Songwriter and producer Kenny J shares stories of love and positivity in his new album

Calling Kenny J a positive individual would be a massive understatement. This South Carolina-based songwriter and producer is hoping to spread such a message through his new music, which culminates in a summer album release.

Originally slated to be our new Citywide Bytes interview, some connection issues arose and we decided “hell with it, the show must go on!”

So, we dove into the meaning behind Kenny’s upbeat outlook on life. He also shares the sad news of his wife’s passing last year and how this inspired him to write “You’re a Woman.” Kenny talks about his late wife and it becomes clear that she is a part of what makes him the person he is today.

Kenny’s not just a songwriter—he’s worked as a producer since the 1990s and we learn how he got into that industry and his current projects.

Sister Shalom’s journey through faith and music

For Dallas-based artist Sister Shalom, music began at a young age and has taken many turns along the way. Likewise, her life as a person of faith has seen some changes and in this interview, she shares both aspects of her life.

Sister Shalom began her ministry as an independent artist in 2020 and since then has releases some singles and the EP “Genesis” earlier this year. She talks about her style and the other types of music she explore growing up. We go into her time away from the Word of God and what brought her back, as well as sharing her faith through her music.

Born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia, Sister Shalom has called Dallas, Texas, home since 2018. She talks about some of the venues she’s been to and tackles the question: Is this her home now?

Opening this show is an excerpt from her song, “Clean Heart,” and closing the episode is the complete “Don’t Let the Devil Ride.”

Leah Hinton takes us “Away” with upbeat new single

Happy New Year and welcome to our first episode of 2022! We've got some high hopes for this year, so let's get it started off right with Leah Hinton to talk about her new single “Away.” 

This song takes Leah in some new musical directions with an upbeat, hopeful message. We dive into this and the contribution of Jodron Peace, who she's worked with in the past. Speaking of that, we look at the other artists she's worked with and what makes a truly great partnership among musicians.

Leah calls New York City home, but that wasn't always the case. She's born and raised in North Carolina and attended Berklee College of Music in Boston. We talk about what each location offered her and some of her favorite places to check out shows.

Following this interview, enjoy the new single, “Away.” I really dug the vibe of the song and the message Leah shares.

Nolo Grace goes from the corporate world to the music world

After a long career in the corporate world, LA-based Nolo Grace decided to jump into a new career in music. This has led to a lot of success, including her debut “Wake Up,” featuring Sean Kingston and some amazing music videos. We talk about her decision to switch from one role to another and early days.



Nolo and I talk about her relationship with music producer Martin Wave (aka Lars Martin) and how the two work together. Nolo also speaks about her doubts going into her music career and how she feels about it now. We also look at her cool R&B/pop style and how it came to be. 

Dean Chohan shows his cinematic skills in new music videos

In this recording of an Instagram livestream, UK-based R&B artist Dean Chohan talks about the music videos for his new singles, “Got Me Loco” and “Money.” There are two songs that tell a love story, the first being the roller coaster that is love and the second being one person living with a secret and needs to make a decision on the future of the relationship. Both videos are so well done and this could easily be a Netflix series.

We also talk about the people Dean worked with for the video and the chemistry they shared that made the production a success. He's also gotten to know a number of great artists, and he gives them some love during the interview.

Following this, enjoy the single “Got Me Loco.” Dean's got such a cool, mellow style, and the music is really amazing.

Chashe speaks on Boston/London music scenes, being a full-time musician, and the different twists of life

London-based songwriter Chashe has certainly had an interesting life story. Born in Zimbabwe, educated at the University of Cape Town and Berklee College of Music in Boston, she has a lot of stories to share. We talk all about her time in Boston and the different bands she got the chance to see, with plenty of my own stories from living there.

Chashe's mom has been a central figure in her music career, whether it was encouraging her to pursue her dreams at a young age, to being the ultimate 'band mom' today. She also talks about working with her partner in the studio and how they complement each other as a team.

“Lucid” is Chashe's newest album, and it's an eclectic mix of styles and sounds. We look at the different stories she shares, from there being no rules when it comes to love, or moving ahead without looking back. She's also got new music in the works, and potentially some events to look forward to.

Following this, kick back and enjoy “Lucid,” followed by “9:45,” both from the new album and two of my favorites.

Taking the stage in Boston

In this episode, Washington D.C.-based Grammy-nominated songwriter Carolyn Malachi joins me to talk about her upcoming show in Boston as part of the Isabella Stewart Gardener Museum's Thursdays LIVE series. We also look at her forthcoming album, her work as an education advocate, and work with the GRITS & GARRI podcast.

Following this, enjoy her song, “Beautiful Dreamer.”

All hail the Queen

Where did the horse come from?

That's my first question to Boston-based R&B artist Nancia as we talk about her recently-released album “Heir to the Throne,” and the music video released for “Get Low,” which shows the artist on horseback. She goes in-depth to the album's production and how she chose the 18 tracks among the many she has made.

Nancia's music is her career and she talks about the different ways she has monetized her skills to make it happen. We also give a 101 on show prep, something she has learned a lot about over the years.


Following this interview, enjoy the song “Get Law” from “Heir to the Throne.”

Pearls and Sunflowers

Opening this episode is Pearl Cutten, a Denmark-based soul artist who recently released a new single, “The Pain in You,” a story of the reality of being in an abusive relationship but with a message that self-love is ultimately the answer. We talk a lot about the concept of self-love and how she's incorporated it into her life. After this interview, enjoy the new tune.

Next up is Boston's own Genie Santiago. This stellar R&B artist was first on the show in 2017 and has been a regular since then. We talk all about her latest single “Spirit Party” and the music video that accompanies it. She talks about balancing her life between work, music, and making time for herself. The show closes out with “Spirit Party.”

New comic series blends magic and mystery

In this episode, writer Erica Schultz takes us into the world of her new urban fantasy comic series “Forgotten Home,” available through comiXology Originals. Sheriff’s Deputy Lorraine Adalet investigates child disappearances and finds a connection between many of the abductions: traces of magic which leads her back to her homeworld of Jannada, a place she left many years ago. Schultz talks about Lorraine and the life she left and all that went on in Jannada, as well as the magic she created in crafting this story.

Following that, I bring you the song “The Suitable Woman” by Layla Kardan. This one's got a cool flow with instrumentation that caught me from the beginning.

Feb. 22, 2018: Genie Santiago/Curtis Lawson

Max and Genie

R&B artist Genie Santiago makes a big return to talk about her upcoming EP, "Know Your Worth." Genie talks about the folks who helped her through the process and in some cases kept her on point. We also talk about the positive mindset that she strives to maintain, even in the face of some negative opposition. 

Author Curtis Lawson is back with a new book, audiobooks, and a panel appearance at StokerCon! That's quite a list and we run down the new story of "Bad World 2," the narrator he chose to work with for "The Devoured," and the wisdom he'll be sharing at StokerCon.