Grrl On Grrl: Intersectional And Trans-inclusive Music & Interview Show

Here's the very first Grrl on Grrl Interlude episode! In this short episode, I cover Grrl on Grrl news, upcoming album releases in October, and quotes from articles regarding the recent arrest of the Backpage CEO. Listen below, and don't forget to check out the links to bands and articles mentioned as well.

Year 2 of Grrl on Grrl continues with episode 19 featuring Megan Liscomb of San Diego band Soft Lions. In this episode, Megan and I talk about working with a record label, insecurities as a live musician, and differences in objectification depending on your role in the band. Soft Lions is also a frequent participant of Monica Mendoza's shows for GRRRL Independent Ladies, which you can hear more about on Monica's episode of Grrl on Grrl. Keep an ear out for news on their upcoming album to be released on Velvet Blue Records late October.

Grrl on Grrl Year Two officially begins with episode 18 featuring solo artist Hailey Wojcik. Stop-motion animator and pop rock extraordinaire, Hailey is a talented artist and musician, dedicated to improving her crafts. In this episode, we talk about Hailey's workflow for booking tours, unwanted physical contact at shows (and other male micro-aggressions), how we can address and fix them, along with plans for her upcoming tour and new album currently being recorded.

Grrl on Grrl goes INTERNATIONAL! Coco Tigler is one part of the German duo The Fever. She joined me over the phone on the last day of their spring US tour. As an American expat, she shares her views on the music scenes in Berlin and in the US, the differences of touring the US versus Europe, censorship (specifically in regards to women), and finances.

In San Diego where I'm based, the question of what "to do" with the southern border is, in turns, ignored by many yet extremely relevant to others. For Mónica, who grew up in Tijuana, the border is a social construct that can bring people together. In this episode, we talk about using the border to connect musicians and artists from Tijuana, San Diego, and Los Angeles and the importance of listening to music in our own languages. And of course, we talk about her band Le Ra and her frontera organization GRRRL Independent Ladies. This episode also guests poet Felicia Williams and artist Alison Dunlevy.

For episode 15, I interviewed Tracie Loo of Sir Coyler and His Asthmatic Band. Despite being based in Seattle, they recorded their upcoming EP at a San Diego studio, and I had a chance to see them play at local venue Tower Bar. Tracie joined me right before her flight back to Seattle. Good thing I live 5 minutes away from the airport! Tracie contributes, records, and plays as drummer with Sir Coyler & His Asthmatic Band. In this episode, we talk about the importance of band chemistry when it comes to creating music together, stereotypes we have to deal with as Asian Americans, and how to (theoretically) build a fanbase as an indie band.

If you're listening to this podcast, then you are, at the very least, interested in music and at most, passionate. Grrl on Grrl's next guest is not only passionate, but she finds herself drawn to music, so much so that it would probably hurt without it. In this episode, I join Dee Ray in her house where we speak about the importance of recording your music as your personal history. We also talk about Dee's strategy for engaging showgoers and fans, and enjoying the hands-on approach to books and letters.

Ali Coyle is a Los Angeles and Orange County based musician who has played in countless bands including Sullen Ray--who you'll recognize as our intro song, and her old main project This Time With Feeling. Currently, she plays in NOBLES and Glasz, but her main project is Strangers Inc, which she does with her writing and production partner Javan Slagle. Ali joined me on Skype from Los Angeles, while we weathered the crazy storm that overtook southern California this past winter. We talk a lot about her current project Strangers Inc and why she's excited about going in a new direction musically, the music scene in Orange County compared to Los Angeles and San Diego--and sorry, I can't help shit talking LA some more, but I like being proven wrong as well-- and music collectives and collaborations.

Anastasia Rivera is vocalist and keyboardist for pop punk/emo band The Weak Days based in Richmond, Virginia. The band describes themselves as "sing-along indie punk/pop... whatever that means." And the name fits, I think, especially with their dual and dueling vocals. Anastasia joins me over Skype. We talk a lot about being a girl in the DIY punk music scene in Richmond, battling hardcore kids (literally), and her strategy when it comes to avoiding uncomfortable situations at shows.

For episode 11, Carrie Gillespie Feller invited me into her home for the interview. I have to admit, I would’ve stayed forever if only to cuddle with her cat some more… This episode is especially exciting for me because we talk a lot about her new project, Hexa and her debut EP Bata Motel that came out only last week. Although the album was recorded with other musicians, her live performance is just her, with a keyboard, loop pedal, microphone, and drum pad. It’s really amazing watching her build layers and layers of sound and harmony… Honestly, it’s a great live experience. Besides Hexa, Carrie has been in several San Diego bands, the two most recent being ILYA and Lunar Maps, which you’ll also get to hear during the course of the episode. Because of her experiences, we talk about the differences between playing solo versus in a band, and we also touch on creating physical products in an industry run by digital downloads.

The first time I met Miah Spring, she came up to me after a show and asked me to be on my podcast. Ah-wahh? Usually finding interviewees is like herding cats! But this is one cat that fell right into my lap purring. Okay, enough cat analogies. In this episode, you'll get to hear two songs performed by Miah live at a recent Flim Flam Revue show in San Diego in addition to a song she did in collaboration with Irate Productions. The song, "Sandy Still Speaks," is about Sandra Bland, who was arrested in 2015 and died a few years later in jail. We'll also talk about a feminist organization called Af3irm that Miah is involved in, creating music with and without friends, and supporting others when it comes to talking about sexual assault and rape. I will be issuing a content warning midway through the interview for sexual assault. Please, please, PLEASE feel free to skip past that portion if you need to.

Emma Grrrl is a trans musician who I contacted when she was still living in Portland. To make things more complicated for the interview process, she decided to pack up her car to play shows across the country. Now she's back in San Diego, ready to settle down... maybe. In this episode, we talk about her project She/Her/Hers and the importance of making music accessible to all ages (not just the 21+ crowd). Plus you'll get to hear some great artists from around the country.

Grrl on Grrl is back with episode 8, featuring San Diego musician Lauren DeRose. We talk a lot about feminism, identity, and labels, along with the usual music topics about community and different goals for different musicians. Lauren also picked a few great songs for you to listen to, so I hope you enjoy!

Los Angeles band Blackberry Tongues traveled to San Diego this past summer where they proceeded to blow my mind with their ethereal music. From that night, I kept in contact with Lauren and I finally got the chance to interview her! In this episode, she teaches me what microtonal music is, the supportive and unique art and music scene in Los Angeles, and we play some positively different music than what has been on the podcast before. We also discuss whether it's better for a band or artist to play more often or occasionally in their local music scene. What do you think? Do you risk oversaturating or tiring out your fans? Or will they lose interest if you don't play often? Leave a comment and tell us what you think!

For episode 5, Lori and I got together in her living room to chat about the history of her earlier bands, being a woman on stage and being extra scrutinized because of it, and other topics about women in the music industry. She's a badass drummer for the two-piece band Gloomsday that she plays in with her boyfriend Justin and has always played bass and guitar in several other bands including Ladyparts and the Rosalyns--the latter got to play with The Julie Ruin and other rad women musicians at the Orange County festival Burger-a-go-go.

Alex Capella of Bakkuda joins me for Grrl on Grrl's fourth episode! Bakkuda is a solo synth project, self-produced right from her bedroom. We talk about how her music is a full-time job, taking music classes (both good and bad), and the trendiness of vinyl and cassette.

For episode 3, Nina of the bicoastal punk band My Own Confusion joined me over Skype to talk about the perils of gentrification, the difficulty of promoting shows in New York City, and whitewashing in the media. Thank you all in advance for sticking through some of the spotty sections of the interview. Unfortunately, a poor Internet connection on either or both ends of a Skype call definitely creates some turbulence throughout the episode!

Paloma Ceballos writes, sings, and plays guitar for San Diego punk band Cochinas Locas. The trio of girls have been described as "unexpectedly good" (you'll hear more about that in the interview). With an energetic set and sassy attitude, their shows are always lively. In this episode, Paloma and I talk about our respective mothers' expectations of what good girls grow up to be, learning the necessary art of schmoozing and social media... and... slut rock?

Devon Moore sings and plays ukulele for Fun While You Wait, a three-piece out of New Jersey. In our premiere episode, we nerd out about ukuleles, gush excessively about Devon's song picks, and discuss earthquakes and the New Jersey music community.