🌍 Welcome back to B-Side Banter! 🌍

This week I’m joined by Jakk from A1234, one of the internet’s sharpest voices on global music discovery. We dive deep into the world’s hidden music gems—everything from the “Polish Beatles” to the wild underground scene of Japanese jazz punk.

Jakk shares must-listen albums from every continent, stories of overlooked legends like Johnny Alf (the real pioneer of bossa nova) and Miriam Makeba (fighting apartheid with music), and even why Carol of the Bells was originally a Ukrainian protest song. We also explore what’s next in world music—could Italo Disco or Chinese rap shows be the next K-pop?

If you love music history, global discovery, and finding artists before they blow up, this is the episode for you.

🔥 Hit that LIKE & SUBSCRIBE button and tell us in the comments: Which country’s music scene do you want to explore next?

Few brands in vinyl spark as much debate as Crosley. In this episode of Pressed, I sit down with Caitlin and Barrett from Crosley Record Players to talk about the brand’s history, clear the air on whether Crosley Cruisers really ruin your records, and dive into how inclusivity and accessibility are shaping the future of vinyl.

We also cover:

• The surprising 100+ year history of Crosley, from radios to cars to record players

• Whether the Cruiser is truly dangerous for your vinyl — or if it’s just a myth

• Why the Cruiser matters as an affordable entry point for new collectors

• Crosley’s national high school Cruiser contest and how it’s inspiring the next generation of music lovers

• An exclusive look at their brand-new Cruiser CD player

👉 What was your first record player? Was it a Crosley? Drop it in the comments — I’d love to know your story.

🔥 Djo’s moment is here. 🔥

In this episode of B-Side Banter, I sit down with Kelly from Djo Daily to unpack the meteoric rise of Joe Keery’s music career. We trace his journey from Post Animal to Stranger Things fame, the viral breakout of “End of Beginning,” and why The Crux Deluxe might be the perfect album of the summer.

We debate whether Djo should be considered a musician first, actor second, break down the unique nostalgia of his sound, and even dive into why he’s never released a single music video. Plus, we speculate on Stranger Things’ final season — will Steve Harrington survive?

If you love dad rock, fandom deep dives, and discovering the future of indie rock, this one’s for you. Hit LIKE & SUBSCRIBE and let us know in the comments: Where do you rank Djo’s albums? 👀