Bringin' it Backwards
Bringin' It Backwards: podcast – giving driven musicians the invaluable insight they need to succeed in the music industry, by revealing how legendary musicians achieved stardom.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/bringin-it-backwards--4972373/support.
Interview with Christian Hayes
We had the pleasure of interviewing Christian Hayes over Zoom video!
Capitol Records recording artist Christian Hayes has poetically drawn on his life experiences growing up in the foothills of Appalachia since his grandfather gifted him his first journal at seven years old. While his debut EP Last I Love You, released in September, followed Hayes’ journey navigating heartbreak and growing up, he’s now offering an upbeat new song underscoring the beauty of finding love in imperfection with “Wildflower,” available now.
Self-written by Hayes, the concept for “Wildflower” was born from Hayes’ observation of seeing beauty found i...
Interview with Highly Suspect
We had the pleasure of interviewing Highly Suspect over Zoom video!
Never content to follow, Highly Suspect push rock music forward by trusting their instincts and raising a middle finger to everything else. The multi-GRAMMY® Award-nominated and gold-certified band - Johnny Stevens [vocals, guitar], Ryan Meyer [drums, vocals], Rich Meyer [bass, vocals], Matt Kofos [guitar] and Mark Schwartz [keyboards/guitars] - don’t just talk about burning the rules and breaking the mold; they actually do so.
The band’s chemically imbalanced mix of gritty guitars, haunting piano, off-kilter synths, hip-hop production, cinematic vision, and beautifully posses...
Interview with Bo Staloch
We had the pleasure of interviewing Bo Staloch over Zoom video!
Capitol Records will release Bo Staloch’s The Garden, a stunning six-song showcase of visceral alt-folk and Americana. Family means everything to the Austin-born, Nashville-based singer-songwriter – it was their unconditional love and support that encouraged him to pour his soul into music while he was still in high school. On the EP’s profound title track, released today, Staloch pays it forward, declaring to the next generation, “When the sky falls down give the pieces to me / I’ll hold you like the moon til you fall asleep.” Li...
Interview with Fastball
We had the pleasure of interviewing Fastball over Zoom video!
Formed in 1994 in Austin, Texas, Fastball combined a fondness for melodic, Beatles-inspired pop with the alternative aesthetic of late-'90s mainstream rock. Guitarist/vocalist Miles Zuniga, bassist/vocalist Tony Scalzo, and drummer Joey Shuffield — all veterans of Austin's underground rock scene — originally banded together under the name Magneto U.S.A. After signing with Hollywood Records, the musicians changed their name to Fastball and released their debut album, Make Your Mama Proud, in 1996. The album demonstrated the band's synthesis of modern flavor and bygone pop hooks, a combination that...
Interview with Cali Tucker
We had the pleasure of interviewing Cali Tucker over Zoom video!
Daughter of renowned recording artist LaCosta Tucker and niece of the famed Tanya Tucker, Cali Tucker hails from Nashville, Tennessee and has been hitting full throttle throughout her career. She gained national recognition on Season 6 of The Voice after joining Team Blake and becoming a finalist. Since then, she has risen to prominence as a headlining act in Las Vegas, captivating audiences with her remarkable talent as a live performer. Cali’s self-designed solo show is highly interactive, featuring her rich vocals, infectious humor, and dynamic stage pr...
Interview with joan
We had the pleasure of interviewing joan over Zoom video!
Beloved alt-pop duo joan, who have garnered over 200 million global streams and more than one million monthly listeners across streaming platforms, have unveiled their latest single "face" via Photo Finish Records. Co-written with Cris Stayton and co-written/produced by joan—Alan Benjamin Thomas and Steven Rutherford—"face" began as an experimental writing session on Zoom. The collaboration quickly turned into something much more personal, capturing an honest and poignant reflection on the passage of time and the longing for lost moments.
"This song is about time and...
Interview with Sofía Valdés (Sofía Returns!)
We had the pleasure of interviewing Sofía Valdés over Zoom video!
Acclaimed Panamanian singer-songwriter Sofía Valdés unveils her anxiously awaited self-titled debut album, Sofía Valdés, out now via Warner Records.
In bringing the 10-track album to life, Sofía worked extensively with producers Michael Uzowuru (known for his work on groundbreaking albums like Rosalía’s Motomami and SZA’s Ctrl), Alex Goose (Vince Staples, Childish Gambino) and Carter Lang (SZA, Lykke Li), as well as in-demand musicians like Local Natives guitarist Ryan Hahn and Diana Gordon.
From the epic “Ta...
Interview with sym fera
We had the pleasure of interviewing sym fera over Zoom video!
Los Angeles-based sym fera are a duo that make atmospheric electronic rock music (reminiscent of early Nine Inch Nails) with an interesting twist - nobody knew who was in the band. This mysterious nature and captivating melodies had intrigued listeners, with their single 11/8 amassing over 400,000 streams. The song was also placed within the hit television series, Ozark, creating further interest in the band. The group recently released a remix package of 11/8 (orchestral and electronic remixes). sym fera recently drop their newest single, ‘Beg’. At the same time as th...
Interview with Hudson Thames
We had the pleasure of interviewing Hudson Thames over Zoom video!
Prolific songwriter, performer, and actor Hudson Thames has shared his soul-soothing debut album BAMBINO, available to stream now on all DSPs worldwide via Loaded Dice Entertainment. The album is laced with moody pop anthems, deeply emotional ballads, and genuinely timeless songwriting, paying homage to icons like Elton John, Billy Joel, and Paul McCartney. It features standout tracks “Wrong,” “Cold Summer,” “Weight” (feat. Kelsey Karter) and “Man of the World,” which features Jamie Cullum and was produced by Stephan Moccio (The Weeknd, Miley Cyrus).
“BAMBINO is an Italian term of...
Interview with Ziggy Alberts (Ziggy Returns!)
We had the pleasure of interviewing Ziggy Alberts over Zoom video!
Ziggy Alberts is no stranger to success, having built a dedicated global following through a combination of steadfast touring, captivating songwriting, and an independent ethos that has seen him thrive without the backing of a major label. An artist who has mastered the acoustic charm of busking and intimate venues to the electrifying energy of sold-out world stages - all as a solo act - Alberts is now entering a new phase of his artistic journey with his seventh studio album, ‘New Love’.
From his earl...
Interview with Liang Lawrence
We had the pleasure of interviewing Liang Lawrence over Zoom video!
London-based singer-songwriter Liang Lawrence shares her new single “Kiss My Apocalypse” via The Other Songs. Featuring fuzzy, serotonin-boosting electric guitars, the new song is an unabashed declaration of love and commitment.
Lawrence said of the song: “‘Kiss My Apocalypse’ is probably the least casual way you could tell someone that you want to spend the rest of your life with them. I found it refreshing to write a love song that just simply puts my cards on the table and lets someone know how I feel.”
Interview with BØRNS
We had the pleasure of interviewing BØRNS over Zoom video!
Chart-topping, platinum recording artist BØRNS has shared his timeless new EP Honeybee, available to stream now on all DSPs worldwide. The release puts BØRNS’ full spectrum of songwriting on display, paying homage to 60s and 70s icons like Elton John, The Beach Boys, and ELO. Honeybee serves as a continuation of his journey from 2023’s Suddenly, but with a much warmer, uplifting energy after exploring the 6 stages of grief.
“This project is about finding love in new places, and it was incredibly exciting to create...
Interview with Slow Joy
We had the pleasure of interviewing Slow Joy over Zoom video!
Slow Joy, the solo project of Dallas based, New Mexican born Chicano artist Esteban Flores, is thrilled to announce his first official US headline tour. The February 2025 run has Flores out supporting his Mi Amigo Slow Joy EP, which was released June 7th, 2024 via Mick Music. Produced by Mike Sapone (Oso Oso, The Front Bottoms), the EP earned Slow Joy the “Best New Band” designation in the Dallas Observer’s Annual “Best of Dallas” roundup and drew comparisons to The Pixies, Modest Mouse and Smashing Pumpkins.
Slow...
Interview with Hinder
We had the pleasure of interviewing Hinder over Zoom video!
Lately, Hinder are feeling the intensity of a new energy. Nearly two decades into their career, the multiplatinum band hasn’t just endured as a fixture of modern rock—it’s evolved. The versatile Oklahoma City-based quartet creates emotionally compelling rock, from hard-hitting anthems to subdued, contemplative ballads.
Now, the band is looking to the future. With the new single “Live Without It,” a soulful showstopper about letting go and moving on, taking the lead. Hinder’s story begins in 2001, when Cody Hanson (drums), Joe “Blower” Garvey (lead guit...
Interview with Grace Davies
We had the pleasure of interviewing Grace Davies over Zoom video!
Grace Davies unveils her latest single 'Another Night,' a masterfully crafted, feel-good pop anthem which showcases her remarkable vocals and creative talent within songwriting & music production. The track's infectious energy immediately captivates listeners, creating an irresistible and timeless soundscape that will leave you instantly hooked.
Crafted in collaboration with producer Paul Whalley & topliner Ben Lythe, 'Another Night' draws inspiration from Grace's childhood musical influences, notably ABBA, infusing the track with a nostalgic, warm, fuzzy feeling that resonates deeply with us all. The production masterfully...
Interview with Haven Madison
We had the pleasure of interviewing Haven Madison over Zoom video!
American Idol star, praised as the “next big Pop star” by one of the best-selling music artists in history, Katy Perry, Haven Madison recently released her latest single ‘Obsessed’ via 19 Recordings/BBR Music Group. The song follows the release of Madison’s label-debut EP, Turn Off All The Lights.
Most recently teasing the song in her live set, while on tour with New Hope Club, Madison is currently on the Young & Out of Love Tour with fellow American Idol fan-favorites Blake Proehl, Kaibrienne, and KAYKO - hitting...
Interview with Atlas Genius
We had the pleasure of interviewing Atlas Genius over Zoom video!
Australian-based brothers, Atlas Genius are thrilled to release their new album End of the Tunnel. The band has put together a special recipe for the new collection of songs. Album ingredients: Lost love, guilt, passion, a dash of social commentary, existential crises, reckless abandon, and honest self-criticism. May contain traces of lust.
2024 also marks the 11-year anniversary of the band’s debut album When It Was Now, which features top charting songs including the certified platinum “Trojans” which hit #3 on the US Alternative charts and “If So” w...
Interview with Ira Dean
We had the pleasure of interviewing Ira Dean over Zoom video!
Ira Dean, is a multifaceted musician and acclaimed songwriter. Dean’s musical talent became widely recognized when he joined the dynamic country music trio Trick Pony in the late 1990s. Serving as the bassist and contributing vocalist for the group, Dean played a pivotal role in shaping Trick Pony's signature sound.
During his time with Trick Pony, Dean co-wrote some of their most successful songs, including "Pour Me," "On a Mission," and "Just What I Do." The trio's achievements, including winning the American Music Award for...
Interview with Lindsay Ell
We had the pleasure of interviewing Lindsay Ell over Zoom video!
Platinum-selling singer, songwriter and musician Lindsay Ell releases her most personal and inspired music to date with her eagerly awaited EP, love myself, out now via Universal Music Canada, the country’s leading music company.
The first project that Lindsay Ell has co-produced, love myself marks an artistic evolution in her sound and an awakening in her songwriting. Recorded in Brooklyn with producer Doug Schadt (Maggie Rogers), love myself is a collection of emotive alt-pop songs that cut deep with their vulnerability.
“This project...
Interview with Amythyst Kiah (Amythyst Kiah Returns!)
We had the pleasure of interviewing Amythyst Kiah over Zoom video!
GRAMMY-nominated singer-songwriter Amythyst Kiah shares her new album, Still + Bright via Rounder Records. Produced by Butch Walker (Taylor Swift, Green Day and Weezer) and recorded at his Nashville studio, the 12-track album is a vital new addition to Kiah’s body of work, one largely dedicated to exploring the struggle and joy of true self-discovery. While her 2021 Wary + Strange details her grief, anger, and abandonment, Still + Bright is her liberation from the events of her earlier life, examining the vast expanse of her inner world, passions, self-exploration an...
Interview with BabyJake (Jake Returns!)
We had the pleasure of interviewing BabyJake over Zoom video!
Florida-born Jake Herring, known professionally as BabyJake, may have appeared to be an overnight success, but his journey to the spotlight was anything but instantaneous. His hit single Cigarettes on Patios took off in 2019, garnering 200M+ streams and earning him a certified gold record and a major label deal. He would release two albums from the same vine, until the upheaval of the pandemic saw him splitting with his label and at a pivotal turning point.
But giving up...
Interview with Amble
We had the pleasure of interviewing Amble over Zoom video!
Rising Irish folk trio Amble unveil their major label debut EP, The Commons, via Warner Records. Listen to it HERE
Beloved for their descriptive storytelling, lyrics and powerful live performances, the band just announced their biggest headline tour to date for 2025, including shows at Dublin’s Trinity College and New York’s Bowery Ballroom, which sold out within minutes. The 30+ date run follows the band’s entirely sold-out 2024 headline tour across US, Canada, UK and Ireland, including their debut performances in Los Angeles, New York City, Chicag...
Interview with Maisy Kay
We had the pleasure of interviewing Maisy Kay over Zoom video!
Maisy Kay is a rising star in the music industry with a bold and fascinating new fresh voice in pop music. This singer-songwriter is transforming pop music into her own sub-genre of pop.
Moving from a small countryside in England to the heart of Los Angeles, Maisy Kay is a one-of-a-kind musician blending nostalgic dance and pop music magnified through her lyrics and overall inspiration behind every track. As a huge feat, her 2020 smash single “The Storm” with gaming music creator, TheFatRat, hit over 20 million strea...
Interview with charlieonnafriday
We had the pleasure of interviewing charlieonnafriday over Zoom video!
The 21-year-old singer-songwriter who bobs and weaves freely between alternative, pop, and country, got his start by cooking up genre-busting anthems in his Seattle basement, turning his high school dreams into an impressive reality in DIY terms. His certified platinum hits “After Hours” and “Enough” have certainly solidified him as one to watch. He’s also opened for heavy-hitters like Tate McRae, Macklemore, and Jesse Murph.
After building anticipation with one banger after another, charlieonnafriday, who has amassed nearly 1 billion global streams with his string of irrepressi...
Interview with Capstan
We had the pleasure of interviewing Capstan over Zoom video!
To make a mosaic, tiny pieces interlock as a larger picture. In similar fashion, distinct elements coalesce as one in Capstan. The Florida quintet—Anthony Demario [vocals], Joe Mabry [guitar], Harrison Borman [guitar], Andrew “Boz” Bozymowski [bass, vocals], and Scott Fisher [drums]—merge metallic precision with pit-splitting hardcore grooves and the kind of hooks you can’t shake. After amassing tens of millions of streams and earning acclaim from the likes of KERRANG! and many more, the group paint a definitive body of work on their aptly titled third full...
Interview with Drew Parker
We had the pleasure of interviewing Drew Parker over Zoom video!
GRAMMY & CMA Award-nominated country hitmaker and artist Drew Parker shares his debut album ‘Camouflage Cowboy’ via Warner Music Nashville. The album is a personal introduction to Drew Parker as an artist, featuring 14 tracks that offer listeners a heartfelt glimpse into his life as a man, husband, and father. He not only shares his personal beliefs but also reveals the essence of who he is.
"I hope it gives you a deeper sense of who I am as a man and what matters most to me," share...
Interview with Åsa Orbison
We had the pleasure of interviewing Åsa Orbison over Zoom video!
Originally from Stockholm, Sweden Åsa Orbison had a fondness for music at a young age, where she attended music school in Sweden. Into adulthood, she then transitioned into working in marketing, but later came to the realization that music was always something she ultimately gravitated to and wanted to pursue. Åsa decided to make the move to America when she found love with now husband Roy Orbison Jr! She came back to her musical roots when working together with her husband (whom she collaborated with on her new...
Interview with Nina Nesbitt
We had the pleasure of interviewing Nina Nesbitt over Zoom video!
Singer-songwriter and producer and multi-instrumentalist, Nina Nesbitt releases her new album, Mountain Music. From exceeding a billion streams to being championed by Taylor Swift and playing shows with everyone from Coldplay to Stevie Nicks, Nina’s career has taken her from highlight to highlight. Yet the release of her new album could well be the most significant moment to date. Not only is it a record that leans into an accomplished and engaging new sound, but it’s also the first release via her new independent label Appl...
Interview with PENG
We had the pleasure of interviewing PENG over Zoom video!
Viral sensation PENG, best recognized for her strides as a former Olympian and elite gymnast, releases her fiery debut single “PRETTY PLEASE.” LISTEN HERE. The news also comes with an official music video directed by Vanessa Zamarripa. WATCH HERE. The track sets the tone for a myriad of singles to be released later this summer. Inspired by her personal story of triumph over adversity, the new alternative pop anthem is an empowering song that demonstrates the essence of resilience.
“As a creative, a part of my art is n...
Interview with Little Monarch
We had the pleasure of interviewing Little Monarch over Zoom video!
Plenty of Time gives listeners a look inside Little Monarch, the bedroom-pop disco-funk hybrid brainchild of Casey Kalmenson. Recorded in her home studio in Los Angeles, CA, the collection of 13 tracks strung together in between tours and life on the road range from simple moments to introspective homesick yearnings.
Plenty of Time features latest single and opener “We Got That Feeling,” a funky and slick track about capturing those special moments with loved ones that make the rest of the world fade away and turn good...
Interview with Tony McGuinness of Above & Beyond
We had the pleasure of interviewing Tony McGuinness of Above & Beyond over Zoom video!
Before Tony McGuinness was Tony McGuinness of Above & Beyond, he was another artist, another music industry professional, another man entirely, which is completely understandable. Because, for the Tony McGuinness who is finally releasing his debut album almost three decades after he recorded it, it was a whole other lifetime.
‘Salt’ is the great lost solo project from the songwriter who would become the chief “male voice” lyricist in Above & Beyond (beloved favorites like “Sun & Moon,” “Thing Called Love,” “Northern Soul,” “Gratitude,” and more).
Now, a...
Interview with Sadye (Sadye Returns!)
We had the pleasure of interviewing Sadye over Zoom video!
Sadye was one of the winners of Optimism's "We Heart The Art" Contest! The contest shines a light on the creativity and innovation occurring onchain. Sadye minted her song Pretty Traumatized on Sound.xyz in January, which was her entry for Optimism's "We Heart The Art" contest.
Inspired by her intense struggle with cancer, discovering self-worth, and dealing with toxic relationships, her lyrics are steeped in a sarcastic form of catharsis as she learns to love her literal, and figurative, scars; a theme beautifully juxtaposed by...
Interview with Livingston
We had the pleasure of interviewing Livingston over Zoom video!
LIVINGSTON is a 21-year-old singer-songwriter who is having an insane year. In March, he released his debut album A Hometown Odyssey, which has already amassed over 70 million streams on Spotify alone. (Check out lead singles “Last Man Standing” and “Shadow.”) He sold out his first-ever headline tours in both North America, and the UK/Europe.
LIVINGSTON gained over 7M followers across all platforms and was named Youtube’s Artist on the Rise in June 2024. His uncanny ability to empower listeners to realize their potential has accelerated Livingston’...
Interview with GHØSTKID
We had the pleasure of interviewing GHØSTKID over Zoom video!
"The biggest problem that art has nowadays is that it doesn't hurt anymore," says GHØSTKID vocalist and agent provocateur Sebastian "Sushi" Biesler. "Especially here in Germany, people are so afraid to push boundaries, to make art that makes you think and feel."
By fall 2021, with the world shutdown seemingly over, Sushi wasn't content to let his creative yen languish at home in Germany.
"Even though we had made it through COVID, I was missing being able to play live, to really function as...
Interview with Venues
We had the pleasure of interviewing VENUES over Zoom video!
With their third album “Transience”, VENUES effortlessly pushes the boundaries of what is possible in modern metal. After two strong predecessors “Aspire” and “Solace”, oscillating somewhere between post-hardcore, alternative metal and metalcore, the Stuttgart-based band are finally tearing down all barriers, borders and walls. “Transience” unleashes an emotional cascade full of great melodies, visionary soundscapes, abysmal heaviness and visceral, unfiltered emotion. This is not just an album. This is catharsis. A medicine for a sick world. The antidote to dreariness, indifference and coldness.
And yet it is anything but...
Interview with Kobra Paige
We had the pleasure of interviewing Kobra Paige over Zoom video!
Kobra Paige releases the title track “Like No Other” off her debut solo album Like No Other to be released on August 30th. The title track, co-written with Lizzy Hale (Halestorm) and Joe Hottinger (Halestorm) alongside producer Nick Raskulinecz (Foo Fighters, Halestorm, Alice In Chains) showcases the depth and soul behind the creation of the entire album.“
Like No Other” was later completed by Kobra at producer Brian Howe’s (Skillet, Daughtry, Linkin Park) Black Stove Studios in 2021 where the addition of Sitar was introduced. This paid...
Interview with Mergui
We had the pleasure of interviewing Mergui over Zoom video!
Emerging singer-songwriter Mergui, made his debut appearance on NBC’s TODAY Show on May 21st, to perform his single "Happy Now?". This track is the second single from his sophomore EP, Shadows of Blue, out now on Virgin Music/Saban Music Partners.
Produced by industry icons like the legendary David Foster(Madonna, Michael Jackson) and acclaimed singer-songwriter/producer K-KOV, Shadows of Blue presents a unique body of work that captures the myriad emotions of staying true to one's passion, despite the obstacles encountered. Mergui’s forthcoming EP d...
Interview with Sam Tompkins
We had the pleasure of interviewing Sam Tompkins over Zoom video!
Highly acclaimed British singer-songwriter Sam Tompkins releases his eagerly anticipated debut album hi, my name is insecure via Republic Records. Also released today is his brand new single ‘almost killed me’.
Listen to hi, my name is insecure HERE
Listen to ‘almost killed me’ HERE
hi, my name is insecure is the sum of years of hard work from Sam as he builds his dream body of work, incorporating tracks which are already fan favorites alongside exciting new material. The album, out toda...
Interview with The Wild Things
We had the pleasure of interviewing The Wild Things over Zoom video!
Fast-rising UK quartet The Wild Things have released “Drunk Again”, the lead single from their sophomore LP Afterglow, set for release later in 2024. Co-produced by Pete Townshend, “Drunk Again” is the perfect soundtrack to a night out at the local dive and further cements The Wild Things as one of rock’s most exciting young acts.
Anchored by a twangy lick from guitarist Rob Kendrick and vocalist Sydney Rae White’s powerful voice, “Drunk Again” is the latest punchy offering from a group with seemingly endles...
Interview with Skylar Simone
We had the pleasure of interviewing Skylar Simone over Zoom video!
In the dynamic realm of music, Skylar Simone emerges as one to watch, blending raw authenticity with impeccable control to create a sound that resonates deeply with audiences worldwide. The daughter of an NFL player, Skylar grew up in multiple cities, creating a unique mix of cultural influences. Upon discovering her vocal talent and love for music at the age of 9, she began to hone her performing ability by singing the National Anthem at various stadiums across the country. Her tight-knit family ultimately moved to Los Angeles...
