This week, I got to sit down with two of the people who helped me get started in podcasting, Joy and Claire of "This is Joy and Claire." In their own words, their podcast is a conversation every week "about all the...random things you'd talk to your friends about." Podcasting since 2013, their first project was called "Girls Gone WOD," which focused a lot on fitness and CrossFit. It has since developed into "This is Joy and Claire," and they also have a Great British Bakeoff-themed show called, "On Your Marks, Get Set, Bake!" (My personal favorite.) It was such a treat to talk with two people who love music and how it plays a role in their lives. Many thanks to Joy and Claire for going down all the rabbit holes with me, from the similarities between podcasting and music, to the balance of commercial success and artistic freedom, and a whole lot more. (And for those who have joined from the J&C corner of the internet, yes we did even sneak in a Mean Girls reference towards the end.) You can catch their main show, "This is Joy and Claire" every Thursday.

Joy and Claire's Website
Follow J&C on Instagram

Joe Troop is a multi-instrumentalist, singer, and songwriter hailing originally from Winston-Salem, North Carolina. The founder of GRAMMY-nominated stringband Che Apalache, Joe’s music is deeply inspired by his decade living in Buenos Aires and traveling throughout Latin America. When the pandemic unexpectedly landed him back in North Carolina, he spent 2020 learning direct action from stalwart organizers. In 2021 he channeled that energy into his homecoming album Borrowed Time. The record was co-produced with Jason Richmond (The Avett Brothers, Branford Marsalis) and features luminaries like Béla Fleck (who produced Che Apalache’s GRAMMY-nominated album), Abigail Washburn, Tim O’Brien, and Charlie Hunter, but the visceral songwriting and fine-crafted instrumentals speak for themselves. Joe's music reflects both his time spent living abroad as well as his upbringing in the North Carolina Piedmont. Now based in Durham, he leads various ensembles, which play his original music. Joe has also most recently partnered with powerhouse Venezuelan folk music legend Larry Bellorín. The duo is on a mission to show that music has no borders and is already touring extensively.

Larry & Joe's most recent single, Caballo Viejo

This week, I sat down with my longtime friend, Max Rainwater. Max is a multi-instrumentalist based out of the Hudson Valley. We talked all about his teaching methodology, "Scratch to Gigs" and how to reinvigorate your practice by returning to basics, metronome always in hand. Take a listen to revisit some old ideas and maybe even get a couple new ones. 

Check out Max's band, the Mapletones!

Evan is back! Our first repeat guest, Evan is a pianist and salesman focused on creating a culture of gratitude and appreciation with his clients. A MN native, Evan received his Bachelor of Music degree from Lawrence University, under the tutelage of Anthony Padilla. At Lawrence, he earned an Accompanying Fellowship. Evan also holds a Master of Music degree in Piano Performance from the University of Michigan, where he studied with Dr. Christopher Harding. Graduating summa cum laude, he completed his master’s degree in three semesters. 

As a college sophomore, Mr. Newman was the 1st prize winner of Wisconsin’s MTNA State Competition and took 2nd prize in St. Paul’s Schubert Club Competition in Minnesota. As a junior, the Lawrence University piano faculty awarded Mr. Newman the Margaret Gary Daniels Award for his excellence in performance and consistency in competitions. As a senior, he appeared as a finalist in the Lawrence University Concerto Competition and took 2nd prize in Green Bay’s Miroslav Pansky Memorial Concerto Competition.

With over half a million dollars in personal sales and his experience in the music world, Evan brings a unique perspective to the table in terms of bringing a meaningful vision of your life as an artist to life. 

Natalie Hagwood may be the changing face of the modern cellist.
Unbridled by past conventions of what her instrument could and should do, the 28-year-old Sacramento transplant, who began formal cello training at age seven, continues to blossom, as do her fellow musical bandmates, heralded Sacramento trio Dear Darling. As her ascent with Dear Darling continues, her desire to explore new horizons and expand the changing role of cello in contemporary music continues with solo releases that have helped find her “true voice” and quench her self-professed “hunger for creativity.”

Encouraged by her parents, Natalie decided to further her music education. She fell in love with youth symphony in her jr. high years, and during her high school years took cello lessons from a University of Nevada Reno teacher who encouraged her to pursue a degree in Classical Cello Performance, a degree she received from the University of Nevada in 2017.

A brief post-graduate stint at the University of Washington allowed her to study with UW Professor Sæunn Thorsteinsdóttir and Dr. Kevin Krentz while teaching privately with the Seattle Cello Academy. During her time in Seattle, she won the University of Washington Concerto Competition, soloing with the UW Symphony in 2018. She has performed with piano-cello Duo Libra and Los Angeles Philharmonic Concertmaster Martin Chalifour and held benefit concertsin Los Angeles to raise funds for the Paradise Campfire victims.

Finding herself locked into a narrow “classical vortex,” she left the university and began ravenously listening to non-classical music and exploring her folk and singer-songwriter roots. Collaborations with Celtic, Americana and jazz bands eventually brought her together with like-minded bandmates Dear Darling, recently selected to perform as one of three opening acts for the 14th annual Cayamo Sixth Man Soundcheck Festival, a 7-day Caribbean cruise featuring Americana artists Emmy Lou Harris, Punch Brothers, the Indigo Girls, and Grace Potter. Additionally, Ms. Hagwood performs as a member of Solabel, a Sacramento-based ensemble of established jazz, folk, and Broadway talents whose message of joy, hope and community crosses musical boundaries. 

Her first solo release, “Steady Love,” co-written with a college friend, is a luscious ballad built on intricate polyrhythms and beautifully layered harmonies. Admittedly, one of her many coming-of-age tunes, the track chronicles a particularly rocky time during her marriage when she realized that the institution wasn’t always going to be “shiny and new.” 

The heartfelt “Mama” speaks to the changing dynamics with her mother over time, while “Spider Song” addresses her frustration with fear cycles controlling her actions. The latter two tracks, performed pizzicato with solo cello and Hagwood’s ethereal mezzo-soprano voice continue to expand the evolving role of the instrument in contemporary music, while helping shape her own unique musical voice.

“It’s like quenching a thirst,” Natalie says. “The more that I prioritize my new music, the better I can show up for my other ensembles, and I’ve got to keep chipping away at expressing myself.” Expressing herself also includes time mentoring others through her Concert-Ready Cellist Program. Natalie’s unique curriculum confronts the isolation and stage fright inherent in traditional private lesson models, opting instead for a community-based model inspired by team sports that encourages the sharing of one's gifts. Students in The Concert-Ready Cellist Program perform together regularly, playing free concerts in the Sacramento area in senior homes and farmer’s markets. Twice-a-week, virtual supervised practice lessons allow students
to meet and share their experiences, while monthly masterclasses featuring guest cellists keep things fresh and exciting.

Gregory Childress (he/him) is Lynchburg, Virginia native violist and violinist who began playing at the age of five in the Lynchburg City Schools Suzuki string program. Greg graduated Cum Laude from James Madison University in May 2019 with a B.M. in viola performance. He discovered his love for teaching during his time at JMU; Greg served as president of the JMU American String Teacher Association Collegiate Chapter. He taught after school group violin classes with Rockingham County Schools and launched a small private violin and viola studio. After graduating, Greg moved back home where he taught in the LCS Suzuki strings program from 2019 to 2022.

Greg runs a thriving Suzuki violin and viola studio in Lynchburg with over 35 students enrolled. Additionally, Greg is the string chamber ensemble director at Virginia Episcopal School. As a member and registered teacher with the Suzuki Association of Americas, Greg frequently participates in workshops, institutes, and teacher trainings. Greg has studied pedagogy with Dr. Wanchi Huang, Elizabeth Faidley, David Strom, Oscar Soler, Joanne Martin, Cathryn Lee, and Charles Krigbaum. With over 12,000 followers on Instagram, Greg uses his platform to showcase student progress, achievements, and also provide free tips and educational resources to teachers.

Greg is the principal violist of the Lynchburg Symphony Orchestra and frequently performs for weddings and events across Virginia. When he is not teaching or performing, Greg enjoys vegan cooking, yoga, house projects, and traveling to new and inspiring places.

To learn more about Greg, check out his website at www.gregorychildress.com and follow him on Instagram @violagreg.

From the day Ben Plotnick was born in Calgary, Alberta, Canada his life has revolved
almost entirely around music. Since his early start playing classical violin, he has found
himself as a bit of a musical chameleon in musical worlds such as Folk, Country, Celtic, Jazz,
Rock, and many areas of world music as well. Ben’s involved musical adolescence included
performances with several groups & organizations for notable audiences (such as Her Royal
Highness Queen Elizabeth the 2nd) across four continents, from an early age.

As a freelance performer and session musician with stints in Calgary, Toronto and now
Nashville, Ben has recorded on upwards of 100 professional albums and performed on
thousands of stages ranging anywhere from house concerts to arenas. His list of credits
includes countless high-level acts largely in (but not limited to) the worlds of folk, Americana
and country music. These days, Ben spends the bulk of his time touring, writing and
recording with creative projects The Fretless (2017 Juno award winner and 3-time nominee, 6 Canadian Folk Music Awards) and Oliver the Crow (ensemble of the year nominee at the 2020 Canadian Folk Music Awards, called ‘exquisite’ and an ‘inspired collaboration’ by NPR).
Amidst performances around the world, he continues to work as a session musician and
string arranger in Nashville. His arrangements for strings, winds and in some cases
symphony orchestras feature on a vast array of professional albums, stages and halls
around the world.

His improvisation method book was released in 2015. “Vio Lingo: A comprehensive guide to
learning the language of violin improvisation”, is now on its 5th printing and has been highly
sought after in fiddle communities across the continent. Exclaim.ca writes of his 2016 solo record ‘Greenland’: “(Plotnick’s) instrumental wizardry,paired with danceable rhythm, will have half the audience listening intently while the rest tears up the floorboards”. 2021 saw the release of ‘Madison Archives’ with banjo player Frank Evans (of The Slocan Ramblers), a duo album named “Instrumental Album of the Year” at the Canadian Folk Music Awards and nominated at the Juno Awards.

Whether he’s performing for 30 or 30,000 people, with a country band, folk string quartet or
a bluegrass group, in a bar or on a festival stage, Ben continues to define himself as one of
folk music’s elite fiddle players.

Instagram
Ben's website
Fretless
Oliver The Crow

This week is something different, and very special! I got to sit down with my cousin, J David and hear all about his early days as a country musician. We talk about songwriting, how he discovered Lyle Lovett in a small town in Luxembourg and his days running Mr. Lucky's, one of the most popular country music spots in Phoenix. He even gives an official definition of our family word "kadoo." (Heck, you might even feel like you're at one while you listen.)

J David has played and toured with several acts including Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, and many more. He's been a beloved fixture of the music scene in Arizona for the past 45+ years. He still plays several nights a week with the Herndon Brothers and other acts. To see where he's playing next, click here