In a few short years, Kelly Lee Owens has become one of the most prolific artists of her generation. Her unique approach to combining hypnotic beats with pop melodies certainly has a lot to do with it (along with her euphoric live shows), but what continues to make Kelly stand out is how her curiosity about life continues to drive her creativity. The proof is in her upcoming album, Dreamstate (out October 18th on George Daniel’s DH2 label). As the title suggests, Kelly wants to welcome you into a world where you can feel safe to dream, to put your guard down, and dance your troubles away. Crafting the album came from a period of internal and external upheaval in Kelly’s life and on today’s podcast we chat about the importance of doing that: taking stock in one’s life and gaining clarity towards what you want to put out into the world.

Kelly Lee Owens will be touring Europe this autumn, starting on October 29th in Berlin. All tour dates can be found at kellyleeowns.com.

Is there anything more cliche than a sad boi crooning about a lost love? Well….probably not, actually, but it’s that self-awareness that shines through on J. Bernardt’s latest effort, Contigo. With this moniker, my friend, Jinte Deprez (of Belgian indie rock legends Balthazar) has crafted the perfect break-up album. Yes, there’s whining, sweeping string sections, and catching numbers, but what makes Contigo excel is Jinte’s constant desire to “go there.” Listening to this album for the first time stopped me dead in my tracks on multiple occasions, because in all honesty, hearing a man be so bare and direct about his feelings felt starkly refreshing to me. Throughout the album’s runtime, Jinte never attempts to hide behind a veil, and in doing so he’s willing to expose a lonely, confused (and sometimes petulant) crooner who’s in the throes of an identity crisis. It’s a beautiful album full of character, whimsy, and wit, and it’s such a privilege that we got to explore it in depth for the first bonus episode of season 8.

J. Bernardt will be going on tour throughout Europe this autumn, starting on September 29th in Denmark. Be sure to visit https://www.jbernardt.com for all tour dates.

Nostalgia is a powerful emotion that’s omnipresent in our day-to-day lives. Because of this, we’re living in a time where indulging in nostalgia can feel lazy, tired and simply put: old. But once in a while, we’re reminded of the magic that can come from retreading our pasts, as well as the rare instances where it can give us clarity towards our future. That’s been the case with Matt Lowell, my friend and frontman of indie-alt rock band Lo Moon. Lo Moon are a group of creatives that oscillate between brash dynamics and elegant progressions. Their approach towards arrangements, hell, and their dedication to the craft is infectious. Whenever I listen to them, I hear a rock band that strives to be more than a rock band; and in doing so they hit it out the park every time.

Those elements of the band have never shone brighter than they do on their latest album, I Wish You Way More Than Luck (which is out now). It’s the kind of album that reminds you that a band can be more than a band, and this conversation I had with Matt centers on the multitudes of what creatively drives him and his bandmates. Lo Moon will be touring Europe and the UK starting on October 30th and they will also touring Mexico and the US starting on November 15th. All tour dates can be found at lomoonofficial.com.

Would ya look at that? We’ve made it to season 8! Once again, it brings me immense joy to share these talks with you over the next few months. Especially when I reflect on how these talks have evolved beyond my wildest expectations from what I envisioned for this podcast. Even if you’re a new listener to this series, it won’t take you long to recognize that these talks tend to get deep and hand-on-heart; it shatters my mind how open the guests get across these next 15 episodes.

Starting today with Vanessa Brown (aka VV Brown), an indie alt-pop singer-songwriter, model, and producer from Northampton, UK. The word ‘trailblazer’ should also be added to the mix, especially due to her recent album, Am I British Yet? Which you can infer from the title, is a direct critique of how British society can make people of other races and cultures feel less then. Though the conversation starts with a focus on Vanessa’s lived experience, it doesn’t take us long to utilize a birds-eye view of how what she’s experienced mirrors what so many people of colour and I have experienced across the world. We explore those feelings and experiences in-depth across this episode, along with highlighting the vitality of having joy within the resistance.

This is something very different than our usual episodes, but one that I felt was important to share. A few weeks go, a good friend of mine, Eoin French (aka Talos) passed away. Eoin was one of the most talented artists I’ve met from Ireland. His artistry is exemplary of what makes that island special, along with how he carried himself off stage. Eoin was a deeply curious person, tenaciously creative, kind to all and a fantastic friend. I thought about how I wanted to honor him, which led me to listening back to some of our past conversations (from the times I interviewed him for magazines and podcasts). This led me to re-listen our very first conversation, which you’ll hear in this episode. Recorded back in the summer of 2018, it’s just….so wild how much of Eoin’s spirit can be heard across this conversation. Listening to this made me smile and laugh as I remembered my friend, and I hope it does the same to you. Codladh go maith agus i síocháin.

Photo in the artwork was taken by me in Manhattan during our chat. This episode features a performance of In Time by Talos, recorded in Greenhouse Studios in Reykjavík, Iceland.

This last summer episode couldn’t be with a more fitting guest. Caleb Eberhardt (aka Rosehardt) is a polyglot of a musician, and someone I very much feel lucky enough to call a friend. Caleb exemplifies New York's creative abandon across songwriting, production, and acting. His latest body of work, ‘the world gets smaller each day it seems to shrink’ is the kind of album that proactively refuses to be confined into a box. It’s a maelstrom of sonic textures, harsh pivots of genres and emotions…and yet it somehow feels cohesive; it somehow feels measured. Like many of the talks for this mini-season, the album reflects what it’s like to live and create art in New York. A beautiful aspect of this particular episode is how so many of the areas we touch on were experiences that Caleb thought about for the first time since working on the album; allowing you to hear him in real-time come to the realization of how much New York means to him. We recorded this chat at the Circle in Square Theatre on Broadway, ahead of one of Caleb’s performances as Hovstad on An Enemy of the People, the Tony Award-winning play starring Jeremy Strong.

Thank you for indulging me this summer with this mini-season. It’s been a long time coming, creating a series of talks highlighting why I decided to make this city my home and I hope it comes across with these five talks that when it comes to New York; there isn’t another place like it. Season eight will be starting very soon in September.

Intro song is NY Vibes by Bonus Points.

I think one of the reasons people gravitate towards stories set here in New York is because of how overtly people carve their own paths here. My next guest is such a prime example of that, and it’s even wilder to think that her story has only just begun. Hannah Jadagu is a singer-songwriter who originally hails from Texas but has swiftly made New York her home. Some have gone on to describe her music as “bedroom pop” but her debut album Aperture is so much more diverse and wide-ranging than that descriptor would lead you to believe. Beyond the multitudes of sonic textures across the album are also lyrics that feel inhabited with fresh emotions and an ever-evolving perspective towards people. Personally speaking, I do feel like that aspect of growth happening in real-time happens so intensely here in New York, and it was such a joy getting to share stories and experiences with Hannah during our chat.

After you fall in love with Hannah’s music, you’ll have the chance to see her on November 14th as she opens up for Slow Pulp at Webster Hall.

Intro song is NY Vibes by Bonus Points.

It’s not a secret that friendships in New York City are of a unique breed. Especially in the music world, it’s always clear when the artists who are collaborating also care about one another. That’s consistently been the case with B. Miles, an alternative indie/pop band based here in New York. Led by vocalist/pianist/songwriter Brenna Miles, the music of B. Miles evokes this mixture of effortless cool and intimate vulnerability that’s perpetually striking. That ability to be open in her songs reflects the strong bond Brenna has built with her bandmates and on today’s podcast, we explore the special nature of that bond; along with the specific ways in which NYC feeds into that. Also joining us is Eric Nizgretsky, songwriter/bassist/co-producer/resident hockey fan of B.Miles.

The band will be playing their next gig at Bowery Ballroom on September 7th, easily one of the best venues in the city; be sure not to miss out on this one.

Intro song is NY Vibes by Bonus Points.