LaunchLeft

Jonah Yano sits down with LaunchLeft to talk about art, music and life as a left-of-center creative born in Japan, residing in Toronto on planet Earth during the time of Covid-19. He talks shop about collaborating with his estranged father through a 20 year old recording. If you haven’t heard Jonah’s soulful and soul-lifting music yet, you should… and you will!  Strap in for Episode 48 of LaunchLeft!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Music Producer, drummer, artist and activist are just some of words to describe this enigmatic left-of-center force. Madame Gandhi sits down for a short but pithy conversation about a life in art and how it not only transformed her into a leading female voice in the music industry but created a platform for her to highlight social and political issues.We close the show talking to this week’s launched artist Ane Diaz about her latest latest single “Los Ejes de Mi Carreta”Watch her new video only on LaunchLeft.com or wherever you hear podcasts.Be sure to check out the new compilation album "Defund The Sheriff" featuring Madame Gandhi, Aja Monet, Mystic and many more. STREAMING EVERYWHERE!.....#madamegandhi #launchleft #podcast #launchedartist #anediazSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Violin, Viola, Hip Hop and activism - a match made in LaunchLeft heaven! Set in the amber light of Hollywood’s boutique hotel, music studio & dive bar Gold-Diggers, we welcome another group of truly one-of-a-kind, left-of-creatives. We explore Black Violin’s journey from childhood to adulthood through the lens of classical music and uncharted territory. This inspirational discussion covers all kinds of hearty goodness for the soul and followed by a special live performance.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A week after this conversation was captured at Gold-Diggers in Hollywood, the world went into quarantine. It’s near romantic to hear about life on the road from Phantogram. This street beat, dream-pop duo do not mince words as they unpack their life-long friendship, creative process and the trials and tribulations that have fueled the engine of their creative and activism. They pay it forward and share about a band they love called Why? We welcome them on the heals of their latest record Ceremony.To close the episode a quick Q&A with Simone Istwa about her new single “Driving” available exclusively via the LaunchLeft label. #phantogram #rainphoenix #summerphoenix #artistslaunchingartists #simoneistwaSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Comedy writer and author Bess Kalb joins LaunchLeft for a conversation about her latest, best-selling novel “Nobody Will Tell You This But Me”.  She also gives a vignette of her childhood, her career and what it has been like breaking through as a woman in a male dominated industry.We follow with a Q&A with launched artist Victoria Reed who shares among other things, how the stars and planets informed her song “Same Way”.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rain and Zach start the conversation on activism in relation to Portugal.The Man advocating for indigenous peoples during their concerts and through their foundation. It centers largely on the topic of personal responsibility and especially for those who identify as white, how to ask ourselves what we can do daily to learn more, humble ourselves and be willing to change deep rooted biases in our culture. This episode was captured before the mass protests began, but it’s obvious there was something in the air begging our attention. It’s time for change and LaunchLeft believes “artivists” will be at the frontlines of the new era. Our hats off to PTM for being an example and inspiration- we look forward to speaking to more artists and activists like them who encourage and uplift voices long stifled by ignorance. We close the episode with a short Q&A with Jack Gibson of Tenlons Fort with his song “Hey Dan” the 4th single from the “Launched Artist Digital Singles” on LaunchLeft. See omnystudio.com/listener for

Songwriter/performer/musician/author and evocative rebel artist Jehnny Beth never stops creating. To her, the artist lives within and must be coaxed into the act of creation through inspiration. She gives a window into her creative process and how it has evolved during the COVID-19 pandemic. Settle in for this intimate and fascinating portrait of one of today’s most ground-breaking artist.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In early 2020 before Covid-19 found us inside for months and before we hit the streets in protest to mourn the deaths of innocent Black men & women calling out racist cops and to shine a bright light on systemic racism, LaunchLeft sat down with the self identified “Queer Pop” band MUNA at Gold Diggers to talk about their music and activism. They shared about their writing process, Black Lives Matter, racial injustice and the watershed moment at USC when they experienced firsthand the racial disparity on campus. The lyrics to their song “I know a place” directly spoke to their growing awareness that while the marriage equality act had passed, for trans women of color, to be physically safe was still an issue that needed our attention. Their record ‘Muna Saves the World’ centered largely on the idea that “the personal is political” and it was a privilege to hear how these young women use their music to activate their activism. Their inspirational conversation including their personal picks of favorite new m

Flaming Lips frontman Wayne Coyne goes deep and head on with us into the universality of loss, grief, art and our shared humanity. Wayne says, “If you accept that the world is beautiful but it’s also brutal, what do you do about that? it’s up to us to put some light into it, put some love into it…” This wisdom and more in a conversation that bounces between the exultation of the mundane, painting, the middle way, helping, staying in the moment and the importance of impermanence. Deep cut, we get first hand story time about Yoshimi’s stream of consciousness origin story. The best possible palate cleanser? FUNKILLER’s new single “Divided Highway”, the second drop from the “Launched Artist Digital Singles” on LaunchLeft.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Join LaunchLeft in a very introspective conversation with Thao & The Get Down Stay Down. How do we as artists adapt to these times? What can we do to inspire while also balancing our own anxieties? What led us to art? Will it comfort and ignite our inspiration? A deep 30 minutes before we showcase the bands highly inventive music video Phenom; a truly emblematic piece for these strange times!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Icon, rebel, legendary songwriter, artist and forward thinker Lucinda Williams joins the LaunchLeft conversation to discuss her new record, politics, finding her soul mate, and just plain ‘ol caring about people. She opens up about collaboration, songwriting, true love, the magical musical time she grew up in and the importance of music and poetry in her life. We close the episode with a 5 minute Q&A with Capes, LaunchLeft label’s first “launched artist” of 2020 + their beautiful first single “Looking Out For Me”.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week we welcome 1 half of Tenacious D and 100% of the one and only Jack Black. We dig deep into his fascinating and often hilarious mind touching upon his early musical influences and experiences that led him down the creative path. He also discusses the importance of being your authentic self and the things that allowed him to find his “own voice” in music and film. Joining the conversation is Jack’s launched artist, The Haden Triplets where we explore their unique formula of blood harmony. Strap yourself in for this truly meaningful conversation with these totally unique left-of-center beauties.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

LaunchLeft welcomes Simón Mejía of Bomba Estéreo to talk about the power of nature and music through his travels from Afro-Colombian communities on the Pacific coast of Colombia to indigenous communities in the mountains as part of a new film project, Stand For Trees. Bastian Velasco won the global remix contest for the Stand For Trees teaser soundtrack and we close the show with Simón launching his song.To listen to the full song visit LaunchLeft.com or wherever you hear podcasts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The conversation travels far and wide with actor/director/writer/playwright and friend of LaunchLeft John Cameron Mitchell while he’s quarantining in Palm Desert. Art, theatre, music, sex, film and humanity -- AIDS, MacGayver auditions, drag queens and non-essential oils- it all gets covered in just over 40 minutes! Sob Sister pops in to close the show.Find us at www.LaunchLeft.com or wherever you hear podcasts. #LaunchLeftatHome #LaunchLeft  #Podcast #artistshelpingartists #johncameronmitchellSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

LaunchLeft welcomes Kathy Valentine of the Go-Go’s as she discusses her ups and downs as a touring musician, sharing the stage with the likes of David Bowie, The Police and The Rolling Stones and what it takes to be a female in a world class rock n’ roll ensemble. Kathy also gives us a vignette of her newly released memoir “All I Ever Wanted” and launches her favorite Toronto-based all girl band The Beaches!Find us at LaunchLeft.com or wherever you hear podcasts. #artistshelpingartists #LaunchLeftatHomeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rufus Wainwright: Portrait Launched Artist: Ane Diaz We begin Episode #33 with an honest and topical discussion with Mr. Wainwright, whose been sharing his music freely on social media for some time now. Since quarantine he has redoubled/tripled/quadrupled his efforts with his robe recitals daily! We get 22 glorious minutes with him to discuss the current affairs and how artists are engaging in the quarantine landscape. Then on to one of our favorite artists for many years Ms. Ane Diaz. The Venezuelan chanteuse and long time Phoenix Family friend let’s us in on her gardening tips, her early days in America, her love of music, + a surprise pop in by Devendra Banhart before she plays us a Venezuelan folk song. Find us at LaunchLeft.com or wherever you hear podcasts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When LA went into a “stay-at-home” mandate because of Covid-19, she masterfully was able to pivot the release of her newest shoe from her brick and mortar stores to the web in 2 days! She, like other artists are adapting quickly and making the best of a difficult situation. But, what we found most impressive about Melody is who she is on a soul level, her practice, her resilience, her passion, her grace. “The unknown is where all the magic happens” is just one of our favorite quotes of hers in this conversation- we received so much inspiration and think you will too! Bonus track, we even got a little quality time with her author/musician husband Flea to close the show. Find us at http://LaunchLeft.com or wherever you hear podcasts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We are here every Tuesday and things keep getting more surreal… So much so that, after this wonderful Linda Perry conversation, we will be connecting with artists from home in an effort to keep us all safe during our creative discussions. This episode is “LaunchLeft BC” (Before Corona) and, it is nice to go back in time with Linda Perry! We love how she spends so much air time talking about her launched artist Willa Amai. You will hear more from Linda and her WE ARE HEAR creative partner Kerry Brown via youtube later in the week. Artists Helping Artists Helping Everybody! We want YOU at home to be part of the discussion, so please comment with questions for our guests! Find us at LaunchLeft.com or wherever you hear podcasts and leave a review, rate, and subscribe!LAUNCHLEFT OFFICIAL WEBSITEwww.launchleft.comTWITTER@LaunchLeftINSTAGRAM@LaunchLeftWebsitewww.rainjphoenix.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Respect your elders! Ageism be damned! The world has been rocked and we want to acknowledge how intense things have been for all of us and especially scary for those in our elder community. A perfect time to share the wisdom of the beautiful, effervescent and vibrant silver fox that is Ms. Denise Kaufman. Through this discussion, we learned so much that brought comfort and hope to us in regard to all that has been going on… Denise is a musician, songwriter, surfer, gardener, yogini, and grandmother. We don’t know how this interview lined up so we’ll with the intensity of this past week but it just does. She discusses everything that is so timely right now and takes us back in time to her 1960s all-female psychedelic rock band Ace of Cups. And then she shares a wide array of eclectic songs and artists she’s listening to now.Find us at LaunchLeft.com or wherever you hear podcasts and leave a review, rate, and subscribe!LAUNCHLEFT OFFICIAL WEBSITEwww.launchleft.comTWITTER@LaunchLeftINSTAGRAM@LaunchLeft

As luck would have it this conversation was had in the gap between touring and a new record for The Garden. Relaxed and near silly at times the OC twins share about peanut butter, punk rock, fashion by accident and more with Rain and Summer. Do yourselves a favor and catch them on tour/listen to their new single “clench to stay awake” on Spotify. Fletcher and Wyatt are true originals.Find us at LaunchLeft.com or wherever you hear podcasts and leave a review, rate, and subscribe!LAUNCHLEFT OFFICIAL WEBSITEwww.launchleft.comTWITTER@LaunchLeftINSTAGRAM@LaunchLeftWebsitewww.rainjphoenix.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.