Stay ConnectedTalking Circles brings you inside the songwriting and collaborative process of Umphrey’s McGee’s 14th studio album, “Asking For A Friend.” Through comprehensive interviews with members of the band, we explore the inspirations behind theses songs – many of which were written during lockdown – the manner in which the band developed them & their transition to the live stage.
Produced by Osiris Media
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Copyright: © Umphrey's McGee, Inc. / Osiris Media
In the series finale, we dive into the track “It’s Not Your Fault,” a song that Brendan Bayliss thought might not be on the album at all. The discussion of this song leads to a conversation about Neil Young and his influence on Bayliss.
We want to thank everyone for listening to the series, and please leave a review wherever you listen to podcasts, and share with those you think should hear it.
Talking Circles is a production of Osiris Media and Umphrey’s McGee. Audio production by Matt Dwyer. Written and Produced by Brian Brinkman, RJ Bee, and Kevin Browning. Art by Mark Dowd. All interviews and audio used with permission from Umphrey’s McGee.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Welcome back to Talking Circles - a production of Osiris Media and Umphrey’s McGee. This is a podcast about the making of Asking For A Friend with the members of Umphrey’s McGee.
In Episode Thirteen, we hear Brendan Bayliss talk about “Fenced In,” which was a reaction to the protests of the Summer of 2020, and to the ongoing pandemic. As with a lot of songs, the concept existed for a while, but was brought together by a unique set of circumstances.
Jams which featured early hints of “Fenced In” are featured in this episode. The versions included are:
Talking Circles is a production of Osiris Media and Umphrey’s McGee. Audio production by Matt Dwyer. Written and Produced by Brian Brinkman, RJ Bee, and Kevin Browning. Art by Mark Dowd. All interviews and audio used with permission from Umphrey’s McGee.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Welcome back to Talking Circles - a production of Osiris Media and Umphrey’s McGee. This is a podcast about the making of Asking For A Friend with the members of Umphrey’s McGee.
In Episode Twelve, we focus on “Work Sauce,” a song that came together through a unique combination of serendipity, collaboration, and reflection on these truly unique times. Brendan Bayliss and Jake Cinninger lead the discussion of this track.
Talking Circles is a production of Osiris Media and Umphrey’s McGee. Audio production by Matt Dwyer. Written and Produced by Brian Brinkman, RJ Bee, and Kevin Browning. Art by Mark Dowd. All interviews and audio used with permission from Umphrey’s McGee.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Welcome back to Talking Circles - a production of Osiris Media and Umphrey’s McGee. This is a podcast about the making of Asking For A Friend with the members of Umphrey’s McGee.
In Episode Eleven we focus on the quiet ballad, buried deep in the second half of Asking For A Friend, “How About Now.” A simple acoustic song recorded in a single take, it showcases Brendan Bayliss’s lyrical brilliance, and the simple approach the band took on their latest album. Highlighting his own sense of doubt around his songwriting as well as the immediate reception of the song by his bandmates and producers, this is a perfect encapsulation of what makes Bayliss such a constant in the world of Umphrey’s McGee.
Talking Circles is a production of Osiris Media and Umphrey’s McGee. Audio production by Matt Dwyer. Written and Produced by Brian Brinkman, RJ Bee, and Kevin Browning. Art by Mark Dowd. All interviews and audio used with permission from Umphrey’s McGee.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Welcome back to Talking Circles—a production of Osiris Media and Umphrey’s McGee. This is a podcast about the making of Asking For A Friend with the members of Umphrey’s McGee.
In Episode Ten we turn our attention to “Always October.” This song was inspired by Bayliss’s experience with parenthood—and the pros and cons of being a professional musician with a family at home—especially in October, when leaving for Fall Tours.
Jake and Brendan talk about the use of major and minor keys, and how that helps communicate the subject matter in the song.
Talking Circles is a production of Osiris Media and Umphrey’s McGee. Audio production by Matt Dwyer. Written and Produced by Brian Brinkman, RJ Bee, and Kevin Browning. Art by Mark Dowd. All interviews and audio used with permission from Umphrey’s McGee.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Welcome back to Talking Circles - a production of Osiris Media and Umphrey’s McGee. This is a podcast about the making of Asking For A Friend with the members of Umphrey’s McGee.
In Episode Nine we begin to focus on the deep cuts of the album, with “Hiccup” up first. A song that showcases the unique differences between Cinninger and Bayliss’s songwriting approach, it also displays the band’s dedication to keeping things simple on the album. Finally we discuss the importance of a properly timed nap ahead of a guitar solo recording session.
Talking Circles is a production of Osiris Media and Umphrey’s McGee. Audio production by Matt Dwyer. Written and Produced by Brian Brinkman, RJ Bee, and Kevin Browning. Art by Mark Dowd. All interviews and audio used with permission from Umphrey’s McGee.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Welcome back to Talking Circles - a production of Osiris Media and Umphrey’s McGee. This is a podcast about the making of Asking For A Friend with the members of Umphrey’s McGee.
In Episode Eight we wrap up our backstage interview with Umphrey’s McGee from Red Rocks. Talking in a circle with the band, we discuss the origins of the song “Escape Goat,” and how it blossomed immediately on stage. We chat about the pressures of the studio, the brilliance of Jake Cinninger nailing guitar solos, and the connection between the band and their fanbase as showcased in this song. Finally we talk about the first two performances of “Escape Goat,” which on back-to-back nights leapt off the stage into unknown musical terrains.
Talking Circles is a production of Osiris Media and Umphrey’s McGee. Audio production by Matt Dwyer. Written and Produced by Brian Brinkman, RJ Bee, and Kevin Browning. Art by Mark Dowd. All interviews and audio used with permission from Umphrey’s McGee.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Welcome back to Talking Circles - a production of Osiris Media and Umphrey’s McGee. This is a podcast about the making of Asking For A Friend with the members of Umphrey’s McGee.
In Episode Seven we continue our backstage interview with Umphrey’s McGee from Red Rocks. Talking in a circle with the band, we discuss the inside joke nature of “Ordinary Times” as well as the impact of Andy Farag on the band’s songwriting. In addition, we continue discussing the impact of influences on their songwriting and the evolution of the band’s recording within the world of COVID. Finally we discuss the importance of the rhythm section on the band’s songwriting and jamming, allowing drummer, Kris Meyers the opportunity to discuss how he builds riffs off Jake’s demos.
Talking Circles is a production of Osiris Media and Umphrey’s McGee. Audio production by Matt Dwyer. Written and Produced by Brian Brinkman, RJ Bee, and Kevin Browning. Art by Mark Dowd. All interviews and audio used with permission from Umphrey’s McGee.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Welcome back to Talking Circles - a production of Osiris Media and Umphrey’s McGee. This is a podcast about the making of Asking For A Friend with the members of Umphrey’s McGee.
In Episode Six we begin a three-part series stemming from our live interview with Umphrey’s McGee from backstage at Red Rocks. Talking in a circle with the band, we dive deep into Asking For A Friend, tying together larger themes from the series, while also getting a full back perspective on the songwriting and recording process. Starting with “Pure Saturation,” the song which birthed this podcast’s theme song, we discuss the driving nature of the song, chat influences and emulating your heroes while staying true to yourself, as well as the opportunities presented by creative roadblocks.
Talking Circles is a production of Osiris Media and Umphrey’s McGee. Audio production by Matt Dwyer. Written and Produced by Brian Brinkman, RJ Bee, and Kevin Browning. Art by Mark Dowd. All interviews and audio used with permission from Umphrey’s McGee.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Welcome back to Talking Circles - a production of Osiris Media and Umphrey’s McGee. This is a podcast about the making of Asking For A Friend with the members of Umphrey’s McGee.
In Episode Five we talk with Brendan Bayliss and Jake Cinninger about the song “New Wings.” Written by Cinninger and then sent to Bayliss for lyrical additions, it represents the “three chords and the truth” approach that defines much of Asking For a Friend. Focusing on the brilliant hook within the song, and the band’s eagerness to play these songs live, we focus this episode on how Cinninger and Bayliss work together why a simpler approach to songwriting defined the best parts of Asking For a Friend.
Talking Circles is a production of Osiris Media and Umphrey’s McGee. Audio production by Matt Dwyer. Written and Produced by Brian Brinkman, RJ Bee, and Kevin Browning. Art by Mark Dowd. All interviews and audio used with permission from Umphrey’s McGee.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Welcome back to Talking Circles - a production of Osiris Media & Umphrey’s McGee. This is a podcast about the making of Asking For A Friend with the members of Umphrey’s McGee.
In Episode Three we talk with Jake Cinninger and Joel Cummins about the song “Dayville Monarchy.” As opposed to the previous songs from Asking For A Friend that we have looked at, Dayville Monarchy was presented to the band as a fully-realized demo created by Cinninger in his studio. Joel Cummins discusses the difference between working with this type of demo vs. something that might be more of a rough sketch of a song. We also learn about the group's exercise in writing lyrics together in the studio.
Talking Circles is a production of Osiris Media and Umphrey’s McGee. Audio production by Matt Dwyer. Written and Produced by Brian Brinkman, RJ Bee, and Kevin Browning. Art by Mark Dowd. All interviews and audio used with permission from Umphrey’s McGee.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Welcome back to Talking Circles - a production of Osiris Media & Umphrey’s McGee. This is a podcast about the making of Asking For A Friend with the members of Umphrey’s McGee.
In Episode Three we talk with Brendan Bayliss about the song “So Much.” Written in the late-aughts as a way to make up for two weeks of procrastination, the song is a three-chords-and-the-truth rarity in the UM catalog. Having been auditioned for a number of previous albums, it finally found its home in the Asking For A Friend sessions as its themes spoke clearly to the entire band during 2020. We discuss the origins of the song, its improvisational evolution, the freedom with which the band approached its recording session, and where Bayliss sees the song evolving going forward.
Talking Circles is a production of Osiris Media and Umphrey’s McGee. Audio production by Matt Dwyer. Written and Produced by Brian Brinkman, RJ Bee, and Kevin Browning. Art by Mark Dowd. All interviews and audio used with permission from Umphrey’s McGee.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Welcome back to Talking Circles - a production of Osiris Media & Umphrey’s McGee. This is a podcast about the making of Asking For A Friend with the members of Umphrey’s McGee.
In Episode Two we’re focusing on the second single from the record, “Small Strides.” Joined again by singer/songwriter Brendan Bayliss and keyboardist Joel Cummins, we dive into the origins of the song from Brendan’s college days, his craftsmanship during the first six months of the pandemic, and how a song can grow from an innocuous joke into an inspired piece of musical discovery. We focus on Cummins’ keyboard wizardry and discuss how, over the course of a year, he layered his keys throughout to give the track the larger than life feel it has.
Talking Circles is a production of Osiris Media and Umphrey’s McGee. Audio production by Matt Dwyer. Written and Produced by Brian Brinkman, RJ Bee, and Kevin Browning. Art by Mark Dowd. All interviews and audio used with permission from Umphrey’s McGee.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Welcome to Talking Circles - a production of Osiris Media & Umphrey’s McGee. Over the course of the next four months we’ll dive into the making of Asking For A Friend with the members of Umphrey’s McGee. We’ll look at the inspirations behind each song, the songwriting process, the new techniques utilized to craft the songs, and where the band sees each song fitting into their live repertoire.
In Episode One we’re focusing on the first single from the record, “I Don’t Know What I Want.” We’re joined by singer/songwriter/guitarist Brendan Bayliss and keyboardist Joel Cummins to discuss the songwriting process, how Brendan combined two different ideas into a single song, and how the band crafted it into their first single throughout 2020. Throughout, we hear the song’s stems and the original demo to give listeners an idea of how the song was built over time.
Talking Circles is a production of Osiris Media and Umphrey’s McGee. Audio production by Matt Dwyer. Written and Produced by Brian Brinkman, RJ Bee, and Kevin Browning. Art by Mark Dowd. All interviews and audio used with permission from Umphrey’s McGee.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Talking Circles brings you inside the songwriting and collaborative process of Umphrey’s McGee’s 14th studio album, Asking For A Friend. Through comprehensive interviews with members of the band, we explore the inspirations behind theses songs - many of which were written during lockdown - the manner in which the band developed them & their transition to the live stage.
Asking For A Friend comes out July 1st. Episodes will drop monthly in connection with new singles released ahead of the album.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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