For today's episode, I am joined by disco opera pop chanteuse Meg Smith. Meg joins me to discuss her latest songs "Dive Bar Opera" and "Girls Just Wanna Be Famous," how her mother's dance career inspires her musical output and making fun, unserious bombastic pop with a dash of glitter. ✨ MORE ABOUT MEG SMITH ✨ With inspirations ranging from Donna Summer to Britney Spears, Meg Smith is a New York based pop artist whose glitter-soaked disco ballads transform heartbreak and hardship into euphoric c...
Aug 14, 2025•38 min•Season 9Ep. 21
For today's episode, you will hear my conversation with the founder of Rainbow Rodeo and Adobe & Teardrops, Rachel Cholst. Rachel joins me to discuss the long queer history of country music, her favorite songwriters of all time, and starting a blog to make up for the gender disparity in country and folk music coverage. ✨ MORE ABOUT RACHEL CHOLST ✨ Rachel Cholst is a music journalist from New York City who has been writing about the queer country music community for the past decade. Her work ...
Aug 07, 2025•33 min•Season 9Ep. 20
For today's episode, you will hear my conversation with Margaret McCarthy, the brains behind the Chicago indie rock dreamworld Moontype. Margaret joins me to discuss her brand new album, 'I Let The Wind Push Down On Me,' late night driving revelations, and the art of letting the vibe take control in a session. ✨ MORE ABOUT MOONTYPE ✨ Moontype is an indie rock four-piece spearheaded by singer-songwriter Margaret McCarthy. Combining the bleary swoon of Beach House with the gliding dreamworld of Ga...
Jul 31, 2025•23 min•Season 9Ep. 19
For today's episode, you will hear my conversation with the Polaris-nominated rapper and multi-disciplinary artist Kimmortal. Kim joins me to discuss their new EP, the road to liberation, and our shared love of Turnstile. We also compare our birth charts and discover that we're both fire and air signs. ✨ MORE ABOUT KIMMORTAL ✨ Kimmortal is a Polaris-nominated artist and rapper from Vancouver whose work traverses the intersections of their FilipinX background and queer identity. They've shared st...
Jul 17, 2025•42 min•Season 9Ep. 18
For today's episode, I am joined by Willy Mao of The Resonaters to discuss coming of age as an artist in Scranton, PA, his friendship with Jill Sobule, incorporating humor into the morbid and sad songs, and all things queer culture (but mostly Overcompensating and White Lotus). ✨ KEEP UP TO DATE WITH THE RESONATERS ✨ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_resonaters/ Spotify: open.spotify.com/artist/52HeIoXpL6qqEx7kC1uDlD Apple Music: music.apple.com/us/artist/the-resonaters/1518438286 ✨ CONNE...
Jul 10, 2025•1 hr 5 min•Season 9Ep. 17
Today's guest is composer, mastering engineer, and guitarist in Kim Gordon's band, Sarah Register. Sarah joins me to discuss her solo debut, touring with Kim, and filming a music video with choreography and archival footage from a previously unfinished project. ✨ MORE ABOUT SARAH REGISTER ✨ Sarah Register is a Grammy-winning composer, mastering engineer, and multi-disciplinary artist based in LA. Formerly one half of the experimental noise band Talk Normal she has mastered albums for the likes o...
Jul 03, 2025•49 min•Season 9Ep. 16
Today's guest is Stella Bridie, who joins me to discuss her breakout debut EP 'Speaking Terms,' a haunting, emotionally charged project born from a single hypothetical: "What if you had one moment left to tell your story?" We explore the psychological intricacies and raw recollections woven through the EP, as well as Stella’s unflinching confrontation with mortality. ✨ MORE ABOUT STELLA BRIDIE ✨ Stella Bridie is a singer-songwriter from Australia whose deeply personal and emotionally charged ind...
Jun 26, 2025•47 min•Season 9Ep. 15
Today's episode features a conversation with Fotoform frontwoman Kim House. We discuss how the band's latest album Grief is a Garden (Forever in Bloom) allowed her to transform her grief into something reflective, and how creativity can foster healing in positive ways. ✨ MORE ABOUT FOTOFORM ✨ Fotoform is a Seattle-based duo whose sonic journey began with their self-released debut in 2017 — an album that quickly resonated with listeners and was named a KEXP Listeners’ Album of the Year. Their cri...
Jun 05, 2025•31 min•Season 9Ep. 14
Today’s episode features Nashville singer-songwriter Taylor Bickett, who joins me to talk about her powerful new song “The Crime,” inspired by real-life events and the female experience. We also discuss her work with The Circle, an organization founded by Annie Lennox to help prevent violence against women. ✨ MORE ABOUT TAYLOR BICKETT ✨ Taylor Bickett is a singer-songwriter hailing from Indiana and currently based in Nashville. Her introspective indie-pop tunes that resonate deeply with listener...
May 29, 2025•30 min•Season 9Ep. 13
For today's episode, you will hear my conversation with Constance Keane, the front-person and drummer of feminist Irish post-punk band M(h)aol. Connie joins me to discuss the band's brand new album 'Something Soft,' a blisteringly loud and hair-raising screed on the emotional and political undercurrents of her life over the past few years. ✨ MORE ABOUT M(H)AOL ✨ M(h)aol is a feminist post-punk band from Ireland who grabbed the attention of global DIY punk circles with their debut album 'Attachme...
May 22, 2025•37 min•Season 9Ep. 12
For today's episode, I am joined by Maia Friedman to discuss her brand new album Goodbye Long Winter Shadow , a collection of meticulously crafted songs about the cyclical nature of life and the personal tragedies and new beginnings that inspired the trajectory of the album. ✨ MORE ABOUT MAIA FRIEDMAN ✨ Maia Friedman is an artist based in Brooklyn, known for her work with the Dirty Projectors and Coco. Coming off the heels of her 2022 solo debut Under The New Light which was crafted through impr...
May 15, 2025•53 min•Season 9Ep. 11
For today's episode, I am joined by Atara Glazer from alternative hard rock outfit Plastic Rhino, who joins me to discuss the Plastic Rhino's latest single "I Rise," all things LA, and the live music experiences that altered her life forever. ✨ MORE ABOUT PLASTIC RHINO ✨ Plastic Rhino is an alternative hard rock duo based in LA made up of Atara and Jack Glazer. For nearly a decade and a half, the duo has contributed some of the most unique and enticing output in the hard rock sphere since their ...
May 08, 2025•28 min•Season 9Ep. 10
For today's episode, you will hear my conversation with Anja Huwe of Xmal Deutschland fame, who joins me to discuss the Xmal Deutschland's 40-year anniversary compilation entitled The Gift: The 4AD Years, containing their 2 LPs released on 4AD back in the '80s, and additional tracks from other releases and EPs. ✨ MORE ABOUT XMAL DEUTSCHLAND ✨ Xmal Deutschland is a German post-punk group founded in the eighties, known for making an extraordinary impact on the British music scene with their first ...
May 01, 2025•25 min•Season 9Ep. 9
Today's guest is Pagona Kytzidis of partygirl, who joins me to discuss her maximalist approach to rock and roll, the personal and political, music as a relational act, and the importance of ensuring that every voice is heard in a six-person band. ✨ MORE ABOUT PARTYGIRL ✨ Partygirl is a six-piece rock and roll band from Brooklyn whose torrential arrangements, vulnerable lyrics, and bombastic live performances navigate identity, gender conflict, systemic violence, and political instability. The fi...
Apr 17, 2025•39 min•Season 9Ep. 8
Today's guests are the members of Synth-Emo quartet gloomy june, who join me to discuss laying down artistic roots in San Francisco, their favorite horror movies of all time, and their hot takes on topics ranging from Bob Dylan to Scientology and old folk songs. ✨ MORE ABOUT GLOOMY JUNE ✨ gloomy june is a queer emo pop band from San Francisco that straddles the line of multiple genres, pairing bittersweet guitar lines with upbeat production and introspective lyrics. They are currently gearing up...
Apr 10, 2025•32 min
For today's episode I am joined by Spencer Peppet of The Ophelias to discuss finding yourself in a personal hall of mirrors, the exhausting reality of having a body, and the complexities of female friendship, all topics she delves into on the band's new album, Spring Grove . Digressions include the intersection of queerness and cannibalism, Spiderman memes, and our shared obsession with Daria. ✨ MORE ABOUT THE OPHELIAS ✨ The Ophelias are an indie baroque rock quartet hailing from Cincinnati, Ohi...
Apr 03, 2025•34 min•Season 9Ep. 6
Today I am joined by the wonderful Elodie Tomlinson of The Dumes to talk about unleashing frustration and aggression, working with the legendary Joe Chicarelli and Rob Schnapf, and the band's latest single "You're A Letdown." ✨ MORE ABOUT THE DUMES ✨ The Dumes is a Portland-based band who formed as a reaction to the toxic and cyclical nature around them. Since launching in 2019, they've gone on to share the stage with the likes of Sheryl Crow, Peter Frampton, and Louise Post of Veruca Salt. ✨ KE...
Mar 27, 2025•26 min•Season 9Ep. 5
Today's guests are the members of the theatrical Brooklyn-based indie rock band Big Girl. The band joined me over the phone during their drive to SXSW to talk all things theater, self-actualization, and the profound effect adrenaline can have on alleviating pain while performing live. ✨ MORE ABOUT BIG GIRL ✨ Big Girl is a six-piece indie rock band from Brooklyn whose electrifying live performances often incorporate a full choir and elaborate choreography. Big Girl established themselves in 2023 ...
Mar 20, 2025•40 min•Season 9Ep. 4
For today's episode I am joined by Holly Nance and Penelope Gould, the writers of the DIY riot grrrl musical Lost Grrrl Found, a feminist punk coming of age story soundtracked by original songs. We chat all about the bands that soundtracked their own coming of age journeys, crowd-funding the play, and continuing to workshop the project for every show. ✨ CATCH THE NEXT LOST GRRRL FOUND SHOW AT PIANOS ✨ Tickets: https://dice.fm/event/53d82l-lost-grrrl-found-monica-bang-21st-mar-pianos-showroom-new...
Mar 13, 2025•32 min•Season 9Ep. 3
For today's episode, I am joined by Caroline Kingsbury to discuss how art can transform feelings ranging from joy to grief. We also discuss the rich queer history of rock and roll, prioritizing queer joy, and her upcoming tour with Pom Pom Squad. ✨ MORE ABOUT CAROLINE KINGSBURY ✨ With a sound that fuses the anthemic spirit of The Killers, the raw vulnerability of Bruce Springsteen, and the theatrical bombast of Kate Bush, Caroline Kingsbury crafts electrifying pop that’s nostalgic, refreshingly ...
Feb 20, 2025•28 min•Season 9Ep. 2
For the inaugural episode of Season 9, I am joined by one of the brightest rising talents on the Saddest Factory roster, jasmine.4.t. Jasmine joins me to discuss how queer found family, past housing instability, and the steadfast support of her touring buddy Lucy Dacus inspired the creative direction of her debut album, You Are The Morning . ✨YULIA'S GODUNDME✨: https://gofund.me/6bb02772 ✨ MORE ABOUT JASMINE.4.T. ✨ jasmine.4.t is a singer-songwriter from Manchester, England. Backed by an all-tra...
Feb 13, 2025•47 min•Season 9Ep. 1
For the finale of Season 8, I am joined by Tarra Thiessen and Mel Lucciola from acclaimed NYC art punk band Gustaf. Tarra and Mel join me to discuss their individual projects, Tea Eater and Francie Moon. Additionally, Tarra reads me my horoscope from her self-designed "Purpological" deck, and discover that Isabella Rosselini has a YouTube series dedicated to the sex lives of bugs. ✨ KEEP UP TO DATE WITH GUSTAF ✨ Instagram: instagram.com/gustaf_nyc/ Twitter: https://x.com/gustaf_nyc Facebook: fac...
Jan 23, 2025•45 min•Season 8Ep. 21
Today, I am joined by digital music marketing expert Jazmine Valencia, the founder of JV Agency. Jazmine joins me to discuss the evolution of artist-to-fan relationships online, being an extra in a Hawthorne Heights music video in college, and her idea of popular marketing campaigns that worked vs. campaigns that flopped. ✨ MORE ABOUT JAZMINE VALENCIA ✨ Jazmine Valencia is the founder of JV Agency . With artist-focused marketing and a culture-building savvy approach, Valencia has helped advance ...
Jan 16, 2025•30 min•Season 8Ep. 20
For today's episode, I am joined by C.A. Francis, the leader of Brighton post punk shredders DITZ. They tell me all about the recording process for their new album 'Never Exhale,' which they recorded while on the road with IDLES, and why it's important to them to write about politics from a detailed personal angle. ✨ MORE ABOUT DITZ ✨ DITZ, a band that hasn't stopped for a breath since forming in 2015, is a post punk outfit from Brighton who formed in 2015 after seeing a METZ and Lightning Bolt ...
Jan 02, 2025•27 min•Season 8Ep. 19
Today I am joined by Kit Eaton-Kent, the creative force behind the alt pop solo project Dirt Flirt. She joins me to discuss her new song "Dramatic," how becoming confident in her identity led to becoming more confident in her sound. ✨ MORE ABOUT DIRT FLIRT ✨ Dirt Flirt is a solo alt-pop artist from London who makes emo-tinged pop bangers with introspective lyrics and catchy melodies reminiscent of The Japanese House and 070 Shake. ✨ KEEP UP TO DATE WITH DIRT FLIRT ✨ LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/d...
Dec 19, 2024•43 min•Season 8Ep. 18
Today I am joined by Malia DeLacruz, who makes music under the moniker CIAO MALZ. Malia joins me to discuss her brand new EP 'Safe Then Sorry,' parasocial obsessions with musicians, and our favorite movies of all time. ✨ MORE ABOUT CIAO MALZ ✨ CIAO MALZ is an indie bedroom pop project spearheaded by Malia DeLacruz, who often performs with the critically acclaimed Brooklyn indie rock band Sister. Her debut EP, ‘Safe Then Sorry,' is out now via Audio Antihero Records. ✨ KEEP UP TO DATE WITH CIAO M...
Dec 12, 2024•44 min•Season 8Ep. 17
For today's episode I'm joined by the NYC queer indie punk duo Um, Jennifer? to discuss their latest song "Fishy," organizing local gigs, community solidarity, and the current political climate. ✨ MORE ABOUT UM, JENNIFER? ✨ Um, Jennifer? is a New York-based two-piece band made up of Elijah Scarpati and Fig Regan, who met at a party in Brooklyn and went on to create a punk-tinged indie pop band that is possessed by a mystical, spiritual being named Jennifer. ✨ KEEP UP TO DATE WITH UM, JENNIFER? ✨...
Dec 05, 2024•43 min•Season 8Ep. 16
Today I am joined by North Carolina based femme punk band Babe Haven to discuss their latest album 'Nuisance,' taking action beyond the pit, and why the final girl trope in horror is such an accurate depiction of the harsh realities of girlhood. ✨ MORE ABOUT BABE HAVEN ✨ Based in Durham, North Carolina, hardcore punk four-piece Babe Haven has been setting stages, theaters, and basements ablaze for the past 3 years with their fast-paced and hard-hitting ragers. Their latest album 'Nuisance' is ou...
Nov 21, 2024•46 min•Season 8Ep. 15
Today, I welcome Hayley Cain from Hayley and The Crushers to the show to bond over being a highly sensitive person who cries to sad country songs, loaded fries, vintage stores, and her journey from a baby California punk to a liberated genre-fluid songstress with a foothold in both the midwest and the west coast. ✨ MORE ABOUT HAYLEY AND THE CRUSHERS ✨ Hayley and the Crushers is a band that combines rollicking guitars with '60s girl group sensibilities. The band is comprised of husband-and-wife d...
Nov 14, 2024•43 min•Season 8Ep. 14
Today I am joined by Brooklyn queer trans punk outfit Crush Fund, who joins me to discuss mutual aid in DIY communities, friendly competition amongst friends in their creative circles, and the horrifying ordeal of not being able to buy a beer after 8 PM while on tour in the midwest. ✨ MORE ABOUT CRUSH FUND ✨ Crush Fund is a self-proclaimed "fake punk girl band" based in Brooklyn, New York and known for their rowdy live shows and blistering punk ragers. Their latest project New Fixation is out no...
Nov 07, 2024•42 min•Season 8Ep. 13
