RiYL

Brian Heater

4.7 (62)
ARTS
UPDATED WEEKLY

Recommended if You Like: longform conversation with musicians, cartoonists, writers and other creative types. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

2D AGO

Episode 740: Sean Mason

How often do we truly afford ourselves a fresh start? Sean Mason went all after his first record. The Southern Suite put the pianist on the map, there was a disconnect. Mason left New York, stopped drinking, and cut off most communication with the outside world. A Breath of Fresh Air is, as the name suggests, a portrait of where the celebrated Grammy nominee lives now. It’s clear in speaking with him, however, that the journey of self-discovery will prove a lifelong pursuit. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

42 min
DEC 13

Episode 739: Michael Hampton (Parliament-Funkadelic)

At 17, Michael Hampton blasted off from Earth in the Mothership. More than half a century later, the Funkadelic guitarist has never looked back. He does, however, make the occasional pitstop home for interviews, chatting poolside in between shows during a Southern California stint. Hampton’s latest EP, Into the Public Domain, does what it says on the box. The blistering guitar instrumentals now belong to the world. They can be accessed by way of physical trading cards acquired at one of the guitarist’s live shows. Even royalty-free musicians need a way to feed their anime habits. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

41 min
DEC 6

Episode 738: Morgxn

Happiness wasn’t too far from home. After stints in larger cities, following more traditional music routes, Morgxn settled just outside of Nashville – it doesn’t hurt, of course, when home is Music City USA. When not on tour or in the in the studio, you can generally find him at Fruity Farm, a plot of land he and his husband share. The joy is contagious, and something the songwriter is happy to spread, along with whatever produce made it through the growing season. It’s a message of inclusion, regardless of gender, orientation, or any of the other myriad categories society uses to divide us. Above all, it’s about defiantly being yourself. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

49 min
NOV 28

Episode 737: Kenny Wayne Shepherd

A few months after celebrating the 30th anniversary of his debut, Ledbetter Heights, Kenny Wayne Shepherd returns to the show to reflect on three decades in music. Upon release, much of the album's coverage focused on the fact that the guitarist was still in his teens. Writing or co-writing every track on the album, Shepherd was quick to silence critics looking to write him off as a novelty. All these years later, the musician still has a deep connection to those tracks, having recently re-recorded the album in full, ahead of a 2026 tour in its honor. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

44 min
NOV 22

Episode 736: Bruce Driscoll and Andy Chase on Stroik

A brute force approach helped Drew Stroik land a record deal. The unknown musician sent demo after demo to his favorite musicians, until one -- Andy Chase – responded positively. Chase pulled in frequent collaborator (and current Ivy bandmate) Bruce Driscoll to produce an album full of Stroik’s off-kilter bedroom pop. 65th and York finally saw the light of day last month – 15 years after its initial recording and three years after the musician’s life was tragically cut short. Driscoll and Chase join us to discuss the album’s creation, the intervening decade and a half, and why you can finally hear the songs for yourself. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

49 min
NOV 15

Episode 735: Saul Williams

They didn’t go into the forest to create a record. One evening of music and words surrounded by nature was plenty enough reason to gather. Still, Saul Williams meets Carlos Niño & Friends at TreePeople emerged, as the first official document of the two long-time friends collaborating. More than 30 years into his career, Williams doesn’t have anything in particular to prove. The mid-90s saw him quickly rise the ranks of New York’s slam poetry community, and he’s since proved himself as a musician, book author, science fiction writer, actor, and more. But in a world forever teetering on the edge, there’s still plenty left to be said. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

53 min
NOV 9

Episode 734: Anand Wilder (Yeasayer)

On 2022's I Don’t Know My Words, Anand Wilder embraced DIY in a different way, performing each song entirely by himself. Three years after Yeasayer's non-amicable split, the musician clearly had something to prove. Three years later, however, collaboration is back on the table with Psychic Lessons, a celebration of music making, genre, and just about anything else that popped into Wilder's head. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

59 min
NOV 2

733: Milo (and Bill) Go on RiYL

Nothing throughout the Descendents' long history can be taken for granted, started with I Don't Want to Grow Up. The band's second record, which celebrated its 40th anniversary this May, arrived after a two-year hiatus, which found singer Milo Aukerman at college (as the debut album helpfully noted) and drummer Bill Stevenson joining Black Flag. Certainly no one could anticipate, in spite of a few recent health scares, that the pioneering punk would be around to celebrate the album's reissue. Aukerman and Stevenson join us to to discuss the group's legacy and what keeps them running after all these years. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

52 min

See All (741)

4.7

out of 5

62 Ratings

Thoughtful, fascinating interviews

10/16/2023

j.marcy

Brian’s interviews with a wide range of creative people (musicians, writers, comedians, comic book artists, and more) are all illuminating and entertaining. A seasoned journalist, he is especially good at coaxing prickly subjects out of their shells. Highly recommended if you like, well, just about anything.
Get this creative juices flowing

07/23/2023

FunkychickAM

Brian asks insightful questions to get his guests to open up about their creative process. His podcast has inspired me to tap into my own artistic pursuits. Give it a listen!
A wide array of guests well interviewed

12/15/2020

MonkeyShines

I like fiction, graphic and otherwise. I like music. I like thoughtful conversations about a wide array of topics. But I LOVE long guitar and keyboard intros. FIVE STARS FOR RIYL! HO HO HO!
This is a fantastic show! Just discovered it.

03/18/2020

mindcentric

This is a fantastic show! Just discovered it.

Recommended if You Like: longform conversation with musicians, cartoonists, writers and other creative types. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.