44. Sean O’Hagan
Sean speaks about the High Llamas, Stereolab, the Beach Boys and how he came to be an arranger.
Illustration by Taylor W. Rushing
I could not be more excited to present my conversation with one of my all-time favorite musicians, the incomparable Sean O’Hagan. Sean’s first major band was the Irish 1980s pop group Microdisney. After that group disbanded, he started recording with his next project, the High Llamas, who released some of the most beautiful pop music of the last 30 years. Recently, he has dropped the High Llamas moniker in favor of his own name. The latest Sean O’Hagan album is “Radum Calls, Radum Calls.” No, there’s not an echo in here. Sean and I speak about the stylistic transitions between his projects, joining the band Stereolab, working with Bonnie Prince Billy, how he came to be one of the today’s most in-demand musical arrangers, his recent bout with cancer, and his love of soul music. After the interview, he shares an exclusive recording he and his daughter Livvy made specifically for this episode, and I share my gratitude for all the terrific people who contributed to this amazing season. Sean spoke to me from his home in England earlier this year.
Explore Sean O’Hagan’s world of music:
An acoustic Sly and The Family Stone cover from Sean and Livvy, recorded exclusively for Low Profile!
Here’s the 2020 single by Sean and his daughter Livvy, about people in lockdown and animals roaming the streets.
Sean’s latest solo album Radum Calls, Radum Calls on bandcamp.
From the High Llamas sophomore record “Gideon Gaye,” the official video for “Checking In, Checking Out.”
From the High Llamas album “Snowbug,” here’s the video for “Bach Ze” featuring vocals by Stereolab’s Mary Hansen and Lætitia Sadier.
Here we are at the end of a very ambitious and experimental fourth season. It’s been such a pleasure to produce these episodes, and it would not have been possible without the generous contributions of so many people, including you, the listener, so first of all thanks to you for giving my hard work an audience. And then to the amazing line-up of guests this season. Sean O’Hagan, OK Vancouver OK, Jonny Fritz, Gretchen Christopher, Allison O’Donnell, Ed Wilcox, Mark Hosler, The Wurst Nightmare, Alice Stuart, Jeffrey Lewis, Briana Marela, a big thanks and “We’re not worthy” to all of you. I’m also filled with gratitude for all the people who contributed to this past season, like all the correspondent hosts we heard from earlier this year: Jack Habegger, Eli Moore, Rob Smith, and the previous featured guests who took on the role of hosting, Karl Blau and Henry Barnes.
Also, as you may have noticed, this was the first time a season of the show had a “look,” and that’s all thanks to the amazing portraits of each featured guest, drawn for your visual pleasure by Taylor W. Rushing. He has an illustration business called Not Bad Illustrations, you should totally hire him for your next endeavor, you can find his previous work and lots of aesthetically delicious merchandise and taylorwrushing.com
Thanks to my fam at San Francisco Street Bakery and newly reopened Schwartz’s Deli in Olympia, Washington for in-kind support from the very beginning,
And finally, a big shout out to my Patreon supporters. It means so much to me that this work means so much to you. And anybody else who would like to chip in and help this show exist, you can visit patreon.com/lowprofile
43. Ok Vancouver Ok
Jeff discusses his experimental and socially conscious band’s origins, wearing a monkey suit to work, artistic process, and bringing the kids on tour.
On this episode, guest host Eli Moore returns to speak with Jeff Johnson of the Canadian indie band OK Vancouver OK. The project has been consistently cranking out a stream of primarily self-released albums since 2005, and their efforts are hard to classify in terms of genre, but they are clearly expiremental, socially conscious, and family-friendly. Their latest record as the time of this episode’s release is entitled “Never Perfect,” which you can find on their website.
Jeff discusses the band’s origins as a solo project in Vancouver, BC, the situations that inform his songwriting and recording process, and bringing his children on tour. Their drummer, Laura House, who is Jeff’s wife, also joins in the conversation to talk about the present danger of food deserts. We’ll also hear, in part or in whole, eleven of their songs.
Dig it:
More from OK Vancouver OK:
Their latest record as of this episode’s release, “Never Perfect”
My personal favorite album, “Escape the Common People”
Find all of their discography on their website or on bandcamp.
Enjoy some videos
Here is an artist-curated playlist from Ok Vancouver Ok, check out what’s been on their turntable!
42. Jonny Fritz
The 21st Century Country icon and realtor shoots the sh*t with Henry Barnes.
Jonny Fritz is a man of many talents. In addition to being one of my personal favorite artists at the forefront of 21st century country music, he is a father, leatherworker, and according to his business card, “LA’s Premiere Used House Salesman.” He grew up in Virginia, lived in Philly later in life, and then moved to Nashville where he get his country music career going releasing a pair of albums under the moniker Jonny Corndawg. He has since moved to Los Angeles, where he works in real estate, and has reverted to his given name to release the albums “Dad Country” and “Sweet Creep.” Our correspondent and friend of the show Henry Barnes (Amps For Christ) recorded this interview with Jonny earlier this year. They are discussing their respective experiences in craftsmanship, songwriting, southern California geography, Huell Howser, Jonny’s cuisine-centric expeditions to India, and much more on this installment.
Related links:
You can find music and merchandise from Jonny Fritz at jonnyfritz.com.
Anybody wanna buy a house?
This song plays in the episode, “Forever Whatever” as recorded in India with local musicians.
This is the tune that turned me on to Jonny Fritz’s music.
See guest host Henry Barnes on the legendary “California’s Gold” with Huell Howser on this fab episode:
41. Gretchen Christopher of the Fleetwoods
The Fleetwoods’ Gretchen Christopher tells stories about the mid-20th century vocal group and shares some new music.
Illustration by Taylor W. Rushing
On today’s show, Gretchen Christopher of the iconic 1950s and 60s pop vocal group the Fleetwoods returns to the show. Gretchen talks about that band’s formation and rise straight to the top of the Billboard charts, and her solo career that followed. The Fleetwoods were comprised of Gretchen Christopher, Barbara Ellis, and Gary Troxel and were the first group to hit number one TWICE on the Billboard Hot 100 Charts in a single year. They were an international success thanks to their tight harmonies, rich sound and classic songs like “Come Softly To Me” and “Mr. Blue.” Gretchen has lived all over the country, but has settled back in here in Olympia, Washington where we produce this program. We first met about a year ago when she came to my all vinyl yard sale looking for Fleetwoods albums, and I think the fact that I told her I did but they were not for sale might have helped me score enough points to land an interview with a living legend such as herself.
Back In January of 2021 she invited my BFF-slash-guest engineer Andrew Ebright and I to the deck of her home to record this interview on location. She sings a song she wrote for the group acapella, gave us a tour of her place, and showed us some cool memorabilia. Andrew came back a few days after that and recorded her doing a new song on the piano, which you’ll hear later. He also got that on video, and you can view it here by scrolling down.
Their version of the classic doo-wop song “We Belong Together” from the Mr. Blue album is featured on this episode, and a demo version of “Happy Happy Birthday.” You’ll also hear the title track from her “Gretchen’s Sweet 16” album, which you can find here.
After that, I’m going to play you the Christmas Bonus episode we taped together last year where she talks about her single “Christmas Is You,” because… y’know… Christmas in July, right?... Right???
Listen by clicking the play button below.
BONUS CONTENT:
Videos shot by Andrew Ebright for two solo performances by Gretchen Christopher.
“I Am An Angel”
“Christmas Is You”
Here’s an early television performance of the Fleetwoods’ signature debut hit “Come Softly To Me":
40. Alison O’Donnell
Though the legacy of her work with Mellow Candle looms large, one look at Alison O’Donnell’s discography clearly indicates she continues to have a rich artistic life.
Illustration by T.W. Rushing
Michael Sean Coleman will be your guest host for this two-part episode as we take a closer look and a listen to the amazing life and incredible music of Alison O’ Donnell. You may know that Alison, along with Clodagh Simmonds, were the vocal powerhouse that drove the Irish prog/psych/folk rock band Mellow Candle - the two teenage girls lending their soaring harmonies and timeless songwriting to the group’s 1972 masterpiece, Swaddling Songs.
Alison’s nearly fifty years of songwriting and singing have, and continue to be deeply rooted in Celtic tradition - yet her creative Spirit and work ethic have driven her toward more experimental projects in recent years. Her career has taken her around the world, and she is now based in Dublin.
Though Mellow Candle’s legacy looms large, one look at her discography clearly indicates she continues to have a rich artistic life. Numerous solo recordings, contributions to such disparate collectives as The Owl Service, Head South by Weaving, United Bible Studies, Firefay and Eistlinn, and posting nearly one singing zoom a day since the pandemic restrictions began in March of last year - have kept her at the center of collaboration and in fine singing form.
This year finds her working with arranger Anthony Bools (who happens to be her cousin) on an album of her own compositions set to ancient and traditional motifs.
Michael and Alison discuss all this and more on Low Profile’s first two-part episode:
Featured songs and further recommendations:
39. Temple of Bon Matin
Temple of Bon Matin founder Ed Wilcox speaks with guest host Karl Blau about the group’s history.
Illustration by Taylor W. Rushing
Temple of Bon Matin founded in Philadelphia in 1990 and would continue through the two thousand teens with a rotating cast with the only constant being Ed Wilcox at the center and helm. Ed was the singer, drummer and band leader of Temple of Bon Matin which was an extremely loud band with electric guitars and smashing drums. A band of blue collar workers (Ed Wilcox is a truck driver currently), the band toured on the weekends and were back in the wee hours Monday morning to clock into their jobs. Ed is a wonderful story teller, and he was gracious to grant Low Profile an interview with Philadelphia based correspondent Karl Blau this past Winter from Ed's West Philly abode.
Further listening:
38. Negativland
Since the late 1970s, the art collective known as Negativland has been sticking it to the status quo through their albums, radio program, live performances and visual art for over 40 years.
This episode, guest hosted and produced by Eli Moore, is an interview with Negativland co-founder Mark Hosler. Since the late 1970s, the art collective known as Negativland has been sticking it to the status quo through their albums, radio program, live performances and visual art for over 40 years. Hosler tells Eli of the group’s beginnings in the San Francisco suburbs, their inevitable involvement with the punk scene there, the lawsuits they have had thrown at them, the evolution of their creative process over the years, and collaborating on new material with bandmates who have passed away for their latest albums True False and The World Will Decide.
An extended, unedited version of this interview is available for Patreon supporters, at patreon.com/lowprofile.
Recommendations:
Sonic Outlaws, a documentary about Negativland can be viewed at archive.org:
This critique on the band U2 earned the boys plenty of trouble:
Here is a great video for one of their new songs, “Don’t Don’t Get Freaked Out.”
Many episodes of the group’s long-running radio program “Over the Edge” can be heard here.
More information and merchandise can be yours by visiting negativland.com.
37. Alice Stuart
Journalist Rob Smith speaks with accomplished folk-rock troubadour Alice Stuart in this candid interview.
Illustration by Taylor W. Rushing
This episode is a crossover with the oral history podcast Welcome To Olympia, hosted and produced by Rob Smith. I first met Rob when we were both beginning work on our respective shows, and he asked me if he could use my band Skrill Meadow’s song “Going for Broke” for his show’s end theme music. (I obliged.) Since then we’ve been bouncing back and forth the idea of a further collaboration, and I stumbled upon an accomplished folk rock artist by the name of Alice Stuart, who happens to live here in Olympia these days. Alice spoke with Rob about growing up in rural Chelan, WA, getting signed to Arhoolie Records, touring the folk festival circuit in the 1960s, her stint accompanying blues legend Mississippi John Hurt, her brief working and romantic relationship with Frank Zappa, facing backlash after “going electric” in the ‘70s, and relocating to the Pacific Northwest after spending time in New York and California.
Illustration by Taylor W. Rushing
http://www.taylorwrushing.com
@taylorwrushing in Instagram
Alice Stuart's official facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/AliceStuartOfficial/
Rob Smith’s podcast “Welcome To Olympia:”
http://www.welcometoolympia.com
Skrill Meadow:
36. Jeffrey Lewis
The Brooklyn anti-folk troubadour dishes on history, NYC, comics and his music career.
Jeffrey Lewis is a musician from the Lower East Side of Manhattan who followed in the tradition of NYC’s “anti-folk” movement. He writes songs that come from his observations of the changing world around him. In the last 25 years he has released over 35 albums’ worth of material- including collaborations with the likes of Kimya Dawson, Diane Cluck, and Peter Stampfel. Here, Jeffrey speaks with guest host Jack Habegger about his musical beginings, writing comics, family, collaborating with the History Channel, and his unlikely friendship with the late indie rock hero David Berman.
Have a listen:
Recommendations:
Find lots more great music, comix and more at the Jeffrey Lewis Site.
35. Briana Marela
Briana Marela’s transcendent music emphasizes love, thick and swirling, like frozen yogurt you can listen to.
Artwork for season four by Taylor W. Rushing of Not Bad Illustration.
Singer, composer and multimedia artist Briana Marela’s transcendent music emphasizes love, thick and swirling, like frozen yogurt you can listen to. Briana grew up in Seattle and found herself immersed in its vibrant independent music community when she was still in high school. We spoke about how she came to record her first album with a cast of established music royalty (including friend of the show Karl Blau), toeing the line between pop and experimental music, her affinity for Mister Rogers, keeping her family’s heritage alive, her feelings about the 4th Amendment and working with Radiolab, recording with Sigur Ros producer Alex Somers in Iceland, creating sonic conceptual art, and her recent move to Brooklyn.
This episode was recorded and produced by Markly Morrison, and then edited by Miles Rozatti.
Recommendations:
Find all of Briana Marela’s albums on Briana’s bandcamp site.
Watch the music video below for “Dani” that was mentioned in the interview:
Below is her MFA thesis performance we were talking about. In her own words, “A collection of 3 pieces sharing common ground on their minimal gestural qualities, use of the voice, and melody in relation to performing live electronic music. They were all created using Max 8 and machine learning with Wekinator.” In my words, some very advanced sonic art.