Podcast Open Mic

WMPG

It’s a Radio Open Mic for the digital age, with a slight update: one artist, one song, one short chat with me, Lorenzo. Have an original song you’d like to share with the world? Contact me at podcastopenmic@gmail.com and let’s talk!

  1. 10/03/2022

    POM 9/22 Nicole LePera returns

    I'm a singer/songwriter living in the beautiful state of Maine. After all these years, I finally found my home — and her transcendent beauty and power never fails to inspire and nurture me. Music has always been a central part of my life — my mother said I sang before I spoke. Most of what I write is pure improvisation, and I write the music and lyrics on the fly, in a holistic manner. As such, my music is a diary, a means of therapy, and a window into my deepest thoughts and other worlds, and encompasses everything from pure folk to multitrack experimental or atmospheric music. At 15, my parents took me on a vacation that would change my life. We went to Michigan and "while we were there," we visited the Interlochen Academy for the Arts. I was transfixed by the immense talent around me and I never forgot that place. One day, I mentioned the school to my mother and she had me apply. I was accepted and never looked back. I went on to study music composition at Peabody Conservatory of Music (Now The Peabody Institute of Music of the Johns Hopkins University) and the Yale School of Music and studied under composers Jacob Druckman, Martin Bresnick, Poul Ruders, and Morris Moshe Cotel. I've written string quartets and orchestra pieces. But eventually, I realized that I was my own instrument and pursued my authentic musical voice. I will never forget the day I discovered the true power in and freedom I could experience when I connected deep into my soul and let it all out — the beautiful, the dark, the ecstatic, the bloody, the traumatic, the angry. It is one of the most wonderful experiences a human being can have. Influences include Arvo Part, Ani DiFranco, George Crumb, John Cage, Bjork, Sinead O'Connor, Loreena McKennitt, and a host of others. I hope to reach out to others through the Internet during this crisis and make connections to other musicians and listeners. https://oeinc.bandcamp.com/album/gate https://nicolelepera.com

  2. 08/22/2022

    POM Jen Ayers final

    POM 8/22 No. 2: Jen Ayers Jen Ayers is a vocal dynamo with a throat of gold, pianist, songwriter and recording artist. She’s performed thousands of shows nationwide, fronting Seattle-based band Honey Tongue and shared bills with the likes of Jack Johnson, Tom Petty and Bill Frisell. Her powerhouse vocals and electric stage performances have earned invitations to sing across the U.S., including the National Anthem at NBA/MLB games, Led Zeppelin for “Bonzo’s Celebration Day” (with members of Heart, REM, Pearl Jam) and “House of Thee Unholy” – Broadway-level burlesque at Seattle’s Triple Door, and most recently appearing with Dave Matthews at Seattle's Moore Theater for SMASH. Jen is a frequent guest singer in high-profile gigs across the Northwest and currently fronts Wild Rumours – A Fleetwood Mac Experience. Since 2012, Jen has also been performing at Teatro Zinzanni. First in “Return To Paradise,” which enabled her to dabble in the things she loves most: singing, acting and dancing. She even spun from a cirque cage while performing Honey Tongue’s original song “I Wanna Go.” Then, in “Be Italian” and “Hollywood And Vine,” she brought the character of Donatella DiMarco to life – a feisty Italian New-Jersey born chanteuse. She also collaborated with Zinzanni to develop "Big Top Rock: Dream On," a Rock ‘N Roll Family Show in which she played the role of the Blondie-esque Jenny Jupiter alongside the rest of her Dream On band members. And subsequently starred in "Big Top Rock: Rock This Way" as Donatella with an all-star band (Hans Teuber, Keith Lowe Igor Abuladze and Jose Martinez). Jen’s following up her debut solo CD “Every Day Is A Parade,” with “SHe Said”, a concept album and theatrical production about gender identity and transition. The "SHe Said" show directed by Daryle Conners hits the stage 10/6, 10/7, 10/8 and 10/9/22 at Seattle's Broadway Performance Hall and will feature Jen, Marc Kenison (aka Waxie Moon), and a live band (Kathy Moore, Rebecca Young, Melissa Montalto, Geoff Reading and RL Heyer). The "SHe Said" double album, produced by Jeff Fielder, will be released on vinyl, CD and digitally September, 9 2022

  3. 07/02/2022

    POM 7/22 No.1: Spook Handy (from 7/21, the final POMotR broadcast)

    A year ago this month Podcast Open Mic on the Radio had its final broadcast. But my last guest was a goodie and needs to be reheard.: Spook Handy, the only guest I have found via Portland Hour Exchange... Spook Handy performed alongside Pete Seeger at festivals and concerts more than 50 times from 2003 – 2013 learning firsthand many of Pete’s songs and the stories behind them. Even more, he learned who Pete Seeger was and what he stood for. Spook is now traveling throughout the U.S. and Canada with his “Remembering Pete Seeger” World Tour, keeping alive Pete’s tradition by sharing a few songs by Woody Guthrie (Pete’s most notable mentor), plenty of songs by Pete Seeger and a healthy handful of new songs Spook wrote under Pete’s tutelage. Spook’s sixth studio album, “Pete, Woody & Me, Volume II – Dedicated to the Proposition” reached the No. 3 position on the International Folk Radio Charts in May, 2019. His fifth studio album, “Pete, Woody & Me, Volume I – Keep the Flame Alive,” held the No. 3 position on the same charts in June and July , 2016 with his original song, “Vote!” reaching No. 2. Recorded with his backup band “The Seed Planters,” the CD is more than just a tribute to Pete. It is a work that, as John Weingart of WPRB Radio says, “certainly rests on the shoulders of the past but is unmistakably steeped in the present.” Spook was named Best Folk Artist by Upstage Magazine, Gannett New Jersey, The Courier News, The Home News and About.com. His song “Whatcha Gonna Do?” was used in the BBC documentary film “Doomsday Code,” and four of his sings, including “Bring Back Abiyoyo” were used in a theatrical adaptation of Pete’s children’s story, “Abiyoyo.” Spook is a well known speaker and workshop facilitator at festivals, conferences and colleges around the country. “The passion, purpose and spirit of American Folk Music are alive and well with Spook Handy and his Remembering Pete Seeger World Tour and concert.” … Gary Wien – Editor in Chief, New Jersey Stage

  4. 06/04/2022

    POM 6/22 No. 1: Bill Stamey

    I was born, and grew up, in Memphis, learned the basics of reading music at a young age, and got my first guitar at around age 5. Self-taught for the most part, I took lessons from a few key figures: Bob Salley (a university instructor) at age 14, Shawn Lane (a musical phenom) at age 18, was a University of Memphis music student for 2 years. Later, when I arrived in Maine I studied guitar for a year with the truly gifted Bob Thompson. In my teens I started playing in original and cover bands (rock, R&B, and blues). I played out a lot, mostly in town, sometimes other states down south. I had the privilege of recording in a few of the landmark studios in Memphis, which brought me into contact with incredible people. Some of my work was on original music, and some was in an effort to be a studio musician: playing on song demos for writers, or cutting jingles, theme songs, or really anything. From 1998-2002 I took a detour and attended the East Tennessee State University Quillen College of Medicine in Johnson City, TN. During those years I played in a popular local cover band. From 2002- 2007 I completed my medical training in Tampa, FL, and Houston, TX. There was no time for playing in bands during that time, (though a few gigs did happen). In 2007 my family and I moved to Maine, where I started practicing medicine. After about 5 years of practice I began playing out again or a limited basis. In 2018 I joined an established cover band in Brunswick. From summer 2021 until February 2022 I recorded the album get up in my home studio in Harpswell. It is available online at https://billstamey.bandcamp.com/releases

About

It’s a Radio Open Mic for the digital age, with a slight update: one artist, one song, one short chat with me, Lorenzo. Have an original song you’d like to share with the world? Contact me at podcastopenmic@gmail.com and let’s talk!

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