MAKE // BREAK

V13 Media Group
  • 5.0 (2)
  • MUSIC INTERVIEWS

MAKE // BREAK is a conversation series about the realities of making art in a world that doesn’t make it easy. Hosted by Lance Marwood, it’s less about the music itself and more about the stories, struggles, and strategies behind it. Each episode dives into the DIY grind, the changing industry, and what it takes to build something lasting without selling out. Guests range from underground bands to established voices, all sharing unfiltered experiences that mix humour, honesty, and hard-earned lessons.

  1. Eric Peterson on Testament and 40 Years in Thrash

    6D AGO

    Eric Peterson on Testament and 40 Years in Thrash

    Episode 015 – Eric Peterson | MAKE // BREAK Eric Peterson is the founding guitarist and primary songwriter of Bay Area thrash legends Testament, a band that’s spent more than four decades pushing heavy music forward while peers have fallen away. With Testament’s fourteenth album Para Bellum, he’s still co-producing, evolving the band’s sound, and keeping the riffs sharper than players half his age. In this episode of MAKE // BREAK, Eric sits down with host Lance Marwood to unpack the real cost of that longevity: the grind of touring and airports, staying physically ready for extreme music, protecting creativity in an AI era, and why horror films, cult novels, and personal taste still shape everything he writes. 👀 What you’ll hear Unpack how Eric turned flyering, bar gigs and bad jobs into a four decade thrash careerExplore why Para Bellum still feels like a first album and how Testament keep evolvingDig into riff writing, flow states and what separates a cool idea from a career songBreak down the ugliest parts of touring, airport purgatory and staying physically ready for stage intensityDebate AI, taste and keeping music human, plus horror movies, cult fiction and weird reading recs🕰️ Chapters 00:00 Intro, Testament overview and setting up Para Bellum 01:15 Make or break moments, legacy decisions and early DIY grind 03:30 Old school flyering and networking vs today’s digital promotion 06:45 Ageing, health and playing extreme thrash into your 50s 09:30 Touring realities, airport lines, boredom and burnout on the road 14:30 Writing Para Bellum while chasing the feeling of the first records 20:20 Taste, identity and how horror and cult films feed Eric’s imagination 28:45 Books on the road, Master and Margarita and other strange reading recs 32:30 Riff writing, flow state jams, Logic demos and editing with the band 37:30 Surviving industry shifts from tape trading to streaming, algorithms and AI 44:20 Legacy, repeating yourself without cloning old riffs, and ACDC as a model 48:40 Honest advice for bedroom players learning Testament riffs on YouTube 🔗 Guest Links https://www.testamentlegions.com/site/ https://linktr.ee/TestamentLegions https://www.instagram.com/ericpetersonofficial/ http://www.enterthedragonlord.com/ 🔗 MAKE // BREAK & Host Links https://open.spotify.com/show/5GDOUd909p7ir2W74M9teg?si=cbc7e01e13ba4a20 https://instagram.com/lowkeyhellish https://tiktok.com/@lowkeyhellish 🔗 V13 Media Links https://v13.net Subscribe for more MAKE // BREAK conversations and drop a comment on how AI should shape metal’s future (explicit language) #MakeBreak #EricPeterson #Testament

    54 min
  2. Kelsey Dower on collaboration and creative control

    JAN 27

    Kelsey Dower on collaboration and creative control

    Episode 014 – Kelsey Dower | MAKE // BREAK Kelsey Maree Dower is a symphonic metal vocalist, composer, and multi-instrumentalist whose cinematic writing style turns orchestration into front-line storytelling. Best known for her single “Rage” and the concept-driven album project Rebirth, she builds massive arrangements with a DIY, self-composed precision that still hits emotionally. She’s also a featured vocalist and co-writer on Björn Hofer’s In the Shadow symphonic metal trilogy through B-Track Records. In Episode 014 of MAKE // BREAK with host Lance Marwood, Kelsey digs into the real work behind ambitious music: MIDI composition, mixing battles between strings and guitars, creative control, and navigating the music business as an autistic artist. 👀 What you’ll hear Trace her path from piano prodigy to symphonic metal songwriter with a clear creative compass Learn why orchestral parts feel easy, and why guitars and drums still challenge the mix Hear how collaboration stays open while protecting vision and keeping creative control intact Reframe ambition when your genre is niche, expensive, and hard for algorithms to surface Unpack the myth of getting signed young and the practical planning that replaced it Break down Rage, cathartic anger, and how growls became a new tool in her voice 🕰️ Chapters00:00 Symphonic metal origin story and why it finally clicked 02:49 First metal exposure, emotional catharsis, Within Temptation moment 05:44 Moving childhood, Carnegie Hall, opening for Clay Aiken 08:09 Piano and vocals foundation, ear training, early performance discipline 09:40 MIDI composition workflow, Ableton-style arranging, finding the spark 11:58 Production challenge: orchestra width vs guitars, drums, and mixing presence 14:51 Collaboration mindset, creative control, and working through disagreements 17:35 Ambition in niche genres, costs of scale, algorithm invisibility 22:52 Inspiration vs showing up, building ideas over time without forcing it 26:50 Music industry myth: getting signed young, budgeting, planning, side jobs 30:54 Autism, gatekeepers, reading intent, navigating predatory dynamics 38:46 Rage single inspiration, bullying, catharsis, learning growls 42:58 Rebirth album arc: build-up, catharsis, post-release aftermath 🔗 Guest Linkshttps://promo.v13.net/2025/11/kelsey-dower/https://www.instagram.com/kelsey_music2024/https://www.youtube.com/@kelsey_music2024https://open.spotify.com/artist/23z1Xwhfvf5B0zVQyzlCdu 🔗 MAKE // BREAK & Host Links https://open.spotify.com/show/5GDOUd909p7ir2W74M9teg?si=cbc7e01e13ba4a20 https://instagram.com/lowkeyhellish https://tiktok.com/@lowkeyhellish 🔗 V13 Media Links https://v13.net Subscribe for more MAKE // BREAK, and comment: when has anger fuelled your best creative work? [Minor audio dropouts in the early minutes] #MakeBreak #KelseyDower #MusicBusiness

    36 min
  3. Scot “Little” Bihlman on touring and staying in the now

    JAN 13

    Scot “Little” Bihlman on touring and staying in the now

    Episode 013 – Scot Little Bihlman | MAKE // BREAK Scot “Little” Bihlman is an Emmy Award-winning multi-instrumentalist, singer-songwriter, and SAG-AFTRA actor, best known as the drummer/vocalist in Grinder Blues alongside dUg Pinnick (King’s X). In Episode 013 of MAKE // BREAK with host Lance Marwood, he unpacks what it takes to last: choosing quality of life over noise, staying present through drumming and motorcycle riding, and protecting your creative identity in a culture obsessed with imitation. Little also gets real about touring pressure, the seductive comfort of sideman work, and why technique only matters if it serves the song, as he builds toward his next chapter under Little Bihlman. 👀 What you’ll hear Hear how four Emmys happened through timing, fit, and staying ready for the callUnpack why motorcycle riding and drumming force presence, and how that unlocks writingLearn the boundary he draws around tribute bands, authenticity, and scene cultureGet a candid look at tour pressure, sideman perks, and the hidden costs of what’s nextCompare technique to songwriting, and why songs are the only currency that lasts🕰️ Chapters 00:00 Intro, Emmys, and the Little Bihlman pivot 01:29 Emmy awards and luck in film/TV placements 03:22 Finding your voice and honouring influences 06:52 Tribute bands, covers, and authenticity 09:16 Hollywood sets, Spider-Man, and staying grounded 13:42 LA vs Nashville quality of life for artists 17:43 Motorcycle meditation and staying in the now 24:08 Tour pressure and make-or-break moments 38:56 Sideman life vs solo career focus 45:24 Drumming book, teaching, and technique in service of songs 51:58 Link Wray, Audioslave, and music that moves the room 57:24 Heavy Head singles and the upcoming book 🔗 Guest Links https://scotbihlman.com https://instagram.com/littlebihlman https://open.spotify.com/artist/2NNnYU4KcqqNMf1Qki92AP https://youtube.com/channel/UCwJRSkgFax5H8XNsGRhQ0mA 🔗 MAKE // BREAK & Host Links https://open.spotify.com/show/5GDOUd909p7ir2W74M9teg?si=cbc7e01e13ba4a20 https://instagram.com/lowkeyhellish https://tiktok.com/@lowkeyhellish 🔗 V13 Media Links https://v13.net Subscribe for more, and comment: are you chasing chops or songs right now? [Contains explicit language] #MakeBreak #Bihlman #Touring

    1 hr
  4. Aaron Farrell on Writing and Identity, from Barcelona to V13

    2025-12-10

    Aaron Farrell on Writing and Identity, from Barcelona to V13

    Episode 012 – Aaron Farrell | MAKE // BREAK Welsh-born writer Aaron Farrell returns to MAKE // BREAK for a candid, high-signal conversation about discipline, identity, and creative survival. Author of The Lost and Found and the poetry collection Artbeat, The Ekphrastic Spastic, Aaron traces the path from lockdown essays and his “Violent Expression” column to an unflinching Barcelona manuscript, while reopening his work with V13. We get into stay-at-home parent realities, pandemic PPE and burnout, martial arts as a writing method, and why killing perfectionism is the only way forward. With Jung in one hand and Eastern philosophy in the other, Aaron makes a case for truthful prose, pragmatic publishing, and showing up when it’s hardest. 👀 What you’ll hear Trace the leap from lockdown columns to longform books without waiting for permissionCompare discipline in martial arts to muscle memory in writing and creative practiceUnpack honest fatherhood, neurodivergence, and why progress is jagged not linearReframe perfectionism with pragmatic publishing habits you can start todayMap the “violent expression” era to a new V13 chapter and concrete next steps🕰️ Chapters00:00 Cold open and return-guest banter 00:22 Who is Aaron Farrell now and why he’s back on MAKE // BREAK 03:05 Stay-at-home dad energy, sick kids, showing up anyway 05:22 PPE reality check and pandemic life in hospitals 08:31 Barcelona move, curfews, and starting over 12:18 Transmetropolitan, Spider Jerusalem, media cynicism 16:45 Violent Expression origin, truth-telling, culture shock 22:06 Self-publishing in lockdown, first books and columns 26:24 Beat of Barcelona draft, decadence and discipline 32:48 Style over fitting in, permission to write as yourself 40:03 Breaking down, autism context, rebuilding identity 55:43 Jung, sense vs nonsense, closing notes and next time 🔗 Guest Links https://v13.net/tag/violent-expression 🔗 MAKE // BREAK & Host Links https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/makebreakhttps://instagram.com/lowkeyhellishhttps://tiktok.com/@lowkeyhellish 🔗 V13 Media https://v13.net Subscribe for more and drop a comment: do film or game scores help your writing focus? (explicit language) #MakeBreak #AaronFarrell #Writing

    54 min
  5. Dave Fowler on Building a Career That Lasts in the Music Industry

    2025-11-25

    Dave Fowler on Building a Career That Lasts in the Music Industry

    Episode 011 – Dave Fowler | MAKE // BREAK Dave Fowler is a Nashville-based bassist, producer, and songwriter whose career spans work with icons like Dolly Parton, Dr. John, Cinderella, and Billy Ray Cyrus. A sought-after live and studio player, he’s also the co-founder of GET JOE Records, a producer at Fowler–Wells Productions, and the force behind Running With Giants, his mentorship and clinic platform for musicians. In this episode, Dave joins Lance to unpack the realities of a lifelong career in music—from the discipline behind professional performance to the humility that keeps great players in demand—and what it really takes to build both longevity and legacy in an ever-changing industry. 👀 What you’ll hear Tracing Dave Fowler’s roots from Southern gospel to touring with Dolly Parton and Dr. John The truth about persistence and why “not quitting” is the only real career plan Inside Nashville’s studio culture and how pros record songs they’ve never heard before The moment Dave nearly quit music — and what pulled him back Lessons from decades in the industry: humility, discipline, and creative adaptability A look ahead to Dave’s upcoming memoir and his mentorship platform Running With Giants 🕰️ Chapters 00:00 Welcome + intro to Dave Fowler 02:00 Finding bass and early church influences 06:30 What separates musicians who last from those who don’t 08:00 The myth of “making it” and the persistence mindset 11:20 Lessons to his younger self and Nashville’s evolution 14:30 Inside the studio: how pros build songs on the spot 18:00 The bass player’s role: when to lead vs. blend in 24:40 Make-or-break moments and personal resilience 28:00 The story behind Dave’s upcoming book 33:30 Running With Giants and mentoring new artists 37:00 GET JOE Records, new projects, and Texas success stories 39:30 Final reflections + closing thoughts 🔗 Guest Links https://davefowler.com https://www.instagram.com/davefowler1963 https://www.youtube.com/@davefowlerbass https://www.facebook.com/davefowlerbass https://x.com/davefonbass 🔗 MAKE // BREAK & Host Links https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/makebreak https://instagram.com/lowkeyhellish https://tiktok.com/@lowkeyhellish 🔗 V13 Media Links https://v13.net If this conversation hit home, subscribe and comment: what’s your definition of “making it” in music? #MakeBreak #Fowler #MusicBusiness

    37 min

  6. 2025-11-20

    Garrett Barbuto on songwriting: building songs that actually move people

    Garrett Barbuto is the frontman of Garrett Barbuto & The Hot Pursuit, a Calgary-based rock outfit blending classic energy with modern grit. Known for his soulful voice and grounded songwriting, Barbuto has carved out a space between old-school musicianship and new-era independence. With the band’s 2024 EP One More Glimpse and recent collaborations like “Why Be Lonely?” with Accidental Martyr, he’s proven both versatile and fearless in his evolution. In this episode of MAKE // BREAK, Garrett joins host Lance Marwood to talk about building creative momentum, redefining success on your own terms, and how the best work often comes from chasing passion over perfection. 👀 What you’ll hear (4–6 bullets, no quotes) Reframing “success” in the music business and why he chose to go slow and methodical How bar-band seasons forged his live instincts and what authenticity really looks like onstage A practical songwriting system that favours motion, multiple ideas, and deadlines over waiting Collaboration lessons with a mentor–producer and the moment he pushed back to keep a song’s soul Tactics for beating creative blocks with inputs, routines, and small constraints that create momentum 🕰️ Chapters 00:00:00 Intro, why Garrett Barbuto is on MAKE // BREAK 00:00:45 Move to Calgary, bar-band beginnings, deciding to lead a band 00:02:42 Writing with a mentor, learning by failing fast, demo-to-studio pipeline 00:05:48 Timmins roots, classic rock imprint, the open-mic setlist laboratory 00:07:16 What still works in bars and why those songs matter for new writing 00:19:20 Performance persona, crowd energy, and letting moments happen instead of forcing them 00:22:05 Authenticity through subtraction, delegating banter, playing to strengths 00:30:56 Measuring creative progress beyond metrics, phrasing, and micro-choices that level up songs 00:36:22 Collaboration friction, earning your voice, and protecting a song’s character 00:39:04 Advice to musicians: seek real pros, expand your writing toolkit beyond acoustic guitar 00:50:41 Inspiration vs discipline, systems, deadlines, and making ideas move 00:59:08 Non-musical inputs, Canada stories, and stealing like an artist 01:04:14 Plugs, new solo project timeline, where to follow 🔗 Guest Links (site first, then socials) https://www.thehotpursuityyc.com https://instagram.com/garrettbarbutomusic https://instagram.com/thehotpursuityyc 🔗 MAKE // BREAK & Host Links https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/makebreak https://instagram.com/lowkeyhellish https://tiktok.com/@lowkeyhellish 🔗 V13 Media Links https://v13.net If this helped, subscribe and tell us in the comments: does discipline beat inspiration in your songwriting (explicit language) #MakeBreak #GarrettBarbuto #Songwriting

    1h 6m
  7. Aaron Farrell on travel writing, resilience, and Violent Expression

    2025-10-28

    Aaron Farrell on travel writing, resilience, and Violent Expression

    Episode 031 – Aaron Farrell | MAKE // BREAK Aaron Farrell is a Welsh-born writer and editor whose work spans travel-lit grit and sharp cultural criticism. He’s the author of The Lost and Found: A Contemporary Travelling Thriller of Good, Bad and Bohemian All Pursuing Their Passions – However Pure or Perverse and the poetry collection ArtBeat: The Ekphrastic Spastic, alongside essays that thread music, class, and mental health. A former co-founder/editor at Cape Magazine, Aaron is now restarting his work with V13, where his “Violent Expression” columns distill lived experience into clear, hard-hitting prose. In this episode of MAKE // BREAK, we talk turning miles into pages, building durable writing habits, and navigating independent publishing with honesty, resilience, and a bias toward action. 👀 What you’ll hear Trace the Welsh roots and working-class grit that shaped Aaron’s voice and worldview as a writer Follow the leap from youth work to Camp America and how that unlocked a decade of travelling and ages Steal simple, repeatable writing habits Aaron used to draft and redraft his first novel over four years Learn the low-budget systems he used in Australia to write a book from a van and library desks Hear why martial arts discipline and film scores became his engines for consistency and atmosphere 🕰️ Chapters 00:00 Intro, names, why this conversation on MAKE // BREAK 01:52 Welsh identity, Swansea upbringing, Dylan Thomas influence 05:11 Welsh language history, the Blue Books, finding a voice 11:34 Youth work, teaching, and the first sparks of writing 15:21 Camp America, New York summers, horizons opening 24:31 Returning to craft, reading more, building habits 33:45 Blogging in 2013, film reviews, keeping momentum 48:41 Deciding to travel long-term, Thailand to South Africa 53:32 Australia farm work, the van, Byron Bay library pages 56:47 Drafting the novel that became The Lost and Found 58:55 Self-publishing in 2020 and what he learned 1:08:37 Writing at V13, “Violent Expression,” next book in development 🔗 Guest Links (site first, then socials) https://v13.net/author/aaron_farrell/ 🔗 MAKE // BREAK & Host Links https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/makebreak https://instagram.com/lowkeyhellish https://tiktok.com/@lowkeyhellish 🔗 V13 Media Links https://v13.net If this helped, subscribe and tell us in the comments which part of Aaron’s indie publishing journey you want us to dig into next. (explicit language) #MakeBreak #AaronFarrell #IndependentPublishing

    1h 15m
  8. Ger Carriere on Wild Woman, Identity, and Creative Freedom

    2025-10-21

    Ger Carriere on Wild Woman, Identity, and Creative Freedom

    Episode 008 – Ger Carriere | MAKE // BREAK Geraldine “Ger” Carriere is a Cree singer-songwriter, bestselling author, speaker, and the founder of Wild Woman Personal & Professional Development. Based in Saskatchewan, Ger’s work spans music, literature, and empowerment, each rooted in her mission to help women, especially Indigenous creatives, reclaim their voice and lead with purpose. Her recent singles Can I Be Her, Are You My Type, and Blessed in My Heels continue a run of soulful pop that balances strength with vulnerability. In this episode of MAKE // BREAK, Ger joins host Lance Marwood to talk identity, resilience, and the ongoing act of choosing yourself, again and again, in a world that often asks you to shrink. 👀 What you’ll hear How Ger turned the label “wild” into a movement empowering Indigenous women and creatives The moment she swore she’d never undersell herself again — and how it shaped her career Why her singles “Can I Be Her” and “Are You My Type” explore femininity, freedom, and permission The truth about self-validation, fear, and faith that drives her music and coaching work How therapy, purpose, and self-belief keep her grounded while she builds across music, books, and business 🕰️ Chapters 00:00 Opening reflections on love, fear, and purpose 01:20 Ger introduces herself in Cree and shares her origin story 06:00 Rejecting “niche down” advice and embracing creative duality 10:36 On identity, underdog energy, and reclaiming representation 16:18 Early influences from Tupac, Prince, and Tina Turner 23:41 The high-school moment that taught her to never shrink again 41:11 Surviving without safety nets and betting on herself 42:50 The making of Wild Woman and her newest singles 49:53 Vulnerability, personas, and authenticity in performance 52:39 Lessons from therapy on validation and self-worth 1:00:36 Closing thoughts on faith, fear, and finding your voice 🔗 Guest Links https://www.wildwomanwithin.me https://instagram.com/gercarriere https://tiktok.com/@gercarriere https://www.youtube.com/@GCARRIER23 https://open.spotify.com/artist/3fbfbBjMDl5zUeJXdmIn8g 🔗 MAKE // BREAK & Host Links https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/makebreak https://instagram.com/lowkeyhellish https://tiktok.com/@lowkeyhellish 🔗 V13 Media Links https://v13.net Subscribe and drop a comment: how do you balance being multifaceted without losing your core? (explicit language) #MakeBreak #Carriere #WildWoman

    1h 2m
See All (15)

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

MAKE // BREAK is a conversation series about the realities of making art in a world that doesn’t make it easy. Hosted by Lance Marwood, it’s less about the music itself and more about the stories, struggles, and strategies behind it. Each episode dives into the DIY grind, the changing industry, and what it takes to build something lasting without selling out. Guests range from underground bands to established voices, all sharing unfiltered experiences that mix humour, honesty, and hard-earned lessons.

Information

  • Creator
    V13 Media Group
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    15
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © V13 Media Group
  • Show Website
    MAKE // BREAK