Stereo Embers: The Podcast

"If It Doesn’t Make Sense I Just Don’t Do It” Makes sense, doesn’t it? Well, it sure does to John Dolmayan. The System of a Down drummer has reached a point in his life where if something seems pointless, he sees no reason to even bother. That said, when John Dolmayan does do something, he does it with 100% purpose, commitment and heart. His first solo album, which operates under the moniker These...

“Why Would You Stop What Your Mission Is On This Earth?” Well, the answer is, you wouldn’t. Or, more specifically, you shouldn’t. For the New York-born Rachael Sage, the details of her earthy mission came to her quite young as she taught herself how to play piano while listening to Beatles albums. Sage knew she was destined for the arts and her CV certainly agrees. She spent her teenage years as a...

“Another Round With Owen Vyse: Coronavirus And The End Of The World” In this special Coronavirus-themed episode, fan-favorite Owen Vyse (Starclub, Echo and the Bunnymen) calls in from Thailand for a chat about the current state of the world under the lens of the Coronavirus. He talks to Alex about historical precedent, the mishandling of the pandemic by the Trump Administration and why April 4th i...

“I Wasn’t Go To Be An Anthropologist” Ellen Starski’s major in college was Anthropology, but midway through her studies it became very clear to her parents that she wasn’t going to be an anthropologist. She was going to be a musician. Her dad might have had a hunch she would be headed that direction when he gave her a guitar during her freshman year, but either way, Starski’s calling was an artist...

“They Let Me Live Rent-Free In The House Until I Was 26…” That’s Kieran Shudall’s response when asked if his parents were supportive of his choice to embark on a career in music. It sure paid off. The singer of the Liverpool outfit Circa Waves, Shudall has watched his band go from strength to strength since their 2013 inception. Circa Waves have filled their musical resume’ with Top Ten albums, to...

“I’ve Known You For Ten Minutes And I’m Already Asking If You’re An Introvert” Well, these things happen. In this conversation with Eliza Klatt, lead singer of Australia’s Eliza and the Delusionals, it doesn’t take long for Alex and Eliza to get to the heart of the matter. In under 40 minutes they talk about how to cope with a fear of flying, being far from home for the first time and how an intro...

“Reverb As Long As A Hockey Rink” That’s how Alan Doyle describes the music he loved so much in the ‘80s. A huge fan of Def Leppard, the Newfoundland-born Doyle may have been a metalhead as a teenager, but he always had folk music in his blood. He played in his Uncle’s band as a young man, but branched out on his own in his early 20s to form Great Big Sea. One of Canada’s most beloved bands of all...

“You Try Writing A Number One Techno Song In Italy” That’s exactly what Ian Gothe did. Back in the ‘80s Gothe decided to prove to a pal in a bar in England that writing a techno song was an easy thing to do. So he went home and did it. Little did he know, the song would later rise to the top of the charts in Italy. These things happen. Actually, in Ian Gothe’s life, a lot of things happen. Born in...

“It Was Definitely Not Like Riding A Bicycle” That’s how Gary Douglas describes what it was like to get back onstage after not playing live for many years. Well, to cut him some slack, he’s been busy. Like, really busy. Douglas is not only an attorney, he’s in the Trial Lawyer Hall of Fame and he’s devoted his life to fighting the injustices that are dished out by corporations to those who can’t a...

“Oh My God, This Is Over” That’s the exact thought K.C. Clifford had one night a few years ago as she put her kids to bed. She was referring to her career as a singer/songwriter, which had taken a backseat to motherhood. Not that Clifford was complaining—for years she had struggled with infertility and thanks to an infertility study and IVF, Clifford became the mother of two and she couldn’t have...

“I Throw More Things In The Garbage Than I Should" That’s what Bob Perry says about the songwriting process when it comes to lyrics, but the singer/songwriter is being far too hard on himself. The former Winter Hours guitarist has quietly become one of the most wise and knowing songwriters around. In this conversation the New Jersey-born Perry talks to Alex about Winter Hours' ill-fated deal with...

"This Actually IS An Outerspace Ship" A friend of mine asked me the other day to describe the music of Love Tractor and I tried (I said something like, "Brian Wilson singing for Can on Mars..."), but the fact is, words fail when it comes to that particular assignment. All I know is this: Love Tractor were one of the most innovative, inventive and truly wonderful bands of their era. And all these y...

"You Deserve A Bath" That sentiment may be comprised of just four words, but in life so many of us forget to recognize that in the constraints of our daily existences some self-care--like the simple pleasure of taking a bath--is deserved. In this conversation the Juno Award-winning singer/songwriter Rose Cousins talks to Alex about stillness, self-care and, to borrow a phrase from her new album, t...

"Shooting Free Throws And Playing Guitar" You may not realize it, but there's an intersection between playing sports and playing music. In fact, there's really no difference between playing guitar and shooting free throws--both take time, discipline, commitment and concentration. The Georgia-born Josh Kelley grew up playing golf in Augusta and while a golf scholarship landed him at Ole Miss, he'd...

"The Theory Behind Our Last Episode Of The Decade" Okay, there's no conspiracy theory behind the fact that this our last episode of the decade. We meant that above sentence literally--like, SUPER literally. The decade is coming to a close in a few days, so there's that and helping us put a button on it all is Theory bassist Dean Back. The Canadian musician talks to us about his band's new album Sa...

"For Our Christmas Episode We Couldn't Get Jesus Of Nazareth So We Got Dan Of Nazareth Instead" Okay, to be fair Dan McCafferty left the legendary Scottish band back in 2013 but worthy replacements aside, he will always be the voice of Nazareth. After 45 years fronting the internationally acclaimed outfit, McCafferty stepped aside due to health reasons. Recharged, revitalized and sounding better t...

"All You Have To Do Is Do The Dishes" Sounds simple, right? Well, that's because it is. And, according to singer/songwriter Emerson Hart, that act of contributive collaboration is is the key to a lasting relationship. Hart has had a lasting relationship with music and his artistic evolution has been a joy to follow. Over the course of his career with Tonic and his marvelous solo work, including hi...

"F. Scott Fitzgerald Was Wrong..." Well, to be fair, F. Scott Fitzgerald was right about a lot of things, but he was certainly wrong about his assertion that in life there are no second acts. For example, you ask? Limahl. The former Kajagoogoo singer has not only just released an instant holiday classic with "London For Christmas" interest in the charismatic singer has never been greater thanks to...

"Throwing Curveballs At The Moon" That's how The Pop Group's Mark Stewart describes the creative process and it might also very well be the perfect description of the Pop Group's career. Unconventional, ferociously innovative, and delightfully idiosyncratic, The Pop Group have never cared about what's happening in the mainstream and instead adhered to the rhythms and sounds that they wanted to mak...

“Should Only People Who’ve Been To Space Dress As Spacemen?” Well, it’s certainly a good question. In this follow-up to his wildly popular episode wherein he offered an explanation about Brexit, singer/songwriter Owen Vyse is back and this time he’s tackling cultural appropriation, intentionality and gender bias. A discursive chat that starts in a construction zone in Bangkok and ends at an early...

"The Atmospheric Drinking Game" If you were to check out the reviews of All India Radio's discography you'd find that pretty much at one point or another every music journalist has described this Melbourne band's sound as being atmospheric. In fact, if you were to take a drink every time you ran into the word, you'd be drunk pretty fast. To be fair, All India Radio's sound IS atmospheric, but it's...

"The Eighth Child Was The First One Born In A Hospital" ....and that eighth child was Crystal Gale. The Kentucky-bred Gale was the only one of her seven siblings to be born in a hospital and perhaps that ended up being a metaphor for her career. While her mother eschewed a homespun homebirth for Gale, the singer/songwriter later eschewed traditional country music by imbuing it with a little pop. T...

"Everybody Had Heard Them Songs" When The Sherlocks went into the studio to record their first album Live For The Moment, their arsenal of songs had already been battle-tested on the road. In fact, before the band even put a record out, many of those songs were already fan favorites. The challenge when recording their second album Under Your Sky, was putting together a collection that people weren...

"Throw It In The Bin And Don't Worry About It" That's Glenn Campling's motto when it comes to the music business and it's a good one. Why worry about the pressures of an industry that can't be pleased? Please yourself, man! In this interview the former Tones on Tail bassist talks candidly to Alex about his friendship with Daniel Ash, his feelings about David J and his take on the Bauhaus reunion g...

"Keep Your Hands Loose And Beat Out The Time With Your Feet" That's Mike Mesaros' advice for any aspiring bass player. In this conversation the Smithereens bassist talks to Alex about how watching Pete Townsend informed his playing style and taught him to keep his hands loose and beat out the time with his feet--in other words, he learned to play with his whole body. In this thoughtful conversatio...