Mike Garrigan Podcast

www.mikegarrigan.com In this episode, I take on a prompt that felt personal from the start: create a song featuring your grandfather’s handmade folk harp.That harp has been sitting quietly in the corner of my garage studio—Two Egrets—for years. It’s not just another instrument. My grandfather, James John Garrigan Jr., built it by hand while my grandmother Nell was nearing the end of her life. Because of that, it carries something deeper than sound—it feels like an artifact of love, grief, and endurance.What You’ll Hear in This EpisodeThe story behind the harp and why it feels almost sacramentalHow I transformed a single harp note into a playable synth using iZotope Iris 2Building a track from scratch with:Harp-based samplingNative Instruments Drum Lab rhythmsLayered acoustic and electronic texturesWhy the entire song sits slightly out of tune (on purpose)The unexpected lyrical hook: “It’s hard to remember”The Creative Turning PointThe song’s meaning came into focus through Bright Lights, Big City—a story about grief, escape, and rediscovery. That influence shaped the emotional core:Sometimes life makes us forget something essential—that we are, at our core, good.This song lives in that tension:Forgetting vs. rememberingEscaping vs. facing realityDistortion vs. clarityProduction HighlightsBuilt from a single sampled harp note, stretched across a keyboardChoruses lifted with live drums + pulsing synth bassSubtle microtonal tuning shift (~38 cents sharp) for an off-center feelLate-stage decision to embrace distortion—pushing vocals and instruments to the edgeLyrical ThemesThe slow erosion of identity through grief and distractionThe pull toward numbing out vs. waking upA return to something steady and trueKey line:“The truth don’t change, however strange.”Send me a Text Message.

Un gran segundo tempo permitiulle ao Celta gañar en liga tras moitos anos en Mestalla. Venceu ao Valencia e queda a un punto da zona de champions league. Non houbo tanta sorte na 1ª RFEF, coas derrotas do Lugo na casa e do Ourense CF en Avilés. No baloncesto o Breogán caeu en Valencia e o Obradoiro mallou no Palencia.

In this episode, we start with a familiar rock-and-roll question: are you a Beatles person or a Rolling Stones person? Inspired by a line from Pulp Fiction—where Mia Wallace suggests people fall into either the Beatles or Elvis camp—we explore a slightly different divide: the polished brilliance of The Beatles versus the raw, attitude-driven energy of The Rolling Stones.From there, the conversation traces the long shadow the Beatles once cast over the Stones—from early covers like “I Wanna Be Your Man” to the era of Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band and the Stones’ psychedelic reply, Their Satanic Majesties Request. That shadow finally lifted with the swagger and originality of Sticky Fingers—and soon after, the band’s unlikely exile to the south of France, where they created one of rock’s most mythic records: Exile on Main St..Listening closely to that album—its loose grooves, rough edges, and moments of strange transcendence—becomes the inspiration for a new song, “If You Say So.” This episode walks through the creative process behind it: living with Exile on repeat, experimenting with fast shuffle rhythms, recording on an old jazz-style drum kit, layering Telecaster guitar and bass, and even briefly resurrecting a harmonica that hadn’t been touched in twelve years.Along the way, we explore the musical choices that shaped the track, from replacing a harsh harmonica line with a saloon-style electric piano to embracing the small imperfections that come with keeping a scratch guitar take in the final mix.Finally, we look at the meaning behind the lyrics. Written from the perspective of a swaggering, Mick Jagger-inspired narrator, the verses make bold claims about skill, endurance, and virtue—only to be quietly undercut by the chorus: “If you say so.” What emerges is less a rock anthem than a snapshot of an inner tension between ego and skepticism.Part music history, part studio diary, and part reflection on creative process, this episode explores how inspiration travels—from a legendary double album recorded in exile to a small, imperfect song finding its own voice.Send me a Text Message.

www.mikegarrigan.com - In this episode, I trace a line from hearing Nevermind for the first time in 1991 to writing an original song inspired by its raw power and dynamic contrasts. Moving through memory, music history, and the nuts and bolts of recording, I explore how Nirvana’s quiet-loud architecture shaped not just a sound, but a way of seeing. The song “Diamonds in the Sky” becomes a vehicle for non-dual spirituality, integral consciousness, and creative surrender. Along the way, I confront artistic fear, questions of originality, and the inner voices that threaten the work before it can breathe.Send me a Text Message.

www.mikegarrigan.com - Mike responds to the production prompt: "Create a song that is notated in its entirety before production begins." Hear a detailed behind-the-scenes account of "The Hollow Man," a new song. Topics include a commentary on John Dickson Carr's The Hollow Man and the pros and cons of notating music before recording it.Send me a Text Message.

www.mikegarrigan.com - Mike responds to the production prompt: "Create a song in the style of Pink Moon by Nick Drake." Hear a detailed behind-the-scenes account of "Revelations," a new song. Topics include how to select an alternate tuning, how to apply narrative structure to lyric writing, and how to apply specific production techniques to a given genre.Send me a Text Message.

The production lab continues. In this episode, singer/songwriter Mike Garrigan describes the process of writing, producing, and recording a song in the style of Duran Duran's Rio. Hear the result, a new song called "The Girl at Table 13."www.mikegarrigan.comSend me a Text Message.

www.mikegarrigan.com - Singer/songwriter Mike Garrigan shares his experience of being diagnosed with prostate cancer. "Mercury," a previously unreleased outtake from the "Satellites" sessions, is also featured.Send me a Text Message.

www.mikegarrigan.com - Singer/songwriter Mike Garrigan shares the eleventh experiment from his Production Lab.  Given the prompt "Create a song using only the Waves SSL plugin on the channels" and a month in which to work, Mike produced "Change Your Mind." Hear the song and a detailed description of the entire creative process.Send me a Text Message.

www.mikegarrigan.com - Singer/songwriter Mike Garrigan shares the tenth experiment from his Production Lab.  Given the prompt "Create a song imagined as an outtake from The Downward Spiral" and a month in which to work, Mike produced "Black Echo." Hear the song and a detailed description of the entire creative process.Notes:The featured song is inspired by the Michael Connelly novel of the same name.Correction: Adrian Belew, not Alan Moulder, played the ring mod guitar on The Downward Spiral.Send me a Text Message.

www.mikegarrigan.com - Singer/songwriter Mike Garrigan shares the ninth experiment from his Production Lab.  Given the prompt "Record a song where a Wurlitzer electric piano is the main instrument" and a month in which to work, Mike produced "Stupid Love." Hear the song and a detailed description of the entire creative process.Send me a Text Message.

www.mikegarrigan.com - Singer/songwriter Mike Garrigan shares the eighth experiment from his Production Lab.  Given the prompt "Record a song in the style of Superunknown by Soundgarden" and a month in which to work, Mike produced "Everlasting Love." Hear the song and a detailed description of the entire creative process.Send me a Text Message.

www.mikegarrigan.com - Singer/songwriter Mike Garrigan shares the seventh experiment from his Production Lab.  Given the prompt "Record a song using a late 80s approach (in the style of Bon Jovi's New Jersey)" and a month in which to work, Mike produced "Sister Mercy." Hear the song and a detailed description of the entire creative process.Works mentioned and encouraged for further listening:Desmond Child Songs:KISS, "Heaven's on Fire" Joan Jett, "I Hate Myself for Loving You" Bon Jovi, "Livin' on a Prayer" and Bon Jovi, "You Give Love a Bad Name" Aerosmith, "Dude Looks Like a Lady" Guitar Solo Influences:AC/DC, "Thunderstruck"Tesla, "Modern Day Cowboy"Yngwie Malmsteen, "Far Beyond the Sun"Judas Priest, "Painkiller"Eric Johnson, "Cliffs of Dover"Metallica, "The Shortest Straw"Whitesnake, "Wings of the Storm"Ozzy Osbourne, "Mr. Crowley"White Lion, PrideThe Big Four:Metallica, Master of PuppetsAnthrax, Among the LivingSlayer, South of HeavenMegadeth, Rust in PeaceSend me a Text Message.

Argivit`in Sunduğu Bay J Show - 04 Ekim 2024This podcast is hosted by Podcastics, the easiest platform to create and publish your podcast.

www.mikegarrigan.com - Singer/songwriter Mike Garrigan shares the sixth experiment from his Production Lab.  Given the prompt "Record a song that is written on acoustic guitar but performed with piano as the main instrument" and a month in which to work, Mike produced "Everything Belongs." Hear the song and a detailed description of the entire creative process.Send me a Text Message.

www.mikegarrigan.com - Singer/songwriter Mike Garrigan shares the fifth experiment from his Production Lab.  Given the prompt "Record a song in the style of Def Leppard's Hysteria" and a month in which to work, Mike produced "I Am the Ocean." Hear the song and a detailed description of the entire creative process.Send me a Text Message.

www.mikegarrigan.com - Singer/songwriter Mike Garrigan shares the fourth experiment from his Production Lab.  Given the prompt "Record a song imagined as the lost outtake for 'Penny Lane' and 'Strawberry Fields Forever'" and a month in which to work, Mike produced "Space Invaders Champion." Hear the song and a detailed description of the entire creative process.Send me a Text Message.

www.mikegarrigan.com - Singer/songwriter Mike Garrigan shares the third experiment from his Production Lab.  Given the prompt "Record a song where everything must pass through a Fat Head ribbon mic" and a month in which to work, Mike produced "No Bunker." Hear the song and a detailed description of the entire creative process.Info on Eleanor Catton & Birnam WoodInfo on Yurt RockSend me a Text Message.

www.mikegarrigan.com - Singer/songwriter Mike Garrigan shares the second experiment from his Production Lab.  Given the prompt "Record a song where the hook is a sample" and a month in which to work, Mike produced "Jane's Played the Brewery Last Night." Hear the song and a detailed description of the entire creative process.Send me a Text Message.

www.mikegarrigan.com - Singer/songwriter Mike Garrigan shares the first experiment from his Production Lab.  Given the prompt "Record a song using a 2000s approach (LCD Soundsystem)" and a month in which to work, Mike produced "The Jugger." Hear the song and a detailed description of the entire creative process.Send me a Text Message.

www.mikegarrigan.com - Singer/songwriter Mike Garrigan reflects upon growing a mustache. This episode features a piano/vocal version of the Collapsis song "I.O.L."Send me a Text Message.

www.mikegarrigan.com - Singer/songwriter Mike Garrigan examines the media he consumed in 2023. This episode considers "the nature of evil" and "dystopia." A piano version of the Collapsis song, "Radio Friendly Girlfriend," is shared.For a complete list of media referenced in this episode, click here.Send me a Text Message.

www.mikegarrigan.com - Singer/songwriter reflects on his experience with sitting in with the Maxell 90 and paying tribute to R.E.M.  Mike interviews members of the Maxell 90 as well as a few guest singers just before their show at the Be Loud! Sophie concert at the Cat's Cradle in Carrboro, NC on August 25, 2023.Mike asked each interviewee "What has been your experience in covering R.E.M. songs with the Maxell 90?" and "What was your first exposure to R.E.M.?" Hear soundbites from Adriana Lapuerta, Tom Mills, Katie Zhou, George Huntley, Andrew Branan, Mike Ivanitch, Alex Lawhon, Victoria Roy, and Scott Carle.Hear  piano version of the Collapsis song "Stumble," too.View the archived live stream of the BeLoud! show here: Live Stream.Send me a Text Message.

www.mikegarrigan.com - Mike Garrigan recalls the process of writing and recording a custom made song, reminisces over a successful baseball season, and insists that The Murder of Roger Ackroyd is the best mystery novel ever. This episode features the following songs:"Bonfire" - previously unreleased "Two Egrets" - piano version, previously unreleasedSend me a Text Message.

www.mikegarrigan.com - Mike Garrigan interviews singer/songwriter Brent Mathews.This episode features the following songs:"7th Street" by podcast guest Brent Mathews"Wonderland" - piano version, previously unreleased"Satellites" - single versionCheck out Brent Mathews at https://www.brentmathews.com/Check out the "Satellites" video here.Send me a Text Message.

www.mikegarrigan.com - Mike Garrigan interviews fan, musician, and attorney J. Max Davis.The music contained in this episode is"Superhero" - piano version, previously unreleased"Jodie" by podcast guest J. Max Davis"Seminole Train" - live at the Flat Iron, Greensboro, NC, July 16, 2022Send me a Text Message.

www.mikegarrigan.com - Mike Garrigan reflects on playing Joey Ramone at the BeLoud! Sophie '22 charity concert and shares three original songs.View the livestream of the Ramones set here.The three original songs are"October" - piano variation, previously unreleased"Static" - Live at the Flat Iron, Greensboro, NC, July 16, 2022"Sailing to Byzantium" - Live at the Flat Iron, Greensboro, NC, July 16, 2022Send me a Text Message.

www.mikegarrigan.com - Mike Garrigan shares a show reflection, a brief memoir, and a short story. The short story was inspired by Reedsy's weekly writing prompts.  Mike also shares four original songs. Show Reflection: Mike and Mark at the Crown - written after the April 22 & 23, 2022 acoustic duo opening for Bus Stop and originally published on mikegarrigan.comZig-Zag-Zug: Confessions of a Little League Soccer Coach - previously unpublished."On/Off" - written on June 10, 2022 in response to the Reedsy prompt "Start your story with the flickering of a light." The four original songs are"Hey, Angel" (Live) - phone version, previously unreleased"Believe in You" - piano variation, previously unreleased"The Architects/Fool's Gold" - Live at Common Grounds, Greensboro, NC, January 22, 2022Send me a Text Message.

www.mikegarrigan.com - Mike Garrigan shares three original short stories and three original songs. Two of the stories were inspired by Reedsy's weekly writing prompts. One story was inspired by a Vocal Media prompt. Click on the title of the story to read along."Tongue" written on January 12, 2020 in response to the prompt "Write a magical realism story that takes place in the Wild West.""The New Parliament" - written on January 27, 2022 in response to the prompt "Share a piece of short fiction that includes a barn owl at any point in your narrative." "Scars Don't Lie" - written on September 10, 2021 in response to the prompt "Set your story in a roadside diner." The three original songs are"Tell Me Everything" - piano variation; previously unreleased"Dirty Wake" - Live at Common Grounds, Greensboro, NC, January 22, 2022"Pure Triangles" - Live at Common Grounds, Greensboro, NC, January 22, 2022Send me a Text Message.

www.mikegarrigan.com - Mike Garrigan shares three original short stories and three original songs. The stories were inspired by Reedsy's weekly writing prompts. Click on the title of the story to read along."Waiting for Manny" - written on March 13, 2020 in response to the prompt "Write about a person who meets with the ghost of an old friend for tea every so often.""Exhibits" - written on August 05, 2021 in response to the prompt "Write a story from the point of view of three different characters." "Broken Nose" - written on July 16, 2021 in response to the prompt "Write about a mysterious figure in one’s neighborhood." The three original songs are"Comatose" - written with Jonathan Ferreri and released in October of 2021--also available on all streaming platforms and Bandcamp"Automatic" - piano variation; previously unreleased"Slow Moon Rising" - written in 2003, previously unreleased and broadcasted live on StageIt on May 1, 2021 from the show "Songs About Trains."Send me a Text Message.

www.mikegarrigan.com - Mike Garrigan shares three original short stories and three original songs. The stories were inspired by Reedsy's weekly writing prompts. Click on the title of the story to read along."Royal Orleans" - written on February 1, 2020 in response to the prompt "Write a short story that takes place on a train.""Tears of a Dragon" - written on June 16, 2021 in response to the prompt "Write about someone who’s desperately trying to change their luck.""Leave" - written on August 27, 2021 in response to the prompt "Start or end your story with a house going up in flames."The three original songs were broadcasted live on StageIt.com on May 1, 2021 from the show "Songs About Trains.""Gone, Gone, Gone" - written in 2020, previously unreleased"Seminole Train" - written in 2011, released on Pillar of the Sun (2012)*"Where's the A-Train - written in 1998, previously unreleased*On the show, the incorrect release year for Pillar of the Sun is credited.  The correct year is 2012, not 2021 as stated in the show. Send me a Text Message.

www.mikegarrigan.com - Mike Garrigan and Kyle Hanlin recall the July 23, 2021 Collapsis show at Magnolia Roots Music Lounge. "Stumble," "Chartreuse," and "Two Egrets" from the May performance at the Grove are featured. Show Notes:Access the Magnolia Roots Music Lounge website here. I apologize for referring to the venue as "Magnolia Street Music Hall" throughout the show. My mistake. The Wake Forest Listening Room is listening space at the Magnolia Roots Music Lounge. We use the terms interchangeably throughout the show. Access the entire Collapsis show from the Grove through the Mike Garrigan Community. Send me a Text Message.

www.mikegarrigan.com - Mike Garrigan shares three songs from the recent Collapsis reunion show at the Grove Winery & Vineyards. "High Caliber Grease," "Tell Me Everything," and "Sundrop" are featured. Send me a Text Message.

Mike Garrigan shares four previously unreleased outtakes from Semigloss Albatross: "Welcome to Oblivion," "Still Burning," "The Stranger," and "Riptide." Mike also explores a brief history of music formatting.Find the Semigloss Albatross gatefold here.Send me a Text Message.

www.mikegarrigan.com - Mike Garrigan interviews singer/songwriter Justin Karpinos about The Smallest of Spheres, Justin's recent EP.  This episode features "The Smallest of Spheres," "Borrowed Time," and "Surfing at Night" from The Smallest of Spheres. Visit justinkarpinos.bandcamp.com for more information about Justin and his music. Send me a Text Message.

Mike Garrigan shares the meaning behind the many symbols located on the Semigloss Albatross gatefold. This episode features "Sailing to Byzantium" and "Semigloss Albatross" from Semigloss Albatross.  Find the Semigloss Albatross gatefold here.Relevant links:TaurusDon Quixote  by Miguel CervantesAnimal Farm  by George Orwell"Photograph" by Def LeppardDiver Down by Van HalenFlights by Olga TocarczukHomo Deus by Yuval Noah Harari"Sailing to Byzantium" by William Butler Yeats"Rime of the Ancient Mariner" by Samuel Taylor Coleridge"Disintegration" by The CureSend me a Text Message.

Mike Garrigan shares the production rationale for his new album, Semigloss Albatross. This episode features "Walk in Circles" as performed on Stageit.com on May 15, 2020.Click here to learn more about the Mega Awesome Cover Show on September 5 at 9:00 PM on StageIt.com.Send me a Text Message.

Mike Garrigan shares the origins of his piano/vocal album Semigloss Albatross. This episode features "The Architects" and "End" from Semigloss Albatross and "Crocodile" as performed on Stageit.com on May 15, 2020.Click here to learn more about the Semigloss Albatross Album Release Party on August 1 at 9:00 PM on StageIt.com.Send me a Text Message.

Essays:"The Odyssey" correlates the events of Homer's epic to the mundane reality of being in the 9th grade. "Shreds" gives Mike an opportunity to shred some 80s metal licks.Music:This show features a live piano version of Mike's song "The Secret of Happiness." The live recording was taken from Mike's April 2020 show on StageIt.com Send me a Text Message.

Essays:"KDF" recalls a talent show debacle."Who's Got the Jamminest Tape?" discerns between a Metallica album and a Queensryche album.Music:This show features a live piano version of Mike's song "Birthday Song." The live recording was taken from Mike's October 2019 show on StageIt.com Send me a Text Message.

Essays:"The Winslow Incident" remembers a terrible chain of events from elementary school in 1987."Pride" describes the greatest hair metal album of all time.Music:This show features a live piano version of Mike's song "Hey, Angel." The live recording was taken from Mike's June 2019 show on StageIt.com Send me a Text Message.

Essays:"The Golden Age of Glam Metal" remembers the 1986 metal scene."Barfing at School" describes an unfortunate event. "Saturday Morning Cartoons" considers how a 1986 Saturday Morning TV listing might have read.Music:This show features a live piano version of song "Sundrop," previously performed by the band Collapsis.The live recording was taken from Mike's October 2019 show on StageIt.com Send me a Text Message.

Essays:"Clock Radio Mornings" remembers popular music in 1985. "The Twilight Zone - 80s" describes the 1985 reboot of the classic sci-fi series."School Uniforms" recalls wearing school uniforms as well as the worst basketball season of all time. Music:This show features a live piano version of song "Automatic" from the Collapsis album Dirty Wake. The live recording was taken from Mike Garrigan:  Live on StageIt.com - June 22, 2019, a community exclusive release. Send me a Text Message.

Essays:"Boom Box" recalls how we played music in 1984. "Gremlins" describes and considers the groundbreaking film of the same name. "Four Square" remembers the greatest playground game ever invented and considers new Four Square applications.Music:This show features a live piano version of song "Rusted Radio" from Mike's 2002 album The Promise of Summer.The live recording was taken from Mike Garrigan:  Live on StageIt.com - June 22, 2019, a community exclusive release. Send me a Text Message.

Essays:"Quiet Riot" recalls the phenomenon that was "Cum on Feel the Noise" and its accompanying video. "Pitfall II" describes spending two weeks mastering Pitfall II: The Lost Caverns, the Activision classic video game. "BMX" remembers the halcyon days of riding bikes, jumping ramps, and standing up for yourself. Music:This show features a live piano version of the Collapsis song "Superhero" from the Universal Records/Cherry Entertainment album Dirty Wake. The live recording was taken from Mike Garrigan:  Live on StageIt.com - June 22, 2019, a community exclusive release. Send me a Text Message.

Mike Garrigan reflects on his final semester of law school and shares a new song. Links to things mentioned in this show:Basket of Apples by Paul CézanneUniform Probate CodeNC Mediation ProgramFelix FrankfurterTrailer for Rashomon by Akira Kurosawa"In My Dreams" by DokkenNPR Review of Largesse of the Sea Maiden by Denis JohnsonSend me a Text Message.

www.mikegarrigan.com - Singer/songwriter Mike Garrigan performs and discusses "Geeks & Bacon," a song from the Scenes, Vol. 3 EP.Send me a Text Message.

www.mikegarrigan.com - Mike Garrigan reflects on his fifth semester of law school. A new song, "So Much for Goodbye," appears at the end of the episode.Send me a Text Message.

www.mikegarrigan.com - Mike Garrigan explains his rationale for abandoning analog amplifiers in favor of digital ones. Send me a Text Message.