Producer Andy Zax joins us this week on Aquarium Drunkard Transmissions. Zax was exploring Rod McKuen’s vaults one day when he uncovered something remarkable: lost music by electronic pioneer Mort Garson. Ahead of of Sacred Bones’ release of Journey To the Moon and Beyond, Zax joins Jason P. Woodbury to discuss his archival adventures in pop music, the moon landing, Woodstock, Leonard Nimoy’s late ’60s discography, his forthcoming Extinctophonics.
Category: Podcast
Transmissions :: Gia Margaret
Though Gia Margaret’s 2018 debut, There’s Always Glimmer, was the striking work of a singer/songwriter, when medical issues put a strain on her voice, she turned to instrumental music, first with her ambient leaning self-titled 2020 album, and now Romantic Piano, a collection of moving piano compositions, mostly instrumental, that feels at once meditative and comforting. It’s the kind of music that carves out more space for the listener—and it turns out, it’s the kind of music that did something similar for its creator.
Transmissions :: Marc Ribot
Marc Ribot is one of the most intriguing and dynamic guitarists in music. But when he wants to cut loose, he unites his punk-informed trio Ceramic Dog. Ahead of the charging Connection, Ribot joins us today on Transmissions to discuss musician labor rights, Hal Willner’s Night Music and more.
Transmissions :: Jared Swilley (Black Lips)
While Black Lips have matured and grown since forming in 1999, the Atlanta-based garage band haven’t “settled down.” Case in point is Apocalypse Love, the group’s 10th album, released last year on Fire Records. Incorporating gospel and country influences, it’s as strange and exciting as the band’s early work, but it also showcases a new depth to the band. Today on Transmissions, Black Lip Jared Swilley joins us to discuss his pentecostal roots, his minister father coming out of the closet, the importance of the Bomp Records catalog, his mentor The Mighty Hannibal, and much more.
Transmissions :: David John Morris (Red River Dialect)
David John Morris of Red River Dialect joins us to discuss his 2021 album Monastic Love Songs, 2022’s Wyld Love Songs, his time in a Buddhist monastery, how it augmented his approach to music, his podcast listening habits, the consistent spiritual longing of the creative process and, truthfully, so much more.
Transmissions :: The Modern Folk
Writing about The Modern Folk’s Modern Folk One in our AD 2022 Year in Review, we called it, “A blend of field recordings, astral zones, freak outs, leisurely jams, and rustique concrète from the ever-prolific Josh Moss.” That gives you a little sense of the kind of music Moss creates with his ultra-prolific recording project. Head over to his Bandcamp and you’ll find dozens and dozens of releases.
Transmissions :: Bruce Licher (Independent Project)
Bruce Licher of Independent Project Press and Records joins host Jason P. Woodbury to discuss his album art creations, his time in the Mojave Desert, the Southwestern dream-pop scene of the ‘90s, his letterpress origins, his work with R.E.M. and much more.
Transmissions :: Suss
This week on Aquarium Drunkard Transmissions: ambient country trio Suss. On their own, Suss members Jonathan Gregg, Bob Holmes, and Pat Irwin have been involved in musical projects, with artists like k.d. Lang, the B-52s, John Cale, David Bowie, Norah Jones, the War on Drugs and Wilco—Irwin even contributed music to Nickelodeon’s Rocko’s Modern Life.
Transmissions :: Allyson McCabe on Sinéad O’Connor
Today on the show, we’re joined by Allyson McCabe, author of the new book: Why Sinéad O’Connor Matters. McCabe is a writer, broadcaster and producer, whose work has appeared in the New York Times, BBC Culture, Wired and on NPR.
Transmissions :: Alex Pappademas & Joan LeMay on Steely Dan
We’re pleased to welcome Alex Pappademas and artist Joan LeMay on today’s episode. Together, they have created a tremendous and deeply entertaining new book about one of Aquarium Drunkard’s favorite bands: Quantum Criminals: Ramblers, Wild Gamblers, and Other Sole Survivors From The Songs of Steely Dan.
Transmissions :: Janaka Stucky
Our guest this week is mystic poet, writer, publisher, and performance artist Janaka Stucky, who’s been hailed as “extraordinary” and “riveting” by no less an occult authority than Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin. Today on Transmissions, he discusses adapting his epic poem Ascend, Ascend with Lori Goldston, and reflects on the dread-soaked nature of reality.
Transmissions :: Vashti Bunyan
Vashti Bunyan’s songs were too imaginative and powerful to be lost to the sands of time. Though her 1970 album Just Another Diamond Day was barely heard on original release, it became a freak folk foundational document. Recently, Bunyan published her first book, Wayward: Just Another Life. She joined us to discuss the book, that journey, and what it felt like to have her work rediscovered—and why she hates being called a “folk” singer.
Transmissions :: Elkhorn
This week on Transmissions, Jesse Sheppard and Drew Gardner, the psychedelic folk duo Elkhorn. Their new album, On the Universe In All Directions, finds Jesse once again at his familiar 12-string acoustic guitar, but instead of Drew joining with his trademark Telecaster, he’s moved over to vibraphone and drums for this outing. From Buddhism to John Fahey, from time slips to Aquarium Drunkard itself, this conversation unfolds and wanders, we hope you enjoy it.
Transmissions :: Jana Horn
This week on Transmissions, we’re joined by writer and musician Jana Horn. Her new album The Window is the Dream is out now on No Quarter Records. Writing about it, Andy French at Raven Sings The Blues calls it, a “delicate exfoliation of dream and reality.” When she’s not penning oracular folk rock songs, Horn teaches fiction at the University of Virginia and writes short fiction. She joins us to discuss it all.
Transmissions :: Surya Botofasina
“At this point, I feel that the music I want to be a part of at least, is a music, a sound, a frequency that advocates and promotes some sort of introspection, back to the here and now.” This week on Aquarium Drunkard Transmissions: spiritual avant-garde jazz keyboardist Surya Botofasina, who joins us to discuss Everyone’s Children and growing up in Alice Coltrane’s spiritual community in the Santa Monica Mountains.