LaunchLeft

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LaunchLeft Podcast hosted by Rain Phoenix is an intentional space for Art and Activism where famed creatives launch new artists. LaunchLeft is an alliance of left-of-center artists, a curated ecosystem that includes a podcast, label and NFT gallery.

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IN THIS EPISODE:

[02:00] Chris and Dru DeCaro discuss their project featuring Jack Kerouac.
[10:16] Working with Norman Reedus, and narrating Destination, Angels.
[14:00] How Chris and Dru connected for their collaboration.
[30:00] Important world issues to Chris & Dru.
[34:00] Chris shares a sneak peek into Destination Angels’ sound.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

Finding another person to collaborate with can bring out the best in both artists.
Combining music, art, and film can connect with others and different cultures.
A single song can be inspired by and express opposite emotions, like gentleness and aggression.

BIO:

Fences is an American indie rock band from Seattle, Washington formed by lead vocalist and guitarist Christopher Mansfield, guitarist Benjamin Greenspan, bassist and vocalist Lindsey Starr and drummer Elliott Garm Chaffee. They released their debut studio album Fences in 2010 and Lesser Oceans in 2015.

RESOURCE LINKS

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

STARCRAWLER | Portrait Sep 13, 2022

Show notes

On this episode of LaunchLeft, Rain is joined by members of Starcrawler, a rock band from Los Angeles. Drawing inspiration from many artists and bands, the group has its own signature raw and eclectic sound. They talk about starting a band and creating their third album at such a young age and the music they drew inspiration from while growing up. Tune in to learn more from Starcrawler.

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LAUNCHLEFT OFFICIAL WEBSITE
https://www.launchleft.com

LAUNCHLEFT PATREON
https://www.patreon.com/LaunchLeft

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IN THIS EPISODE:

[01:00] Starcrawler talks about creating their music and albums at a young age.
[06:35] Working on their third album with a new producer.
[10:11] Where the band draws inspiration from.
[20:00] Starcrawler’s idea of success for them as a group.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

The band drew inspiration from various artists and bands.
Success can look different to everyone.
Anyone can pursue a career doing something that scares them, they just need the inspiration to start and the motivation to keep going.

BIO:

Starcrawler is an American rock band from Los Angeles, formed in 2015. The band consists of lead singer Arrow de Wilde, guitarist Henri Cash, bassist Tim Franco and drummer Seth Carolina, pedal steel/guitar player Bill Cash. They have released two studio albums, Starcrawler and Devour You. Starcrawler’s third album She Said releases soon.

RESOURCE LINKS

Starcrawler Music Online

Starcrawler on IG

Starcrawler on Twitter

Starcrawler on Facebook

Starcrawler on YouTube

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

DIAMANDA GALÁS | Portrait Aug 30, 2022

Show notes

Diamanda Galás has spent a lot of her life representing the underrepresented. While working on music, she also created work dealing with AIDS, genocide, and mental disease, as well as compositions for voice and piano set to the works of exiled poets. On this episode of LaunchLeft, Diamanda and Rain have a great conversation about her work, artist collaborations, and how she uses music and art to tell the stories and experiences of forgotten people.

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LAUNCHLEFT OFFICIAL WEBSITE
https://www.launchleft.com

LAUNCHLEFT PATREON
https://www.patreon.com/LaunchLeft

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IN THIS EPISODE:

[02:30] Groups of people Diamanda has felt drawn to represent through her art.
[06:00] Diamanda’s work in her own terms- representing the underrepresented.
[12:00] Collaborating with artists and the new ideas it can inspire.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

Artists can draw inspiration from other artists’ creative processes.
Sharing the hard parts can help others to relate and see the end result of working out these situations.

BIO:

The San Diego-born Galás came up playing both classical and jazz music. She not only accompanied her Anatolian Greek father’s gospel choir and joined his New Orleans-style band, but also performed as a piano soloist with the San Diego Symphony at the age of 14. She went on to play with various groups that included heavies of the new-jazz thing, such as a circa-’74 combo in Pomona, California, that included cornetist Bobby Bradford, sax man David Murray bassist Mark Dresser, and drummer Stanley Crouch. She made her first public performance in 1979, collaborating on an opera with Vinko Globokar and Amnesty International about the arrest torture, and assasination of a Turkish woman for treason. In 1982 she released her debut album, The Litanies of Satan, which showcased her early forays into unorthodox vocal expression and multiphonics, and which included an 18-minute performance piece titled “Wild Women With Steak Knives.” She has created work dealing with AIDS (including the recently re-mastered The Divine Punishment), genocide and mental disease, as well as compositions for voice and piano set to the works of exiled poets. She also collaborated with Led Zeppelin's John Paul Jones on the 1994 album The Sporting Life.

RESOURCE LINKS

Diamanda Galás Website

Diamanda on IG

Diamanda on Twitter

Diamanda on Facebook

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

COURTNEY BARNETT launches Danny Cohen Aug 16, 2022

Show notes

On this special episode Courtney Barnett launches Danny Cohen and his vivid 16mm film, Anonymous Club, that chronicles her world tour of the album, Tell Me How You Really Feel. Featuring Barnett’s unguarded narration from her audio diary, the film delivers frank and unprecedented insight into Barnett’s creative process, the sacrifices and inner conflicts set in motion by fame, and the sometimes dark backdrop to her whimsical, relatably poetic compositions. Tune in to hear more on how Courtney and Danny worked together to give the audience a perspective on their three-year journey together.

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LAUNCHLEFT OFFICIAL WEBSITE
https://www.launchleft.com

LAUNCHLEFT PATREON
https://www.patreon.com/LaunchLeft

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IN THIS EPISODE:

[01:00] How music found Courtney as a child.
[05:27] Being in the moment as a live performer.
[10:05] Danny Cohen and Courtney chat about their film, Anonymous Club.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

Artists can draw inspiration from other artists’ creative processes.
Sharing the hard parts can help others to relate and see the end result of working out these situations.

BIO:

Shot on vivid 16mm film over a three-year period, ANONYMOUS CLUB chronicles notoriously shy, Melbourne-based musician Courtney Barnett’s ups and downs on the world tour for her album Tell Me How You Really Feel. Featuring Barnett’s unguarded narration from her audio diary, recorded on a dictaphone provided by filmmaker Danny Cohen, the film delivers frank and unprecedented insight into Barnett’s creative process, the sacrifices and inner conflicts set in motion by fame, and the sometimes dark backdrop to her whimsical, relatably poetic compositions.

RESOURCE LINKS

COURTNEY BARNETT LINKS:

Courtney Barnett Website

DANNY COHEN LINKS:

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

TEGAN AND SARA launches Big Rig Aug 02, 2022

Show notes

Success looks different for everyone. Born in Canada, twin sisters Tegan and Sara have sold more than one million albums during their musical career. On this episode of LaunchLeft, the Grammy-nominees join Rain to talk and launch Jen Clement of Big Rig. Tune in as the sisters define their own success and discuss their evolution and growth as musicians and people. Be sure to listen till the end to hear Big Rig’s new single, "Crying in a Corn Maze".

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LAUNCHLEFT OFFICIAL WEBSITE
https://www.launchleft.com

LAUNCHLEFT PATREON
https://www.patreon.com/LaunchLeft

Tegan & Sara's YouTube Channel

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IN THIS EPISODE:

[06:00] The idea of success and how it can look different for everyone.
[15:00] Tegan and Sara talk about how they got started in music.
[20:00] Tegan and Sara new single and album.
[26:00] Jen Clement of Big Rig, shares more about her new record and musical career.
[32:00] Listen to Big Rig’s single "Crying in a Corn Maze".

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

Success can look different for everyone. You get to define your own version of success.
Embrace your art and authenticity and don’t worry about what others may think.
Don’t be afraid to challenge and change your ways. It may lead to a new success.

BIO:

Twin sisters born in Canada, Tegan and Sara have sold more than one million albums, and have received seven Gold certifications, one Double Platinum certification, three Juno Awards, two Polaris Prize nominations, and a Grammy nomination. They have performed on some of the world’s biggest stages, from the 2015 Oscar Telecast to major festivals such as Coachella, Lollapalooza and Glastonbury.

Tegan and Sara have openly identified as queer since the beginning of their career in 1998, and have been outspoken feminist advocates for LGBTQ equality and gender justice. The essential message that underpins their worldview and identity is inclusion. The Tegan And Sara Foundation is an extension of their work, identity and longstanding commitment to supporting and building progressive social change.

RESOURCE LINKS

Tegan & Sara

Tegan & Sara on IG

Tegan & Sara on Twitter

Tegan & Sara on Facebook

Tegan & Sara Foundation

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

BEN HARPER | Portrait Jul 19, 2022

Show notes

Music is a universal language, and music is how Grammy-Award Winner Ben Harper feels he makes a connection with others. On this episode of LaunchLeft, Ben sits down in person with Rain to chat about finally returning to live music and what it means to him as a performer. They also discuss his new record, Bloodline Maintenance. Tune in to hear more from Rain and Ben!

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LAUNCHLEFT OFFICIAL WEBSITE
https://www.launchleft.com

LAUNCHLEFT PATREON
https://www.patreon.com/LaunchLeft

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IN THIS EPISODE:

[07:05] Ben talks about playing live music again and his new record.
[12:00] Rain and Ben discuss impermanence and being present with the people you care about.
[19:00] Staying out of the comparison trap.
[25:00] Making connections with music.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

Music is a universal language that helps people from all over make connections.
Being aware of our own impermanence helps us strive to be the best version of ourselves.
Live music is such an immersive and personal experience for every person in the crowd. Every show has something special about it.

BIO:

Grammy award-winning guitarist, songwriter, and bandleader Ben Harper grew up listening to blues, folk, soul, R&B, and reggae. He started playing guitar as a child and began to perform regularly as a preteen. During his adolescence, he focused heavily on the acoustic slide guitar, which eventually became his signature instrument.

Harper enjoyed cult status on the jam band scene in the 1990s largely due to the success of his debut album, Welcome to the Cruel World, and its follow-up, Fight for Your Mind, before gaining wider attention near the decade's end. During the 21st century, he transcended the genre to become a wildly diverse performer, collaborator, and sideman who has worked with artists ranging from the Blind Boys of Alabama and Charlie Musselwhite to John Mayer.

Harper drew his influences from classic singer/songwriters, blues revivalists, guitar slingers, and jam bands like Blues Traveler and Phish, which meant he was embraced by critics and college kids alike. Despite finding commercial success with the radio single "Steal My Kisses" in 2000, Harper continued to explore different (and often challenging) musical textures during the early 21st century, enjoying a solid fan base at home and a considerable amount of fame in Europe, where he was named 2003's Artist of the Year by the French branch of Rolling Stone.

RESOURCE LINKS

Ben Harper

Ben Harper on Instagram

Ben Harper on Twitter

Ben Harper on Facebook

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

PERRY FARRELL | Portrait Jul 05, 2022

Show notes

In this episode of LaunchLeft, Rain is joined by esteemed singer, songwriter, and philanthropist Perry Farrell. Perry discusses Heaven After Dark, his new series of shows, and the creative process behind the series. Rain and Perry also share about their inspirations in the music industry, Perry’s family, and spirituality. Tune in to learn about the importance of originality as an artist and the power of putting on a good show.

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LAUNCHLEFT OFFICIAL WEBSITE
https://www.launchleft.com

LAUNCHLEFT PATREON
https://www.patreon.com/LaunchLeft

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IN THIS EPISODE:

[03:58] How Perry’s newest series, Heaven After Dark, came to life.
[08:39] Art and creativity impacts countless lives. Allowing artists to live out their creativity is vital to their art.
[22:00] Perry and Rain discuss forgiveness, redemption, and peace.
[25:03] Kindness over competition in art and why it’s important.
[28:15] Impactful shows aren’t decided by the number of the crowd, but the energy and passion and creative spin that the artist or band brings to the stage.
[37:50] Perry shares his creative process and involvement in events and projects.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

As artists, we just don’t know how one little thing that we do creatively or that anyone does in our waking life affects someone else.
Strive for originality. You don’t want to be the 25th person copying a musical legend. You want to create something original so that it really resonates with people.
A band can play for half a million people one night and fifty people the next night and still put on a unique and impactful show.

BIO:

Over the last several decades, esteemed singer, songwriter, and philanthropist Perry Farrell has revolutionized alternative music, underground culture, and the modern festival experience. With the seminal alt-rock outfit Jane’s Addiction Farrell created his own fusion of ‘70s psychedelia, metal, ‘80s new wave, punk, and proto-grunge; it established the band as the vanguard of what Farrell would hail as “the alternative nation.” The Farrell-fronted group earned an MTV Video Music Award for Best Alternative Video (“Been Caught Stealing”), cracked the top spot-on Billboard’s “Alternative” chart, and defined a generation. As a style icon, Farrell’s gender-fluid “nothing’s shocking” persona made him an aesthetic lodestar of the moment and multiple generations to follow. He founded Lollapalooza in 1991, the most influential American music festival since Woodstock, and remains at the helm of the event 30 years later.

But that was merely the beginning. The New York and Florida-raised, Los Angeles-based artist has become undoubtedly one of the most consequential artists on earth. Currently, Jane’s Addiction is planning a return to action. Additionally, for the first time in nearly a quarter century, Porno for Pyros will be releasing new music.

But at the spiritual essence of his being Farrell is most dedicated to two things: his family and his philanthropic work. In 2001, he helped to free people in South Sudan from human bondage, raised money for the homeless in Los Angeles, and physically removed debris in the 9th Ward of New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina; he’s canvassed for charities helping to treat young people for addiction, and met with British Prime Minister Tony Blair to discuss climate change. Farrell’s most emphatic hope is to help affect peace in the Middle East through the universal language of music and festivals. Ultimately, his art and work are a vessel to help both the individual and the collective world mend. Perry Farrell is a perpetual revolution.

RESOURCE LINKS

Perry Farrell Website

Perry Farrell Instagram

Perry Farrell Twitter

Perry Farrell Facebook

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

THE WOMACK SISTERS | Portrait Jun 28, 2022

Show notes

Music runs in the family for The Womack Sisters. Daughters and granddaughters of musical legends, sisters, BG, Zeimani, and Kucha, are forging their own paths as they step into the spotlight with their music. Listen to this episode as they sit down with Rain to discuss growing up traveling around the world with a musical family, the inspiration behind creating their own music, and what’s coming up next for them.

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LAUNCHLEFT OFFICIAL WEBSITE
https://www.launchleft.com

LAUNCHLEFT PATREON
https://www.patreon.com/LaunchLeft

The Womack Sisters Website
The Womack Sisters on IG
The Womack Sisters on Twitter
The Womack Sisters on Facebook

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IN THIS EPISODE:

[02:00] The sisters talk about growing up in the music industry
[09:00] How the girls got started singing and playing instruments together
[15:00] Living in Egypt and carrying the Womack/Cooke Family Legacy
[20:35] The sister’s form of activism
[29:00] Favorite records and influences.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

Music can provide inspiration no matter what is happening in your life.
As a legendary musical family, the sisters feel the need to carry on the family legacy within the musical community to honor them.
Music can help give you a sense of pride and strength.

THE WOMACK SISTERS LINKS:

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

BEN HARPER Launches The Volebeats Jun 14, 2022

Show notes

On this episode of LaunchLeft, Grammy Award winner Ben Harper launches Matthew Smith and Peter Andrus of The Volebeats. They talk about their friendship and collaborations, thrifting and vinyl collections, and give us a front-row seat to their masterful knowledge of obscure music trivia. They also expound upon their creative process and putting out their new album, Lonesome Galaxy, on Harper's record label. The record was released on Mad Bunny June 10th.

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LAUNCHLEFT OFFICIAL WEBSITE
https://www.launchleft.com

LAUNCHLEFT PATREON
https://www.patreon.com/LaunchLeft