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Justin Gillam is a member of the Chicago area-based Americana band, the Mudflapps. He also studied literature and is an avid painter. He is also a brilliant solo artist and lyricist. Gillam's lyrics are about the human condition--the idea that to build something beautiful and worthwhile also requires a willingness to destroy what is there. In other words, creativity is not just about creating, but destruction of that which inhibits growth and expression. Gillam's own personal life serves as a model. His songs have a lot to do with vulnerability, lost loves, death of loves. But he is not a morose human being. Far from it. He surveys life with a cautious, but whimsical eye. His story of spending $90 to see Kris Christopherson and Merle Haggard perform for 45 minutes is both funny, but insightful. He may have been cheated on the show, but he was able to ingest the depth and songwriting sincerity of both of his idols during that brief concert. Gillam is a damn fine songwriter in the way he brings honesty and uniqueness to his songs. He is an excellent model to study and many more temples are out there to build and destroy.
His website is www.justingillam.com.
https://www.themudflapps.com/

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Every so often, one comes across a person who is "the real thing" living an authentic life, with little regard to fame, fortune, family or even food for that matter. Enter Justin Gillam, a person who lives for his passion, creating music that is raw, honest and blunt. There is no clever wording, no symbolism hidden behind a word. Gillam writes from his heart, from his experience of loves won and lost, alcohol, being in a band and being a loner. He represents the far outlier of Americana music, the real musical frontiersman, creating songs with no expectation other than to get the song off his chest. A refreshing lyricist and no-frills deliveryman of sound on a duct-taped guitar, Gillam is the real deal. www.justingillam.com.

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Barrett Tasky is one of those rare gems you discover right in your back yard. Tasky has an amazing broad base of music, recording and performance that culminates in his latest project, Barrett's Hidden Agenda. The man literally plays a multitude of instruments. His studio has everything from a standup bass to a Hammond B3. He is adept at mandolin, guitar, saxophone---the list goes on. Tasky writes songs in the Americana vein of songwriting. His style is personal and inspirational. In this episode Tasky lifts the curtain on his writing routine. We get to discover how he creates through the use of self-imposed deadlines. Even a wonderful idea surrounding the creation of a song in celebration of his birthday. Thoughtful, funny and inspirational, Barrett Tasky is a good person for any aspiring songwriter to study and also reach out to for advice.

https://www.barrettshiddenagenda.com/
https://thebarbandbarrettshow.com/
https://superheroaudio.com/

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We are always grateful to have you listening to STRUNG OUT. Here are some important links:

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Barrett Tasky is one of those rare gems you discover right in your back yard. This episode title (based on a comment of Barrett's) is accurate in that, like a pyramid of Egypt, Tasky has an amazing broad base of music, recording and performance that culminates in his latest project, Barrett's Hidden Agenda. The man literally plays a multitude of instruments. His studio has everything from a standup bass to a Hammond B3. He is adept at mandolin, guitar, saxophone---the list goes on. Tasky writes songs in the American vein of songwriting. His style is personal and inspirational. "When you are looking down, that's when you know you are flying" is just one of the great lyrics people will be able to delight to when listening to this interview. He is a true craftsman in more than one way. Not only performing music in various groups, including a duo with his wife Barb, but keeping "an ace in the pocket" with running a woodworking business (http://thewoodwizzard.com) handed down to him by his father. Creative and challenging work for anyone who has had a beloved piece of furniture refinished or reupholstered. You want the right sort of artist in charge. Tasky takes that tradition and applies it to all of his musical endeavors, including working with the founders of the Steel Bridge musical group in Sturgeon Bay, WI. Like a pyramid, Tasky has a lot of secret chambers, hidden halls and is a great artist to discover. And just like Howard Carter looking in on Tutankhamen's tomb for the first time, you are going to be treated to some "wondrous things!"
https://www.barrettshiddenagenda.com/
https://thebarbandbarrettshow.com/
https://superheroaudio.com/

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We are always grateful to have you listening to STRUNG OUT. Here are some important links:

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(note---you can get my weekly bulletin when you sign up on the list!)

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Take a drum teacher, add songwriting, arranging and divide between an eclectic marching band and a duo that does looping, bass lines vocally and rocks as full band would. Keeping true to the beat of his drum, Hershyl Edwards is a powerhouse, performing with Macca Pazza, whose Wikipedia page describes as "an interdisciplinary instrumental music and performance ensemble." As part of a group that can number 30 players, Edwards has written pieces for the group, such as "Stupid Icarus" that flares with energy drums, vocal bass, loops, vox and Jesse Crydeman playing guitar, loops, and vox as well. It is a rich auditory concoction that explores different genres of music and sound. Both groups perform regularly in Chicago and throughout the world. But there's also Edwards the instructor, mentoring students as he himself had been mentored at the University of Illinois. He teaches at Musical Expressions of Naperville on the kit as well as instruction in voice. This first interview delves into his background, growing up and how he ended up pursuing a musical path. Another strong example that independent musicians can create their journey, make a living from it and deserve recognition and respect for being artisans in a world (especially in the US) that dismisses such ingenuity. In this second interview, Edwards talks about how he goes about writing his music. He reveals the various methods of capturing melody, as well as lyric writing. These skills are also passed along to the students he teaches.

For Edward's teaching, go to:
https://www.ensembleschools.com/musicalexpressions/staff/hershyl-edwards/

https://www.facebook.com/hershyl.edwards.2025/
https://bifunkal.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/muccapazza

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We are always grateful to have you listening to STRUNG OUT. Here are some important links:

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(note---you can get my weekly bulletin when you sign up on the list!)

MARTIN'S MUSIC:
Music | Martin Laurence McCormack (bandcamp.com)
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Take a drum teacher, add songwriting, arranging and divide between an eclectic marching band and a duo that does looping, bass lines vocally and rocks as full band would. Keeping true to the beat of his drum, Hershyl Edwards is a powerhouse, performing with Macca Pazza, whose Wikipedia page describes as "an interdisciplinary instrumental music and performance ensemble." As part of a group that can number 30 players, Edwards has written pieces for the group, such as "Stupid Icarus" that flares with energy drums, vocal bass, loops, vox and Jesse Crydeman playing guitar, loops, and vox as well. It is a rich auditory concoction that explores different genres of music and sound. Both groups perform regularly in Chicago and throughout the world. But, there's also Edwards the instructor, mentoring students as he himself had been mentored at the University of Illinois. He teaches at Musical Expressions of Naperville on the kit as well as instruction in voice. This first interview delves into his background, growing up and how he ended up pursuing a musical path. Another strong example that independent musicians can create their journey, make a living from it and deserve recognition and respect for being artisans in a world (especially in the US) that dismisses such ingenuity.

For Edward's teaching, go to:
https://www.ensembleschools.com/musicalexpressions/staff/hershyl-edwards/

https://www.facebook.com/hershyl.edwards.2025/
https://bifunkal.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/muccapazza

Support the show

We are always grateful to have you listening to STRUNG OUT. Here are some important links:

SUPPORT THE SHOW:
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/MartyfineaK

MARTIN'S WEBSITE:
http://www.MARTINMcCORMACK.COM
(note---you can get my weekly bulletin when you sign up on the list!)

MARTIN'S MUSIC:
Music | Martin Laurence McCormack (bandcamp.com)
Martin McCormack | Spotify

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Nic Nepomiachi (aka DoctorStarcrumbs) in his second interview, lifts the curtain on his creative process in making a song. Nepomiachi is a great songwriter, arranger and performer. The song takes front seat when it comes to how to present it. Therefore, one can hear various influences in service to the lyrics and mood Nepomiachi wants the listener to hear. He also creates with a great sensitivity to the artists who have come before him. It is one thing to write a song in the style of Dr. Hook or Leon Redbone. It's an entirely different thing to record in New Orleans to deliberately channel the energy of that town into the music.
Nepomiachi's story is intriguing as his music is eclectic: Running a club in Telluride, Colorado with his dad. Playing drums in different bands in Colorado. Opening a club in Chicago. Closing that club in Chicago. Playing in bands in Chicago. Collaborating on albums. Writing solo albums. He is a quiet, reticent individual that when first talking to him, you would have no idea of where he has been and where next he wants to go. And in between songs and gigs he and his wife are raising a family. A great example of what it takes to be an independent musician. Don’t let his soft-spoken demeanor fool you. He is definitely one of the more authentically lived artistic lives I have had the pleasure of hearing about in a long time. His latest album on his Spotify page (there are five featured offerings to pick from there) Horse Shirt has an Americana slant to it. He is not afraid to channel Dr. Hook or Leon Redbone for a New Orleans-style song, like Winds in China on his self-titled Starcrumbs album (which you can hear on his YouTube channel) and his lyrics are witty and self-reflecting.
His Facebook page is where you can track the comings and goings of this artist. Where his next show will be and who he will be with. Or it may just be a picture of him being a dad. Whatever you do, take the time to listen to his music and enjoy an authentic craftsman who is not afraid to experiment, borrow, improvise and call Chicago home.

https://www.facebook.com/nicolas.nepomiachi

Support the show

We are always grateful to have you listening to STRUNG OUT. Here are some important links:

SUPPORT THE SHOW:
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http://www.MARTINMcCORMACK.COM
(note---you can get my weekly bulletin when you sign up on the list!)

MARTIN'S MUSIC:
Music | Martin Laurence McCormack (bandcamp.com)
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Nic Nepomiachi (aka Dr. Starcrumbs) is leading a creative life journey to various galaxies in which he explores musical realms most people wouldn’t or couldn’t experience. Running a club in Telluride, Colorado with his dad. Playing drums in different bands in Colorado. Opening a club in Chicago. Closing that club in Chicago. Playing in bands in Chicago. Collaborating on albums. Writing solo albums. He is a quiet, reticent individual that when first talking to him, you would have no idea of where he has been and where next he wants to go. And in between songs and gigs he and his wife are raising a family. A great example of what it takes to be an independent musician. Don’t let his soft-spoken demeanor fool you. He is definitely reaching for stars with one of the more authentically lived artistic lives I have had the pleasure of hearing about in a long time. His latest album on his Spotify page (there are five featured offerings to pick from there) Horse Shirt has an Americana slant to it. He is not afraid to channel Dr. Hook or Leon Redbone for a New Orleans-style song, like Winds in China on his self-titled Starcrumbs album (which you can hear on his YouTube channel) and his lyrics are witty and self-reflecting.
His Facebook page is where you can track the comings and goings of this artist. Where his next show will be and who he will be with. Or it may just be a picture of him being a dad. Whatever you do, take the time to listen to his music and enjoy an authentic craftsman who is not afraid to experiment, borrow, improvise and call Chicago home.

Support the show

We are always grateful to have you listening to STRUNG OUT. Here are some important links:

SUPPORT THE SHOW:
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/MartyfineaK

MARTIN'S WEBSITE:
http://www.MARTINMcCORMACK.COM
(note---you can get my weekly bulletin when you sign up on the list!)

MARTIN'S MUSIC:
Music | Martin Laurence McCormack (bandcamp.com)
Martin McCormack | Spotify

MARTIN'S YOUTUBE CHANNEL
Martin McCormack - YouTube

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