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Gretchen Emery Band and I talked about their new release, Little Bit of Time, and then I spoke with the Wednesday Rally Indie Artist Band, Cul De Sac Kings.

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The discussion highlighted the band's unique sound, characterized by Gretchen's powerful vocals and Kenny's diverse guitar influences. They explored the band's journey, introducing other members such as Randy on bass, Frank on keyboards, Mike on drums, Joanna on percussion, and backup singers Michelle and Rene, all contributing to their upcoming album.

Gretchen provided insights into the production of her upcoming album, "A Little Bit of Time," set for release on May 16th. She expressed gratitude for producer Derek Chafin and mastering engineer Peter Humphries, detailing the meticulous recording process that involved pre-recording rehearsals and sequential tracking of instruments. Gretchen emphasized the emotional depth of music production, comparing it to mining for diamonds, and discussed her personal growth through vocal training, which has significantly influenced her singing technique and confidence.

The conversation also touched on the album release party scheduled for May 16th at the Queen's in Wilmington, featuring six songs and a performance by the hip hop band Harvey Road. Gretchen expressed excitement about the event and the collaborative efforts behind the album, which conveys themes of self-love and empowerment. The discussion concluded with personal updates, including challenges related to health within Gretchen's family and Kenny's diagnosis of stage four cancer, underscoring the importance of maintaining a positive outlook amidst difficulties.

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Vo Bird shared insights into her music career, highlighting the success of her singles "64-68" and "Crimes of Humanity," which reached number one on the It's Now radio station. She expressed gratitude for listener support during the voting process and discussed her nomination for the International Singer-Songwriter Association. Vo reflected on the mental challenges of balancing creative projects with work commitments and showcased his artistic versatility through her involvement in photography, painting, and drawing. The conversation emphasized the importance of progress in his artistic journey, as she reconnects with music by writing song lyrics inspired by his poetry.

Vo aims to provoke thought and convey meaningful messages through her art, emphasizing the importance of sharing these narratives to inspire others. She also founded Words from the Bird LLC to help artists promote their work, reflecting his commitment to fostering connections within the indie artist community.

The discussion included details about Vo's upcoming projects, including the release of her album "Crimes Against Humanity." Vo described the creative process behind the title track and another single, "64 to 68," which draws inspiration from historical figures. She also mentioned a space-themed project utilizing NASA audio clips, emphasizing the need for proper credit and permission for commercial use. Vo is preparing to release a new album titled "Maps of Existence," focusing on philosophical inquiries, and she provided insights for indie artists on the importance of self-acceptance and pursuing music for personal fulfillment amidst the challenges of balancing a full-time job with a music career.

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Vo Bird shared insights into his music career, highlighting the success of her singles "6468" and "Crimes of Humanity," which reached number one on It's Now radio station. She expressed gratitude for listener support during the voting process and discussed her nomination for the International Singer-Songwriter Association. Vo reflected on the mental challenges of balancing creative projects with work commitments and showcased his artistic versatility through her involvement in photography, painting, and drawing. The conversation emphasized the importance of progress in his artistic journey, as she reconnects with music by writing song lyrics inspired by his poetry.

Vo aims to provoke thought and convey meaningful messages through her art, emphasizing the importance of sharing these narratives to inspire others. She also founded Words from the Bird LLC to help artists promote their work, reflecting his commitment to fostering connections within the indie artist community.

The discussion included details about Vo's upcoming projects, including the release of her album "Crimes Against Humanity." Vo described the creative process behind the title track and another single, "64 to 68," which draws inspiration from historical figures. She also mentioned a space-themed project utilizing NASA audio clips, emphasizing the need for proper credit and permission for commercial use. Vo is preparing to release a new album titled "Maps of Existence," focusing on philosophical inquiries, and she provided insights for indie artists on the importance of self-acceptance and pursuing music for personal fulfillment amidst the challenges of balancing a full-time job with a music career.

Meet Indie Artist Rob Harrowven

In this episode, we sit down with Rob Harrowven, a retired Clinical Scientist in Audiology turned indie musician from Norwich, England. After spending years in London, Rob has returned to his hometown, where he enjoys a peaceful life creating music, reading, walking, hitting the gym, and supporting his local football team.

Rob's musical influences stem from his teenage years in the 70s, including bands like Status Quo, Bachman Turner Overdrive, Supertramp, Mott the Hoople/Ian Hunter, and Slade. Unlike many musicians, Rob didn't harbor early ambitions in music. Although he learned guitar and piano as a teenager and wrote a few songs, it wasn't until after retirement that he rediscovered his passion for music.

His journey as an indie artist began with recording "Spirit of Agartha," inspired by a book he was reading in his book club. This was followed by "Shobalob," a song about his partner. The experience sparked his creativity, leading to his debut album "Hackney Days" released in November 2023, which included five songs written during his teenage years.

Rob describes his sound as a mixture of upbeat tracks and ballads, both guitar and keyboard-based. His music has been characterized as 80's rock, indie rock, alternative rock, post-punk, and electronic, though he emphasizes that his compositions are simple and always "composed from the heart."

For the Wednesday Rally, Rob chose his song "Out in the Cold," the title track from his latest album. He was deeply moved by the positive comments and support from the indie community, which he says "means everything" to him. Rob particularly values the Group Together indie community for its positivity and mutual support.

Looking ahead, Rob is working on a new single and album titled "Movin' On" (or "Moving On"), expected to be released by the end of the year.

Rob leaves listeners with an inspiring message: "It's never too late to start writing and recording music - I waited until my late 5

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This show included information about Mental Health, where to find help, reaching out, and checking on family and friends. A clip from my interview with Jack Brodie, Indie Artist and Mental Health Advocate, was shared during the show, along with music from Jack, Crowsliver, Storm Kingdom, Joe Booe, Marianne Kesler, Lute, Kinnfolk, Vo bird, Ali and the Hilljack Stompers, Midland Railway, The Journals Kept, Silver Dollar Room Band, Delta High, Immaculate Crows, Rich Allen in the Spotlight, and the Allen Brand.

Please make talking about mental health issues a normal conversation and not an issue to be ignored.

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On tonight's show, Atlas' Slip and Crowsilver are highlighted. Atlas' Slip was the Wednesday Rally Indie Artist of the Week, April 7, 2025. Crowsilver was the spotlighted Indie Band in HTTW. Great music from The Flying Beets, the Devons, Phil Cook, Paralandra, Atlas' Slip and Crowsilver.

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This episode includes my interview with Tara and Julia of Tried and True Just 4 You. An online antique shopping experience each week on Instagram. Find out how a family trip started Tara and Julia's journey with antiques.

Music included:

The Primary Phase Principle - In the Spotlight
The Crom
Debbie Campbell Music
Histheory
Laura Shay
Stratification Music
The Henry Ford Band
MONOGROOVE
Adam Christopher
Joey Fulkerson
Black Marine
Nadine de Macedo

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Julia and Tara from Tried and True participated in an interview with Debra LaMotta, discussing their personal and professional journeys, including their motivations for starting the business. Tara expressed a desire to visit Italy, while Julia shared her interest in Paris. Both women reflected on their transition to focusing on Tried and True full-time, driven by unexpected opportunities. Julia explained the inspiration behind the business name, emphasizing their commitment to vintage and antique items, and clarified the distinctions between antiques and vintage items based on age.

Julia highlighted the importance of having a business plan, which has guided their decisions and growth despite initial hesitations from Tara. They source inventory through referrals and estate sales, and are considering establishing a physical storefront sooner than planned. Julia also detailed their approach to live sales, where audience interaction plays a key role in item selection, and she maintains a detailed spreadsheet for inventory management. Additionally, she discussed their social media strategy, primarily using Instagram, while acknowledging the need to explore other platforms and improve their marketing efforts.

The conversation also touched on the emotional aspects of their entrepreneurial journey, with Julia sharing a personal story about her late mother that inspired her business. Both Julia and Debra emphasized the significance of community connections and the stories behind antiques. They concluded by discussing advice for aspiring women entrepreneurs, with Julia stressing the importance of maintaining focus and determination, documenting one's motivations, and recognizing that risk-taking is essential for growth. Plans for future marketing efforts and website simplification were also discussed.

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