chats Studio, where she shares her background growing up in California, living in Italy, and pursuing the arts through an Orange County art school before studying songwriting at Belmont. Aurora discusses her musical influences (from soul, jazz, and R&B to singer-songwriter icons), her brother’s role in shaping her musicianship, and how she balances sound and branding while promoting herself through social media, including her grandparents’ piano series and posted hymns. The episode features performances of “Bad Taste In Good Men,” “Pearl,” “Kid,” “Blue Moon,” “Pieces,” and “Taking His Time,” with stories behind the songs—ghosting, long-term heartbreak, vulnerability, and faith. Aurora reflects on music as a healing language, explains why faith matters to her even in secular artistry, and previews plans to finish a new project from recent LA writing sessions and release it next year, alongside playing live in Nashville venues like the Bluebird Cafe. 00:00 Meet Aurora Sage 00:35 Nashville Accent Skit 01:32 California Roots Story 02:43 Musical Family Beginnings 05:04 Influences And Sound 07:14 Theater And Phone Bits 08:35 Bad Taste In Good Men 13:10 Behind The Bossa Nova 17:42 Pearl Live Performance 24:53 Kid 30:57 Song Fallout Confession 31:35 Music as Healing 33:33 Grandparents Piano Series 35:09 Branding and Artist Goals 36:52 Blue Moon Live Performance 43:03 Pieces Story and Performance 49:59 Faith and Making Beauty 52:14 Taking His Time Live 58:36 What's Next

On Jam Chats on BYUradio, hosts CJ and Reimy welcome singer-songwriter Jordan Moyes to discuss how music began for him with guitar at age five or six in a family of guitar players, his early classic rock influences, and how he shifted from wanting to “shred” to focusing on storytelling as a songwriter. They listen to his track “Driveway,” which he wrote about the feeling of sitting in a car to finish a song and the goal of creating that experience for listeners, and talk about his emotional sensitivity and the challenge of finishing songs after the initial burst of inspiration. Jordan performs “Hangin' Around,” a song written for his wife Brinley, and shares how marriage changed his songwriting. He discusses his mother’s unexpected death in 2018, how faith and music helped him grieve, and performs “12:34,” inspired by repeatedly seeing 12:34 and wishing his wife could have known his mom. They also feature “Flowers” and “When I Get Used to You,” talk touring and American Idol, and close with a live performance of “Still Feel Alone.” 00:00 Meet Jordan Moyes 00:26 Early Guitar Roots 02:15 Classic Rock Sparks 05:25 Band Dreams and Singing Fears 13:28 Track Breakdown Driveway 14:26 Chasing the Feeling 20:20 Songwriting Process Struggles 24:40 Live Hangin' Around 30:49 Marriage and Music Shift 37:02 Flowers and Family Nostalgia 42:15 Opening Up About Loss 42:31 Grieving Childhood Loss 45:20 Songwriting Through Grief 48:35 Why Music Heals 49:45 Angel Numbers Song Story 56:09 After The Performance 59:34 Faith After Sudden Death 01:06:23 Music In The Afterlife 01:11:12 Serene Sound Origins 01:14:59 Touring And Defining Success 01:20:14 Final Song "Still Feel Alone" And Farewell

Hosts CJ and Reimy interview singer-songwriter Maddie Wilson, who shares how her non-musical parents supported her through lessons and performances, her small-town Utah upbringing surrounded by country music, and her path to Nashville for songwriting, recording, and writer’s rounds like the Bluebird Cafe. Maddie performs and discusses several songs: “Richest Man,” inspired by her late grandpa’s saying about being rich in family; “RIP,” a fun breakup song written in Nashville; and deeply personal songs “Your Room” and “Wounded,” reflecting infertility, IVF, miscarriages, and vulnerability through music. She also shares “Baby Blue,” about motherhood bringing light, and “Black Sheep,” about embracing being different. 00:00 Meet Maddie Wilson 00:37 Early Songwriting Roots 02:11 Choosing Music Over Sports 04:03 Country Upbringing 05:51 Richest Man Story 10:52 Recording Nashville Connections 11:57 Writers Rounds Bluebird 14:48 Live Song RIP 19:22 Infertility Miscarriage Journey 21:09 Song Your Room 29:11 Vulnerability Through Music 32:43 What Not To Say To Someone Battling Infertility 33:12 Fixing Versus Listening 35:02 Live Song Wounded 39:13 Why Sad Songs Heal 39:57 IVF And Newborn Life 42:39 Live Song Baby Blue 49:28 Faith Through Infertility 51:37 Motherhood And Music 54:43 Black Sheep Origins 59:09 Live Song Black Sheep 01:03:48 Success And Farewell

Hosts CJ and Reimy welcome Logan James Hope to the studio. We discuss his “grandpa style,” upbringing in Holladay, Utah, and early musical influences. Logan recounts forming his first band in junior high, his frontman role, ego, and how music connected to spirituality, plus later pressures around career, and adulthood. He traces the band’s breakup, a near Atlantic Records moment, experimental projects, and the formation of Silvercup with his sister Hadley, including moving to New York and getting signed. Logan shares how The Hammer and the Nail centers on grief—marriage, music dreams, and faith, performs and plays “Hear Me,” “Fake Rolex”, “Another Bite,” “Water Breaks,” “Cardboard Boxes,” and “Death Do Us Part,” and introduces producer Carl, describing a desert recording process focused on honesty. Christian Lucy on piano accompanies Logan in the Jam Chats studio. Album Art Photography: Luke Barton @lukeb_see

CJ and Reimy welcome singer-songwriter Ashley Hess to Jam Chats on BYUradio. Ashley recounts her journey from Fremont, California, sports ambitions, and a bus accident that derailed volleyball plans to exploring music through YouTube covers, songwriting, and a move to Nashville at 27. She describes auditioning for American Idol, reaching the Top 14, and wanting artistic freedom. Ashley performs and discusses songs including “Love Like You,” “Fresh,” “Breathe,” “Quiet,” and “The Girl I Used to Be,” connecting themes of learning God’s love, heartbreak, anxiety, and not staying silent. She reflects on 2020’s upheaval, a breakup, identity shifts, and writing “Yet”, which she says changed her life and has reached millions.

Every song has a story. Through live performances and candid interviews with singer-songwriters from different genres, BYUradio’s Jam Chats explores the many ways music can energize us, heal us, and bring us together.

CJ and Reimy recap Season 1 with fun and inspirational moments. If you're new to the show, this is a great episode to start with. You'll hear clips from almost every episode, giving you an inside scoop on the artist's episode. CJ and Reimy also dive into the themes of the season, and what they felt were the most inspirational and impactful moments.

Join hosts CJ and Reimy as they sit down with soulful singer-songwriter Ryan Innes. Known for his powerful voice that turned all four chairs on The Voice, Ryan delves into his journey from a childhood in Arizona to becoming a full-time musician. He shares stories of family, the struggles of the music industry, and the healing power of songwriting. Featuring his songs 'You Are Gold,' 'Lightning,' 'Restless,' 'Holding,' 'Brother,' and 'Solid Ground,' this episode offers an intimate look into the life and music of an artist constantly evolving through hardship and self-discovery.