Podcast 2021.19 This Is Where The Magic Starts

I corresponded with Jack McAfee of Tibetan Miracle Seeds
TMODM: How does the place you live — your city, town, landscape — feed into the music you make?
JM: During the recording of the album, I lived out in the countryside, so there were plenty of fields to go walking around in. And during the first COVID lockdown that was pretty much all I was able to do, so it provided a bit of headspace in amongst all the uncertainty and isolation. I captured a little piece of the countryside on the song “Swim In The Rain” with some field recordings – you can hear farm animals at the beginning and end of the track, and this was just recorded on my phone when out walking last summer.
TMODM: What record changed your life?
JM: Honestly, probably Lonerism by Tame Impala because at the time I heard that record, I was just getting into psychedelic music and there was just something magical about it for me. It made me want to delve in further and to this day is still one of my favourite albums. I love all the different sounds and textures going on throughout, and the arrangements and layers of instruments are beautiful. I wasn’t raised on sixties music, so this album was a bit of a gateway for me before I started looking back further and found all the music that now more directly influences my own.
TMODM: What’s next for you?
JM: Take things live and starting work on the 2nd album!

I corresponded with Chad Ross of Comet Control.
TMODM: How does the place you live — your city, town, landscape — feed into the music you make?
CR: I live in northern Ontario Canada. The endless northern wilderness is at our front door. Being in nature always fuels the creativity.
TMODM: What record changed your life?
CR: I had a dubbed cassette when I was a teen with circle jerks group sex on one side and Neil young Zuma on the other. That pretty much sums up most of my musical trajectory
TMDOM: What’s next for you?
CR: comet control is waiting on the sidelines of this weird world hoping to play some shows again one day. I’m also releasing a solo record in 2022… looking forward to that one.

I also corresponded with Kenny Sehgal of Tee Pee Records.
TMODM: I’m sure the recent past has been challenging and I was just wondering how Tee Pee Records is doing. How have you fared through the pandemic?
KS: We stripped down to the essentials, pared down our release schedule to only two or three albums in 2020, and to better serve the homebound cranked up our webstore and expanded our digital-only releases.
TMODM: What’s next for the label?
KS: As soon as touring is truly back we’ll start releasing more albums by bands who were waiting to time a new record with tours.

I corresponded with Mark (drums) of Drowning Effect. The other members are James (bass and guitars), Thad (guitars and vocals)
TMODM: How does the place you live — your city, town, landscape — feed into the music you make?
DE: San Francisco and northern California feed into our music in a number of ways. We all met each other through the San Francisco local music scene and have watched it evolve/devolve over the years from the lens of several different bands we’ve played in together. Additionally, NorCal is extremely diverse and geographically unique, which creates a myriad of different settings and moods to feed off. You can experience the city, ocean, mountains, and desert all in the same day. I think this diversity reflects in our music, and we end up scrapping or tabling a lot of material because it doesn’t always fit into the Drowning Effect vibe.
TMODM: What record changed your life?
DE: We all have our favorites, but Ritual by Janes Addiction and a few Jimi Hendrix albums are on all of our lists of older albums. Future Perfect by Autolux and Cryptograms by Deerhunter are mid-2000’s favorites.
Our personal favorites:
Mark’s favorite: Are You Experienced by Hendrix.
James’ favorite: Bewitched by Luna
Thad’s favorite: Nothings Shocking by Jane’s Addiction
TMODM: What’s next for you?
DE: We’re getting ready to release a video and starting to work on our live set in anticipation of playing some shows this fall. We’re also planning to release a 2 – 3 track EP later this year and heading back into the studio for album #3 some time in 2022.

I corresponded with Pedro of 10 000 Russos
TMODM: How does the place you live — your city, town, landscape — feed into the music you make?
10000R: it’s inevitable to be influenced by one’s surroundings and then it depends on what you want to say about them and how. Like, our first release was super raunchy and noisy, for instance, the next releases sounded a bit darker, like the aftermath of the crisis and all that downfall of Europe stuff. but somehow this new album sounds slightly more uplifting than the others amidst this pandemic.
TMODM: What record changed your life?
10000R: if you ask the three of us, you’ll get three very different answers with this one. Today, i could go for cure for pain by morphine, myself.
TMODM: What’s next for you?
10000R: so the new album, Superinertia, is coming out Sep 10th on Fuzz Club and we’ll start touring Europe from late September to early November. we hope we can make it to go everywhere.

I corresponded with Liv Mershon
TMODM: How does the place you live — your city, town, landscape — feed into the music you make?
LM: When I moved from Bloomington IN, to Chicago, IL in 2018, I had trouble adjusting to the lack of space. In Bloomington, I could easily start bands, practice and play shows in my basement or a friend’s. Once in Chicago, I only had my little apartment in a building where I didn’t want to disturb my neighbors with a loud drum machine and synth. I was too overwhelmed with learning how to live in a new city to set up my equipment anyway. This is why I soon traded in my Roland JX-3P for a Fender acoustic guitar (a possibly regrettable move, done in a moment of mania). I needed to be able to write songs again with almost no barrier to entry. The songs that became “Seeing Things” were all written in 2019 on that acoustic guitar in my Pilsen apartment and recorded in 2020 at Jon Booth’s home studio in Little Village, just a short drive from where I was living at the time. He’s my long term boyfriend, we’ve done a lot of creative projects together. I love working with him. He’s such an incredible producer. He also directed, filmed and edited the music video for Moving Slow. It’s a pretty bad ass directorial debut, in my opinion.

Ease of use, entry and social connection is a major contributor to my work as an artist. I move through genres and media as different areas become more naturally available to me. I’d rather not fight against what comes and goes.
I’m still in Chicago where the Bad Psychic songs mostly exist on tape. I’m hesitant to play Bad Psychic shows in Chicago for many reasons, mainly that I don’t have many connections in the indie/alt rock scene. My closest friends in the area play techno and noise. Perhaps consequentially, I’ve been focusing my performance efforts on a new noise project with my friend Caitlin Minor, called nunn. We’ll be playing our second show in Indianapolis at Healer DIY with the incredible Lydia Lunch and Kleaner (of Indianapolis).
TMODM: What record changed your life?
LM: The record that always comes to mind is Exile in Guyville by Liz Phair. I started listening to it in the mid nineties with my mom when I was in the 4th grade. She and my dad were divorcing and I was just learning to cuss. We lived in a duplex next to the fairgrounds in Columbus, IN. I would listen to it and then go out and walk the farm fields behind our place at sunset until I got yelled at by our landlord to come inside. There have been many life changing albums since but I mention this one because I’ve returned to it (and the Girly Sound demos) for inspiration and comfort almost my entire life. I try to stay connected to my 10 year old self, who was so tuned in and unafraid to feel and create without concern of what others might be concerned with.
TMODM: What’s next for you?
LM: Like I said above, I’m focusing my creative efforts on a new noise/performance art experience called nunn with Caitlin Minor. It’s a visceral exorcism type thing we’re trying to pull off. It’s still new and we’re both very excited about it.
In terms of the future of Bad Psychic, I’d like to push myself to perform “Seeing Things” in a live setting either solo or with a band. Getting interest like yours motivates me. It helps to know that people like the songs and are listening. I only have 3 tapes left of the 50 “Seeing Things” cassette tapes, which is a good sign. I’d love to have a reason to make more. Maybe a little regional tour!

I corresponded with Yury and Kirill of Menk
TMODM: How does the place you live — your city, town, landscape — feed into the music you make?
Menk: We are from Saint-Petersburg and its Neva river and architecture inspire us in different ways, there’s not a lot of sun, often it’s rainy and grey, but sunsets and dawns are amazing. It’s in our music I think. Some gloomy and foggy mystical vibes turn into sunny ecstatic bliss or vice versa. Some of these vibes you can feel on the track “On Wet Roofs”. But most impressions come from outside the city, near to the forests and lakes of Karelia or the Gulf of Finland and from imagination.
TMODM: What record changed your life?
Menk: The Verve “Storm in Heaven”
TMODM: What’s next for you?
Menk: This autumn there will be a digital release of “II” with remastered tracks by John Mcbain from Monster Magnet, and he previously worked with Queens of the Stone Age, so now the album sounds amazing. Next is vinyl release (500 copies) on Acid Test Records(UK), Little Cloud Records(USA) and Clostridium Records(GERMANY) in February/March of 2022. Also we are going on tour in Europe in the beginning of 2022 and maybe after there will be UK and USA, we’ll see. Now we are already in the studio – cooking something good for the new season!

I corresponded with Sonny Campbell of The Dolphins
TMODM: How does the place you live — your city, town, landscape — feed into the music you make?
SC: I would say that the city (Melbourne, Aus) and the landscape itself does little to influence our sound and our songs artistically. It does however offer many opportunities for artists to perform and to grow. Being such a diverse city musically there are always places to play and record and amazing gigs to watch – which we’re very grateful for.
TMODM: What record changed your life?
SC: Too many to list here, one that immediately comes to mind is Africa/Brass by John Coltrane.
TMODM: What’s next for you?
SC: We’re currently mixing down an EP which will be out hopefully by the end of the year.
Also, waiting for our current lockdown to end so we can get back to playing shows and recording songs.
TMODM: What are you influences?
SC: Again, too many to list here but The Shangri-la’s, The KLF, Curtis Mayfield and Madlib are one’s that all come to mind.
TMODM: Which musicians living or dead would you enjoy collaborating with:
SC: That’s a great question and something I’ve not really ever thought about. Part of me wants to believe that Phil Spector would’ve brought out the best in us, if he counts as a musician, but then again maybe not.. Maybe Lee Hazlewood, Kevin Shields and Brian Eno, All together at once. Imagine.

I corresponded with Graham O’Brien of The Venus Overload/Dislocated Flowers
TMODM: How does the place you live — your city, town, landscape — feed into the music you make?
GO: I live in Greenwich, London which is a beautiful and very open-spaced part of the city. It has an extensive maritime history and arguably the most beautiful park in London. So in terms of natural beauty and vibe it is very nurturing. I live five floors up with a view to the South West so see the most breath-taking sunsets and huge sky vista’s each day so that feeds into creativity.
Though so too does the madness and psychosis of living in a world metropolis during a time of pandemic and of extreme chaos globally. This certainly feeds into my current musical output…though really you only need access to social media for that.
However, living in a capital city also means it’s a focal point for disturbance and action so the experience is very much real and not confined to the virtual world echo-chambers of the tech platforms.
TMODM: What record changed your life?
GO: In terms of a love and enjoyment of Psychedelia it was listening to my dad’s copy of ‘Sergeant Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band’ all the way through for the first time when I was 10 years old. Though the clinchers were specifically ‘Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds’ and ‘Within You Without You’.
I also have a real soft spot for Rain Parade’s ‘No Easy Way Down’. I did enjoy a lot of the Paisley Underground music of the mid ‘80’s though that is the one that really sticks out for me.
TMODM: What’s next for you?
GO: I think it necessary to point out that TVO as a functioning Band was in existence recording and performing between 1993-1997 so other than a Retro interest there is not much else possible now.
The Band consisted of; Graham O’Brien singer/guitarist/songwriter, Joe Sharland Bass, Steve Payne Drums/Percussion/Backing Vox and Lin Gardiner Keyboards/Backing Vox/Engineer/Producer.
We officially recorded one Album and two E.P’s before disbanding in 1997 although there is a number of demo cassettes and live tapes that I am now remastering for release.
The song you played is from the forthcoming Album, ‘TVO 2’ which is part of that ongoing process.
If anyone wants to hear more of The Venus Overload’s music it can be found on Bandcamp as well as all the major global digital streaming/download sites.
I currently make music under the name of ‘Dislocated Flowers’ both in a solo capacity and occasionally with Steve and Joe.
I am also recording material with singer and lyricist Jason Sergeant under the name of ‘Headhouse Skylark’. This has been described as ‘trippy’ and certainly has overtones of psychedelia. A limited edition vinyl pressing of this is on the cards though no release date has yet been set.
As Dislocated Flowers I am working on the second of a trilogy of ‘Cut Up’ Albums, the first of which, ‘Acid Red’ was released in June this year and can be found on Bandcamp and the usual suspect streaming and download sites.
The second, ‘Soft Harm Patch’ is likely to be released in October and is a form of Psychedelia in that it is a visual as well as aural mind experience.
To explore further visit Dislocated Flowers on Soundcloud.
As regards the other former members of TVO:
Lin Gardiner runs her own residential recording studio in Vancouver and is involved in numerous music projects which can be found under her Boomsmack Records label. Boomsmack Records | Facebook
Joe Sharland makes and sells cigar box guitars under his ‘Nelly’ range.
Steve Payne paints wonderful abstract art and occasionally joins Joe and I for a recording session – usually about once a year when we can all be in the same place at the same time geographically.

I corresponded with Joseph Raglani and Erica Sparks of Temporal Marauder.
TMODM: How does the place you live — your city, town, landscape — feed into the music you make?
Erica Sparks:
I will answer this question specific to the song State of the Station. I have never stayed in one place for more than 2 or 3 years since I was 17, and when we began recording this song, the first song we collaborated on together for this album, I had been back in my hometown of St. Louis for only 7 months or so. What I remember influencing my mood/emotion for this song is a feeling of protective insularity in Joe’s apartment. That was my landscape while working on this song. I felt detached from any physical place and was happy to become enmeshed in another person’s private surroundings.
Joseph Raglani:
If anything the city I live in pushes someone with creative ambitions to create a world of ones own making without waiting for the help of a community or collaborations. There is no central scene or venue in which to meet or share ideas. Just various bubbles floating around.

TMODM: What record changed your life?
Erica Sparks:
It’s impossible to name only one record that changed my life. I will try. My parents gave me two c.d.s when I was in middle school, The Beatles Revolver and Rubber Soul. To me, they are two parts of one album that I listened to on repeat. And I care not if people think this a cliche. It led to a life-long love of harmony and exploration of the ability to adapt and evolve fearlessly as a musician/artist/human being.
Joseph Raglani:
As someone so immerses in music listening ( even in my day job) I can’t honestly reduce it down to one album. The recent passing of Peter Rehberg (whom put out some of my records) has me thinking about those records he put out on Mego that really affected me. Jim O’Rourke’s “I’m Happy And I’m Singing And A 1,2,3,4”
Would be an important record that still delivers important data everytime I hear it.

TMODM: What’s next for you?
Erica Sparks:
I can only say that I hope what is next will be an album release show when the time is right. This project was a long time in the making and I am very proud of the result. I owe all of the credit to Joe, as this is his vision, inspiration, heart, and engineering.
Joseph Raglani:
Working on a solo record. Putting together the Paul Brooks CD for Ketu. I would like to at least do a TM E.P. I had started writing news songs I was extremely excited about before things got put on hold and I had to move.

Maha Sohona are from Umeå, Sweden.
TMODM: How does the place you live — your city, town, landscape — feed into the music you make?
MS: We live in a small town in the north of sweden called Umeå located close to the baltic sea. The winter is long dark and cold up here, the summer is the opposite though even though its short, about 2-3 months from june till mid august. It never gets dark at night and temperatures range from 18-30 deg Celsius. The summer for me, since it’s so short but very nice, definitely gives me the most inspiration and energy to come up with new ideas for songs. When the autumn and winter comes I tend to lean more on the heavy and dark style, Scavengers for example. But yeah, the summer is definitely the time of year I’m most productive. Umeå used to have a good local music scene, maybe not so much lately but I’m sure it will reemerge. Cult Of Luna, Meshuggah and Refused for example are also from Umeå, also a lot of other artists that are perhaps most famous nationally and not so much internationally.
TMODM: What record changed your life?
MS: Alice In Chains – Dirt
TMODM: What’s next for you?
MS: See what it’s like to play live, we haven’t done that yet but have a local show planned for November 5th, looking forward to that! Hopefully there will be some touring and maybe some festival next year also! And write new music of course, all the fantastic feedback we’ve received on Endless Searcher definitely has fueled and inspired us to write more music!