The Jay Jay French Connection: Beyond the Music

Latest Episodes:

Laura Kunkel: Record Label Presidents Month Episode IV Oct 24, 2023

Show notes

Join Jay Jay this week for the final week of Record Label Presidents Month! Very special guest Laura Kunkel joins Jay Jay to discuss the nuances surrounding getting into the record business, & Laura's inspiring story behind starting her new record label. Hear all about the importance of having individuals who truly care about music & art behind labels - & why Laura's motivation has been to be an advocate for artists, & to build a label that can support a healthy & expressive creative culture. Laura gets into how her background in the marketing & advertising worlds intersect with music, & how this can be of value when applied to art. Don't miss this conversation, only on The Jay Jay French Connection: Beyond the Music! Edited & Produced by Matthew Mallinger

David Rath: Record Label Presidents Month Episode III Oct 17, 2023

Show notes

This week, David Rath joins Jay Jay for week 3 of Record Label Presidents Month on the show! David Rath comes from Roadrunner Records where he spent twenty-one years in the A&R and Creative Departments, having been A&R on albums by Slipknot, Korn, Gojira, Coheed and Cambira, Slash, The Amity Affliction, Trivium, Stone Sour, Dream Theater and Megadeth and where he oversaw music videos from Nickelback, Theory Of A Deadman, Killswitch Engage, Jerry Cantrell and Slipknot. Rath helped guide the label through multiple changes in ownership and management, after which he oversaw the signings of Platinum selling acts Young The Giant and Vance Joy for Atlantic and Elektra Records. As the head of the A&R department at Roadrunner, Rath most recently signed and A&R’d Grammy nominated acts Turnstile and Code Orange, along with White Reaper and Motionless In White who both recently scored #1 Alternative and Active Rock radio hits. In 2022, Dave Rath formed a partnership and new venture with Cees Wessels, the original founder of Roadrunner Records, to launch the rock label Blue Grape Music. The Blue Grape name comes from the influential hardcore/metal merch company formerly owned by Wessels. The new label recently signed pioneering metal outfit Code Orange, along with the Bay area post-punk band Spiritual Cramp, and New Jersey’s buzzing hardcore band GEL with releases scheduled for 2023. Blue Grape Music has offices in both New York City and Amsterdam and is presently distributed by The Orchard. Prior to being at Roadrunner Records, Rath, a graduate of Villanova University, was the Director of The Philadelphia Music Conference and drummer for the Columbia Records band Heavens Edge. Jay Jay & David discuss their journeys into the record business, the ins & outs of A&R and the current state of the record label industry. David gets into how working in A&R keeps his ear to what's happening in the music world, & why he finds this to be very important. Don't miss this insightful conversation, only on The Jay Jay French Connection: Beyond the Music! Edited & Produced by Matthew Mallinger

Cliff Chenfeld: Record Label Presidents Month Episode II Oct 10, 2023

Show notes

Tune in for the second week of Record Label President's Month! This week, Jay Jay welcomes special guest Cliff Chenfeld. Cliff is a renowned music executive, who is both the co-founder and co-CEO of Razor & Tie Records, as well as Kidz Bop. Hear all about the history of how Razor & Tie began as a reissue / compilation centered label, & progressed into becoming one of the leading rock labels in the country. Jay Jay & Cliff dig into the ins & outs of the major label industry, & the evolution of listener's relationship to albums in the streaming age. Don't miss this insightful conversation from 2 major label industry veterans, & check out episodes of Cliff's Modern Sounds Radio through the streaming link below:

www.allarts.org/podcast/all-arts-radio-hour/

Edited & Produced by Matthew Mallinger

Jason Flom: Record Label Presidents Month Episode I Oct 03, 2023

Show notes

This week, guest Jason Flom joins Jay Jay to kick off a month of renowned record label presidents joining in conversation. Jason is a dear friend of Jay Jay's who has a deep rooted history alongside Twister Sister, which they talk all about. Their stories go back 40+ years to the early days of Twisted in New York, when Jason was a kid in high school following Twisted in Long Island. Jason has become a well known record label executive, podcaster & philanthropist - he is the founder of Lava Records, and was previously the chairman of Atlantic Records & Virgin Records/ Capitol Music Group.

Tune in for some amazing stories of the early days of Twisted, as well as some invaluable insights into the label industry today. Don't miss this episode, only on The Jay Jay French Connection: Beyond the Music!

Edited & Produced by Matthew Mallinger

Jay Jay & Sharon Sep 26, 2023

Show notes

This week's guest is Jay Jay's wife Sharon, who joins the podcast for an open-ended conversation about life, love & Twisted Sister. Don't miss this conversation, only on The Jay Jay French Connection: Beyond the Music!

Joel Hoekstra Sep 19, 2023

Show notes

This week, Jay Jay welcomes back legendary guitar virtuoso Joel Hoekstra! This episode is a must listen for all guitar heads. Joel shares his remarkable journey from being a classically trained guitarist, & a young kid with chops in the suburbs of Chicago, to working in LA during the height of its 'shred guitar player scene,' to being one of the best & most well versed guitarists in rock n roll. Joel has played an invaluable role in the likes of Whitesnake, Cher, Night Ranger, Trans-Siberian Orchestra, the broadway musical Rock of Ages, & many others - in addition to his ongoing solo project 'Joel Hoekstra's 13.' Don't miss this conversation, only on the Jay Jay French Connection: Beyond the Music! Edited & Produced by Matthew Mallinger

Jarret Keene Sep 12, 2023

Show notes

This week on The Jay Jay French Connection, Jay Jay welcomes author Jarret Keene on the show ahead of his brand new book release. Jarret is Assistant Professor in the Department of English at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, where he teaches both American literature AND the graphic novel. Hear all about how he has been a Twisted fan for years, & why he believes that many of his students have been inspired by Twisted Sister - particularly the album Stay Hungry. His debut novel HAMMER OF THE DOGS - a post apocalyptic adventure in Las Vegas for readers of all ages - is available in paperback as of today, September 12th. Set in the wasteland of post-apocalyptic Las Vegas, Hammer of the Dogs is a literary dystopian adventure filled with high-octane fun starring twenty-one-year-old Lash. With her high-tech skill set and warrior mentality, Lash is a master of her own fate as she helps to shield the Las Vegas valley’s survivors and protect her younger classmates at a paramilitary school holed up in Luxor on the Las Vegas Strip. After graduation, she’ll be alone in fending off the deadly intentions and desires of the school’s most powerful opponents. When she’s captured by the enemy warlord, she’s surprised by two revelations: He’s not the monster her headmaster wants her to believe and the one thing she can’t safeguard is her own heart. Hammer of the Dogs celebrates the courageousness of a younger generation in the face of authority while exploring the difficult choices a conscionable young woman must make with her back against a blood-spattered wall. It’s a story of transformation and maturity, as Lash grapples with her own identity and redefines the glittering Las Vegas that Nevada is known for. Be sure to check out Jarret's book, & don't miss this conversation, only on The Jay Jay French Connection: Beyond the Music! Edited & Produced by Matthew Mallinger

Steve Lukather Part II Sep 04, 2023

Show notes

This week, tune in to hear part 2 of Jay Jay's conversation with legendary guitarist & session musician Steve Lukather! If you're in the LA area, don't forget to catch Steve perform on Saturday, September 9th with Toto at 'A Concert for the Ed Asner Family Center,' alongside Ringo Starr, Joe Bonamassa, Colin Hay & others at The Orpheum Theater in California.

Ed Asner Benefit Show

Steve is an extremely versatile musician, guitarist, vocalist, composer, producer / arranger & has been an in demand session musician since the 70s - in addition to being the sole continuous founding member of the rock band Toto. Over the years Steve has played & collaborated with a wide variety of artists - and continues to release & perform solo music under his own name.

Don't miss this conversation, only on The Jay Jay French Connection: Beyond the Music!

Edited & Produced by Matthew Mallinger

Steve Lukather Part I Aug 29, 2023

Show notes

This week, Jay Jay welcomes legendary guitarist & session musician Steve Lukather! Steve is an extremely versatile musician, guitarist, vocalist, composer, producer / arranger & has been an in demand session musician since the 70s - in addition to being the sole continuous founding member of the rock band Toto. Over the years Steve has played & collaborated with a wide variety of artists - and continues to release & perform solo music under his own name.

On Saturday, September 9th, Steve will be performing with Toto at 'A Concert for the Ed Asner Family Center,' alongside Ringo Starr, Joe Bonamassa, Colin Hay & others at The Orpheum Theater in California. Check out more info on the show below if you live near California, & don't miss part one of their conversation - only on The Jay Jay French Connection: Beyond the Music!

Ed Asner Benefit Show

Edited & Produced by Matthew Mallinger

Bill Low Part 2 Aug 22, 2023

Show notes

This week Bill Low, founder & chief designer of the acclaimed company AudioQuest, joins Jay Jay for part 2 of their conversation! Don't miss this insightful discussion about the world of audio & its importance in our daily lives. AudioQuest is a company that develops tools for enhancing the in-home experience of audio and video entertainment. Jay Jay & Bill are both Hi-Fi experts, & dig into everything from commentary on the state or the Hi-Fi industry, to advice on home audio set ups, & the human brain's perception relative to our understanding of audio technology. Tune in to part 1 of their insightful talk surrounding the current state of audio & music, only on The Jay Jay French Connection: Beyond the Music! Edited & Produced by Matthew Mallinger