Today’s conversation is with <a href="https://www.instagram.com/juancorderotx" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">JONATHAN PEREZ</a>, co-founder &amp; guitarist of <a href="https://www.instagram.com/trauma.ray" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">TRAUMA RAY</a>.&nbsp; This past February, they released their <a href="https://traumaray.bandcamp.com/album/carnival" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">CARNIVAL EP</a>, a highly recommended 5-song trip through the warped abstractions of the psyche. It takes their sound in more meditative &amp; even ambient directions, while also intensifying the pulverizing riffs &amp; rhythms they’re known for. Following the success of their U.S. run with Loathe last fall, they’re just a couple weeks away from a nationwide co-headlining tour with <a href="https://www.instagram.com/glixen" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">GLIXEN</a>, which goes from April 10 to May 16. Jon also writes &amp; records music as <a href="https://www.instagram.com/juancorderotx" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">JUAN CORDERO</a>, &amp; he released his debut LP, <a href="https://juancordero.bandcamp.com/album/songs-about-ghosts" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">SONGS ABOUT GHOSTS</a>, via <a href="https://www.instagram.com/sundaydriverecords" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">SUNDAY DRIVE RECORDS</a> back on Halloween 2023. FFO: Duster, Bedhead, Lowercase, Sparklehorse, &amp; so forth. In this episode, we move song-by-song through the Carnival EP, talk about surviving the love/hate relationship with your own music, &amp; explore the overlap between everyday life &amp; the cosmos. **** <a href="https://traumaray.bandcamp.com/album/carnival" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">CARNIVAL EP</a> **** <a href="https://traumaray.store/pages/tours" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">SPRING 2026 TOUR DATES</a> **** <a href="https://juancordero.bandcamp.com/album/songs-about-ghosts" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">SONGS ABOUT GHOSTS LP</a> **** <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oscxST2Ojd4" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">HUM @ CHINA CLUB / CHICAGO '93</a> **** TIMESTAMPS:02:30: "Chameleon"03:44: Carnival Record Release Show08:44: "Hannibal" Video10:36: Carnival EP14:18: "Carousel"18:38: "Hannibal"23:19: "Méliès"28:50: "Funhouse"34:12: "Clown"40:03: HUM's Influence42:36: "Liftoff"47:32: "Pewter" Discussion01:06:39: "Breath" **** <a href="https://www.patreon.com/lonelierthangodpod" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Support the show!</a> ****

032: "Pewter" feat. Jonathan Perez (Trauma Ray, Juan Cordero)

Today’s guest is <a href="https://www.instagram.com/gabevanmusic" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">GABE VAN</a> — producer, mixer, engineer, singer, songwriter, &amp; guitarist. He owns &amp; operates <a href="https://www.akiraaudio.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">AKIRA AUDIO</a> in Woodland Hills, CA, where he’s done a wide range of in-house sound work across music, film, fashion, TV, &amp; web media. There he's recorded thousands of sessions, most frequently with drummers <a href="https://www.instagram.com/kelliiscott" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">KELLII SCOTT</a> of <a href="https://www.instagram.com/failurebandig" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">FAILURE</a> &amp; <a href="https://www.instagram.com/benjaminkoller" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">BEN KOLLER</a> of <a href="https://www.instagram.com/converge" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">CONVERGE</a>. He’s also gone on the road to do live sound with Failure, Autolux, Local Natives, &amp; others. His band <a href="https://www.instagram.com/mossbreaker" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">MOSSBREAKER</a> released their first album, Between the Noise &amp; You, in 2017 on Glory Kid Records. Check the Bandcamp links below to hear that, along with an early EP, singles, &amp; more recent demos. They opened for HUM &amp; Mineral at the Regent Theater in LA in September 2015. In this episode, we discuss finding your niche, the stress-tests of guitar tech'ing, &amp; the way sound travels through the memory-space of time. ****https://www.akiraaudio.com ****https://mossbreaker.bandcamp.com/album/between-the-noise-and-you **** <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WzeTmZTPP20" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">HUM on Modern Rock Live [1998]</a> **** TIMESTAMPS:02:25 // "Runway" (Mossbreaker)03:37 // Akira Audio07:53 // Recording Schools12:55 // Working with Ken Andrews19:55 // "Between the Noise &amp; You" (Mossbreaker)23:06 // Hearing HUM26:45 // "Ms. Lazarus" Discussion49:31 // "Shamer" (Mossbreaker) **** <a href="https://www.patreon.com/lonelierthangodpod" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Support the show!</a> ****

031: "Ms. Lazarus" feat. Gabe Van (Akira Audio, Mossbreaker)

Today’s guest is <a href="https://www.instagram.com/tomwindish" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">TOM WINDISH</a> — a highly respected veteran booking agent, manager, A&amp;R executive, &amp; label owner. Across three decades, he’s worked at every level of the music industry, from booking shows out of his college dorm room to navigating the global circuits of some of music’s biggest names. His booking roster has included artists of many genres, ranging from HUM, New Radiant Storm King, &amp; Smog to Billie Eilish, M83, &amp; Lorde. He’s also a frequent speaker at music industry conferences, sharing his experience &amp; guidance with audiences around the world. In this episode, we talk about bringing bands to campus, the complexities of long-distance calling, &amp; what appeared on HUM’s very first rider. **** TIMESTAMPS:02:08: Mowing Lawns, Buying Tapes03:43: College Radio &amp; Booking Bands10:55: Poster Children &amp; HUM @ Campus Pub14:33: Venue Networks16:51: Long-Distance Calls19:23: Reconnecting with HUM22:29: Howard Stern Show26:43: Alternative Boom33:50: "Yume Utsutsu" (Lamp) **** <a href="https://www.patreon.com/lonelierthangodpod" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Support the show!</a> ****

030: Tom Windish (Booking Agent)

This week I’m talking w/ <a href="https://www.instagram.com/froggychavez" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">DAVID CHAVEZ</a> &amp; <a href="https://www.instagram.com/rach_stang" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">RACHEL STANG</a> from the Kansas City band <a href="https://www.instagram.com/foreverstar.gmbh" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">FOREVER ☆</a>.&nbsp; A few months ago, they released a 7-song EP called <a href="https://foreverstar.bandcamp.com/album/second-gen-dream" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">2ND GEN DREAM</a> on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/alacarterecords" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">À LA CARTE RECORDS</a>, &amp; it’s bursting with euphoric waves of guitar, smeared ethereal vocals, &amp; the manic energy of drum n bass.&nbsp; Highly recommend checking that out, along with their <a href="https://foreverstar.bandcamp.com/album/3-series" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">3 SERIES EP</a> from 2023. Links below. David also works at <a href="https://seenmerch.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">SEEN MERCHANDISING</a>, where he probably had a hand in screen-printing the HUM shirt you’re wearing right now. In this episode, we talk about the mechanics of the breakbeat, the acoustics of sonic weapons, &amp; the cosmic patterns of deep space. **** https://foreverstar.bandcamp.com/music **** TIMESTAMPS:02:08 // "Heat Seeking Missile" (F☆)03:25 // 2nd Gen Dream EP12:23 // 2GD Layout15:55 // "Blade Silver Metallic" (F☆)22:10 // "Competizione" (F☆)27:40 // Discovering HUM35:22// "Little Dipper" Discussion58:56 // "Your Angel Speaks" (F☆) **** <a href="https://www.patreon.com/lonelierthangodpod" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Support the show!</a> ****

029: "Little Dipper" feat. David Chavez & Rachel Stang (Forever ☆)

Joining me today from the outskirts of Austin, Texas is singer, guitarist, &amp; songwriter <a href="https://www.instagram.com/andyswitzky" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">ANDY SWITZKY</a>. In 1989, Andy co-founded HUM, &amp; he wrote for &amp; played on their demo, the first LP (Fillet Show), &amp; the subsequent 2 singles (Hello Kitty &amp; Sun Dress). He was a vital part of the Champaign music scene in the ‘80s &amp; ‘90s, &amp; also made music in Tugrik Dhugugrik, Designer Mustard Gas, Obvious Man, &amp; Alaskan Mothership. From time to time, he uploads material from that period to his SoundCloud page; link below. In this episode, we talk about the mid-to-late ‘80s Champaign music scene, blending the dissonant with the melodic, &amp; trying to match the volume of your awe-inspiring drummer. **** https://soundcloud.com/aswitzky **** <a href="https://youtu.be/qQY6jXEhXls?si=IbvZAZATTXxZ-WOz" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Steve Albini's Basement Studio</a> **** TIMESTAMPS:02:16 // "Lake of Fire" (Alaskan Mothership)03:29 // Early Music Fandom07:29 // First Bands10:16 // Tugrik Dhugugrik11:34 // "Mucus" (T.D.)12:48 // Obvious Man15:46 // "Facts &amp; Figures" (O.M.)17:51 // Designer Mustard Gas18:39 // “Workstation” (D.M.G.)20:42 // Forming HUM22:20 // “Kissing Me is like Kissing an Angel, She Said” Demo Tape30:18 // "Time is Melting"34:45 // "Kissing Me..."37:44 // "Diamonds"41:32 // Fillet Show LP50:48 // "Sunshine" (Alaskan Mothership) **** <a href="https://www.patreon.com/lonelierthangodpod" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Support the show!</a> ****

028: Kissing Me... Demo Tape feat. Andy Switzky (HUM, Tugrik Dhugugrik, Obvious Man, Designer Mustard Gas, Alaskan Mothership)

Today I’m talking with guitarist &amp; producer <a href="https://www.instagram.com/godcitymusic" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">KURT BALLOU</a> — a true luminary of the heavy music scene, on both sides of the mixing board.&nbsp; In 1990, he co-founded the pioneering metalcore band <a href="https://www.instagram.com/converge" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">CONVERGE</a>, whose 11th studio album, <a href="https://convergecult.bandcamp.com/album/love-is-not-enough" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">LOVE IS NOT ENOUGH</a>, arrives on February 13. Kurt also owns &amp; operates <a href="https://godcitystudio.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">GOD CITY STUDIO</a> in Salem, MA, where he records, engineers, produces, &amp; mixes a breathtaking array of bands. He’s given an instantly recognizable mix of grit &amp; clarity to scores of landmark punk, metal, &amp; hardcore records, including LPs by his own band, as well as Cave In, Isis, Pg. 99, Torche, Trap Them, Russian Circles, &amp; many more.&nbsp; In this episode, we discuss the mechanics of track sequencing, the alien geometry of sound capture, &amp; the dreamy rhythms of deep time. **** https://godcitystudio.com **** https://www.godcityinstruments.com **** TIMESTAMPS:02:19 // "Love is Not Enough" (Converge)03:27 // Album Leaks06:52 // New LP &amp; Track Sequencing&nbsp;12:09 // Studio Geometry16:01 // ‘90s Boston Rock Scene21:22 // Hearing HUM / “Stars” on the Radio27:34: "Isle of the Cheetah" Discussion01:00:38 // "Eagles Become Vultures" (Converge) [Misc: Karate, "This Plus Slow Song"] **** <a href="https://www.patreon.com/lonelierthangodpod" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Support the show!</a> ****

027: "Isle of the Cheetah" feat. Kurt Ballou (Converge, God City Studio)

Today’s conversation is with <a href="https://www.instagram.com/dimtao" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">TIM DOW</a>, one of my all-time favorite drummers.&nbsp; He’s played in and/or toured with <a href="https://www.instagram.com/shinerkc" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">SHINER</a>, <a href="https://andrewsken.bandcamp.com/album/year-of-the-rabbit" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">YEAR OF THE RABBIT</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/seasontorisk" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">SEASON TO RISK</a>, <a href="https://open.spotify.com/album/7D1B94NPYxAcuIAoR4VsK7?si=dSlu_MQrTOyB5PF51VMWYw" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">THE JOY CIRCUIT</a>, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLj1s7vWBXylVwdZqfKjgrYb-fYRvKskjx" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">ON</a>, VAE VICTIS, &amp; more.&nbsp; He was in Shiner from 1993 to ‘98, &amp; drummed on their early landmark records, <a href="https://shinerkc.bandcamp.com/album/splay-2024" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">SPLAY</a> &amp; <a href="https://shinerkc.bandcamp.com/album/lula-divinia-2016-remaster" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">LULA DIVINIA</a>, as well as on their first 6 EPs. Both LPs have since been remixed &amp; remastered, &amp; then reissued in 2024 on <a href="https://spartanrecords.com" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">SPARTAN RECORDS</a>.&nbsp; After leaving Shiner, he played in a couple of early 2000s L.A. bands with Failure’s Ken Andrews: first the pop-leaning electronic project ON, then the heavier rock band Year of the Rabbit. He &amp; his Y.O.T.R. bandmates, Jeff Garber &amp; Sol Snyder, then tracked &amp; self-released their first &amp; only studio record, so far, called EP 1.&nbsp; He’s also done studio session work for Pete Yorn, Abandoned Pools, Jonny Polonsky, &amp; others.&nbsp; In this episode, we talk about ‘90s recording styles, the web of alt-rock riff tropes, &amp; the revved-up release of thunderous drumming. **** <a href="https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6jGYHEIKpjysW1HWe8Bxkk?si=5FkTu9HWS5imakJkwj-lBA" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">TIM'S DRUM DISCOG (Streaming)</a> **** "Iron Clad Lou" <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Oh4pP8LiRE" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Video</a> **** TIMESTAMPS:02:34 // "Brooks" (Shiner)07:10 // Pre-Shiner Recordings12:23 // Shiner &amp; Indie Production19:47 // Riff Drumming22:43 // "Sailor's Fate" (Shiner)26:12 // "My Life as a Housewife" (Shiner)32:22 // '90s Drumming Influences33:18 // L.A., Ken Andrews, &amp; Year of the Rabbit39:12 // "Absent Stars" (Y.O.T.R.)41:59 // The Joy Circuit44:32 // "X's" (T.J.C.)45:48 // Pete Yorn Sessions48:42 // "Undercover" (P.Y.)49:42 // HUM's E2K Tape56:34 // "Iron Clad Lou" Discussion01:26:13 // "Sideways" (Shiner) **** <a href="https://www.patreon.com/lonelierthangodpod" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Support the show!</a> ****

026: "Iron Clad Lou" feat. Tim Dow (Shiner, Year of the Rabbit, The Joy Circuit)

Sat down today with <a href="https://www.instagram.com/keithrmont" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">KEITH M.</a>, singer &amp; guitarist of the Brooklyn post-hardcore/screamo band <a href="https://www.instagram.com/memoryentry" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">MEMORY ENTRY</a>.&nbsp; Earlier this year, they released their 5-song debut EP, Our World is Going to Disappear, on <a href="https://www.instagram.com/iodinerecordings" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">IODINE RECORDINGS</a>, &amp; they’ve got new stuff on the way. Link below. Since 2020, Keith has hosted <a href="https://www.instagram.com/newscenepod" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">THE NEW SCENE PODCAST</a>, which released its 300th episode a few weeks back. He’s done wide-ranging interviews with members of Quicksand, the Jesus Lizard, Jawbox, Melvins, Seaweed, &amp; many others, as well as with friends of this pod, Chris Enriquez from Spotlights &amp; Josh Brigham from Hopesfall. In this episode, we do a recent gig round-up, discuss the revealing language of dreams, &amp; explore the chilly vastness of the arctic soundscape. **** TIMESTAMPS:02:17 // "Lost Dreams" (Memory Entry)03:19 // Shiner + Ink &amp; Dagger Shows09:59 // Memory Entry: Influences &amp; Origins13:21 // Dream Logics19:22 // The New Scene Podcast26:41 // Hearing HUM32:46 // "The Inuit Promise" Discussion1:07:36 // "Holler Wild Rose" (Memory Entry) **** <a href="https://www.patreon.com/lonelierthangodpod" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Support the show!</a> ****

025: "The Inuit Promise" feat. Keith M. (Memory Entry, The New Scene Podcast)

Today I’m joined by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/systemsystems" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">DEREK NIEDRINGHAUS</a> &amp; <a href="https://www.instagram.com/lazer_nyc" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">LYLE HODGES</a>, who were both involved, in different ways, in the making of Centaur's debut album, In Streams. Derek plays bass in Centaur, &amp; does art design for the band, including the iconic &amp; oddly soothing Gaudí-inspired In Streams cover. He also plays bass in <a href="https://www.instagram.com/castor_the_band" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">CASTOR</a>, who just re-released their discography in remixed &amp; remastered form as a vinyl set called Moving Backgrounds, on Earth Analog Records. He previously made music in Sarge, the Big Bright Lights, &amp; National Skyline, among others. Lyle was a studio assistant, tape op, &amp; White Russian maker during the recording of In Streams. He's also been in many bands himself, including Amphibian, Tractor Kings, The Mezzanines (NYC edition), &amp; he currently performs in <a href="https://www.instagram.com/electric.stallion.music" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">ELECTRIC STALLION</a> &amp; <a href="https://www.instagram.com/chrome.christ.nyc" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">CHROME CHRIST</a>. He runs Twin Radar Records as well. In this episode, we talk about Centaur’s hazy origins, the precarious ecosystem of the recording process, &amp; the healing flows of pure volume. **** https://matttalbott.bandcamp.com/album/in-streams **** https://castorindierock.bandcamp.com/album/moving-backgrounds **** TIMESTAMPS:02:34 // "Fields" (Centaur)04:58 // Hearing &amp; Seeing HUM13:51 // Centaur Origins16:55 // Recording In Streams26:35 // Working with Keith Cleversley37:30 // Release Date41:29 // In Streams Artwork50:28 // Sonics &amp; Atmosphere53:18 // "Placencia"59:06 // The Champaign Sound &amp; Writing Lyrics01:04:58 // In Streams Themes01:11:29 // "Life Begins"01:18:58 // "The Same Place"01:34:31 // "In Streams"01:45:14 // Cover Songs01:47:29 // "Strangers On 5" **** <a href="https://www.patreon.com/lonelierthangodpod" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Support the show!</a> ****

024: Centaur's In Streams feat. Derek Niedringhaus (Centaur, Castor, Sarge) & Lyle Hodges (Amphibian, Electric Stallion, Chrome Christ)

A track-by-track podcast on the space rock band HUM. “Stars” isn’t their only song.

LONELIER THAN GOD

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