What Am I Making Podcast

In 1980, a five year old Alicia Witt appeared on the television program That’s Incredible, during which she recited a scene from Shakespear’s Romeo and Juliet. That performance was eventually seen by a casting director looking for children with the ability to recite complicated words, and by the tender age of seven, Alicia found herself on the set of David Lynch’s Dune. That experience led to a lifelong friendship with Lynch and placed young Alicia on a path that would see her spending a life in the worlds of film, theater, and music.Since her debut in Dune, Witt has compiled an impressive list of credits in film and television as well as on the stage. She worked again with Lynch as a cast member of the original Twin Peaks series, she appeared on The Sopranos, and she has worked with a variety of other great filmmakers like Alexander Payne, Alison Anders, and John Waters, just to name a few.In addition to Witt’s esteemed acting career, she is also an accomplished singer, pianist, and songwriter, with more than thirty years of performing under her belt. I caught up with Alicia while she was just beginning a tour in support of her brand new album, Between Heaven and Earth. The album is a tribute to Witt’s lifelong relationship with Lynch, and explores the profound impact he has made on the trajectory of Alicia’s life.During our conversation Witt and I discussed some of the details of her friend David, and the ways that their friendship opened up a world of possibility and creativity. We covered Alicia’s early days when she first discovered the worlds of art, film and music, and we even talked about some of the places that innate curiosity and wonder has taken her.Let’s get into it.Cheers,Matty C Get full access to What Am I Making at whatamimaking.substack.com/subscribe

Doug Gillard is a bona-fide guitar hero. His six string contributions to Guided By Voices, Cobra Verde, Gem, Nada Surf, and Death of Samantha have helped to carve out a brilliantly individual sonic space within the rock landscape. But Doug Gillard is far more than just a guitar god. He is also a terrific songwriter, arranger, and singer.Gillard grew up in northwestern Ohio in a rural farm community sandwiched between Sandusky and Cleveland. An innate musical talent appeared as early as age 5 when Gillard first began writing songs, even sending early reel to reel recordings to his older sister who was living in Germany. As soon as he graduated high school, Doug made his way to Cleveland in search of music, film, and culture.Almost immediately upon arriving in Cleveland, Gillard began playing in a series of outfits including Death of Samantha before joining Cobra Verde. Bob Pollard of Guided By Voices was so impressed with Cobra Verde that he enlisted them to become his backing band for the GBV album, Mag Earwhig. Pollard and Gillard would go on to have a legendary partnership that would result in a slew of incredible albums billed under the Guided By Voices moniker, as well as a series of terrific releases under the name Lightships and one record billed simply as, Robert Pollard and Doug Gillard.In addition to his work as a collaborator and bandmember, Gillard has also released a half dozen full length records as a solo artist, including his brand new album, Parallel Stride. During our conversation Doug and I covered his early years in the Cleveland music scene and his experiences working with the mercurial legend that is Bob Pollard. We also hit upon the benefits of limitations in creativity, and discussed the effects of a childhood in the rust belt.Let’s get into it.Cheers,Matty C-------------------------End CreditsThanks so much to Doug for joining me. You can find out all about his music, find tour dates, and learn more at https://www.douggillard.com/The What Am I Making podcast is hosted, written, and produced by me, Matty C.Our theme music was written and recorded by David J. Baldwin.You can subscribe to our show wherever you get your podcasts. Please be sure to like, rate and review the show if you enjoy it.Our work is solely sponsored by listeners and readers like you. Please lend your support today with a paid subscription at whatamimaking.substack.com/. Now is a crucial time for new paid subscribers. Please step up and support the show.You can email the show anytime at [email protected]. You can also leave us a voicemail with your questions or concerns at speakpipe.com/whatamimaking Get full access to What Am I Making at whatamimaking.substack.com/subscribe

David Nance grew up in the quiet confines of Grand Island, Nebraska, a lonely little spot on the Great Plains that offered little in the way of cultural excitement, save for a few kids sporadically staging punk shows at makeshift venues around town. These shows offered a glimpse of the vast cultural world that might exist beyond the borders of Grand Island.Eventually, Nance relocated to Omaha where he began experimenting with four track recording and songwriting. Over the course of several years, Nance unleashed a slew of self-produced recordings that included original full length albums, and a series of covers albums where he has tackled legendary records like Beatles For Sale and Goat’s Head Soup, among others.In 2013, Nance relocated again to Los Angeles with his wife where he continued to work on recordings. During his time in LA, David amassed a haul of unfinished songs, but found himself unable to complete an album. Tragically, Nance was later called home to navigate the loss of his younger sister.2024 saw the release of David Nance & The Mowed Sound via Third Man Records. The album is a raucous affair that conjures the golden era of The Rolling Stones, a less jammy version My Morning Jacket, and early 70s Kinks. During our conversation, David and I discussed the ways that limitations in recording, like working with a four track recorder, have opened up new veins of creativity. We covered the concept of songwriting as a form of journaling, and so much more.Let’s get into it.Cheers,Matty C-------------------------End CreditsThanks so much to David for joining me. You can find out all about David’s music, find tour dates, and learn more at https://davidnance.bandcamp.com/The What Am I Making podcast is hosted, written, and produced by me, Matty C.Our theme music was written and recorded by David J. Baldwin.You can subscribe to our show wherever you get your podcasts. Please be sure to like, rate and review the show if you enjoy it.Our work is solely sponsored by listeners and readers like you. Please lend your support today with a paid subscription at whatamimaking.substack.com/. Now is a crucial time for new paid subscribers. Please step up and support the show.You can email the show anytime at [email protected]. You can also leave us a voicemail with your questions or concerns at speakpipe.com/whatamimaking Get full access to What Am I Making at whatamimaking.substack.com/subscribe

After nearly 40 years, 13 full length albums, and millions of miles of touring, it’s fair to call Teenage Fanclub a legendary band. Formed in Glasgow, Scotland in the waning days of the 1980s, The Fannies - as their fans affectionately call them - have forged a sound built upon chiming guitars, jangly hooks, and resplendent three part harmonies. In 1991, the band’s second album, Bandwagonesque was chosen by Spin Magazine as the best record of the year. Nirvana’s Nevermind finished second. Not only did Spin get it right in that year end list, I would offer that Bandwagonesque isn’t even the Fannies at their peak.The band has always been powered by shared songwriting duties. For the first thirty years of the outfit, Norman Blake, Raymond McGinley, and Gerard Love all contributed songs to the band, with each writer taking the lead vocal on his own tunes. With a trio of songwriters in the band, Teenage Fanclub were able to take the best selections from each writer to craft albums littered with great songs and three unique perspectives on life and songcraft.In 2018, Gerard Love left Teenage Fanclub. While many bands would have seen that as a sign to pack it in after 30 successful years, Blake, McGinley, and company have charged forward, releasing three full length albums in roughly seven years. The band’s new album, Do Not Dare To Dream was recorded in the far northwest of Scotland in the Hebrides Islands.During our conversation, Blake and I discussed the effects of place on recording an album. We talked about the ways that our surroundings can drastically shape what we create. We also hit upon some of the advantages to stealing away from the world to make a record. We discussed being in an outfit with shared songwriting duties, and we talked about the healthy competition of having multiple writers in the same band. It is all of that and loads more with me and Norman Blake of Teenage Fanclub.Let’s get into it.Cheers,Matty C-------------------------End CreditsThanks so much to Norman for joining me. You can find out all about Teenage Fanclub’s music, get tour dates, and learn more at https://www.teenagefanclub.com/The What Am I Making podcast is hosted, written, and produced by me, Matty C.Our theme music was written and recorded by David J. Baldwin.You can subscribe to our show wherever you get your podcasts. Please be sure to like, rate and review the show if you enjoy it.Our work is solely sponsored by listeners and readers like you. Please lend your support today with a paid subscription at whatamimaking.substack.com/. Now is a crucial time for new paid subscribers. Please step up and support the show.You can email the show anytime at [email protected]. You can also leave us a voicemail with your questions or concerns at speakpipe.com/whatamimaking Get full access to What Am I Making at whatamimaking.substack.com/subscribe

Growing up in Bordeaux, France at the crack of the millennium, Theo Lawrence was inundated with the shiny pop music of the era. Eschewing the sounds of the moment, Lawrence found himself entranced with the golden era of American Country Music from the 1950s and 60s, as well as the haunting sounds of first wave rock and roll. Theo managed to find new meaning in those old songs and stories.Since 2019, Lawrence has proven himself a decidedly prolific and nimble artist, releasing a slew of recordings that are informed by honky-tonk, classic country, cumbia, first wave rock and roll, and bossa nova. Whether releasing singles, EPs, or full length albums, Theo Lawrence is an artist with a unique voice, vision, and sound; one that feels like an intercontinental version of an updated classic.During our conversation, Theo and I discussed his migration from France to Texas. We talked about his early years in Bordeaux and the way they have shaped his Texas persona. We covered the influence of his family and his French upbringing, as well as hitting upon his unabashed love for America. Theo shares his experiences on a 75+ date tour with the legendary Alison Kraus & Union Station, and we explore the necessity of a childlike approach to creativity.Let’s get into it.Cheers,Matty C-------------------------End CreditsThanks so much to Theo for joining me. You can find out all about her music, get tour dates, and learn more at https://www.theolawrencemusic.com/The What Am I Making podcast is hosted, written, and produced by me, Matty C.Our theme music was written and recorded by David J. Baldwin.You can subscribe to our show wherever you get your podcasts. Please be sure to like, rate and review the show if you enjoy it.Our work is solely sponsored by listeners and readers like you. Please lend your support today with a paid subscription at whatamimaking.substack.com/. Now is a crucial time for new paid subscribers. Please step up and support the show.You can email the show anytime at [email protected]. You can also leave us a voicemail with your questions or concerns at speakpipe.com/whatamimaking Get full access to What Am I Making at whatamimaking.substack.com/subscribe