Tag Archives: bring the banter

americana, country, Country and Western, Honky Tonk, Kansas, Kentucky, nashville, Natalie Prauser, Red Dirt Country

CloudwatcherUno Podcast S10 Ep 4 ~ Natalie Prauser

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Natalie Prauser is a coffee aficionado, songstress and all round fabulous artist. We laugh, gasp and sit back in wonder on how this Kansas native is bringing her honky tonk music to life. Natalie’s album “Til The Sun Comes Up” is a veritable modern classic with all credit to her partner Marty Bush for mixing, producing and mastering the album. Let’s not forget also designing the look of the masterpiece as well.

“Til The Sun Comes Up” by Natalie Prauser

Natalie and Marty first met during Pre Covid times while Natalie was sleeping at a bar that Marty frequented. Plying him copious amounts of whiskey Natalie was determined to connect with Marty and that’s exactly what happened. The result is a relationship that has grown personally and professionally as musicians. There’s a to and fro of ideas and it’s a resource that Natalie draws upon Marty’s musical experience to decide which songs are EPIC and which are so so.

Natalie’s approach to songs varies but there was a time when she wrote “Cocaine” all on her phone while being a bouncer at Westport Saloon in Kansas City. Just imagine a 100 pound Natalie as a bouncer. Natalie’s mom recollects that as a child she was always writing songs and then at 13 she started playing at bars. For Natalie this was one of many paths that she could take, having dropped out of school, when Natalie was 16 she drove everywhere and slept in her car and be on the road as much as her finances would allow.

Natalie Prauser and Marty Bush

Natalie was living the vagabond existence and felt you don’t have to be Charley Crockett to live the life of a musician. Natalie’s musical heroes have been Bob Dylan, Townes Van Zandt, John Prine and Blaze Foley.

For the future Natalie will be on tour with Marty and will be enjoying the writing process and produce another Cabin Session album. There will be another video to showcase her music and will continue to be touring across the States for the next year.

Click below to join in with the conversation with CloudwatcherUno and Natalie Prauser. Also streaming on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Podcast Addict or wherever you listen to your podcasts.

americana, country, Country and Western, Honky Tonk, Jack Browning, nashville, UK Country

CloudwatcherUno S10 Ep 3 ~ Jack Browning

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CloudwatcherUno catches up with Jack Browning at his headline gig at the honkiest tonkiest bar in London @thedukesofhighgate Speaking with Jack just after his epic show (which features songs from his new album) we get to hear about the progress on recording the album, mixing and final overdubs on his songs. Jack has always played in other bands but when Covid came around he started focusing on his own personal songs.

Jack had struggled to write his own songs and then gave himself a deadline to write an EP’s worth of songs but ended up writing 10 songs. He then recorded them with a live band in Kent. Then Pat Lyons who plays with Colter Wall and other artists have added their magic to bring these songs to life. Jack is trying to bring that full band experience onto a live stage. The plan is to send the album around to see if there is any interest.

Jack has released singles/music before such as “Walkin’ Man” which Jack had recorded in his art studio. It was a strange feeling to be a leading man rather than a session player. Jack has always been into music and has leaned more into country music as he gets older. The album is a milestone for Jack as an artist as he reflects on his life.

“Walkin’ Man” by Jack Browning

Jack is a fan of country first and foremost and wants to capture the energy of this music and channel it into the album. Johnny Cash and The Highwayman, Townes Van Zandt, Blaze Foley, Charley Crockett and Colter Wall have all influenced Jack and his music.

Jack will be playing live on 23rd July 2023 in Peterborough at thewillowfestival.co.uk Make sure you catch him live on stage.

To listen into the conversation with CloudwatcherUno and Jack click the link below. Also streaming on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Podcast Addict or wherever you listen to your podcasts

21st Century Folk, americana, folk, Songbird

CloudwatcherUno Podcast S10 Ep 2 ~ Amanda Pascali

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Amanda Pascali talks with CloudwatcherUno from Palermo, Sicily where she is currently engaged on a Fulbright Scholarship fellowship to translate and revitalise Sicilian folk music. Born in Queens, New York, Pascali’s family moved to Texas where she grew up listening to all genres of music.

In the podcast we find out more about ‘Immigrant American Folk Music‘, its’s what genre best describes Pascali’s music. It’s a mix of a lot of different styles and cultures from all over the world and it’s a genre of music that is unique and exciting. We also get an exclusive listen to an unreleased track called “Colonist Tango” and one of my favourite tracks “Not Today“.

“Over The Sea” by Amanda Pascali.

Pascali started playing instruments in middle and high school to make pocket money and performed in cover bands. Once Pascali hit 17 she wanted to perform her own songs and get out there as a singer songwriter and so she released her self titled EP in 2016.

This was a transition from being in rock bands to being an authentic version of herself. as with every song that Pascali writes those songs were based on her own teenage experiences, very personal feelings got turned into broader themes so that the listener can mold the song to their lives.

“Uccellino (Little Bird) by Amanda Pascali & The Family

Gianfranco Rosi the filmmaker inspired Pascali to write her song “Over The Sea” when she watched his documentary about African immigrants crossing the sea to reach Italy. Fans and family thought the song was written about them and their journey to the promised land.

The filmmaker Gianfranco Rosi

Pascali’s way of writing her songs can be hard work and it’s a struggle to jump start her song writing songs. Artists borrow lots of things, and sometimes Pascali is not above to saying that she has been inspired by the best of world music. It took over a year to record her sophomore album “Still It Moves” in Texas. Pascali played the Electric Bass, Toy Piano, Piano and many more besides.

Pascali sees it as a privilege to travel, learn about different cultures and bring all of that into her writing and music. Listen to Pascali’s latest EP “The Messenger” to hear her fabulous music. Pascali will be playing her first ever UK show in London for the CloudwatcherUno Live Sessions on Thursday 13th July 2023. Pascali will be opening up for Rachel Croft | with support also from Lucy Grubb Tickets available at the link below.

Buy tickets – Cloud Watcher Uno Live Sessions | Live at The Camden Chapel – Live at The Camden Chapel (Top Floor, London Irish Centre), Thu 13 Jul 2023 7:00 PM – 10:00 PM (tickettailor.com)

To listen into the conversation with CloudwatcherUno and Pascali click the link below. Also streaming on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Podcast Addict or wherever you listen to your podcasts.

americana, blues, Blues Music, Louisiana, Mississippi

CloudwatcherUno Podcast S9 Ep 4 ~ Kaspar ‘Berry’ Rapkin

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Kaspar ‘Berry’ Rapkin sits down with CloudwatcherUno to record a special live interview podcast and play two live tracks “Police Dog Blues” originally recorded by Blind Blake in 1929 and “Window Peepin’ Mama” from his self titled album “Kaspar ‘Berry’ Rapkin and The Swamp Dogs”. All of this was recorded at CloudwatcherUno Podcast HQ.

We talk about meeting at Long Road Fest earlier in this summer, a grrrrreat event full of americana artists. It was there we got to exploring Kaspar’s blues music and lo and behold here we are with this fabulous podcast.

“Police Dog Blues” from Kaspar ‘Berry’ Rapkin recorded for CloudwatcherUno Podcast

Kaspar’s blues journey begins with a guitar gifted to him from a family friend when he was 11 on the condition that Kaspar would learn how to play it. At the age of 12 he discovered Pride and Joy on Guitar Hero and quickly realised this was the blues. This would send him on a path of education and revelation to the blues as a genre and a life style.

Kaspar in action with his steel guitar.


Kaspar went to New Orleans to celebrate turning 18 where he performed in B.B. Kings Blues Club (and was discovered by Harold Marcho music producer). Harold invited Kaspar back to the states to record his first single Sailing. Kaspar is now performing with his live band, Kaspar & The Swamp Dogs around St Albans, London and where ever he may be invited to. The band consists of Seb Rejal on bass guitar and drummer Mia Casey.

Kaspar is the real deal, a musician who lives and breathes blues music.

Enjoy our conversation on the podcast from CloudwatcherUno featuring Kaspar ‘Berry’ Rapkin. Also streaming on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Podcast Addict or wherever you listen to your podcasts.

americana, bluegrass, country, Country and Western, Honky Tonk, Mississippi

CloudwatcherUno Podcast S8 Ep 9 ~ Forrest McCurren

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Forrest McCurren chats to CloudwatcherUno from the family farm in Missouri where they discuss his nick name ‘Dancing Legs’, shooting the video to his song ‘Little Rock’ the first track of his new album ‘Oh Me, Oh My’, Superman (specifically the 1978 version), how the title of the album came from a saying that his father uses, we also get to meet Forrest’s grandfather who is still working at a timber mill in his nineties.

“Little Rock” by Forrest McCurren

Forrest has a writers sensibility when it comes to his approach to song writing. Each lyric is treated as if it has come to life as the great American novel filled with poignant stories filled with characters whose shortcomings and triumphs make us laugh and nod at our own little quirks.

Photo: Brett Jackson

Music has always been a part of Forrest McCurren’s life. Forrest grew up listening to his grandmother play organ in church, his mother listening to Willie Nelson around the house and in the car, and his father singing ‘Amazing Grace’ and ‘Stand by Me’ as lullabies.

Forrest with his wife Margaret who sings, plays guitar and drums on the new album.

We talk about his older brother, Matthias, and how his travels across the globe inspired Forrest’s own adventures and how these inspired the songs that have influenced the new album. Matthias introduced Forrest to Springsteen and Townes Van Zandt and to the power of song writing. When Forrest left for college, Matthias gave his younger brother his old guitar and the rest is history as they say.

We talk about how Forrest has grown as a singer songwriter with the help of his wife Margaret who has been hugely influential in the sound of Forrest’s music which has been forged from countless performances at honky tonks, dance halls and clubs. On Friday 24th June 2022 Forrest releases the new single from the album which is also called ‘Oh Me, Oh My‘.

“Oh Me, Oh My” by Forrest McCurren

Forrest has great merch that he will have especially his inspired “Cuss Less, Kiss More” t-shirts designed by Margaret. Also in the summer around August 23rd 2022 the new album will be officially out, although Forrest already has the vinyl in his hand to sell to fans and new listeners alike. Forrest is looking to go back on the open road and play a couple of festivals, near and far across the great state of Missouri.

Forrest McCurren is a lyricist who captures the essence of the human experience. Photo: Byryan Strong

Click below to hear the podcast from CloudwatcherUno featuring Forrest McCurren. Also streaming on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Podcast Addict or wherever you listen to your podcasts.

americana, country, Country and Western, Dirt Wave, folk

CloudwatcherUno Podcast Season 8 Ep 1 ~ Izaak Opatz

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Hello and welcome to Season 8 Episode 1 of the Cloudwatcheruno Podcast. We start this season with Izaak Opatz all the way from Missoula, Minnesota. We talk about the weather we are after all based in London. In conversation we discuss Izaak’s new album “Extra Medium” out on Friday 29th April 2022 and the wealth of songs he hasn’t released, his love of music from high school and college which has shaped his musical journey thus far.

“Extra Medium” by Izaak Opatz

Izaak has a love of music but coming late to the world of touring (in his thirties) he has tried to reach a balance between music, writing and living out of a van while touring. Music became a powerful tool for him when he discovered he could create a song and share with friends and family.

“Chinook Wind” by Izaak Opatz

Izaak has gone back to college (he’s studying journalism) and the transition has been tough but he wanted to find stability in his life and engage with new terrains for his brain and his love of wordplay. In his childhood he kept poems and wrote songs and discovered the country genre and enjoyed the ability to create precise storytelling and the metaphors he could employ to create emotion and a connection with the listener.

110 per cent organic Izaak Opatz. Listen to his new album “Extra Medium” out on 29th April 2022.

“Dirt Wave” is Isaak’s take on old country classics and all the fun stuff musically that you get with indie rock. Izaak talks about the beginnings of country music for him and how huge it is all over the world and it’s connection from the narrow cultural associations it has with poor rural white America.

Taking country to where no man has gone before is ‘Astronaut’ Izaak Opatz

Izaak explains that he loves expressing himself in music and has collaborated with friends from Los Angeles especially his friend Dylan Rodrigue and his ability to produce melodies and music out of the chaos that is Izaak’s songwriting. Izaak has been able to connect with audiences over three albums and still finds the passion to write about break up songs, the difference between the city and the country and likes how the structure of his songs have grown and matured to represent an honest mirror for his feelings musically.

So go listen to this beast of an album and also listen to the majesty of Izaak’s trombone playing. It’s a fun pre pandemic album that celebrates life and catch Izaak when he goes touring later in the summer of 22.

Click below to hear the podcast from CloudwatcherUno featuring Izaak Opatz. Also streaming on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Podcast Addict or wherever you listen to your podcasts.

americana, bluegrass, blues, country, Country and Western, folk, Honky Tonk, Kentucky

Behind The Song with The Wooks

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The Wooks—CJ Cain on guitar and vocals, Harry Clark on mandolin and vocals, George Guthrie on banjo and vocals, and Allen Cooke on Dobro—release  “Flyin’ High” on Friday 25th February 2022. In an exclusive for Behind The Song we have CJ Cain from The Wooks sing the track “Flying High” solo. The first time that he has performed this track without the rest of the band.

CJ Cain also goes into depth as to the story about the song and and explains the importance of the lyrics and the real life characters who inspired the song and how their lives were weaved into becoming a musical gem. We also talk about the music video for “Flyin High” and how the video has brought the characters to life and thus the song into the field of animation.

The Wooks

Click below to watch the full Behind The Song video from The Wooks on You Tube or listen to it on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Podcast Addict or wherever you listen to your podcasts.

americana, bluegrass, blues, folk, Jazz

Behind The Song with Sarah Elizabeth Haines

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Sarah Elizabeth Haines releases her sophomore LP, Castaway, on February 25, 2022.  Castaway showcases Haines’ impressive instrumental skills on viola, violin, guitar, arrangements, and production, as well as her sharp songwriting and strong singing — both on the melodies and harmonies. In an exclusive for Behind The Song we get to hear Sarah perform her song “Water” acoustically for the show.
 
Sarah explains what the album and especially “Water” means to her as an artist singer and lyricist. We explore all the connotations of this word, this material to the world and beyond.

The many faces of Sarah Elizabeth Haines.

Click below to watch the full Behind The Song video from The Wooks on You Tube or listen to it on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Podcast Addict or wherever you listen to your podcasts.

americana, blues, folk, Pop, rock and roll

CloudwatcherUno Podcast S7 Ep 2 ~ Adam Shoenfeld

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Adam Shoenfeld sits down with CloudwatcherUno to talk about his new album “All The Birds Sing“. The album was a team effort with his producer and wife Katie Cook and the album was produced in his home studio where he has access to his many guitars, drum kits and musical paraphernalia. The album was inspired by the music of ELO, George Harrison, The Beatles and Tom Petty. Around 5 to 6 years ago Adam began singing lead vocals on stage and building his stage presence before a live audience. One of the highlights is is the track “The Sky Is Falling Down“. We also get to hear Adam’s cover of The Beatles “Norwegian Wood“

“The Sky Is Falling Down” by Adam Shoenfeld.

There’s a lot of authentic love in the lyrics in this album. The majority of the tracks were written by Adam or with Katie except for “Lose To Win“which was a collaboration with another songwriter. We discuss “Her Song“, “The Sky Is Falling Down” and “All The Birds Sing“. For Adam his songs come to him quite easily as he consciously tries to harness the electricity and magic that runs around in his mind. Adam played bass, keyboard, guitar and drums on all of the tracks.

The first songs for this album began life on 2018. In early 2019 after a particularly heavy day doing session work Adam told himself he would start work on an album and finished writing songs in Feb 2021. Adam explains how he was offered record deals in the past but studios wanted him to be more Country and he always saw himself as Rock and Roll. It’s because of that sound that he is one of the most sought after session guitarists in Nashville.

Adam Shoenfeld in action.

Adam’s album is a Modern Classic , drawing inspiration from sixties and seventies and bringing it bang up to date. Adam is looking forward to playing the album live in front of an audience and I for one would love to be at that gig.

Click below to hear more from the podcast with CloudwatcherUno featuring Adam Shoenfeld. Also streaming on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Podcast Addict or wherever you listen to your podcasts.

americana, blues, country, folk, rock and roll

CloudwatcherUno Podcast S6 Ep 10 ~ Chris Roberts

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Season 6 of the CloudwatcherUno podcast comes to a close with a fabulous talk with the legend that is Chris Roberts. Chris was born in Austin, Texas, then moved to Aspen, and when we spoke we did so from his new home in Joshua Tree, California where he recorded his most recent EPs ‘Red Feather and ‘Lost and Found’. Chris fell in love with the Californian landscape and the vibe and moved in a blink of an eye.

‘Six Months Too Long‘ by Chris Roberts

Chris can’t wait to travel across the UK and Europe to bring his good time music to audiences who need to listen to this stunning artist and his sensational sound. To Chris it’s just Rock and Roll with a southern voice that gets tagged as Country Music but to Chris labels don’t mean anything. To Chris if you love the music then play another song and another until you are surrounded by the energy and warm embrace of Chris’s lyrics and songs.

‘Hate When You’re Gone‘ by Chris Roberts

Chris’s vision for his music is to showcase his energy, determination to tear the roof off with his rock and roll and bring joy to the fans. For Chris his music and his songs just pours out of him, there is no existential dread, no struggle with a blank page. An example of how awesome Chris’s music is his ‘Red Feather‘ EP which features songs such as ‘Hate When Your Gone‘ and ‘Remember That It’s Me’. An Ep that was made during the pandemic

Chris Roberts ~ A true original voice within the world of music.

Chris is a prolific artist and has also released his ‘Lost And Found‘ EP which features the songs ‘Loving Arms‘ and the classic Sammy Johns track ‘Chevy Van‘. All this from a musician who only recently took up playing piano and guitar. Chris has a gift and it needs to be shared with the world.

‘Jam In The Van‘ with Chris Roberts and his band.

Chris recently moved from Colorado and the most important thing to travel with Chris to Joshua Tree were his books filled with songs. For Chris trying to organise a set list takes time as he wants to give the best performance he can with a combination of killer songs, hooks and melodies. So if you hear that Chris Roberts is playing in venue near you make sure you run, don’t walk to that gig because you will be in the presence of greatness when the lights go up and Chris is on stage.

Click below to hear the podcast from CloudwatcherUno featuring Chris Roberts. Also streaming on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Podcast Addict or wherever you listen to your podcasts.