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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In this episode, Christine interviews Jason Meyers and Rory Morison of Bad Vibes, an alt-country/blues/psychedelic swap rock band based in San Diego. As artists on the Blind Owl label, these guys are gaining a lot of momentum in the local scene. In the interview, they talk about the history of the band, their upcoming album (which they actually recorded analog onto tape), touring antics, trying to make it as a band, and much more. Plus, you’ll have a chance to listen to a couple of tracks off of their first album, No One’s Safe.
In episode 15, Christine interviews Paige Miller, a talented drummer who recently relocated to to San Diego from Virginia. Paige plays with a lot of great musicians around here, including Dixie Maxwell and Becca Jay. In this podcast, Paige talks about how she got into drums at a young age, her experience playing in school bands and theater, the San Diego Rock Camp for Girls, her approach to learning new styles, and more. Plus, we’ll have the chance to listen to a song by Dixie that Paige performed on.
In episode #14 of the Sunshine Sound Podcast, Christine interviews Blood Ponies, a dark post-punk band based in San Diego. Listen in to find out why Jeff and Candice are drawn to the mysterious and gruesome sides of art and life, how they started off by playing a set as a Cure cover band, how their songs come together, their opinions on politics and art, and much more. As always, you’ll have a chance to listen to a few of their dark and driving tracks.
In this episode, Christine interviews John Noble, also known as prettyhowtown. He’s known for his live improvised electronic music on a customized analog modular synthesizer. He’s a regular at Open Oscillator and well known in the electronic scene for unique performances. In this episode, John goes into great detail on his gear, his technical background, and how he’s able to perform with nobs and joysticks. He also talks about things like microtonal music, analog vs. digital, and the San Diego music scene. As always, you’ll have the chance to listen to a couple of his tracks. And, here’s his modular synthesizer. Look at this thing.
In this episode, I interviewed Parker Edison and Nate Hubbard of The Parker Meridien, a live rap act based in San Diego. Their band has a unique sound, weaving in elements of funk, trap, old school hip hop, and experimental music. I loved hearing about how they create and recreate their songs, often adding and subtracting instruments. We chat about all that, plus the collaborative and creative local scene, the problems with genres, tambourines, and much more.
In this episode, I interview Carrie and Acacia from Hexa, an experimental/dark electronic/pop act based in San Diego. Their music is gothic and ethereal, much like their aesthetic and music videos. We chat about stuff like the local music scene, connecting with other creative people, what it’s like to be in an all-female band, and making music videos. We also have the chance to listen to The Trees, off their upcoming full-length album, and you have to check out this music video. These ladies are so cool.
Every 10th episode is an All Music Podcast, hosted by the one and only Tommy Bobcat. Listen back to the artists from the first 9 episodes, with colorful commentary from Mr. Bobcat. Rotator – Orb of Light Moans – Body Type Beta Lion – Tonight at Whisperz Tommy Bobcat – Chloroform Tommy Bobcat – Bosintang Pony Death Ride – Your Cats are Crap Pony Death Ride – (It’s A) Tom Waits Christmas GrooveSquatch – Righteous Dude Fistfights with Wolves – Maud’Dib Fistfights with Wolves – Plot Armor Emma Byrd – I Have Seen Love Veronica May – Rise Veronica May- There is Hope MC Flow – Free MC Flow – Oh Charlotte
In this episode, I interview MC Flow, a San Diego musician known for her cannabis-infused raps like Pot in the Latkes and Welcome to the Dispensary. We chat about her newest EP, Her Highness, which was released on 4/20, shortly after the legalization of weed in California. We also talk about the cannabis industry generally, as well as other topics like the songwriting process, the role of activism in music, making music videos, the struggles we all seem to have with marketing, balancing motherhood with career, and a lot more.
In this episode, I interview the talented Veronica May. She’s a local musician and mental health advocate, as well as an amazing songwriter and performer. We chat about the different facets of being a musician and creating a life around music, and the struggles we all seem to have with marketing. Veronica also discusses her experience educating on mental health, and what it’s like to live with Bipolar 1 Disorder. As always, we have the chance to listen to a few of her powerful and beautiful tracks.