The Check-In with Alden Hellmuth

Alden Hellmuth is a NY based saxophonist and composer. Following her acclaimed 2024 debut album Good Intentions, Hellmuth returns with the aptly titled Tether, an eight-track exploration of jazz, punk and freeform improvisation. Alden share’s the inspiration behind the new direction and sound on Tether, what it was like writing for two basses and how mixing and processing played a role on not only in the production, but the composition as well. The two discuss the significance of texture in Alden’s recordings and she unpacks the personel that contributed to Tethers ambiance. Alden tells us how she was likely “tricked” into playing the saxophone at a young age, she shares her experience of first discovering the magic of improvisational music and how she eventually steered toward free noise rockers Deerhoof and Otoboke Beaver. We get some insight into Alden’s writing and recording process and hear a couple tunes. Alden HellmuthLeiter RecordingsTour Stories would like to welcome our newest sponsor Kuma Coffee. Kuma Coffee is a 100% Independently owned roasting company right here in Seattle since 2008. Kuma is a 5-person team, roasting over 100,000lbs of exclusively high scoring coffee each year. They source their coffees direct from origin and pay well over fair trade pricing to farmers. This guarantees the highest quality, while supporting rural farming communities throughout the Global SouthThey also just launched an instant coffee… (Joe’s favorite instant)Find everything Kuma at Kumacoffee.comEpisode supported by our friends Izotope This episode is produced with Ozone 12, the newest from Izotope. Head over to izotope.com now for savings on all their production software. Go check out Ozone 12 and RX 12 and master with the best and solve the unsolvable 20 plug-ins for mastering mastery. Use code FRET10 at checkout.Ep supported by @distrokid. Distrokid now offers Bandzoogle where you can build your bands website and store in minutes. @thetourstories listeners get 30% off at distrokid.com/vip/tourstories. GET YOUR MUSIC OUT THERE! ITS EASY WITH @distrokidEp supported by Heil Sound. For 60 years, Heil Sound has provided innovative, professional quality sound for stage, studio, broadcast, and podcast. Grammy-winning artists and sound engineers worldwide trust Heil microphones for their legendary sound. To find out more about the full line of Heil microphones and products, visit heilsound.com.Mentioned in this episode:DistrokidKuma CoffeeIzotope