Spotlight On is now . . . The Tonearm!

Episodes

James Falzone: joyful noise from the pain stick
May 30, 2024

James Falzone: joyful noise from the pain stick

The acclaimed clarinetist, improviser, and educator discusses his influences, music education, the nature of sound, and deconstructing the murder ballad in the duo Wayfaring.
Francesco Crosara: jazz journeys from Rome to Seattle
May 23, 2024

Francesco Crosara: jazz journeys from Rome to Seattle

The acclaimed jazz pianist, composer, and educator discusses his formative years in Italy, the vibrant jazz scene in the Pacific Northwest, and the rotating combos found on his excellent album, Circular Motion.
Kavita Shah: embracing the saudade of Cape Verde
May 16, 2024

Kavita Shah: embracing the saudade of Cape Verde

The award-winning vocalist, composer, ethnomusicology researcher, and educator discusses the musical journey that landed her in Cape Verde.
R.U. Sirius: inside the mind of a cyberdelic shaman
May 9, 2024

R.U. Sirius: inside the mind of a cyberdelic shaman

In our special 200th episode, the former editor of the seminal magazine Mondo 2000 opens up about his musical activities, how his view of technology has changed, and his enduring curiosity about the chaos all around us.
Markus Reuter: recording music across space and time
May 2, 2024

Markus Reuter: recording music across space and time

A fascinating discussion with the acclaimed German multi-instrumentalist about wrangling technology through constraints, how process differs from experimentation, and his time-jumping collaboration with Stefano Castagna, Sea of Hopeless Angels.
Hainbach: crafting soundscapes from forgotten relics
April 25, 2024

Hainbach: crafting soundscapes from forgotten relics

Experimental musician, YouTube personality, and excavator of rare, electronic sound-making artifacts — Hainbach delivers a fascinating look into his prolific musical activities.
Kevin Sun: emotion, technique, and the language of jazz
April 18, 2024

Kevin Sun: emotion, technique, and the language of jazz

The ever-active Brooklyn-based saxophonist joins us to discuss improvisation, honing compositions from the small stage, and his ambitious album project, The Depths of Memory.
Guest:Kevin Sun
Will Barnes: jazz impressions of the Welsh landscape
April 11, 2024

Will Barnes: jazz impressions of the Welsh landscape

On the album Source of the Severn, an accomplished guitarist from Wales conveys the beauty of the British countryside with his jazz quartet and visual artist Erin Hughes.
Lucky Lo: Swedish pop music with a twist
April 4, 2024

Lucky Lo: Swedish pop music with a twist

The renowned alt-pop singer, songwriter, and producer explores the lush, heartfelt sound of her brilliant new album The Big Feel.
Guest:Lucky Lo
Chalk: a relentless and genre-busting band from Belfast
March 28, 2024

Chalk: a relentless and genre-busting band from Belfast

The Irish electronic/rock hybrid trio talk about their quick rise, how film school informs their DIY ethos, and their explosive new EP, Conditions II.
Guest:Chalk
Sui Zhen: Sleepless at SXSW
March 21, 2024

Sui Zhen: Sleepless at SXSW

The innovative Chinese-Malaysian-Australian artist discusses her role in confronting SXSW's controversies, tackling motherhood on tour, and her ambitious new song, "Sleepless."
Nic Dembling: recalling new wave New York with Comateens
March 14, 2024

Nic Dembling: recalling new wave New York with Comateens

The Comateens member — AKA Nic North and Nic West — chats about founding the '70s new wave/punk band with Ramona Jan and the artistic merits of a challenging time for New York City.
Phil Haynes: a renowned jazz drummer chases the masters
March 7, 2024

Phil Haynes: a renowned jazz drummer chases the masters

The 'modernist drumming artist' chats about his experiences in the New York jazz scene, the responsibilities of a sideman, and his enlightening new memoir, Chasing The Masters.
Dave Wish (Music Will): The Kids Are Alright … With Music Education
Feb. 29, 2024

Dave Wish (Music Will): The Kids Are Alright … With Music Education

The celebrated music education innovator discusses the origin and motivations behind Music Will and how the organization teaches thousands to love playing instruments.
Guest:Dave Wish
Daniel Ögren: Nordic Psychedelia & Global Beats
Feb. 22, 2024

Daniel Ögren: Nordic Psychedelia & Global Beats

The prolific and genre-jumping Swedish music producer delves into his inspirations, processes, and exceptional work with bands like Dina Ögon.
Mareike Wiening: 'Reveal' Offers Jazz Rhythms of Hope
Feb. 15, 2024

Mareike Wiening: 'Reveal' Offers Jazz Rhythms of Hope

The renowned jazz drummer speaks about technique, influences, and the all-star quintet behind her latest album, Reveal.
Jonathan Shank of Terrapin Station Ent.: from Mickey Hart to Peppa Pig
Feb. 8, 2024

Jonathan Shank of Terrapin Station Ent.: from Mickey Hart to Peppa Pig

The founder of Terrapin Station Entertainment talks about immersive entertainment, IP-branded event production, and hitting it off with Mickey Hart.
Brendan Grey (Super Duty Tough Work): hip-hop's liberation through hedonism
Feb. 1, 2024

Brendan Grey (Super Duty Tough Work): hip-hop's liberation through hedonism

Super Duty Tough Work, a potent live hip-hop combo from Winnipeg, delivers to the feet and mind on the album Paradigm Shift.
Susan Alcorn: Nueva Canción on Pedal Steel
Jan. 25, 2024

Susan Alcorn: Nueva Canción on Pedal Steel

The exploratory pedal steel guitarist revisits a world of protest music on CANTO, her brilliant album with the ensemble Septeto del Sur.
Kris Davis: defining jazz's vanguard
Jan. 18, 2024

Kris Davis: defining jazz's vanguard

The innovative jazz pianist talks about her label, Pyroclastic Records, gender justice for composers, her connections to New York's improvisors scene, and recording an album at the Village Vanguard.
Guest:Kris Davis
Angelica Sanchez: jazz keys and nighttime creatures
Jan. 11, 2024

Angelica Sanchez: jazz keys and nighttime creatures

The acclaimed composer, educator, and pianist talks about her musical journey and corralling a jazz nonet for the album Nighttime Creatures.
Adam Rudolph: conjuring music’s global essence
Jan. 4, 2024

Adam Rudolph: conjuring music’s global essence

The legendary percussionist discusses his musical philosophy, what he learned working with the likes of Yusef Lateef, and Timeless, his album with Hu: Vibrational.
Ibrahim Maalouf: a conversation on harmony, heritage, and hope
Dec. 28, 2023

Ibrahim Maalouf: a conversation on harmony, heritage, and hope

The trumpet virtuoso talks about his father's inspiration, the Middle East's influence on symphonic music, how Bach and Mozart were punks, and the ideas behind his album Capacity To Love.
Roberto Di Gioia + Max Herre: Web Web’s experiments in electronic jazz
Dec. 21, 2023

Roberto Di Gioia + Max Herre: Web Web’s experiments in electronic jazz

The two musicians talk about the creative process, Munich's musical lineage, and the outstanding sounds found on Web Web's album WEB MAX II.