Music Is Art Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

We’re back! After a very long break we’re creating podcasts again, and we’re starting back with a 2024 year-in-review. With tracks from each of our releases over the last year, we’ve created our first show back with over an hour of listening.

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02:08 – A New Space Revealing | Craig Padilla & Zero Ohms | To Sleep On Stellar Winds

14:36 – Beyond The Observable | Time Being | Hidden Structures

21:46 – Bristlecone | Hollan Holmes | Sacred Places

26:46 – Storm Is Coming (At Walvis Bay) | Sverre Knut Johansen | Still Time

36:16 – The Desert Mind | Dark Sky Alliance | Interdwell

41:44 – Heart of the Warrior | Deborah Martin & Erik Wøllo | Kinishba

46:16 – Glacier (20th Anniversary Remaster) | Deborah Martin & Cheryl Gallagher | Tibet (20th Anniversary Remaster)

52:52 – Reflections on a Moonlit Lake | Rudy Adrian | Reflections on a Moonlit Lake

57:26 – The Sleepy Hills 4 | Rudy Adrian | Beyond The Sleepy Hills

1:06:16 – A Treasured World (Single) | David Helpling & Jon Jenkins

June and the beginning of summer bring warmer temperatures. So warm, in fact, that the intense heat wave we’ve had here at SPM NE has us sheltering in the AC of the studio where we’ve been spending the month thinking about Improvisation. How do artists think about those moments of uncertainty and unexpected opportunity? Do some artists embrace it only when it results in something great, or do they make it a core part of their creative process?

This episode, we’re joined by recording artists Howard Givens, Craig Padilla and Eric Jensen (otherwise known as Massergy) for a discussion about improvisation, spontaneity, “happy accidents,” the space between the notes – and what all of that teaches them about themselves as artists and humans.

Listen in on this Interview Edition:

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00:00 – Intro

00:42 – Welcome / VO

03:09 – Introductions

04:10 – Improv / Spontaneity in the creative process: Craig Padilla

05:50 – Improv / Spontaneity in the creative process: Eric Jensen

10:30  – Improv / Spontaneity in the creative process: Howard Givens

17:50 – “Happy Accidents” and mistakes leading to new ideas

22:22 – Inspiration from film and acting (h/t to Kubrik)

24:04 – Create for yourself, not results (h/t to Rick Rubin)

27:10 – Improvisation’s “elastic” structure

29:05 – “The blank canvas” (music vs visual)

32:57 – The spiritual aspect of collaboration in the flow state

37:48 – Creating music in nature (watch out for owls)

41:58 – What makes a piece finished?

47:29 – In the ear of the listener

53:35 – The gift of Craig’s Holiday house performances (and the limitations)

59:34 – What has improvisation taught you?

01:05:15 – Lightening Round 1: Name a track – Craig (Howard Givens & Craig Padilla: A Step Achieved)

01:06:55 – Lightening Round 1: Name a track – Eric (Massergy: Fire Opal)

01:08:38 – Lightening Round 1: Name a track – Howard (Brain Laughter: The Other Side (of Night))

01:13:14 – What it teaches us about being human

01:17:51 – Lightning Round 2: Name one thing that inspires (gear or not) – Howard: Everything

01:20:50 – Lightning Round 2: Name one thing that inspires (gear or not) – Craig: Modular synths

01:22:42 – Lightning Round 2: Name one thing that inspires (gear or not) – Eric: The process itself

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More from Howard Givens: https://spottedpeccary.com/artists/howard-givens/

More from Craig Padilla: https://spottedpeccary.com/artists/craig-padilla/

More from Massergy: https://spottedpeccary.com/artists/massergy/

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Video Edition >

May is Mental Health Awareness Month — and it’s also when we celebrate Mother’s Day. That got us thinking about the deeply emotional, nurturing music created by the women on the Spotted Peccary label. It doesn’t feel like a coincidence. So this month, we’re kicking off a new series called Critical Listening to explore that connection.

In Critical Listening, we’ll explore music through the lens of themes, ideas and concepts all drawn from the music in our deep catalog.

For this first episode, we’re highlighting the women of Spotted Peccary — their rich, expressive music and its ability to quiet the mind and offer a break from the chaos of everyday life.

We’ll hear music from Deborah Martin, Madhavi Devi (Cheryl Gallagher), Jill Haley and Catherine Marie Charlton.

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00:00 – Intro / VO

02:23 – Deborah Martin | Aurora | Under The Moon

06:57 – About Deborah Martin

07:42 – Deborah Martin | Metamorphic | Eye Of The Wizard

14:49 – Deborah Martin | Blue Lake | Deep Roots, Hidden Water

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21:29 – About Madhavi Devi (Cheryl Gallagher)

22:33 – Madhavi Devi | Jade Breeze | The Truth Of Being

33:48 – Madhavi Devi | Breakthrough | The Truth Of Being

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38:38 – About Jill Haley

39:35 – Deborah Martin & Jill Haley | Earth Stone Water Sky | The Silence Of Grace

42:23 – Deborah Martin & Jill Haley | Into The Quiet | Into The Quiet

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50:40 – Deborah Martin & Cheryl Gallagher | Seeker and Sought | Tibet (20th Anniversary Remaster)

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57:40 – About Catherine Marie Charlton

58:40 – Weingarten-Charlton | Refuge | Where There Is Light

01:01:11 – Weingarten-Charlton | 5 AM | Where There Is Light

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Video Edition >

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• Mental Health America (MHA): https://mhanational.org/
• National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI): https://www.nami.org/
• National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH): https://www.nimh.nih.gov/ 

Helplines and Crisis Support: 

• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 988

• Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741

• NAMI HelpLine: 1-800-950-NAMI (6264) 

• FindTreatment.gov: https://findtreatment.gov/

• SAMHSA National Helpline: https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/national-helpline

• Mental Health First Aid: https://www.mentalhealthfirstaid.org/ 

We welcome Spotted Peccary recording artists and collaborators David Helpling and Eric “the” Taylor to the podcast, along with photographer, creator and teacher David Behringer to talk about the amazing macro-photography and video he contributed to their latest release, The Precious Dark.

We dive deep into David Behringer’s macro-photography approach on the streets of Nagoya, Japan, and geek-out over how the visual and musical aspects of projects impact one another. We also tangent to talk about the love/hate we have for AI, Behringer’s Instagram stardom, and the time Helpling and Taylor spent in the studio creating their recent record.

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00:00 – Intro / VO

01:41 – The Setup | SPM / “Music Is Art” and why the visuals matter

04:39 – The Precious Dark: concept and visuals

09:09 – David Behringer’s photography background and the macro approach

16:00 – The photos as a “Deep Viewing” experience vs music as “Deep Listening” experience

19:00 – The   “Produced Entirely by Humans” ethos

23:17 – The “AI factor”

25:11 – The Listening Party experience

30:05 – The Dark Sky Alliance connection

31:15 – Working together in Deep Exile

36:12 – Differing opinions / unique perspectives / learning from each other

37:29 – How it started vs how it’s going

41:27 – “Your images look like my music” – better call mom.

42:47 – “The Precious Dark” video: telling the story thru David Behringer’s lens

48:50 – Gratitude for new eyes and ears / leaving a legacy

51:40 – The “Instagram factor” – David Behringer blew up my phone

53:07 – The music and visuals are forever connected through love

56:35 – Immersion colors mindsets, neon synthwave and getting lost in the “atmosphere”

01:03:28 – Studio session twister, cussing and “chasing the truth”

01:05:29 – Collective creative spirit and our precious time

01:07:16 – Bi-coastal / global / dimensional time travel via small magical moments

01:11:45 – Feeling the air move and experiencing the music with your whole self

01:13:52 – Favorite track picks: David Helpling – We Rise In A Harmonious System (excerpt)

01:16:16 – Favorite track picks: Eric “the” Taylor – The Ice Has Dreams (excerpt)

01:18:24 – Favorite track picks: David Behringer – The Precious Dark (excerpt)

01:22:23 – The Digital Booklet

01:26:27 – What’s next? More music? Interviews?

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Get The Precious Dark >

Download the Digital Booklet >

Follow David Behringer on Instagram >

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Video Edition >

As our Tucson residency comes to a close, we reflect on our time in the desert with a new-found appreciation for the deeply profound lessons the landscape can teach us about our place within it. We were struck by the “slow time” rules that desert growth seems to be governed by – the way its incredible vibrancy appears to operate in near silent suspension.

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Continuous Mix:

00:00 – Intro / Desert Walk-and-Talk

03:25– Michael Stearns & Ron Sunsinger | Sendero | Sorcerer

05:51 – Rudy Adrian | Desert Realms | Desert Realms

13:33 – Betrand Nadel | For Strength & Vision, Part II * Vision | Mohave

17:36 – Deborah Martin | Gray Sky | Under the Moon (Special Remastered Edition)

22:49 – Steve Gordon & Deborah Martin | Heart of Fire | Ancient Power

27:27 – Frore & Shane Morris | Calling Down the Sun | Eclipse

36:02 – Terra Ambient | Sandstorm Dreaming | The Gate

44:46 – Deborah Martin | The Strength of Stones | Deep Roots, Hidden Water (Remastered)

49:23 – Dean De Benedictis | Blue Mesa | Salvaging the Present

55:52 – Byron Metcalf & Mark Seelig with Steve Roach | Deep Time Dreaming | Wachuma’s Wave

1:06:17 – Frore, Shane Morris | Lost in Wonder | Horizon

1:15:01 – Massergy | El Viajero | Fire Opal

1:20:05 – John Gregorius | Wonder | In Awe

1:24:37 – Erik Wøllo | Sedona | Blue Sky, Red Guitars

1:30:10 – Deborah Martin & Erik Wollo | Between Worlds | Between Worlds

1:35:32 – Darshan Ambient | Waiting On A Dead Man’s Horse | Dream In Blue

1:40:58 – Jeff Greinke | Falling Sky | Other Weather

1:46:02 – David Helpling & Jon Jenkins | The Same Sky | The Crossing

1:51:40 – Dark Sky Alliance | The Desert Mind | Interdwell

1:57:02 – Jon Jenkins | Zzyzx Road | Beyond City Light

2:03:44 – Rudy Adrian | Saguaro Silhouette | Desert Realms

2:11:00 – Brain Laughter | The Other Side (Of Night) | In The Land of Power

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Video Edition >

We mark the one year anniversary of the release of Kinishba, the ongoing collaboration from Deborah Martin & Erik Wøllo, that celebrates the cultures, traditions and lives of the Apache people of the American Southwest.

Hear the artists themselves describe the creative process and inspiration behind their “musical archeology” project that involved Apache tribal members and deep storytelling.

Along with more recent music from Kinishba, we’ll also hear music from their earlier collaboration, Between Worlds.

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00:00 – Intro / VO

02:26 – Deborah & Erik | Discovering Kinishba: Project origins / Between Worlds

– 04:00 – Distant Voices | Between Worlds

09:07 – Ancestral Whispers | Between Worlds

14:03 – Canyonland | Between Worlds

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18:57 – Track ID / VO

19:17 – Deborah & Erik | Discovering Kinishba: Further exploration

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21:07 – Prayer Song | Kinishba

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24:49 – VO: Vocal Additions from Deborah Martin

25:26 – Deborah & Erik | Discovering Kinishba: Adding vocals on Kinishba

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27:58 – Creation Story | Kinishba

33:07 – Voices of Nature | Kinishba

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36:38 – Track ID / VO

36:48 – Deborah & Erik | Discovering Kinishba: Telling the story of time and place

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41:30 – Burial Ground | Kinishba

46:54 – Fort Apache Meadowlarks | Kinishba

52:17 – Life Spiral | Kinishba

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55:37 – Track ID / VO

57:06 – Deborah & Erik | Discovering Kinishba: Collaborating to honor a people and their stories

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Video Edition >

As we put the finishing touches on new music from Phillip Wilkerson & Chris Russell and AeTopus, we listen back to music from their earlier releases on Spotted Peccary, and premiere some tracks from their upcoming releases. We’ll hear music from Phillip and Chris’s Imaginary Realities, and first listens of music from AeTopus’s iota.

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00:00 – Intro

01:56 – Far Past | Phillip Wilkerson & Chris Russell | Vague Traces

06:30 – Deep Lane | Phillip Wilkerson & Chris Russell | Dark Measures

15:42 – Faring Forward | Phillip Wilkerson & Chris Russell | Dark Measures

20:20 – Memento | AeTopus | Cup

24:58 – Beam | AeTopus | Cup

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Music Premiere

31:17 – Manifesting Presence | Phillip Wilkerson & Chris Russell | Imaginary Realities

38:54 – Abandoning Desire | Phillip Wilkerson & Chris Russell | Imaginary Realities

53:01 – Wave Hello | AeTopus | iota

57:25 – Finespun | AeTopus | iota

How does being in the same room—feeding off each other’s energy in real time—elevate the creative process? And what happens when two very different unique musical voices blend together, creating something new and beautiful?

This episode, we’re joined by Ambient Electronic veteran Deborah Martin and renowned oboist and multi-instrumentalist Jill Haley for a discussion about their upcoming collaborative album “Rendering Time.” We discuss the magic of co-creating in studio together, the seamless blending of acoustic and synthetic sounds from distinct artistic worlds, moments of discovery, and what these elements might reveal about the listening experience.

Listen in on this Interview Edition:

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00:00 – Intro

02:27 – Surprising intersection of unique musical paths

10:14 – Rendering Time is a little different than The Silence of Grace, Into The Quiet

17:50 – “Rendering Time” – What’s with the name?

25:29 – Working together in the studio

41:02 – Deer hooves, primordial howling and other things outside the comfort zone

45:15 – Changed by working together

52:00 – What can listeners expect to hear on Rendering Time?

54:55 – Track-by-track conceptual focus

01:01:00 – Wrap up

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Music Preview – Rendering Time

01:02:01 – Deborah Martin & Jill Haley | From Source | Rendering Time

01:07:36 – Deborah Martin & Jill Haley | Soaring | Rendering Time

01:11:14 – Deborah Martin & Jill Haley | Secrets of the Talking Trees | Rendering Time

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Video Edition >

Drifting in with the warmth of the season, our Summer 2025 CMX is a continuous mix born of sun-drenched days, still waters, and the golden hush of twilight. These handpicked tracks flow through light and shadow — a soundtrack for lingering July afternoons and the quiet pull of the August night. As the sky deepens and the stars emerge, let this mix accompany your search for wonder, reflection, and the unseen magic that stirs just beneath the surface.

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00:00 – Intro / VO / Mark Rownd | At the Edge of Calm Waters – II | Painting Twilight

01:41 – Deborah Martin, Greg Klamt & Mark Rownd | Shimmers | Convergence

09:37 – AeTopus | Sunny | iota

15:45 – Darshan Ambient | Acre of Sun | Autumn’s Apple

22:20 – John Gregorius | The Expansive Sky | Full Of Life

27:48 – Matthew Stewart | A World Bathed In Sunlight | A World Bathed In Sunlight

32:52 – Jeff Greinke | A Stretch of Sun | Other Weather

37:16 – Craig Padilla & Marvin Allen | Sunflowers in the Wind | Weathering the Storm

41:45 – Ben Cox | Grebe | On Water

50:17 – Tom Eaton | The Slow River | How It Happened

59:00 – Dark Sky Alliance | Warm Inlet | Interdwell

01:05:11 – David Helpling | Waves Dream of Breaking | IN

01:12:16 – Northcore | Nocturne | Desatero

01:17:43 – Rudy Adrian | Moonlit Beach (for Jeff) | As Dusk Becomes Night

01:22:38 – Chronotope Project | The Scent of Evening Flowers | Dawn Treader

01:29:28 – Darshan Ambient | Lingering Day | Lingering Day: Anatomy Of A Daydream

01:35:46 – Erik Wøllo | Summer Tommorow | Guitar Nova

01:38:33 – Jon Jenkins | Zzyzx Road | Beyond City Light

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Video Edition >