Tag Archives: music blog

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.

country, Country and Western, nashville, Songbird

CloudwatcherUno Podcast S9 Ep 3 ~ Alyssa Bonagura

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Alyssa Bonagura chats with CloudwatcherUno about her life as a travelling gypsy touring from a very young age, being an in demand session singer and opening for international music legends Ringo Starr, Marty Stuart and Rod Stewart. Alyssa recently played to a sold out show at The Slaughtered Lamb in London.

We catch up with Alyssa while working on her music for her new album in London and performing at shows across Europe. We talk about her life growing up in Tennessee raised by parents who had hits on the Billboard charts as leaders of the country band Baillie & the Boys. Alyssa was grew up on the road travelling with her parents on tour across America.

The travelling gypsy Alyssa Bonagura

Alyssa has been in love with music from such a young age that it was written in the stars that she would become a musician. Alyssa’s love of music found her relocating to England to study sound technology at the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts. When she graduated in 2009, she received her diploma from the school’s co-founder, Sir Paul McCartney.

“I Make My Own Sunshine” by Alyssa Bonagura

Alyssa’s voice and skill as a multi instrumentalist having learnt to play piano, guitar, mandolin, bass and drums are showcased in her albums “The English Diaries”, “Love Hard” and “Road Less Traveled”. Alyssa’s time in Liverpool, England has greatly influenced her as an artist, singer and songwriter. Alyssa’s songs have been covered by artists such as Steven Tyler, has co-written many other hits and landing singles with Jana Kramer, Sarah Jarosz , and Jo Dee Messina.

Alyssa also spent time as one half of The Sisterhood Band, a major-label country duo whose whirlwind career included two EPs, critical acclaim from Rolling Stone, and a run of UK stadium shows as Rod Stewart’s opening act. Alyssa’s talent is in no doubt and now she is concentrating on her own solo career. With four singles released between 2021 and 2022 Alyssa’s latest single “Other Side Of The World” showcases her exceptional qualities as an artist.

Alyssa will be recording a special performance for Nashville Meets London live at Pizza Express, Holborn on Monday 7th November 2022. 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.

21st Century Folk, americana, folk, Minneapolis, Minnesota

CloudwatcherUno Podcast S9 Ep 2 ~ Humbird

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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.

americana, Appalachia, bluegrass, country, Country and Western, Honky Tonk, Kentucky

CloudwatcherUno Podcast Season 9 ~ Ep 1 ~ The Local Honeys

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CloudwatcherUno S9 ~ Episode 1 starts with The Local Honeys who are Linda Jean Stokely and Montana Hobbs. They hail from the misty blue mountains of Kentucky and their music is at once modern but cloaked in the great Appalachian music traditions.

“The Ballad of Frank & Billy Buck” by The Local Honeys

We talk about their last trip to Europe in 2020 just before the world shut down and how it helped them to focus on getting the right sound for their self titled 2022 album ‘The Local Honeys’.  their first release on La Honda Records. The Local Honeys captures the essence of rural Kentucky, conjuring old school melodies with deep grooves and haunting instrumentals.

Montana Hobbs and Linda Jean Stokely

Their previous albums “The Gospel” (2019) and “Little Girls Actin’ Like Men (2017) are modern day classics.

“Dead Horses” by The Local Honeys

Enjoy our conversation on the podcast from CloudwatcherUno featuring The Local Honeys. Also streaming on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Podcast Addict or wherever you listen to your podcasts.

americana, country, Country and Western, East Texas, Honky Tonk, Music Row, texas country, Texas music scene, Western Swing

CloudwatcherUno Podcast Season 8 Finale ~ Ep 10 ~ Jonathan Terrell

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This is the CloudwatcherUno S8 Finale ~ Episode 10 with Jonathan Terrell and it’s a fantastic way to end the current season. JT is the ultimate renaissance artist he’s a cosmic cowboy, singer songwriter, film director, photographer and DJ.

“I Know” by Jonathan Terrell

We talk about his upcoming EP, “A Couple 2, 3,” his singles “Better For You” and “I Know”. His signing with Range Records @range.records Sharing his experiences touring with Midland most recently in Europe. When Jonathan’s not doing a million and one creative things all at the same time he’s finding time to playing golf with @markaroo (lead singer of Midland) and the one and only Arkansas troubadour @dylanearl.music

Photo: Mike Dunn

The EP comes out on September 9th 2022 although the final mix was done in January of this year. JT is excited to get this music out to the world. It’s a big step forward musically from his previous albums “Trails & Stimulation” (2008), “Past The Lights Of Town” (2015) and “Westward” (2020). JT never wants to put out the same album twice and takes inspiration from some of his favourite bands who stayed ahead of the curve and make new sounds to engage the audience.

Photo: CloudwatcherUno

JT is always looking to constantly refresh his music continuously to inspire his music and art and keep it all fresh. JT says that music is his forte and it was only after speaking to another artist who said that he needed to have other artistic endeavours such as photography. So he practised for over 3 years with his camera in hand taking photographs on the road and at his DJ residency. JT’s passion allows his creativity to stretch himself as a artist and musician.

Photo: Neil Perry

We talk about what it means to be a musician in this day and age when singers become Tik Tok famous but it doesn’t translate to the real world of live gigs and touring that traditional artists have gone through as a right of passage into the world of music.

Photo: CloudwatcherUno

JT’s next single release from the EP is “Texas” co-written with Jess Carson from Midland Then JT will be on tour with William Clark Green in September 2022 and will be promoting the EP and the singles out on the road.

Click below to hear the podcast from CloudwatcherUno featuring JT. 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, blues, country, Country and Western, UK Americana, UK Country

CloudwatcherUno Podcast S8 Ep 8 ~ Danni Nicholls

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Danni Nicholls speaks with CloudwatcherUno from her home about her “Hear Your Voice” tour ( delayed by two years because of the pandemic), her three albums “A little Redemption”, “Mockingbird Lane” and “The Melted Morning”. We also talk about the inspiration for the songs “Hear Your Voice”, “Lemonade”, “Wish I Were Alone” and her new single “Little Fictions”.

“Hear Your Voice” by Danni Nicholls

Danni tells how she struggled with not performing during the pandemic, how technology and her loyal fans supported her and kept her afloat during those strange times.

Born in Bedford, England but raised on country music all her life.

Danni met Chris Donoghue at an Emmi Lou Harris concert in London and that sparked a musical relationship which resulted in them connecting and Chris offering Danni his help in making a record whenever Danni was in Nashville. A few months later and Danni was in Nashville and lo and behold Chris produced two of Danni’s albums.

“First Cuckoo of Spring” by Danni Nicholls

Danni was also performing at young age and did a Drama degree and at one point she was thinking of going into the world of theatre (and still would if she got the opportunity!), Danni has been listening to country and American roots music (thanks to her Grandmother on her mum’s side) from a young age and Patsy Cline was the soundtrack to her youth, Danni even played the saxophone in growing up and loved the big band sound.

After two years Danni finally got to take her ‘Her Your Voice’ Tour out on the road.

“Little Fictions” was one of the first songs that Danni engineered the sound without the help of a producer and one that she is most proud of.

“Little Fictions” by Danni Nicholls

Danni went back to Nashville in September 2021 and wrote a whole bunch of songs for album number four and his coming close to selecting those that best reflect her as a musician. There’s more touring on the horizon for Danni in 2022 but once that is done Danni will concentrate on the new album and bringing it out in the open for her fans.

Say hello to one of the leading country and Americana artists from the UK, Danni Nicholls.

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

alabama, americana, bluegrass, country, Country and Western, Dee White, nashville

CloudwatcherUno Podcast S8 Ep 7 ~ Dee White

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Dee White talks with CloudwatcherUno in his first ever podcast so that we can hear his story thus far in the world of country music. We also have a live exclusive acoustic performance of his new song “Little Things” on his 000-28 Martin Guitar.

Dee White ~ A truly sensational, singer, lyricist and guitarist.

After touring with Paul Cauthen earlier on in the year Dee came back to Alabama to chat on the podcast. Our conversation starts right at the beginning when Dee’s father sold an antique to Harold Shedd who had recently moved out to central Alabama from Nashville. Dee (a senior at the time) helped his father deliver the antique and saw all the vinyl and gold records that Harold was unpacking and did what any curious youngster would and googled Harold and found out he was a music man. Little did Dee realise how much of an influence this southern gentleman would have on his life and his career.

“Ol ‘ Muddy River” by Dee White

Harold overheard that Dee played at church and had his guitars restrung and a seed of an idea gets planted in his head. After a few months an old buddy of Harold’s from the music industry visited to see his new place and asked Dee to play out of the blue and Dee travelled with his grandfather to Harold’s place. Once there Harold said to Dee to play any song he liked and Dee sang Hank William’s “Lost Highway“.

Dee White performed “Lost Highway” by Hank Williams for Harold Shedd and the rest as they say is history.

After this initial performance, Harold would continue to validate Dee as a singer and lyricist and encourage him to write as many songs as he could. Then on one snowy morning in Nashville, Harold drove Dee to meet David R. Ferguson at The Sutler Saloon David would later co-produce Dee’s first album Southern Gentleman . After lunch Dee went to Easy Eye Sound and met the legendary producer Dan Auerbach . All of this happened on the same day. Dan asked Dee to play a song which He did an original composition called “Voodoo“. After Dee finished singing all of these music men looked at each other and knew that Dee was the real deal. Not too long after that work began on the “Southern Gentleman” album.

“Wherever You Go” by Dee White

Since then Dee has made his debut on The Grand Ole Opry and collaborated with Ashley McBryde , Molly Tuttle , Alison Krauss and Brit Taylor . Dee has been on tour all over the world with Ashley McBryde, Molly Tuttle, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Alan Jackson and Marcus King Band

“Road That Goes Both Ways” by Dee White (feat Ashley McBryde)

Dee is now in the studio finishing his sophomore album which has been recorded live so as to capture the most authentic analogue experience. Dee is thrilled to bring new music to fans and is looking forward to touring across the United States and especially across Europe to promote the new album when it comes out.

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

americana, bluegrass, blues, country, Country and Western, Honky Tonk, nashville, Red Dirt Country

CloudwatcherUno Podcast S8 Ep 6 ~ Kristina Murray

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Kristina Murray sits down with CloudwatcherUno in her Nashville home to talk about her albums “Southern Ambrosia” and “Unravelin” and the latest project of killer covers featuring Logan Ledger “That Just About Does It” (a Vern Gosdin classic) and “I’m Gonna Hurt Him On The Radio” (based on Keith Whitley‘s original).

“I’m Gonna Hurt Him On The Radio” by Kristina Murray

We talk about Kristina’s development as an artist between her first album and the new songs that she has released, how she has become a better songwriter, collaborator with other producers and musicians and working on her new songs for her new album.

Kristina Murray has grown and developed as an artist since moving to Nashville.

Kristina got a chance to sing at The Ryman recently and felt really good at how her voice sounded, and is looking forward to going on tour with Jamie Wyatt in 2022, a true champion of great country music on the west coast.

Kristina is a kick ass musician. Go do your ears a favour and listen to her music.

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

https://linktr.ee/CloudwatcherUno

Canada, country, Country and Western, folk, Quebec

CloudwatcherUno Podcast S8 Ep 3 ~ Geneviève Racette

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Geneviève Racette talks with CloudwatcherUno about her latest album “Satellite” a collection of 9 songs exploring themes of how humans fall in and out of love and finding the courage to do so after heartbreak.

“Satellite” by Geneviève Racette

Québec is the only province in Canada that French is the official language and so being bi-lingual is something that Geneviève has mastered. So much so that she released a purely French album in 2016 “Les Aurores Borèales” The government gives a lot of grants and money to keep the French language alive and protect it from those who speak English.

Geneviève Racette

Geneviève only used to write and sing In French but as a child spoke both languages as her mother wanted her to be able to understand the English language. Geneviève learnt by watching Sesame Street and other kids TV shows and eventually decided to explore this English sensibility that had grown within her to explore different worlds of music.

Geneviève Racette

Song writing for Geneviève begins with words in French and English, and then she will collect them all together to make a finished song. “Satellite” was completely mixed, recorded and produced during the global lockdown. Only in February 2022 did music venues open up again in Québec, it’s been a very long lockdown within Canada.

A whole year was spent exploring new songs, demos and ideas to record these final ideas and then mixed them. Geneviève co produced every note with her Producer sometimes in a studio but mainly from home. Finally after two long years the album was released in March 2022.

Geneviève Racette

Geneviève became friends with Dallas Green from “City and Colour” over Instagram a Canadian musical legend and then sent the demos to Dallas Green and he asked if he could sing on the song “Someone“. Geneviève was over the moon with excitement that her musical hero was going to sing on her song and the album. Geneviève feels proud, joyful and overwhelmed with emotion that her album is now out for the world to hear.

“Someone” – Geneviève Racette (feat. Dallas Green)

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