Episodes
Sunday Oct 20, 2024
081: The Return of ANNA MOSS [solo project, debut LP, + Handmade Moments]
Sunday Oct 20, 2024
Sunday Oct 20, 2024
Welcome back the lovely and talented singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist Ms. ANNA MOSS. One-half of beloved political folk-hop duo Handmade Moments, the NOLA-based chaunteuse has launched an absolutely sensational solo project under her own name, leading a larger band on guitar and vocals, and she released a fantastic debut LP ‘Amnesty’ in March 2024. We checked in w/ Anna at the end of a jam-packed summer for a lengthy, spirited, occasionally raw and vulnerable convo about this dynamite new project, her career evolution, the mental/emotional roller coaster she rode during the pandemic to manifest this music, among other associated topics du jour.
Anna Moss was first featured on this program Episode 020 (June 2019), where the focus is almost exclusively Handmade Moments, and her musical/personal journey up through that juncture. Ep.081 picks up where we left off, spotlighting her new chapter: writing solo songs, her killin’ band, crucial collaborators, and more. Then we probe a bit deeper beneath the surface to unpack some heavier matters and perspectives, too.
- 00:00 - Ep. 080 Preview
- 02:30 - HURRICANE HELENE RELIEF - iamAVL
- 06:00 - The Upful Update
- 15:30 - Introducing ANNA MOSS
- 20:30 - conversation w/ Anna [80min]
- 1:41:00 - Afterglow x Vibe Junkie JAMZ
Asheville's Hurricane Helene
MUSIC INDUSTRY RELIEF FUND
"With the world outside her window rapidly unraveling into chaotic madness, Anna Moss found herself holed up alone in her New Orleans home during 2020’s unprecedented global pandemic. Frozen in a state of paralyzing panic, crippling anxiety, and isolation, she was armed with only a guitar, and the voices in her head. A working musician her entire adult life, touring gigs and studio sessions had suddenly screeched to a harrowing halt.
Online, friends and fans sparred feverishly, screaming at each other and into the ether, while the realities and insecurities of her precarious situation sent the singer/multi-instrumentalist spiraling into a deep depression.
Manifested from the nadir of her own darkness and demoralization, Moss mined a medicinal muse from within, incessantly writing on guitar and rediscovering her salvation in song. Intimate, delicate, dreamy, messy, a flurry of new tunes began to flow freely, slowly liberating Anna from the suffocating clutches of her own despair. Emerging from the ashes of this traumatic, dehumanizing spell: a phoenix of deeply personal compositions that would eventually comprise Amnesty, Anna Moss’s solo debut LP released in March 2024 via Empire Records.
An intoxicating gumbo of bedroom pop and existential R&B, Amnesty is at once Anna’s potent opening salvo and a righteous rebirth, too. Paeans born of an emotional purge peel back the rawest, realest layers to reveal ruminations on an artist’s humanity. Throughout Amnesty, Moss treads distinctly different topography than with the idiosyncratic Handmade Moments—her long-running political folk-hop duo with partner Joel Ludford. Rich in ethereal harmonies, subtle sensuality, and melodies majestic, her album’s stripped-down, organic-soul sound leans into throbbing basslines and pulses with a buoyant thump." (c) B.Getz, May 2024
ViBE Junkie JAMZ
Anna Moss "Gravy"
Sari Jordan "Perfect Is the Enemy" [live @ Maple Leaf Bar, NOLA 2024]
Anna Moss 'Amnesty' LP feature via L4LM
Thursday Aug 15, 2024
Thursday Aug 15, 2024
To commemorate the 20th Anniversary of Phish “retirement” shows, hop in the wayback machine to revisit the historic, chaotic, at-times catastrophic Coventry festival, hosted in northern Vermont way back in August 2004. Twenty years later, Episode 080 colorfully unspools an oral history of this fateful weekend, reflecting upon the legendary traffic jam, difficult weather and its consequences, plus inspired creativity, community action, local heroes lending helping hands, and determined phans hiking up to 20 miles into the fest.
The focus of this podcast is not the band’s atrocious, nerve-wracked, debilitated performances or their precarious situation at that moment in time, as those aspects have been long addressed ad nauseum. Instead, we shine a light on the humanity, heroic efforts, sad turns of fate, and collective connection that defined what was an epic journey to some, and a traumatic experience for others. After I sounded the alarm for last minute submissions, a dozen brave Coventry survivors were kind enough to contribute short personal stories for this wacky, wild, wide-ranging oral history.
In addition, last week saw the unveiling of ‘JAM - The Documentary’, a 27-minute DIY film from Alex Daltas that dissects this monumental excursion to say goodbye to The Phish from Vermont at Coventry. The motion picture is mostly sourced from his own pre-festival footage, and a smattering of news reports; it took Daltas two decades of dedication to bring this patchwork vision into tremendous fruition. Alex slides thru to open up about the adventures of Coventry & then the 20 year odyssey of manifesting this movie.
- 0:00 ep.080 preview
- 3:30 - a word from our sponsor Fete du Void
- 6:15 - The Upful Update
- 9:40 - introducing COVENTRY & ep concept
- 16:45 - Oral History of Coventry [57min]
- 1:14:00 - introducing ALEX DALTAS - Jam the Doc
- 1:17:20 - conversation w/ ALEX [68min]
Rent/Buy JAM- The Documentary HERE
Jam the Documentary - story/press release
Pharewell My Phriend JamBase 8.20.04
Check out our friends Fete du Void, Oct. 3-6 in Oakdale, LA
Thursday Jul 04, 2024
Thursday Jul 04, 2024
Twas an honor and privilege to welcome legendary DJ/producer/multi-instrumentalist GREYBOY to Episode 079!! A career highlight for this program to facilitate a wide-reaching, ever-rare interview with the man born Andreas Stevens, who's pioneering 90's work on Ubiquity Records set, raised, and re-raised the bar for West Coast acid jazz and trip-hop. Greyboy's solo canon is long revered for blurring the lines between hip-hop, funk, soul, jazz, and beyond; he's also the visionary behind rare-groove ragers The Greyboy Allstars. Released June 2024, Greyboy's latest LP Word On the Street represents an artistic rebirth and musical revolution tied to the broadening of his palette and a personal evolution.
- 0:00 - episode preview
- 3:30 - sponsor - For The Funk Of It Fest
- 5:45 - sponsor - Fete du Void
- 8:20 - The Upful Update
- 12:30 - introducing GREYBOY
- 16:30 - interview w Greyboy [90 min]
- 1:46:30 - introducing Spencer from FTF Fest
- 1:49:00 - chat Spencer [17min]
- 2:05:00 afterglow x Vibe Junkie JAMZ
1988 DMC Regional Champion. Recovering midcentury modernist. Responsible for wrangling together esteemed boogaloo bandits The Greyboy Allstars, hence their moniker and sonic blueprint. Over the course of three decades, DJ Greyboy has worked with musical and cultural luminaries that span genre and generation, his music oscillates between styles yet remains consistently Era Correct.
Grey shares a few of his leftfield non-musical passions that are sure to surprise even the most attentive fans of his timeless tunes. During this sprawling 90-minute conversation, Greyboy was stoked to explore the inspirations, losses, and motivations that gave us his most recent LP, Word On the Street. Plus unpacking seminal releases Greybreaks, Freestylin', Land of the Lost, and reflections on crucial collaborators. Grateful that Grey was such a open book, and seemed quite happy to hop in the sidehack and bomb the hill down memory lane. Give Thanks for Greyboy.
After wrapping with Grey, we check in with Spencer from For The Funk Of It Festival, slated for Aug. 6-9 in NorCal, to get the 411 on this year's throwdown on the Feather River.
Vibe Junkie JAMZ -
GREYBOY: "Unwind Your Mind", "Grey Royale", "Word on the Street"
Dwell Magazine article about Greyboy's house restoration
Greyboy - Word On the Street album on BandCamp
Check out FOR THE FUNK OF IT FESTIVAL August 9-11 in NorCal
Our friends Fete du Void, Oct. 3-6 in Oakdale, LA
Monday Jun 10, 2024
078: MZG [Zach & Charles Weinert - electronic producer duo, twin bros]
Monday Jun 10, 2024
Monday Jun 10, 2024
Welcome Florida-bred, Denver-based electronic producer duo MZG to Episode 078! Zach and Charles Weinert are wildly talented yet humble and hilarious, studio wizards who can cook up with the best in the game. Many of us have long been convinced these two handsome gents are destined for superstardom, if not global EDM domination. I've had the privilege of watching the evolution of their craft, careers, collaborations, and trademark sound since before they were even performing as a duo, as well as call them real-life homies for nearly 15 years. Get ready for the Twinzies Takeover!
- 0:00 - episode 078 prevoew
- 2:40 - For The Funk of It Music Festival sponsor
- 6:00 - Fete du Void Music/Arts Fest sponsor
- 9:00 - The Upful Update
- 15:00 - introducing Zach n' Charles - MZG
- 20:20 - interview w/ MZG [92 mins]
- 1:52:20 - afterglow, Vibe Junkie JAMZ
Topics include: growing up twins, coming of age in Northeast Florida, separate musical journeys, Greenhouse Lounge/Sir Charles, exploring Ableton, discovering festival culture, finding Soundtribe Sector 9, figuring out Phish, collaborating with Big Gigantic, The Floozies, Griz. Spirit of Suwannee/Hulaween magic, moving to electronic mecca Denver, distilling/focusing their sound. Unveiling house side-project Duplex. A classic tale of the ol' switcheroo, plastic bong/pocket-p*ssy/kazoo with a country cop, plus barrels more laughs and memories. We run thru a few of the most nuclear MZG bangers to finish strong.
Bio: Twin brothers, Zach and Charles Weinert, spent many years working on separate musical projects, but in 2015, they relented to the inevitable and joined forces to create MZG. Shorthand for “monozygotic” (the scientific term describing identical twins), the name MZG describes the unique bond these two share. After honing their craft in Jacksonville, FL, the pair began playing out for audiences. MZG’s reputation for setting dance floors aflame saw them soon sharing the stage with like-minded acts such as RL Grime, Herobust, and Opiuo, as well as earning residency at Florida festival mainstay Suwannee Hulaween. They've also appeared at festivals Sonic Bloom, Okechobee, and Electric Forest, among others. Rooted in Colorado the past six years, the brothers have wasted no time in making a mark, performing with respected state staples Big Gigantic, Griz, The Floozies, Barclay Crenshaw, and Manic Focus. These self taught musicians and producers deliver bass driven, hip-hop influenced electronica while sharing a chemistry on stage that is natural and infectious.
Vibe Junkie JAMZ
"One 2 Shtep", "BANGA," "FAYDED2023", "FTCU Flip" - MZG
unknown unreleased joint from Duplex
Stay up on all things MZG ---> Bandcamp, Instagram, Soundcloud, Spotify
- Check out FOR THE FUNK OF IT FESTIVAL August 9-11 in NorCal
- Our friends Fete du Void, Oct. 3-6 in Oakdale, LA
Tuesday May 14, 2024
Tuesday May 14, 2024
Welcome NY-bred, Nashville-based PETER LEVIN, a keyboardist/singer/producer to Episode 077! A veteran of multiple music scenes, bands, and geographies, Peter Levin has written/performed with numerous artists who've appeared on this show, & dozens more who have not. A well-respected musician, songwriter and producer, across 3 decades Peter has collaborated with legends like the late, great Gregg Allman, cultural institutions such as the Allman Brothers Band and Blind Boys of Alabama, rising stars i.e. Amanda Shires, and appears on the award-winning album The Highwomen.
- 0:00 - ep.077 preview
- 3:00 - a word from our sponsor For the Funk of It Festival
- 6:20 - The Upful Update
- 11:00 - introducing PETER LEVIN
- 14:25 - interview w/ Peter [65min]
- 1:20:30 - introducing Jason Abrams
- 1:23:00- Summer Tours '24 Preview w/Jason [37min]
- 1:59:00 - Afterglow, Vibe Junkie JAM
Late last year, Levin released the fantastic record under his own name: 'Saturday Night, Sunday Morning'. The LP features an all-star slate of contributors that dot his musical journey, including guitarists/friends-of-the-pod Adam "Shmeeans" Smirnoff and Eric Krasno. Most recently, Peter has been an integral member of the Allman Brothers tribute ensemble 'Trouble No More', with our hero Nikki Glaspie, among others. Peter Levin was kind enough to take some time to drop in and explore his career and collaborators, a conversation that took place at the very end of 2023.
Special Thanks to Solaris Entertainment Studio for making Peter available for this interview.
After Peter's interview wraps, we head right into the Summer Tours 2024 Preview segment with returning fave Jason Abrams, co-host of the Rock n' Wrestling Connection Podcast, my friend of nearly 35 years and an encyclopedia of both rock n' roll and pop culture.
Vibe Junkie JAM
"The Chain" [Fleetwood Mac cover] - The Highwomen
- Check out our awesome sponsor FOR THE FUNK OF IT FESTIVAL , going down August 9-11 in NorCal
Upful LIFE 2023: Favorite Records & More!
Reviews, Purchase Links, Playlists
Wednesday Apr 17, 2024
Wednesday Apr 17, 2024
Agent 23 aka Cactus aka Secret Agent 23 Skidoo, welcome to The Upful Life Podcast! A founding member of pioneering Asheville-based live hip-hop collective Granola Funk Express (GFE). A progenitor of "family hip-hop" with his Secret Agent 23 Skidoo project, which took home a Grammy in 2019 for Best Children's Album. Cactus is a published author of several books, and a prolific educator around the country for kids of all ages and backgrounds.
- 0:00 - episode 076 preview
- 3:30 - iamavl - thank you for the sponsor
- 6:30 - The Upful Update
- 12:40 - introducing Agent 23 aka Cactus
- 16:10 - interview w/ Cactus [95min]
- 1:51:30 - afterglow, Vibe Junkie JAM
From train-hopping, to Rainbow Gathering kitchens, to rap ciphers at Phish festivals, this conversation is a colorful strut down memory lane for any GFE fan. And my man makes sure to spread the love around the krewe. Similarly, Cactus takes us through the birth of his daughter Saki, her transformation into MC Fireworks, and the heights their inspiring hip-hop connection took this beautiful family. These days, 23 and his 'Secret Agency' collaborate with students and symphonies, to wed classical music, global indigenous instruments, and storytelling to the elements of hip-hop. Cactus has also evolved into a successful educator, bringing hip-hop into the classroom as a multi-faceted teaching device.
bio
Secret Agent 23 Skidoo is an internationally touring, purple velvet tuxedo wearing family funk phenemenon. Combining the positive, primal power of hip hop with the surreal storytelling of science fiction, 23 Skidoo has concocted a potent potion that wows family crowds across the planet. After a decade of touring nationally as a rapper and producer in Granola Funk Express, he released his first kids' hip-hop album in 2008.
The ingredients of his magic spells include reverence for the boundless mindstates of young children, respect for the culture and DNA of hip hop, funk and soul music, and a deep belief in the power of the imagination to change the world in positive ways, both personal and universal. At the 59th Grammy Awards in 2019, Secret Agent 23 Skidoo won Best Children's Album for his record Infinity Plus One. At the 57th Grammy awards [2017], his record The Perfect Quirk was nominated in the same category. Book Weirdo Calhoun and the Odd Men Out won Silver at the 2014 Moonbeam Awards.
-
Secret Agent 23 Skidoo & Asheville Symphony - The Beat Bach Symphonies
-
Dennis Cook feature article on GFE - 2006
Vibe Junkie JAM
"Dreamland Theatre" Agent 23 feat. Adam Strange
Please visit our awesome sponsor iamavl for the latest free Asheville livestreams!
Upful LIFE 2023: Favorite Records & More!
Reviews, Purchase Links, Playlists
Monday Feb 19, 2024
075: KRUDER & DORFMEISTER
Monday Feb 19, 2024
Monday Feb 19, 2024
Live n' direct from their studio in Vienna, Austria, iconic electronic producer/DJ duo KRUDER and DORFMEISTER tap into the Upful LIFE. On Episode 075, Peter Kruder and Richard Dorfmeister pull up for a colorful, career-spanning conversation, both fellas waxing nostalgic, and piloting the wayback machine through the pair's prolific, pioneering journey in sound. Our chat starts at the 22min mark.
- 00:00 - episode preview
- 04:30 - our sponsors: iamAVL, & Love That Baby
- 09:00 - The Upful Update
- 13:00 - Introducing KRUDER & DORFMEISTER
- 22:00 - Conversation w/ Peter Kruder & Richard Dorfmeister [83min]
- 1:45:45 - Afterglow & Vibe Junkie JAMZ
Listening to these two fine gentleman humourously reflect on their embryonic origin story and enduring connection was nothing short of a pinch-me, bucket-list, feather-in-the-Kangol experience for your humble narrator, as K&D music remains among the most sacred in my lifetime playlist.
Pod topics include:
- the serendipitous rendezvous that first brought them together.
- exploring their idiosyncratic creativity & DIY modus operandi.
- Atari to Ableton: sampling obsession & tech/gear evolution.
- the lost mystique of vinyl crate-digging.
- their early days of globe-trotting.
- developing a trademark sound/aesthetic.
- crafting genre-defining records & timeless remixes: G-Stoned, DJ Kicks, K&D Sessions, 1995
- reinventing themselves onstage w/ a sensational comeback 3 decades deep.
- K&D's virgin sojourn to Burning Man aka the Black Rock Mudpacolypse 2023.
Kruder & Dorfmeister Bio
During the 1990s, Vienna, Austria-based producer/DJs Kruder & Dorfmeister helped invent the electronic music genre known as downtempo/trip-hop. Their presence has loomed large over the scene ever since, despite a relatively small discography as a duo. With 1993 EP G-Stoned- the first release on their similarly titled record label - the pair established a laconic, smoked-out, organic sound & aesthetic rich in live instrumentation. K&D are well-known to incorporate acid jazz, dub, house, atmospheric drum & bass, hip-hop, bossa nova, funk, soul and beyond into their trademark, succulent sonic gumbo.
The duo built up a lengthy résumé of remixes for a diverse smattering of artists, including Roni Size, David Holmes, Depeche Mode, and Bone Thugs-N-Harmony. Several of these were aggregated on the landmark double-album The K&D Sessions (1998), which was lavished with much critical acclaim upon release and its reputation continues to age like a fine wine. Over the years, the two producers remained active with solo work and adjacent projects (most notably Tosca, Dorfmeister's duo with Rupert Huber, and Peter with Peace Orchestra). 1995, a fantastic full-length studio album of original material that had been mysteriously shelved for a quarter century, was unearthed and released in 2020.
Kruder & Dorfmeister are currently celebrating their 30th anniversary with an expansive world tour that unveils an authentic, emotional, kaleidoscopic audio/visual concert experience.
Eternal thanks to Peter & Richard for the time, music, & energy. -bg
- B.Getz's feature: K&D return to US, 1st Burning Man, SF show- Sept.23
- K&D 30th anniversary show - Belgium, Nov.23
- K&D at Burning Man - DISTRIKT sunrise, Sept.23
Vibe Junkie JAMZ
"Speechless" - Count Basic [K&D drum & bass remix]
"Useless" - Depeche Mode [K&D remix]
"Everybody Loves the Sunshine" [Roy Ayers remixed by NETSKY]
Please visit our awesome sponsor iamavl for the latest free Asheville livestreams!
Check out the dope apparel at our friends LOVE THAT BABY
Upful LIFE 2023: Favorite Records & More!
Reviews, Purchase Links, Playlists
Friday Jan 12, 2024
074: ROGERS STEVENS [guitarist/co-founder BLIND MELON]
Friday Jan 12, 2024
Friday Jan 12, 2024
Welcome ROGERS STEVENS, guitarist/co-founder of Blind Melon - as well as Towne & Stevens - to Episode 074! A dream come true for your host, an unabashed lifelong Blind Melon fanatic. Rogers joins the pod from his cozy home studio just outside Philadelphia for a 90-min conversation about his career - past, present, and future.
A peek inside Rogers' process making records with Nathan Towne, and Stevens finally finding his singing voice later in life. Working with Rene Lopez again, long after Extra Virgin and The Tender Trio. Growing up a rocker in rural Mississippi. Embarking on the storied sojourn from the Deep South to the Sunset Strip, arriving at the peak of glam-rock hair-band decadence. Rogers pulls up in a Cadillac, sittin’ in the back, opens the passenger door and invites us on a wacky, wild, reflective ride through the galaxies of yesteryear in the Blind Melon wayback machine.
Buckle up fam, this ep is my love letter to anyone who ever treasured this beautiful band, and those of us who still grieve deep for the dearly-departed Shannon Hoon.
- 3:15 - a word from our sponsor IAMAVL
- 6:15 - shoutout COLD BLOODED DESIGNS
- 7:30 - The Upful Update
- 10:15 - Introducing ROGERS STEVENS + B.Getz’s BLIND MELON rabbithole
- 31:20 - conversation w/ Rogers [97 min]
- 2:08:30 - Afterglow & Reflections, + Vibe Junkie JAM
Background:
In 1990, 23-year-old Shannon Hoon first met Rogers Stevens in Los Angeles after taking a bus from Lafayette, Indiana to SoCal. A year or so earlier, Stevens and bassist Brad Smith had relocated to L.A. from West Point, Mississippi, where they graduated high school and worked on the kill floor of a local slaughterhouse. Stevens connected with Shannon through a mutual friend in Hollywood; Hoon - hometown homies with W. Axl Rose and already making waves on the West Coast - swiftly reeled off a couple of tunes for Rogers. Immediately taken with Hoon’s voice and mesmerized by his presence, they decided - on the spot - to form a band together.
Blind Melon consisted of Stevens, Hoon, Smith, drummer Glen Graham, and guitarist Christopher Thorn. A promising, multi-hued, idiosyncratic brotherhood that was sadly short-lived. Dreamy single “No Rain” blasted the band into superstardom pretty quickly, and their self-titled debut went triple platinum in the tailwind of the huge hit. In less than five years, the quintet released a strong pair of studio albums, while touring at a furious clip. They appeared on the Late Show with David Letterman, SNL, MTV, Canada's MuchMusic, and threw down a legendary set at Woodstock '94. Headlined clubs and theaters, opened stadiums for The Rolling Stones, supported Soundgarden, Pearl Jam, Lenny Kravitz, Neil Young, and numerous others.
After the monster success of their debut CD, Blind Melon set about refining/redefining their unicorn sound, as evidenced on sensational sophomore record Soup. Critically-panned and a commercial disappointment at the time, over the course of nearly three decades Soup has proven a celebrated fan favorite. A gumbo of compositions and performances that transcend era and genre, Soup is a magnificent work of high art in the Crescent City voodoo tradition. When Hoon died suddenly from a drug overdose, on tour in New Orleans in October 1995, the band was evolving rather organically, though still finding their stride. A posthumous collection of B-sides and outtakes, the gripping Nico (named for Shannon's daughter Nico Blue Hoon - only a few months old when he tragically transitioned) was released in 1996, an emotional nod towards what could’ve - and should’ve - been.
These days, Rogers Stevens is an attorney who lives in the Philly suburbs with his family. He’s currently workshopping songs with Nathan for the next Towne & Stevens record. I offer the deepest of bows & eternal thanks to Rogers Stevens for his time, energy, the music and memories. Rest easy, Shannon Hoon & Long Live Blind Melon!
Vibe Junkie JAM
Blind Melon - "Time" (1995 > 1992 > Woodstock '94)
sourced from the film Letters From a Porcupine
- Letters From a Porcupine film [1996]
- All I Can Say [2019 documentary]
- An Angel On One Shoulder, Devil On The Other by Greg Prado [2008 book]
- Shannon by Greg Prado [2021 book]
- MELONcholy & the Infinite Sadness by Chris Heath [article in Details/Nico CD-Rom - 1996]
Please visit our awesome sponsor iamavl for the latest free Asheville livestreams!
Upful LIFE 2023: Favorite Records & More!
Reviews, Purchase Links, Playlists
Thursday Jan 04, 2024
073: MARYA STARK [singer/songwriter] + WREN LIZABETH [herbalist - The NOHM Co.]
Thursday Jan 04, 2024
Thursday Jan 04, 2024
Episode 073 proudly welcomes a pair of prolific special guests: the magnificent multi-instrumentalist, multimedia enchantress, self-confessed storyteller, bard, and muse: Ms. MARYA STARK sits down for a colorful, career-spanning conversation. Chased by a second, equally-illuminating chat with WREN LIZABETH, an herbalist, permaculturist, and educator, the founder of alternative holistic health/self-care collective The NOHM Co., & elixir line The MerTails.
- 1:30 - a word from our sponsor iamavl
- 4:15 - shoutout Cold Blooded Designs
- 6:00 - The Upful Update
- 10:00 - introducing MARYA STARK
- 13:15 - interview w/ Marya Stark [46 min]
- 59:15 - introducing WREN LIZABETH
- 1:03:15 - conversation w/ Wren Lizabeth [49 min]
- 1:48:30 - afterglow, Vibe Junkie JAM
Originally from Phoenix, Arizona, Marya Stark found her voice in the high desert, and marks a memory as a very young child singing herself into an ecstatic state as the embarkation point for a lifelong dalliance with sound art and music therapy. A decade-long run of critically-acclaimed records would patiently and intentionally unfurl; a career cannon punctuated by emotionally-charged, introspective songcraft, frozen time capsules illuminating her own lived experiences. Nascent explorations in soul retrieval and energetic psychology through expressive arts and ritual performance.
In September 2023, Marya Stark released her fifth solo LP, Weightless; an exquisite collection of songs soft and vulnerable, human and dreamy. She's also 1/5 of the acapella supergroup Starling Arrow with Tina Malia, Ayla Nereo, Leah & Chloe of Rising Appalachia. When not composing music or performing onstage, Marya Stark mentors artists and women. She teaches courses in The Art of Voice, Cultivation of the Muse, and songcraft. Stark is the founder of the Temple Of The Muse, leading inner alchemy through immersive expressive arts containers and womb wisdom. Marya Stark currently lives in Grass Valley, California.
- stay up on all things Marya Stark music HERE
- find out more about TEMPLE OF THE MUSE
Ep.073 also includes a deep dive with a dear friend, the renowned herbalist/entrepreneur Wren Lizabeth (fka Jill TrAshley), founder/owner of The NOHM Co., as well as The MerTails (elixirs as mixers), Village Witches Elixir Bar, plus much more. Based in Asheville, NC, Wren Lizabeth is a familiar fixture at music festivals all over the country and internationally. Often tending bar with The NOHM or Village Witches, as well as curating nourishing meal plans for retreats & parties, or sourcing/making herbal medicine for The MerTails elixir line. Art is her first love, as such the plate and the cup are her canvas. Wren believes our food is our medicine.
Wren is passionate and motivated to educate about decentralizing and divesting our dependence on modern day supply and demand cycles and trends. Her work is often focused on rooting them back into local bioregions with her own hands, and creating/nurturing collaborators in such spaces. Wherever Wren goes (including our hangs and this podcast) she sparks profound conversations about conscious consumption, with a goal to expose the accessibilities we have to better facilitate living in sync with our natural surroundings, one bite or sip at a time.
- Follow Wren Lizabeth on IG @herban_urbalist
- Keep up w/ all things The NOHM Co. & The MerTails
Vibe Junkie JAM
"God Morning" - Ra-Be 333 feat. Marya Stark
Please visit our awesome sponsor iamavl for the latest free Asheville livestreams!
Saturday Nov 25, 2023
072: ALEX WASILY [Dumpstaphunk, Francis Comes Alive, very good trombonist]
Saturday Nov 25, 2023
Saturday Nov 25, 2023
Welcome Alex Wasily to Ep.072 of *The Upful LIFE Podcast*! #VeryGood trombonist with NOLA institution Dumpstaphunk since 2016; musical director of Francis Comes Alive, Neal Francis new 11-piece big band experience and concert film. Teacher and student, the crew cheerleader and a masterclass mentor, plus expert mixologist and host with the most. Alex was kind enough to bring his huge personality, beautiful journey, and insightful perspectives to the show for a lengthy conversation.
- 2:30 - A word from our sponsor iamavl
- 5:30 - The Upful Update
- 11:00 - introducing ALEX WASILY
- 13:15 - INTERVIEW w/ Alex [103 min]
- 1:56:00 - afterglow, Vibe Junkie JAM
With a passion for life, art, the hang, and the pursuit of unity through music, alex wasily has made a standout approach to music that can be attributed to his unique unyielding optimism and positive outlook on what most would consider a wild way to live. He goes by many names. a-waz. waz. my dawg. ya boy. the forever hang. Egyptian born, American raised, all soul, and all hang. alex was born in alexandria, egypt and raised in savannah, georgia. performing music is alex's way of taking you out of what may have been a depressing day and into what might be the wildest night of your life.
Alex regularly performs and tours the world with Dumpstaphunk and is Neal Francis’ music director when the 11-piece goes on the road. he also throws the funkiest party in Los Angeles every monday at Gold-Diggers at his series simply called Very Good Mondays™.
Vibe Junkie JAM
"Hard to Face the Music" - Idris Muhummad [1976]
Check out Alex Wasily's Very Good Cocktails HERE
Alex Wasily trombone masterclass
Please visit our awesome sponsor iamavl
for the latest Asheville livestreams