Del and CloudwatcherUno talk about his new album “Almanac” out from Acronym Records on 28th April 2023. The 3 time Juno Award @thejunoawards nominee chats about his fantastic album from his farm in the Manitoban wilderness.
“I Told You So” by Del Barber
Del is a blue collar artist who has lived the life of the working man and his love of the rural outdoors has been seen in his artistry as a musician through albums such as “Where The City Ends”, “Prairieography” and “Stray Dogs (Collected B-Sides / Vol 1 “.
Del Barber’s new album “Almanac” is out on 28th April 2023
For me the stand out tracks from the new album are “Jared”, “Jim and Me” and “Still Got You”. The album is a snapshot of the human condition, happiness, love and grief all rolled into one distinctive album. The album keeps the tradition of John Prine and Ian Tyson alive for a new audience. Make sure you buy a physical copy as Del Barber is out on tour all over Canada as we speak.
Del Barber
To listen into the conversation with CloudwatcherUno and Del click the link below. Also streaming on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Podcast Addict or wherever you listen to your podcasts.
This is a special live interview with Humbird (Siri Undlin). It took place on the last day of her tour at Green Note, Camden, London. There’s a live recording of “On The Day We Are Together Again” with l u k e c a l l e n There’s also the album version of “Pink Moon for John Prine” from the amazing “Still Life” album from 2021.
Humbird: Photo by Dahli Durley
“The places that I’ve learned from and the people who’ve changed me are inherently part of the music and have shaped me and my understanding of myself.”
Humbird is now on the “Humbird Rocky Mountains and Then East Tour” across the States until December 2022. Make sure you catch her live shows your ears will thank you later.
Humbird is the genuine article, a beautiful singer and a phenomenal songwriter who explores what it means to be a musician in this modern age. Humbirds music and lyrics explores with an infinite passion and curiosity, the human condition and an honest exploration of love, loss and happiness. Songs such as “Pharmakon” and “Pink Moon for John Prine” showcase a unique ability to meld together melody and melodrama in equal measure.
“May” by Humbird
Siri is passionate about songwriting and for her it’s an infinitely ineffable mysterious process and one which she’s not really interested in figuring it out as it takes away some of the fun out about it.
Humbird (Siri Undlin)
Siri has been writing music since she was nine or ten and has always been pretty focussed on performing and is one of those weird people who wanted to do this as long as she can remember.
Luke Callen and Humbird
Siri has been travelling all over the States and believes you have to be willing to meet people where they are at, you don’t have to do that but for Siri it helps to turn up to a place without preconceptions and see what happens. The more relaxed and open Siri is the better experience it is.”
Lifting Siri after the show at Green Note, Camden, London.
Just listening to the podcast brings a smile to my face and I hope it does to you. Enjoy our conversation on the podcast from CloudwatcherUno featuring Humbird. Also streaming on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Podcast Addict or wherever you listen to your podcasts.
Good Morning Bedlam is a Minnesota based band and is made up of members Isaak Elker (vocals, guitar), his wife Tori Elker (bass, vocals), and Sophie Mae Beyer (violin, vocals). CloudwatcherUno sits down with the band in Tampa, Florida to talk about their new album “Lulu” out on February 4th 2022. In the podcast we also get to hear the tracks “Salt” and “Lulu” from the album.
We talk about the origins of the bands name (Isaak thought it would be cool and now take it as a mantra to greet the chaos of everyday life) and how the band started ( Sophie then 17 and Isaak 19 were inspired to start a band after going to a Davina and The Vagabonds concert). Tori was dating Isaak at the time and wanted to be in the band so much that she sang with the band, sold merchandise and learnt how to play the upright bass.
Good Morning Bedlam’s music is an outpouring of how they are feeling rather than constrict themselves to a particular sound or genre. If they hear a Jazz song that they like then they will go all in and make a Jazz song but with their own unique take on what that should sound like.
“Lulu” by Good Morning Bedlam
Isaak says that, “We are a pop band pretending to be a string band”. Sophie , Teri and Isaak have used their theatre backgrounds to give everything they have and fully embody the energy, heart and passion on their live show. Influences for the band range from Billy Holliday, Otis Redding, BonIver, Pokey Lafarge, Oh Hellos and Phox.
Good Morning Bedlam are known for their contagious energy, with members careening about the stage, jumping and dancing with a wild playfulness. With tight soaring three part harmonies, and thumping kick-drum, they captivate their audience night after night with no intention of slowing down.
In February of 2021 Isaak, Sophia, and Tori returned to Carpet Booth Studios to work with Zach Zurn on their third full-length record Lulu. On May 28th of 2021 they released a single titled “Blue House,” and have continued to release one song off of the upcoming record every five weeks, which will culminate in the official release of the record on February 4th 2022. In July of 2021 they ran a successful Kickstarter for their upcoming album Lulu, where fans from around the world pledged a total of $34,000. It’s easy for artists to make art but it’s difficult for those artists to champion their art and requires a belief that people want to listen to their music.
Click below to hear the podcast from CloudwatcherUno featuring Good Morning Bedlam. Also streaming on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Podcast Addict or wherever you listen to your podcasts.
Sam Filiatreau began writing songs almost as soon as he learned to play guitar, Filiatreau found his calling in the storytelling songs of ‘70s country, along with John Prine and Randy Newman. “They were writing these stories that nobody else would, and I really like that kind of style,” he says. “Just being able to pull a song out of anything. Whether it be an inanimate object or simple conversations, I think that’s super cool.” Deciding to pursue music full-time at 16, Filiatreau quit high school, moved out of the family home, and joined a rock band. However, most of his free time was dedicated to traveling to area festivals, absorbing what he calls “sad mountain music,” and honing his own songwriting and singing.
‘Wrecking Ball‘ by Sam Filiatreau
The genesis of Kentuckian Sam Filiatreau’s new self titled album is one of chance and good fortune. A last-minute house show gig that just so happened to be in front of the right guys—Taylor Meier and Matt Vinson, who were on their way to AAA stardom with their band Caamp—led to a quick friendship and mutual respect which eventually landed Filiatreau the first spot on Meier’s new record label, Gjenny Records. All that to say, none of it would’ve happened if it weren’t for the sheer magnitude of Filiatreau’s songs and the way he sings them; a catchy blend of the lyricism of ‘70s vinyl with the acoustic feel of Appalachian folk music.
Super Cool Sam Filiatreau
American Songwriter premiered “Wrecking Ball,” an effortless indie-two-step which, in Sam’s words, “is a nod to the old time music I’ve always been so drawn to.” But, like the rest of Filiatreau’s tunes, there’s a clever, quirky depth that might be missed on the first listen. American Songwriter notes, “Without saying too much, the artist’s stripped-back styling elicits a certain unifying nostalgia—even the empty spaces still brim with emotion.”
‘Fine By Me’ by Sam Filiatreau
Sam definitely feels like a proud father with the release of this album and highlights are tracks such as ‘Wrecking Ball, and ‘Fine By Me’.’Fine By Me’ was written four years ago and was influenced in no small part by John Prine. To me it’s a fabulous love song as to where everybody sees their relationship going as they grow older together the song was written for Sam’s girlfriend at the time but will now remain a testament to love in general as their relationship in real life ended. Two years ago the album was done it’s been a labour of love trying to get the album out and was nurtured by Gjenny Records.
The pandemic has hit Sam’s plan of touring and promoting the album in a hard way and he’s only been able to do a couple of small shows to show off all his hard work in producing such seminal musical odes to the human condition.
Hopefully in the fall, probably around September and October Sam will be out on the road singing to live audiences again. For now enjoying the this behind-the-scenes look at how the album came about and listen to the album itself so you can hear the magic of Sam Filiatreau.
Click below to hear the podcast from CloudwatcherUno featuring Sam Filiatreau. Also streaming on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Podcast Addict or wherever you listen to your podcasts
Fayen are an acoustic duo from Trondheim in Norway who bring their previous experiences of playing bluegrass music and channelling that into the Nordicana genre of music coming from Norway. Nordicana is Americana music with a Scandinavian twist. They first met playing traditional bluegrass 11 years ago and then became a couple in 2007 and now developed into fully fledged duo who are making stellar signs for your ears. Their new EP ‘From Here On Out‘ was released on 25 June 2021.Luckily all the music was recorded before the pandemic and before their lovely boy was born. The duo where music teachers Namibia and then in 2015 they Wanted to become more involved on the music scene and and eventually they became Fayen.
Fayen the best export from Trondheim.
The sound of the album was deliberately trying to capture an atmosphere that subconsciously you will feel that you are listening to a live experience or as close to one as humanly possible. With songs such as ‘Meander Love‘, ‘Dark Horse‘ and ‘Hummingbird‘. We also get to hear a live acoustic version of ‘Hummingbird‘ which is simply sensational and will make you totally fall in love with this band. Some of the songs on the album have taken over a decade in being crafted and being brought to an audience to be enjoyed with your eyes closed. So that you can fully appreciate a phenomenal audio experience.
With the birth of their second child in the fall of 2021, Fayen are looking at the logistics of taking their ever-growing family with them when they go touring and playing to audiences and fans alike in Norway.
Click below to hear the podcast from CloudwatcherUno featuring Fayen. Also streaming on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Podcast Addict or wherever you listen to your podcasts.
Ingvild Flottorp is a fabulously talented 22 year old Nordicana (Norwegian Americana) artist from Åmli, Norway. Ingvild comes from a family of musicians that includes her older brother and sister Johanne and Tobias who play together in Ruby Red and the Moonshine Brothers while Johanne also plays in the legendary The Northern Belle band.
Ingvild is the next generation of singer songwriters to come out of Norway to carry the flame for the Nordicana music scene. Her voice and music are reminiscent of Iris Dement and Kate Bush but with lush country overtones.
Her debut album ‘It All Seems So Clear’ by Vestkyst Records came out in April 2021 and it’s a spellbinding display of virtuoso lyrics, heavenly vocals supported by sublime pedal steel and fiddle.
‘I Don’t Believe You Anymore’ by Ingvild Flottorp
In the podcast host CloudwatcherUno and Ingvild talk openly about the joys and lows of bringing an album to life only to have it nearly snatched away by the pandemic and the lockdown that followed not only in Norway but across the globe. It meant that the young star wouldn’t be able to promote her album by singing live to audiences across Norway.
With the help of Tobias who produced the whole album something magical has been born. Shania Twain was Ingvild’s hero and as a young girl dressed up and performed in videos for her siblings. This early exposure to country music from her father on road trips influenced her love for this genre. There’s also a rich folk tradition of making honest music that connects with audiences. The song writing process can sometimes take up to a year in trying to capture the sound that Ingvild is looking for.
The many faces of Ingvild Flottorp. Photos: CloudwatcherUno
Making and recording music brings joy to Ingvild and to us as fans of her imagination and you just have to listen to these magnificent songs. It took a year before Ingvild found a label that would champion her sound and promote it to a wider audience. Looking forward Ingvild has many more songs for her sophomore album which promises to be in a different direction.
Click below to hear the podcast from CloudwatcherUno featuring Ingvild Flottorp. Also streaming on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Podcast Addict or wherever you listen to your podcasts.
1 year ago today on the 14th of June 2020 a new podcast was born. This podcast featured Pete Jackson an extraordinary storyteller and musician. Five seasons later and Pete Jackson is again on the CloudwatcherUno podcast celebrating this first anniversary of a podcast that has grown in reputation, scope and delivering insights into the world of song writing.
In this special anniversary edition Pete Jackson along with his musical partner in crime Brad Dear sing two live acoustic songs ‘Sail Away‘ and ‘I Still Believe‘. We have an amazing time catching up on the years away for stories and adventures during an age of pandemic when it seemed the forces of darkness we’re going to engulf us all.
Pete Jackson
“Music should not be a competition it’s a celebration.“
It’s always darkest before the dawn and a light that has been brought by musicians and artists across the world through many different genres has given us hope happiness and joy. Pete and Brad reflect what is been like for musicians during this period of lockdown, live streams and virtual gigs.
Pete Jackson
It’s been a real privilege to have been able to connect with independent artists across the world such as Pete Jackson, Chase Crawford, Sweetheart, J.Tex, Ottoman Turks, South Texas Tweek, Pearl Charles, Lauren Housley and bring their musical journeys to the world through this year of podcasts.
Lock up you daughters! It’s Pete Jackson with Brad Dear from the podcast. Photos: CloudwatcherUno
To commemorate this first anniversary heres a link to the YouTube podcast of the special 1st anniversary podcast.
Click below to hear the audio podcast from CloudwatcherUno featuring Pete Jackson with special guest Brad Dear. Also streaming on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Podcast Addict or wherever you listen to your podcasts.
Nick Shoulders is the whistling, yodelling, guitar picking, mouth organ playing and bird calling superstar of the Ozark mountains. It was a privilege and a joy to spend time with my hero and get to talk about all the joys and happiness that is music as broad to not only me but to legions of fans across the world. Nick takes the sounds of yesteryear and melds them with the heavier rhythm of todays music.
‘Snakes and Waterfalls’ by Nick Shoulders
A saving grace for Nick in these Covid times has been connecting through the screen and connecting through the ones and zeros of the digital world. Playing country music has allowed Nick to connect with history in a real tangible way and a tradition of music which is larger than any musician and play ‘Grandpa Music’ and take what’s compelling about the music and make it his own. The lines between what is Folk Music and Country Music get blurred and the artifical barriers created by marketing teams of the music industry quickly dissolve into nothingness when you hear such songs as ‘Snakes and Waterfalls‘, ‘Black Star‘, ‘Rather Low‘, ‘Bound and Determined‘, and ‘Turn On The Dark‘.
‘Rather Low’ by Nick Shoulders for Western AF
Learning to warble from one set of grandparents, having a fiddle passed down to him from his other grandfather and having the wide open spaces to practice his vocal skills and fiddle playing has turned the young Nick Shoulders into a virtuoso instrumentalist. Moving to New Orleans Nick cut his album ‘Lonely Like Me with Mashed Potato Records and got his buddies to play the instrumental parts and the result is magnificent. One of the outstanding tracks on that album is a old Elvis Presley song ‘Black Star‘ a song that was a favourite of David Bowie and soon was a favourite of Nick’s as well.
‘Black Star’ by Nick Shoulders
In New Orleans Nick was a drummer for hire and played with Sabine McCalla and his metamorphosis to singer songwriter was complete with his album ‘Okay, Crowdad.’ The artwork for all the albums is doe by Nick himself as he is a painter and illustrator and these talents are further showcased in his new album ‘Home On The Rage‘. The blonde Mardi Gras haircut has now become synonymous with Nick’s musical persona as has his collaboration with fellow Ozarkian and family member in a distant way Willi Carlisle. Gems on VHS, Western AF and others have catapulted Nick into the public consciousness with their ‘Vidjas’ (Videos) that capture the essence of this musical genius.
‘Bound and Determined’ by Nick Shoulders for Gems On VHS
For our audio pleasure Nick Sings acoustically his warm up song ‘Irene Goodnight‘. Take a moment and just listen to a little slice of heaven.For the future Nick will be travelling and paying shows across the states and even across the Atlantic to England in the autumn.
Nick Shoulders from the podcast. Photo: CloudwatcherUno
Click below to hear the podcast from CloudwatcherUno featuring Nick Shoulders. Also streaming on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Podcast Addict or wherever you listen to your podcasts.
Brandon Padier sits down with host CloudwatcherUno as they talk about the inspiration behind his albums ‘Brothers Of The Flood‘(2020), ‘Rock and Roll Heart of Gold‘ (2019) and ‘To God Be The Glory‘ (2018) such songs as ‘Once Again (I’m Alone)‘ ‘The Hardest Thing‘ and ‘To God Be The Glory‘ his musical history of being in the band ‘Adopted Kids‘, and how being the guitar player led to him becoming a singer. His musical influences such as The Beatles, Jason Isbell, Neil Young, Tom Petty, The Band and The Grateful Dead are evident in the songs that he has released.
Brandon Padier ~ Stunning vocals combined with a spiritual soul makes for an original artist.
‘The Hardest Thing’ by Brandon Padier
For a self confessed introverted personality Brandon comes to life when talking all things music, art and culture. Taking that first step into song writing was only natural after having written the songs themselves. we talk about how music is a universal language and his love of playing instruments such as the piano and trombone and especially those that challenge him especially the fiddle and the sitar.
Looking forward to the new album from Brandon Padier.
‘To God Be The Glory’ by Brandon Padier
Brandon is working on his new album and is being influenced by The Byrds, Wings era McCartney. The songs for this album are akin to tackling life in these pandemic times and universal concepts of isolation. The magic will be turning these simple concepts but turning them into something incredibly profound.
‘Everything Falls Apart’ by Brandon PadierBrandon Padier from the podcast. Photo: CloudwatcherUno
Click below to hear the podcast from CloudwatcherUno featuring Brandon Padier. Also streaming on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Podcast Addict and wherever you listen to your podcasts.
Willi Carlisle is what the world wants, what the world is waiting for, he is the poet of the Ozark Mountains, the lyricist of Arkansas who has graced us with such songs as ‘Cheap Cocaine’, ‘The Cuckoo’ and ‘Stone County’ all of which you can find in this latest podcast with host CloudwatcherUno. If you were in any doubt to the talent of this folk singer then listen to his EP ‘Too Nice to Mean Much‘ and album ‘To Tell You the Truth‘ it will stir joy and happiness in even the most sceptical mind. There is no doubt that Willi is an artist that he belongs alongside the heroes of yesteryear.
Willi Carlisle ~ His music will touch your soul.
‘THE BEST AMERICANA ARTIST YOU’VE NEVER HEARD OF’ ~ THE GUARDIAN
Willi is a musical poet, playwright and songwriter come down from the mountains to bring the music of the heavens to this world. His blend of old time music, banjo plucking, fiddle playing and accordion brings a southern sensibility to tunes that are timeless.
Willi Carlisle – Poet and Folk Singer
Following in the footsteps of Roscoe Holcomb, Janie Hunter, Ralph Stanley and Glenn Ohrlin. Willi has travelled the country, Canada and the UK to showcase his unique talent. A storyteller at heart he has gathered legion of fans by appearing on the coveted Western AF videos, this video channel has become a focal point for all those listeners who wonder where they can find true folk/country music.
The Grand Design by Willi CarlisleWilli Carlisle connecting with audiences across the globe.
‘THE MAN’S ENERGY IS BLINDSIDING, HIS SONGWRITING IS TERRIFIC, HIS HEART IS BIG ON EVERYONE’ ~ WESTERN AF
‘Cheap Cocaine’ by Willi Carlisle for Western AF
In the podcast we learn about Willi’s love for being a Square Dance Caller and an auctioneer and being able to find his voice and express that through his music. We talk about what it means to be singing folk songs at punk venues, protest songs in response to the death of Michael Brown Jr, reinterpreting traditional music for a younger generation and the relationships between rural and urban communities.
‘Van Life’ by Willi Carlisle for Western AFWilli Carlisle from the podcast. Photo: CloudwatcherUno
Click below to hear the podcast from CloudwatcherUno featuring Willi Carlisle. Also streaming on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Podcast Addict and wherever you listen to your podcasts.