The self-described tortoise and the hare, Emma Swift and Robyn Hitchcock (respectively) sit down for an enlightening discussion about starting their label Tiny Ghost Records, songwriting and their creative journey through it all. And, yes, we talk about Hitchcock’s delightful shirt selections.

More from Emma Swift
Official Site: emmaswift.com
Instagram: @emmaswiftsings

More from Robyn Hitchcock
Official Site: robynhitchcock.com
Instagram: @robynhitchcockofficial

More from Tiny Ghost Records
tinyghostrecords.shop

Episode edited by Todd Merkley.

Find Devalued at Devalued.show, on Twitter @devaluedpodcast and Instagram @devaluedpodcast.

Every few years there will be an inevitable outcry that “Radio is dead.” Fortunately, the team at Nashville’s WNXP 91.1 FM didn’t get the memo. The public radio station launched in late 2020; not exactly an ideal time for anything but the station has flourished in the years since.

Devalued is honored to host the station’s Program Director and Brand Manager Jason Moon Wilkins and Events Director (and lifelong Nashvillian) Emily Young. The duo provide real insights about how radio fits into the modern music industry, how they consciously work to lift the community and how artists can directly benefit from radio, even today!

Our conversation is delightful evidence that the headlines are wrong; radio isn’t dead and, in fact, is possibly more accessible than ever.

Find more from WNXP!
Official Site: wnxp.org
WNXP Live Sessions
Submitting to WNXP
Instagram: @wnxpnashville

Jason on Instagram: @jasonmoontn
Emily on Instagram: @theemilyyoung

Michael Eades subs in for Michael Ackley on this one! Michael for Michael.

Find Devalued at Devalued.show, on Twitter @devaluedpodcast and Instagram @devaluedpodcast.

Kid Millions has been a part of one of the most celebrated indie rock bands of the last 25 years, Oneida. Their most recent album, Success, is one of their best works. In this episode, Kid Millions talks about the irony laced into the title of his bands’ new record, the reality of being in a celebrated indie rock band, what drives him creatively and what it’s like being big in Italy.

Find Devalued at Devalued.show, on Twitter @devaluedpodcast and Instagram @devaluedpodcast.

Welcome to the start of Devalued season 2! In this episode, the Devalued gang reflect on where the small but mighty Devalued show has been and where it’s going next. Here’s to a whole new season! Happy New Year and thanks for listening!

Find Devalued at Devalued.show, on Twitter @devaluedpodcast and Instagram @devaluedpodcast.

Today we hear a really special episode; our first ever live episode! Recorded Thursday, December 15th at Vinyl Tap in East Nashville with acclaimed musician Lilly Hiatt and former Rounder Records president John P Strohm. The topic at hand was “Does Anybody Make It Anymore?” and both guests provided great insights from their unique perspectives. What is making it? Should artists set specific goals to achieve? How dirty of a word is “content”? Is social media a prerequisite for reaching creative satisfaction?

Thanks to everyone that came out and to Good People Brewing for the sponsorship. Devalued Happy Hour will happen again in March 2023; stay tuned.

More from Lilly Hiatt:
Official Site: lillyhiatt.com
Spotify: Listen
Apple: Listen

More from John P Strohm:
Instagram: @johnpstrohm
Twitter: @johnpstrohm
Spotify: Listen
Apple: Listen

Find Devalued at Devalued.show, on Twitter @devaluedpodcast and Instagram @devaluedpodcast.

Suzanne Ciani is one of the visionaries of electronic music. Since the 1970s, Suzanne has been creating music designed to soothe, calm and breathe some space into our ever busy world. In this interview, she talks about what it’s like to stay true to your art even when it gets lonely, why originality matters, and why you should need to please yourself above all.

More from Suzanne Ciani:
Official Site: sevwave.com
Instagram: @sevwave
Twitter: @sevwave
Spotify: Listen
Apple: Listen

Find Devalued at Devalued.show, on Twitter @devaluedpodcast and Instagram @devaluedpodcast.

Kurt Wagner and Mary Mancini are a Nashville power couple. Kurt is the creative force behind the widely acclaimed band Lambchop and Mary is a local political luminary and activist. In this episode, they open up about the intersection of art and politics, why society should take care of its artists, and why it’s important to spare your partner your creative process. This wide ranging conversation covers a lot of ground. We hope you enjoy it!

More from Kurt Wagner:
Lambchop on Bandcamp
Lambchop on Instagram

More from Mary Mancini:
The Lucy’s Record Shop Podcast
Lucy’s Record Shop on Instagram
Lucy’s Record Shop on Twitter
Mary on Instagram
Mary on Twitter

Find Devalued at Devalued.show, on Twitter @devaluedpodcast and Instagram @devaluedpodcast.

New Zealand artist David Kilgour started his career in the 1980’s with The Clean and hasn’t stopped since then. Over the last four decades he’s played in Stephen, The Great Unwashed and a lucrative solo career. He opens up about his journey to become an established songwriter, why daydreaming is instrumental to the creative process and why writing a song is still the best feeling ever.

More from David Kilgour:
David Kilgour on Bandcamp
The Clean on Bandcamp

Find Devalued at Devalued.show, on Twitter @devaluedpodcast and Instagram @devaluedpodcast.

Today we talk with legendary recording engineer Steve Albini. He’s produced thousands of albums (including Nirvana, The Breeders, Pixies, PJ Harvey) and runs his Chicago studio Electrical Audio as a highly accessible destination. He also makes his own music in the band Shellac.

He’s made a living finding the balance between art and money; two entities that don’t have a natural relationship. He talks with Devalued about his beginnings in the punk community through the economics of being in a band. Albini is known for his frank opinions and they are most appreciated in this forum.

More from Steve Albini:
@electricalWSOP
Electrical Audio
Shellac

Find Devalued at Devalued.show, on Twitter @devaluedpodcast and Instagram @devaluedpodcast.

In this conversation, Gee Slab and Namir Blade open up about how to stay true to your art while carving out a successful path in independent music, how a good music scene makes everybody stronger, and why marketing is something every creative person needs to learn – and so much more.

Follow Gee Slab:
instagram.com/geeslab
twitter.com/geeslab
geeslab.com
Bandcamp
Spotify
B.I.N.O.

Follow Namir Blade:
instagram.com/namirblade
twitter.com/namirblade
Bandcamp
Spotify

Sonic Boom, aka Pete Kember, has been a progressive and innovative musician that has consciously worked towards living an uncompromising life. He was a founding member of Spacemen 3, a producer for the likes of MGMT, and, most recently, a collaborator with Panda Bear on Reset. Devalued chats with him about how he’s managed to traverse a decades long career creating music that pushes the envelope while balancing the need to have an income. Sonic Boom reminds us to be uncompromising and that the amount of profit you have is entirely disconnected from the level of creativity you possess.

Follow Sonic Boom on Instgram at @2020sonicboom2020.

Mike and Caroline are joined by Tristen and Liza Anne to discuss the myriad of hurdles facing musicians in our modern age. How do you avoid the trappings of being a workaholic? How do you feel empowered to simply ask for what you need? What is the definition of “Making It” and how can you design the life you want while staying true to your art?

Follow Tristen at @tristentristen on Instagram and pick up her music on Bandcamp.

Follow Liza Anne at @lizaannemusic and her music on her Bandcamp.

Rob Mazurek is one of the most incredible composers and accomplished musicians working now. His music, whether it’s with Exploding Star Orchestra, Isotope 217, or his many, many collaborations, is almost always a fusion of bold ideas and styles melding together to create something new. In this conversation, we talk about how he got started as a composer, breaking out of the stuffy classical world, how his visual art inspires his music, and much, much more!

Find Rob Mazurek:
robmazurek.com
@androidlovecry
Exploding Star Orchestra

Find Devalued at Devalued.show, on Twitter @devaluedpodcast and Instagram @devaluedpodcast.

Mike and Caroline sit down with Gil Costello and Taylor Cole; talent bookers for The Basement and The East Room; respectively. Together, they discuss what bands need to know about how to book shows, how to build an audience, and what venues need to ask you back. The ensuing conversation is invaluable in understanding how a venue wants to be profitable but also wants to help the artist walk away with a boost as well. It’s an ecosystem that depends on another and it’s always wise to be good to your venue and they’ll be good to you (ideally).

Follow Gil at @gilcostello. Follow Taylor at @thisistayls and @creaturec0mfort.

Damon Krukowski has spent a career releasing dreampop, psych rock and psychedelic folk within Galaxie 500, Magic Hour and Damon and Naomi respectively. Along with his stunning and diverse musical output, he’s been an outspoken champion for artists. His newsletter Dada Drummer Almanach frequently points out the fallacy of streaming services and misleading industry news. He is an active member of the Union of Musicians & Allied Workers to create a more level playing field for artists and workers struggling in society.

In this debut Devalued episode, Krukowski discusses all of these topics and how artists empowerment is truly a political issue that goes well beyond the imbalance of Spotify payments. His experience with both the indie and major label industries spans decades and his insights are invaluable.

For more from Damon Krukowski, subscribe to his newsletter, follow him on Twitter and support him on Bandcamp.

Welcome to Devalued with Mike and Caroline; the place where we talk about art and money and how creative people are navigating the ever changing landscape to make a living for their work.

We started this podcast because as two creative people, we wanted to have the conversation in public that every creative person is having in private: How do I make it? What is ‘making it?’ Why bother creating anything at all? What is my work worth? Should I let the rest of the world define the value of my work?

This series is all about exploring these questions. Our intention is to give you a Roadmap, a Guide, and some encouragement to continue to live a creative life through open-hearted conversation with incredible people.

We’re going to be interviewing all types of creative people and we’ll be talking about all types of issues that creative people face.

We hope that you’ll get something out of it. We’re excited to have you join us along this journey. Welcome to Devalued.

Your hosts: Michael Ackley & Caroline Bowman

Ron Sexsmith is a songwriters’ songwriter, and this being Nashville, that statement means something! In this episode, we talked about how daydreaming songs on the job was an essential part of his early process, finding an audience, what it feels when a famous person covers your songs, if it’s possible to write a modern standard, his endless jokes on twitter, turning 60 and so much more!

Find Ron Sexsmith:
ronsexsmith.com
@mrsronboy
YouTube

Find Devalued at Devalued.show, on Twitter @devaluedpodcast and Instagram @devaluedpodcast.

Colin MacIntyre is more than a one man band, he’s an entire society unto himself – the Mull Historical Society, in fact! As one of Scotland’s most celebrated indie rock songwriters, Colin joins us for a wide ranging conversation about originality, believing in your work, opening for The Strokes, and of course, his wonderful new album, In My Mind There is a Room, which is a collaboration with many celebrated writers.

Find Devalued at Devalued.show, on Twitter @devaluedpodcast and Instagram @devaluedpodcast.

Hera Lindsay Bird is one of the most widely heralded (pun intended) poets of the modern era. Her poetry is full of dazzling wordplay, rich observations, and insanely hilarious jokes. Her work has been published by Victoria University Press and Penguin UK, and she’s been profiled in Vice and The Guardian. Her poems have even gone viral! But what do poets do, exactly? How do they pay the bills? What is the importance of poetry in today’s world? Hera Lindsay Bird has the word for this and so much more. And none of it rhymes!

More from Hera Lindsay Bird:
Official Site: heralindsaybird.com
Instagram: @heralindsaybird

Find Devalued at Devalued.show, on Twitter @devaluedpodcast and Instagram @devaluedpodcast.

Glenn Morrow is the owner of Bar/None Records, the legendary indie label that has put out iconic records by Yo La Tengo, The Feelies, Alex Chilton and many, many more! We spoke to Glenn about how his label has continued to adapt alongside the constant changes of the music industry, a label’s role in artistic development, his own career as a songwriter and bandleader, and how after a long and iconic career, he went viral for a video of people whacking mangos while on vacation.

More from Bar/None:
Official Site: bar-none.com
Instagram: @barnonerecords
Bandcamp: bar-nonerecords.bandcamp.com

Find Devalued at Devalued.show, on Twitter @devaluedpodcast and Instagram @devaluedpodcast.

Josephine Foster is one of most strikingly original songwriters working today. Her songs are like dreams beamed in from another world. She writes songs that are hypnotic, and poetic, which can be haunting and beautiful in the same moment. In this interview, we ask her about her creative process, the importance of daydreaming, how she manages a creative life on her own terms, and her great new album, Domestic Sphere.

More from Josephine Foster:
Official Site: josephinefoster.info
Instagram: @damejosephinefoster
Bandcamp: josephinefostermusic.bandcamp.com

Find Devalued at Devalued.show, on Twitter @devaluedpodcast and Instagram @devaluedpodcast.

Recorded live on March 2nd at Vinyl Tap in Nashville, TN; Devalued is joined by Alanna Royale and Megan Loveless to discuss how they’ve navigated their way to making a living in the arts. Royale is a critically acclaimed R&B performer that has released a number of albums and singles that you really should wrap your ears around. Loveless runs booking and promotions for Third Man Records Blue Room, as well as curates To-Go Records releases, Nashville Show To-Go menu and the INOXIA photo magazine. Both bring keen insights into navigating the creative arts scene and still be able to make a living. We thank them for their time and can’t wait to hear what both do next.

Thanks to everyone that came out and to Avondale Brewing for the sponsorship. Devalued Happy Hour will happen again in Spring 2023; stay tuned.

More from Alanna Royale:
Instagram: @alannaroyale
Official Site: alannaroyale.com
Bandcamp: Listen
Spotify: Listen
Apple: Listen

More from Megan Loveless:
Instagram: @meganloveless
To-Go Records: @togorecords
Nashville Show To Go: @nashvilleshowtogo
Playlists: Listen

Find Devalued at Devalued.show, on Twitter @devaluedpodcast and Instagram @devaluedpodcast.

If you’re a fan of Angel Olsen, Tame Impala, Courtney Barnett, Spoon, Olivia Rodrigo, and music in general, you have definitely seen the work of Pooneh Ghana. As one the top music photographers working today, Pooneh’s work has captured festivals like Coachella and Pitchfork to landed on the cover on magazines. And it all started because she was a fan of the music and wanted to capture the bands she loved.

More from Pooneh Ghana:
Official Site: poonehghana.com
Instagram: @PoonehGhana

Find Devalued at Devalued.show, on Twitter @devaluedpodcast and Instagram @devaluedpodcast.

John Moreland and Pearl Rachinsky are forging their own way in life and in art, together. John is highly acclaimed singer songwriter and Pearl is a highly accomplished visual artist. In this episode, they talk about the long road to success, what it means to make art for yourself and for others, how to stay true to yourself, and why being grateful matters most of all.

More from John Moreland
Official Site: https://www.johnmoreland.net/
Instagram: @johnmoreland

More from Pearl Rachinsky
Official Site: https://www.pearlrachinsky.com/
Instagram: @pearlrachinsky

Episode edited by Todd Merkley.

Find Devalued at Devalued.show, on Twitter @devaluedpodcast and Instagram @devaluedpodcast.

Our guest this week is Mary Kate Melnick – the Head of Licensing at ATO Records and founder of Odd Man Out Publishing. She sets the table for us by defining the most basic terms of her industry and then diving into the behind the scenes motions involved with music synchronizations. We discuss what deals look like for the artists, how the money may end up flowing and even manage to get a little heady in our talk about where all this is headed.

ATO Records: https://atorecords.com/
Odd Man Out Publishing: https://www.omopubco.com/

Episode edited by Todd Merkley.

Find Devalued at Devalued.show, on Twitter @devaluedpodcast and Instagram @devaluedpodcast.