The Song Is Never Done

Following a long career in bands like The Walkmen and Jonathan Fire*Eater, musician Walter Martin crafted his 6th studio album, The Bear, warmed by a wood burning stove in a bright red one-room schoolhouse_._ Tackling themes of family, art, and the changing seasons of life, the album resonated with host Talon Stradley as his own seasons changed. The Song Is Never Done is a track by track exploration of Walter Martin’s album The Bear. To help us along the way is Walter Martin himself as well as his collaborators, peers, and appreciators like Matt Berninger of The National, Eric D. Johnson of Fruit Bats and Bonny Light Horseman, jazz singer-songwriter Kat Edmonson, oscar-nominated composer Emile Mosseri, many more, and even Walter’s mom. So stop in your tracks, take stock in where you’re at, and get ready to meet The Bear. For more, visit Newtonsdarkroom.com

Hunters in the Snow is a song about the changing seasons of life and our place in it all. In this episode, we’ll explore Walt’s own seasons as we look back at his time in Jonathan Fire*Eater and The Walkmen-- two bands that paved the way for the New York City rock scene of the early aughts. This episode features guests Matt Berninger of The National, Peter Mathew Bauer of The Walkmen, and Judy Martin, Walter’s mom. Listen to The Song Is Never Done Official Playlist on Spotify. You can purchase The Bear at waltermartinmusic.com. Find more of my podcasts at newtonsdarkroom.com

New Green is a song about the complicated but loving relationships we have with our families. We’ll dive into those relationships, how they change, and what it means when time turns our life into memories. This episode features guests Judy Martin, Emile Mosseri, Matt Berninger, and Kat Edmonson. Listen to The Song Is Never Done Official Playlist on Spotify. You can purchase The Bear at waltermartinmusic.com. Find more of my podcasts at newtonsdarkroom.com

Baseball Diamonds is a song about the moments, memories, and people that make up our life. In this episode, we’ll track the inspirations of the song to find a lineage of loved ones that bring us all the way back to the baseball field. Along the way, we’ll hear about Walt’s longtime friendship with Jonathan Fire*Eater frontman Stewart Lupton and the song that planted the seeds for The Bear. This episode features guests Judy Martin and Matt Berninger. Find Stewart’s poetry collection The Plural Atmosphere at thirdmanbooks.com You can purchase The Bear at waltermartinmusic.com Listen to The Song Is Never Done Official Playlist on Spotify Find more of my podcasts at newtonsdarkroom.com

The Bear is a song about... well, a bear. But it's also about our history, growth, and preparing for what comes next. In this episode, we tell the tale of The Bear before touching on the Faulkner story that inspired the title and meeting the album cover artist, who has a bear story of her own. This episode features guests Peter Mathew Bauer, Eric D. Johnson, Hollis Heichemer, and Judy Martin, Walter's mom. Listen to The Song Is Never Done Official Playlist on Spotify. You can purchase The Bear at waltermartinmusic.com. Find more of my podcasts at newtonsdarkroom.com

In lieu of a new episode this week, I wanted to share part of an amazing interview Walt did with the Art Grind Podcast earlier this year. This is the very same podcast that introduced him to the art of Hollis Heichemer, whose art is featured on the cover of The Bear. If you like this, I highly recommend checking out Hollis's interview on The Art Grind Podcast. Listen to The Song Is Never Done Official Playlist on Spotify. You can purchase The Bear at waltermartinmusic.com. Find more of my podcasts at newtonsdarkroom.com

Hiram Hollow is a song about parading through town, hunting foxes, and going to war. It's also the most whimsical song on The Bear with an approach closer to Walt's various children's albums. While his kid's music builds into punchlines, Hiram Hollow pivots the formula and ends on a note fitting for The Bear. This episode features guests Eric D. Johnson and Kat Edmonson. Listen to The Song Is Never Done Official Playlist on Spotify. You can purchase The Bear at waltermartinmusic.com. Find more of my podcasts at newtonsdarkroom.com

Easter is a song about the insecurities and responsibilities of adulthood. In this episode, we'll dive deeper into the dichotomy of light and heavy topics to explore how Hiram Hollow perfectly frames Easter, allowing it's more anxious moments to shine. This episode features guests Harrison Whitford, Peter Mather Bauer of The Walkmen, and Matt Berninger of The National. Listen to The Song Is Never Done Official Playlist on Spotify. You can purchase The Bear at waltermartinmusic.com. Find more of my podcasts at newtonsdarkroom.com

Not My Mother is a song about the cold harshness of those who don’t care for your wellbeing. While our mothers are caring and supportive, there are some out there who, to put it bluntly, are not our mothers. In this episode, we’ll explore criticism and support and the role they can play in the artistic process. Featuring Judy Martin, Eric D. Johnson, Kat Edmonson, Harrison Whitford, and Matt Berninger. Listen to The Song Is Never Done Official Playlist on Spotify. You can purchase The Bear at waltermartinmusic.com. Find more of my podcasts at newtonsdarkroom.com

The Crow Symbolizes Love is a song about the journey one takes to find love and the personal growth that happens along the way. The song moves through life stages from childhood crush to settling down and is the perfect set up for the album's final track. This episode features guests Kat Edmonson and Judy Martin, Walter's mom. Listen to The Song Is Never Done Official Playlist on Spotify. You can purchase The Bear at waltermartinmusic.com. Find more of my podcasts at newtonsdarkroom.com

The Song Is Never Done is a song about what exactly we're trying to do with all this art business. From a guitar to the canvas, we're all out here making beautiful things as a way to explore the world around us and our place in it. In this final episode, we discuss that very process. This episode features guests Matt Berninger, Harrison Whitford, Judy Martin, Hollis Heichemer, and Kat Edmonson. Listen to The Song Is Never Done Official Playlist on Spotify. You can purchase The Bear at waltermartinmusic.com. Find more of my podcasts at newtonsdarkroom.com