Low Profile with Markly Morrison
by Markly Morrison
Low Profile blends music and oral history interviews with the folks who have given us important music and have somehow evaded the spotlight. Markly Morrison is an audio journalist and independent musician in the exotic city of Olympia, Washington, where the program airs Fridays at 4pm on KAOS 89.3 FM and in podcast form via the Ruinous Media network. Dive deeper into the episodes at http://www.lowprofilepodcast.com
Episodes
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89. Anne-Tina
Today, we’re examining a hidden gem from 1984 lovingly crafted by a nineteen year old keyboardist living in Denmark by the name of Anne-Tina, whose debut album was reissued in 2025 on Frederiksberg Records. To help us explore this record, I’m thrilled to introduce our guest host, Ashley Eriksson,...
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88. Shudder To Think
After moving to D.C. in 1985, then 16-year-old Craig Wedren helped shape Shudder To Think into a standout act within the Dischord Records scene, evolving from a raw hardcore-adjacent sound into a complex style that eventually earned the respect of Ian MacKaye. The band pivoted to Epic Records in...
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Kento Oiwa - Olympia Music History Project
Musician Kento Oiwa interviewed by Markly Morrison for the Olympia Music History Project. Formed in the mid-1990s by Japanese immigrants Kento Oiwa and Michiko Swiggs, IQU was a group unlike anything folks in Olympia–or anyplace else, for that matter–had ever witnessed.. I spoke to Kento in a…
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Low Profile Classic: Swamp Dogg
Swamp Dogg is coming to Olympia this weekend 7/13/2025! First, he'll be performing at Scherler Sundays, it's a free show that starts at 3pm. After that, Olympia Film Society will be hosting a free 8pm screening of the new documentary Swamp Dogg Gets His Pool Painted at the Capitol Theater in...
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Pat Maley - Olympia Music History Project (Bonus)
Today, instead of your usual Low Profile programming, I’m sharing an interview I conducted with Pat Maley in 2023 for the Olympia Music History Project. The whole transcript is available at olympiamusichistory.org . Pat and I are discussing the history of Yo Yo Recordings, a studio and record…
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87. Dick El Demasiado (Season Finale)
When I first developed an interest in rough-around-the-edges cumbia music, a friend (thanks Matt!) introduced me to the music of Dick El Demasiado, purveyor of “cumbias lunaticas.” Over the years I’ve managed to glean a bit more about him, then I recently saw a documentary about him called Dick...
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Olympia Music History Project: John Foster
It’s been a minute since I’ve put out a new show, and so I thought maybe I’d let you in on what has been keeping me so busy. A couple years ago, I started working on an oral history project funded by the city- appropriately titled The Olympia Music History Project. We (myself, Mariella Luz and...
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Margo Guryan (Revisited)
It's an election day bonus episode! Today we’re gonna be digging way back in the archive to episode 4: Focusing on Margo Guryan. This was recorded in early 2019, when I was still figuring out this show’s format. At that time, it consisted of panelists with a shared interest (Andrew Dorsett and...
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86. April March
If there was such a thing as the American ambassador to 60s French Pop it would have to be Elinor Blake, better known as April March. Elinor began her professional career in the world of animation back in the early 80s before she took on the April March rock and roll alter-ego. You’ve probably...
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85. Chris Schlarb of Psychic Temple
Psychic Temple is the extended-family project of Chris Schlarb, the proprietor of the retro-chic Big Ego studio in Long Beach, California. Chris is an old friend of mine, going back to the turn of the century when I lived for a brief period time in Long Beach. This episode is being released…
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84. Bob Log III
Bob Log III is a one man band from Tuscon, Arizona. He tends to tour at least half the days of the year all over the planet, bringing a party, and doing it all by himself, ever since his old band Doo Rag broke up while on tour with Ween back in the 1990s. Nowadays, when Bob's’s not on the road…
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83. African Head Charge
Bonjo Iyabinghi Noah is the percussionist and vocalist behind African Head Charge, the experimental dub project he co-founded with legendary studio wizard Adrian Sherwood in the late 1970s. With dozens of albums to his credit, he’s been established as an influential and singular performer with a...
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82. Danielson
The band Danielson started when Daniel Smith worked with his siblings to satisfy a requirement for his senior thesis three decades ago. If you’re not familiar with their music, one thing you’ll notice throughout today’s show is that nobody else sounds anything like them. Daniel and I are talking...
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81. Mayo Thompson
Mayo Thompson is the founding member of The Red Krayola, an experimental rock group that has existed in various formations since 1966. He’s collaborated with The Raincoats, Pere Ubu, and the Fall as a record producer, is an active visual artist, and has recently published his second novel, “After...
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Questionable Music at KAOS (Patreon snippet)
Markly brings his weekly pub trivia game "Questionable Music" to the radio in this exciting segment from the new two-hour Patreon release featuring Markly Morrison and Jack Habegger being interviewed by KAOS station manager DJ Jonny H. Full show available at patreon.com/lowprofile Play…
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High Llamas
Friend of the show Sean O’Hagan returns to the Low Profile to discuss “Hey Panda,” the first release from The High Llamas in eight years. When we last spoke in 2021, he had dropped the High Llamas moniker and forged a new path under his given name, embracing more contemporary influences. In the...
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80. Lora Logic of X-Ray Spex and Essential Logic
Once upon a time in England, a teenager named Susan Murphy brought her saxophone to audition for a new punk band called X-Ray Spex- a group that was not looking for a sax player. Despite that fact, she made the cut, and like her fellow new band mates, she adopted a stage name: Lora Logic was…
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Bonus: James Spooner on Afro Punk, The High Desert, and Black Punk Now!
James Spooner is a writer, filmmaker and visual artist from Southern California. He grew up as one of two black punk rockers in the small town of Apple Valley, and he wrote a critically acclaimed graphic novel about his experience called “The High Desert,” released in 2022, twenty years after the...
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79. Death (the band from Detroit)
About fifty years ago, three brothers started a garage band in Detroit. Their sound was forward-thinking and ferocious, and their band name – Death – played no small part in killing their music career. That didn’t stop them from doing what they loved, in private, where they amassed dozens of…
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BONUS: Brooke Wentz on "Transfigured New York: Oral Histories From Experimental Artists and Musicians, 1980-1990"
Who smoked more: academics like John Cage, La Monte Young and Vladamir Ussachevsky- or the underground scenesters, like Glenn Branca, Arthur Russel and Laurie Anderson? Why is turntablist Christian Marclay on the cover of "Transfigured New York," but not in the book, even though she interviewed…
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78. Vashti Bunyan
When I started this show five years ago, I made a short list of artists I wanted to feature. Near the top of that list was the British musician Vashti Bunyan. Vashti Bunyan released her beautiful album “Just Another Diamond Day” in 1970, and it was almost immediately buried in time. She’d had her...
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Scherler Sundays: Gun Outfit, Amps for Christ, Blues Faeries
On this year's final installment of highlights from the Scherler Sundays live series, headlining act Gun Outfit is a twangy , dreamy rock band that started in Olympia in the mid-aughties, and relocated to Los Angeles several years later. Carrie and Dylan still have family around these parts, so...
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Scherler Sundays: Morgan & The Organ Donors, XOHNO, Chance of Ghosts
In this eighth installment of highlights from 2023’s Scherler Sundays live series, we have another all-Olympia showcase. This time, we hear performances and stories from Morgan and the Organ Donors, XOHNO, and Chance of Ghosts. The MODs feature Sara Peté's soft dreamy vocals and rhythmic 60s…
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Low Profile classic: Cornershop
Recorded at the beginning of the 2020 lockdown, this remains one of my favorite interviews in the last five years of working on this project. Tjinder Singh’s Cornershop has been a long-standing go-to band in my rotation since I came across them on MTV in the mid nineties, watching back-to-back...
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Scherler Sundays: Riley Kendig, UK Gold
In the seventh installment of highlights from this year’s Scherler Sundays concert and interview series, we’re getting another healthy helping of Olympia, WA rock and roll music. First up is Riley Kendig and his newly christened Magenta Sextet in their first public appearance, performing...
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Scherler Sundays: Kicking Giant, Anna Oxygen, Guidon Bear
On July 23rd, 2023 a meeting of the minds occurred behind the Carnegie Library in downtown Olympia, WA. Pat Maley and Mary Sharp (formerly of Oly rock duo Little Red Car Wreck) arrived with their new band Guidon Bear to warm up the grassy knoll for Anna Oxygen, who has lived in New York for…
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Blind Boys of Alabama singer Ricky McKinnie (Bonus Episode)
It's a bonus episode! Here's a little radio piece I made back in January to promote a Blind Boys of Alabama concert here in Olympia. The gospel singing group has been in existence since 1939 or so, with its members changing over time... you know, like Menudo, The Preservation Hall Jazz Band or…
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Scherler Sundays: The Gift Machine, Joshua James Amberson, Hot Rush
This is the fifth installment of highlights from this year’s Scherler Sundays concert and interview series. Today’s show was recorded on July 16th behind the Carnegie Library in Olympia, WA and features performances from San Diego band The Gift Machine and Hot Rush, plus Joshua James Amberson…
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Scherler Sundays ft. Karl Blau + Tim McBride & the Divide
Karl Blau makes his fourth appearance on Low Profile- first as featured guest back on episode 29, and then taking over the show producing interviews with Temple of Bon Matin and Hermit Thrushes. Now episode marks his first appearance on the program as a live performer, with a smoking hot quartet...
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Donnie and Joe Emerson
The movie "Dreamin' Wild," about the unlikely and belated fame of Donnie and Joe Emerson, is released in theaters today. It stars Casey Affleck, Beau Bridges, Walton Gogging and Zooey Deschanel. Today I'm sharing my interview with the real Donnie and Joe, along with their parents Don Sr. and…
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In memory of Alice Stuart
Alice Stuart was a singer-songwriter from Washington Sate. She passed away yesterday. In celebration of her life, here is Rob Smith's interview with Alice from 2021. This episode is a cross-release between Low Profile and Rob's podcast, Welcome to Olympia. Rob also produced this one, be sure and...
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Scherler Sundays: Heatwarmer, The Purple Shadows
Recorded live on 07/02/2023 from this year's Scherler Sundays concert series, prog-pop trio Heatwarmer returns to Low Profile in person performing a handful of songs from their latest album "It's A Nightmare" and catches up on what's been going on since the geographically dispersed group's…
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Scherler Sundays: Ralph Reign, Doctor Sleep, guest host Jason Traeger
On today’s show, Jason Traeger of the Traegermethod podcast is filling in for me as host, presenting performances and conversations with Olympia synth rock artist Doctor Sleep and Tacoma rapper Ralph Reign. Interestingly enough, both of these guys incorporate a Nintendo Game Boy into their...
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Scherler Sundays: Elf Power, Your Heart Breaks, Kinetic Paranormal Society
This is the season eight premiere of Low Profile! This season is gonna be coming at you every Friday for the next couple of months, and it’s all pretty fresh stuff. Right now we are in the middle of Scherler Sundays, a weekly concert and interview series hosted by 3 Magnets Brewing in downtown...
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77. Generifus
The band Generifus from Olympia is kind of a big deal- the group’s unassuming founder, Spencer Sult, is gifted with a poignant, understated sense of delivery. Active sincew the mid-aughties, he continues his long-term project writing songs that reflect his personal take on every day Monday in...
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76. Asuna
Asuna is a Japanese sound artist and musician who has been performing and releasing albums since the turn of the century. I first became aware of Asuna’s music when his album “Organ Leaf” was released as part of the Sparkling Composers series in the early aughties via Lucky Kitchen Records, whose...
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75. Scientists (originally aired on Jack Habegger's Celebrity Telethon)
This week, Low Profile presents music and conversation with Kim Salmon of the Scientists. This program was originally broadcast on the KAOS program Jack Habegger’s Celebrity Telethon. Jack has co-hosted and guest hosted previous episodes of Low Profile, interviewing Lavender Country, Jeffrey…
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74. Califone
Today I’m talking with the band Califone’s founding member Tim Rutili. Califone began 25 years ago as a solo project after the dissolution of his previous group Red Red Meat in Chicago. You may have heard his collaboration with Modest Mouse’s Isaac Brock, Ugly Casanova, or his ambient rock group...
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73. Mike Stax on Craig Smith
Today, my co-host Madison Nadine and I sit down with Mike Stax joining us remotely from his home in San Diego. For kicks, Mike records and tours with his band, the Loons, but he’s better known as a writer, having published the magazine UGLY THINGS for 40 years and running. In 2022, he started an...
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72. Phil Elverum and Matt Fenton (explicit content)
Phil Elverum (The Microphones, Mount Eerie) returns to Low Profile with his audio engineer friend Matt Fenton to discuss the time they gave the Kamloops, British Columbia band Peace a chance. They discuss their behind-the-scenes experience facilitating the 2006 debut by the band Peace, “On…
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71. Layng Martine, Jr. and Tucker Martine
Singer, Author and Nashville Songwriter Hall of Famer Layng Martine Jr’s compositions have been performed by the likes of soul legends The Pointer Sisters, Featherbed frontman Barry Mannilow, Bo Diddley, Reba McEntire, Las Vegas regional sensation Elvis Presley, and Philly correspondant Karl…
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70. Hermit Thrushes (guest host Karl Blau)
Karl Blau takes over the show again, this time to speak with members of our mutual friends Hermit Thrushes, recorded at various locations in Philly back in 2021. Band members Yianni Kourmadas, Taryn Jones and Andrew Keller share why they use the cheapest gear possible, their experiences with bars...
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69. Austin Leonard Jones
Austin Leonard Jones is a singing storyteller, spinning narratives based in fact and fiction with a penchant for writing country-flavored tunes that feel familiar from the get-go. Born and raised in Texas, he currently calls Ojai, CA his home. In the past year he’s released four albums on…
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68. Chronophage
Chronophage is a band that started in Austin, TX and has since scattered into various locations. While on tour in winter 2021, band members Adam, Casey, Sarah and Parker dropped by for an in-studio taping at the Happy Birthday House for Channel 22 on Thurston Community Media. Madison Nadine...
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67. Ivor Cutler biographer Bruce Lindsay
Born 100 years ago in Scotland, the late musician/poet/author/humorist Ivor Cutler was a self-described Oblique Music Philospher. He released tons of art by way of radio, television, books and records. His work, no matter the medium, is thoughtful as it is absurd, as irreverent as it is romantic....
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66. Jim O'Rourke
Jim O’Rourke is a composer and producer living in Japan after spending most of his life in Chicago. His solo and collaborative works range from pop songwriting to electronic and avant-garde, being one of the first musicians to use a computer for live improvisations. His albums have been released…
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65. Derek Piotr
On today’s episode, instead of our usual format, I’ve got a folkorist. Derek Piotr lives in Connecticut, and was introduced to me by Dollar Country host Franklin Fantini, who you might remember from a bonus episode from October 2021. Derek’s released several albums of experimental and electronic...
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64. La Luz
If you don’t know already, La Luz is killing it these days. They got the thick harmonies, they got the deep twang in the guitar department, and everybody in the band brings a hell of a lot to the table. Outside the band, they all have other music projects that are keeping it fresh. The solo...
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63. Jonny Kosmo
Hey, Markly here, this is the sixty-third episode of Low Profile. A couple years ago, my friend and former bandmate Nehemiah St-Danger told me about this band he started playing bass for, and thought would be a good match for this show. I loved what I heard- in fact, I started listening to it all...
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62. Stephen Steinbrink
Oakland-based singer-songwriter Stephen Steinbrink, one of my favorite artists and a friend to boot, is my guest today. Multi-instrumentalist and frequent co-host Andrew Dorsett is also in on the conversation, accompanying Stephen on piano and steel guitar in the Lounge of the ABC House. He has...
About this show
Low Profile blends music and oral history interviews with the folks who have given us important music and have somehow evaded the spotlight. Markly Morrison is an audio journalist and independent musician in the exotic city of Olympia, Washington, where the program airs Fridays at 4pm on KAOS 89.3 FM and in podcast form via the Ruinous Media network. Dive deeper into the episodes at http://www.lowprofilepodcast.com
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Markly Morrison
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