Michelle Malone discusses the steady decline in recording music income and recalls playing drums in her first band.
Travis Meadows Recalls the First Song He Wrote and Explains Why He Avoids Day Jobs
Songwriter Travis Meadows talks about the benefit of left-overs while touring and why he’s never been good at projecting where his career will go.
Brother Dege on “Van Quixote” and Rehearsing in Near-Condemned Buildings
New Orleans artist Brother Dege describes his band’s frugal touring strategies, some colorful day jobs and overcoming shaky hands at his first gig.
Jacob Groopman of Front Country on the Lure of Combo’s Baked Snacks and Why Music is a Full-Time Job
Front Country’s Jacob Groopman talks about yelling, crying and light wrestling at rehearsals and a future that will either be more money or hellscape.
Nobody’s Girl Discuss The Importance of Hustling, Both Financially and in Pursuit of Career Goals
The members of Austin trio Nobody’s Girl talk about the value of a good cooler while touring and cranking the rehearsal space PA as loud as they can. Member Grace Pettis also shares a song she wrote when she was 10 years old.
Lyrics Born Dishes on Speeding Tickets and Some Notable Day Jobs
Berkeley, CA rapper/MC Lyrics Born explains why he’s permanently ineligible for traffic school, leaving the funk on the stage and why he had an Egg McMuffin before his first gig.
Steep Canyon Rangers’ Graham Sharp on a Memorable First Gig and the Paradox of Making Money
Graham Sharp of Steep Canyon Rangers reflects on making the jump from an RV to a tour bus (and strategies for stocking it) and getting paid in beer and chili cheese fries at their first gig.
Peter Holsapple Reveals One of the First Songs That He Wrote and the Advice That His Mother Gave Him
Peter Holsapple (dBs, Continental Drifters) talks about touring with a heavily laden snack drawer and reflects on his first experience “living the dream” of a rock and roll lifestyle.
Whitey Morgan Talks 2am Taco Bell Visits and Testing Out New Songs Live
Whitey Morgan on the value of throwing oneself into the fire, repairing the van in the Autozone parking lot, what he wishes he could remember from the early days of his career and cherishing time spent with family, friends and bandmates.
Brett Dennen Talks About a Leaky Tour Bus and the Value of Making Lots of Mistakes
Singer-songwriter Brett Dennen explains why he splurges on healthy food, recalls a favorite day job at a natural history museum and shares his garage rock origins.