The Enclosed Instruction Book: Recent Episodes
The Enclosed Instruction Book
The Enclosed Instruction Book is a podcast hosted by Martin Bonica which spotlights independent artists and musicians, primarily in the DC metro area.
This week's episode was recorded on-location at a Woodgrove concert at Crooked Run Brewery in Sterling, VA, on April 20, 2018, at which the band released their inaugural EP "squintyoureyesandseegod". In addition to highlights from their set, we sat down with (at least) Jared and Logan, discussing the band's origins, interpersonal dynamic, career decisions, business challenges, and long-term goals.
Songs included:
Home Is Where You Die
Green-Eyed Ghost
Born a Wolf
Accidental Meth
The Waters Rise
Woodgrove:
https://woodgrove.bandcamp.com
We speak to Jess and Gregory of The Rightly So, a Buffalo-based acoustic duo finishing up a months-long tour of the United States. Topics include organizing and undertaking a DIY tour, songwriting, making connections, and structuring setlists to make a good first impression, as well as The Rightly So's musical influences and future goals.
The Rightly So
https://www.therightlyso.com
Jess Chizuk
https://jesschizukmusic.com
Zeis and the Muckrakers
https://www.facebook.com/zeisandthemuckrakers/
A conversation between Martin and co-hosts Hannah Landsberger and Dylan Hares about how the way we consume music over the past twenty years has changed, and how that has affected the way the music industry works. Topics discussed include distribution platforms, means of revenue generation, the growing importance of touring, the threat of piracy, and the implications of music ownership becoming ephemeral in the era of streaming and cloud storage.
A more technology-centric episode in which Martin, alongside cohosts Dylan Hares and Jay Elliott, discuss the changing role of the personal computer and how it relates to artists, professionals, and the average consumer. We discuss the evolving role of the PC, and the blurred lines between a PC and a dedicated hardware appliance.
This week we speak to Shawn Hatfield, owner of Groove Music Studio and Appalachian Groove Records, based out of Leesburg, VA. A far-ranging conversation ensued touching on the state of music venues in Leesburg, starting a music business, advice for first-time audio engineers and music entrepreneurs, and how Groove got off the ground.
Groove Studio:
https://groovemusiclessonsrecording.com
Appalachian Groove Records:
https://appalachiangrooverecords.com
This week we spoke with Bryan Fountain, a rapper, singer-songwriter, and electronic producer currently in Richmond, VA. We talked about his evolving songwriting style and his more recent exploration into melodic synthpop, his collaborators (including his other project Sweater Boyz), experiences in his life that influenced his music, his use of different online music platforms, and how he reconciles his evolving aesthetic and increasingly dynamic musical styles while maintaining a consistent image and brand.
Bryan Fountain's music:
https://soundcloud.com/bryan-fountain
https://soundcloud.com/sweater-boyz
This week we spoke to Kate Brunotts, a local singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and producer in Ashburn, VA. Kate has been playing at local venues for the past few years, and also has a presence on YouTube. Kate discusses starting a musical career on an online platform, as well as the kind of all-inclusive shows she performs in Leesburg, her musical influences, her recent branching out into electronic music, and future aspirations as a musician and humanitarian.
Songs Included:
Dead Petals
Withdraw
More Room
YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/user/thebeanieful
Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/katebrunotts/
SoundCloud:
https://soundcloud.com/thebeanieful
This week we spoke to Viral Dalal, a writer and software engineer in Loudoun County. Earlier this year, Viral released his first book; a personal account of his experience as a survivor of the historic 7.7 magnitude earthquake which struck Bhuj, India, on January 26, 2001. We discussed some of his life leading up to the event, the means by which he survived the disaster and coped with the aftermath, and the process of writing, editing, and releasing a book as a self-published independent author.
Viral Dalal's websites:
www.viraldalal.com www.facebook.com/ViralDalalLive www.twitter.com/ViralDalalLive.
This week we spoke to graphic artist Kelley Wills, a prolific creator of logos, flyers through her design firm Brain Flower Designs. We discussed the arts community of her home base of Harper's Ferry, WV, as well as the beginnings of her career in Charleston, SC. We also touched on the financial side of being a graphic artist, the tools she uses to create her flyers, and working with farms.
Brain Flower Designs:
http://www.kelleywills.com
https://www.instagram.com/brainflowerdesigns/
https://www.facebook.com/brainflowerdesigns/
This week we met up with Leesburg indie-rock band Kid Brother outside their rehearsal space. We discussed the band's history, the changing roles of the arts community in Leesburg and Ashburn, Christian's experience growing up as a musician in Baltimore, handling press contacts (including recently being featured in the Loudoun Times-Mirror), booking, and their forthcoming tour. They also performed an acoustic rendition of their song "Pastels".
Songs included:
Kid Brother - Good News
Kid Brother - Baltimore Street Rat
Kid Brother - Pastels (exclusive live performance)
Kid Brother's outlets:
https://www.kidbrothermusic.com
https://www.facebook.com/kidbrother/
https://kidbrotherva.bandcamp.com
Other press appearances:http://www.loudountimes.com/news/article/northern_virginia_band_takes_local_music_scene_by_storm432
This week, we're joined by Jimmy Romero, a prolific DIY artist from Sterling, frontman of solo projects Redephant and Broken Cartridge and member of bands Cazador and SCARY MERCEDES. We discussed recording equipment, the effect of using different tools on the artistic process, our experiences self-producing recordings, and influences.
Jimmy's projects:
https://redephant.bandcamp.com
https://brokencartridge.bandcamp.com
https://scarymercedes.bandcamp.com
https://cazadorband.bandcamp.com
Songs included:
Broken Cartridge - Not Even Hackers Use The Turbo Button
Devon Jones/Oh! My Glory Days - Kitten and Okra
Orange Marmalade - Who Cakes
Broken Cartridge - Desert Waves
Brett Berman and Danny Shyti - (selections from) Soul Confinement
SCARY MERCEDES - (selections from) Don't Get Your Hands Too Dirty, Put The Camera Down, Lost Cosmonaut, Empire Shock
Orange Marmalade - (selections from) Marmalade Can Jam
Cazador - Tragedy
Jimmy Romero - Excite
Redephant - Just There
Redephant - As If Nothing
Redephant - (Paragon of) Guilt
Redephant - Old Friend
This week we met up with indie rock band Milo In The Doldrums at their Fairfax City rehearsal space, and discussed their studio work, history and shifting lineups, the importance of fast-paced recording and releases, lessons learned from working at music venues, the decision-making process behind releasing music on streaming platforms, and long-term career goals. Present was Rob Mays, Reis Debruyne, Richard Smith, new drummer Ryan Burke, and touring bassist Ryan Wisgerhof.
Milo in the Doldrums online:
https://milointhedoldrums.com
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=791495824283749
https://milointhedoldrums.bandcamp.com
http://instagram.com/milointhedoldrumsmusic
This week we spoke to theatre artist Rebecca Wahls, a director in the DC area who most recently directed Dark Times at Grimesville High as part of the 2016 Capitol Fringe Festival. We discussed her upcoming effort We Found the Wild Things, the debut production from the Who What Where Theater Company, of which she is a founding member. Also discussed: her work with the Acting For Young People organization, the ability of theater companies in DC to adapt to current events and work outside of a set season schedule, her background as a graduate of George Mason University's theatre program, the challenges of starting a theatre company, and the importance of diverse backgrounds in theatre organizations.
Rebecca Wahls:
http://www.rebeccawahls.com
Who What Where Theater Company:
http://whowhatwheretheaterco.org
https://www.facebook.com/wwwtheatercompany
Acting for Young People:
http://www.afyp.org
This week we spoke with Jason Thompson, a double bass player currently playing in the Colorado Springs Philharmonic. We discussed the business aspects of working as a classical musician, including freelancing, auditioning, and moving from orchestra to orchestra, as well as logistical challenges of rehearsing and instrument care. We also touched on the crossover between progressive metal and symphonic music, the social aspect of being a professional music, and double bass technique.
Songs included:
Excerpt from Brahms Symphony No. 2, 1st Movement (performed by Jason Thompson)
orange marmalade by SCARY MERCEDES (featuring Jason Thompson, Jimmy Romero, and Danny Shyti)
Bourees from Cello Suite No. 3 by J.S. Bach (performed by Jason Thompson)
The Uganda-Baltimore Alliance:
http://tubaforyouth.org
This week we spoke to Melanie Shark, a DC-area singer-songwriter who also records, produces, and distributes her own material both as a solo artist and a member of the duo Paradeux. We discussed her approach to songwriting, arranging, and DIY recording, as well as music distribution and ways to monetize music.
Songs included:
Melanie Shark - Shine
Paradeux - Just as Ours
Melanie Shark - Everything You Said
Paradeux - Reveuse Courageuse
Melanie Shark and Paradeux's websites:
https://melanieshark.bandcamp.com
https://paradeux.bandcamp.com
This week we spoke to Kevin Knight, a prolific singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and producer based out of northern Virginia. We discussed his approach to songwriting and production, experiments with tape and studio technology, musical influences (both traditional and avant garde), and dogs.
Songs included:
Affirmations
Listening
Forgotten World/Some Kind of Bird
Lonesome Howl
Kevin Knight's bandcamp:
https://nevinkight.bandcamp.com
For this week's episode, we travel to Richmond, VA to meet returning guest Devon Jones and longtime collaborator first-time guest Brett Berman. We discuss playing and recording in Richmond, ways to focus on creative work, shifting between different genres, personal motivations behind songs, and Brett's amazing house.
We also debut previously-unreleased material from Brett and Devon.
Songs included:
Pain Points - Little Nothing
Brett Berman and Matt Borchert - whatever you want to do
Cazador - Cerveza
Comaboo - Morning Light
Jenson Dove - Truth Reversed
Devon Jones' musical projects:
https://soundcloud.com/comaboorva
https://painpoints.bandcamp.com
https://soundcloud.com/gutterhome
https://soundcloud.com/jenson-dove
Brett Berman's musical projects:
https://soundcloud.com/brettberman
https://brettberman.bandcamp.com
https://cazadorband.bandcamp.com
This week's episode features Loudoun County artist Alison Kurtz, the featured artist this March at King Street Coffee in Leesburg. She discusses the evolving arts community in western Northern Virginia, the challenges faced by professional painters, the divide between the visual and musical arts communities, and the goal of making art as accessible and inclusive as possible.
Alison Kurtz's work can be found at:
https://www.instagram.com/streetlamporange/
This week's episode features Jared Hall of the self-styled "Paxil Pop" music project Woodgrove, ouwoodgrove.bandcamp.comt of Western Loudoun. Jared discusses the transition from his previous group, Atoka Chase, as well as his creative process as a solo artist, challenges he faces working in Loudoun, and the tools he uses as a DIY musician.
Songs included:
Woodgrove - Broken Glass (Oracular Rhythm: Repetitive Hymn)
Woodgrove - Something Stolen
Woodgrove - Green Eyed Ghost
Woodgrove's media outlets:
https://woodgrove.bandcamp.com
https://www.facebook.com/justwoodgrove
https://justwoodgrove.tumblr.com/
https://soundcloud.com/justwoodgrove
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_htkn0GGtimHwNaUZF9S2A
On March 5, 2016, a concert took place at Epicure Cafe in the city of Fairfax, Virginia, presented by Sarah A. Foote and Ryan Durbin, featuring original music performed by intelligient, creative, and reflective young women.
This week's episode features highlights of the show, recorded by Martin and hosted by Sarah Foote. A Q/A session with the artist is also included.
Songs included:
Helen Aire:
Stayed
Share Today
Matches
Graypea (Emily McGrath):
Little Old Big Me
What You Ordered
Caroline Weinroth (Cinema Heats):
If You Go
Homework
Daydreaming
Birds For Eyes (Casey Meyer):
Blue
No Way To Be
Lyndsay Mikalauskas (Lynds Mika):
Contradictory Heart
Perpetual
Slaves to the Negatives
Rachel Kline:
Brittani's Anthem
It's Not You It's Me
The performers' music:
Lyndsay: http://lyndsmika.bandcamp.com/
Rachel: http://rachelkline.bandcamp.com/
Emily: https://soundcloud.com/graypeamusic
Helen: https://soundcloud.com/helen-marie-2
Casey: https://www.facebook.com/birdsforeyes
Caroline: https://soundcloud.com/carolineweinroth
This week's episode features the entirety of Woodbridge, VA-area punk outfit Fake Bodies, who discusses their latest release, "Sad Tales of a Trapezoid", their approach to songwriting, and the unique challenges faced by a young DIY punk band in Woodbridge.
Songs included:
Fake Bodies - Sad Tales of a Trapezoid
Fake Bodies - Stupidity
Fake Bodies - What Now
Fake Bodies' website:
https://fakebodies.bandcamp.com/
This week's episode features Drew Hyde, Doug Finch, Connor Doyle, and Jesse Harman of Fairfax County indie rock band Walkabout. The band discusses their influences, and their approach to songwriting and performing. Other topics touched upon include the musical community at George Mason University, the band's preferred frequency of rehearsals, and future plans for recording and performing. Selections off of their current release "It's All Make Believe" and upcoming EP "Coyote Beach Club" are played and discussed.
Songs included:
Walkabout - Take Any Rug in the House
Walkabout - Subway Walls
Walkabout - A Big American
Walkabout's bandcamp:
https://walkaboutva.bandcamp.com/
This week's episode features Felix Donate-Perez of Foster Carrots, which operates out of Arlington, VA and Kalamazoo, Michigan. The interview, conducted remotely from Kalamazoo, touches on Felix's approach to songwriting, musical and lyrical composition, recording techniques, influences, and future goals for Foster Carrots.
Songs included:
Foster Carrots - ghost party
Foster Carrots - drowning
Skinky - urgency
Foster Carrots - sixteen
Foster Carrots' bandcamp:
https://fostercarrots.bandcamp.com/
This week's episode features Derek Zuk, a singer-songwriter-guitarist-producer operating primarily out of Richmond, Virginia - although this interview is conducted via linkup from Austin, Texas. Derek discusses songs off his latest LP, "Sick", as well as the EP that preceded it, "Facing the Pinky Gray Mirror"; he goes into detail about his songwriting approach, his DIY recording methods, his motivation for making music, and the contrast between living in Austin and Richmond.
Songs included:
Derek Zuk - World
Derek Zuk - Pink Mirror
Derek Zuk - Disappear/Dead End
Derek Zuk's bandcamp:
https://derekzuk.bandcamp.com/
This week's episode features Dan Abh, the drummer for Alexandria-area band Oklahoma Car Crash, prolific recording engineer and producer for many DC-area artists, as well as the Community Coordinator for Convergence.
He discusses his experiences recording, playing, and booking shows in the DC area in the past ten years, as well as his songwriting and production methods, and gives us a sneak peek at Oklahoma Car Crash's upcoming album "Sunset Skin" as well as a previously-unreleased mix of Hayden Arp and Ella Sophia's cover of Rebecca vs Mexico's "Flashlights".
Song's included:
Oklahoma Car Crash - Laundry
Oklahoma Car Crash - Somewhere Beautiful
Hayden Arp & Ella Sophia - Flashlights (alternate mix)
Oklahoma Car Crash - The Worst Nights
Oklahoma Car Crash's Bandcamp:
https://okcarcrash.bandcamp.com/
The Lab All Ages' website:
http://ourconvergence.org/arts/lab-all-ages
This week's episode features Maya Renfro and Jared Garland of the Western Loudoun folk duo Atoka Chase. The pair discuss their development as musicians, their influences, songwriting methodology, and approach to recording. Songs off their latest LP, "Grief, Sir, is the Shadow's Companion", are highlighted, as well as Renfro's work with Knife Dikes and as a solo artist.
Songs included:
Atoka Chase - Tick Tock
Atoka Chase - My Father
Knife Dikes - The Lockett
Maya Renfro - Still of an Interview with D.F.W.
Atoka Chase - Black Pot
Atoka Chase's bandcamp:
https://atokachase.bandcamp.com/
Atoka Chase's website:
http://atokachase.com/
Chris Cassaday, Adam Bush, and Sean Moran are this week's guests, discussing their Arlington, VA-based rock band Micro Massive. The group discusses their influences, composing style, goals and challenges.
Songs included (as written for Micro Massive and performed by Chris Cassaday):
Chris Cassaday - Invisible Man
Chris Cassaday - Harder the Climb
Chris Cassaday - Mountain Time
Micro Massive's Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/micromassiveband
This week's episode features the prolific drummer Danny Shyti, who in this episode discusses his work with the DC-area experimental jazz outfit The Shadow Girl Sound Collective, as well as Northern Virginia-area folk band Atoka Chase, as well as NoVA/Richmond electronic act Cave Quest.
Songs include:
The Shadow Girl Sound Collective - Conviction
The Shadow Girl Sound Collective - Hands Up/Psychic Moose
The Shadow Girl Sound Collective - Politics
Atoka Chase - Abraham
Atoka Chase - Jealousy
Cave Quest - Untitled
Shadow Girl Sound Collective's website:
https://www.facebook.com/shadowgirlsoundcollective
Atoka Chase's website:
https://atokachase.bandcamp.com/
The show's second season begins with an in-the-field interview with Richmond-area singer-songwriter-guitarist-producer Vince Klug of Vince Kane & The Incurables. Vince discusses his songwriting, musical influences, and business challenges faced by DIY artists in Richmond and elsewhere.
Songs included:
Vince Kane & The Incurables - Despair
Vince Kane & The Incurables - Time
Vince Kane & The Incurables - Afraid
Vince Kane & The Incurables' Website:
http://vincekane.com/
This week's guest is Silver Spring-area singer-songwriter-producer Alex Cloud, frontman of rEGRETS. Alex discusses the recording and development of his latest EP, "Root", as well as its precursor "Home Alone", in addition to performing recitations of his short stories and poems "To My Pen", "Jay", and exerpts of "The Lovely Fields".
Songs included:
rEGRETS - Colors
rEGRETS - Collie
rEGRETS - A Place In The Woods
Alex Cloud's website:
http://www.femadeathcamp666.com/
rEGRETS' bandcamp:
http://egrets.bandcamp.com
This week's guest is DC and Boston-based singer-songwriter Ella Boisonnault, who discusses her solo project Lady Pills, as well as her role as keyboardist and co-vocalist for Boston band Birthday Boy. Selections are played from Lady Pills' "Limerence" EP and Birthday Boy's "St. Freud" LP, and Ella discusses her songwriting approach and background as a music student and performing artist.
Songs included:
Lady Pills - First Time
Lady Pills - Sleepovers and Definitions
Birthday Boy - Flame
Lady Pills - Flicker
Lady Pills' website:
https://ladypillsmusic.bandcamp.com/
Birthday Boy's website:
https://birthdayboyma.bandcamp.com/
This week's guest is Fairfax-area singer-songwriter-guitarist-producer Eddie Fuentes, frontman of progressive rock band I Am The Kaleidoscope as well as his solo project, The Red Tree. Eddie discusses his development as a musician, his approach to songwriting, and how he manages his career as a DIY artist; he also performs an exclusive in-studio rendition of "Seeing, Reversed".
**Songs included:
The Red Tree - Seeing, Reversed (live)**
The Red Tree - Carousel
I Am The Kaleidocope - S.F.T.
The Red Tree - Ojos
The Red Tree's websites:
https://www.reverbnation.com/theredtree
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwjbSxQBM6lj2S6qaWscHUQ
I Am The Kaleidoscope's website:
https://iamthekaleidoscope.bandcamp.com/
https://www.reverbnation.com/iamthekaleidoscope
This week's guest is New Orleans-area hip-hop artist and producer Matt Jackson, frontman of Lord Slime, as well as occaisional score composer and frontman of the Herndon-area group The Landing Party. Matt discusses his work as Lord Slime, including some new tracks as well as some material off of his "R.U. Slime Vol. I" album, his score and production work in New Orleans, and The Landing Party. (The Landing Party drummer Ethan Andrew and keyboardist Martin Bonica also appear serendipitously.)
Songs included:
Lord Slime - You Nork
Lord Slime - Social Butterflies
Matt Jackson - Steel Drums #2
The Landing Party - Reality
The Landing Pary - Pivot
Lord Slime - Small Fries
Lord Slime's websites:
https://lordslime.bandcamp.com/
https://soundcloud.com/lordslime/
The Landing Party's website:
https://thelandingparty.bandcamp.com/
Sterling/Richmond-area folk musician Devon Jones discusses his current project, "Jenson Dove", as well as his former project "Oh! My Glory Days".
Songs included:
Jenson Dove - Tired Bones
Jenson Dove - Level 5 Rouge
Oh! My Glory Days - Something Else
Oh! My Glory Days - What A Waste of Time
Jenson Dove - Down Here I Know
Jenson Dove's website:
https://soundcloud.com/jenson-dove
This week's guest is Falls Church-area singer-songwriter Rachel Kline, who discusses her new EP, "Manic Pixie Dream Girl", as well as her previous release, "Demons".
Songs included:
Rachel Kline - Demons
Rachel Kline - Holy War
Rachel Kline - Manic Pixie Dream Girl
Rachel Kline's website
http://rachelkline.bandcamp.com/
DJ Trammel, guitarist/vocalist/songwriter of Alexandria/Herndon-area bands Cape Farewell and Be Still, Cody, discusses the bands' latest releases - "New Roofs" and "The Mariner", respectively.
Songs included:
Cape Farewell - A Whole Year In An Afternoon
Cape Farewell - North Northeast
Be Still, Cody - Everyone's Everyone
Be Still, Cody - Dearly Dead
Cape Farewell - Sin-Eater
Cape Farewell's website:
http://capefarewell.bandcamp.com/
Be Still, Cody's website:
http://bestillcody.bandcamp.com/
A special linkup with Paul Millar at his BUG SOUND facility in Austin, Texas. Paul discusses the variety of groups in Austin and elsewhere in which he is involved, including his solo effort SLUGBUG, the Pataphyics, the Tucker A&M Perry Foundation, and BOX TEAM. Martin also pays a special tribute to his favorite songs about living near some blinking lights.
Songs included:
SLUGBUG - Nervous Man Music
The Tucker A&M Perry Foundation - Perfect Salsa
SLUGBUG - 0xBADF00D
Pataphysics - Shock Shock
BOX TEAM - MINIATURE SUBWAY ADVENTURE
SCARY MERCEDES - Shortwave Mystery/Bars & Tone
SLUGBUG - Computers Again
SLUGBUG's website:
https://slugbug.bandcamp.com/
Pataphysics' website:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Pataphysics/21087891307?fref=ts
Ethan Andrew, frontman and often sole proprietor of the Herndon indie-rock outfit Lines&Lies, appears to discuss his new album "All the Pictures of You with Arms Crossed", and his other musical projects.
Songs included:
Lines&Lies - Brand New Astronaut Tattoo
Lines&Lies - House Burning
Lines&Lies - Joysucker
Cape Farewell - A Whole Year In An Afternoon
Lines&Lies' website:
https://lineslies.bandcamp.com/
Cape Farewell's website:
https://capefarewell.bandcamp.com/
The Enclosed Instruction Book's debut features an interview with Shaun Ahmadpour of Echo, who discusses his latest album, "greyscale // all good things wild and free".
Songs included:
Echo - Sorry (Try Again)
Echo - Virginia Sends Her Love
Echo - TechnibeatEcho's website:
http://echodc.bandcamp.com/