Beyond the Break

Wesley Kristopher joins Eyal & Johnnie to discuss music, writing, business, and how they all create a symbiotic relationship when done well. As a contestant during Season 3 of The Big Break Contest, he updates us on the trajectory of his band The BOOG, and shares what it has been like to develop the project so far. With continuously growing experience on how to manage tasks effectively in a multi-person project, Wesley details tools and practices that can boost a band’s professionalism, reach, income, and engagement similar to those in his book, “How to Write Songs and Start a Band.” As an established author with 3 publications spanning all age groups, Wesley explains what writers- lyricists and otherwise- can do to dedicate themselves to better writing results. He highlights opportunities for bands still establishing themselves to set the right groundwork for success, both interpersonally and musically, and gives insight on what a supportive community of musicians can do to build each other up. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/beyondthebreakpodcast/support

Meet our panel of judges for Season 3 of The Big Break! We were welcomed into the NEPA SCENE office for this interview where Johnnie introduces our judges: Mike Thorwart, Rich Howells, Kevin Neary, and Tony Caz. Find out how this crew became part of Season 3, what ventures they represent, and what their backgrounds are when it comes to music. They discuss the perspectives they’ll be judging from as well as some criteria they’ll be using to score the live performances. The four give us an exciting take on who stood out so far, what they’re looking forward to in Round 2, and some honest words of wisdom and encouragement for our contestants. Don’t miss our judges at the live Round 2 festival on September 24th at The VSPOT in Scranton!   This season is brought to you by:  Encore Studios  Lynderella's Deli  NEPA Scene  Axelrad Screen Printing  Eyal Filkovsky - Visual Artist   --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thebigbreakcontest/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/thebigbreakcontest/support

We  filled the studio with Tainted Faith for The Big Break’s final season 3  meet-the-bands interview! Hear about how the original Wilkes-Barre band  formed and how they got involved with The Big Break in season 2. They  update us about what has been happening for the band since last season,  their submission music video progress, and what success looks like to  them going forward. The band gets personal about how and why they create  their music, and share what some of their influences are. Johnnie asks  one last question: who the members of Tainted Faith would choose to duke  it out in this round of imaginary Celebrity Deathmatch! This season is brought to you by: Encore Studios Lynderella's Deli NEPA Scene Eyal Filkovsky - Visual Artist Shot on-location at Encore Studios Follow/Subscribe to us below: Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3b1p2Nj Apple: https://apple.co/39u9MZb Anchor FM: https://bit.ly/3HEWxl2 Amazon: https://amzn.to/3b8kLrJ Castbox: https://bit.ly/3O4nUaz YouTube: https://bit.ly/3zInySq Instagram: https://bit.ly/39vjBGj TikTok: https://bit.ly/39yvpHH Facebook: https://bit.ly/3N9Rquk --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thebigbreakcontest/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/thebigbreakcontest/support

Meet contestant Just Mark of season 3 of The Big Break! Get to know the artist as he and Johnnie cover topics like how he feels about tackling the submission music video, and how he chooses the songs he performs. The two also discuss how today’s music distribution and style of listening by his audience influenced how he composed his album, “Hoping For The Best.” Imaginary Celebrity Deathmatch takes the spotlight for a moment when Just Mark gives his picks, but he steals it back with his song,  “Mallory” in an acoustic performance.  This season is brought to you by: Encore Studios Lynderella's Deli NEPA Scene Eyal Filkovsky - Visual Artist  Shot on-location at Encore Studios  Follow/Subscribe to us below: Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3b1p2NjApple: https://apple.co/39u9MZbAnchor FM: https://bit.ly/3HEWxl2Amazon: https://amzn.to/3b8kLrJCastbox: https://bit.ly/3O4nUazYouTube: https://bit.ly/3zInySqInstagram: https://bit.ly/39vjBGjTikTok: https://bit.ly/39yvpHHFacebook: https://bit.ly/3N9Rquk --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thebigbreakcontest/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/thebigbreakcontest/support

Innocent Bystander from Sunbury, PA joins season 3 of The Big Break! Find out how the guys’ paths crossed for the first time when Johnnie interviews Brandon, Pat, and (third guy’s name? Not actually in the interview). They touch on what has helped them grow as a band, and how they plan to succeed with their submission music video and beyond. This episode’s imaginary round of Celebrity Deathmatch throws some truly unexpected choices in the ring together, and the trio performs an acoustic version of their original track, “Not Another Love Song.”   This season is brought to you by:  Encore Studios Lynderella's Deli  NEPA Scene  Eyal Filkovsky - Visual Artist   Shot on-location at Encore Studios   Follow/Subscribe to us below:  Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3b1p2Nj Apple: https://apple.co/39u9MZb Anchor FM: https://bit.ly/3HEWxl2 Amazon: https://amzn.to/3b8kLrJ Castbox: https://bit.ly/3O4nUaz YouTube: https://bit.ly/3zInySq Instagram: https://bit.ly/39vjBGj TikTok: https://bit.ly/39yvpHH Facebook: https://bit.ly/3N9Rquk --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thebigbreakcontest/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/thebigbreakcontest/support

This episode, we meet The Crates: Cameron, Caullen, Mason, and Chris! Johnnie welcomes the guys in for an interview during season 3 of The Big Break to talk about their origins, development, sound, writing style, and how their submission video is progressing. They highlight their need for a reliable bass player, and explain what other tools they would need to succeed before deciding how their picks would stack up against each other in this round of imaginary Celebrity Deathmatch. The Crates perform their song, “Too Much to Handle,” bringing listeners the acoustic side of the energetic band. This season is brought to you by: Encore Studios Lynderella's Deli NEPA Scene Eyal Filkovsky - Visual Artist Shot on-location at Encore Studios Follow/Subscribe to us below: Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3b1p2Nj Apple: https://apple.co/39u9MZb Anchor FM: https://bit.ly/3HEWxl2 Amazon: https://amzn.to/3b8kLrJ Castbox: https://bit.ly/3O4nUaz YouTube: https://bit.ly/3zInySq Instagram: https://bit.ly/39vjBGj TikTok: https://bit.ly/39yvpHH Facebook: https://bit.ly/3N9Rquk --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thebigbreakcontest/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/thebigbreakcontest/support

Go backstage for a couple of laughs with Johnnie in this interview with Dan Dearborn & Bob McCann of Encore Studios, sponsors of The Big Break season 3. Get to know the duo who passionately supports the area’s local talent as well as artists around the world who use their services. The masterminds behind the rehearsal, recording, and video space talk about the variety of services they offer to the public, plus they share some details on the meet & greets they host for area musicians. We also hear about the how they’re supporting this season of The Big Break through the sponsorship and services they are providing. Thank you, Encore Studios!   This season is brought to you by:  Encore Studios  Lynderella's Deli  NEPA Scene  Eyal Filkovsky - Visual Artist    Shot on-location at Encore Studios --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thebigbreakcontest/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/thebigbreakcontest/support

Thanatos gives us the inside scoop during season 3 of The Big Break! He joins Johnnie for a conversation about his road so far as a musician, including strengths and setbacks, and how he hopes to see himself progress. He highlights how his life, family, and surroundings have expanded his lens and increased his creativity. Hear his genre-defying sound with a clip from the music video for his song, “Hello,” and of course find out who he drops into this round of imaginary Celebrity Deathmatch.   This season is brought to you by:  Encore Studios  Lynderella's Deli  NEPA Scene  Eyal Filkovsky - Visual Artist   Shot on-location at Encore Studios --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thebigbreakcontest/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/thebigbreakcontest/support

Hailing from the same central-Pennsylvania area as season 2 winners Old Kentucky Shark, The BOOG  travel east for an interview during season 3 of The Big Break! Wesley, Eliora, and Daniel sit down to discuss their roles in the band as well as introduce us to some personal interests. They talk about their engagement in the local music scene, their take on the submission video process, and Wesley offers details on a passion project he completed to help others develop their music. This episode’s imaginary round of Celebrity Deathmatch calls for clones, before the BOOG brings the boogie as they perform their song, “Familiarity” for us.   This season is brought to you by:  Encore Studios  Lynderella's Deli  NEPA Scene  Eyal Filkovsky - Visual Artist   Shot on-location at Sanctuary Studio Co. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thebigbreakcontest/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/thebigbreakcontest/support

The Big Break season 3 meets the band Fiendstar when Josh and Chloe sit down for a behind-the-scenes interview with Johnnie. They share with us their journey so far, their thoughts on the contest and video submissions, and what they hope to see for the future of their music. They fantasize about different avenues of musical stylings for the band, and their picks are heard for this episode’s imaginary round of Celebrity Deathmatch. Fiendstar ends with a captivating acoustic version of their song, “Family”.   This season is brought to you by:  Encore Studios  Lynderella's Deli  NEPA Scene  Eyal Filkovsky - Visual Artist   Shot on-location at Sanctuary Studio Co. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thebigbreakcontest/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/thebigbreakcontest/support

Host Johnnie Occhippinti goes virtual with The Jids from Pittsburgh, PA in season 3 of The Big Break. Shawn, Dino, and Patton answer questions about the experience of reaching their current lineup, how they’d like to see the music industry change, and how their style and skill have been forced to evolve. The three musicians detail what makes them so compatible, then have some fun with their picks for an imaginary round of Celebrity Deathmatch! The band also highlights an exciting recent show with clips from a few live performance videos.   This season is brought to you by:  Encore Studios  Lynderella's Deli  NEPA Scene  Eyal Filkovsky - Visual Artist   Shot on-location at Sanctuary Studio Co. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thebigbreakcontest/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/thebigbreakcontest/support

Season 3 of The Big Break contest brings melodic rapper JB to the Electric City for a Q&A session. Jeremiah tells the story of how he first found his passion for rap music, and which artists he looks up to that set him apart. He opens up about how his upbringing with his twin influenced the themes on his EP “Streets Cold,” and what future he sees for himself in the entertainment industry. JB gets us ready for his music this season with a live performance of his track, “Remember Them Dayz.”   This season is brought to you by:  Encore Studios  Lynderella's Deli  NEPA Scene  Eyal Filkovsky - Visual Artist   Shot on-location at Sanctuary Studio Co. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thebigbreakcontest/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/thebigbreakcontest/support

Brandon and Mahmoud of Cadilac Sound meet up with Johnnie during season 3 of the Big Break. Find out how they crossed paths, which genres have impacted their style, and how the local scene has helped them during their growth. The duo locks in their picks for this episode’s imaginary round of Celebrity Deathmatch before talking about their songwriting process. Mahmoud gets real about what inspires his lyrics, and opens up about the story behind their song, “Stars Have Aligned.” Catch a one-of-a-kind performance of the song at the end of the interview!    This season is brought to you by:  Encore Studios  Lynderella's Deli  NEPA Scene  Eyal Filkovsky - Visual Artist --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thebigbreakcontest/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/thebigbreakcontest/support

UPDATE: Isolation Band has broken up since this interview aired.  In this interview we welcome Ethan Isolation and Dalton Decay of the band Isolation, contestants of season 3 of The Big Break. The multi-talented duo lets us in on their endeavors in and out of the band, the long-awaited release of their recent album, “Introspection,” and how they’re hoping to collaborate with other local forces in support of their growth. They give us an idea of how season 3 squares up against the video submission requirements of season 2, and who they’d like to see square up for an imaginary round of Celebrity Deathmatch! A special low-key performance of their single, “I2U” brings us to a close.   This season is brought to you by:  Encore Studios   Lynderella's Deli   NEPA Scene   Eyal Filkovsky - Visual Artist --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thebigbreakcontest/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/thebigbreakcontest/support

Hear all about the eclectic stylings of the band Running in Flip-Flops when we sit down with Dane, Tyler, and Dakota, contestants of The Big Break season 3. Get a closer look at the inner workings of their artistry while they talk about which musical talents have had an influence on their work. They share their thoughts on the three items that must be included in this season’s video submission, get nostalgic about technology, and give us their candid fantasy pairings for an imaginary Celebrity Deathmatch round! The band wraps up their visit with a performance, putting a stripped-back twist on their original single, “Pickles.”   This season is brought to you by:  Encore Studios   Lynderella's Deli   NEPA Scene   Eyal Filkovsky - Visual Artist --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thebigbreakcontest/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/thebigbreakcontest/support

In this interview meet Chris Cashmere of Stay Loud, contestants of The Big Break Season 3. Chris talks about the origins of the band, some of their favorite influences, and how the band’s sound has evolved over time. The present success of the band with their production teams is highlighted while also giving some outlook on what the band hopes to see next. He dives into details about the song, “Perennial” and performs a track titled, “Overboard” from the band’s first album Losing Sleep. This season is brought to you by: Encore Studios Lynderella's Deli NEPA Scene Eyal Filkovsky - Visual Artist --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thebigbreakcontest/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/thebigbreakcontest/support

In this episode, The Big Break welcomes back Gus Thè Savàge for season 3! Gus and Johnnie sit down to talk about what his experience was like during season 2, including shooting his submission video for “Party With You.” The artist tells us which musicians and loved ones inspire his music, what versatility he’s exploring in his music as he progresses, and how he locally finds support for his growth. Gus Thè Savàge turns the tables on Johnnie with a question of his own, and ends his visit with an intimate performance of his song, “Forever Love” featured on his self-titled album.   This season is brought to you by:  Encore Studios  Lynderella's Deli  NEPA Scene  Eyal Filkovsky - Visual Artis --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thebigbreakcontest/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/thebigbreakcontest/support

It’s season 3 of The Big Break! In our first interview to meet the contestants Johnnie Occhipinti brings us the band COAL. Dal, Josh, Dalton, and Ben talk about the evolution of the group over the last 14 years, what key components keep them growing together, and some personal passions outside of their musical pursuits. They discuss their production of the music video for their original track, “Battlecry” and how it has influenced the way they approach their video submission. The chat closes up with a fun round of “Imaginary Celebrity Deathmatch,” giving us their picks for the greatest matchups of all time!   This season is brought to you by:  Encore Studios  Lynderella's Deli  NEPA Scene  Eyal Filkovsky - Visual Artist --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/thebigbreakcontest/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/thebigbreakcontest/support

Beyond the Break Podcast brings all things marketing to the table as we continue our themed episodes in support of the bands competing in this season of The Big Break Contest! Tonight’s guest, Thurman Wilson, event coordinator extraordinaire, lends his insight on how to be positively visible as an entertainment professional. Thurman has a lifelong background in entertainment, learning from his mother’s coordination skills at events in Harlem and the Bronx as he grew up. He has created and built business ventures of his own, including his co-ownership of WD Capital, and sole ownership of Shwegway Inc, a company that specializes in building brand awareness. He has applied the company's marketing concepts successfully in a variety of fields, anywhere from musical artists to construction companies. He is also the event coordinator for entertainment center Idle Hours Entertainment in Dickson City, PA. From planning events to enhancing social media presence, Thurman offers some fresh new perspective in this episode to help anyone advance their image. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/beyondthebreakpodcast/support

This week, Beyond The Break Podcast shifts gears from video production to marketing! Season 4 of the Contest is now in the voting round, so we want to give our competing bands some insight on how to best gain visibility, votes, and followers. We welcome our Marketing Director Jon Frye to discuss tips and strategies for independent creatives trying to amass a bigger fan base, seriously establish their brand or image, and get to their next level of success! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/beyondthebreakpodcast/support