Spotlight On is now . . . The Tonearm!

Episodes

Julianna Barwick & Mary Lattimore: Like Tears in Rain
April 5, 2026

Julianna Barwick & Mary Lattimore: Like Tears in Rain

Julianna Barwick and Mary Lattimore join The Tonearm to discuss 'Tragic Magic,' their debut collaboration recorded in nine days at the Philharmonie de Paris using instruments pulled directly from the museum's historic collection.
Bellbird: Montreal's Jazz Collective Heeds the Call
March 29, 2026

Bellbird: Montreal's Jazz Collective Heeds the Call

Claire Devlin and Eli Davidovici of Bellbird talk about the bird whose recorded cry became the foundation of 'The Call', the chordless sound that defines the quartet, and the political commitments embedded in the music.
Guest: Bellbird
Sam Wenc: The Experimental Language of the Pedal Steel Guitar
March 22, 2026

Sam Wenc: The Experimental Language of the Pedal Steel Guitar

The Philadelphia-based pedal steel player discusses ‘Language at an Angle’, his debut under his own name, and what Susan Alcorn taught him about tradition, freedom, and the instrument she loved.
Guest: Sam Wenc
Zeena Parkins: Invention, Loss, and the Living Harp
March 15, 2026

Zeena Parkins: Invention, Loss, and the Living Harp

From a Detroit high school full of concert grand harps to the experimental clubs of the East Village, Parkins traces the unlikely path that made her one of the most restless instrumentalists in contemporary music.
Michael Graves: The Patient Philosophy of Audio Restoration
March 7, 2026

Michael Graves: The Patient Philosophy of Audio Restoration

Five Grammys and a working museum of tape machines later, Osiris Studio's Michael Graves reflects on the ethics of restoration, the problem of artist intent, and why the work never stops surprising him.
Erik Hall: Multitracking the Minimalist Aesthetic
March 1, 2026

Erik Hall: Multitracking the Minimalist Aesthetic

The Michigan-based composer and multi-instrumentalist discusses Solo Three, his trilogy-closing collection of solo reinterpretations of works by Steve Reich, Glenn Branca, Charlemagne Palestine, and Laurie Spiegel.
Guest: Erik Hall
Patrick Smith: Bebop, Brass Bands, and a Bookstore
Feb. 22, 2026

Patrick Smith: Bebop, Brass Bands, and a Bookstore

With ‘Words Underlined’ out now on Lit Soc Records, saxophonist Patrick Smith talks about the trio format's peculiar difficulty, what he learned from Mark Shim in New York, and why Toronto lets him play everything.
Guest: patric
Stephen Vitiello: The Punk Attitude of Collaborative Sound Art
Feb. 15, 2026

Stephen Vitiello: The Punk Attitude of Collaborative Sound Art

From teenage punk guitarist to internationally exhibited sound artist, Vitiello reflects on his World Trade Center residency, the influence of Nam June Paik and Fred Frith, and treating every element—from architecture to collaborators—with equal respect.
Lawrence English: Capturing the Impossible Trio
Feb. 8, 2026

Lawrence English: Capturing the Impossible Trio

The Australian composer and Room40 founder discusses his new collaborative album 'Trinity' with Stephen Vitiello, his theory of relational listening, and why he spent eight years interrogating the meaning of live performance before returning to the stage.
Noah Franche-Nolan: Music-Making as Spiritual Practice
Feb. 1, 2026

Noah Franche-Nolan: Music-Making as Spiritual Practice

The JUNO-nominated Vancouver pianist and composer discusses his new trio album Rose-Anna, a record rooted in family, grief, and the quiet power of music passed down through generations.
Michael Hallsworth: Escaping the Hypocrisy Trap
Jan. 25, 2026

Michael Hallsworth: Escaping the Hypocrisy Trap

From Boris Johnson's pandemic parties to climate change denial, the author of 'The Hypocrisy Trap' traces how exposed inconsistency poisons trust and how societies can balance calling out harmful behavior with tolerating human imperfection.
John Mlynczak: Why NAMM Still Matters in 2026
Jan. 18, 2026

John Mlynczak: Why NAMM Still Matters in 2026

NAMM's president and CEO joins us to discuss the shift from traditional retail to influencer-driven content creation in the music industry and why preparing students to thrive in the future matters more than teaching techniques.
Patricia Brennan: Vibraphone Visions of the Universe
Jan. 11, 2026

Patricia Brennan: Vibraphone Visions of the Universe

From Mexican marimba traditions to astronomy-guided composition, the vibraphonist explains how her album 'Of The Near And Far' maps constellations onto the circle of fifths to generate raw material for genre-defying new work.
Phil Haynes: Banging the Drum for Liberty Now
Jan. 4, 2026

Phil Haynes: Banging the Drum for Liberty Now

The drummer and composer discusses how Liberty Now!. Free Country's first album in a decade, transformed from celebration into unintentional protest, shaped by Herb Robertson's death and a fracturing democracy.
Guest: Phil Haynes