Five by Five—Wayward Vine single captures the search for lasting love

By Max Bowen

Wayward Vine’s new single “Salt,” now available, provides a backdrop to allow our feelings to roam free and dominate the landscape.


“Salt” is the first new music from the Boston indie-folk and Americana band since the release of last autumn’s debut album “The Fall.” It follows the January release of the title track music video, now approaching 100,000 views on YouTube, and two nominations at the 2026 Josie Music Awards (for Album of the Year and Song of the Year).

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What was the inspiration for this song?
Many of our songs deal with the complexities of human connection and relationships, including romantic ones. "Salt" is a mosaic of a few romantic relationships that didn't sustain for their own individual reasons and the frustrations that derive from that feeling of searching for lasting love and coming up short. The narrator muses out loud, "Why the hell must love be so goddamn hard / A life with you was never in the cards." The lyrics were inspired by a relationship crossroads where a cutting of ties eventually leads to acceptance and self-reflection.

How did you come up with the sound for “Salt”?
It was really a product of experimentation, particularly with the rhythm guitar you hear throughout the track (and the one that opens the song) on a Twin Reverb amp to create an echoey sound. The alternating picking pattern (literally on the top two strings) with the amp settings described above and the sound just popped. We knew it was a fresh sound we wanted to explore more deeply.

We started putting some lyrics to the melody to match the mood that the guitar sound evoked — a sense of isolation — and we quickly got to this image of a broken soul walking along a cold New England beach in the off-season, pondering life. Our songwriting sessions together involved exploring some open octaves for the background vocals which complemented the desolate beach feeling of the song.

And then each member of the band brought in a complementary sound from their respective instruments, such as the "splashy" notes on the keys played by Valerie Rachel, inspired by the image of birds squawking on the beach, and the electric guitar part played by Evan Hecker bringing some brightness and movement to the song.

What’s the story conveyed by this song?
It's about a broken soul who's just ended a relationship and pondering the frustrations of trying to find lasting love and coming up short. They've clearly been disappointed, vilified and hurt. As you progress through the verses, the narrator goes from reflecting on the breakup and relating those feelings to the sights and sounds around them on this cold beach ("Looking out, the endless beauty of the sea / Reminds me of the days when there was endlessness to you and me"), then on to personal strife (illustrated in the lyrics by swimming out in the cold water and sinking beneath the surface) and finally coming to grips, finding peace and realizing they are better off without the other person after all. “Salt,” like several other Wayward Vine songs, also explores the healing element of nature which is reflected in the soothing sound of the seagulls that remains in the last few moments of the song.

I read that this is the band’s first release since your album “The Fall.” How has Wayward Vine grown or changed since then?
As with “The Fall,” we have always tried to write music that isn't bound by genre labels. On “Salt” we have truly moved toward some new soundscapes, particularly with the switch from acoustic guitar to the reverb-driven hollow body electric that drives the rhythm of the song. It was also a creative shift adding the “ocean waves” sound that forms the backdrop of the entire song.

Our songwriting has become more collaborative throughout the years we have been co-writing, where we now workshop the songs and often change them significantly before we bring them to the rest of the band for them to add their magic into the arrangement. You definitely need a trusting songwriting partner for that kind of morphing of your original ideas.

In addition, “Salt” and the other songs that are forthcoming on the EP were all recorded with all five band members in the studio for several days, starting with live performances. That might sound like an obvious approach, but by contrast the songs on “The Fall” actually had several of their instruments recorded remotely. As talented and incredible as those musicians are, it was gratifying this time around from a chemistry and cohesiveness perspective to have the live recording make the backbone of our releases.

I also read that this is part of your 2027 EP. What can the fans look forward to?
We're really excited about all five songs we're in the process of bringing into the world! Without revealing too much too soon, in addition to “Salt” which is about the frustrations of trying to find love, some of the other themes we're exploring include infidelity, redemption and salvation. Stylistically, people can look forward to notes of folk, rock and even gospel, all mixed in with our indie “core.” And one song even features bongos, which added a nice, fitting flair to a song about innocent summer love.

Kicking off a new Citywide segment, Nadia Vaeh talks musical therapy and video production

This episode kicks off a brand-new segment called Citywide Bytes, where I do live interviews on the Citywide Blackout Instagram page. This is the recording of that live interview, so be sure to check out the interviews, every Saturday at 10 a.m. EST.

Opening this new segment is poptimistic-rock artist Nadia Vaeh. She has released two amazing singles, “Sorry I Was Not OK” and “When U Think About Love,” released Jan. 5 and Feb. 2, respectively, and we go into the inspiration for these singles and some new musical styles she’s tried out.

We also talk about the amazing music videos made for both and how she met Director Jessica Farmer and the creative process.

Closing this out is one of her new singles, “Sorry I Was Not OK.”

Jonathan Panetta talks mental health and music

As it says in his bio, Jonathan Panetta is “trying to heal the world with a hard rock brain and a punk rock heart.”

In this episode, we talk about how songs like “Inner Demons” deal with mental health and what he hopes people take from listening to them. Jonathan shares the creation process behind his new EP and the different avenues he goes down when it comes to sound and style.

Jonathan’s done some collaborating, particularly with friend of the show Dany Horovitz on the single “Make Use of Your Time,” which was inspired by the “Life is Strange” video game series. We talk about working with Dany, how this happened, and other artists he’s worked with. Jonathan and I do a little nerding out over the game, the amazing soundtrack and some of the takeaways from the story.

“Inner Demons” also has its own music video, and Panetta worked with Nesskaf Productions and we look at the planning process and cool visuals seen throughout.

Opening this episode is an excerpt from “Make Use of Your Time” and closing things out is the full track, “Inner Demons.”

James Dunne brings some ‘outlaw country’ with his debut album

After hearing James Dunne’s single “Black Train,” I immediately thought, “I need to talk to this guy.” And here we are.

James and I talk about is first single, “Duty,” which reflects on is own time serving in the British Armed Forces and the other tales he covers in the EP, released earlier this year. Music has been a part of James’ life for years but it’s only recently that he decided to release it and we look into what led to this.

James and I talk about the music video for “Black Train” which features—you guessed it—a black train. There’s a story with this one, and the visuals are amazing. We also talk about the reception he’s gotten since the release of his music and the different folks he’s met as he’s begun this new part of his life.

Opening the episode is an excerpt from “Black Train” and closing the show is the full song.

A very funky discussion with Carter & the Capitals

With a high-energy, upbeat style, the funk band Carter & the Capitals bring a sound that you can’t help but dance to. This five-piece from Edmonton, Alberta released their self-titled debut album in 2019 and since then have played some amazing shows.


Frontman Lindon Carter joins me to talk about how the band got its start and their early years on stage and on the road. We go into how things changed when COVID hit, and what it’s been like being back in the groove. Recently, they released “Lovely Lovely Lovely,” their first new music in three years. We go into how the band has evolved over that time and the new sound that comes through in the single.


Following this, enjoy the funk/pop sounds of “Lovely Lovely Lovely,” a preview of sorts of the band’s future releases.

 

Senseless Optimism and Selfish Bodies talk new music and stage experiences

It’s an all-music episode! Senseless Optimism of Boston joins me to catch up on all that’s happened since we last spoke, and believe me, a lot has happened! The singer-songwriter released the new single "Done" on Oct. 7 with a brilliant music video shortly afterward. 

She’s also been nominated in the Boston Music Awards and New England Music Awards, taking home multiple titles in the latter. We talk about the new sound and what went into it as well as her planning for the music video.

After this, enjoy the new single, which incorporates music of her West African roots, most notably elements of Soukous and Makossa.

Following that, Canada-based band Selfish Bodies and I dive into their origin in early 2018 and how their style changed as the lineup shifted. We talk about their plans as a band and how those had to change when COVID hit, and how they’ve gotten back into the flow as things reopened.

To close things out, we’ve got their recent release, “Bambi Legs.”

Boston's Only Child brings an all-different sound with new project

Fans of the Boston music scene will recognize songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Christopher James Martin from his work with the band All Eyes On Me. Well, Christopher is back with a new project, Only Child, and recently released the first single “Don't Call Me BB” and the music video in August.

In this interview, we look at the new solo venture and how the songwriting process has changed. Christopher has many friends in the local scene and we talk about their influence in the creative process. The single and forthcoming EP, “SRS ONE” were produced by Boston electro queen Casey Desmond, and we talk about how the two met and what it was like working together.

The glitzy music video for “Don’t Call Me BB” was directed by Mary Lee Desmond at Magic Room in Brighton. Kaitlyn Ciampa teamed with the Desmonds on filming the visual, as well as stylizing Martin’s hair and makeup, with fellow musicians Kara MacDonald, Alison Pappas, and KT Sullivan, and we look at how this went from concept to filmed video.

Following this, I've got the new single, “Don't Call Me BB,” a truly unique musical experience.

Dan Franklin takes us through the terrifying world of “The Eater of Gods”

BONUS TRACK: Nice Vice and I talk 90s music and his arrival as an artist


It's a blend of rock music and horror stories in this episode. Up first, author Dan Franklin and I do a deep dive into his debut book, “The Eater of Gods.” Here's a quick synopsis for those curious:

Nothing really dies if it’s remembered, his wife had told him.

In the dying village of Al Tarfuk, lost among the war-stained dunes of eastern Libya, professor Norman Haas learns the location of the tomb that had been his wife’s pursuit. The final resting place of Kiya, the lost queen of Akhenaten, whose history had been etched from the stone analogues of history for her heresies against the long absent pantheon of Egyptian gods.

He never expected to discover that the tomb was the final resting place for more than the dead. And as his team of researchers find themselves trapped inside the ancient tomb, Norman realizes all too soon that his wife was right—

Nothing really dies if it’s remembered…But some things are best forgotten.


Dan talks all about the real-life story behind this book, and how the editing process helped him as a writer. We swap tales about meeting legends in the writing world and ways to boost your skills in both telling tales and spreading the word. Dan takes us through the worldbuilding he did, the endless research, and how he made the characters who they are.


After that, Nice Vice and I talk about his new single “No Ends,” which looks at being in your 20s and the personal strife of having to figure that out. We talk about the bands of the 90s that helped shape his sound, and where he's going with his debut EP, “First Dose.” At the end of the show, be sure to give the new single a listen, I can promise you won't regret it.

YAQI makes a great horror movie villain!

Welcome back! After a brief hiatus to deal with some personal issues, we return with LA-based pop artist YAQI. She's just dropped her newest single “I'm On It,” and there are some cool stories behind this song. We go into the sound of the song, her precise rapping style and how this all came together over a six-plus hour session.

A theme of the song is about focusing on your goals and not doing what others tell you, and this certainly reflects YAQI's own life. In addition to her music, she has a Master's Degree from the New York Film Academy and has been in a number of short films. She talks about her different villain roles and how it's so comfortable for her....yeah, I'm a little concerned too. We also look at her dream role and the person she'd like to work with above all others.

After this, enjoy “I'm On It.” I know I did!

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. 

Ariel Bellvalaire talks music video stunts and life in Los Angeles

BONUS—Anushka Jag blends sounds of old-world India and modern electronic in “Hurricane”


Many musicians have a “to do list” for their music video, and in the case of Ariel Bellvalaire, it's playing guitar on the back of a motorcycle. In the video for her single “Elastic,” Ariel got to live this goal and a lot more. We talk about what went into making this video happen as well as the story behind it.

Ariel also shares her musical journey from Windsor, Connecticut, to Los Angeles and her time exploring the city's music scene. She's well known for her stage performances and talks about how she learned her acrobatic skills.

After this, Anushka Jag and I look at the music video for her song “Hurricane.” The song has a great sound, blending Indian music with electronic styles.

After Ariel's interview, enjoy her song “Elastic,” and at the end, I've got Anushka's single “Hurricane.”

Stephanie Mathias returns with new music, videos, and artist collaborations

Singer-songwriter Stephanie Mathias is back with a lot of great news to share. She was last on the show in May 2020, as the pandemic was becoming a long-term situation. In that time she has remained very busy with new music, including “Hero Side” released last October and “Blue Diamond Light,” available on all streaming platforms on March 26.

Stephanie and I talk about her work over the last 10 months, including the influences for the two songs and how real life played a role. She has a music video out for “Hero Side” and we talk about Jarreau Williams, the artist she worked with and her plans for the production.

We also look at other artists she'll be working with in the future, including a cool podcast that she's become a part of.

Following this interview, enjoy “Hero Side,” followed by “Blue Diamond Light.”

Lewis Ciavarella shows us how to be productive in a pandemic

Lewis Ciavarella

BONUS—Tara Kelly talks about the adventure of making her new music video


It's a mix of musical styles in this episode. To start off, Melbourne-based singer-songwriter Lewis Ciavarella has been up to quite a bit over the last year. He talks about what it was like when live shows stopped being an option and how he kept things moving forward.

He's got a new album out called “Two” and the electro/pop styles are really something. We talk all about his development as an artist, which has included a lot of time spent busking as well as working with Kelly Rowland following an appearance on The Voice.




Plus, we've got another bonus interview for you. Tara Kelly, who hails from Los Angeles, has a new music video out for her single “The River.” This song is based on a real-life cheating boyfriend, and actor Hunter Garner brings his A-game to the production. We also look at some unexpected hiccups and how the creative crew worked around them.

Following Lewis' interview, enjoy his single, “New Sun,” and at the end of the show, kick back with Tara's “The River.”

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.”

KIN talk about creatives crossing styles, and adventures in music videos

The London-based pop band KIN have been making the most of 2020, releasing three new singles and music videos. In this episode, band members Grace and Adam talk about the story told in the videos and how they worked with the limitations brought on by the lockdown.

The band—Grace, Adam, and Ritu—all have lengthy creative backgrounds, including modeling, starring in Netflix shows, and on stage with the National Theater. We look at how they've been able to apply this work to their music and some of the different directions it's taken them in.

The members also have a lot in store for 2021, from new EPs to live performances—which I sincerely hope can happen.

Following this, enjoy the band's recent single “L.O.V.E.” I really loved the vibe of this song, and the music video touches on the festivals that we all miss.

Blake English talks personal journeys “Spiders Make Great Poets”

Performing artist Blake English's new EP “Spiders Make Great Poets” shows his journey from Athens, Georgia to LA, going back to his childhood when he sought a safe space to be himself. He's doing well in LA having recnetly completed the horror-themed music video for “Sad Girls Dance Party,” with a new one in the works. We talk about his background and how it's shaped him, as well as the different places life has taken him (Hint, LA was not going to be his original destination). 

Following this, I've got two songs from the new EP, “Sad Girls Dance Party,” followed by “The Neighbors.”

New single “Revelación” challenges racism and white supremacy

In this episode, I'm joined by Boston-based artists Genie Santiago and ALGO to talk about “Revelación,” a single they collaborated on and released on July 24. “Revelación” marks a shift in Santiago’s work towards protest music with a social justice message. We talk about that message and how to continue the conversation that recent events have started. Genie and ALGO reminisce on how they met and formed a partnership that has led to multiple creative projects.

Following the interview, enjoy the new single, “Revelación.” Proceeds from the Bandcamp release will go towards Border Angels, a California-based nonprofit aimed at assisting migrants traveling across the U.S.-Mexico border.

Pearl Cutten wants everyone to know that they are beautiful

I welcome back Denmark-based artist Pearl Cutten to talk about her new single, “You Are Beautiful,” part of her forthcoming project “Fragments of My Soul.” Pearl also has a music video for the single in the works, and we do a deep dive into what fans can expect. Pearl talks about what has filled her time during the pandemic and some of her goals for 2021.

After the song, sit back and enjoy “You Are Beautiful.”

Stephanie Mathias talks about always reaching for your goals

Singer-songwriter, violinist, and pianist Stephanie Mathias has a lot to be happy about—she recently released a new single, “It's My Thing,” along with an amazing music video. The video has an interesting story involving the production process and some late changes that had to be made. Stephanie also talks about her musical family, which includes her husband and their daughter. Though the pandemic has caused a lot of her plans to be sidelined, she's continuing her art, putting out a new music video for Mother's Day.

Following this enjoy three songs from Stephanie, “Fragile” “My Thing,” and “Sweet Baby.”