Making Ways: The Art of Music

We hope you all enjoyed this latest season of Making Ways: The Art of Music. Can’t believe the amount of talent we squeezed into these episodes. We thought it could be fun to look back on a handful of the episodes that made this season sing. So we're dropping a two-part recap of the season for those of you who might have missed an episode or want to hit rewind on some of the magic. In this first installment, hear Kevin Morby, Mike Krol, David Wain, Craig Wedren, Lambchop, and Melvin's Buzz Osborne and artist/designer Mackie Osborne talk about the art of their music, creative collaboration, and finding your people. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this bonus episode, you'll hear film / TV composer, songwriter, and singer Craig Wedren of the band Shudder to Think with director, writer, and actor David Wain of The State, Stella, and Wet Hot American Summer fame as they discuss finding inspiration and tricking yourself into a beginner's mindset.And if you missed our full episode with David and Craig, get it here:https://www.makingways.co/episodes/episode/9e516618/david-wain-and-craig-wedren-the-art-of-music-for-film-tv-and-wet-hot-american-summerHear more from Craig Wedren at http://www.craigwedren.com. See more from David Wain at https://davidwain.com. Original episode artwork by host Rob Goodman.Visit http://www.makingwayspodcast.com for art, episodes, show notes, blog posts, and exclusive merchandise. Follow us on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/making.ways. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, we’re joined by two of Seattle’s finest –– Americana singer-songwriter Sera Cahoone and artist Zack Bolotin. Sera played drums with the adored indie rock group, Carissa’s Wierd, and later with Band of Horses. She went on to release four solo records, two on Sub Pop, and in 2019 received a Gold Record for her work with Band of Horses. She’s toured with Indigo Girls and Dave Matthews. You might have heard Sera on KEXP or NPR’s Tiny Desk Concert series or featured in the pages of Elle Magazine too. Her music is stunningly bittersweet, grounded in folk tradition with beautiful musicianship and soaring lovelorn lyrics. Hit play on Sera and you’ll be so happy you did. Zack Bolotin is an illustrator, photographer, and coffee & record shop owner at Porchlight. You’ll hear the origin story of how his retail endeavor accidentally led him to a career as a poster artist and illustrator. And he hasn’t looked back since, working with the likes of Death Cab for Cutie, New Pornographers, Olivia Rodrigo, Jawbreaker, The Head and the Heart, and of course today’s guest Sera Cahoone. Hear more from Sera Cahoone at https://www.seracahoone.com. See Zack Bolotin’s work at https://www.zackbolotin.com. Original episode artwork by host Rob Goodman.Visit http://www.makingwayspodcast.com for art, episodes, show notes, blog posts, and exclusive merchandise. Follow us on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/making.ways. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We’re talking about the art of music for film and TV with composer, songwriter, and singer Craig Wedren of the band Shudder to Think and director, writer, actor David Wain of The State, Stella, and Wet Hot American Summer fame. In this conversion, we dive into David and Craig’s lifelong friendship, the creative kindling of their days as roommates at NYU, working together on The State and films Role Models, Wanderlust, and They Came Together, and we talk all about the world of Wet Hot American Summer. We discuss Craig’s songwriting process, David’s screenwriting approach, Craig’s work scoring Yellowjackets with Anna Waronker of That Dog, and what it takes to make a successful creative collaboration. Shoutout of thanks to Ben Lee for introducing us.Hear more from Craig Wedren at http://www.craigwedren.com. See more from David Wain at https://davidwain.com. Original episode artwork by host Rob Goodman.Visit http://www.makingwayspodcast.com for art, episodes, show notes, blog posts, and exclusive merchandise. Follow us on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/making.ways. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode is dedicated in memory of Eric Livingston.We’re talking about the art of the music of Dead Cross, a thrash metal supergroup featuring vocalist Mike Patton from Faith No More, Mr. Bungle, and Fantômas, drummer Dave Lombardo of Slayer fame, guitarist Michael Crain from Retox, and today’s guest –– bassist Justin Pearson also from the Locust, Head Wound City, and Deaf Club. Justin is joined by artist Eric Livingston who did all the artwork for Dead Cross, the new album “II,” and the band’s now highly recognizable multi-limbed skeleton featured on their first album, as well as music videos like the group’s frenetic “Seizure and Desist.” And Justin’s longtime creative partner –– designer Bran Black Moon is here too, Bran is a creative force who has been working with Justin and his acclaimed record label Three One G for years.In this conversation, we talk all about the art of the band Dead Cross, the new record and how all the band’s artwork came together, early days and origin stories, deep dive into the creative and collaboration process, the freedom and unexpected rigidness of creating artwork for metal music, more of Bran’s background and Eric’s approach to making artwork and creative direction, and how Justin collaborates for Dead Cross, his record label Three One G, and his projects like Planet B, The Locust, Deaf Club, and more.Big thanks to Monica at Speakeasy and Justin for making it all happen. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

GQ calls them “The UK’s hottest band” and after spinning their records, you’ll call them a new favorite too. Lead singer, songwriter, and frontman Murray Matravers joins the show to talk about the art of the music of Easy Life. Alongside designer and award-winning creative director for the band Charlie Drinkwater and the brilliant claymation animator and director Will Child who created the artwork for the band’s album “Maybe In Another Life…” and the captivating animated music video for the song “Dear Miss Holloway.” In this episode, you’ll learn about Murray’s focus on the process in his songwriting and in the visual art for the band. You’ll hear about what makes for amazing creative collaborations from the perspective of a musician, animator, and creative director. Dive into the world of claymation with Will. And discover the thoughtful and unified approach that goes into the presentation of the band’s music and art –– from videos to stage shows to album and single artwork. Most of all you’ll hear from three people that are deeply committed to making beautiful things and putting them out into the world with intention and care. So hit play and enjoy.Hear more from Easy Life at https://www.easylifemusic.com.See more from Will Child at https://www.instagram.com/williamjchild.Get in touch with Charlie Drinkwater at https://charliedrinkwater.com.Original episode artwork by host Rob Goodman.Visit http://www.makingwayspodcast.com for art, episodes, show notes, blog posts, and exclusive merchandise. Follow us on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/making.ways. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're hitting rewind on one of our favorite episodes! Laura Lee of Khruangbin and designer Nate Utesch discuss the stories behind the art of the band’s latest album "Mordechai." In this expansive conversation for the new Making Ways podcast, we dive into the origin story of the record and how the artwork came together as a collaboration between Laura and Nate. Laura shares her creative songwriting process and how mindfulness plays such an important part in her craft, and Nate walks us through the way he works with bands (including Smashing Pumpkins, Phoebe Bridgers, Weezer, and his own electronic music project called Metavari) to create incredible packages. Follow Making Ways for stories behind the art of music. Learn more at www.makingwayspodcast.com. Discover more from Khruangbin at www.khruangbin.com and explore the work of Nate Utesch at www.utesch.xyz. All music used by permission of the band, label, and publisher.Special thanks to Josh Roth for his ongoing support and for introducing us to Nate which made this episode possible. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Neil Frances, the LA-based electropop band comprised of Sydney-born Jordan Feller and Southern California native Marc Gilfry, join Making Ways: The Art of Music alongside their creative family to talk about how their visuals for albums, videos, and the group’s overall aesthetic come together. In this interview featuring the duo’s collaborators photographer Pia Riverola, painter John Reagan, and videographer Kyle Jetter, we talk all about the creative collaboration process, the importance of trust, and stories behind the band’s singles and debut album “There Is No Neil Frances.” We dive into the songwriting and recording process too, filming and editing music videos, and the creative glue that holds it all together.Special thanks to Elliott Watson at Honora Productions for introducing us to Jordan.Hear more from Neil Frances at https://neilfrances.bandcamp.com.See Pia Riverola’s photography at https://www.piariverola.com.Check out John Reagan’s artwork at https://www.instagram.com/_johnreagan.Watch Kyle Jetter’s work at http://kylejetter.com.    Original episode artwork by host Rob Goodman.Visit http://www.makingwayspodcast.com for art, episodes, show notes, blog posts, and exclusive merchandise. Follow us on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/making.ways. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today we’re joined by Kevin Morby, the Kansas City-based musician and songwriter, to discuss the art of the music for his latest album “This Is a photograph” and 2020’s “Sundowner” alongside the designer for those records, the multitalented Mike Krol. “This Is a photograph” is a brilliant career-standout record for Morby who has been releasing solo records since 2013 and started off in the bands The Babies and Woods. Krol, you might know better for his fantastic garage pop albums like “Turkey” and “Power Chords,” but he’s also a highly accomplished graphic designer who has worked with Waxahatchee, Blink-182, That Dog, Snail Mail, Violent Femmes, OK Go, St. Vincent, and Spoon. In this expansive conversation we talk about Morby’s creative process for songwriting and developing a visual universe for his records, Mike’s unique perspective as a designer and musician doing visual work for other bands, and the family ties these two share. We go deeper into the themes of “This Is a Photograph,” talk Jeff Buckley and Memphis inspiration, and discuss how both Morby and Krol are frequently inspired by visual art and film to create music.Special thanks to Ben Lee for introducing us to Mike, and to Mike and Kevin for joining the series.Hear more from Kevin Morby at https://www.kevinmorby.com.See more from Mike Krol at https://www.mikekrol.com.Original episode artwork by host Rob Goodman.Visit http://www.makingwayspodcast.com for art, episodes, show notes, blog posts, and exclusive merchandise. Follow us on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/making.ways. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this special twofold episode, we talk to musician and songwriter Scout Gillett, photographer and filmmaker Julie Orlick, and graphic designer and artist Ian Langehough about the visual world of Scout’s music. You’ll get a glimpse into the very old-school photography process that was used to create the cover image for “no roof no floor” –– Scout’s debut album on the Captured Tracks record label. The commitment it takes for creative collaboration to thrive. And how Ian and Scout’s friendship and common visual language unite their work together. From tintype photographer to typesetting posters and finding inspiration in open spaces and even other people’s trash –– this is a wonderful episode featuring one of our favorite new and emerging artists, Scout Gillett. Special thanks to Tom Gallo at https://www.lookatmyrecords.com for the introduction.Hear more from Scout Gillett at https://scoutgillettmusic.bandcamp.com. Original episode artwork by host Rob Goodman.Visit http://www.makingwayspodcast.com for art, episodes, show notes, blog posts, and exclusive merchandise. Follow us on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/making.ways. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If there’s one word that describes Lambchop, it’s reinvention. Kurt Wagner has been on an unpredictable musical journey since his first release under the moniker in the mid-90s. From “How I Quit Smoking” to “Aw Cmon,” “No You Cmon,” “Nixon,” and his latest release, the masterful “The Bible,” his albums veer from folk to gospel to electronic and all the sonic nooks and crannies in between. And the artwork that represents his music has evolved just as quickly, with each step forward, the visuals match Kurt’s fearless approach to his creative work. In this episode we’re joined by Kurt and Craig Allen from the design group New Formalists discussing the team’s decades-long creative partnership alongside their late partner Jerry Joyner, their process together, the art of the new album, and how Kurt thinks about art representing music.Big thanks to Mike Caulo and Daniel Murphy for making this interview a reality.Original episode artwork by host Rob Goodman.Visit http://www.makingwayspodcast.com for art, episodes, show notes, blog posts, and exclusive merchandise. Follow us on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/making.ways. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“Trust the vision.” So says Buzz Osborne of the legendary band Melvins who joins the show with his creative partner of 30+ years and wife, Mackie Osborne, whose incredible portfolio includes design for Tool, Bad Religion, and Mr. Bungle. We’re talking about the seriously dark sense of humor in the band’s art and music, hardcore work ethic, and what makes for a longstanding creative partnership.Visit http://www.makingwayspodcast.com for art, episodes, show notes, blog posts, and exclusive merchandise.Follow us on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/making.ways. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this first episode of the new season, we're joined by Doug Martsch of Built to Spill and music video director Jordan Minkoff chatting about Doug's hands-off approach to creative collaboration and the hysterical backstories behind some of the band's latest videos for their newest record When The Wind Forgets Your Name. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

New bands! New artists! Making Ways: The Art of Music is returning with a brand new season! And we’re so excited to be joining the Weirder Together podcast network for it all. This season we’re bringing together even more bands and musicians with the visual artists they work with to talk all about the art of music and creative collaboration. Everything from band posters to album design, music videos, and stage shows –– and you’ll hear about the art of music for film, TV, and fashion too. Each episode features a custom 'gig poster' to commemorate the conversation, illustrated by host and series creator Rob Goodman. We have an amazing line-up of musicians and visual artists for you this season –– like the Melvins, Built to Spill, Lambchop, Neil Frances, Dead Cross, and a lot more. And we're celebrating with a brand new website at http://makingwayspodcast.com. So be sure to subscribe and follow wherever you're listening and get ready for new episodes very soon. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this conversation, we go deep into the art of the music for “Marrow,” the latest single from Thao & the Get Down Stay Down off the deluxe edition of their album, Temple. Thao and filmmaker Linda Mai Green discuss their collaboration for the music video for “Marrow,” the meaning behind the song, and Thao shares the influence her work as host of the podcast Song Exploder had on her overcoming creative blocks in writing the album. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What happens when the anthem for our times meets… elf yourself? It’s the story behind the music video and song, Born For This Bullshit, with acclaimed and beloved rocker Ben Lee and the brilliant director Byron Spencer. Buckle up for a wide-ranging conversation about the music video, Ben’s upcoming 20th (?!) LP “I’m Fun” and explore why embracing your own weirdness can lead to amazing new work. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're talking about building consensus in creative projects, how to give feedback, and the value of clearly defined roles... so much goodness in one lil' bonus episode. You'll hear from  Laura Lee of Khruangbin and designer Nate Utesch, Anaïs Mitchell of Hadestown and Bonny Light Horseman with designer Aaron Denton, and Ra Ra Riot’s Mathieu Santos with designer Chris Everhart. Tune in for lessons in creative collaboration from this past season of Making Ways: The Art of Music. Hear the full episodes by subscribing today, wherever you're listening to this podcast.    Follow Making Ways for stories behind the art of music. Learn more at www.makingwayspodcast.com. Original episode artwork by Rob Goodman at www.robgoodman.com.   Discover more from Khruangbin at www.khruangbin.com and explore the work of Nate Utesch at www.utesch.xyz.    Hear Bonny Light Horseman at www.bonnylighthorseman.com and see Aarron Denton’s designs at www.aaronlowelldenton.com.   Check out Ra Ra Riot at www.rarariot.com and see Chris’s artwork at www.chriseverhart.com.    All music used by permission of the band, label, and publisher. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We implore you to watch the music videos for Cholla, My God, and Your Cocoon, they will most certainly blow your mind. Lucas Nathan aka Jerry Paper makes music that is chill, breezy, absurd, and as Lucas puts it: funny with a touch of sadness. Steve is one of the most talented 3D animators out there and he’s worked with Team Coco, Snapchat, and edited the TBS TV series The Dress Up Gang. Both Lucas and Steve have done various TV projects including work for Adult Swim. In this conversation, we talk about the creative collaboration between Lucas and Steve on Jerry Paper’s music videos, go into the making of Jerry Paper’s latest album Abracadabra, and discuss Lucas and Steve’s art and music origin stories. You’re in for a truly unique conversation with two fascinating, funny, and very talented creators.   Follow Making Ways for stories behind the art of music. Learn more at www.makingwayspodcast.com. Check out Jerry Paper’s music at https://jerrypaper.guru and see more from Steve Smith at https://stevesmith.co. All music used by permission of the band, label, and publisher.   A big thanks to Bree Wilkinson at Yes Please for helping to make this episode possible.   Cholla music video:  https://youtu.be/ytTrL6qqDJs   My God music video:  https://youtu.be/EpfGP_vY1Hw   Your Cocoon music video: https://youtu.be/jzEKSTYa5FE    Face Lift | Adult Swim: https://youtu.be/UxBl73QX000  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Speedy Ortiz started off as a solo project for musician, songwriter, and poet Sadie Dupuis that quickly grew into a full band experience. Over the past several years Sadie has been experimenting with a new solo project under her own moniker of Sad13. Her latest album Haunted Painting is a loud danceable indie-pop gem that is as personal as it is relatable. Michael DeForge is a celebrated comic book artist from Toronto, Ontario, with a treasure trove of original books to his name and artwork that has been featured in The New York Times, The Believer, Bloomberg, and he’s worked as a designer on Adventure Time for six seasons too. Michael and Sadie recount the projects they’ve collaborated on over the years, their creative processes for songwriting and art-making, the joys of procrastination, the fight for artists' rights, and the story behind the art for Sadie’s latest album (with cover painting by Sadie’s mom).  Follow Making Ways for stories behind the art of music. Learn more at www.makingwayspodcast.com. Discover more from Sadie Dupuis at www.sad13.horse and explore the artwork of Michael DeForge at www.michael-deforge.com.  All music used with permission of the band, label, and publisher. Big thanks to Bree Wilkinson at Yes Please for helping to make this episode possible. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In today’s episode, we’re joined by Eric D. Johnson of Fruit Bats and Bonny Light Horseman and his wife and creative collaborator, photographer Annie Beedy, all about their work together that pairs his music with her vivid documentary-style photography. And we’re joined later in the episode by Daniel Murphy, acclaimed album designer, now residing as Art Director at Merge Records. Daniel has designed albums for Bon Iver, Hiss Golden Messenger, Sharon Van Etten, The War On Drugs, Dinosaur Jr., and has worked with Fruit Bats on their brilliant, new album The Pet Parade. We go behind the art of the music and talk through Annie’s photography, how it connects with Eric’s music, how Eric thinks about the artwork that represents his body of work, the making of stories and themes of the new album, and how Daniel Murphy puts the puzzle pieces together for incredible packaging. Follow Making Ways for more stories behind the art of music. Learn more at www.makingwayspodcast.com. Original episode artwork by Rob Goodman at www.robgoodman.com. Discover more from Fruit Bats at www.fruitbatsmusic.com. See Annie Beedy’s photography at www.anniebeedy.smugmug.com. And view Daniel Murphy’s portfolio at www.5pt5panoramic.com. Hear more about Bonny Light Horseman in our episode with Anaïs Mitchell and designer Aaron Denton at www.makingways.co/episodes/bonnylighthorseman. All music used with permission of the band, label, and publisher. Special thanks to Dean Christesen at Spacebomb Group for helping to make this episode possible. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.