OurSpace with Matt Vettese

Amy and Kayla of Like Roses join OurSpace with Matt Vettese and this week we're breaking down every song on their debut album, After It Ends. After spending years making music as a passion project, Like Roses suddenly found themselves connecting with a much bigger audience when “Easy” started taking off on TikTok. What followed was a record deal with Hopeless Records, tours with bands they grew up...

What makes a music scene worth being part of? Nish of Chicago emo band tenmonthsummer joins OurSpace with Matt Vettese to talk about the band's latest EP midwestern haikus, what's next for their first full-length album, and why the DIY community is so much more than a collection of bands playing local shows. After releasing two EPs in 2026, tenmonthsummer has been keeping busy. Nish shares the sto...

Is being a talented musician enough to make a living in today's music industry?  Kenny Feinstein joins OurSpace with Matt Vettese to talk about his new book More Than Talent and what independent musicians actually need to do to build successful, sustainable careers in 2026. After more than 25 years working in music, Kenny has learned a few things about finding fans, marketing your songs, and makin...

Tenlung joins OurSpace with Matt Vettese to talk about I Follow Birds, “The Shed Song,” blending emo and pop punk with hyperpop, and the years-long personal journey that unexpectedly became part of her art. We get into the incredible story behind “The Shed Song,” which was written years before its release and accompanied by a music video that ended up documenting part of Tenlung's transition, desp...

From First to Last are back and Matt Good joins OurSpace with Matt Vettese to take us inside the band's new era. With We Were Bleeding Anyway arriving October 2, Matt talks about bringing Lil Lotus into From First to Last, why his perspective as a fan helped shape the band's new music, and how the goal was never to recreate the past but to respect what made records like Dear Diary, My Teen Angst H...

Rody Walker of Protest the Hero returns to OurSpace with Matt Vettese to talk about the band's new album Within, their first completely independent release, and why he's feeling excited about the future of the band again. We get into the challenges of leaving record labels behind, the financial realities of releasing an album independently, and why Protest the Hero want more control over their mus...

Talker joins OurSpace with Matt Vettese to dive deep into her new album Runaway Jane, why she completely changed her creative process to make it, and what happened when she stopped trying to make everything perfect. After feeling disconnected from her debut album by the time it was finally released, Talker approached Runaway Jane differently. Instead of finishing the entire record and sitting on i...

Harrison Gordon returns to OurSpace to talk about the band's new sophomore album, Bliss, and everything that's changed since our first conversation two years ago. After the viral success surrounding The Yuppies Are Winning, Harrison Gordon had a choice: keep chasing TikTok and the algorithm or try to build the kind of band they grew up loving. They chose the latter. Harrison talks about consciousl...

After nearly two years without new music, Sam and Nick of Savings join OurSpace to talk about their return with their new single “Stressed Out” and why stepping away was exactly what the band needed. Sam and Nick talk about rediscovering that creative spark, writing “Stressed Out” without any expectations, and realizing they were ready to move forward again. We also dive into the pressure modern a...

What does Vans Warped Tour mean in 2026? At Vans Warped Tour Montreal, OurSpace spoke with 11 bands from the emo, pop-punk, punk, post-hardcore and metalcore scenes to see why Warped Tour remains such an important part of alternative music culture. Veterans including Taking Back Sunday, Atreyu, Hawthorne Heights, Cartel, Escape The Fate and The Devil Wears Prada look back on Warped Tour’s role in...

Brian of Good Terms returns to OurSpace with Matt Vettese to talk about what it meant to actually performing at Warped Tour, why Warped Tour still matters for up-and-coming emo, pop punk and alternative bands, and how the experience is already influencing Good Terms' live show. We also dive deep into the band's new single “Hard Call,” why they made the bold decision to OPEN their Warped Tour set w...

What happened to emo between the 2000s mainstream boom and the resurgence we're experiencing today? Andrew Sacher joins Matt on OurSpace to discuss his new book, Emo Revival, which documents the fourth wave of emo and the underground community that helped keep the genre alive. Having covered the scene for Brooklyn Vegan as it was unfolding, Andrew brings a unique perspective to the story of bands...

Recorded outside the Toronto stop of Slow Joy's I Love You So Much I Could Die Tour, David of Bike Routes joins OurSpace for a special on-location conversation about the band's breakout year. We discuss the making of their debut album Prairie, how World Apart became the song that introduced so many listeners to the band, and what it's been like hearing fans sing along to songs that began as simple...

What really happens after a song goes viral? This week on OurSpace with Matt Vettese, Gavin and Ricky from INOHA share the story behind the band's breakout success with "Seventh Heaven," the surreal moment they watched the numbers climb in real time, and how they transformed one viral reel into international touring opportunities. The conversation also explores the making of their new album, This...

What does it really take to build a music career without a label or a viral moment doing the work for you? lolitslea joins OurSpace to talk about her journey as an independent artist, embracing her "neon pop punk" sound, and bringing the colorful, electronic energy of the late-2000s alternative scene into a new generation. lolitslea opens up about starting out making pop music before finding the c...

Nicole Alexis joins OurSpace to discuss her new EP, Mirrors and Smoke, growing up alternative, and why one of her biggest songs almost never existed. The Nashville-based DIY artist opens up about living with ADHD, teaching herself multiple instruments, hearing fully formed songs in her head from a young age, and documenting life's biggest moments through music. Nicole also shares how social media...

What does touring actually do to your mental health? Licensed mental health counselor Daniel Rinaldi joins OurSpace to discuss the hidden struggles that musicians, touring crew members and creatives face both on and off the road. From burnout and sleep deprivation to loneliness, anxiety and the difficult transition back home after tour, Daniel shares practical advice for maintaining your mental he...

If you're new here, a few years ago, TJ and I co-hosted a podcast called The Top 8. Due to scheduling issues, The Top 8 went on hiatus. But good news if you missed it: TJ is popping in for a random episode of OurSpace to chat our Top 8 favourite releases of the year so far!  We're going to try to make this a more regular thing when schedules allow.  Now, go leave the show 5 stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ And le...

Zach Goode joins OurSpace with Matt Vettese to discuss becoming the new voice of Smash Mouth, the band's first full-length album of original music in 14 years, Mercury Comet, and what it's really like stepping into one of the most recognizable bands of the '90s and 2000s. Zach shares how a simple audition turned into fronting Smash Mouth, what he learned from replacing Steve Harwell, and why he be...

Chief State joins OurSpace with Matt Vettese to discuss their new album Keep Your Friends Closer, why it took nearly two years to finally release, and how becoming a fully collaborative band changed everything. The Vancouver pop punk outfit talks about evolving creatively, balancing adulthood with being in a touring band, and why they've rediscovered the joy of making music without putting so much...

Russ Rankin of Good Riddance joins OurSpace with Matt Vettese for a chat about the band's new album Before the World Caves In, political songwriting in the Trump era, punk rock activism, and finding hope during turbulent times. Russ discusses how his approach to songwriting has evolved over the years, why he believes music can still inspire social change, and the importance of creating art that le...

Jake and Alex of Subtitles join OurSpace with Matt Vettese to discuss their debut album Subtitles On, the challenges of running a band across two continents, and the emotional stories behind some of the record's most impactful songs. Living in the United States and France, the duo shares how they built the band through technology, late-night writing sessions, and a shared vision for what Subtitles...

Jason from Toronto's Burning Out joins OurSpace with Matt Vettese to discuss the band's new single "Kill Me Maybe," their upcoming EP, heartbreak, songwriting, DIY culture, and the evolution of the Toronto punk scene. Jason shares how the band's latest songs chronicle the emotional stages of processing a difficult breakup, why songwriting has become a form of therapy, and how Burning Out blends in...

Des Rocs joins OurSpace with Matt Vettese for a chat about his new album To Hell and Back, the future of rock music, surviving a devastating spinal injury, and what it really takes to build a career as a modern rock artist. Des shares the story behind the album title, discusses recording the record live as a full band, and explains why authenticity, risk, and emotional vulnerability remain at the...

Buddy Nielsen of Senses Fail joins OurSpace with Matt Vettese for a deep conversation about the past, present, and future of Senses Fail, including new music, the legacy of Still Searching, the current emo and hardcore scene, festival culture, and why live music still matters more than ever. Buddy opens up about writing new Senses Fail songs, modernizing the band without losing what fans love, pla...