The Tune Project Podcast

Kate Gregory and Brendan Hearn are a fiddle-and-cello duo with a sound that’s both rooted and innovative. Drawing on American Old Time, Irish, and other folk traditions, their music balances nostalgia with a hopeful, forward-looking vision. Their creative arrangements of traditional and original tunes and songs bring out the resonant blend of their instruments and voices. Brendan’s cadenced, driving cello lines complement Kate’s melodic, rhythmic fiddle playing, and they weave compelling harmonies into the songs they sing. Their friendship began at fiddle camps on both U.S. coasts, where late-night sessions grew into a lasting musical partnership. Since their debut performance at the Boston Celtic Music Festival in January 2023, they’ve shared their music from coast to coast, and in December 2024 they recorded their first album together, One Year Since, in Portland, Oregon. The duo’s debut album was just released on November 14, 2025.Some of the topics we cover during our conversation today are: - Exploring the space between tradition and innovation- Inspiring fiddle camp collaborations,- The process of creating an album from opposite coasts.https://www.kateandbrendanmusic.com/https://www.instagram.com/kateandbrendanmusic/

Roderick August is a captivating singer-songwriter whose soulful folk melodies and raw storytelling have made him a standout in Nashville’s vibrant music scene. Hailing from Oxnard, California, Roderick traded coastal strawberry fields for the open road, embarking on a solo acoustic journey across 43 states after wildfires reshaped his path. Now rooted in Music City, he brings a fresh, authentic voice to the stage, weaving tales of change, resilience, and the American spirit into every performance—including his latest single, “If It Gets You Low,” a hauntingly introspective track that’s already turning heads.Roderick’s catalog is a beautiful collection of songs that resonate with weary travelers and dreamers alike. His lyrics paint vivid landscapes, paired with a voice that effortlessly connects with audiences. In 2024, his talent earned him coveted invites to perform at Nashville’s prestigious Whiskey Jam and Musicians Corner Music Festival. Currently, Roderick is performing regularly in Nashville, in support of his single “Emily” and “Little Steps” which released in summer of 2025.Some of the topics we cover during our conversation today are: following the calling in life and art, how life on the road can shape a songwriter’s perspective, and protecting originality in an age of algorithms.Songs featured in this episode, in order of appearance:"Little Steps""Original Ones""Emily""If It Gets You Low"Where to connect with Roderick August:https://www.roderickaugust.com/https://www.instagram.com/roderickaugustmusic/https://open.spotify.com/artist/3IBK1szuqe7tTsVheQrzzc

Rooted in tradition with an ear toward the future, contemporary folk duo Rakish embody earnest musical exploration and an infectious playfulness on their new album Now, O Now. Fiddler Maura Shawn Scanlin, acclaimed for her expressive playing, was raised in North Carolina’s Appalachian Mountains. Her songwriting and clawhammer banjo technique hint at regional old-time ballads. Further north, guitarist Conor Hearn grew up steeped in the venerated Washington, D.C. Irish music scene and developed a keen interest in literature and poetry. His setting of James Joyce’s poetry on the title track as well as “Lightly Come or Lightly Go” epitomizes the duo’s approach: the dextrous alchemy of the old and the new into something wholly Rakish. The pair’s deep musical connection and unbridled love for pushing traditional sounds forward is striking. Just listen to the fiddling on “765” featuring trancey electronic dance production by Jamie Oshima or the epic tune “The Morning Glory” which is set atop an evocative, melancholic drone. It’s clear Rakish refuses to be pigeonholed into one genre and are most comfortable occupying the inbetween. On Now, O Now , set to release Oct. 11, they journey through Celtic and Americana styles, deftly showcasing how to bring forth something new from the deep well of tradition. Songs featured in this episode, in order of appearance: - "Lonely Hotel Room" - "765" - "Lightly Come, or Lightly Go" Some of the topics we cover during our conversation today are: - The beauty of genre-crossing - The thriving folk music scene in the Northeast U.S. - Cross-generational collaboration as a distinctive feature of the folk music community. https://www.rakishmusic.com/ https://www.instagram.com/rakishduo/?hl=en

Raised in a small town in Maine, Lissa grew up surrounded by music. She began playing fiddle at the age of six, inspired by her parent's interest in folk music. In 2001 she graduated from the New England Conservatory of Music with a degree in Contemporary Improvisation. She has been writing, performing, and teaching music around the world ever since. Lissa’s most recent album, Falling Forward, is a collection of Lissa’s original fiddle tunes and two traditional New England songs, and the result of processing her experience of living through the Covid-19 pandemic. Falling Forward was recorded in Springfield MA with a cast of all female musicians and some of the most influential musicians in traditional music today. The tunes range in tone from that of a riotous fiddle party where you’d imagine floor boards thumping, bow hairs flying, and instruments and dancers in every corner, to more somber and introspective. The album features music for both meditation and release, all of which feels appropriate in processing our collective experience as a society over the last few years. Over the last several decades Lissa has made music that has showcased everything from traditional New England dance tunes, to original songs inspired by her experience as a foster and adoptive parent. Falling Forward has blended her love of traditional music with her love of writing, in her first fiddle forward album in over a decade. You’ll hear excerpts from a few of Lissa’s original tunes throughout the episode, but to kick things off, we’ll start with the title track from her aforementioned album “Falling Forward”, an upbeat number with fiddles powerfully playing in unison and harmony. Later in the episode, you’ll hear a sample from the aptly named, foot-stomping 3-tune medley, “Step Aside/Move on Over/Patriarchy Is Dead”, and to round out the episode, “Susan’s Garden March/Summer Rain”, a lovely, meditative tune combo featuring piano and fiddle. Some of the topics we cover during our conversation today are: the importance of ear training in folk music, taking responsibility for gender imbalance in traditional music, and the forever symbiotic relationship between music and community. Lissa Schneckenburger's music and teaching: https://www.lissafiddle.com

Josey is a soul pop artist hailing from Houston, Texas. After graduating from Columbia College Chicago with a Bachelor of Music degree in 2017, Josey moved to Nashville to further pursue her artist and songwriting career. Her talents have led her to perform at numerous venues such as The Chicago Theatre, The Listening Room, Country Music Hall Of Fame, City Winery, The Basement, Auditorium Theatre, Exit/IN, The Bedford and House Of Blues. Josey has also performed with gifted songwriters/musicians such as Carrie Underwood, Diane Warren, Corey Henry, Allison Russell and Shawn Mullins. She was crowned the winner of talent competition "The Fame Chicago" in 2016, and landed on her first Spotify editorial playlist with her song "Energy" in 2020. Josey sings to express, not impress. She strives to create a unique balance of soul, pop and alternative r&b, and Her songwriting focuses on self love and overcoming obstacles she’s faced as an underdog, Including the struggles and successes that come with navigating through life, relationships, and growing up. With her eclectic sound, soaring vocals and compelling lyrics Josey is creating her own path within music. Topics of the episode: - Expressing truth in song - Navigating Nashville's music scene as a Black woman - Loving and accepting yourself as you are The songs Josey performed on this episode are "Limelight" and "Energy". Josey's music and social media: https://www.joseyofficial.com/

Julia Cannon is a Nashville-based songwriter, recording artist and music producer who is hard to forget. Recently lauded for her “beautiful balladry” by Rolling Stone (2022), Julia’s soothing, honeyed voice and quirky personality offer a refreshing, vibrant contrast to the bittersweet honesty of her lyrics and uncertain times for those listening. Julia was raised in Alaska by a hardworking Filipino mother, in a household she could only describe as “unorthodox.” While surviving adversities, Julia Cannon developed her wicked sense of humor and offbeat persona early. As one of very few people of color in a mostly white, ultra-conservative community, Julia’s creative voice cemented her identity as a young woman who could not - and would not - be overwritten. Julia Cannon’s sound has been described as playful and relaxing, but her tone transcends the folk-pop genre to include soul, rock, and jazz influences. She credits her genre-bending style to influences such as Ella Fitzgerald, Paul McCartney, and Stevie Wonder. In July of 2021, she released her EP Listening, which received positive feedback from both fans and the press. Most recently, Julia made her debut at Newport Folk Festival, with resounding applause and a nod from Rolling Stone. Julia has a growing fanbase in Nashville, who join an existing community of ardent supporters both at home in Alaska and across the US. She is quickly becoming a fan- favorite on the popular social media platform TikTok, with over 14K followers. Known for her outstanding musicality, disarming persona, beauty, style, and offbeat humor, Julia Cannon is a bright star to watch. Some of the topics we cover in this episode are women in music, the importance of looking after our mental health, fearlessly breaking stereotypes, embracing the cringe, and going where the joy is. Julia Cannon's music & social media: https://www.juliacmusic.com/ https://www.juliacmusic.com/ https://open.spotify.com/artist/6q6hnJk36sgFGT2p2OYtLH?si=mdXcipZsQoeZzzkp8jWlvQ Mental health & financial resources mentioned in the episode: https://agapenashville.org/counseling/ http://restorecounselingnashville.com/treatment/artists/ https://www.unitedwaygreaternashville.org/financial-empowerment-center/

My guest today is Matt Bowen, an ASCAP award-winning composer based in Los Angeles, California. A classically trained violinist from the age of three and later a member of a touring youth symphony, Matt ultimately shifted to working behind the scenes. He teamed up with record producer Matt Wallace (Maroon 5, Faith No More) and worked as an engineer on RIAA-certified platinum singles Michael Franti & Spearhead's "All Rebel Rockers" and O.A.R.'s "All Sides.” As composing projects continued to ramp up, Matt ultimately pivoted to composing full-time. Matt recently scored Hulu’s R-rated feature film THE BINGE starring Vince Vaughn and Skyler Gisondo, and his work can be heard on the gritty Emmy Award-winning documentary BLOOD ROAD (Red Bull Media House). He also teamed up with Christopher Lennertz to co-score the Netflix TV series BEST WORST WEEKEND EVER. In addition to composing, Matt has contributed as an arranger, orchestrator, and composer of additional music on a wide variety of projects for all mediums. He frequently works on Christopher Lennertz's music team on projects such as THE BOYS and BAD MOMS. The pieces featured throughout this episode include, in order of appearance, “Not Ready” from TV series The Boys, season 3, the main theme from "It's A Wonderful Binge", “I Have No One”, also from "It's A Wonderful Binge", and another piece from The Boys Season 3, “The Vial”. Some of the topics we cover during our conversation today are Matt’s creative process when scoring for new projects, how his background as a performer and audio engineer informs his current work, and some fun stories from his violin-playing days. Matt's Social Media:  https://mattbowenmusic.com/ https://www.instagram.com/mattbowenmusic/

I had a great time chatting with multi-talented artist, Gabe Baker, on this episode. During this episode, Gabe share’s his unique story of being bound for a career as a professional athlete in his youth, and allowing his life to be guided in a different direction after having the unique experience of being on a music reality TV show, along with lessons learned through grief from the passing of his mother in 2019. Gabe also talks about his music career being born during the Covid-19 pandemic, as well as being catapulted into Music City’s vibrant and competitive community, where he currently resides as a songwriter, performing artist, and studio session cellist. Gabe's Social Media & Music: Instagram - @thegabebaker Website - www.gabebaker.com Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/artist/0xqkIEMKtxLO5myBzErKWu?si=NsGsp3oVQyu7yP5cyJ17lg

In this episode of The Tune Project Podcast, I'm talking with Max Nunes of the band 'Sundaes' about his journey to becoming a songwriter/musician, the evolution of his sound, and how to work more efficiently when writing and producing songs so as not to waste valuable time. Max's Social Media & Music: https://instagram.com/sundaesyummysundaes https://sundaes.band https://youtube.com/channel/UCPR0cy8PuhdGR5-4eGa6iSQ? https://open.spotify.com/artist/7qiXFwby9N5MEUFATBy5cp?si=650CN_eeSw-GW6-HUPeBIQ

In this episode, I am talking to multi-instrumentalist Katelyn Buckley about getting her start in Nashville, and how she is carving her own path in a town filled with talent.  Katelyn's Social Media: @katelyn.buckley.music facebook.com/katelynbuckleymusic

In this episode, I sit down with my friend, Kiran Gupta, to discuss his experience working in and seeing multiple angles of the music industry, and how his perspective and skills have evolved since living in Nashville. Solo horn tune: Prelude To A Sun Still Rising by Kiran Gupta Instagram: mr.kiran.gupta

Thanks for listening! It was such a pleasure getting to chat and play music with my guest, Luca Di Fabio for this episode.Luca's Magazine: Mundane MagSongs featured in this episode, in order of appearance:- En e Xanax- Love Is a Revolving Door- UndercoverLuca's Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R3BLBJs7HSoLuca's Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/track/3yk5eBl1AzgCYOCoPRd2Pd?si=oXwq6RkrQPisWDG0ddpo9A