In this episode of Lorenzo's Music Podcast, I talk with Mr. StepdaddyMone, hip hop artist and video creator based in Milwaukee WI. We talk about his music, starting from his early days in junior high school, where he was inspired by the hip hop culture of the early '90s. Mr. StepdaddyMone shares the story behind his unique name and how it reflects his mature approach to music and life.

We discuss the evolution of his sound, describing his current style as a blend of laid-back hip hop with a focus on storytelling and personal experiences, particularly relating to relationships. He also gives us insight into his collaborative work with his group and the creative process behind their music.

We also talk about his innovative approach to music videos, using toys and green screen techniques to bring his imaginative concepts to life. We explore his recent projects, including his songs "Square Love" and "Switcheroo," both of which feature retro visuals that complement his lyrical themes.

For more of Mr. StepdaddyMones's music and videos, check out his YouTube channel Mone Media.

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Lorenzo's Music Website - https://www.lorenzosmusic.com

In this episode of Lorenzo's Music Podcast, I meet Gabe Kangas, the maintainer and primary developer of Owncast, free and open-source live video streaming software. Gabe shares the inspiration behind Owncast, which emerged during the pandemic as a response to the challenges musicians faced with mainstream streaming platforms. We explore how Owncast allows users to host their own live streams without relying on big tech companies, offering a self-hosted alternative for artists and creators.

Gabe discusses the technical aspects of setting up Owncast, including server requirements and the cost-effectiveness of hosting your own streams. We talk about the user experience, including how to integrate chat features.

For more information on Owncast and to check out the directory of streams, visit owncast.online

You can also learn more about Gabe's work at gabekangas.com

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Lorenzo's Music Website - https://www.lorenzosmusic.com

In this episode of The Lorenzo's Music Podcast, I meet Keith Marshall, also known as the musician of Key 13 as well as several other music projects. Keith shares his musical background, sparked by the purchase of a NanoKey 2 during the onset of the stay home order. We talk about his inspirations, including the backstory of his band name and the eclectic sounds he creates using virtual instruments.

Keith also discusses his role in createing the Faircamp Webring and being part of the Bonkwave community. We also talk about the role federated platforms have in fostering a collaborative music environment as well as the concept of Fair Traded Music Friday which is aimed at promoting independent artists and their releases across federated platforms.

We also explore the technical side of his music production, including his use of Logic Pro, plugins to achieve guitar sounds, and synth textures.

Keith also tells me about his latest compilation, "Pretentious Incongruity," which revisits and remixes his past works.

For more information on Keith's music and projects, visit key13.uk.

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Lorenzo's Music Website https://www.lorenzosmusic.com

In this episode of the Lorenzo's Music Podcast, I meet Ben Pate, the creator of Bandwagon.fm, an open-source platform designed for musicians to share their music online. Ben shares the inspiration behind Bandwagon, which emerged from a need for an open, federated alternative to traditional music platforms. We discuss the unique features of Bandwagon, including its integration with the Fediverse, allowing artists to connect with a broader audience while maintaining control over their music.

Ben explains how Bandwagon operates and the challenges he faces as a solo developer. We also discuss the collaboration between Bandwagon and The Indie Beat, an online radio station.

You can check out Bandwagon at https://bandwagon.fm

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Lorenzo's Music Website - https://www.lorenzosmusic.com

💿 Listen to the new album "Friction" by Lorenzo's Music https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/lorenzosmusic/friction

**(Updated sound, fixing clipping issue on AxWax's audio)**

In this episode of Lorenzo's Music Podcast, I meet Axel, also known as AxWax, a musician currently residing in Spain. Axel shares his background of studying music technology in the UK to becoming involved in creating a community radio station and tells us about getting started in the Bonk Wave music scene.

We dive deep into Axel's experiences in establishing a community radio station from scratch, the challenges of securing funding, and the evolution of his music career. He discusses his early days in hip-hop, collaborating with artists, and how he transitioned into creating music under his AxWax moniker.

To discover more about Axel's work and listen to his latest projects, visit https://faircamp.axwax.eu

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Lorenzo's Music Website - https://www.lorenzosmusic.com

In this episode of Lorenzo's Music Podcast, I meet Jason Erb, who is behind the music project Velcro Mary. Jason shares the origins of his unique band name and reflects on his evolution as a musician, from recording on four-track cassette tapes to his recent foray into remixing his earlier works. We talk about influences that shaped his sound, including grunge icons like Nirvana and the lo-fi aesthetic of the early '90s. Jason opens up about the challenges of finding his musical identity, especially as he juggles family life and his creative pursuits.

We also discuss his latest remix album, a project that allowed him to revisit and reimagine his past work with fresh techniques and insights gained over the years.

you can find his work on all major streaming platforms and visit his website at https://www.velcromarymusic.com

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Lorenzo's Music Website - https://www.lorenzosmusic.com

In this episode of Lorenzo's Music Podcast, I meet Simon Vansintjan, a web developer and musician, to explore the innovative platform Mirlo. Designed as a collectively owned digital marketplace for music, Mirlo aims to provide an open-source alternative to conventional platforms like Bandcamp, emphasizing community and transparency.

Simon shares the story behind Mirlo and discusses the challenges of building a music platform without venture capital. We delve into the unique features of Mirlo, including its subscription model that allows artists to offer their music and merchandise directly to fans while fostering a sustainable income stream.

We talk about the importance of cooperative ownership in the music industry, the platform's support of Creative Commons licensing, and the vision for creating a supportive community for musicians. Simon also highlights the technical aspects of Mirlo, including its user-friendly interface and the ongoing development to enhance the listening experience for users.

To learn more about Mirlo and join the conversation, visit mirlo.space

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Lorenzo's Music Website - https://www.lorenzosmusic.com

In this episode of Lorenzo's Music Podcast, I meet Simon Repp, a talented software developer focused on creating tools for musicians. We delve into Simon's projects, primarily Faircamp, a static site generator for musicians that allows them to host their music independently, much like Bandcamp but without the platform constraints.

Simon shares the origins of Faircamp, inspired by his own experiences as a musician and his desire for a platform that prioritizes simplicity and independence over commercial competition. We explore the technical aspects of Faircamp, including its foundation on Rust for efficient and bug-free coding, and its innovative use of FFmpeg for audio file conversion. Simon explains the concept of a "soft pay curtain," a unique approach to voluntary payments for music downloads.

We also discuss the challenges and opportunities of self-hosted platforms, the role of static site generators, and Simon's commitment to maintaining Faircamp as a low-maintenance, accessible tool for musicians. Additionally, Simon talks about his other project, Hyper 8, a similar tool for video producers, and his vision for the future of these projects.

Discover more about Simon's work and explore Faircamp at simonrepp.com/faircamp.

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Lorenzo's Music Website - https://www.lorenzosmusic.com