Crossing time zones and genres with Michael Botte

Michael Botte

Over his lengthy musical career, Michael Botte has seen it all and played it all, and in this interview, he shares it all—how it started, how it changed and how he feels to be a recent International Singer Songwriter Association award-winner for Male Emerging Artist of the Year.

Michael goes into his recent single release, “Dance With Your Shadow” and the upbeat reggae style that he got to incorporate. We talk about the genre-jumping he’s done and how he views his own sound. We learn how he met Bob Beals of Sound Foundation Studios and the great working relationship they’ve enjoyed over the years.

Michael’s merch bears the word, “#musicismytherapy” and he shares how this part of his life has helped him with his mental health and the impact he hopes to make through his music.

Closing out the episode is Michael’s single, “Dance With Your Shadow.”

From debut albums to music production—Sarah Krohn shares her journey

After hearing “A Part of Me” by Philadelphia-based singer-songwriter Sarah Krohn, I knew this was an artist to have on the show. So, here we go! Sarah and I talk about how she's grown as a musician from her debut album “81” at age 14 to her most recent single, “Sanguine in Blue,” released last December.

“A Part of Me” shares the theme of growing up and leaving home, which ties into her recent move to college in Ohio. We also talk about her recent work with friend and fellow musician Dani Jimenez and her band, Almost Tuesday.

Going to the School of Rock has offered Sarah a lot of opportunities beyond the classroom—including performing at Lollpalooza and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and she tells all about these experiences. She also goes into what she learned at School of Rock and how she's continued her musical education since.

Afterward, enjoy two of Sarah's songs—“A Part of Me” and “Stardust,” which is from her debut album.

WALLIS talks music videos in the pandemic and the Philly art scene

In this episode, 15 year-old-WALLIS, a singer/songwriter from Philadelphia, talks about how she continued to create and perform during 2020 by writing songs with her father. Her debut single, “Lonely Christmas,” embodies the complexity of the season as people find new ways to be together while staying physically apart.

WALLIS also talks about working with her father on the song, as well as the music video she made with her family and how they worked within the limits brought on by the pandemic. Her song and the music video have been a tremendous success, earning thousands of streams and over 1 million views.

WALLIS has been active in the Philly art scene through her music as well as acting, and she shares some of her experience, including being part of a show at the Walnut Street Theater.

Following this, enjoy Wallis' debut single, “Lonely Christmas.”

Boston singer-songwriter shares her gig stories, plus an in-depth look at Keystone Comic-Con

 Boston-based singer-songwriter Maddy Roop chats with me at the Real School of Music about her debut album, “Rings,” which spanned a three-year period. She also talks about some of the many shows she's played in the Boston area and how it felt to go from weekday to weekend gigs, as well as the big Halloween one she has planned. 

Keystone Comic-Con Event Director MK Goodwin and I talk about this event's second year and what fans can look forward to. We look at the big names who will be making an appearance, changes from last year, and the planning that goes into making this amazing convention happen.

And following this, it's “Can't Get Over You,” from Jennifer Mlott, a past guest of the show. This new song has a beautiful opening and the vocals are amazing.

Jan. 19, 2019: Fact Pattern/Avi Wisnia

Fact Pattern

 On this week's episode of Citywide Blackout, I sit down with Raanan Bozzio, drummer of the band http://www.fact-pattern.com/. This LA-based band is now in its third year and recently released a new single, “A Form To Be.” We talk movies, music, how the band first formed and their plans for 2019.

Later, Philadelphia-based singer-songwriter Avi Wisnia and I hang out at The Twisted Tail to talk about his plans in the new year, and also how he came to Philly and his grandfather's influence on him as a person and his music.

Avi Wisnia

You can follow the show on Facebook by searching for Citywide Blackout, and on Twitter and Instagram under citywidemax.






And this week I'm excited to announce that Citywide has launched its own Patreon site. Search for Citywide Blackout and become a supporter of the show. Every little bit helps. Big thanks go to Matt Martino, our first Patron.

Philadelphia Asian American Film Festival Podcast

One of the many post-film Q&A sessions of PAAFF

Here is the Citywide Blackout podcast from the annual Philadelphia Asian American Film Festival. I had the chance to attend the festival and speak to some of the amazing creatives who brought there drama, horror, documentary, comedy, and much more to the big screen. For this podcast, I spoke to:

-Alex Chu, writer and director of “For Izzy”

-Brett Kodama, writer and director of “Heartseeker” 

-Isaac Ho'op'i, subject of the documentary “Corridor Four”

-Pratima Agrawal, a Philadelphia-based performing artist who wrote, directed, and performed “Voided”

-Jun Stinson, writer and director of the documentary “Futbolistas 4 Life”

I want to offer my thanks to Rob Buscher, the festival director, for allowing me to cover the event and for his help with the interviews.

Nov. 15, 2018: Chris Ruediger/Lucie Contente/For Izzy/Suzanne Gordon

Chris Ruediger, formerly of Boston, opens the show with a look at his time as a student in Nashville writing music and playing shows. He's got a lot of stories of the shows he's played and some of the venues he's been to, and also has some new music. Chris also talks about the various styles he's been playing and how he's developed as an artist. 

Author Lucie Contente is next in our series on writers in the Rhode Island Authors Expo. She's written two books on gluten-free cooking that take a deep dive into the lifestyle from all angles, from breakfast to dessert. She talks about her own experiences with having to live gluten and dairy-free and what she's learned from it.

Writer/director Alex Chu talks to Max from the Philadelphia Asian American Film Festival about his feature, “For Izzy.” The movie centers on two young women—one with a troubled life who wants to make good and one who's been sheltered her entire life and craves independence. A lot of research went into this before the camera rolled, and Alex shares what was learned in that time. 

Wrapping up the is author/journalist Suzanne Gordon and her new book, “Wounds of War.” The book follows years of investigation into the Veterans Health Administration to see if the recent negative press about it is justified. What she learns is that while in need of improvement, the VHA is an organization that provides much-needed services for those that have served.

Oct. 25, 2018: Chris Paniccia/Corners of Sanctuary/Acursian/PAAFF

Cover art for Acursian

On the second installment of the all-new Citywide Blackout, it's movies, books, and music galore!

Opening the show is Rhode Island author Chris Paniccia, second in our series of interviews with writers who will be at the Rhode Island Author Festival on Dec. 1. Chris has a new book out on his Haven series, “Rise.” Chris goes into detail about how the story has progressed from the first novel and a few hints as to what we can expect in the new one. Chris is an avid convention attendee and shares a few tips on how fellow artists can keep their costs down as they try to make a name for themselves.

Next up is the Philly band Corners of Sanctuary. They're about to embark on an epic tour of the West Coast in support of their recent release, “The Galloping Hordes.” We hear a few tales from past tours, and the guys give a lesson in what to look for when embarking on a search for a record label.

Corners of Sanctuary

Next up, the author/actor/musician John Barrowman. While he's perhaps best known for his role on the CW's “Arrow,” John's got a new project out, a cool webcomic called Acursian, which you can read for free on Webtoon. The comic is written by John, his sister Carole, and released through Legendary Comics. The story focuses on Charlie Stewart, who John plays, and the curse which has afflicted his entire bloodline for 300 years. The story is a blend of action, mysticism, with a nod to the Scottish and Celtic legends of old. John takes a few fan questions on the characters and music, and as a quiet reminder, it's free to read!

Rounding out the show is Rob Buscher, director of the Philadelphia Asian American Film Festival, which kicks off Nov. 8-18. This festival has featured hundreds of filmmakers over the years, and does so with the goal of educating and exposing the Philadelphia region to films by and about Asian Americans. Rob talks about some of the films, the wide array of genres, and the new ground they're breaking this year.

Oct. 18, 2018: Driftwood Soldier/Angelina Singer/Linda Marks/John Faraone

Driftwood Soldier

Welcome to the first podcast-only episode of Citywide Blackout!  Host Max Bowen recently moved down to Philadelphia, and has re-branded the show to include a mix of local artists from New
England, but also featuring some of the great creatives of Philly.

First up, Owen and Bobby of the Philly-based Driftwood Soldier join Max at the Last Drop coffeeshop to talk about the Kickstarter they launched for their new album and some of the great offerings for those that contribute. They also share some details of their new tour and the work that goes into it.

Rhode Island author Angelina Singer is up next, and this interview kicks off our series of the Association of Rhode Island Authors members as they gear up for their upcoming festival in December. This romantic comedy/dystopian sci-fi author is in the running for a book cover competition for “The Sorting Room,” and we learn about the great artist who helped her devise the art that adorns her book.

Angelina also talks about her epic work-life-school balance efforts and where the ideas for her works come from.

Singer-songwriter Linda Marks returns to talk about her Women in Music Gathering scheduled for Nov. 18 at one of my favorite places, The Burren Backroom in Somerville. This show features 11 musicians, including Linda, and we look at the different styles and what they all bring to the table. The show also highlights the challenges women face in trying to make a career in the music industry, and Linda shares her own obstacles in this.

John Faraone of Providence closes out the show, and he's got a new album out, “Light Upon.” This album is years in the making, and John walks us through the process of making the finished product. He also shares a few stories from the tour he did in the early fall to commemorate the new release.

Keystone Comic Con, Part 3

In the final podcast from my Keystone Comic-Con series, I talk to two amazing authors, Kristina Garlick and E.A. Channon. Kristina talks about her new book, "Nature of Fame and Gossip," which centers on a young musician who gets a second start with the band Just Breathe, and the tumultuous events that happen afterward.

Channon has a lot to share about how he built the world of his long-running "Flesh of the Blood" series, some of which employs his map-making skills. He also talks about the many characters that make up this fantasy epic, some of which appear to be villains but have a lot more to tell.

 

Keystone Comic-Con, Part Two: Black Sands Entertainment and Dezcreepcore

Max with cosplayer Dezcreepcore

Manuel Godoy, president and author of Black Sands Entertainment, talks about the growth of the comic company, the history intertwined with the story, and how he finds the many talented people that he's worked with on the titles.

Later on, I talk to cosplayer Dexcreepcore about her latest costumes and the work that goes into them. She also goes into how one turns being a cosplayer into a full-time job and the many conventions she's appeared at.

Keystone Comic-Con, Part 1: Storm King Comics/Mega Ran

Max with Mega Ran 

In the first of the Citywide Blackout podcasts of Keystone Comic-Con, I talk to Sandy King Carpenter, founder of Storm King Comics, about the latest releases, artists that she's worked with, and some of her favorite genres.



Later on, I sit down with nerdcore artist Mega Ran, and he shares his early years in Philadelphia, how the nerdcore genre has evolved and become more mainstream, and his latest release, "Heel Turn."

Citywide Blackout, June 7, 2018: Alexi Paraschos

Philly-based soul/pop artist Alexi Paraschos is in the WEMF studio to talk about his East Coast Diner Tour, which kicks off with a show right here in Boston. He's got a slew of other shows planned, all at diners up and down the east coast.
We talk about the tour and how Alexi put it all together with endless cold calls. Alexi is originally from the Boston area, and we talk about the music scene in Philadelphia and how the two differ.