Everyday Joy & Pain: Recent Episodes
Steve Schroeder
Steve Schroeder shares a song, some backstory, some feelings every dang day. http://www.instagram/everydayjoyandpain
What happens after when your first album spawns one of the most iconic hit songs of the 90s? That’s what we talk about today with the legendary NYC sample based dance music and beyond group Deee-Lite
From the late 70s post punk art school scene out of Leeds (that was already happening around Gang of Four and the Mekons) Delta 5 emerged with their dual bass sound, unique vocals of sung chant disaffected powerful cheekiness.
The band fronted by Chris Cohen (Deerhoof, Curtains, Chris Cohen) and Nedelle Torrisi (Nedelle, Nedelle Torrisi) with a unique sound and a penchant for horse thievery.
Norfolk, VA rapper who made himself known with notable verses on the first Clipse album and his song on the Neptunes comp. Clones. He was a vital part of the Star Trak universe and had two record deals (one with Def Jam and one with Interscope) and had two albums almost come out but get shelved. A tale as old as time in the music industry.
Joe Goddard (Hot Chip) and Raf Rundell’s 2 Bears make a super unique combo of genres from 2 step to rave to tropical chill and bring self awareness and thoughtful feeling to some genres where that can be missing
Formed in 1979 by 4 sisters in the South Bronx, ESG is one of the most influential and still relevant artists of the last 50 years. With their focus on percussion and bass lines plus catchy chanted vocals ESG were major architects for the sound of 2020
Victoria, BC, Canada based project of passionate electro pop from a leather daddy became the focus of mine and a friend groups ultimate jam fixation for a period.
This disco group who can be seen riding on the backs of jumping orca whales on the Big Fun album cover contains a future Grammy Best New Artist winner and has a somewhat unusual origin story.
This somewhat anonymous smooth jazz musician’s catalog has maybe been sampled in more hip hop songs than any other artist. He was discovered by Quincy Jones and wrote an iconic tv show theme.
MySpace buzz band of 2006 the Tampa Bay based lesbian Christian rappers made waves with their energetic live shows disappeared after being one of the most talked about new acts for a couple years.
One of the largest voices of African reggae, this artist from the Ivory Coast has consistently been political, spiritual, and looking to bring peace through music for almost 40 years
Influential hip hop and beyond producer/DJ/musician who changed the palette of hip hop with his wide range of source material for De La Soul’s 3 Feet High and Rising and was the main creative force beyond Gravediggaz, Handsome Boy Modeling School and A Prince Among Thieves.
Phil Elverum has described Orange as “an actual real-life lounging grass-grove poet who went on to write the best songs in human history.”
Joy Electric is the long running project of Ronnie Martin. It is also these things: fantastical, synth pop, Christian.
The iconic Jamaican American model/actress/musician created her own sound in the early 80s with Sky & Robbie that brought together new wave, reggae, post punk, r&b and more
Japanese folk rock band whose short lifespan of activity is overshadowed by its powerful influence. Rolling Stone called their album Kazemachi Roman the greatest Japanese album of all time. They were the first Japanese rock band to sing in Japanese and to not cover western songs.
Afrobeat and Afro-funk from the early 70s led by Joni Haastruup who was known as Soul Brother #1 of Nigeria. He played in Ginger Baker’s band, he sang on the formative 60s Afro-beat album Super Afro Soul by OJ Ekemode and his Modern Aces. He brought protest, politics, and awareness to Afrobeat.
We listen to a 17 minute song by Chilean-German iconic DJ and minimal techno producer, Ricardo Villalobos. Children’s voices powerful pierce the persistent rhythm in this hypnotic grid of a song
DJ Screw was creator and center of the the chopped and screwed sound and scene and a big player in the greater Houston rap scene. George Floyd aka Big Floyd was a rapper and member of the S.U.C. (Screwed Up Click) in the late 90s. George Floyd was murdered by police in Minneapolis in 2020.
The voice of New Jack Swing, Teddy Riley’s secret weapon, the person who Pharrell credits with teaching him to write songs. Tammy Lucas is an under appreciated rnb force.
Pioneering graffiti artist/crucial voice in early hip hop/performance artist/Afro-futurist — so many ways to label this person/being who seemingly radiated art at all times.
They created their own language of love. Ha. It’s true though, bringing more openness to sounds and styles than the punk rock status quo could fathom. Each song a blast of original thought. They modeled radical love and deep thought through music and their unique approach to the world and each other.
An influential radio DJ in the 70s who was also a founder and member of the Infinite Space collective was an early leader in combining electronics and jazz.
The Swamp Boogie Queen herself! Louisiana pianist who played professionally since the age of 13, toured for years with Otis Redding, and had a blues boogie renaissance in the 80s.
A band/project that put out one great album in 2007 of angular groove oriented cool ass dance rock. Where oh where dude White Williams go?
Southern California prognosticators of a return to the pearl button and mushroom button sounds and feelings of the late 60s and early 70s. They brought back kaleidoscopic country in the early 2000s.
Using a Commodore Amiga plus a million different things and many many years to put together albums Max Tundra makes maximalimist computer pop music unlike anyone else ever. We focus on an album from 2002 that still feels ahead of its time.”
Born and raised in Queens this new artist with one brilliant release under their belt of gorgeous songs placed in a natural world through the use of field recordings is the kind of music you can leave on repeat for hours.
With a yodel that will make the coyotes crazy and a mustache you could shine your shoes with Slim Whitman was a singular unique voice and with unique career for more than 50 years.
Long running ambient music artist from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Jason Morgan albums generally have a theme like sky, or thermodynamics or submarines and he does an amazing job of making music the breathes and exist or maybe it’s a machine. Either way, close your eyes and breath. Also he played drums in Destroyer.
Australian trio with one unique album of sibling harmonies, angular guitar parts and twee in the good way imagery. Now Martha from Otouto has a pop career under the project name Banofee
Legendary English artist/songwriter/producer who wrote “What’s so Funny About Peace Love and Understanding”, produced the first 5 Elvis Costello albums plus so many more and had his own amazing career. The basher!
South African breakthrough star of music, television, fashion, poetry is combining traditional language and fashion with the most modern and futuristic music and fashion. She is a global phenomenon.
The disco project led by the insanely influential and multi talented Arthur Russell gives us the joy of horns and optimism and dance music.
The song that launched Bad Boy Records and sets the stage for Puff Daddy and Notorious B.I.G. Is to rule the world belongs to a guy called Craig Mack?
Japanese pop band that was the epitome of the Shibuya-kei sound had a amazing career that spanned 20 years and 13 albums. It’s a wild ride with a big sound.
A story about serendipitously encountering this 90s experimental art rock post rock space rock prog whatever band at a ska show.
Ascendant independent Houston rapper with the deep voice, dope videos, and exciting community of collaborators around him (his wife Fat, his producer Nell).
French Canadian sisters whose casual harmonies and wry, smart, and beautiful songs caught they ears of the likes of Linda Ronstadt and Emmylou Harris
Oakland based political rap group’s 2001 album is like a backyard bbq where the flag ends up on the grill. Boots Riley has been so influential and ahead of his time for almost 30 years.
A short lived side project from 90s alternative rock stalwarts provides us with a classic song.