This week I am ranting in my van parked on a side street in NYC about the state of the music industry. I bring in recent news about Kate Nash starting an OF to finance her tours, and Caroline Rose leaking their own album on Bandcamp. I talk about the realities of the music industry currently and why many bands are choosing to go back to DIY, even if it looks like they got it all. This is the final episode of Season 2, see you in Season 3! You can watch this episode and others on Youtube...

This week I'm chatting with Randy Ojeda, a music attorney and a long time music manager. Randy has also done A&R for Symphonic Distribution and has hosted his own podcast, Cigar City Radio, among a ton of other things within the music industry. We chat about how he ended up becoming a music attorney and manager. He also gives some valuable insights and nuggets of wisdom including how bands can collect performance royalties for playing their own songs at shows, what the first thing a band ...

This week I'm chatting with Jenna Balfe and Dennis Fuller of Donzii, a "time-bending, post-punk vision: a unity of go-hard industrial bangers, darkly ambient balladry, [with] new takes on the funk traditions of No Wave" band. This band is super fun and they keep it weird in such a good way! We chat about how they met on an island and started the band, how they feel about social media within the music world, their move to LA from Miami, the sketchy things they have done to get to shows a...

This week I'm chatting with my bandmates Tarra Theissen and Vram Kherlopian of Tea Eater, Gustaf, MamajoeVramajoe, Francie Moon and more!! We chat about how much it costs to tour Europe/the UK, how they have been building a cult following and how much they love the color purple. These two have traveled the world playing music in "projects of varying degrees of investments and returns" and have a lot of insight into the music industry, DIY or not. Enjoy!! Check out Tarra and Vrams' projects he...

This week I am chatting with Ryan Smith of the band Crusasis. This episode hits super close to home cause Ry is my boyfriend and bandmate, but he has a really interesting perspective with music because he has played many different instruments in many different genres in many different ways. He's done: Jazz/Wedding/R&B gigs on saxBusking in NYCHired gun gigs on drumsSinging/screaming/drumming in a DIY metal bandTouring in the US and EuropeSinging and playing guitar in CrusasisMonths ...

This week I am chatting with Charles Ellsworth, an incredible songwriter, podcaster and filmmaker originally from Arizona who has toured most of his adult life. Chuck tells me stories about living in his van while being flat broke to years later getting a full time job working with LCD Soundsystem. We chat about how he learned guitar in the back of a furniture store, his movie-worthy travel stories and the realities of choosing a life in the arts. You can also catch a glimpse of his dog Banjo...

This week I am chatting with Katy Black (guitar/vox) and Casey Hanson (bass) of Spoon Benders, a heavy fuzzy psychy garage psych band from Portland, Oregon. We chat about how they got into music, how they got their van stolen multiple times, their upcoming plans to tour Europe and how they feel about big vs. small venues. We also chat about if they have other jobs, their life on the road and how they got their EURO booking agent. Enjoy! Check out Spoon Benders here. Check out my playlist o...

This week I talk with Lowell Hobbs of Tongues of Fire about DIY touring, recording in a garage-turned-studio, opening for Modest Mouse and turning down a well paying wedding gig to be able to tour. We also talk about how he tries to get creative and have fun with marketing, how he once sent 100+ emails and didn't hear back from anyone, and how he keeps staying persistent. He also gives some tips and tricks for how to not piss off a soundperson. Enjoy! About the podcast: Host and musician Mel...

This week I chat with Haley Dahl of Sloppy Jane about how she got into music via acting and how she was able to bring up to 14 people around on tour. We also talk about how she made a record in a cave, how she turns goals into smaller bite sized steps and how she affords it all. Check out Sloppy Jane here: https://www.sloppyjane.land/ Support Haley's Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/haleydahl Support the show Edited, recorded, mixed and produced by Melissa Lucciola. This episode ...

This week I chat with Tall Juan about his backstory of how he got into music, his move to the US from Argentina, how he got into recording and having a studio, and why he chooses to not really tour these days. We also chatted about how he managed to get a booker and to get 20+ people to play on his recent album, Racoon Nights. Check out more on Tall Juan here: https://talljuan.com/ Watch other full episodes of this podcast on Youtube here: https://www.youtube.com/@WhatItTakesToB...

Hi! This week is a little different - I am doing a short recap of what we covered so far and giving a quick update about the next season for this podcast. Today I chat a little bit about my own thoughts as a working musician, while fresh on back to back tours in Europe and the USA. This podcast was inspired by a quote made by Caroline Rose which I do read to you all. Thanks for tuning in to Season 1! Season 2 will be out as soon as possible :). If you have any questions, comments, concerns yo...

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 m...

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 thei...

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...

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, recor...

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....

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/@Wha...

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 s...

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 color...

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 P...