Content Magazine

Episode #138 - Tomoyo Yoshinaga | BitterbuckIn this episode, we sit down with co-owner Tomoyo Yoshinaga, who, alongside Cache Bouren, is bringing a unique cafe and cocktail concept to Downtown San Jose's Fountain Alley.Opening Summer 2025 in Downtown San Jose's Fountain Alley, Bitterbuck will offer a unique experience: coffee by day, Amaro and bitters-focused cocktails by night. Tomoyo shares her journey from competitive judoka to running and co-owning successful San Jose establishments like Haberdasher and Cash Only.Discover the story behind her approach to bartending and what you can expect from their latest concept, Bitterbuck.Guest: Tomoyo Yoshinaga (Co-owner, Bitterbuck & Cash Only)Find out more about Tomoyo's work:Websites: haberdashersj.com | cashonlysj.com | bitterbucksj.comInstagram: @tomobot | @haberdashersj | @cashonlysj | @bitterbucksj

Join bassist, composer, and arranger Saúl Sierra and his quintet at the 35th San Jose Jazz Summer Fest on Sunday, August 10, at 1 PM at the Montgomery Theater in Downtown San Jose for a performance that combines Saúl’s roots in Mexico City, the rhythms of Latin America, and the soul of jazz.In this conversation, Saúl Sierra discusses his upbringing, the power of rhythm to communicate across borders, and how improvisation keeps his music fresh, rooted in tradition, and free. With material already brewing for two more albums, Saúl remains committed to honoring tradition while expanding its possibilities through music.Born and raised in Mexico City, Saúl’s early musical education wasn’t found in conservatories—it was shaped by the city. He first picked up the upright bass before switching to electric to play rock en Español and rock covers with local bands. His interests evolved toward Latin music, which was hugely popular in Mexico City, encompassing Cuban, Caribbean, and folkloric styles that would later become an integral part of his artistic voice. Saúl returned to the acoustic upright bass while studying at Berklee College of Music in Boston.Since moving to the Bay Area after graduating in 1999, Saúl has been ingrained in the Latin jazz scene. A member and co-founder of bands like Vission Latina and El Tren Trio, his collaborators include Carlos Caro (percussion), Julio Perez (percussion), and Marco Díaz (piano/trumpet) —musicians who also perform on his most recent album, Caminos. With experience teaching Latin Jazz and music, Saúl also cites teaching as a source of creative inspiration, deepening his interest in cross-cultural storytelling through sound. His new album, Caminos, supported by a 2022 InterMusic SF musical grant, showcases diverse Pan-American rhythms and blends jazz with folkloric traditions across the Americas.Creating Caminos was a deeply collaborative process. Saúl laid down bass tracks, then worked with his ensemble, encouraging both structure and spontaneity. While guiding collaborators on his vision of the compositions, Saúl also allowed freedom for personal expression. Ultimately, he believed gathering contributions from diverse musicians would strengthen the tone, rhythm, and authenticity of the project. Whether recording a Cuban changüí with seamless 4/4 to 5/4 transitions or grappling with the complex rhythmic structure of Mexican Son Jarocho, each track reflects a lifetime of listening, learning, and letting go.Caminos draws influence from rhythms like Venezuelan merengue in ⅝, Joropo, and Peruvian festejo and landó, comparing them to Mexican traditions in both timing and harmonic tension. While he continues to rehearse and adapt Caminos for live quintet performances based on the energy of the performance, Saúl’s musical vision extends far beyond this album, incorporating pieces from Caminos into different sets. As a bassist, he believes it is his role to provide the nuanced foundation that allows these diverse styles to shine.Follow Saúl’s journey on Instagram @saulsierramusic and experience his vibrant sound at the 35th San Jose Jazz Summer Fest @sanjosejazz on August 10, at summerfest.sanjosejazz.org.Content Black Backdrop PerformanceBassist Saúl Sierra joins us in the Content Black Backdrop Studio to perform a few samples from his most recent album, Caminos.

Originally from Los Gatos, California, Ren Geisick began singing at a young age. She earned an Ella Fitzgerald Scholarship, studied Jazz vocal performance at California State University, Long Beach, and was named an Outstanding Jazz Vocalist by DownBeat Magazine—but her identity as an Americana Singer-Songwriter has long been in motion. With influences like Willie Nelson, Patsy Cline, and Guy Clark, her latest music draws from the outlaw country tradition—authentic, stripped-down, and emotionally direct. In 2017, she released her debut album, Ren, Love Song, produced by Jesse Harris, marking a significant step toward Americana, which blended folk with jazz sensibilities and showcased her deeply personal songwriting voice. Since then, Ren has leaned fully into Country music. While she doesn’t set out to specifically write country songs, her singing style and focus on honest, lyrical narratives have made Americana a natural fit for her.Her latest album, The Place I Planned to Go, centers on themes of hope and perseverance, especially in the context of being a musician. The album explores the struggles of progressing in life and music, maintaining optimism in the face of challenges, and finding compassion. It includes songs that reflect on the difficulties of the music industry, like the humorous “15 Cents” and more introspective tracks like “Weakness” and “No Mercy at All.” The title track, “The Place I Plan to Go,” was written during the pandemic and reflects on life not turning out exactly as expected, yet maintaining hope for the future.In this conversation, Ren gives us a behind-the-scenes glimpse at the production of this record and collaboration with producer Mikey Ross. Ren opens up about the challenges of sustaining a music career today, her reasons for pushing forward, and her connection to the music she creates.

This podcast is also available on Spotify, Apple Podcast, and YouTube.When Cherri Lakey and Brian Eder first launched Two Fish Design, their plan wasn’t just to continue their graphic design work—it was to build something radically different. Inspired by a yin-yang logo of two fish swimming upstream, the duo adopted the motto: “Those who swim against the stream come to the source.” This philosophy of challenging the status quo and seeing what others overlook became the heartbeat of their now-iconic creative ventures: Anno Domini Gallery, Kaleid Gallery, Phantom Galleries, South FIRST FRIDAYS, and SubZERO Festival.In this conversation, Brian and Cherri recount their journey from design to street art, their curatorial risks, the birth of SubZERO, and how they continue their hand in shaping San Jose’s cultural ecosystem.Follow SubZERO Festival on Instagram @subzerofestival and learn more at subzerofestival.com. Follow all of their other projects at Anno Domini Gallery, @annodominigalleryKaleidgallery, @KaleidgalleryPhantom Galleries, @phantomgalleriesSouth FIRST FRIDAYS, @artwalksj

Join Jet for the opening of his solo exhibition, "Arbolito" at MACLA/Movimiento de Arte y Cultura Latino Americana on the first Friday of June 2025, 06/06/25. This exhibition presents new work, drawing inspiration from the rich traditions of his native culture, where ornate patterns and abstract forms are combined to explore the passage of time."Arbolito" is on view at MACLA June 06, 2025 - August 10, 2025Born in Tuxpan, Veracruz, Mexico, and raised in Cuernavaca, Morelos, Jet [Martinez] is inspired by his native culture’s roots in pottery, weaving, and embroidery. He creates rhythmic patterns in his public artwork, allowing him to bridge the gap between his life in Mexico and his teen years in the United States.“The creation of a project is the creation of a problem to work on or solve. I think that’s a lot of what artists do—we make problems for ourselves.” - Jet MartinezOrder Issue 17.3, "Perform"bit.ly/173performPublished by SVCreates__________________Article written by Alyssarhaye GracianoVideo by Daniel Garcia

Join Jet for the opening of his solo exhibition, "Arbolito" at MACLA/Movimiento de Arte y Cultura Latino Americana on the first Friday of June 2025, 06/06/25. This exhibition presents new work, drawing inspiration from the rich traditions of his native culture, where ornate patterns and abstract forms are combined to explore the passage of time."Arbolito" is on view at MACLA June 06, 2025 - August 10, 2025Born in Tuxpan, Veracruz, Mexico, and raised in Cuernavaca, Morelos, Jet [Martinez] is inspired by his native culture’s roots in pottery, weaving, and embroidery. He creates rhythmic patterns in his public artwork, allowing him to bridge the gap between his life in Mexico and his teen years in the United States.“The creation of a project is the creation of a problem to work on or solve. I think that’s a lot of what artists do—we make problems for ourselves.” - Jet MartinezOrder Issue 17.3, "Perform"bit.ly/173performPublished by SVCreates__________________Article written by Alyssarhaye GracianoVideo by Daniel Garcia

MindFi - Kia Fay Donovan and Mark Arroyo.What happens when a hair salon becomes a stage, a friendship becomes a band, and a guitar and voice create a whole universe of sound?MindFi is a genre-bending musical duo formed by Kia Fay and Mark Arroyo. Combining their unique talents, they have created something they describe as a wireless mind connection, a performance philosophy, and a creative community rooted in the heart of San Jose’s Japantown.The name MindFi is a play on “Wi-Fi for your mind,” and that is exactly what their music feels like—tapping into an unseen, deeply intuitive frequency between two artists who listen as much as they play. Born from a long-standing friendship and shared vision for musical purity, the project came to life post-COVID, blending logistical simplicity with artistic depth. With just guitar and vocals, they challenge themselves to make music that feels expansive, spontaneous, and emotionally raw.MindFi’s core performance takes place on the last Wednesday evening of every month at The Curl Consultant, Kia’s salon-turned-sound-lab on Jackson Street in Japantown. What makes MindFi especially captivating is their intentionality. Every element—from the curated audience and the timing of their Wednesday shows to their strategic approach to growth—is designed to create connection and community. The band values intimate live performances and how each set is never quite the same. Each breath, mistake, and laugh becomes part of the show, immersing listeners in the moment and the music.Their sound is the product of weekly rehearsals, conversations, active listening, and an ongoing “what if” approach to creation: what if we play this differently? What if we strip it down? What if we rebuild it entirely? Whether covering Depeche Mode with just a guitar and voice or experimenting with chord voicings and layered effects, their goal is always to make the music feel full beyond what most would expect of a duo.While this collaboration between artists was long in the making, Kia received a 2025 San Jose Jazz Jazz Aid Fund commissioning grant, which acted as an accelerator for the project’s artistic vision. The fund validated their presence in the local arts scene and gave them the resources to launch MindFi with autonomy and intention. They continue to grow the project on their own terms—developing recordings, videos, and plans for future performances—while bypassing the traditional struggle of new bands constantly chasing gigs.In this conversation, Kia and Mark reveal their approach to music as a creative outlet, a community hub, and a sonic experiment. They discuss their careers making art in other contexts and how MindFi is a place where they decompress, reconnect, and remember why they fell in love with music in the first place.Experience MindFi’s sound at Pick-Up Party 17.3 on May 16, 2025 at West Valley College. They will be opening the event at 7p. You can also experience their magic at The Curl Consultant every last Wednesday of the month in Japantown. RSVP.Follow MindFi on Instagram @mindfibandKia Fay was also featured in Issue 11.1, “Sight and Sound”Mark Arroyo was also featured in Issue 9.2, “Sight and Sound”

Andrew Marovich is an MFA in Spatial Arts whose work addresses questions of process, puzzles, and riddles. He is a skilled craftsman and mixes media, but always comes back to working with hand-done metalworking processes.Follow Andrew’s work:andrewmarovich.comInstagram: critical_meltdown

Don Hardy is an award-winning filmmaker known for his powerful documentaries that shed light on diverse societal topics. As a director, producer, and cinematographer, Hardy has worked on impactful films such as Citizen Penn, Linda Perry: Let It Die Here, and most recently, Bar. He has earned six regional Emmys and significant film festival awards. Hardy’s career has been defined by following dreams, taking risks, and making connections. His documentaries reflect a deep desire to understand human experiences and share complex, nuanced stories that might otherwise go untold.Hardy’s latest film, Bar, will premiere at the California Theater in Downtown San Jose on March 14 and 23 as part of the 2025 Cinequest Film Festival. Bar was filmed on-site during a five-day intensive bartending training program at the Culinary Institute of America in New York City. Graduates of this program have gone on to run top bars and spirits brands and lead the non-alcoholic beverage revolution. The film provides insight into the hospitality industry by focusing on five main characters in the high-pressure environment of learning complex skills.In this conversation, award-winning filmmaker Don Hardy discusses his journey to following his dreams, his connections throughout his career, and the Cinequest world premiere of his newest film, Bar.Follow Don Hardy on Instagram @iamdonhardy | ktffilms.comLearn more about Cinequest Film Festival and schedule at: cinequest.orgRead more about Cinequest co-founders Kathleen Powell and Halfdan Hussey from our 2015 Article:  https://www.content-magazine.com/articles/cinequest

CURA Contemporary in Morgan Hill opened in the fall of 2024 as an art gallery and community space that hosts exhibitions, workshops, and art classes. The building was the brainchild of owners and longtime South County residents Dan and Kathy McCranie, who also own Colibri Art and Framing just across the street. The McCranies worked closely with Ellie Honl-Herman, the current Gallery Director, to develop CURA Contemporary’s design and offerings. Ellie initially met Dan McCranie when she applied to be a part-time framer for Colibri. Her background as a university art professor and practicing artist opened up the opportunity for her to start curating exhibitions at Colibri Gallery and eventually develop her role as a thought partner and gallery director of CURA Contemporary.Since its opening, CURA Contemporary has hosted art exhibitions, workshops, and youth classes. The gallery's goals are to be a welcoming and inclusive space for the community, provide educational opportunities that build an appreciation for the arts, be a hub for the local and regional arts community, and be a multifaceted arts destination with its unique combination of an art gallery, wine bar, restaurant, and event space. In this conversation, we discuss Ellie’s art practice, her journey to becoming gallery director of CURA Contemporary, and her spirit of experimentation.Follow CURA Contemporary on Instagram @CURA_contemporary. Follow Ellie on Instagram @elliehonl and @elliehonlphoto.

Episode #131: Content Magazine 2024 Review This podcast is also available on Apple Podcast and YouTube. The Cultivator of Content Magazine, Daniel Garcia, and The Developer, David Valdespino Jr., reflect on 2024 and the curation of issues 16.1 through 16.4. In this conversation, David and Daniel discuss the production of issues 16.1 through 16.4, highlights from 2024, and David Valdespino Jr.’s 2nd anniversary as the Developer of Content Magazine. Join Content Magazine on Friday, March 14, 2025, for The South Bay Artist Summit: Empowering creatives at the intersection of art and entrepreneurship, produced in partnership with the City of San Jose Office of Cultural Affairs, and Pick-Up Party 17.2, “Connect” at the San Jose City Hall Rotunda. The South Bay Artist Summit will feature an artist career panel, presentations on career development, a cultural exchange presentation, and an artist resource fair.  Learn More. Follow Content Magazine on Instagram @contentmag

Experience Quetsmo’s “The Roosevelt Mural,” curated and produced by Empire Seven Studios, on the south-facing wall of the new Roosevelt Park Apartments on the corner of East Santa Clara Street and North 21st Street. Shane Martin Oseguera, also known as Quetsmo, is a muralist from Redwood City, California, currently based in San Diego. His moniker combines Quet, a reference to Quetzalcoatl, the Aztec god of creativity, with SMO, his initials. Quetsmo remembers getting the call about “The Roosevelt Mural” from Empire Seven Studios–“As soon as [Carlos] introduced this opportunity to me, I told him, Man, this has been a dream of mine. I have been waiting for this call for years, and hands down, I'm all in. I've been putting 110% 24/7 on this thing.” Quetsmo spent a couple of months preparing the design and two months on the wall itself. The mural is over 100 feet wide, spans 77 feet vertically at its tallest point, and is 20 feet high along the sides. Focusing on plants and animals native to California, Quetsmo hoped to capture the diversity of the state’s landscape. The crown jewel, centered on the tallest portion of the wall, is a larger-than-life Elephant Cactus adorned with a single hawk and cactus blooms painted in pearlescent white. It can be seen from East Santa Clara Street and symbolizes the strength of the community in one of San Jose’s oldest neighborhoods. “Not only this community, but so many others like it, and the people within it have endured many hardships but continue to stay resilient. And that's exactly what this cactus represents.” -Shayne M. Oseguera. About the Development: The Roosevelt Park Apartments, a First Community Housing development, are designed for young adults experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness, homeless families, large families, and, if possible, foster families and/or survivors of domestic abuse. The project's goal was to create a synergistic set of services and facilitate community building so that 80 families and transitional-age youth could remain in this rich and supportive neighborhood rather than being pushed out of Silicon Valley.  Artist Statement: The composition transitions from the ocean to the west to the desert to the east. A unique quality we share all along the western coast, from Oregon down to Baja California and Mexico. The Santa Clara Valley mountain range stretches across the background, bringing a calming sense to the viewer. The foreground is a colorful reflection of the local biodiversity found within our community. People are seen interacting with the environment through activities they can engage in. The 1964 Impala lowrider in the bottom right-hand corner represents the surrounding area's dominant Hispanic and Latino demographic. A large Elephant Cactus stands tall as the main focal point. Personifying the resilience of all demographics who have endured countless hardships yet continue to adapt and survive despite the odds against them. Follow Quetsmo on Instagram @quetsmo and website at quetsmo.com Follow Empire Seven Studios on Instagram @empire7studios and their website at empiresevenstudios.com (Last featured on The Content Magazine Podcast Episode #16) Learn more about The Roosevelt Park Apartments at rooseveltparkapartments.com

Tshaka Menelik Imhotep Campbell is a former Silicon Valley Poet Laureate and has authored four books of poetry: Tarman, Muted Whispers, STUFF | I will Write More, and Tunnel Vision. He is preparing to release a fifth book with El Martillo Press, Blood at the Root. Born in London, England, and raised in Brooklyn, New York, Tshaka was introduced to the words of Malcolm X and Winston Churchill at an early age by his father, an orator and advocate for the power of language. While the influence of those lessons lay dormant for much of his youth, Tshaka was concurrently exposed to the rhythm and rhyme of early rap music and life as a Black man in America. Today, much of Tshaka’s poetry revolves around a need for identity, exploring themes such as fatherhood and the experiences of Black Americans. His soon-to-be-released book of poems, Blood At The Root, was written for his daughter and has taken over a decade to complete. In this book, he hopes to share experiences she can bring into her life. Blood at the Root aims to address topics related to love, loss, and the human condition. In this conversation, we discuss Tshaka’s formative upbringing, his creation story as a poet, his purpose for writing, and the perspective behind his upcoming book. Follow Tshaka on Instagram @pappatshak.Featured in issue 12.1, “Device.” *Edit: The intended reference to the breadmaking process at 48:50 is "proofing" rather than "pruning."

Join us on Friday, November 22, for Pick-Up Party 17.1, “Discover” at The Santa Clara County Fairgrounds. This magazine's in-real-life experience celebrates the creatives featured in the issue, including graffiti legends King157 & Nexus, breakdancer Vicki “La Vix” Chang, fiber artist Jaya Griscom, and more.  The party will feature over 20 pop-up murals presented in partnership with 1Culture, painted by artists from current and past issues of Content Magazine. The evening will also include food trucks curated by Feast Mode, beer from Foxtale Fermentation Project, music from Edward of SOBA Collective, and a dance performance from the breaking crew, Elephant Graveyard. In this conversation, Daniel Garcia and David Valdespino Jr., the Cultivator and Developer of Content Magazine, discuss the curation of issue 17.1, “Discover,” share some insight into how each story connects, and layout what folks can expect from Pick-Up Party 17.1 “Discover.” Thank you to our outstanding contributors. This magazine is only possible with your words, photos, and keen editing eye. Thank you to our event partners: The Santa Clara County Fairgrounds, 1CULTURE, Foxtale Fermentation Project, and Feast Mode SJ by Culture Night Market. Become a member and help support our mission to feature local creatives. https://contentmagazine.bigcartel.com/category/membership

Featured: Issue 17.1, “Discover,” Jaya Griscom, @jaya.griscom “I ended up learning how to weave when I was like five, and I fell in love with the tactile experience of working with fiber.”-Jaya GriscomLearn more about Jaya’s art:jayagris.com Save the Date:https://bit.ly/pup171discover Content Magazine Pick-up Party 17.1 “Discover”6-9p, Friday, November 22344 Tully Road, San Jose Order here:https://bit.ly/discover171 Published by @SVCREATES __________________ Written by Michelle Rundowitz, @michrun13 Photography by Lauren Locquiao, @naulenmedia