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Basic Folk — Music
Basic Folk

Basic Folk features honest conversations with folk musicians hosted by Cindy Howes and Lizzie No. We approach interviews with warmth, humor and insightful questions. Since 2018, this podcast has dignified under the radar roots musicians by providing a platform that they might not otherwise have. You’ll hear interviews from Three-time Grammy-winning guitar gods like Molly Tuttle, Haitian American folk legends like Leyla McCalla and deep feelers like songwriter John Hiatt.

Basic Folk is dedicated to showcasing the best in folk, bluegrass, acoustic and americana including Black, Brown and Queer folx who have been excluded, or felt like they did not belong, in the folk world. Cindy & Lizzie each bring a unique perspective to these honest conversations with folk musicians. We are equally dedicated to repainting the broad landscape of folk music as we are to tearing down the ivory towers of the music industry. What would Bruce Springsteen do if he ever got the keys to that mansion on the hill? Let's find out together on Basic Folk.

Basic is an official production of The Bluegrass Situation. Thanks for listening.

Welcome to Basic Folk.

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Latest Episodes:

Leyla McCalla, ep. 57 Feb 13, 2020

Show notes

I had a lot to talk about with Leyla McCalla! The New Orleans resident has already had an impressive career with her solo work, Carolina Chocolate Drops and Our Native Daughters. However, it seems like she's just getting started. I literally had 9 pages of questions for her as we sat in my Airbnb during Folk Alliance (you can hear about 4 trolleys rolling by the windows). Leyla is smart, well spoken and so easy to get along with.

This interview felt like a barnburner (if you can label interviews like that). We covered her activist roots growing up with three very politically active adults in her life (mother, father and grandfather). She talked about her connection to Haiti and spending a summer there with her grandmother. She is known for her incredible cello playing and it's so crazy to hear that she started her cello journey by mistaking it for another instrument when she was a child. She talked about her feelings of being a black Haitian- American playing old time music that has deep roots in black America, even though it is seen as being a white genre. She talks about how The Carolina Chocolate Drops opened up that world to her: through music and conversation with her bandmates. We talked about Our Native Daughters, her band with Rhiannon Giddens, Amythyst Kiah and Allison Russell. All this and more! This was an awesome interview! I hope you enjoy.

This show is part of the American Songwriter Podcast Network.

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Elisapie, ep. 56 Feb 09, 2020

Show notes

Montreal's Elisapiewas born in Salluit, Quebec into the Inuit community. She grew up in the a little arctic village in The North surrounded by the sad truth of what happened to the generations before her when while settlers forced the semi-nomadic Inuit people to settle into one area. Elisapie was born to a single mother, who adopted her out other family members who could not have children. She grew up with her birth mother living right around the corner, but was not close to her until she was older. In our wonderful conversation, she talks about being inspired by her musician uncle and also the opportunity to perform with his very popular band at a young age. She also talks about leaving Salluit for Montreal and how she's always had a difficult time with the fact that she left.

Her new album Runaway Girl address those issues and more. She has a song dedicated to her birth mother, that she was able to perform live in concert with her mother in the audience. She shares that special moment as well as talking about the song she wrote about connecting with and understanding men. I hope you enjoy this conversation and learn something from this special person!

This show is part of the American Songwriter Podcast Network.

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Crys Matthews, ep. 55 Jan 30, 2020

Show notes

Crys Matthews is the self-proclaimed "Poster Child for Intersectionality." While she'll say that with a smile, it's actually true: she's a black, lesbian, butch woman, formerly in an interracial marriage. Raised in North Carolina, her mother was a preacher, providing Crys with a rich backdrop of gospel music. She found music in 6th grade, first picking up the clarinet and then deciding she wanted to be a high school band director. In high school, she also came out to her mother which caused a lot of pain and friction between her and her mom who were otherwise very close. In college, Crys discovered performing and songwriting which caused her to pursue music.

In our conversation, we talk about how she actually enjoys difficult conversations with people. Also, I asked her about the joyfulness you hear in her songs even when they are hard topics. We touch upon her new EP which is filled with very vulnerable and personal songs, more than her previous work. I enjoyed hearing her talk about her relationship to her gender and how her clothing choices align with those feelings. And finally, we talk about the star of the show: her dog, Juice. Enjoy!

This show is part of the American Songwriter Podcast Network.

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Amythyst Kiah, ep. 54 Jan 23, 2020

Show notes

Singer-songwriter Amythyst Kiah joins us this week. She can be heard along side Layla McCalla, Allison Russell and Rhiannon Giddens in the Grammy nominated project Songs of Our Native Daughters. Amythyst talks about growing up an independent worker in Mississippi and how music forced her into collaboration. She recounts how writing songs helped her through some of the most difficult family strive, and she explains her effortless class with her gender non-conforming fashion sense. Enjoy!

Check out all the podcasts over on the American Songwriter Podcast Network.

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Rachel Lynne LIVE at Club Passim, ep. 53 Jan 16, 2020

Show notes

Rachel Lynne, the highly emotive songwriter, joins us for a live episode at Club Passim! Lynne was born and raised in Georgia. She spent her young life obsessed with music, especially sad and lonesome country music. Her own music cannot be described as country, but it has a certain lonesome quality to it. If you've ever experienced any serious emotions, one listen to Rachel's music and you'll feel understood and extremely connected.

Rachel shares a few songs from her catalog and talks about growing up with music, dealing with anxiety and the fascinating story of how she got her guitar. Currently living in Denver, I first met Rachel in Pittsburgh where she wowed audiences and won hearts.

This show is part of the American Songwriter Podcast Network.

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Dinty Child LIVE at Club Passim, ep. 52 Jan 12, 2020

Show notes

Basic Folk is live at Club Passim in Cambridge with Americana songwriter Dinty Child. Member of Session Americana, Dinty is releasing his debut solo album after being a part of the Boston folk and roots community for about three decades. His record, Lucky Ones, will be out on January 17, with a release show January 16 at Oberon in Harvard Sq, Cambridge. In our conversation, we talk about growing up with loving sisters, his deep connection to Three Mile Island (not THAT one) in New Hampshire, his work with Session Americana and being able to play with musicians of all sorts of ages and stages in life.

Dinty is hilarious, humble and one of the best people I know! He's always been kind, supportive and respectful of his friends' work. This solo album is a rare moment for him to step into the spotlight, so it's exciting to be able to lend him the platform that he gives nearly everyone he meets. I'm so happy to get him on the podcast especially in this format. His live performance will draw you in and make you laugh and reflect. Everyone I know loves Dinty and after listening to this episode, you will, too.

This show is part of the American Songwriter Podcast Network.

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Abraham Alexander, ep. 51 Dec 19, 2019

Show notes

Singer/Songwriter and guitarist Abraham Alexander has an incredible life story: born in Greece to Nigerian parents, he immigrated to the US when he was 11. Months after that move, his mother died, putting Abraham into foster care until he was adopted at age 16. He was extremely athletic when he was young and found community through sports and encouragement from his parents, who actually had an intervention with him in order to convince him to pursue music.

Our conversation encompasses the story of his life as well as his connection to Leon Bridges and Gary Clark, Jr. Abraham also is so generous to answer some questions about his experience as a black man. We talk about his younger self not fitting in with an all white class in Greece and being adopted by white parents. We also got into the topic of being an athlete and how his football coach would not let him quit (this was after he realized he meant to sign up for soccer as a young European kid in Texas). This led to one of the most important mentors and experiences of his young life. I am very grateful that he was willing to have these conversations!

Listen to all the great Podcasts over on the American Songwriter Podcast Network.

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Rebecca Loebe, ep. 50 Dec 12, 2019

Show notes

Rebecca Loebe is a Georgia-born musician raised in the Atlanta music community via Eddie's Attic. Loebe attended Berklee College of Music and spent time in the Boston music world before settling in Austin, TX. She also had the unique experience of being a part of the very first season of "The Voice" as part of Adam Levine's team. She appeared on the show for a couple of episodes and exited in a way that she is very comfortable with. We talk about how she is a musician who really values community and feedback from her community as well as her never-ending quest to spread kindness in an authentic and meaningful way.

American Songwriter Podcast Network

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Molly Venter of Red Molly, ep. 49 Dec 05, 2019

Show notes

Molly Venter of Red Molly and Goodnight Moonshine has a style reminiscent of the clearest folk singers from the 60's combined with a classic 50's rock vibe. On top of all this, she's an incredibly delightful person. Molly's story begins in New Haven, CT, where she was raised by two parents whose past times included sailing and performing music. Molly actually learned how to play guitar while on a sailboat. After college, she moved around a lot: Idaho, Mexico and finally Austin, TX for quite awhile before eventually coming back to New Haven.

We talked about her connection with her hometown, joining up with Red Molly and her partnership with Eben Pariser (husband and bandmate). My favorite part of the conversation was when we talked about her dad, Josiah Venter, who died in 2011. From what I read about him, Josiah was a special person with a very meaningful presence for Molly. I'm grateful to have been able to talk with Molly for the podcast. I had only known her for a short time, but she's so easy to talk to and so open, it feels like I've known her for a long time.

American Songwriter Podcast Network

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Leif Vollebekk, ep. 48 Nov 23, 2019

Show notes

Montreal's Leif Vollebekk emotional delivery creates a world of color in my mind. It's not surprising that he has Synesthesia, a perceptual condition in which the stimulation of one sense triggers an automatic, involuntary experience in another sense. Leif sees colors when he hears music, therefore, his music invokes colorful emotion. Raised in Ottawa, he inherited a few instruments from family members and started playing. After graduating from college, Leif spent time absorbing the landscape and culture of Iceland. Upon returning to Canada, he moved to Montreal, where he lives now.

We touch on all sorts of topics in our conversation. He really opened up about his Synesthesia. It was interesting to hear about how he discovered he had it and how he relates to other musicians who have it. He said he can tell right away if another musician has the condition. I'll definitely be keeping an ear out myself now that he's clued us in on certain distinctions. Enjoy!

Check out all the great music podcasts over on the American Songwriter Podcast Network.

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