In this bonus episode, we talk again with Logan Ledger, whose long awaited debut album was recently released on Rounder Records. Logan discusses the process of putting the album together, how his co-write with Steve Earle came about, and the origin stories of several of the tracks. Also, Logan dishes out some heavy font knowledge.

Tell You What! the Podcast

Bonus Episode: Logan Ledger Album Release

James Bradshaw, who records under the Pony Bradshaw moniker, joins us to talk about his new album Calico Jim. The songs on the record, most of which were written during quarantine, are stories and poems about the north Georgia territory that James calls home. It is a truly remarkable collection of songs, evoking images and characters that come to life through his finely crafted lyrics and subtly complex arrangements. James talks about how he finds musical inspiration through literature, how he feels about being a “late bloomer” in the music field, and his love of a non sequitur verse in a song.

Episode 28: Pony Bradshaw

In this episode we talk with Dave Senft and Harris Paseltiner, who, along with Don Mitchell and Auyon Mukharji, make up the Massachusetts based band Darlingside. The band recently released their fourth full length album Fish Pond Fish. We talk about how this album’s creation took some different paths than Darlingside’s previous work, some of which were planned (different approaches to group song writing) and some not so planned (the album had to be mixed and finished during quarantine). The band’s highly entertaining approach to live performance is also discussed. Also covered: knee slapping, pecking pigeons, and enthusiastic washing machines.

Episode 27: Darlingside

We are joined by Dani Stone and Nick Stone, two of the members of self described "folk forward indie rock" band South for Winter. They discuss their amazing new record Luxumbra, their musical paths from Colorado (Dani) and New Zealand (Nick) to Nashville, and their approaches to songwriting and collaboration. Also discussed: dancing the Carlton, murder, and it turns out that one of the three of us is a badass.

Episode 26: South for Winter

For our 25th(!) episode of Tell You What! we are joined by Canadian musician and songwriter Jeremie Albino. Jeremie talks about his late teen years when he moved from the Toronto suburbs to the farmlands of Ontario, working the soil while writing songs. We discuss the songs on his amazing debut record Hard Time, how the sounds of creaking floorboards made their way onto the album, and how he works hard to try to stay true to the original inspiration of his songs-the reason he “fell in love with the song in the first place”. Also covered- what the heck is the “pompatus of love”?

Episode 25: Jeremie Albino

We talk in this episode with musician and songwriter Joy Ike. Currently based in Philadelphia (after moving from Pittsburgh), Joy’s latest album, “Bigger Than Your Box”, released in 2018, is a wonderful record. Joy talks about the Nigerian praise music that was the soundtrack to her childhood and how its percussive sounds influence her songwriting, her interesting on and off relationship with the piano, and ideas she has for her next project, which may turn out to be a spoken word album. We hear about the making of the delightful video for her interpretation of “Won’t You Be My Neighbor”, the Mr. Rogers theme. Joy is also generous enough to share her thoughts on current events shaking the United States, the Black Lives Matter movement and the George Floyd killing.

Episode 24: Joy Ike

We spend this episode with Nashville based singer/songwriter Michaela Anne, who released her third full length album (her first with label Yep Roc Records), the wonderful Desert Dove, in 2019. We discuss the diverse arrangements and songwriting styles on the record, which, while a country record at its core, integrates a variety of sounds and influences. Michaela has an interesting background, moving around a lot as she grew up; we discuss how this has impacted her creative style. Michaela also provides two helpful public service announcements (everyone keep singing!), and we spend some time deconstructing Chopin’s Nocturne #72 and Donnie Osmond’s “Puppy Love”, finding their shared musical core.

Episode 23: Michaela Anne

We are joined by Cara Luft and JD Edwards, who make up the Canadian duo The Small Glories. Recently named artist of the year by the International Folk Alliance, as well as Vocal Group of the Year at the Juno Awards, (where their recent album "Assiniboine and the Red" garnered Contemporary Album of the Year), The Small Glories are a product of both JD and Cara’s individual veteran singer/songwriter talents as well as the dynamic creative combination they become together. They offer great insights into why their particular vocal talents works so wonderfully together, the various ways their different songs come to be, and what they feel is important in their wholly engaging, entertaining, and energetic live performances.

Episode 22: The Small Glories

We talk with Joe Bordenaro and Max Loebman from the Chicago band ROOKIE. Their self titled debut, just out on legendary Chicago label Bloodshot, is a wonderfully full throated blast of rock music; influenced by classic guitar bands of the last century but with their own distinctive and energetic twists. We talk about the making of the record, touring with Cheap Trick, covering Tears for Fears, underwater vocals, and cheesy drum effects. Also covered: my dance moves, and I get fitted for my official ROOKIE jumpsuit.

Episode 21: ROOKIE

The three members of The Ballroom Thieves, Callie Peters, Martin Early, and Devin Mauch, have been making music together for a while, and they have recently released their third full length album, Unlovely. The record is a collection of songs that are mostly a reaction to events in our world and country of the last few years, and it is a wonderfully diverse swirl of folk influenced rock sounds. There is anger, and there is hope, all threaded through gorgeous, intriguing, and engaging musical landscapes. We talk with all three members about the creation of these songs. We also about their lives as a band on the road, including the years they spent as virtual vagabonds with no permanent addresses; how their approach to songwriting and creativity has changed as their personal relationships within the band have evolved, and we attempt to answer a big question-what is a song, anyway?

Episode 20: The Ballroom Thieves

Nashville based musician and songwriter Katie Pruitt possesses a powerful voice and an equally powerful and brave spirit. Her debut album, just out on Rounder Records, “Expectations”, is a wonderful collection of songs addressing difficult personal topics: mental health, toxic relationships, and her personal journey as a gay woman growing up in a southern Christian family. Katie is generous and thoughtful in our discussion as she talks about these tricky issues and how writing and singing these songs, ultimately, led to a greater understanding of herself and with her family and those close to her. We also hear about how her early jam band fandom influences her live performance approach, high school wake and bakes, and we attempt to answer that age old question: is it cool to be a theater kid?

Episode 19: Katie Pruitt

Jason Hawk Harris released his debut album in 2019 on Bloodshot Records, the critically acclaimed “Love and the Dark”. Rolling Stone named “Phantom Limb” one of the 25 Best Country and Americana songs of the year. Though he currently resides in Los Angeles, Jason was born and raised in Houston, where he heard a lot of country music in his home. However the music of Queen led him to pursue training in classical composition as a teenager. The songs on “Love and the Dark”, many of which draw lyrical themes from personal stories of loss, pain and addiction, swing with the soul of country while being carried along by dynamic and orchestral arrangements; an intriguing and compelling combination. We discuss Jason’s creative process, including how some of his songs start out as a single unbroken line drawn on a sheet of blank paper; how he likes to “wrap a sad song in a happy jacket”; and one of his first musical projects, “Mr. Meticulous and the Sloppy Joes”.

Episode 18: Jason Hawk Harris

A life long native of the Pacific Northwest, Anna Tivel currently makes her home in Portland. Anna released her fourth full length album earlier in 2019, The Question, which NPR Music called “one of the most ambitious folk records of 2019”. She was also the recipient of No Depression’s singer songwriter award for 2019. Anna has a remarkably poetic lyrical style; we discuss her deft use of concrete imagery as she, in her words, attempts to have her “stories sit on a landscape of sounds”. We also talk about point of view in songwriting, as she has several songs in which she inhabits different characters to tell their tales, and her related admiration of John Prine. Anna and I also invent a new bar trivia game, and she agrees to join the postcard revolution.

Episode 17: Anna Tivel

Our guest is Swedish musician, songwriter, and one person band Bror Gunnar Jansson. How did a Swedish born and bred musician find his way to becoming an authentic interpreter and creator of songs steeped in the traditions of the American blues, channeling legends such as John Lee Hooker, Lightnin’ Hopkins, Muddy Waters? In addition, Gunnar has written a series of songs revolving around the lives of fictional characters of his own creation: criminals, murderers, and their mothers, who seemingly walked out of a Tarantino script. His latest release, “They Found My Body in a Bag” is a concept album of sorts, with a number of songs inspired by true crime stories; however Gunnar’s diverse musical interests show through on various tracks including two instrumental numbers. A fascinating discussion with an intriguing musician.

Episode 16: Bror Gunnar Jansson

Adam and David Moss are identical twin brothers who create music as The Brother Brothers. They put out an excellent album in 2018 called Some People I Know; and are headed toward the studio soon to record its follow up. We cover their early years training as classical musicians, how they found their way individually to different parts of the country and through different types of music and eventually back together again to form the Brother Brothers, hanging out with other young songwriters in the “hippie mansion” in Austin, their time with the Anaïs Mitchell project Hadestown, and of course the wonderful songs they have created. I also learn how to properly pronounce Kerrville.

Episode 15: The Brother Brothers

Welcome to Tell You What! the Podcast. We have conversations with young songwriters about the creative process, live performance, and anything else we stumble upon. It's fun! Check out all our episodes and discover some great young songwriters and bands. Music is the best. Drop us a line at tellyouwhatpodcast@gmail.com

hubhopper

Bonus Episode: Logan Ledger Album Release

hubhopper