The Tune Project Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

Carolyn is a Los Angeles-based singer-songwriter, fiddler, guitarist, and producer. After many happy years on the road as a side musician, she has blossomed as a solo artist since issuing her debut EP Tear Things Apart in 2020. Heralded as “hauntingly lovely” (Paste Magazine), you won’t want to miss a Carolyn Kendrick live performance.

After graduating from Berklee College of Music, Carolyn criss-crossed the country with her former duo project The Page Turners. She has shared the stage with beloved artists such as Darol Anger, Bruce Molsky, Aoife O’Donovan, Kaia Kater, Hannah Read, Margo Price, The Clements Brothers, and Jacksonport. She has played festivals such as Newport Folk Festival, Greyfox Bluegrass Festival, Savannah Music Festival, and won awards such as the Freshgrass ‘Best Duo’ Award, The Fletcher Bright Award, and was the Fall 2023 Composer In Residence at the University of the Pacific. 

In addition to her songwriting career, Carolyn is active in the Bluegrass and Old-Time fiddle scene and has produced and written music for the award-winning podcasts You’re Wrong About and You Are Good.

Her forthcoming album, Each Machine, is a collection of traditional and original political folk songs inspired by her time researching The Satanic Panic for the history podcast You’re Wrong About. These songs are modern, electric re-imaginings of hymns, murder ballads, pagan chanting, and even songs of devil-worship. The full album, both physical + digital copies, as well as an accompanying zine of behind-the scenes photography and essays, will be released December 6, 2024 on High Occulture Records.

https://www.carolynkendrick.com

Songs featured in the episode, in order of appearance:

“Devil’s Nine Questions”

"Leela"

"Perfect World"

Some of the topics we cover during our conversation today are:

- How history repeats itself and what we can learn from it from both a musical and humanity standpoint

- How songwriting and traditional instrumental music can and should coexist

- The intersection of folk music, religion, and politics

Rooted in tradition with an ear toward the future, contemporary folk duo Rakish embody earnest musical exploration and an infectious playfulness on their new album Now, O Now. Fiddler Maura Shawn Scanlin, acclaimed for her expressive playing, was raised in North Carolina’s Appalachian Mountains. Her songwriting and clawhammer banjo technique hint at regional old-time ballads. Further north, guitarist Conor Hearn grew up steeped in the venerated Washington, D.C. Irish music scene and developed a keen interest in literature and poetry. His setting of James Joyce’s poetry on the title track as well as “Lightly Come or Lightly Go” epitomizes the duo’s approach: the dextrous alchemy of the old and the new into something wholly Rakish. The pair’s deep musical connection and unbridled love for pushing traditional sounds forward is striking. Just listen to the fiddling on “765” featuring trancey electronic dance production by Jamie Oshima or the epic tune “The Morning Glory” which is set atop an evocative, melancholic drone. It’s clear Rakish refuses to be pigeonholed into one genre and are most comfortable occupying the inbetween. On Now, O Now , set to release Oct. 11, they journey through Celtic and Americana styles, deftly showcasing how to bring forth something new from the deep well of tradition.

Songs featured in this episode, in order of appearance:

- "Lonely Hotel Room"

- "765"

- "Lightly Come, or Lightly Go"

Some of the topics we cover during our conversation today are:

- The beauty of genre-crossing

- The thriving folk music scene in the Northeast U.S.

- Cross-generational collaboration as a distinctive feature of the folk music community.

https://www.rakishmusic.com/

https://www.instagram.com/rakishduo/?hl=en

Originally from New Jersey, Mike started piano lessons at age thirteen and has been performing and composing music ever since. After playing in many different musical groups in high school, he attended Berklee College of Music and graduated in 2015. After graduating, he moved to Nashville, TN to pursue a career in music.

Mike spent seven years as a lead vocalist and keyboardist for the Beatles tribute act Forever Abbey Road, and currently has a weekly residency playing parlor piano at the Urban Cowboy, and works as an accompanist for vocal students at both Trevecca Nazarene University and Lipscomb University. Mike is also currently focusing on accompanying and producing his own compositions under the moniker Letter H.

During this episode, Mike shares his experiences playing multiple roles within the music industry over the years, and how that led to him discovering his strengths. We also chat about impactful film scores, overcoming self doubt as an artist, and the importance of continuously learning as a creative.

Mike's Social Media:

Instagram - @mikecapmusic1, @letterhmusic

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7mqRjpo3dKqgOjMKRNHsDP?si=b1aa7eec8d064af3

I had a great time chatting with multi-talented artist, Gabe Baker, on this episode. During this episode, Gabe share’s his unique story of being bound for a career as a professional athlete in his youth, and allowing his life to be guided in a different direction after having the unique experience of being on a music reality TV show, along with lessons learned through grief from the passing of his mother in 2019. Gabe also talks about his music career being born during the Covid-19 pandemic, as well as being catapulted into Music City’s vibrant and competitive community, where he currently resides as a songwriter, performing artist, and studio session cellist. 

Gabe's Social Media & Music:

Instagram - @thegabebaker

Website - www.gabebaker.com

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/artist/0xqkIEMKtxLO5myBzErKWu?si=NsGsp3oVQyu7yP5cyJ17lg

Asher began classical violin training at the tender age of 2 and had performed with the Buffalo philharmonic by age 13.

His expertise in trans-genre improvisation has led him to a career as an in-demand soloist, performing at venues including Madison Square Garden, Hammerstein Hall, Lincoln Center, and the Jacob Javitz Center.  He has also been featured on PBS, and has made headlines on CNN, WABC, NBC and many other major news sources.

Asher is known for breakdancing across stages with his LED electric violin, in addition to performing as a DJ violinist, bringing his experience as a live performer and technical prowess as an audio editing and mixing guru to countless clubs and stages across the country.

https://www.asherlaub.com

https://www.asherlaub.com/store

"Atlantis": http://found.asherlaub.com/atlantis1

In this episode of The Tune Project Podcast, I'm talking with Max Nunes of the band 'Sundaes' about his journey to becoming a songwriter/musician, the evolution of his sound, and how to work more efficiently when writing and producing songs so as not to waste valuable time.

Max's Social Media & Music:

https://instagram.com/sundaesyummysundaes

https://sundaes.band

https://youtube.com/channel/UCPR0cy8PuhdGR5-4eGa6iSQ?

https://open.spotify.com/artist/7qiXFwby9N5MEUFATBy5cp?si=650CN_eeSw-GW6-HUPeBIQ

In this episode, I sat down with guitarist Ryan Casey to chat all things teaching music lessons, jazz, and the practical, not-so-glamorous side of the music industry.

Ryan Casey's website: www.ryancaseymusic.net

In this episode, I am talking to multi-instrumentalist Katelyn Buckley about getting her start in Nashville, and how she is carving her own path in a town filled with talent. 

Katelyn's Social Media:

@katelyn.buckley.music

facebook.com/katelynbuckleymusic

In part two of this episode, Kiran Gupta and I pick up with more music and more stories from his experiences working as a musician, composer, and more.

Kiran's Instagram: @mr.kiran.gupta

Piano solo featured in this episode: "Happy Thoughts" by Kiran Gupta, written for Kiran Gupta Cage Free

In this episode, I sit down with my friend, Kiran Gupta, to discuss his experience working in and seeing multiple angles of the music industry, and how his perspective and skills have evolved since living in Nashville.

Solo horn tune: Prelude To A Sun Still Rising by Kiran Gupta

Instagram: mr.kiran.gupta