Explore every episode of the podcast MAKE // BREAK
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elan Mlgenovich (Authors of Fate) on content, merch, and not giving up | 10 Jul 2025 | 00:34:16 | |
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 Subscribe for more conversations and drop a comment: should bands prioritise content creation or focus on the art itself? (explicit language) #MakeBreak #AuthorsOfFate #MusicBusiness | |||
| Brandon O’Neill on surviving DIY music and staying true to your art | 07 Oct 2025 | 01:13:03 | |
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://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 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 | |||
| Garrett Anthony Rice talks albums, authenticity, and the music business | 30 Sep 2025 | 00:59:04 | |
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 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 (ONE HUNDRED MOONS) on Hustle Culture and Artist Identity | 23 Sep 2025 | 00:57:33 | |
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 Subscribe for more and tell us in the comments: Should music’s value stand apart from money and career? (explicit language) #MakeBreak #OneHundredMoons #MusicIndustry | |||
| Jordan Holman (Kentucky) on Hope, Death, and Surviving as a Songwriter | 16 Sep 2025 | 01:06:01 | |
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
🕰️ Chapters 🔗 Guest Links 🔗 MAKE // BREAK & Host Links 🔗 V13 Media Links Tell us in the comments: Do you think record labels should still invest in artist development? (explicit language) #MakeBreak #Kentucky #MusicBusiness | |||
| Cousteau Christopher of Djentrified on going viral and confronting injustice | 17 Oct 2025 | 01:17:31 | |
Episode 002 – Cousteau Christopher | MAKE // BREAK Cousteau Christopher is the Santa Barbara musician behind Djentrified, a project fusing djent, metalcore, and deathcore with cinematic and political storytelling. His breakout single “This Song Shouldn’t Exist” went viral as a fundraiser for Palestinian relief, followed quickly by “Welcome to the Abyss” and “Harbinger.” With chart placements on Metal Contraband and NACC Heavy, Djentrified proved that independent heavy music can still cut through the noise. Yet, just as momentum built, TikTok banned Christopher’s account without explanation, cutting off 16,000 followers overnight. On MAKE // BREAK, he talks about resilience in the face of digital gatekeeping, the realities of DIY promotion, and why his music is designed as both warning and call to action. It is an honest account of what happens when heavy riffs collide with systemic resistance, and why artists must keep creating even when platforms try to silence them 👀 What you’ll hear
🕰️ Chapters 🔗 Guest Links 🔗 MAKE // BREAK & Host Links 🔗 V13 Media Links Tell us in the comments: would you choose comfort or conscience in today’s music business? (audio glitch in parts, explicit language) #MakeBreak #Djentrified #MusicIndustry | |||
| Ger Carriere on Wild Woman, Identity, and Creative Freedom | 21 Oct 2025 | 01:01:40 | |
Episode 008 – Ger Carriere | MAKE // BREAK Geraldine “Ger” Carriere is a Cree singer-songwriter, bestselling author, speaker, and the founder of Wild Woman Personal & Professional Development. Based in Saskatchewan, Ger’s work spans music, literature, and empowerment, each rooted in her mission to help women, especially Indigenous creatives, reclaim their voice and lead with purpose. Her recent singles Can I Be Her, Are You My Type, and Blessed in My Heels continue a run of soulful pop that balances strength with vulnerability. In this episode of MAKE // BREAK, Ger joins host Lance Marwood to talk identity, resilience, and the ongoing act of choosing yourself, again and again, in a world that often asks you to shrink. 👀 What you’ll hear
🕰️ Chapters 00:00 Opening reflections on love, fear, and purpose 01:20 Ger introduces herself in Cree and shares her origin story 06:00 Rejecting “niche down” advice and embracing creative duality 10:36 On identity, underdog energy, and reclaiming representation 16:18 Early influences from Tupac, Prince, and Tina Turner 23:41 The high-school moment that taught her to never shrink again 41:11 Surviving without safety nets and betting on herself 42:50 The making of Wild Woman and her newest singles 49:53 Vulnerability, personas, and authenticity in performance 52:39 Lessons from therapy on validation and self-worth 1:00:36 Closing thoughts on faith, fear, and finding your voice 🔗 Guest Links https://www.wildwomanwithin.me https://instagram.com/gercarriere https://tiktok.com/@gercarriere https://www.youtube.com/@GCARRIER23 https://open.spotify.com/artist/3fbfbBjMDl5zUeJXdmIn8g 🔗 MAKE // BREAK & Host Links https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/makebreak https://instagram.com/lowkeyhellish https://tiktok.com/@lowkeyhellish 🔗 V13 Media Links Subscribe and drop a comment: how do you balance being multifaceted without losing your core? (explicit language) #MakeBreak #Carriere #WildWoman | |||
| Robert Stahl breaks down indie publishing and short story craft | 14 Oct 2025 | 00:57:15 | |
Episode 007 – Robert Stahl | MAKE // BREAK Robert E. Stahl is the Dallas-based horror author behind Show Me Where It Hurts (JournalStone, 2025), a debut collection of 30 short stories and poems exploring grief, transformation, and the monstrous within. A former bartender turned writer and filmmaker, Stahl built his voice at the intersection of prose and comics, drawing on influences like Swamp Thing while developing a pragmatic editing and submissions routine. In this episode of MAKE // BREAK with host Lance Marwood, he breaks down the “rejection math” behind landing pro-market placements, the origins of that unforgettable teeth cover, and the mindset that carried him from first readers to a book deal and Texas tour. It’s equal parts craft talk, resilience playbook, and indie-publishing reality check. 👀 What you’ll hear
🕰️ Chapters 00:00 Why Show Me Where It Hurts and the iconic teeth cover 01:52 Rejections, first pro-market sales, contest experiences 04:29 Political horror and placing in Story Unlikely 06:20 Swamp Thing influence and Monkey’s Paw mechanics 10:18 Publishing gauntlet, grief, and finding JournalStone 13:28 Resilience mindset — “the action is the juice” 16:39 Blood onstage story and Halloween gig 17:50 Books that reset creatives — King, Pressfield, Gilbert 18:44 Comics craft — Moore, Hickman, Gaiman shaping horror voice 25:37 Contemporary horror influences — Jones, Ketchum, Barker 39:45 Top films — Hereditary, The Descent, Talk To Me 48:06 Editing, first readers, routine, and rejection-proof habits 🔗 Guest Links https://www.instagram.com/robert_e_stahl_author/ https://www.facebook.com/RobertEStahlAuthorhttps://x.com/RobertStahlTX 🔗 MAKE // BREAK & Host Links https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/makebreak https://instagram.com/lowkeyhellish https://tiktok.com/@lowkeyhellish 🔗 V13 Media Links If this helped, subscribe and tell us in the comments how you handle rejection in the publishing grind (explicit language) #MakeBreak #Stahl #HorrorWriting | |||