The non-stop musical force that is Paula Matthusen and I discuss electro-acoustic music, growing up around radio tech and chamber ensembles, my penchant for yelling at strangers, spacialization, and her pieces Forgiveness Anthems and Lathyrus.

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Coming to you from a very spotty, super compressed (but listenable) Skype feed (apologies!), I speak with Jenny Johnson about the life of a newly minted tenure track professor (assistant professor of composition and theory at Wellesley College). We also discuss her chamber pop song “Dollar Beers,” and her on-again-off-again gigs as drummer/percussionist for the band Magnetic Island and the power duo Winter Company (with Paula Matthusen).

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I’m joined by Clara Latham and her friend, Mike, who, among many other musical ventures, form part of the group Starring. We discuss the well-worn of path of musicians who move through “music schools” and into the broader indie pop world, creating music whether or not under the influence of money, an evening in the embrace of a Four Loko “triple threat,” all while never once mentioning Radiohead.

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At the tail end of the production for her third album, I speak with Mary Bragg about working with the producer Lee Alexander (Norah Jones, Amos Lee), the joys of Kickstarter and cooking for your fans, and Type A techniques for organizing the life of a singer-songwriter. Includes exclusive excerpts from the as-yet untitled album! Look for it come May 2011.

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Featuring David Nelson: trombonist who’s stomping grounds include Broadway and on Sufjan Stevens’ lastest album. He’s also an active composer and songwriter. We discuss serendipitous dwellings, West Side Story, A Soldier’s Tale, Louis Andriessen as muse, and battling gearheaditis.

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I speak with Alexander Ness and Jim Altieri.  We discuss their work as part of the band Glissando bin Laden along with their individual compositions.  We also talk about the use of video in live (or recorded) performances and the joy of baffling New York Times music critic Anthony Tommasini. Forgive my hoarseness and occasional cough as I’m operating a bit under the weather in this one.

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Welcome to the inaugural podcast. My first interview features Matthew Quayle, composer and pianist. We discuss his current projects — including a woodwind trio and a set of cabaret-style songs — along with pieces from the recent and distant past.  Topics include the primacy of the performer in his music and the role of incorporating a variety of historical, modern, classical, and vernacular styles.

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