Sunshine Sound Center
Transforming lives by providing equitable access to music
Sunshine Sound Podcast: Making Music in Southern California
Your host Christine Mathias interviews music makers, producers, organizers, and others involved in the scene in Southern California. Listen to some original local music and hear the stories from the people who create. What does the music scene look like today? Why do we do what we do? How does it all come together? Sit back and enjoy that sunshine sound. Listen below, or you can find us on iTunes, Stitcher, GooglePlay, YouTube, or wherever you Podcast.
Are you a musician in southern California? Want to recommend a guest? Any other feedback? Contact your host at christine(at)sunshinesoundcenter.org.
Audio engineering and theme music by Tommy Bobcat.
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Christine and Tom are moving to New Mexico! This isn’t the end of the Sunshine Sound Podcast, but this is the final episode in the San Diego run (although, when we take this thing on tour, we certainly be back). To switch things up, and to cap off this San Diego experience, Tom interviews Christine. In this podcast, we chat about why we started the podcast, reflect on the experience, and the local music scene. Christine also talks about her experience with music, from playing jazz in undergrad, to giving up music completely, then renewing the love of performing in law school, of all places. We cover Christine’s experience playing with Freight, Doll Fight, Brown Gold, and Steady Betty in Vermont, then forming Denim Robot in Boston/San Diego. We talk about songwriting, writer’s block, insecurities, learning an instrument as an adult, and some other stuff. Plus, we’ll listen to a couple Denim Robot tracks.
In this episode, Christine interviews Isaiah and Glen from Quali, a kinda-shoegaze band based in San Diego. We chat about how the band came together, the creative process (and trusting things to come together when they’re ready to), defying genres and pushing song-lengths, and more. Plus, we nerd out over guitar pedals, and have the chance to listen to a few of their tracks off of their most recent album, Awaken the Quietus.
In this episode, Christine interviews Marc and Eve of Strange Ages, a guitar-less 3 piece band based in San Diego. We chat about how they got into music, the messages and inspiration behind their songs, the fun of making music videos in public spaces, getting your friends to come to shows, and other fun stuff. As always, we have a chance to listen to one of their tracks, Fine Print.
In this episode, Christine interviews Jason and Chris, organizers of the Punk Rock Food Drive and band members of local hard punk-rock band Parade of Horribles. Although punk rock isn’t the best descriptor, as their music is a little more, shall we say, complex. In this interview, they talk all about the Punk Rock Food Drive – how it started, what it’s like to put it together, and why they’re still at it after nearly 10 years. We’ll also have a chance to listen to a couple of their tracks and learn how they create such a full sound in a guitar-less two-piece, although they do have a guitarist join them in the studio. And the fun of recording, oh the fun of recording.
In this episode, Christine interviews Lindsay White, a singer-songwriter based in San Diego. You may know Lindsay from the Lovebirds, a popular folk duo she was in with Veronica May. Lindsay talks about her experience getting into music, her connection to lyric-writing as a tool to process the world, touring, connecting with fans, working with publicists, making money as a musician, and much more. We’ll also listen to a couple tracks off of Lights Out, an album chronicling the experience of losing her estranged mother to brain cancer. This interview is full of Lindsay’s beautifully open insights and emotions, just like her music.
Every 10th episode, we share the tracks from the artists on the last 9 podcasts, hosted by the one and only Tommy Bobcat. Enjoy the sounds of San Diego and Tommy’s colorful commentary. Featuring: The Trees – Hexa New River – Parker Meridien Long Distance Runner – Parker Meridien Westbound – prettyhowtown Dust and Shadow – prettyhowtown Let Me In – Blood Ponies The Greater Good – Blood Ponies Stir Crazy – Dixie Maxwell & drums by Paige Miller Strange Love – Bad Vibes She Reverie – Bad Vibes Rock n’ Roll Camp For Girls San Diego Theme Song – Melissa Grove Same Difference – Aquarium Wand – Aquarium Bela Surf – Mark Sgarbossa Wow – The Shirlies
In this episode, Christine interviews Mark Sgarbossa, local musician and visual artist. He’s played in bands like the Shirlies, Rotator, the Canadian Press, and he currently plays in SeaBase and Thieves Like Us, in addition to creating his own original electronic music. As an incredibly talented and prolific visual artist, he has created posters and graphics for tons of musicians all over, from local acts to Ice Cube and Soundgarden. Listen in to learn about how his artistic career really took off and his experience in the local music scene. Plus, listen to a fantastic track of his solo stuff and an older track of the Shirlies.
In this episode of the podcast, Christine interviews Christian and Ronnie of Aquarium, a kinda-surf-rock band based in San Diego. We talk about how the band started as a solo project of Christian’s, and how he created these really cool low-fi tracks with GarageBand and a Casio keyboard, even using a computer keyboard to emulate different instruments. Christian shares his experience moving to San Diego from Virginia (just like Paige!), letting go some control of your music as you bring on new musicians, and some great tips for booking shows, even as a band new to the scene. As always, we’ll have the chance to listen to a few of their tracks.
In this episode, Christine interviews Melissa Grove of the Rock n’ Roll Camp for Girls San Diego, a 501(c)(3) music organization based in San Diego. Girls Rock Camps help girls build self-esteem and find their voices through unique programming that combines music education and performance; empowerment and social justice workshops; positive role models, and collaboration and leadership skill building. Melissa and her co-founders brought rock camp to San Diego in 2016. In the podcast, Melissa talks about the process of getting the camp started, why she stressed out over the theme song, what rock camp means to her and the community, and much more. Mel is an amazing force of positive energy, and this interview is sure to leave you feeling inspired.