What It Takes To Be A Rockstar – Details, episodes & analysis

This week I talk with Emily Ashenden from the band 95 Bulls about her story with music, how her band got a booking agent and how they afford to tour. 

Find out more about 95 Bulls here:
https://www.95bullsnyc.com/
https://www.instagram.com/95bullsnyc/

Support the show

Edited, recorded, mixed and produced by Melissa Lucciola.

This episode is sponsored by SORRY Cables - rad and colorful quality instrument and microphone cables handmade in LA.

Intro song is called "I'm Starting a Podcast" by Tea Eater

Other music is by Pretty World

Teaser for our first episode with Emily Ashenden of 95 Bulls coming out on Tuesday, Sep 3 at 10 EDT. 

Support the show

Edited, recorded, mixed and produced by Melissa Lucciola.

This episode is sponsored by SORRY Cables - rad and colorful quality instrument and microphone cables handmade in LA.

Intro song is called "I'm Starting a Podcast" by Tea Eater

Other music is by Pretty World

This week I talk with Seth Applebaum of Ghost Funk Orchestra about how he brings an 8-11 piece band on tour, how he got his booker and label and how he makes it all work logistically and financially.

Find out more about Ghost Funk Orchestra at https://www.ghostfunkorchestra.com/

I recorded this interview via Zoom and you can watch that on Youtube here. 

Support the show

Edited, recorded, mixed and produced by Melissa Lucciola.

This episode is sponsored by SORRY Cables - rad and colorful quality instrument and microphone cables handmade in LA.

Intro song is called "I'm Starting a Podcast" by Tea Eater

Other music is by Pretty World

This week I am chatting with Ozzie Silva of Show Brain. Show Brain is a DIY non-profit organization in NYC that books free shows in different parks around the city. Ozzie has tirelessly put on incredible and consistently fun shows for the last couple years with epic lineups and has done a lot for the NYC music scene. He also is a drummer who fills in for lots and lots of bands on a regular basis, sometimes during the same shows he is organizing. I wanted to chat with him because he has been making a big impact on building community via music. I wanted to see what sparked the idea for starting Show Brain, what the behind the scenes looks like and what he envisions for the future. Enjoy!

You can watch this full episode on our Youtube here.

Learn more about or donate to Show Brain here.

Learn more about Ozzie here.

Check out my remaining Europe tour dates with Tea Eater (playing bass).

Check out my upcoming USA tour dates with Gustaf (playing drums). 

Support the show

Edited, recorded, mixed and produced by Melissa Lucciola.

This episode is sponsored by SORRY Cables - rad and colorful quality instrument and microphone cables handmade in LA.

Intro song is called "I'm Starting a Podcast" by Tea Eater

Other music is by Pretty World

This week I chat with Dylan Joyce of BALACLAVA, a "NYC trash rock" band. We chat about DIY recording, how he booked his own tours, coming back to music after taking a break and tour finances. They are currently on tour now in the US on the east coast so check them out if you can! 

BALACLAVA Tour Dates: 
NYC TRASH ROCK 
10/20 BALTIMORE
10/22 RICHMOND
10/23 ASHEVILLE 
10/24 MURFREESBORO
10/25 CARBONDALE
10/26 LOUISVILLE 
10/27 CINCINATTI
10/28 CLEVELAND

Check out their music here: https://balaclavanyc.bandcamp.com/album/have-a-taste

You can watch the whole episode on Youtube here - https://www.youtube.com/@WhatItTakesToBeARockstar

Check out my tour dates playing bass with Tea Eater in Europe here: www.teaeater.com

Support the show

Edited, recorded, mixed and produced by Melissa Lucciola.

This episode is sponsored by SORRY Cables - rad and colorful quality instrument and microphone cables handmade in LA.

Intro song is called "I'm Starting a Podcast" by Tea Eater

Other music is by Pretty World

This week I chat with Emma Welch, the bass player of the Brooklyn based bands SKORTS and Aggie Miller. I wanted to chat with Emma because she spent time playing huge shows in the band Sir Chloe while helping build SKORTS from the ground up. She has a unique perspective to offer from seeing and experiencing these two different sides of the music industry simultaneously. 

You can watch this whole episode on youtube here - 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kPPe1l2rUcs

Check out SKORTS here: https://skorts.bandcamp.com/
Check out Aggie Miller here: https://aggiemiller.bandcamp.com/
Check out Sir Chloe here: https://www.instagram.com/sirchloe/

Shoutout to Showbrain & Ozzie (mentioned in episode) - https://www.instagram.com/showbrain_/

**Vram is my bandmate in Gustaf in case you were wondering** 

Check out the album I mention that I made in the back of the tour van here - https://prettyworld.bandcamp.com/album/radiobraid

Support the show

Edited, recorded, mixed and produced by Melissa Lucciola.

This episode is sponsored by SORRY Cables - rad and colorful quality instrument and microphone cables handmade in LA.

Intro song is called "I'm Starting a Podcast" by Tea Eater

Other music is by Pretty World

This week is Part 2 with Zach Ellis from Dead Tooth. During this conversation we talk about finances, keeping relationships going through tour, staying healthy and the sacrifices he has made to do music. 

You can watch this episode on Youtube on our channel - https://youtu.be/ibPX5Twjpfo

Check out Dead Tooth here: https://deadtoothbk.bandcamp.com/

Check out the European Tea Eater tour dates here (I will be on bass!): https://www.teaeater.com/tourdates

Support the show

Edited, recorded, mixed and produced by Melissa Lucciola.

This episode is sponsored by SORRY Cables - rad and colorful quality instrument and microphone cables handmade in LA.

Intro song is called "I'm Starting a Podcast" by Tea Eater

Other music is by Pretty World

This week I'm talking with Zach Ellis from the Brooklyn based band Dead Tooth. We talk about the history of Zach's musical journey where he chats about how he started playing music, his move to NYC, booking tours on Myspace and showing up to gigs not knowing they've been cancelled. We also chat a bit about the modern day attention span and how he navigates that as a musician. Then he shares how he got his whole team including a label, a publisher, a manager and even a liquor company on board.

Catch Part 2 coming out next Tuesday, Oct 8th!

You can watch the full episode on my Youtube at - https://www.youtube.com/@WhatItTakesToBeARockstar

Check out Dead Tooth at https://deadtoothbk.bandcamp.com/

Check out the Tea Eater tour dates at https://www.teaeater.com/tourdates

Support the show

Edited, recorded, mixed and produced by Melissa Lucciola.

This episode is sponsored by SORRY Cables - rad and colorful quality instrument and microphone cables handmade in LA.

Intro song is called "I'm Starting a Podcast" by Tea Eater

Other music is by Pretty World

This week I'm talking again with LG from Thelma and the Sleaze. This time we talk about finances, breaking even on tour, being a woman in the music industry, vibrating drum stools and who she thinks the new Prince is. We also have a pretty hefty drum talk so strap in folks!! 

Check out LG's band here - https://thelmaandthesleaze.com/
And LG's podcast here - https://www.queenofshitmountain.com/

You can also watch this episode on Youtube on my channel - 
https://www.youtube.com/@WhatItTakesToBeARockstar

Edited, recorded, mixed and produced by Melissa Lucciola.

This episode is sponsored by SORRY Cables - rad and colorful quality instrument and microphone cables handmade in LA.

Intro song is called "I'm Starting a Podcast" by Tea Eater

Other music is by Pretty World

Support the show

Edited, recorded, mixed and produced by Melissa Lucciola.

This episode is sponsored by SORRY Cables - rad and colorful quality instrument and microphone cables handmade in LA.

Intro song is called "I'm Starting a Podcast" by Tea Eater

Other music is by Pretty World

This week I am chatting with LG from Thelma and the Sleaze about crusty crash spots, having street smarts when it comes to picking out and protecting your van, why she dove into music and if she's going to keep playing forever. We also cover a lot more including finances and setting boundaries and this is only PART 1! Part 2 is coming out next Tuesday. Enjoy! 

You can also watch this episode on Youtube on my channel - 
https://www.youtube.com/@WhatItTakesToBeARockstar

Support the show

Edited, recorded, mixed and produced by Melissa Lucciola.

This episode is sponsored by SORRY Cables - rad and colorful quality instrument and microphone cables handmade in LA.

Intro song is called "I'm Starting a Podcast" by Tea Eater

Other music is by Pretty World