The Unstarving Musician

This best-of episode features four musicians who appeared as guests in early episodes of the podcast. I chose these guys, because their insights say so much about the little things musicians can do to build a career or keep their gig calendars full. Texas Guitar Slinger Chris Raspante on Marketing When I asked Chris what he's learned about marketing during his rich career, he went straight to rela...

Why musician Ray Prim has a day job, and loves it! Ray Prim is a talented Austin based musician with a day job. He's widely seen as a performer with an onstage sense of humor, something he says he doesn't understand. I think I get his reputation. During the first 10 to 15 minutes of our conversation, he proclaimed his love for Taco Cabana tortillas and shouted at a Cortana enabled device. He's not...

Hannah Holbrook is a solo artist and member of the sibling quartet SHEL . She and her sisters are considered virtuosos, and their collective tastes create an exciting and eclectic sound that the band calls alternative pop.  This episode is a conversation about SHEL, their relationship with a noteworthy Nashville label, and why they went independent. We also get into questions about how SHEL self-p...

Independent musician Mike Dawson is crushing it on Instagram. He also subs for the principle drummer of The Lion King, leads drum workshops and gives private lessons. That's all on top of his day gig as managing editor at Modern Drummer Magazine . Mike last appeared on the podcast in episode 25 . This is episode 50! Drum workshops–Mike's preparation & vibe We began our conversation discussing his...

British singer songwriter Lynz Crichton has been busy working on a new EP, and the project has two noteworthy facets. One–Lynz gave herself a 90-day deadline for songwriting and recording the demos. Two–She collaborated with her fan base to get feedback on song ideas and input on which songs to feature on the new EP. The 90-day deadline for songwriting I was particularly interested in the 90-day d...

Bree Noble returned to the podcast this week to talk about The Profitable Musician Summit , a project that's been months in the making. The event will include dozens of speaker interviews with musicians and music marketing professionals. Topics of discussion throughout the event will focus on the many revenue streams available to working musicians. The timing of our conversation was such that I ca...

Lara Price is an Unstarving Musician's Podcast alumni from early episode 4 . Similar to my recent conversation with country singer songwriter Mira Goto , this is a progress update of sorts. It's been almost one year since my last interview with Lara. At that time she had just made a big move from the San Francisco Bay Area to Austin, and she was still riding high on the release of her then newish...

Country singer songwriter Mira Goto first appeared on this podcast for episode 12 back in mid-August of 2017. I invited her back for a progress update of sorts, and she's been very busy since our last conversation. She has a new album coming out, a new single called Crazy Cat Lady, and a new video on the way. Like I said, she's been very busy. Mira's new single Crazy Cat Lady is on Apple Music   T...

Sofar Sounds is a global organization who's mission is to reimagine live events through curated, secret performances in intimate settings; and they are attempting to do just that in over 350 cities around the world. My guest for this episode of the podcast is Tony Di Silvestro of Sofar Sounds Kansas City. I don't typically seek out businesses or organizations to guest on the podcast, although some...

Carlos Castillo runs a Facebook community called Schwilly Family Circus . It's a community for entrepreneurial musicians (aka musicpreneurs). It took us a while to connect for this interview, thanks to a power outage at my own home podcasting studio. As it turned out, Carlos had just become a brand new father, so he was understandably relieved by my request to reschedule. He tells me he was suffer...

Krosst Out is the first Canadian and first rap artist that I've had the pleasure of interviewing for the podcast. He was born in Toronto, but grew up in the small town of Campbellford, a town he describes as a place where everyone wants to fit in. As a kid his interests were focused on the city life and doing his own thing. Today he lives in the city of Toronto, but admits he loves returning to th...

This  video compelled me to invite singer songwriter Ezra Vancil to be a guest on my podcast. After speaking with him, I watched the video a second time, but through an entirely new lens. Ezra's forthcoming release You is a collection of ten songs that represent ten years of his current relationship(s). He describes those relationships (and his life) as complicated, albeit mostly in his own head....

Musician Joe George (aka Joe Shadid) has a steady gig as a content producer for Reverb.com, where he creates video lessons, demos and more. Reverb is an online marketplace where musicians can buy, sell and learn about new, used, vintage and handmade music gear. A listener of the podcast and long time San Francisco Bay Area friend recently sent me this NY Times article on Joe, suggesting that he'd...

Tom Irwin grew up admiring and learning songs by the likes of Grand Funk Railroad, Led Zeppelin, and Thin Lizzy. He was a participant of the 80s New Wave scene, but eventually found himself drawn to life as a solo artist. He's been musically genrefied as folk rock and alt country. Willie Nelson once said to Tom about his band's performance after they opened for Willie & Family in 2001, " I like yo...

Judy Rodman has a rich career in singing, performing, studio engineering, producing, coaching, mentoring, publishing, blogging, podcasting, and life. When I asked her to describe the evolution of her career, she said simply " Every time I hit a brick wall, I went another way . In this crazy business, you have to be on roller skates ." If you've ever thought about hiring a vocal coach, if you are a...

Liz Cirelli describes her music journey as a push and pull affair that began from an egotistical point of view. She's been challenged by a fear of financial lacking, elusive fame, and the absence of help. Today she finds solace in the realization that she's always had everything she needs. Cirelli was born in the UK of Italian parents. Today, she lives in the tiny village of Roseto Valfortore, in...

In 2011 Sommer Sharon started a Facebook page and Twitter account for a music promotions project. It was a project born of sheer interest, but things started to get interesting when Joe Satriani followed her Twitter account. Satriani was her fourth follower. Her interest suddenly became a business. Musicians and music industry pros started to take notice of her work. This lead to the development o...

Stephanie Tice and I have mutual ties to Greaseland Studios in San Jose. We share an interest in some of the artists that have recorded there. In Stephanie's case, however, it's more. She has fallen head over heels for the blues. Finding Little Lou's , Poor House Bistro & Greaseland Following a big life change, Stephanie found happiness at San Jose blues venues Little Lou's and Poor House Bistro....

My interview with Guitarcore pioneer Bill Lonero was apparently his first on a podcast. I told Bill my prediction was that he would soon start receiving requests to be on other podcasts. Enter Los Angeles based guitarist, vocalist, songwriter, and host of The Iconoclast Music Podcast, Greg Marra. Lonero was soon featured on Greg's podcast, and I've now had the pleasure of interviewing Greg for thi...

Last weekend I sent an email to my listener's list asking what topics they'd like to hear discussed on the podcast. Thank you to all who replied! Among those who chimed in was San Francisco Bay Area blues-rocker Mike Osborn. We did a little back and forth via email, and I ended up inviting Mike to join me on the podcast for a listener questions episode. He kindly obliged. Here are some of the topi...

On May 9th of 2017 I walked into Greaseland Studios to interview producer Kid Andersen. I was immediately blown away the abundance of musical gear everywhere. The next thing thing that came into my focus was the kitchen. Greaseland is also the home of Kid and Lisa Leuschner Anderson. There in the kitchen was a grand piano. Rather than thinking how rather odd it was to see a grand piano in a kitche...

My very first interview for this podcast was a wheels-off train wreck. It was recorded a little over eight months ago. To make matters worse, the interview was with a celebrity. My guest was Rex Brown, best known as a member of metal pioneers Pantera. He also happens to be a friend and former band mate going back to our high school years–a blessing and a curse on this occasion. The problem? The mo...

Rockin' Johnny Burgin is incredibly passionate a about performing, and holds the stage in the highest regard. Johnny resides in the San Francisco Bay area, but came up as a blues player learning and performing in the west side Chicago blues scene. In his early twenties, he was performing at west side black clubs where he says watching bands was like watching a boxing match, a place where musical p...

Mark Wenner and his band The Nighthawks have been performing and recording for over 40 years. He did this with and along side an impressive list of blues and R & B note-worthies. Mark came up as a young man when rock & roll was perceived by older adults as the devil's music. It was a time, he notes, when when Elvis was in army, Jerry Lewis was banned, Buddy Holly and Eddie Cochran were dead, Littl...

David is highly respected in the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond as a versatile musician. His versatility seems to stem from his deep appreciation for Bruce Lee the man, Taoism, and existentialist philosophy. As I discovered in my conversation with him, David strives to use the present moment and mindfulness to be everything he can be as a musician, an onstage performer, and student of life. Bec...