The Emerald Gem

I had such an awesome time getting to hang with Devin and James of Lovely Colours! These dude have such a great vibe, made me laugh a bunch and really bring a good energy on stage.Little did I know that they have been friends for 20 years! Doing music together since their early teens! So cool! Absolutely epic from them to be on this music journey and rockin out from Juno VFW halls, to Neumos in Seattle.We talked about their start in music, early influences, recording process, writing philosophy and so much more!Be sure to stream their latest single 'Out There' and check out Lovely Colours this year at Capitol Hill Block Party!

Oh my gosh, where to start! I had such an awesome time getting to sit down with Grant Steele, the lead guitarist of Naked Giants, who is now pursuing his solo career with his inaugural album dropping this year. I’ve been a long time fan of the Naked Giants and Grant‘s guitar work. In Seattle, I don’t know if there’s many who can hold a candle to the way this guy tears up the stage! It was so cool to get to dive into his philosophy, guitar practices, beliefs and the ebb and flows of the artist path! Grant has a great head on his shoulders on top of being immensely talented and I can’t wait to hear his solo project  ‘Grant Steele’ and see what the future might hold for the Naked Giants! 

Check out the new spot! We are now shooting episodes at Seattle's best new venue, Hidden Hall; located in Fremont, the center of the universe!I had such a great time getting to hang out with Kevin. He is good people. He carries a magnetic light and is such an awesome person to be around truly a real one!His band Swavy brings such an unwise vibe to Seattle's local mucis scene. Their show curates a care free, let go and get down to dancing vibe that really feels like a party for anyone. Its no wonder Kevin has such an inviting, caring vibe about him as you fell that at his shows.We talk about his life growing up as a musician here in Seattle, the power of health as wealth, his mission for people as an artist and so much more!Be sure to check out Swavy's next show at Hidden Hall Saturday February 21st, and find yourself letting loose and setting yourself free!

I had a great time at Baba Yaga getting to dive behind the scenes with Hillary Tusick on the new Linda From Work record!Linda From Work has a wall of sound and this new self titled record captures that energy. I have so much respect for Hillary as she's led Linda From Work for years and accomplished so much with no sign of slowing down. We talk about the new self titled album, facing modern obstacles as a creative business, plans for 2026 and so much more!Stream 'Linda From Work', the third record release from the Seattle based outfit and strongest testament to their sound yet!

These guys are loud on stage and in life! It was such a blast to hang with these guys who bring such a good vibe. So much joy and goofin in this one that brought me so many laughs.Stetson Heat Seeker hits hard and their live shows are electric. They go full send, full throttle and it's so much fun to be apart of.On top of being a heavy hitting band they are all super kind people and fun to hang around. Consider myself lucky to have gotten a glimpse into the way they operate like a family. In this episode we talk about the history of Stetson, touring, what's next for the band and so much more!Listen to Stetson Heat Seeker on Spotify and keep up with them for their next live shows on instagram!

What a blast to hang with these guys at Baba Yaga. Brandon and Kai met at the Cornish school arts, now part of Seattle U; and started Roy G. Biv. A power psych rock band a kin to King Gizzard and 70s rock. Catch the full episode to learn about Kai and Brandon's influences , their debut self titled album, next steps for Roy G Biv. and so much more!Be sure to stream their debut album and keep up with show announcements on instagram!

Juliet is such an inspiring person! She has accomplished a lot since our initial podcast episode two years ago, from incredible music videos, amazing song releases and now a brand new collabs EP featuring ultra talented pop artists from Seattle.We talked about Juliet's artist name change, the Barboza release show for her collabs EP, her goals as an artist and so much more!Be sure to stream "All My Friends Are Stars'; Juliet Daniel's Collabs EP that features some amazing Seattle talent!

What a pleasure it was to get to sit down with the ethereal Corrin Cruz, front women of funk pop band Sugar Bones!I am such a fan of Sugar bones as they bring such a fun energy and Corrin puts in so much soul in her vocals and has such a stage presence. They are a really fun live band, dot wanna miss them at Sunset Tavern on November 14th!We talked about Corrin's messaging in music, her journey of sobriety, the future of Sugar Bones and so much more!Be sure to follow them on instagram , catch their next show and stream their debut album 'Make Me Bad'

It is no surprise that Woodinville would produce such a class act with impeccable taste in music!I had such a great time getting to know Lexi at Baba Yaga. She is an up and coming R&B singer in Seattle with a bright future ahead. Lexi has been recording and producing since she was 16 and show no sign of slowing down. She's opened for Macy Gray at the Bing Crosby Theater, has released 10 singles since 2020 and is currently production for her first EP. Lexi has an amazing voice and her music is inspired by early 2000s R&B female heavyweights with a mix of 80s pop and rock.We talked about her start in music, how she likes to write and produce, her influences and so much more! Be sure to follow Lexi on instagram and listen to her single 'Fever' on streaming.

I had a blast getting to know Lauren at Baba Yaga! She is a multi talented singer, song writer, actress and producer. With a background in film, theater and music; Lauren constructs sonic experiences that capture the room and carry the listener on a musical journey with vivid story telling; most notably felt in her debut album 'Motion Picture'.We chat about Lauren's philosophy on music, the experiences she seeks to create for her audiences, the power of magic and witchcraft and so much more!Follow Lauren on instagram to stay update on shows and her upcoming sophomore album release 'Humans, Gods and Monsters'

Pink Boa's live show floors me like no other! The music is tight, fast, loud and tasteful. When im trying t get amped to go out I listen to Pink Boa. Its the kind of rock that gets the adrenaline going and makes you want to live the night of your life!Brian and I sat down on Valentines day to chat about his career as a musician, some wild travel stories and where he is planning to take his career with his upcoming projects. Brain has a beautiful heart and I such a kind person! im so happy to know this dude and I am a huge fan of his music!Listen to Pink Boa, keep an eye out for his new project 'Velvet Heartbreak' and keep on rockin!

I had a fantastic time getting to know Brett and Siahna, the primary song writers for Joyla Red at Baba Yaga.Joyla Red released their debut album this past year and their live show is a lot of fun! Their music is the kind of rock that makes you want to dance and party with a whimsical sense of joy and relief from the worry of the worldIn this episode, we chat about Siahna's start in music as a contestant for The Voice, her journey from solo artist to rock band front woman, the evolution of Brett's 10 year project 'Color Works' into Joyla Red, their collaboration process, and so much more!Be sure to follow Joyla Red on Instagram and Spotify, catch their next show at Baba Yaga on April 11th, and a Tractor Tavern appearance with Balcony Bridge on June 14th!

sipping dirty gin martini's and hanging out at Baba Yaga with Avery Cochrane was a whole vibe!We had a great time chatting about our song writing process, Avery's pursuit for a career in music, her newest singles, working on music videos and the inspiring nature of being creative!Follow Avery Cochrane on Spotify and Instagram and be sure to listen to her latest single 'The Executioner' out now on all streaming platforms

Nathaniel is an absolute gem. A good friend of mine who is always willing to invest in others. We talk about Nathaniel's origins in music, the challenges of navigating the music business, health and diet, the power of performances and so much more!Magenta Wave is quickly on the rise in Seattle and have their inaugural tour just around the corner with new music on the way! Check em out

Last week, I had a great time talking with YouthCare's Associate Director of The Orion Center, Casey Hewes.The Orion Center provides shelter, food, care and harm reduction services to 18-24 year olds facing housing insecurity. In addition to foundational care, YouthCare has long term education and work force programs to help develop their clients towards self sufficiency.Casey and I had a great time talking about the value of service to others, the power of compassion, the importance of investing in community and so much more.One thing that stuck with me is the importance of understanding that when approaching societal challenges, it's crucial to maintain a compassionate lens; recognize that these issues are complex and require well thought solutions that take time and an investment in the relationship with those you serve. Another great point from this episode that resonates with me, is the return you get from helping someone, it's not a financial one but something more fulfilling and purposeful.Learn more about YouthCare through their website and discover volunteer programs, job opportunities and ways to support the mission of ending youth homelessness in Seattle and King County.

This week I got to sit down with Emily and Kevin from Waltzerr. Just about one year ago I met these two when we played a show at Chop Suey. Little did I know that was one of their first shows! Now just over a year as a band they have released a full length EP and are gearing up for their first tour of the PNW In this episode we talk about how Emily and Kevin started Waltzer, their collaboration process, how to avoid seven years of bad sex and so much more! Stay tuned for Waltzers first full length record and new singles on the way!

I had so much fun hanging out with my friends Marco and Tyler who are launching their debut project, Rose Dust, this March! We talked about their shared music influences, their song writing collaboration process, the impact they hope to have with their music and so much more! Watch our episode and be on the look out for their debut single 'Sorry State' out this March

What a light Tinsley has! I had a blast getting to know her at Baba Yaga. We talk about where her music inspiration draws from, how she got started as a performer and the power of love! Tinsley speaks her truth and commits to her honest self in her music and it's a big reason why her music is easy to relate to. Tinsley is for anyone with a tender heart who knows the pain and glory of love. Tinsley has a very bright future ahead of herself and im so excited to see her album release show at Neumos!

I had a great time getting to chat with my friend Patrick from Love So Deep at Baba Yaga. Patrick is a PNW native from Port Townsend and got his start in music playing the fiddle! He found his way to rock and punk and started Love So Deep which has taken off here in Seattle! We had fun talking about guitars, LSD's song writing process, the values music has brought to his life, the power of music and memory and so much more! Follow Love So Deep on instagram and Spotify

Taylor Mastin is the lead guitarist for Magenta Wave, a Bellingham start up that has found their home here in Seattle Washington. Taylor is committed to a life long journey of pursuing music as a career. He and Magenta Wave have a bright future ahead of them as it takes a special group to commit to creating art together and finding their audience on a larger scale. We had fun talking about the power of music, our guitar heroes, work ethic and os much more! Follow Magenta Wave and see their next at Baba Yaga on December 20th.

This young man has a very bright future ahead of him! He has just released his first full length solo record and has a great head on his shoulders. Truly a great dude and I had a blast getting to hang with him at Baba Yaga in Pioneer Square. Justin is one of my favorite performers. We shared the stage at Tractor Tavern earlier this year and I was blown away by his prowess on stage, the passion he puts into it and the music is absolutely flooring! Its no wonder he had a near sold out crowd for his album release show at Madam Lou's featuring Tezza Talks and Hockey Teeth We talked about the key to happiness, the power of remaining in the moment, his new record, what music provides us in our lives and so much more!

Ive been waiting to do this episode for a long time! After taking the summer off from the podcast we are back to bring you new episodes from Baba Yaga in Pioneer Square! For our first episode back I got to sit down and hang out with Guy Keltner, founder of the iconic Ferakout! music festival taking place this Thursday through Sunday in Ballard. Guy has been a mover in the Seattle music scene for years, having built up his band Acid Tongue and Freakout Fest for the last 10 years. Started as a record label and now turned non-profit; focused on giving local and international artist a chance to play in front of music lovers and show goers. We talked about the life of touring over seas, developing as an artist and a person, how freakout has changed and grown over the years and so much more!

I just got to see Chantel at Sunset Tavern over the weekend with an absolutely stacked line-up! I was utterly blown away by their set, Chantel is such a dynamic, powerful singer and her band kicks ass! Their sound was huge, it was truly a great night! Though based in Portland, Chantel relocated to Oregon from Seattle, I think we can still claim Marble as one of our own!! We had a blast with so many laughs, tour stories; we chatted about Chantel's upbringing in music and of course I asked the tough questions like fighting chickens or a bears

I had so much fun hanging out with Megan at Cafe Racer! a few months back I got to sit down and hang with Megan Cannon right before she set off on a West Coast tour. Since then, Instant Crush has become one of my favorite bands to listen to and I can't wait to see them live again. We talked about how she started Instant Crush, the journey of defining Instant Crush's sound, Megan's start in music and os much more! A lot of laughs, stories and fun times in this one! Catch Instant Crush with an album release show this fall, listen to their discography on Spotify and follow them on Instagram!

It was such a pleasure getting to meet and hang out with Ollella during day 2 of Belltown Bloom! Ollella was a finalist for this years NPR Tiny Desk Contest with her song "Tea Kettle Tea" a powerful song that shares a moving story which has resonated with her audience. We had fun chatting about our favorite foods, how Ollella found her way to pursing a career in music, her influences and so much more! Catch Ollella this Thursday at Tractor Tavern where she will be showcasing her latest album out this year!

I had so much fun getting to hang out with Aryana during day 2 of Belltown Bloom! I was surprised to discover Aryana was a teacher during the pandemic! so much respect to her and its part of why I love getting to do this job because I learn so much about the folks I admire from afar! We talked about brunch, finding the power of music during the pandemic, mental health and the importance of treating yourself and so much more! Catch Aryana at Capitol Hill Block Party this year and listen to her latest release "Didn't Think"

Hillary is a badass, and I said badass probably over a dozen times in this episode because of it. She fronts Linda From Work and is also the manger, social media director and primary song writer for the band. I admire her ability to juggle so much as an entrepreneur with a creative business. We had fun talking about some of the struggles and challenges we face as entrepreneurs, why we love music why the work is worth it and so much more! Catch Linda From Work performing at Bumnbershoot this year and follow them on Spotify and instagram!!

Nate Louis has been a mover of the Seattle music scene for years. From his podcast "Raised on Rhythm" to his weekly show calendar listings through Bands of Seattle, Nate has been a champion for supporting local artists in Seattle. He is respected around the city and I am grateful to call him a friend and to have gotten brilliant advice and support over the years. We had a great chat talking about how bands find their way in todays music business, what makes certain artists sensational, Seattle and so much more

I got to hang out with Talker while she was in town for Belltown Bloom from LA! We had a blast talking about how we found our way to music, what we would do if we had to break a car window, how we maintain perspective on this path and so much more! Listen to Talker's new album on Spotify and follow her on Instagram! She returns to Seattle on July 18th w/ La Fonda at Fun House!

I had so much fun getting to hang out with Shayla during Belltown Bloom! Shayla comes form a family of artists and has been the bass player for Linda From Work for the last two years. Linda From Work is one of the most hard working bands in Seattle having just completed their first western half tour of the U.S. and performing at festivals this year including Number Shoot, Capitol Hill Block Party and Bias Boombox Follow Linda From Work on Spotify and check out their instagram to stay up to date!

A few weeks ago I got to hang out with Shay De Castro when she came to town to perform at Cafe Racer! Shay is an established techno DJ who lived in Seattle after leaving her hometown of Boise post high school graduation. Since then, Shay has traveled the world through her music performing for audiences across Europe, North and Central America. Originally from Boise, Shay found her way to music after picking up the drums at age 4. By Age 10 she taught herself guitar and quickly found her way to techno after getting into gauge music! Shay claims there is a natural pipe-line from grunge to techno! Shay has an incredible future ahead of her and has already achieved so much, most recently announcing a release through Mau5trap after performing at Beyond Wonderland. Shay had so much to share from living abroad in Mexico, to her success as a DJ and how she has grown to be such a kind, introspective, loving person. Follow Shay De Castro on instagram and listen to her latest releases on Spotify.

Weep Wave was my introduction to the Seattle music scene when I moved here from Austin Tx in 2020. I found their tape "Amassing A Mess" at Easy Street Records in West Seattle and saw their live show just a couple weeks before the shutdown. Weep Wave is releasing their latest vinyl record "Speck" Friday April 5th with a release show to kick off their 2024 Spring Tour at Sunset Tavern. I enjoyed getting to chat with Dillion about music, touring adventures, the power of bringing people together and so much more! Follow Weep Wave on Instagram and listen to Meier latest singles on streaming, my current favorite is Rebirth

A couple weeks ago I got to meet and hang out with Seattle singer-songwriter Natalie Hanes. Natalie is originally from North Carolina and moved out to Seattle to start a new life and to pursue a career in music. Here in Seattle she has found community, growth and a new home. She has released 3 EPs and 3 singles over the last few years and will be returning to the studio this Summer to record her 4th EP! Natalie's music is enveloping. Her voice is angelic and the messages in her music are easy to follow with straight forward lyrics which I love! to quote "my shit's good" and I agree! She has a bright future and im looking forward to her next EP and to see where music will take her! Be sure to follow Nataliehanesmusic on Instagram and listen to her music on Spotify @ Natalie Hanes

I had a blast getting to meet and hang out with Ives, an up and coming Alternative Rock Musician local to Seattle. Ives has a passion for performing and has the rockstar energy her blood! With a background performing in theater arts, Ives made her transition into pursuing a career in music during the pandemic after returning to Seattle from NYC. Since then, she has been writing and assembling her current band of musicians. Ives inaugural release 'Angel Arc' brings a high octane experience resembling the powerful sound of Paramore. I am so excited to see where Ives takes her art as she has a vision, drive, passion and a need to create music. We talked about our short/long term goals, the journey that we are on as musicians, the power of believing in yourself and so much more!

After living abroad for a year in Ireland, I got to catch up with my friend Anna Eisch at Cafe Racer's brand new artist green room designed by Vivid Presents! Anna has her own solo project where she has released a collection of EPs and Singles. Her music could be described as dark sad girl pop, and I absolutely love it! She is a very talented singer song writer and I love the sounds she is able to produce on her records. I really enjoyed getting to learn about her process because the music she has released has such great production value and sounds amazing! I was inspired by her story of making a life in Ireland over the last year and can't wait to see what she cooks up now that she is back in Seattle! We talked about why we love Seattle, the ways we grow as artists, Anna's future release goals and so much more! Follow Anna Eisch on Instagram and Spotify to hear her latest release "When You're Bad"

I had a blast hanging out with my new friend John Thornburg. John is known in Seattle for fronting Asterhouse but has just released a new solo record titled, "Oh The Places I've Been", a concept album about his time growing up in Seattle and reflecting on his youth. John has an infectious energy and brought such a good vibe to Cafe Racer! I had so much fun, laughed a bunch and just had a ball getting to chat about being a musician, life lessons we've learned and so much more! This episode was so much fun and John and I really connected through our weird humor and ridiculous nature. While we joked like goofballs we also covered some real life lessons we have picked up along this path we have chosen as musicians and as people. Be sure to follow John's solo work under 'John Thornburg', check out Asterhouse and be sure to listen to John's new album "Oh The Places I've Been" it's truly a great piece of work with eclectic, rock and psychedelic vibes.

Last week I got to meet someone that I've been a fan of for a couple years! J.P. fronts the latin funk band Reposado and hosts the Monday Night Open Jam at The Sea Monster in Wallingford! Reposado blends latin, soul, funk and afrobeat music into a large ensemble band. I first saw Reposado during the Summer of 2022 when Balcony Bridge shared the stage with them at a local music festival in Pioneer Square called Forest For The Trees. Ever since i've been a fan of their music and have enjoyed some truly fantastic live performances from them. Their shows get you dancing and are full of life! Most recently I saw them headline at Tractor Tavern with Jimmy James and Tiffany Wilson. That show truly blew me away! I enjoyed getting to know J.P. and I respect him as a leader in the music community. He has a vision of unification, connecting different music scenes across Seattle and building a better world. We talked about the struggle of reconciling the darkness of the world, the power of music as the spark to building community, connecting with others by welcoming each other's truth and so much more! Be sure to follow Reposado on instagram @Tequilafunk and catch their upcoming shows where you can snag their full length vinyl and get yourself FED with beautiful music and great dancing!

I was so excited to get to meet and hang out with Erick Irons on The Hiyu for episode 7 of The Emerald Gem! Erick carries such a welcoming light about him and I really enjoyed our time on the podcast. Erick and Balcony Bridge had similar starts in Seattle; from playing open mics at the likes of the legendary Conor Bryne in Ballard to having our own episode features on The Slap Shack. I've been following Erick's growth over the last two years and saw his live performance at Barboza for Winter Prom featuring Henry Mansfield and Liv Victorino. Erick is a powerful performer with songs that carry so much momentum that you can't help but get swept up in the wave he and his band carries. His show floored me and I can't wait to see his next one! Erick has released a number of EP's and has three more albums planned for the studio. I was inspired to learn how Erick has built his music career through hard work and time management. Powered by joy, Erick has a bright future ahead of him. I enjoyed getting to learn about his perspective on music, heart break, growing as a person and sharing what we love about Seattle and the Pacific Northwest. Listen to Erick Irons on Spotify and follow him on Instagram to catch his next show!!

I had a blast getting to know Chris Anderson while at the Hiyu on Lake Union. Chris has had an extensive career with a long list of accomplishments. He has found commercial success through his time with the Hypnotic Brass Ensemble and has made a name for himself in seattle as The Pike Street Drummer. From street performing as a music student in Chicago to touring around the world with bands as big as the Gorillaz; Chris has an inspirational story to tell. With the Hypnotic Brass Ensemble, Chris has played major festivals across the globe and was featured in the global sensation, Hunger Games with an official sound track selection. If you're looking to be inspired then look no further! Chris has charted his own way to commercial success, traveled the world, collaborated with A-List celebrities and has built his name in the Seattle music community through the magic and generosity of street performing. Be sure to check out The Pike Street Drummer on instagram and support his upcoming music festival, 'Who's Who' fest in July, a self curated festival featuring local artists sponsored by the City of Seattle.

Just before taking off for the holidays, I got to meet and hang out with Hannah Duckworth at the legendary Cafe Racer! Hannah fronts her own pop punk project and in just one year, has performed across Seattle at some of our biggest venues! I was over joyed to discover that Hannah got her start as a Seattle musician after being inspired as a fan of the local music scene! The inspiration she felt from being exposed to what's happening around town moved her to start her own project and pursue a career in music! Since then, Hannah has released over half a dozen songs, performed at Neumos for Girls Who Indie and has built a respectable following on Spotify! We enjoyed talking about growing up with the music we loved; the live performances that have given us our drive to create; the grind to fulfill a dream and so much more! Follow Hannah Duckworth on Spotify and Instagram and be sure to listen to her upcoming EP out in early 2024! She works hard and has a dream, go support her journey!

I had a blast getting to know my new friend Henry Mansfield! I recently saw Henry at Barboza, performing with my friend Liv Victorino and Eric Irons for Winter Prom! Henry leads a ten piece ensemble of highly talented musicians; culminating in a show that is full of fun and impressive theatrical songs! If you like Young The Giant, Panic! At The Disco, Lin-Manuel Miranda; and whimsical ballads about love and setting yourself free then be sure to catch Henry Mansfield at his next show because it will not disappoint! Listen to Henry's new album "Nothing But The Myths We Make" on Spotify now! We enjoyed talking about the challenges of being a business person in addition to being a creative; Henry's start in music as a Seattle native; what we want for the future of Seattle shows and so much more!

I had a great time chatting with my friend Juliet Daniel who fronts her own pop project called JUL!ET. We will be sharing the stage together on January 14, 2024 at Neumos for a benefit concert for Food Lifeline! I have great respect for Juliet's work ethic and passion for choosing a life in music! I enjoyed getting to see how much fulfillment she receives in experiencing growth as a musician and producer! We talked about her transition into pursuing music as a career, the power of obsession to achieve a dream, the challenges of over coming stigma within the craft of music and so much more! I admire and respect the joy she gets from creating music and I hope you enjoy our conversation and be sure to check out JUL!ET on Spotify/Instagram and come see us perform at Neumos in January!

Liv and I have known each other for a couple years now! We both had similar starts in Seattle through the U-district underground scene while we were students at UW! Liv is a very talented singer song writer and performs professionally across Seattle. From the beginning I recognized the work ethic, passion and drive Liv has for pursuing a career in music. We enjoyed chatting about our early days at UW, house shows, what we are currently enjoying as fans of Seattle's local scene and so much more! Hope you enjoy episode two of The Emerald Gem!

I got to sit down and hang with Marshall Hugh of Marshall Law Band on the hottest day of the year back in August just one day before Balcony Bridge embarked on our first West Coast tour! I have so much respect for the work Marshall does to connect people through the power of music! The vibes were high and we had a blast talking about what we think Seattle needs to restore its status as a music city that commands respect across the globe. We chatted about touring, making music, our dreams, the drive and what it takes to be a musician pursuing a career. Plenty of laughs, insight and good times in this inaugural episode of The Emerald Gem!