I welcome aboard a wonderful human, artist and friend, composer Tom Kitt. It’s a first for this podcast in inviting a guest back for a second appearance. As a Pulitzer, Tony and Emmy winning composer Tom and I discuss his recent album release, Reflect with it’s many collaborations. We also discuss his recent show, currently at Lincoln Center, Flying Over Sunset.

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Tom Kitt-IG

Cody Weaver joins Nick and discusses being a proud Florida denizen challenging Country music from far outside of Nashville’s boundaries. This fiercely independent country and I also discuss building a successful career outside of Nashville, his style of country music, his new single One About The Devil and influences such as Sturgill Simpson and Tyler Childers.

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Cody Weaver

Cory Henry joins Nick to discuss his newest record Something To Say which is nominated for a Grammy this year. Additionally, he has garnered three additional Grammy nominations for his contributions to Kanye West’s Donda and Eric Bellinger’s New Light. Cory is recognized by many as one of the preeminent Hammond B3 players in the world.

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Cory Henry

Jade Jackson and Aubrie Sellers join Nick to discuss having put their solo careers aside to collaborate as a duo and their new record Breaking Point. Jade and Aubrie join me to chat about their influences such as EmmyLou Harris, transitioning from solo artists to a duo and how songwriting can be so solitary.

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Jackson + Sellers

Nina Ljeti of the band Kills Birds speaks to Nick about their newest album Married. The Los Angeles Times calls it “a confrontational rock record” and with its ringing guitars it displays the best of punk music. We further discuss her songwriting process, her path to punk music via Nirvana, working at Dave Grohl’s Studio 606 and also being a music video/film director.

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Kills Birds

Dar Williams joins Nick this week. Dar has earned praise as one of America’s most talented singer-songwriters. Her new record I’ll Meet You Here is some of her best work yet. We discuss her writing rituals, authoring the book What I Found In A Thousand Towns with it’s observations for making small towns thrive again, the Boston music scene in the 90’s and her second book on songwriting.

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Dar Williams

Powerhouse singer Yola joins Nick to discuss her debut album Walk Through Fire which earned her four Grammy nominations including a Best New Artist nomination. Her latest album Stand For Myself is also nominated for a Grammy and produced by the Black Keys Dan Auerbach. With this record Lola declares that real change will come when we challenge our thinking and acknowledge our true complexity. We also discuss her complex and authentic songwriting, challenging all biases, collaborating with Brandi Carlisle, Joy O’lado kin and Natalie Hemby and her upcoming role as Sister Rosetta Tharpe in Baz Luhrman’s new musical drama Elvis.

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Yola

Uber producer Daniel Tashian joins Nick to discuss his new EP It’s A Snow Globe World filled with original holiday songs by guest artists such as Rita Wilson, Karen Elson, Patty Griffin and Sarah Buxton. Daniel has won a couple Grammys for his incredible collaborations with Kacey Musgraves. We further discuss his working with legends like T Bone Burnett and Burt Bacharach, the impact of legendary holiday song composers like Vince Guaraldi and Johnny Marks, the Grammy snub of Kacey Musgraves new album Star-Crossed from the country category and his own unique path to success in following his own compass.

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The Silver Seas

Neal Francis talks with Nick about his new record In Plain Sight. Learning piano at an early age, Neal has gone on to master the Yamaha CP70. He discusses how music redirected him from studying architecture, living in a church parish during Covid19, his songwriting practice and his deep appreciation for piano icons of another era.

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Neal Francis

Mike Carnes joins Nick to discuss what it's like to be a principal audio engineer for category disruptors such as Beats and electric truck company Rivian. From his time as head of audio at Beats/Apple onto his current role in designing complete audio environments for the innovative electric truck brand Rivian we discuss the challenges of audio quality in products big and small.

Che Pope joins Nick to discuss his many occupations: Grammy-winning Producer, Songwriter, Executive and Entrepreneur. His work on seminal records and with talent such as Ye, Dr Dre, Lauryn Hill, 50 Cent, Wyclef and The Weekend has led to many hits. We also discuss his new venture Wrkshp.

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Che Pope-Twitter

Che Pope- IG

Dr. Jeffrey Smith and Nick go back all the way back to high school. His current venture is a visionary participatory platform that tens of millions of music creators and fans use monthly.. CEO & Co-founder of Smule, Jeffrey discusses his vision for participatory music coming a decade prior to TikTok, Smule’s enormous global community, the continued challenges of processing speeds on audio and growing Smule into Silicon Valley’s favorite term, a unicorn company.

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Smule

David Turner speaks to Nick about his newsletter Penny Fractions, an overview of the music market as it stands near the end of 2021, the UK Parliamentary inquiry into the major labels and other insights affecting the global music streaming ecosystem and creators.

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Penny Fractions

Josh A joins Nick to chat about racking up over 700 million streams, his newest project Lonely Vibes, his efforts to fight being commoditized as an artist and his building a huge fan base as an independent artist.

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Josh A

Musician Dez Money speaks to Nick about mastering all aspects of recording, his new single Give Me All You Got and carving your own identity when your father was one of Rock N Roll’s legendary singers and performers.

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Dez Money

Culture War’s Alex Dugan comes aboard to discuss his band’s new EP Teche,, his segue from film school to music, alternative radio success and understanding TikTok.

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Culture Wars

Metal Blade Founder/CEO Brian Slagel joins Nick to chat about the highs and lows of starting a record company, remaining fiercely independent, launching careers of bands like Metallica, Slayer, Goo Goo Dolls and the extension of the Metal Blade brand to other endeavors.

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Metal Blade

Revered Singer-Songwriter James McMurtry joins Nick to discuss his new record The Horses And The Hounds, his very lyrical songwriting and the recent passing of his father, novelist Larry McMurtry.

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James McMurtry

Heartless Bastard’s singer-songwriter Erika Wennerstrom joins Nick to discuss songwriting, her new record A Beautiful Life and getting beyond shyness as a performer.

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The Heartless Bastards

Songwriter and producer Jenna Andrews joins Nick to have a conversation regarding her transition from artist to songwriter, contributing to huge pop hits by BTS, Benee & David Guetta and her own show The Green Room.

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Jenna Andrews