If you are listening to this episode years after it was recorded, the COVID-19 Corona Virus global pandemic is hopefully a thing of the past. Unfortunately, at the time of recording March 21, 2020, we are currently in the beginning of what will likely be a couple months of mandatory self isolation across the United States, and varying degrees of the same already in effect around the world. Businesses are closing, schools are shutting down, hospitals are filling up, and our government isn't helping. It's an unprecedented time that, despite years of warnings from the CDC and visionaries like Bill Gates, we aren't prepared for. No matter who you are, the fabric of your daily life is being impacted, and now more than ever, people are finding community through the things that bind us. Things like philanthropy, art, and, of course, music. As borders close and states declare mandatory isolation, postponing tours and closing concert halls, social media has lit-up with musical and lyrical love, like lighters in a swaying audience, as musicians of all levels share live performances with songs of hope, songs of support, and songs to keep a firm hold of the beautiful role that music songwriting continues to play in soothing, saving, and uniting us. As the world faces this unique challenge, Ed and I want to do our part to support the musical community that we are so grateful to be a part of, and so desperate to help during this time of economic hardship. So our next episodes are dedicated to all of the artists out there across the US, around the world, that are taking their performances online while the venues go off line, musicians that are playing on social media so that we can be physically distant but not emotionally separated, and for the live-streams being created to help sustain the musicians in every community. First, we have to focus on our hometown. The Tampa and Saint Petersburg, FL areas are already being hit hard, but our artists don't stay down. You don't need to look hard on Instagram or Facebook to find your favorite musicians banding together to bring audiences inspired, heartfelt performances as a way to help these musicians keep the lights on and help all of us keep the darkness at bay. The Dream Stream is one such performance. Slated for March 27th, 2020 and powered by Song Divers friends the Tampa Sessions, this live stream will feature a line up of 12 Tampa/St.Pete performers, including Song Divers alum J.T. Brown and Kristopher James, along with upcoming guests Shawn Kyle and Mountain Holler as well as many more we hope to have in the studio in the future. In anticipation of that event, and the many more it will inspire, we got ahold of Nick Ewing, Kristopher James, and J.T. Brown to get more details on The Dream Stream and see how a few of the SouthEast's finest songwriters are weathering the storm.

Song Divers

The Dream Stream

Our last episode was with songwriter Brian Sutherland, a Nashville based musician and standout at the 2019 Downtown St. Petersburg Songwriter's festival. The first night of the fest Brian, a veteran of these events and in his early 30's, shared the stage with Liam Bauman, a young songwriter in his early 20's who by contrast appeared ever the rookie. Any reticence that may have been visible was extinguished when Liam hit his first notes with the steady strum of a guy whose been doing this for years–– And he has, a few tours under his belt and his EP still warm from a late 2019 release, Liam has been on our wish list ever since we saw him busking with a vintage Gibson at Cage fest here in Florida last year. In person, Liam is polite and reserved with lady-killer blue eyes that probably net him a few extra tips when he's working as a barista in his down time. He has an innocent smile that's almost misleading, because his sense of humor gives way to a maturity and depth of guy that has a lot to say and is really good at using his pen and his guitar to say it. Liam's EP is really good and a very enjoyable listen, and the unreleased song he played us during this episode has been stuck in my head for weeks. Which has been a very pleasant experience. This episode was a lot of fun, and he we hope you will join us in becoming big fans of Liam Bauman.

Liam Bauman

Every year, Songwriters festivals are happening all over the world, with a critical mass happening in around many of US's quote-unquote music cities. These are the dripping springs of Austin and the 30A Songwriter's fest which taked place every January in Florida's panhandle. These are meant to be different from a traditional music fest in that they focus on the story telling and attempt to create an environment for the focus to be on the song. The fall of 2019, in our market, we attended the first official Downtown St. Petersburg's songwriter's fest. Some of the venues need some coaching for year 2, but on the whole, the weekend was full of local and national songwriters showcasing their story telling. We saw previous Song Divers guests like Nashville's Lydia Luce, and St.Pete's Rebekah Pulley, and we saw a lot of other notable writers that we will likely see on the show in the coming months, and one in this episode. Brian Sutherland is every bit of what Song Divers is about. The guys is a musical Swiss army knife. A trained cellist turned guitarist, turned band leader from the greater Tampa Bay area, now in Nashville, TN, Brian has spent time on tour playing alongside some really notable acts including... the Beach Boys. His resume is impressive, but it doesn't prepare you for the knock-your socks off songwriting that Brian is cranking out. I wish we had done one of our video performances with him, because the way his fingers effortlessly float around the guitar neck was really fun to watch. I got to spend some time with Brian throughout the weekend prior to us sitting down with him, and they don't come better, more natural, or more fun than him. When we recorded this episode, Brian had just finished his last slot at the songwriter's fest here in town, as well as a private gig and filling in for a festival no-show. To say his voice was raw is an understatement, and yet it sounds all the more full of feeling, emotion, and conviction. We wouldn't have had him tell us his story any other way. Divers, meet Brian Sutherland.

Brian Sutherland

Born countries apart, and made in LA, the guys that make up the band Vintage Trouble are rock and roll incarnate. We were first introduced to Ty, Nalle, Richard, and Rick when they toured through a really cool and diverse Jazz Festival we have here in the Tampa/Clearwater area, which I realize is confusing considering they're an act with monster soul and blues swagger, and there aren't any jazz players in the group. Vocalist Ty Taylor is the poster child for the art of being a frontman. He's got a killer voice, he can jump about 7 feet in the air, and he makes it almost impossible not to get up and groove when they take the stage. And the band is stacked—as evidenced by the unplugged performance the whole group knocked out for us, and that you'll get to hear on the back half of this episode. I had come across these guys backstage at the Rock 'n' Roll Marathon Series, where they were polite, fun, and genuinely excited to be musicians—something you don't always see as clearly in bands of this level of fame and stature. From the fashion ads they appear in, to their newest music, Vintage Trouble is everything Rock 'n' Roll is supposed to be plus everything that it's missing. The band was in a bit of a rush to get to soundcheck, but they gave us a little over an hour to hang and record with them backstage. We hope––actually we know–– you will enjoy their interview and performances. It's some of the coolest, best sounding stuff we've captured yet.

Vintage Trouble

You are diving into part 2 of our episodes with Contemporary Folk Music legend Ellis Paul. If you are just picking up here, that's great––but, we do encourage you to pause and go back and listen to part 1 with Ellis. There are some references to topics we cover in part 1 that you might appreciate hearing in order. That said, you'll be fine and love it in any order you choose. We just couldn't find enough of Ellis' golden nuggets to leave on the cutting room floor, so you're getting a second helping of one of our favorite guests yet. Ladies, Gents, and everything in between, we bring you more of Ellis Paul.

Ellis Paul - Part 2

Throw heaping amounts of talent, determination and hard work into a pot; add a few tablespoons of timely mentorship, healthy competition and the kindness of strangers — and don’t forget a dash of good old-fashioned luck —and that’s your recipe for Contemporary Folk Music legend Ellis Paul. Over a 30 year arc, Ellis has logged more than 5,000 shows and earned scores of accolades and awards (let’s save time and just say all the prestigious folk music awards). He's released 20 albums, landed songs in major motion pictures, and been a featured performer at countless major folk and songwriters’ festivals. He’s even picked up an honorary PhD and been the subject of a documentary. Yet he remains humble, open and as inspired as ever to create new music, turning out some of his finest, most vital work ever on his latest 2019 release, The Storyteller’s Suitcase. We were thrilled by how generous Ellis was with his time in sharing hard-won insights into every aspect of what it takes to carve out a living, and a life, as a musician. We want to share it all with you, so we’re making this a two-parter. Enjoy Episode 1 now, and watch for Episode 2 of our visit with Ellis Paul.

Ellis Paul - Part 1

Travers Brothership is a band formed around twin brothers Kyle and Eric Travers–– and built by the bond among their bandmates. Kyle and keyboardist Ian McIsaac joined us for the interview. Kyle is frontman –– tall, lean, and laid back. Ian is shorter, bearded, and equally as friendly. While Eric and Kyle share a bloodline, the whole band plays like family. A long history of learning and honing their craft has led them to their second full-length release and through experiences sharing bills and stages with the likes of Taj Mahal, Govt. Mule, Blues Traveler, and many more. These guys can write, they can play, and they stopped in to see us before hitting the Suwanee Hulaween stage with Anderson Paak, Bass Nectar, Billy Strings, and Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit. We hope you appreciate hanging with the Travers Brothership as much as we did.

Travers Brothership

The first thing that hooks you about Kasondra Rose is that hauntingly beautiful siren voice…although it’s virtually impossible to separate that from the ethereal poetry and mysterious pull of her songs. Then again, she’s just as likely to disarm you with a childlike ditty about an aimlessly floating cartoon cloud. A dancer turned actor turned singer—who also dabbles in aerial gymnastics and animation—Kasondra knows what she wants when she finds it, but she’s always restlessly searching for it. In the meantime, she’s made her mark as a solo performer around the eastern U.S., and earned a place in the talented artist’s collective known as The Florida Bjorkestra. Fittingly, we spent part of our last episode with Bjorkestra founder Jeremy Douglass weighing in on his creative process producing Kasondra’s song “Out of Thin Air”...and as a special treat, we get to compare Kasondra’s live version of that tune here in this episode. In conversation, we found her to be refreshingly honest, funny, and down-to-earth, and we think you’ll be as charmed as we were to get to know Kasondra Rose.

Kasondra Rose

Jeremy Douglass is a gifted instrumentalist, producer and composer that follows his own musical bliss into some fascinating projects. Whether writing a piano concerto for American Stage Theatre company, writing songs on the spot with his musical improv group, or wowing audiences with his musical all-star group, the Florida Bjorkestra, Jeremy is pushing the norms in search of the bliss he gets from performing with truly great musicians. Jeremy even had fun re-writing our theme song, re-writing it in various stylings after hearing just a single line of it. Running any tune through the musical style blender that is Jeremy Douglass’ brain always turns out a better version than the one that went in. He’s curious, inventive, and always thirsty for shiny new musical ideas. One of the most intensely creative artists we’ve had on the show to-date, Jeremy is ultimately about erasing barriers—barriers between musical styles, between musicians, between performer and audience…any barriers that limit our conceptions about what music should be. Any project that he lends his generous talents to is immediately elevated by Jeremy's Midas touch…and this episode was no different. We hope you enjoy our friend, Jeremy Douglass.

Jeremy Douglass

Kirk Adams has made a name for himself with audiences and critics across the country. A longtime staple of the Tampa Bay music scene, Kirk's songs are packed with doom & gloom, chiming guitars, and catchy hooks. His writing writing can be touching, funny, thought provoking, spooky, and sometimes all of that in the same song. Kirk has developed a writing style and commentary that present almost like stories and contemplations from a noir-style Sci-Fi private investigator novel, observing and moving among his fellow night owls, performers, and artists. Wielding his trusty strat, shades, and pork-pie hat, Kirk's writing shows us ourselves in an honest light through tunes born of his own chase for DIY therapy and self-understanding.

Kirk Adams

Kristopher James is one of those artists whose songwriting is sometimes overshadowed by his own show-stopping vocals. And that is most definitely a compliment. The dude can write, and man can he sing. Through well received EP's and a brand new full length album, Kindness Never Quits, Kris's songs have morphed from folky, sometimes ethereal, americana-pop tunes into a sultry soul style Americana that gives us visions of an Amos Lee and Barry White collaboration–– which if you know Kris, is par for the course. He's a pleasant mix of styles and inspirations. His black framed glasses give him a look of intelligent innocence, while his colorfully tattooed arms tell a story of vibrant expression. His long hair was in pig tails the day he visited us. Pair that with his western denim shirt, and he was almost channeling a young Willie Nelson. We were glad to get a meaningful window of time with him away from the greenrooms of the southeast concert circuit where we usually––and always happily–– cross paths. We hope you enjoy getting to know Kristopher James.

Kristopher James

Song Divers is, and will hopefully continue to be many things–– for us, and for you. But it started with a feeling. Maybe you've had it: You encounter a work of art. A painting or a poem.. A song–– Or maybe it's a whole person–– And you are captivated. You are moved, and consumed by this feeling of thinking "people need to know about this!" Below the surface Song Divers started as my curated attempt at sharing, celebrating, and appreciating the special people and places that have moved us on our journeys as a musicians, as a listeners, and as people. These two guests, their music, and the shop they inhabit, are the epitome of what I am describing. Trevor Boone may be the son of Jay Booner, Emerald City Guitar's founder, but he is his own man. The frontman of Seattle favorites, The Hollers, he is a talented and disarmingly friendly inividual. To say he is knows his stuff would be an understatement, and the dude can play. His friend, an fellow Emerald City Guitars team member, James Anaya, is his own musical force to be reckoned with. Songwriter and front man for his band James Anaya & The Current, James is warm and balanced, and he and Trevor together will leave you rolling. They are really smart and funny guys. We got to record right in the historic shop (Emerald City Guitars has been around for almost 25 years) and we had an amazing time. We hope you enjoy a truly special show.

Trevor Boone & James Anaya at Emerald City Guitars

Nate would be pretty comfortable with us describing him in two words: Road Warrior. But that wouldn't be enough to encompass the description a guy like him deserves. The much decorated songwriter is a big dude, but not intimidating. He should be––He's Tall and tattooed, regularly dawning a western fedora and boots–– but his eyes are a give away. Our first look at Nate showed us the poise of a seasoned story teller with an expression that radiated an empathetic kindness. Nate's friendliness was outmatched only by his humility, which is especially refreshing when you consider the 5 International Music Awards and time spent at the top of the iTunes charts. From the honest reflections on his albums to the engaging stories from more than a decade on the road, we are grateful to Nate for saying yes to an interview and sharing so much with us. We hope you enjoy getting to know him better as much as we did.

Nate Currin

Steve Connelly was a spark that lit the fuse for a whole generation of musicians that would go on to be produced by Steve at Zen Recording studios, and all fantasize about being able to play even a single line of a Steve Connelly guitar lead. Zen became a safe haven for songwriters of any caliber looking to lay down a record. From his psychedelic high school years and time on tour with Roger McGuinn, to the countless hours he’s spent bringing to life the musical works of so many others, Steve inspires. He instructs. He provides a platform for the songwriter to fully realize their compositions. Whether you know him as well as so many artists do, or you are just hearing about Steve for the first time, we are so grateful to be able to bring you our conversation with him.

Steve Connelly

It's a natural tendency for us to compare musicians to others. To say Rebekah Pulley sounds like any of the songwriters that might come to mind would be well intended, but none quite a fit. She's a sound and a songwriter all her own, and after 6 albums her voice is as bright as ever. There's a youthfulness about her even as she delivers retrospective songs that come from a place that can only be reached after a certain amount of life experience. Her recent 2019 release "The Sea of Everything", houses some of her best work yet. After seeing her perform for years, we were excited to finally get to sit down with her. Pull up an ear, for Rebekah Pulley.

Rebekah Pulley

What makes a songwriter? What does it take to compose a meaningful work of audible art? Join us as we connect with a diverse mix of artists to explore the forces, challenges, inspiration and influences that charted their path. We dive deep into the making of a lyricist: the stories, key moments, the highs & the lows. We chat values, idols, obstacles and what it took to find their voice. And through it all, we hear some really incredible music.

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Song Divers

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