Little Known Tracks

This week we talked to Erik of the New Jersey-based electric/indie project, Being Malleable. When the pandemic hit he found himself drawn to the outdoors, picking up cycling and camping, hoping to bikepack through Europe in the next 10 years. Being Malleable was first created as a side project, quickly becoming his full focus, making the music he wants to make. He has recently released “SANS PERMANENCE [EP]” a collection of all the music he has released so far, touching on the theme of existentialism - and infinitely expanding universe and how we occupy finite space in the universe. He is currently working on a new single encouraging people to be themselves, no matter what that means.

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This week we talked with Dan Drago, host of 25 O’Clock - Philadelphia based music podcast. When he’s not listening to music he's listening to the birds, the wind and other nature noises when he is out hiking. He is celebrating 10 years of the podcast, commemorated by a compilation of his live recorded guests available on bandcamp.

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This week we talk to midwest trio, The Slaps. The band takes time on tour to rest and relax by the campfire, pulling out the acoustic guitar and jamming together. Each member of the band started their musical journey on piano, before starting the band their freshman year of college.

Their recent album “Mudglimmer” has been in production since 2019, ultimately being recorded with friends in the comfort of their home studio. Gearing up with a west coast tour at the start of 2025, the band is looking forward to playing shows and connecting with people.

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This week we talked to Bay Area electric pop duo, Cardboard People. The two collectively read everything, from fantasy to history - enjoying adventure and becoming better humans. Their journey together started due to their open minds and electric stylings, pushing each other out of the box. Their most recent release “Tigress Lane” is an intergalactic story about finding solace and spiritual recharge, intertwined with personal healing. Their future plans extend outside of the bay area, bringing their live show to audiences across the country.

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This week we talked to Brisbane-based singer-songwriter, Sienna Tenn. Growing up in an artistic household, she picked up more than just music, adding painting and drawing to her creative repertoire. Her currently released singles follow a faceless duo and the ups and downs of their relationship. Since teaching herself how to produce, she has been adding light synth and chorus-like harmonies to her music, which she plans to expand upon in the future. She is currently working on an EP set to release next year.

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This week we talked to alternative pop artist, Demi the Daredevil. He consumes media through books and shows, occasionally finding inspiration through scenes or theme songs. Demi the Daredevil is a character used as a creative outlet, exploring the idea of identity and healing. His most recent release “ American Zombie” was a collaborative single created for the most recent tour. He is currently working on a concept album reflecting his life and a new single as an homage to his fans.

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This week we talked to pop-rock vocalist, Veda. She enjoys watching movies in her free time, a fan of horror so much so she decided to record with Michael Myers in the room. Her music is currently influenced by pop and rock, and she’s training her voice for Death Scream in her future music.  With her most recent release “I Breakdown” she hopes to connect with her audience and create a relatable narrative of empowerment. She’s working on new music, inspired by pop and emo icons across the ages. Find more from her @

This week  we talked with Gina Zo, of indie rock trio Velvet Rouge. Her favorite social media is Pinterest, using it to find her next recipe, and outfit and plan for her wedding. Her musical journey started at birth, singing and dancing since she was born - knowing this is exactly what she wanted to do. The band’s self-titled, debut EP “Velvet Rouge” tells the story of the band’s writing history - picking 5 out of 30 they’ve written over the course of four years. The band is taking a brief brake after an exciting summer of new music and touring, planning on getting back into the studio soon.

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This week we talked to LA-based singer/songwriter Nastasia Kayleigh. Filled with creative energy, she utilizes photography as a supporting element of songwriting, visualizing the world of a song through a picture. She started singing when she was a child, staring as Dorthy in the Wizard of Oz and knowing she wanted to do that for the rest of her life. “Middle of the Night” is the most recent release from her upcoming album, is a song she is extremely proud of as she incorporated elements of storytelling into her lyricism. She’s currency working on a debut album incorporating sounds from pop, country, and nostalgia of the 90’s.

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This week we talked to Leah of New York based indie rock band, OK Cowgirl. Her skills of observation have evolved with her practice of yoga, in tune with her body as well as her notes app. She started playing piano at age 5 but found her passion for songwriting in her teens focusing on storytelling while her band focuses on instrumentation. Their most recent release “Couldn't Save Us From My Gut” was written over the course of many years reflecting on heartbreak and empowering decisions. Since finishing this project her writing has evolved, and we’re excited to hear those changes in new music in the future!

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This week we talk to PA-based rock duo Dan and Joe. They are both fans of the film, Dan an avid collector and fan of film restoration, and Joe a fan of watching the films at Dan's house. They’ve been in every type of band imaginable, from rock to orchestra to march, diversifying their repertoire of musical inspirations. Their most recent release Get Away is a comment on our reliance on technology with sonic inspiration from heavy rock and a fuzz box Dan found in his basement. They’re planning to play more shows throughout the fall and winter. Find more from them @

Today we talked to San Francisco-based band, Polkadot. Their media interests are a venn diagram, not always aligned, but often overlapping. The lore of the band runs deep, with several members of the band playing in others bands before playing in Polkadot. Their most recent release, “... to be crushed,’ covers a wide range of emotional topics from feeling beat to feeling enamored - both synonyms of the word crush. After this summer tour, they are taking a short break to focus on writing and will be back this winter to play more shows.

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This week we welcome back Lucas Carpenter. While he has not yet created mouse cult, he has created a new EP. Art Kids from the Country: Vol 1 a communication of his rural roots and creative passions

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This week we talk to Peyton and Will of Texas based emo band, Drunk UncleTexas-based. The band doesn't currently have any tour plans, but when they do it’ll be in a sick, refurbished coca cola van. Despite their hermit status, the band got together in 2019 and started writing through the pandemic. Their most recent release, “O Brittle Weather,” is intended to evoke the warm and cozy feeling of escaping the cold. They are already working on their next release, intended for early 2025.

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This week we chatted with New York-based Indie-pop artist, Jake Brewer. Inspired by the movie Challengers, he started his tennis career by hitting a pigeon and buying tickets to the US Open. His background in dance aids his music in pop inspirations and stage presence during live performances. His most recent release, “ps for her eyes only” includes an additional track, Sincerely, becoming the namesake of his summer 2024 West Coast tour. He is working on a new project, the theme discussing the most important relationship, the one with yourself.

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This week we talked to New York-based indie/folk artist, Lydia von Hof. She shuts her brain off in two ways, by painting iconic characters and dancing to music she does not normally listen to. Her journey in music started at a young age, playing piano with her grandmother in Ohio. Her recent release “Rules” follows the season of heartbreak, inspired by the experience of a close friend. She is currently working on an indie-folk-rock project, excited to go into the studio and work with a band to develop her music.

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This week we talked to Cooper and Nat of Chicago-based Midwest Shine Punk band, Arcadia Grey. The band works together making music videos with Nat’s direction and Coraline and Cooper’s ability to trust the process. The band has displayed significant growth since the release of  “Konami Code”, their first LP,  taking inspiration from friends and peers alike. Arcadia Grey released their sophomore LP“Casually Crashing” in May of this year, exercising a new format of writing music as a band. They have been playing the new songs live, developing their stage presence and improvisational skills so you never see the same show twice.

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Today we welcome back the jersey-based, pop/alt-rock/punk band, The Break Plans. Since we last talked, the band has included more guitar in their repertoire of sounds - leaning into their early 2000’s pop-punk influences. The band plans to release their EP, "Mistakes are a Friend of Mine" over the course of this year with Their most recent release “Not What I Want” is the song of the summer.

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This week we talked to Michael torres, host of Beers with Bands. He was interested in his local music scene and decided to start booking shows in it, familiarizing himself even further and getting to make connections. After stepping away from his scene for a while, he decided to come back by highlighting local artists with his podcast. Since starting Beers with Bands he’s expanded past his local scene and started talking to people from all parts of the world. He just put on a show to celebrate 5 years of the podcast and will soon be celebrating 200 episodes.

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This week we talked to Philly-based Bipedal Math Rock band, SomaRai. Outside of music, the band participates in community-building activities like going to the gym and Magic the Gathering in the Deli. After trying countless times, they were finally able to record and release their latest single ‘The actor” in a room with nice sound and each other. The band’s writing process is fluid and experimental, making noises, adding riffs, and telling each other that they get it, but it sounds bad. The band is constantly writing together and currently working on an EP which we hope to hear soon. Find more from them @

This week we talked to Deleware based not indie band, Death by Indie. The band is a big fan of food, visiting their local vegetarian restaurants and local parks to eat berries. Death by Indie started after a few jam sessions when Declan realized this musical partnership was the best they’d experienced.  Their most recent album “7 Day Farmers Market” is an ode to a local grocery store that had to close due to corporate greed and gentrification. They are looking forward to playing with Half-Japanese at their yearly festival with new projects in the works.

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This week we talked to the Tulsa-based indie alt-rock band, The Odyssey. While only half the band Frolfs, that doesn't mean they can't hang out on the course and exercise. The band prioritizes the different aspects of making music, between the emotion that drives it and the sound in your ears, collaborating to bring them together. In 2022 the band released their debut album ‘Saturn’, making collaboration a key point of their writing process. Their writing style has developed since then, working together to make music that sounds and feels good, disregarding genre boundaries.

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This week we welcome back Lana Holgado. Since we last talked she’s made her way into a music therapy graduate program and will soon be moving to the UK to be gay. Her most recent release 'archived' has been cooking for quite some time, starting as a song that wasn’t to be released and becoming an homage to a loved one. She’s currently planning on releasing her last single before moving, Chaos Brain—a Song juxtaposed between a manic and depressive episode.

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This week we talked to Atlanta-based Punk-Folk duo, ‘Hey, nothing’. The band’s interest in film started in high school when they were granted the freedom to be the comedy duo nobody else could be. Their debut song together was ‘House of Gold, played at their 6th-grade talent show and they fell in love with playing music. Their recent project ‘Maine’ is a heartwrenching set of songs inspired by the duality of success and hardship. They are currently working on their second LP, developing their sound and leaning into darker more rock tones while keeping their lyricism authentic. Find more from them @

This week we talked to New Jersey-based goth band, Love Letter! The band often gets themselves a sweet treat whether it's an after-practice ice cream or a slightly disgruntled box of munchkins. Each of them started music at around time and eventually ended up playing a show together and just really liking the vibe, soon after Love Letter! Was formed. Their debut EP ‘Mother Superior’ is out now, a mix of vulnerable writing and shoegazy goth ballads and riffs. They're looking to play more shows this summer, utilizing their ability to read a room and make each show unique.

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This week we talked to LA based indie artist, Beeson. A well-rounded individual whose horse girl is justified by the fact that she actually rides horses. Her start in music was as early as her start in talking, singing melodies over the intros to Jewel songs in her mom’s car. Her recent release ‘Gap Teeth’ is the first single in an upcoming EP, written to preserve the feelings at a given point in time. We can look forward to releases over the summer and some live shows in the fall. Find more from her @

This week we welcomed back Sidney Bird, Arizona-basedto artist living out her Cactus Pop-Dream. Since we last talked she did not learn to make pasta, but she got married and her husband likes to cook so she’s doing fine without it.  Her most recent releases have been a glimpse into what is her new era of music. With plans wo release singles throughout the summer we can expect to hear her upcoming album ‘Desert Person’ in September.

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This week we talked to Lukas Hill of Melodic Hardcore band, OK Buddy. HIs passion for music is not to be outdone for his passion for trees, having studied forestry it feels safe to say he's the only person who has told us Latin tree names. His early introduction to the beatles and Pink Floyd sparked his love of music, but it wasnt until after college he decided to start in a band. OK Buddy started in 2022 after Lucas and Dan finally reconnected and wrote the band’s first EP, since then the band has picked up a few new members creating a more collaborative process for their most recent release ‘Strays’. The band is passionate about playing live and hopes to play out of state more as well as have an EP release show in the near future. Find more from them @

This week we talked to New York-basedcross-country indie-folk artist, Mae Krell. Despite being from New York, she finds herself drawn to the outdoors, so much so she took a cross country trip making sure to stop and see the Bison. While she didn’t write much over the course of the trip, at the last possible moment she wrote Apollo's Song, the catalyst for her recently released project. Her debut album, (i think) i might be grown, is a personal journey of healing, inadvertently written over the course of many years. Since first releasing music her confidence in herself and her writing has grown, being able to create music that she is proud of. You can find more from her @

This week we talked to New York-based indie-rock band Cabin Fever. Much like most other kids, the band played soccer from a young age spurring their interest in sports growing up to be avid baseball and basketball fans. Having gone to a school that required music classes they knew they were able to play something when they decided to start playing together in 2020. Their writing process is natural and collaborative, picking out the best of their songs and knowing when to scratch parts that simply would not work. They're currently working on their second EP which will showcase more of the variety in their sound and writing.

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This week we talked to Australia-based, Folk-pop artist Asha Jefferies. While she may seem like a normal person you may think she's insane after seeing her bathroom frog collection. Her Journey started wanting to be a pop star, the likes of Hannah Montana and after attending a folk music festival she realized that’s what she wanted to pursue. Her debut album ‘Ego Ride’ showcases self-discovery and reflection through life, written as it happened in her early 20s. She was able to expand her creative abilities, taking some time to develop an eye for visual communication to properly accompany the album. Find more from her @

This week we talked to New York-based Indie band, Gamblers. While their interests differ between winemaking, pro-wrestling, and film the whole band can agree Jimmy has cool shirts. The band pulls inspiration from 80s commercial vibes, the indie rock zeitgeist, and the full encapsulation of Phil Collins. Their new Record, ‘Pulverizer’, was developed with a new writing process by showing up and waiting for the universe to provide. After a successful release show, they're hoping to get some more shows booked this summer. Find more from them @

This week we talked to Philly-based Emo Post-Hardcore band, Johnny Football Hero. The band has many talents outside of music, from casually speaking Russian to repairing their cars with coat hangers. Emo-Post-HardcoreOver the past few years of releasing music, the band has found a sound that’s their own, incorporating emo and early 2000s posthardcore and steering away from modern baseball. The band is currently working on their next album, incorporating a lot of personal emotions with themes ranging from death to global warming. They’re working on tracking the album now and is anticipated to be released this July. Find more from them @

This week we talked to New York-based artist, Araya. To Araya creating art is about consuming and collaborating and creating a community. Currently, in his Nacho Libre Era, he talks about his philosophy of music and embracing the art you make.  His new album Anime is set to release on June 7th with a hyper-pop sound and a more optimistic view than his prior release. He’s also currently working on his next project ‘Heart’ which will also be the name of his first child. Find more from him @

This week we welcomed back indie-pop artist Sohil. Since we last talked he’s released a lot of music including two songs about his love of and longing for New York.  His recent release influencer touches on wanting someone because of the attention they get and was a good opportunity to showcase some of his new equipment. Find more from him @

This week we talked to Ethan of the Indie dream-pop/rock project Croissant. He’s a big fan of Star Wars noting that the sound design and music caught his attention at a young age, his initial lack of interest in the plot led to him writing reviews for nobody but himself. His interest in music started with a Tom Odell remix and led him to a used macbook that happened to have Logic installed, he soon began to dissect the music he listened to layer by layer. MacbookHe recently released ‘Early Days’ a collection of music from the past few years of Croissant, a personal journey highlighting his growth and embracing life. He’s currently working on a new EP, inspired by dreams, and hopes to have it released by the summer.

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This week we talked to Chaney of Texas-based pop-rock band House Parties. While she isn’t making music she can be found in the lingerie section of the thrift store looking for the perfect piece to incorporate into her grunge Tumblr aesthetic. Inspired by Haley WIlliams of Paramore she dreamed of being a badass woman on stage and that is now exactly what she’s doing. The most recent release ‘Side Effect’ was the first under Equal Vision Records touching on things we feel that don't fall plainly into standard emotions. House Parties is going on tour with Games We Play this spring and is excited to hear the crowd shout stuff back at them, lyrics or otherwise.

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This week we talked to Jim of the Philly-based power pop band, Scoopski. When he isn't playing music or smoking his friends in Mario Kart he’s dadding baby Scoopski. He and his wife met in a band and have been playing music together ever since. After considering a full band and cataloging their friends who were interested in playing with them they finally started playing as a full band in 2023. They’re currently working on an album that will be classic scoopski and evoke all of the emotions. Find more from them @

This week we talked to Spring State, New Jersey-based emo rock band. While some members are more interested in anime than others they all fall somewhere on the weeb scale, with Ed taking the chief weeb position. The band met after AJ moved from Florida and put out an ad…on the internet, looking for bandmates. The band is working on their debut Album hoping to release this spring with a focus on rebirth and growth. They currently have a list of upcoming shows and plan on touring down to Florida so the whole band can finally experience Waffle House. Find more from them @

This week we talked to Nicole Vocalist and Drummer of Nervous Nikki and The Chill Pills. Having a history as a farmer, her home garden is plentiful with herbs for teas and veggies for her husband to can for the winter. Dubbed Nervous Nikki by college friends, the name stuck; the Chill Pills come in the form of her bandmates who help to settle her nerves. The band has been playing together for a couple of years and is getting closer to the more full sound they’ve been working towards. Their latest release ‘Limits’ is the first single off of their upcoming album slated to be released this spring, highlighting coming to terms with life and all of its ups and downs. Find more from them @

This week we talked to Dela-dancecorn band Grandeur. The band is big on collecting Old beer bottles, hepatitis and good times. Kenny and Jesse have been playing in bands since the early 2000s and once Covid hit decided to start Grandeur as way to jam and play lady gaga covers. The band is going into the studio in the spring to record a GaGa EP and over the course of the summer to record their upcoming album. They’re about to embark on the second half of their winter tour, covering the northeast through April. Find more from them @

This week we talked to Virginia-baseded singer/songwriter, Tyler Meachem. Having started cooking without gluten she's started cooking with Jovial and is hoping for a sponsorship for her aspirational cookbook or coalition. After college she left corporate America to pursue what made her happy, creating music and connections in the Richmond scene. Her debut album ‘Into The Fray’ was released in 2022 highlighting a portion of her life that she decided to stamp and finish with an anniversary edition released in 2023. She has a single coming out soon and plans on creating more music, uncertain of its structure but excited to continue writing.

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This week we talked to Emily Reed trans punk space emo artist based in Philly. Her love of legos was rekindled thanks to the batmobile and now she has a Lego for every occasion and no extra shelf space for her girlfriend's figurines. Her start in music is thanks to Weezer and other alt-rock icons of the 90s and early 2000s. Her solo project, How I Became Invisible, is heavily inspired by her life, experiences, and how she relates to the world around her. She’s currently working on her next album with a concept and title tentatively ready and music in the making. Find more fro her @

This week we talked to Mustard’s Human Intern of OnTheShelf. Mustard is a semi-sentient condiment that runs a publication featuring interviews with independent musicians all over the globe. Mustard and their intern, on top of talking about music, experiment with making their own, working with other musicians to produce a variety of anti-capitalist bops. Over the course of 2023 Mustard interviewed 344 independent artists with a unique take on their music, name, or social media habits. They plan on continuing their style while adding a new Late Night style talk show to their rotation of interviews and live-streams. Find more from them @

This week we talked to Philly-based alt-rock band, Valendina. Their hobbies include Fortnite, Cars, and telling everyone about their hobbies, Fortnite and Cars. The band met at the school of rock and after Tommy’s music was too sad for another vocalist Karina took over and Valendina was born. Their most recent EP ‘Soften the Blow’ is the first of a set of sister EPs that focus on communication, relationships, and the human experience. They are currently working on their next EP ‘Sweeten the Victory’ which is planned to be released later this year. Find more from them @

This week we talked to Heavy Metal Chess Club, a midwest-emo band from Philly. Each member of the band has their niche in terms of interests, but they come together to make some sick-ass music. Once Clara and Hammer discovered their mutual love for emo music, Alex and Jackson were invited to the band to bring some different musical perspectives. Their most recent singles give us a taste of what's to come as they continue to develop their skills as writers, musicians, and bandmates. They’re headed into a busy 2024 going to the studio in January and booking shows for their weekends on break. Find more from them @

This week we finally release our long-awaited cookbook. Over the course of the past year we collected, cooked and copy-edited a book full of recipes from both ourselves and friends we’ve had on the podcast.

We're so grateful to everyone who has listened, shared and helped make this cookbook come to life.