MAKE // BREAK – Détails, épisodes et analyse

Episode 015 – Eric Peterson | MAKE // BREAK

Eric Peterson is the founding guitarist and primary songwriter of Bay Area thrash legends Testament, a band that’s spent more than four decades pushing heavy music forward while peers have fallen away. With Testament’s fourteenth album Para Bellum, he’s still co-producing, evolving the band’s sound, and keeping the riffs sharper than players half his age. In this episode of MAKE // BREAK, Eric sits down with host Lance Marwood to unpack the real cost of that longevity: the grind of touring and airports, staying physically ready for extreme music, protecting creativity in an AI era, and why horror films, cult novels, and personal taste still shape everything he writes.

👀 What you’ll hear

• Unpack how Eric turned flyering, bar gigs and bad jobs into a four decade thrash career
• Explore why Para Bellum still feels like a first album and how Testament keep evolving
• Dig into riff writing, flow states and what separates a cool idea from a career song
• Break down the ugliest parts of touring, airport purgatory and staying physically ready for stage intensity
• Debate AI, taste and keeping music human, plus horror movies, cult fiction and weird reading recs

🕰️ Chapters

00:00 Intro, Testament overview and setting up Para Bellum

01:15 Make or break moments, legacy decisions and early DIY grind

03:30 Old school flyering and networking vs today’s digital promotion

06:45 Ageing, health and playing extreme thrash into your 50s

09:30 Touring realities, airport lines, boredom and burnout on the road

14:30 Writing Para Bellum while chasing the feeling of the first records

20:20 Taste, identity and how horror and cult films feed Eric’s imagination

28:45 Books on the road, Master and Margarita and other strange reading recs

32:30 Riff writing, flow state jams, Logic demos and editing with the band

37:30 Surviving industry shifts from tape trading to streaming, algorithms and AI

44:20 Legacy, repeating yourself without cloning old riffs, and ACDC as a model

48:40 Honest advice for bedroom players learning Testament riffs on YouTube

🔗 Guest Links

https://www.testamentlegions.com/site/

https://linktr.ee/TestamentLegions

https://www.instagram.com/ericpetersonofficial/

http://www.enterthedragonlord.com/

🔗 MAKE // BREAK & Host Links

https://open.spotify.com/show/5GDOUd909p7ir2W74M9teg?si=cbc7e01e13ba4a20

https://instagram.com/lowkeyhellish

https://tiktok.com/@lowkeyhellish

🔗 V13 Media Links

https://v13.net

Subscribe for more MAKE // BREAK conversations and drop a comment on how AI should shape metal’s future

(explicit language)

#MakeBreak #EricPeterson #Testament

Episode 014 – Kelsey Dower | MAKE // BREAK

Kelsey Maree Dower is a symphonic metal vocalist, composer, and multi-instrumentalist whose cinematic writing style turns orchestration into front-line storytelling. Best known for her single “Rage” and the concept-driven album project Rebirth, she builds massive arrangements with a DIY, self-composed precision that still hits emotionally. She’s also a featured vocalist and co-writer on Björn Hofer’s In the Shadow symphonic metal trilogy through B-Track Records. In Episode 014 of MAKE // BREAK with host Lance Marwood, Kelsey digs into the real work behind ambitious music: MIDI composition, mixing battles between strings and guitars, creative control, and navigating the music business as an autistic artist.

👀 What you’ll hear

• Trace her path from piano prodigy to symphonic metal songwriter with a clear creative compass

• Learn why orchestral parts feel easy, and why guitars and drums still challenge the mix

• Hear how collaboration stays open while protecting vision and keeping creative control intact

• Reframe ambition when your genre is niche, expensive, and hard for algorithms to surface

• Unpack the myth of getting signed young and the practical planning that replaced it

• Break down Rage, cathartic anger, and how growls became a new tool in her voice

🕰️ Chapters
00:00 Symphonic metal origin story and why it finally clicked

02:49 First metal exposure, emotional catharsis, Within Temptation moment

05:44 Moving childhood, Carnegie Hall, opening for Clay Aiken

08:09 Piano and vocals foundation, ear training, early performance discipline

09:40 MIDI composition workflow, Ableton-style arranging, finding the spark

11:58 Production challenge: orchestra width vs guitars, drums, and mixing presence

14:51 Collaboration mindset, creative control, and working through disagreements

17:35 Ambition in niche genres, costs of scale, algorithm invisibility

22:52 Inspiration vs showing up, building ideas over time without forcing it

26:50 Music industry myth: getting signed young, budgeting, planning, side jobs

30:54 Autism, gatekeepers, reading intent, navigating predatory dynamics

38:46 Rage single inspiration, bullying, catharsis, learning growls

42:58 Rebirth album arc: build-up, catharsis, post-release aftermath

🔗 Guest Links
https://promo.v13.net/2025/11/kelsey-dower/
https://www.instagram.com/kelsey_music2024/
https://www.youtube.com/@kelsey_music2024
https://open.spotify.com/artist/23z1Xwhfvf5B0zVQyzlCdu

🔗 MAKE // BREAK & Host Links

https://open.spotify.com/show/5GDOUd909p7ir2W74M9teg?si=cbc7e01e13ba4a20

https://instagram.com/lowkeyhellish

https://tiktok.com/@lowkeyhellish

🔗 V13 Media Links

https://v13.net

Subscribe for more MAKE // BREAK, and comment: when has anger fuelled your best creative work?

[Minor audio dropouts in the early minutes]

#MakeBreak #KelseyDower #MusicBusiness

Episode 006 – Brandon O’Neill | MAKE // BREAK

Brandon O’Neill is the founder, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and vocalist behind Wine & Warpaint, the Richmond-based indie rock project whose debut album Disassociate (2024) earned recognition as one of the year’s standout independent releases. Known for blending raw emotion with meticulous production, O’Neill has built Wine & Warpaint into a self-sustaining project that thrives at the intersection of DIY ethos and professional polish. In this episode of MAKE // BREAK, he joins host Lance Marwood to discuss recording with producer Kyle Black (Paramore, Pierce the Veil), the mental shifts that come with travelling for art, and the constant push-pull between algorithms, AI, and authenticity. O’Neill’s perspective offers a grounded, thoughtful look at what it means to create meaningful work in today’s music business.

👀 What you’ll hear

• Unpack how Wine & Warpaint built momentum with their debut album Disassociate and a fiercely DIY approach

• Share what Brandon learned working with producer Kyle Black (Paramore, Pierce the Veil) and why meticulousness matters

• Debate the rise of AI tools, social media burnout, and whether content creation helps or hurts real artistry

• Expose the broken incentives of algorithms that reward rage and novelty instead of genuine music discovery

• Explore why local community, collaboration, and micro-level choices are how artists can break out of toxic systems

• Leave with Brandon’s advice on how artists can stay humble, experiment, and keep making the work they believe in

🕰️ Chapters

00:00 Intro and welcome with Brandon O’Neill

02:00 Flying cross-country to record with Kyle Black

05:00 Shifting headspace and finding inspiration in LA

09:00 Discovering meticulous creativity in the studio

13:00 Lessons from producers vs DIY recording

18:00 Fast workflows, Pro Tools shortcuts, and setup hacks

20:00 Debating AI tools, artistry, and the algorithm

26:00 Social media, content grind, and why he deleted Instagram

32:00 How algorithms gatekeep discovery and reward rage

40:00 Community, DIY ethos, and breaking the system locally

50:00 Responsibility, regulation, and cultural shifts

01:06:00 Generosity, art, and finding meaning through action

01:11:00 What’s next for Wine & Warpaint and upcoming music

🔗 Guest Links

https://wineandwarpaint.com

https://www.instagram.com/wineandwarpaint

https://www.youtube.com/c/winewarpaint

https://www.facebook.com/wineandwarpaint

https://wineandwarpaint.bandcamp.com

https://open.spotify.com/artist/4IDDdNItHvj6aRkZ2LnCRe

🔗 MAKE // BREAK & Host Links

https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/makebreak

https://instagram.com/lowkeyhellish

https://tiktok.com/@lowkeyhellish

🔗 V13 Media Links

https://v13.net

Subscribe for more and drop a comment: should musicians fight the algorithm or ignore it and focus only on the art?

(explicit language)

#MakeBreak #WineandWarpaint #MusicBusiness

Episode 005 – Garrett Anthony Rice | MAKE // BREAK

Garrett Anthony Rice is an Irish songwriter whose double album Equinox has already drawn early praise as one of the most ambitious debuts of the decade. Recorded across Ireland and the UK with producer Chris Potter (The Verve, The Rolling Stones), the record spans 18 songs that move from swamp blues slide guitar to Britpop shimmer and politically charged anthems. Singles like “Eden,” “I Found Myself Today,” and “Property” show the range: gospel haze, anti-war urgency, and a re-framing of Syd Barrett’s legacy. On MAKE // BREAK, Garrett speaks candidly about craft, industry saturation, and his belief that music must carry both truth and weight. He pushes back against formula and fleeting trends, pointing instead to Dylan, Bowie, and Ashcroft as reminders of how songs can change lives. It’s a grounded, passionate look at what it means to create art with conviction in a crowded, uncertain era.

👀 What you’ll hear • Break down Garrett Anthony Rice’s creative process and how Equinox sets up future albums already in the works • Call out the formulaic “two-chord clones” dominating airwaves and why true artistry comes from somewhere deeper • Debate streaming saturation, shocking Spotify stats, and what it really takes to find an audience today • Explore DIY promotion, relentless posting, and how persistence plus authenticity can cut through the noise • Highlight the holy trinity of artist income streams: touring, merch, and sync opportunities beyond streaming pennies • Share advice on balancing business and creativity without losing the magic that makes songs matter

🕰️ Chapters

00:00 Introduction and the joy of songwriting

01:00 Writing Equinox and future albums

04:00 Breaking clichés in the acoustic scene

07:30 Influences from Bowie to Ashcroft and Hendrix

12:00 Honest critique of modern rap vs the 90s

17:00 Spotify saturation and shocking streaming stats

22:00 First album, Chris Potter, and DIY promotion

27:00 Perseverance lessons from Taylor Swift to Sabrina Carpenter

32:00 Treating music as a business without losing heart

38:00 Chasing money vs chasing meaning in art

41:00 Music as escape, identity, and cultural connection

47:00 Blues roots, influences, and carrying forward tradition

52:00 Passing the gift of music to the next generation

57:00 Final reflections and looking ahead

🔗 Guest Links

https://linktr.ee/garrettanthonyrice

https://instagram.com/garrettanthonyrice

https://open.spotify.com/artist/2Kw1ZbSdRWH7SSSPb6PrnY?si=6op2u1gKQk6Fe_1w0CFGPw

🔗 MAKE // BREAK & Host Links https://open.spotify.com/show/5GDOUd909p7ir2W74M9teg?si=cbc7e01e13ba4a20

https://instagram.com/lowkeyhellish

https://tiktok.com/@lowkeyhellish

🔗 V13 Media Links

https://v13.net

Subscribe for more conversations and drop a comment: should artists chase streams or focus on the holy trinity of touring, merch, and sync?

(explicit language)

#MakeBreak #Rice #MusicBusiness

Collin Young of One Hundred Moons joins host Lance Marwood on MAKE // BREAK to discuss Black Avalanche, art, and the music business.

Episode 004 – Collin Young | MAKE // BREAK

👀 What you’ll hear

-Break down the sound and vision behind One Hundred Moons’ new album Black Avalanche

-Explore why Collin sees music as a “third thing” beyond work and relaxation

-Contrast stoicism, hustle culture, and the myth of making art a full-time job

-Reflect on performing live as proof of existence and the struggle for audience connection

-Consider how meaning, story, and context can shape how we receive music

🕰️ Chapters

00:00 Intro and welcome with Collin Young

01:00 What Collin is trying to make to “break through”

02:30 Naming and themes of Black Avalanche

06:45 Challenges of creation vs. survival work

09:30 Do artists have the right to complain about music business struggles

14:00 Promotion, press, and the burden of self-marketing

16:00 Playing live shows vs. social media promotion

19:00 The need for “receipts” that bands are real

23:00 Stories, mythology, and why context matters

27:00 Letting the music itself be the story

30:00 Abstract meaning and listener interpretation

39:00 Transcendent live moments and audience connection

45:00 Niches, cults, and today’s fragmented music culture

47:00 Career vs. vocation: music as lifelong identity

52:00 Why art’s value must stand on its own

🔗 Guest Links

https://instagram.com/100moonsband

https://tiktok.com/@100moonsband

🔗 MAKE // BREAK & Host Links

https://open.spotify.com/show/5GDOUd909p7ir2W74M9teg?si=cbc7e01e13ba4a20

https://instagram.com/lowkeyhellish

https://tiktok.com/@lowkeyhellish

🔗 V13 Media Links

https://v13.net

Subscribe for more and tell us in the comments: Should music’s value stand apart from money and career?

(explicit language)

#MakeBreak #OneHundredMoons #MusicIndustry

Episode 003 – Kentucky | MAKE // BREAK

Kentucky is the musical project of Canadian artist Jordan Holman, whose debut album Second Chance Music weaves together near-death experience, hard-won clarity, and a refusal to quit. Influenced by The Tragically Hip, Neil Young, Bryan Adams, and R.E.M., Holman’s work blends acoustic rock and indie folk with a voice that’s both intimate and unshaken. On MAKE // BREAK, he reflects on decades in the business, the myth of the starving artist, and why he simply wants to keep writing until the end. It’s a conversation that swings between Tolstoy, Cormac McCarthy, Ligotti, and the economics of survival—big ideas balanced by the daily grind of an artist carving out space in today’s fractured industry. Kentucky’s songs, from “No More Tomorrows” to “The First Day of the Rest of Your Life,” are reminders that music can still hold weight when it speaks to survival and second chances.

👀 What you’ll hear

• Explore Kentucky’s philosophy on hope, death, and why meaning is self-assigned in a creative life
• Contrast nihilism, spite, and the daily practice of living with intention as an artist
• Revisit the glory days of artist development and why labels rarely take risks today
• Break down how homogenization and streaming culture reshaped music’s role in society
• Unpack why Kentucky just wants the right partners to help him keep writing until the end

🕰️ Chapters
00:00 Intro and welcome with Kentucky
01:00 The “make or break” question on what truly matters
03:30 Tolstoy’s Three Questions and daily meaning
07:00 Hope, possibility, and building your personal deck of cards
12:00 Thomas Ligotti, nihilism, and living in spite
19:00 Cormac McCarthy, death, and “die trying”
32:00 The starving artist myth and the need for support
37:00 Partnerships, publishing, and why labels fall short
43:00 From artist development to homogenized culture
50:00 Novelty, combinations, and the next musical shift
55:00 Streaming, AI, and the future of entertainment
01:02:00 Kentucky’s honest admission: the struggle for help and resources

🔗 Guest Links
https://iamkentucky.com/
https://www.instagram.com/i.am.kentucky/
https://www.tiktok.com/@i.am.kentucky

🔗 MAKE // BREAK & Host Links
https://open.spotify.com/show/5GDOUd909p7ir2W74M9teg?si=cbc7e01e13ba4a20
https://instagram.com/lowkeyhellish
https://tiktok.com/@lowkeyhellish

🔗 V13 Media Links
https://v13.net

Tell us in the comments: Do you think record labels should still invest in artist development?

(explicit language)

#MakeBreak #Kentucky #MusicBusiness

Episode 001 – Elan Mlgenovich | MAKE // BREAK

Authors of Fate make jagged, blackened metalcore out of Los Angeles. Guitarist Elan Mlgenovich joins MAKE // BREAK to discuss the EP “Seat’s Taken” with producer Taylor Young and the band’s earlier studio work with Steve Evetts. He explains how the group formed during COVID, what DIY touring looks like on the ground, and why chasing platform algorithms rarely helps heavy bands grow. We also get into practical social media habits that do work, from tagging peers to posting strong live clips, and the constant pull between posting and writing. If you want a clear look at how underground bands build real momentum today, this episode delivers.

👀 What you’ll hear

• Break down how Authors of Fate formed during COVID and built momentum in the DIY metal scene

• Explain why major labels chase sure things and how that shifts artist development today

• Share frustrations with Spotify algorithms and finding underground bands through Instagram

• Reveal the brutal realities of DIY touring, from no-shows to promoters who don’t deliver

• Debate the pressure on artists to be content creators versus staying true to making art

• Offer candid advice for bands: collaborate, stay humble, and keep pushing forward

🕰️ Chapters

00:00 Introduction and band background

02:00 Artist development and the major label model

03:30 Why DIY bands must be self-sufficient

05:00 Streaming algorithms and discovery struggles

07:30 Using Instagram to find and book bands

10:00 Word of mouth, tagging, and collaboration

13:30 Social media as community building

15:00 DIY touring challenges and no-show stories

18:00 Professionalism, humility, and separating pros from amateurs

20:00 Pay-to-play shows and shady promoters

22:00 Pressure to create nonstop content

25:00 Best band content and merch strategies

29:00 What kind of content actually excites fans

32:30 Parting advice for artists: don’t give up

🔗 Guest Links

https://linktr.ee/authorsoffate

https://instagram.com/authorsoffate

https://open.spotify.com/artist/4Ffxt9eZ7pQEiV9uRVaMdX

🔗 MAKE // BREAK & Host Links

https://open.spotify.com/show/5GDOUd909p7ir2W74M9teg?si=cbc7e01e13ba4a20

https://instagram.com/lowkeyhellish

https://tiktok.com/@lowkeyhellish

🔗 V13 Media Links

https://v13.net

Subscribe for more conversations and drop a comment: should bands prioritise content creation or focus on the art itself?

(explicit language)

#MakeBreak #AuthorsOfFate #MusicBusiness

Episode 013 – Scot Little Bihlman | MAKE // BREAK

Scot “Little” Bihlman is an Emmy Award-winning multi-instrumentalist, singer-songwriter, and SAG-AFTRA actor, best known as the drummer/vocalist in Grinder Blues alongside dUg Pinnick (King’s X). In Episode 013 of MAKE // BREAK with host Lance Marwood, he unpacks what it takes to last: choosing quality of life over noise, staying present through drumming and motorcycle riding, and protecting your creative identity in a culture obsessed with imitation. Little also gets real about touring pressure, the seductive comfort of sideman work, and why technique only matters if it serves the song, as he builds toward his next chapter under Little Bihlman.

👀 What you’ll hear

• Hear how four Emmys happened through timing, fit, and staying ready for the call
• Unpack why motorcycle riding and drumming force presence, and how that unlocks writing
• Learn the boundary he draws around tribute bands, authenticity, and scene culture
• Get a candid look at tour pressure, sideman perks, and the hidden costs of what’s next
• Compare technique to songwriting, and why songs are the only currency that lasts

🕰️ Chapters

00:00 Intro, Emmys, and the Little Bihlman pivot

01:29 Emmy awards and luck in film/TV placements

03:22 Finding your voice and honouring influences

06:52 Tribute bands, covers, and authenticity

09:16 Hollywood sets, Spider-Man, and staying grounded

13:42 LA vs Nashville quality of life for artists

17:43 Motorcycle meditation and staying in the now

24:08 Tour pressure and make-or-break moments

38:56 Sideman life vs solo career focus

45:24 Drumming book, teaching, and technique in service of songs

51:58 Link Wray, Audioslave, and music that moves the room

57:24 Heavy Head singles and the upcoming book

🔗 Guest Links

https://scotbihlman.com

https://instagram.com/littlebihlman

https://open.spotify.com/artist/2NNnYU4KcqqNMf1Qki92AP

https://youtube.com/channel/UCwJRSkgFax5H8XNsGRhQ0mA

🔗 MAKE // BREAK & Host Links

https://open.spotify.com/show/5GDOUd909p7ir2W74M9teg?si=cbc7e01e13ba4a20

https://instagram.com/lowkeyhellish

https://tiktok.com/@lowkeyhellish

🔗 V13 Media Links

https://v13.net

Subscribe for more, and comment: are you chasing chops or songs right now?

[Contains explicit language]

#MakeBreak #Bihlman #Touring

Episode 012 – Aaron Farrell | MAKE // BREAK

Welsh-born writer Aaron Farrell returns to MAKE // BREAK for a candid, high-signal conversation about discipline, identity, and creative survival. Author of The Lost and Found and the poetry collection Artbeat, The Ekphrastic Spastic, Aaron traces the path from lockdown essays and his “Violent Expression” column to an unflinching Barcelona manuscript, while reopening his work with V13. We get into stay-at-home parent realities, pandemic PPE and burnout, martial arts as a writing method, and why killing perfectionism is the only way forward. With Jung in one hand and Eastern philosophy in the other, Aaron makes a case for truthful prose, pragmatic publishing, and showing up when it’s hardest.

👀 What you’ll hear

• Trace the leap from lockdown columns to longform books without waiting for permission
• Compare discipline in martial arts to muscle memory in writing and creative practice
• Unpack honest fatherhood, neurodivergence, and why progress is jagged not linear
• Reframe perfectionism with pragmatic publishing habits you can start today
• Map the “violent expression” era to a new V13 chapter and concrete next steps

🕰️ Chapters
00:00 Cold open and return-guest banter

00:22 Who is Aaron Farrell now and why he’s back on MAKE // BREAK

03:05 Stay-at-home dad energy, sick kids, showing up anyway

05:22 PPE reality check and pandemic life in hospitals

08:31 Barcelona move, curfews, and starting over

12:18 Transmetropolitan, Spider Jerusalem, media cynicism

16:45 Violent Expression origin, truth-telling, culture shock

22:06 Self-publishing in lockdown, first books and columns

26:24 Beat of Barcelona draft, decadence and discipline

32:48 Style over fitting in, permission to write as yourself

40:03 Breaking down, autism context, rebuilding identity

55:43 Jung, sense vs nonsense, closing notes and next time

🔗 Guest Links

https://v13.net/tag/violent-expression

🔗 MAKE // BREAK & Host Links

https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/makebreak
https://instagram.com/lowkeyhellish
https://tiktok.com/@lowkeyhellish

🔗 V13 Media

https://v13.net

Subscribe for more and drop a comment: do film or game scores help your writing focus?

(explicit language)

#MakeBreak #AaronFarrell #Writing

Episode 011 – Dave Fowler | MAKE // BREAK

Dave Fowler is a Nashville-based bassist, producer, and songwriter whose career spans work with icons like Dolly Parton, Dr. John, Cinderella, and Billy Ray Cyrus. A sought-after live and studio player, he’s also the co-founder of GET JOE Records, a producer at Fowler–Wells Productions, and the force behind Running With Giants, his mentorship and clinic platform for musicians. In this episode, Dave joins Lance to unpack the realities of a lifelong career in music—from the discipline behind professional performance to the humility that keeps great players in demand—and what it really takes to build both longevity and legacy in an ever-changing industry.

👀 What you’ll hear

• Tracing Dave Fowler’s roots from Southern gospel to touring with Dolly Parton and Dr. John

• The truth about persistence and why “not quitting” is the only real career plan

• Inside Nashville’s studio culture and how pros record songs they’ve never heard before

• The moment Dave nearly quit music — and what pulled him back

• Lessons from decades in the industry: humility, discipline, and creative adaptability

• A look ahead to Dave’s upcoming memoir and his mentorship platform Running With Giants

🕰️ Chapters
00:00 Welcome + intro to Dave Fowler
02:00 Finding bass and early church influences
06:30 What separates musicians who last from those who don’t
08:00 The myth of “making it” and the persistence mindset
11:20 Lessons to his younger self and Nashville’s evolution
14:30 Inside the studio: how pros build songs on the spot
18:00 The bass player’s role: when to lead vs. blend in
24:40 Make-or-break moments and personal resilience
28:00 The story behind Dave’s upcoming book
33:30 Running With Giants and mentoring new artists
37:00 GET JOE Records, new projects, and Texas success stories
39:30 Final reflections + closing thoughts

🔗 Guest Links
https://davefowler.com
https://www.instagram.com/davefowler1963
https://www.youtube.com/@davefowlerbass
https://www.facebook.com/davefowlerbass
https://x.com/davefonbass

🔗 MAKE // BREAK & Host Links
https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/makebreak
https://instagram.com/lowkeyhellish
https://tiktok.com/@lowkeyhellish

🔗 V13 Media Links
https://v13.net

If this conversation hit home, subscribe and comment: what’s your definition of “making it” in music?

#MakeBreak #Fowler #MusicBusiness