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.

Episodes

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

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

    NOV 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

  3. NOV 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
  4. Aaron Farrell on travel writing, resilience, and Violent Expression

    OCT 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
  5. Ger Carriere on Wild Woman, Identity, and Creative Freedom

    OCT 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
  6. Cousteau Christopher of Djentrified on going viral and confronting injustice

    OCT 17

    Cousteau Christopher of Djentrified on going viral and confronting injustice

    Episode 002 – Cousteau Christopher | MAKE // BREAK Cousteau Christopher is the Santa Barbara musician behind Djentrified, a project fusing djent, metalcore, and deathcore with cinematic and political storytelling. His breakout single “This Song Shouldn’t Exist” went viral as a fundraiser for Palestinian relief, followed quickly by “Welcome to the Abyss” and “Harbinger.” With chart placements on Metal Contraband and NACC Heavy, Djentrified proved that independent heavy music can still cut through the noise. Yet, just as momentum built, TikTok banned Christopher’s account without explanation, cutting off 16,000 followers overnight. On MAKE // BREAK, he talks about resilience in the face of digital gatekeeping, the realities of DIY promotion, and why his music is designed as both warning and call to action. It is an honest account of what happens when heavy riffs collide with systemic resistance, and why artists must keep creating even when platforms try to silence them 👀 What you’ll hear Explain how a viral TikTok campaign built 16,000 followers in just two monthsBreak down why his debut single “This Song Shouldn’t Exist” became a protest anthemExplore the tension between using Spotify and critiquing its CEO’s investmentsShare how burnout from social media is the biggest bottleneck for independent artistsReveal horror inspirations and how layered lyrics deliver political and personal impact 🕰️ Chapters 00:00 Introduction and name pronunciation 01:00 Building a real fan base with empathy and morality 03:30 TikTok blow-up and “This Song Shouldn’t Exist” fundraiser for Palestine 07:00 Crossing into mainstream listeners outside of metal 10:00 Genre talk: djent, metalcore, and the evolution of heavy music 16:00 Challenges of being a solo project in Santa Barbara 18:30 Choosing values over comfort: the cost of empathy and morality 25:00 Spotify, ethical dilemmas, and no-win situations under capitalism 34:00 Wearing every hat: where burnout really strikes 37:00 The importance of email lists vs fragile social media platforms 43:00 Framing Djentrified as a movement, not just a band 53:00 Childhood medical trauma, hallucinations, and horror influence 59:00 Jordan Peele, false neutrality, and political commentary in art 01:13:00 Layered lyrics, Genius annotations, and musical Easter eggs 01:16:00 Closing thoughts and future directions 🔗 Guest Links https://linktr.ee/djentrified.official https://djentrified.substack.com/ https://www.youtube.com/@CousteauOfficial https://www.instagram.com/djentrified.official/ https://open.spotify.com/artist/2QUUobR8FRqVwnhCvUWrIx?si=D2AHqIMEQJe9LbdXrKACdQ 🔗 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 Tell us in the comments: would you choose comfort or conscience in today’s music business? (audio glitch in parts, explicit language) #MakeBreak #Djentrified #MusicIndustry

    1h 18m
  7. Robert Stahl breaks down indie publishing and short story craft

    OCT 14

    Robert Stahl breaks down indie publishing and short story craft

    Episode 007 – Robert Stahl | MAKE // BREAK Robert E. Stahl is the Dallas-based horror author behind Show Me Where It Hurts (JournalStone, 2025), a debut collection of 30 short stories and poems exploring grief, transformation, and the monstrous within. A former bartender turned writer and filmmaker, Stahl built his voice at the intersection of prose and comics, drawing on influences like Swamp Thing while developing a pragmatic editing and submissions routine. In this episode of MAKE // BREAK with host Lance Marwood, he breaks down the “rejection math” behind landing pro-market placements, the origins of that unforgettable teeth cover, and the mindset that carried him from first readers to a book deal and Texas tour. It’s equal parts craft talk, resilience playbook, and indie-publishing reality check. 👀 What you’ll hear Distil the title and teeth cover into a surprising origin story from a poem and a monster Share the rejection-to-acceptance ratio and how persistence finally cracked pro markets Explain how Swamp Thing and Monkey’s Paw tropes shaped a devastating reunion scene Map the indie publishing path through grief, resilience, and landing with JournalStone Detail a pragmatic editing system — cooling time, trusted first readers, revision boundaries Offer brass-tacks routines for writing, submissions, and surviving the industry’s noes 🕰️ Chapters 00:00 Why Show Me Where It Hurts and the iconic teeth cover 01:52 Rejections, first pro-market sales, contest experiences 04:29 Political horror and placing in Story Unlikely 06:20 Swamp Thing influence and Monkey’s Paw mechanics 10:18 Publishing gauntlet, grief, and finding JournalStone 13:28 Resilience mindset — “the action is the juice” 16:39 Blood onstage story and Halloween gig 17:50 Books that reset creatives — King, Pressfield, Gilbert 18:44 Comics craft — Moore, Hickman, Gaiman shaping horror voice 25:37 Contemporary horror influences — Jones, Ketchum, Barker 39:45 Top films — Hereditary, The Descent, Talk To Me 48:06 Editing, first readers, routine, and rejection-proof habits 🔗 Guest Links https://www.robertestahl.com/ https://www.instagram.com/robert_e_stahl_author/ https://www.facebook.com/RobertEStahlAuthorhttps://x.com/RobertStahlTX 🔗 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 how you handle rejection in the publishing grind (explicit language) #MakeBreak #Stahl #HorrorWriting

    57 min
  8. Brandon O’Neill on surviving DIY music and staying true to your art

    OCT 7

    Brandon O’Neill on surviving DIY music and staying true to your art

    Episode 006 – Brandon O’Neill | MAKE // BREAK Brandon O’Neill is the founder, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and vocalist behind Wine & Warpaint, the Richmond-based indie rock project whose debut album Disassociate (2024) earned recognition as one of the year’s standout independent releases. Known for blending raw emotion with meticulous production, O’Neill has built Wine & Warpaint into a self-sustaining project that thrives at the intersection of DIY ethos and professional polish. In this episode of MAKE // BREAK, he joins host Lance Marwood to discuss recording with producer Kyle Black (Paramore, Pierce the Veil), the mental shifts that come with travelling for art, and the constant push-pull between algorithms, AI, and authenticity. O’Neill’s perspective offers a grounded, thoughtful look at what it means to create meaningful work in today’s music business. 👀 What you’ll hear • Unpack how Wine & Warpaint built momentum with their debut album Disassociate and a fiercely DIY approach • Share what Brandon learned working with producer Kyle Black (Paramore, Pierce the Veil) and why meticulousness matters • Debate the rise of AI tools, social media burnout, and whether content creation helps or hurts real artistry • Expose the broken incentives of algorithms that reward rage and novelty instead of genuine music discovery • Explore why local community, collaboration, and micro-level choices are how artists can break out of toxic systems • Leave with Brandon’s advice on how artists can stay humble, experiment, and keep making the work they believe in 🕰️ Chapters 00:00 Intro and welcome with Brandon O’Neill 02:00 Flying cross-country to record with Kyle Black 05:00 Shifting headspace and finding inspiration in LA 09:00 Discovering meticulous creativity in the studio 13:00 Lessons from producers vs DIY recording 18:00 Fast workflows, Pro Tools shortcuts, and setup hacks 20:00 Debating AI tools, artistry, and the algorithm 26:00 Social media, content grind, and why he deleted Instagram 32:00 How algorithms gatekeep discovery and reward rage 40:00 Community, DIY ethos, and breaking the system locally 50:00 Responsibility, regulation, and cultural shifts 01:06:00 Generosity, art, and finding meaning through action 01:11:00 What’s next for Wine & Warpaint and upcoming music 🔗 Guest Links https://wineandwarpaint.com https://www.instagram.com/wineandwarpaint https://www.youtube.com/c/winewarpaint https://www.facebook.com/wineandwarpaint https://wineandwarpaint.bandcamp.com https://open.spotify.com/artist/4IDDdNItHvj6aRkZ2LnCRe 🔗 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 for more and drop a comment: should musicians fight the algorithm or ignore it and focus only on the art? (explicit language) #MakeBreak #WineandWarpaint #MusicBusiness

    1h 13m
  9. Garrett Anthony Rice talks albums, authenticity, and the music business

    SEP 30

    Garrett Anthony Rice talks albums, authenticity, and the music business

    Episode 005 – Garrett Anthony Rice | MAKE // BREAK Garrett Anthony Rice is an Irish songwriter whose double album Equinox has already drawn early praise as one of the most ambitious debuts of the decade. Recorded across Ireland and the UK with producer Chris Potter (The Verve, The Rolling Stones), the record spans 18 songs that move from swamp blues slide guitar to Britpop shimmer and politically charged anthems. Singles like “Eden,” “I Found Myself Today,” and “Property” show the range: gospel haze, anti-war urgency, and a re-framing of Syd Barrett’s legacy. On MAKE // BREAK, Garrett speaks candidly about craft, industry saturation, and his belief that music must carry both truth and weight. He pushes back against formula and fleeting trends, pointing instead to Dylan, Bowie, and Ashcroft as reminders of how songs can change lives. It’s a grounded, passionate look at what it means to create art with conviction in a crowded, uncertain era. 👀 What you’ll hear • Break down Garrett Anthony Rice’s creative process and how Equinox sets up future albums already in the works • Call out the formulaic “two-chord clones” dominating airwaves and why true artistry comes from somewhere deeper • Debate streaming saturation, shocking Spotify stats, and what it really takes to find an audience today • Explore DIY promotion, relentless posting, and how persistence plus authenticity can cut through the noise • Highlight the holy trinity of artist income streams: touring, merch, and sync opportunities beyond streaming pennies • Share advice on balancing business and creativity without losing the magic that makes songs matter 🕰️ Chapters 00:00 Introduction and the joy of songwriting 01:00 Writing Equinox and future albums 04:00 Breaking clichés in the acoustic scene 07:30 Influences from Bowie to Ashcroft and Hendrix 12:00 Honest critique of modern rap vs the 90s 17:00 Spotify saturation and shocking streaming stats 22:00 First album, Chris Potter, and DIY promotion 27:00 Perseverance lessons from Taylor Swift to Sabrina Carpenter 32:00 Treating music as a business without losing heart 38:00 Chasing money vs chasing meaning in art 41:00 Music as escape, identity, and cultural connection 47:00 Blues roots, influences, and carrying forward tradition 52:00 Passing the gift of music to the next generation 57:00 Final reflections and looking ahead 🔗 Guest Links https://linktr.ee/garrettanthonyrice https://instagram.com/garrettanthonyrice https://open.spotify.com/artist/2Kw1ZbSdRWH7SSSPb6PrnY?si=6op2u1gKQk6Fe_1w0CFGPw 🔗 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 conversations and drop a comment: should artists chase streams or focus on the holy trinity of touring, merch, and sync? (explicit language) #MakeBreak #Rice #MusicBusiness

    59 min
  10. Collin Young (ONE HUNDRED MOONS) on Hustle Culture and Artist Identity

    SEP 23

    Collin Young (ONE HUNDRED MOONS) on Hustle Culture and Artist Identity

    Collin Young of One Hundred Moons joins host Lance Marwood on MAKE // BREAK to discuss Black Avalanche, art, and the music business. Episode 004 – Collin Young | MAKE // BREAK 👀 What you’ll hear -Break down the sound and vision behind One Hundred Moons’ new album Black Avalanche -Explore why Collin sees music as a “third thing” beyond work and relaxation -Contrast stoicism, hustle culture, and the myth of making art a full-time job -Reflect on performing live as proof of existence and the struggle for audience connection -Consider how meaning, story, and context can shape how we receive music 🕰️ Chapters 00:00 Intro and welcome with Collin Young 01:00 What Collin is trying to make to “break through” 02:30 Naming and themes of Black Avalanche 06:45 Challenges of creation vs. survival work 09:30 Do artists have the right to complain about music business struggles 14:00 Promotion, press, and the burden of self-marketing 16:00 Playing live shows vs. social media promotion 19:00 The need for “receipts” that bands are real 23:00 Stories, mythology, and why context matters 27:00 Letting the music itself be the story 30:00 Abstract meaning and listener interpretation 39:00 Transcendent live moments and audience connection 45:00 Niches, cults, and today’s fragmented music culture 47:00 Career vs. vocation: music as lifelong identity 52:00 Why art’s value must stand on its own 🔗 Guest Links https://instagram.com/100moonsband https://tiktok.com/@100moonsband 🔗 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 tell us in the comments: Should music’s value stand apart from money and career? (explicit language) #MakeBreak #OneHundredMoons #MusicIndustry

    58 min
  11. Jordan Holman (Kentucky) on Hope, Death, and Surviving as a Songwriter

    SEP 16

    Jordan Holman (Kentucky) on Hope, Death, and Surviving as a Songwriter

    Episode 003 – Kentucky | MAKE // BREAK Kentucky is the musical project of Canadian artist Jordan Holman, whose debut album Second Chance Music weaves together near-death experience, hard-won clarity, and a refusal to quit. Influenced by The Tragically Hip, Neil Young, Bryan Adams, and R.E.M., Holman’s work blends acoustic rock and indie folk with a voice that’s both intimate and unshaken. On MAKE // BREAK, he reflects on decades in the business, the myth of the starving artist, and why he simply wants to keep writing until the end. It’s a conversation that swings between Tolstoy, Cormac McCarthy, Ligotti, and the economics of survival—big ideas balanced by the daily grind of an artist carving out space in today’s fractured industry. Kentucky’s songs, from “No More Tomorrows” to “The First Day of the Rest of Your Life,” are reminders that music can still hold weight when it speaks to survival and second chances. 👀 What you’ll hear Explore Kentucky’s philosophy on hope, death, and why meaning is self-assigned in a creative lifeContrast nihilism, spite, and the daily practice of living with intention as an artistRevisit the glory days of artist development and why labels rarely take risks todayBreak down how homogenization and streaming culture reshaped music’s role in societyUnpack why Kentucky just wants the right partners to help him keep writing until the end🕰️ Chapters 00:00 Intro and welcome with Kentucky 01:00 The “make or break” question on what truly matters 03:30 Tolstoy’s Three Questions and daily meaning 07:00 Hope, possibility, and building your personal deck of cards 12:00 Thomas Ligotti, nihilism, and living in spite 19:00 Cormac McCarthy, death, and “die trying” 32:00 The starving artist myth and the need for support 37:00 Partnerships, publishing, and why labels fall short 43:00 From artist development to homogenized culture 50:00 Novelty, combinations, and the next musical shift 55:00 Streaming, AI, and the future of entertainment 01:02:00 Kentucky’s honest admission: the struggle for help and resources 🔗 Guest Links https://iamkentucky.com/ https://www.instagram.com/i.am.kentucky/ https://www.tiktok.com/@i.am.kentucky 🔗 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 Tell us in the comments: Do you think record labels should still invest in artist development? (explicit language) #MakeBreak #Kentucky #MusicBusiness

    1h 6m
  12. Elan Mlgenovich (Authors of Fate) on content, merch, and not giving up

    JUL 10

    Elan Mlgenovich (Authors of Fate) on content, merch, and not giving up

    Episode 001 – Elan Mlgenovich | MAKE // BREAK Authors of Fate make jagged, blackened metalcore out of Los Angeles. Guitarist Elan Mlgenovich joins MAKE // BREAK to discuss the EP “Seat’s Taken” with producer Taylor Young and the band’s earlier studio work with Steve Evetts. He explains how the group formed during COVID, what DIY touring looks like on the ground, and why chasing platform algorithms rarely helps heavy bands grow. We also get into practical social media habits that do work, from tagging peers to posting strong live clips, and the constant pull between posting and writing. If you want a clear look at how underground bands build real momentum today, this episode delivers. 👀 What you’ll hear • Break down how Authors of Fate formed during COVID and built momentum in the DIY metal scene • Explain why major labels chase sure things and how that shifts artist development today • Share frustrations with Spotify algorithms and finding underground bands through Instagram • Reveal the brutal realities of DIY touring, from no-shows to promoters who don’t deliver • Debate the pressure on artists to be content creators versus staying true to making art • Offer candid advice for bands: collaborate, stay humble, and keep pushing forward 🕰️ Chapters 00:00 Introduction and band background 02:00 Artist development and the major label model 03:30 Why DIY bands must be self-sufficient 05:00 Streaming algorithms and discovery struggles 07:30 Using Instagram to find and book bands 10:00 Word of mouth, tagging, and collaboration 13:30 Social media as community building 15:00 DIY touring challenges and no-show stories 18:00 Professionalism, humility, and separating pros from amateurs 20:00 Pay-to-play shows and shady promoters 22:00 Pressure to create nonstop content 25:00 Best band content and merch strategies 29:00 What kind of content actually excites fans 32:30 Parting advice for artists: don’t give up 🔗 Guest Links https://linktr.ee/authorsoffate https://instagram.com/authorsoffate https://open.spotify.com/artist/4Ffxt9eZ7pQEiV9uRVaMdX 🔗 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 conversations and drop a comment: should bands prioritise content creation or focus on the art itself? (explicit language) #MakeBreak #AuthorsOfFate #MusicBusiness

    34 min
  • 12 Episodes

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
    2K
  • Episodes
    12
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © V13 Media Group
  • Show Website
    MAKE // BREAK