As "well-mannered" as
Akron/Family is in person, their music remains impossible to compartmentalize. But that's not to say their mix of gentle folk harmonies and free-form grooviness isn't knockout beautiful. See what we mean as they chat about their latest album,
Love Is Simple, and play low-key acoustic versions of three songs live during our latest
Studio C podcast.
Looks like 2008 is another banner year for
Jim Lauderdale. Repeating his '06 agenda he's again released not one but
two new CDs,
Honey Songs and
The Bluegrass Diaries. To honor his achievements, we dug into the Studio C archives and unearthed this exclusive podcast, where Jim chatted about songwriting and played four acoustic songs live in our studio.
Members of L.A.-based funk collective
Orgone are this week's
Studio C guests. They've got a new release,
The Killion Floor, in stores now, and it should please fans of
Breakestra,
Connie Price, and
Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings because most of the members are affiliated with those bands as well. During the podcast they explain the zany origin of their name and pick cover songs to perform; we also listen to album cuts including
It's What You Do and
Who Knows Who.
With a new
Sun Kil Moon LP, as well as
Retribution Gospel Choir's debut album (which he produced), a book, and a movie score all coming out this year, it's safe to say
Mark Kozelek is a "prolific artist." He sat down with us for a rare interview (he doesn't do them often) to discuss all his projects and play some new songs.
American Music Club is back in action with a new album,
The Golden Age, as well as a spring 2008 North American tour. To get you in the spirit, we dug into the
Studio C archives to unearth this 2006 performance and interview featuring AMC bandleader
Mark Eitzel.
We've got another
Studio C flashback for ya. For this week's podcast, the spotlight is once again on Bay Area homeboy
Lyrics Born, who's now signed to
ANTI- and has a new album
Everywhere At Once, in stores now.
Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter
Tift Merritt stopped by
Studio C to talk about country vs. soul, Paris vs. North Carolina, and
Robert Frank vs.
George Drakoulias. She also played three songs from her brand-new album,
Another Country.
Former pro skater
Tommy Guerrero stopped by
Studio C last week to promote his latest CD,
Return of the Bastard. Along with telling skating tour stories, talking about
Amy Winehouse, and breaking down his term "fatinum," Tommy got down on his guitar and strummed a few tunes for us, too.
The young New Zealand singer-songwriter (and son of Neil Finn from Crowded House) stopped by
Studio C recently to talk about songwriting and touring and play a few fantastic songs from his solo debut album,
I'll Be Lightning.
Singer, songwriter, and onetime Crooked Fingers bandmember
Barton Carroll stopped by
Studio C to play songs from his latest album
The Lost One and talk about the genius of
Peter Lorre and seeing
Doc Watson play in a vacuum-cleaner store.
Between producing
Kelly Willis, writing songs with
Dan Penn, and landing a track on a recent
Heart album,
Chuck Prophet has been heavily in demand lately. He stopped by
Studio C to talk about his adventures and play a few songs from his brand-new album,
Soap and Water.
He may only be 18 years old, but Louisana rapper
Hurricane Chris has already sold a record 3 million ringtones for his smash hit single
A Bay Bay. We have no idea how he got stuck with us inside
Studio C, but he was kind enough to talk about his debut album,
51/50 Ratchet, and school us on where the term
A Bay Bay comes from.
While on tour with labelmate
Dashboard Confessional,
John Ralston stopped by CNET to share unplugged tracks from his latest album
Sorry Vampire. He performed an exclusive bonus track--for all the Ralston-heads out there.
Touring in support of new album
Natural , three members of legendary post-punk band
the Mekons (
Jon Langford,
Lu Edmonds , and
Steve Goulding ) stopped by
Studio C for a rousing, stripped-down three-song set.
Soulful crooner
Rahsaan Patterson is this week's guest in
Studio C. The former
Kids Incorporated star shares his experiences working on the show when he was younger, and how that helped groom him for a music career. He just released a new album,
Wines and Spirits, and you can hear his latest single
Higher Love--along with an old favorite,
Burnin--in this exclusive session.
Seventies rock-inspired ladies' man
Josh Rouse found a few minutes out of his busy tour schedule to stop by Studio C. He treated us to solo acoustic versions of "Hollywood Bass Player" and "Sweetie" from his latest album,
Country Mouse City House.
We were lucky to land a
Studio C interview with the lovely
Warner Brothers artist
Jessi Malay, and we didn't waste any time asking about her latest single Bootie Bangs (featuring
Yung Joc), her debut solo album, guest features, and, um, her secret crush.
For this archive edition of Studio C, we revisit a 2006 interview with country star
Taylor Swift . She performs her hit single
"Tim McGraw" from her self-titled debut, which has since gone platinum and won her CMA and ACM nominations and CMT's Breakthrough Video of the Year award.
On brand-new CD I'll Follow You, Brooklyn-based indie act
Oakley Hall plays a mixture of rock, drone, country, and fuzz. In this archive edition of
Studio C, bandmembers Pat Sullivan, Claudia Mogel, and Rachel Cox stop by for a rare acoustic performance.
Koreatown's nattily named
Lionheart finds a middle ground between the baroque L.A. pop of
Aimee Mann and the canyon music of freak-folkers
Banhart and
Georgeson. Check out our exclusive live performance and interview with
Ferraby in Studio C.
Pulling out an oldie but goodie from our bag of archived sessions, we resurrect a 2006 Studio C podcast featuring singer/songwriter
Matt Nathanson, who just released a brand new album, Some Mad Hope. Besides performing a few tracks, including a
Springsteen cover, Matt chats about his music on
Dawson's Creek and a tour with
Pink, and even offers a lil' geeky tech talk for ya.
He resides in the Bay Area, but new-school MC
Allen Jay has worldwide appeal written all over him. He's been compared to former
Bad Boy rapper
Mase, but Jay was eager to showcase his skills in
Studio C and prove he has a style all his own.
Their debut album is entitled Cold Summer but Corporate Thugz Entertainment/Def Jam collective
U.S.D.A. were servin' up nothin' but heat inside Studio C. Group members Blood Raw and Slick Pulla talk shop about their affiliation with multiplatinum rapper Young Jeezy and what to expect from them in the near future.
This week we serve up a throwback edition from Studio C featuring Fresno MC
Planet Asia, who just released a new album, Jewelry Box Sessions. Besides rippin' a few freestyles, not to be missed is Asia's, um, interesting outlook women, as well as his feelings on fake gangsta rappers.
We caught up with Shana Levy and her band while they were on tour through San Francisco, hot off their debut release The Chaos In Order. Join us for an exclusive live acoustic session with the group, in this week's Studio C podcast.
Guitarist, singer, and songwriter Tom Heyman is our guest in Studio C this week. Formerly lead guitarist with Philly-based rock 'n' roll band Go To Blazes, he's successfully transitioned into a powerful songwriter and singer on his own, with two albums and numerous studio and touring creds (Alejandro Escovedo, Chuck Prophet, Court and Spark) to his name. He talks about writing and recording and plays three songs from his latest album, "Deliver Me."
The "First Lady of the Bay," Jimmie Reign, shows us exactly how she earned that title when she stops by Studio C for an exclusive, soulful performance of a few of her latest tracks. Between songs she gives us her outlook on the Bay Area music scene and drops hints on what to expect from her upcoming album.
With bands like Death Cab for Cutie setting the pace for sentimental rockers, Minus Story's brand of indie rock hits us at the right time and place. Join us for an exclusive, live acoustic session with the group for this week's Studio C podcast.
With their sophomore release "Gutterfly: The Original Soundtrack" finally in stores, it made perfect sense for Lifesavas to stop by Studio C for a quick session. Expect a plethora of beats, rhymes, and more rhymes from the crew many have hailed as the "Native Tongues" of Portland.
Fresh out of the studio from recording The Last of the International Playboys, Luke and John from Stroke 9 made Studio C their first stop before hitting the road. Hear acoustic versions of the new songs and insights on their upcoming tour.
This week's installment is a blast from our Studio C archives featuring Robbie Fulks, who's just released a new live album, "Revenge!" If you like honest-to-goodness country music, then check out Robbie as he talks honky tonk and plays three acoustic songs (including a great Johnny Paycheck cover).
Detroit-based MC Phat Kat, aka Ronnie Cash, is this week's guest in Studio C. Besides blessing us with several a cappella freestyles, Phat Kat discusses his experiences with his good friend, the late J Dilla, hip-hop in Detroit, and what to expect from his latest release "Carte Blanche".
With an influence in folk, jazz, and bittersweet rock, Robert Gomez makes the growing list of indie stars from Denton, Texas. He and his cellist stopped by our studio to perform and share stories about music, and what it's like to be in the circus.
Def Jam/Disturbing Tha Peace platinum recording artist Bobby Valentino paid us a visit the other day to promote his new album "Special Occasion". It must have been, because Bobby gave us a taste of his new single "Anonymous" (which features Timbaland) right here in Studio C.
In our latest Studio C podcast, we get a chance to experience the eclectic and refreshing style of Quannum Projects artist Pigeon John. In addition to reminiscing about his first hip-hop experience and his struggles to get signed, PJ displays his skillz on the mic and performs cuts off his latest album "Pigeon John and the Summertime Pool Party".
Many years before "An Inconvenient Truth" came out, artists like Martin Sexton were already voicing green-conscious ideas. With his new release, "Seeds", in hand, the jam/soul singer from New England stopped by Studio C to belt out some solo acoustic tunes.
Souls of Mischief/Hieroglyphics member A-Plus is this week's guest in Studio C. Besides promoting and performing tracks off his debut album "My Last Good Deed", 'Pleezee' breaks down the major differences between major and indie labels, how to avoid getting socked in the face by a hip-hop artist, and how the Souls of Mischief almost made a pop album.
Neo-troubadour Richard Swift cruised by our studio for a chat and a performance of acoustic versions from his latest "Dressed Up For The Letdown". We welcomed his casual attire--so there'd be no letdowns.
In between tour dates and studio recording, Quannum Projects artist Lyrics Born stopped by Studio C to talk about his upcoming projects, crate digging, and the evolution of hip-hop. Even without labelmate Lateef, LB flawlessly performed one of Latryx's classic singles "Lady Don't Tek No."
With loud rock blaring 24/7 in Austin all week, it was refreshing to mellow out a bit with Nicole Atkins and her rootsy antifolk quintet. We were lucky enough to sit down and chat with her for this exclusive interview and performance. Warning: these melodies will get stuck in your head--in a good way!
Recently signed to Capitol/Black Wall Street/Moe Doe Records, the Bay Area's Clyde Carson stopped by to promote and perform his new single "2 Step" live in Studio C. In addition to promoting his upcoming album, Clyde also spoke about his latest business ventures, and cleared up the confusion about who actually produced "2 Step."
Many say you should only listen to Damien Jurado's music through headphones. That makes sense--it's the best way to catch the subtleties of his music, which is at once mournful and curiously uplifting. Not sure what we mean? Hear for yourself during this week's Studio C session, as Jurado performs two brand-new songs (and one recent favorite) with just his voice and guitar.
Waco, Texas hip-hop trio Strange Fruit Project graced us with their presence this week in Studio C. In addition to breaking down the origins of their name and deciphering the Waco hip-hop scene, the SFP put it down on the m-i-c with performances of "Soul Clap" and "Making My Way."
Hyphy baydestrian NUMP had a few minutes to park his scraper and stop by Studio C. Besides breaking down his new business ventures with his clothing line, shoes, cartoon, and tour, NUMP performs his hit "I Got Grapes" and breaks down the terminology of his meaning of what 'grapes' are.
Former Cibo Matto vocalist Miho Hatori provokes many thoughts with her organic brand of postmodern pop. During her first West Coast tour as a solo artist, she stopped by Studio C to chat with us and perform acoustic tunes from her debut album "Ecdysis".
Honky-tonk hero and former Commander Cody guitarist Bill Kirchen (of "Hot Rod Lincoln" fame) stopped by Studio C this week to talk about country music, the appeal of trucking songs, and why there aren't any on his new album "Hammer of the Honky Tonk Gods".
Indie rocker/acoustic revivalist John Lindenbaum stopped by Studio C this week to perform three songs from his solo repertoire. Plus he talked about where to find the other half of his band the Lonelyhearts and shared thoughts on public transportation.
Straight outta East Oakland, Hiero affiliate Beeda Weeda drops some knowledge in Studio C this week. Besides performing a few tracks from his album "Turfology 101", Beeda talks about growing up in Oakland, his early musical influences, and working on the set with E-40 for the "Tell Me When To Go" video shoot.
For a band that has gathered so many fans online, it's only fitting that Brothermandude treats us to an exclusive MP3 podcast. The UK group introduces itself to Studio C by sharing unplugged tunes from its eponymous debut.
It's been a busy year for Jim Lauderdale (he released two CDs in '06), but he still found time to stop by Studio C. Check out our exclusive podcast to hear four solo-acoustic songs from his albums "Country Super Hits Vol. 1" and the Grammy-nominated "Bluegrass".
Fresno's Planet Asia drops knowledge in Studio C this week with a barrage of freestyles and a live performance of his latest single "Thick Ropes." Asia breaks down the rich musical history of Fresno, fake gangsta rappers, and...women.
Members of the multitalented hip-hop crew Felonious visited Studio C recently to promote their new album "Up To Something". Soulati and A Kid Named Keith gave us a taste of their live performance with a lyrical and beatbox freestyle. They also schooled us on the tight-knit beatbox community and what it's like to write hip-hop nursery rhymes.
This week's guests in Studio C are members of the hip-hop group Tanya Morgan. Besides performing a few tracks live, Ilyas and Donwill break down the million-dollar question everybody's been asking: Who is Tanya Morgan?
In this archive edition of Studio C, we present a 2005 in-studio performance and interview with singer, songwriter, guitarist, and former Helium frontwoman Mary Timony. She performs two songs from her album "Ex Hex."
Golden-age lyricist Percee P took a break from the Stones Throw "Chrome Children" tour to drop a few rhymes in Studio C, as well as discuss his much anticipated debut album, "Perseverance."
Legendary Bay Area MC Saafir stopped by Studio C to perform a couple tracks live from his new album "Good Game: The Transition." Peep game as he talks about his earlier struggles in life, the current state of hip-hop, and his friendship with rap icon Tupac Shakur.
San Francisco singer-songwriter Jesse DeNatale is this week's guest on Studio C. He talks about growing up in North Beach, offers thoughts on the writing process, and plays a few songs from his latest album "Soul Parade."
In this archive edition of Studio C we feature singer-songwriter Ian Moore. He performs songs from his powerful 2004 album "Luminaria."
Our latest session features an acoustic performance from Dave Smallen of the band Street to Nowhere. He plays two songs from his debut album "Charmingly Awkward" along with one brand-new track, "Underneath the Flood."
In this archive edition of Studio C we feature Chicago-based country artist Robbie Fulks. He performs "Georgia Hard," a Johnny Paycheck cover, and speaks about his songs and illustrious career.
Studio C features singer/songwriter and American Music Club frontman Mark Eitzel. He performs "Another Morning," "My Pet Rat St. Michael," and more.
This week, Studio C presents singer, songwriter, and keyboardist Vienna Teng. She discusses songwriting methods, her early success with online promotion, and her brand-new album "Dreaming Through the Noise," just out on Rounder/Zoe Records.
Sixteen-year-old country singer Taylor Swift is our guest in Studio C. She performs her hit single "Tim McGraw."
The Sun City Girls guitarist and filmmaker plays lightning-fast, Gypsy-inspired instrumentals and acoustic experiments (such as merging the Beatles' "Nowhere Man" with "Somewhere Over the Rainbow"). He discusses idol/inspiration John Fahey and editing his films on iMovie.
The Brooklyn-based, indie-roots act Oakley Hall plays a mixture of folk, drone, country, and fuzz. Bandleader Pat Sullivan, formerly of Oneida, stops by Studio C with cohorts Claudia Mogel and Rachel Cox for a rare acoustic performance.
Best known for his '80s hits with the Commotions and mid-'90s solo work, the English singer/songwriter performs a brand new song for the first time, along with "2cv" from Rattlesnakes and "Undressed" from his first solo record.
The ethereal vocalist and songwriter, who returns this fall with a new Tarnation record, performs "August's Song" from that release, along with "Watercolor Lines" and "Game of Broken Hearts."
Bay Area country-soul singer Mike Therieau sings from his solo debut, "Living From A Suitcase," conjuring '70s AM radio voices like Billy Joe Royal, Eddie Hinton, and Charlie Rich.
Matt Nathanson is this week's music guest. The singer/songwriter performs "Bulletproof Weeks" and Bruce Springsteen's "Brilliant Disguise." Nathanson discusses his upcoming summer tour with Pink, his new live album "At The Point," as well as the reason he switched from PC to Mac.