Author Kelly Link reads her story “Catskin,” a dream-like tale for grown-ups about witches, their children, and their cats. In “Catskin” Link casts a spell that combines urgent emotions, human insight, supernatural fantasy, and vivid images. This reading was recorded for Spinning On Air in 2002, before the story was published. David Garland reworked that original recording to create this fresh, new presentation, which includes a few musical flourishes by Garland. The reading is followed by a brief interview about the story.

Spinning On Air

Episode 13 — Kelly Link Reads “Catskin”

Dave Deporis was a brilliant songwriter and performer, whose way of living life was as unusual as his songs. He was passionate about his music, he lived for his music, and a year ago he died for his music. This episode of Spinning On Air is a full-length audio documentary about Dave, and a tribute to this extraordinary person and musician. It features interviews with his parents Stella Deporis and Gene Deporis, songwriters Peter Himmelman and Diane Cluck, and Dave himself in a 2005 Spinning On Air radio interview, as well as several songs and song excerpts showing the music’s power and inventiveness.

Episode 12 — Dave Deporis: An Extraordinary Life

In the previous episode of Spinning On Air you met Pete Mauney, and you heard him photographing fireflies. In the podcast the camera shutter clicks, a dog barks, a motorcycle drives by, and Pete talks about what he’s doing and answers a few of my questions. That slow pace was very comfortable on a dark summer night. I think you feel the calm of concentration. I’m happy to say that his episode might be even less eventful, and it sounds a little different. In part one Pete said that there’s an interesting audio component to the next location we visited. He’s right, and you’ll hear it has a to do with what was towering above us there.

Episode 11 — Pete Mauney’s Fireflies (part 2)

Here’s a suite of music I composed and performed for my Spinning On Air podcasts “Pete Mauney’s Fireflies,” parts 1 & 2. After joining Pete as he photographed fireflies in two locations in the Hudson Valley on a mild summer night, I was pleased with the resulting field recordings. I liked the quiet conversation, the sonic sense of place, and comfortably slow pace. I considered not using any music, or using just a few sparse notes. Instead I decided to add a contrasting dimension to the podcast by going for a lush sound and tender, wistful mood — something that would help evoke what Pete and I saw and felt as we watched the fireflies.

Music Extra — Firefly Waltz Suite

This one is a bit different. On this podcast I’m taking you out of the studio to meet a friend of mine, Pete Mauney, who takes photographs of fireflies. Pete's photos show firefly activity over a period of time, layering multiple exposures to show the wonder of hidden systems at play. Pete Mauney is an unusual guy. I used to bump into him regularly at the local bakery, and eventually I learned about his photography. He doesn’t promote it much, but he clearly takes it seriously. You’re going to hear him at work photographing fireflies.

Episode 10 — Pete Mauney’s Fireflies (part 1)

Judy Collins’ 1967 album Wildflowers preserves the spirit of the Summer of Love in a way that sounds timeless. David Garland speaks with Judy Collins and arranger Joshua Rifkin seeking their memories, thoughts and ideas about the making of Wildflowers, providing an insightful portrait celebrating this classic album.

Episode 9 — A Portrait of Wildflowers with Judy Collins and Joshua Rifkin

We mark the change of winter into spring at the vernal equinox—March 20th in 2018. But even that measurable moment in the Earth’s orbit is a moment in a continuum. Change is continuous, but the constant-ness of it can be hard to perceive, hard to take in. Join David Garland in honoring the contant-ness of change, the continuousness of transition. With songs about winter by Susanna and Karen Mantler; an excerpt from David’s essay “On Repetition and Continuousness,” and an award-winning very, very, short, short audio fantasy about climate change.

Episode 8 — Continuous Transitions

“I think it’s probably something quite visceral which I’m after, something very down in the stomach, in the blood — with the emotions. That’s where the music comes from in a way, and that’s where great music hits me.” That’s what Icelandic composer Jóhann Jóhannsson said in conversation with David Garland in 2010. Jóhannsson’s blend of acoustic and electronic, old-style and high-tech, mournful and celebratory, organic and synthetic sounds made for a romantically rhapsodic musical experience. Jóhannsson’s unexpected death at age 48 on February 9, 2018, came as a shock to his friends, to the music world, and to the world of cinema — since Jóhannsson had become prominent as a composer for such films as “Arrival,” “The Theory of Everything,” “Prisoners,” and “Sicario.” David Garland had interviewed Jóhannsson several times since they met in 2003, and they had recently corresponded about collaborating on some music together. This podcast presents one of their interviews, along with a live recording of a 2010 performance by Jóhannsson for an enthralled audience at the New York venue Le Poisson Rouge, with fellow Icelandic multi-intrumentalist Matthias Hemstock, and the string quartet of the NYC-based new music ensemble ACME (Yuki Numata Resnick and Tarn Travers, violins; Ben Russell, viola; Clarice Jensen, cello). The concert was edited and mixed by David Garland for this podcast.

Episode 7 — Jóhann Jóhannsson: With the Emotions

“Connie Converse Let Me Be If I Can” is part 2 of producer/host David Garland’s new telling of Connie’s life, revealing a more complete portrait of a complex woman who was not only an unsung songwriter, but also a smart, politically engaged activist who worked on peace, civil rights, and women’s issues. Riley Trumbell, who worked with Connie in the 1960s and participated in the avant-garde ONCE Group, speaks with David about her observations and impressions of Connie, and tells the haunting story of a phone call she received from Connie after Connie disappeared.

Episode 6 — Connie Converse Let Me Be If I Can (part 2)

Now producer/host David Garland looks again at Connie’s life, revealing a more complete portrait of a complex woman who was not only an unsung songwriter, but also a smart, politically engaged activist who worked on peace, civil rights, and women’s issues, and for years wrote and edited policy journals such the Journal of Conflict Resolution. It was a risky time for activism; some of the organizations she worked for were targeted for connections to Soviet espionage by the notorious House Un-American Activities Committee. Riley Trumbell, who worked with Connie in the 1960s, speaks with David about her observations and impressions of Connie, and in part 2 of this podcast, will tell of the “horrible” thing that Connie did to her with the best intentions. Amber Benson reads some of Connie’s writing, and we hear music from the new album “Vanity Of Vanities—A Tribute To Connie Converse,” produced by John Zorn, featuring, among others, Arone Dyer (Buke & Gase) and Greg Saunier (Deerhoof).

Episode 5 — Connie Converse Let Me Be If I Can (part 1)

Connie Converse lived in New York City during the 1950s, writing and singing thoughtful, emotional, smart, witty, personal songs. She accompanied herself on guitar, a “singer/songwriter” before that term or style existed. Connie sang her songs at gatherings of friends, and once on television. The music industry of her day couldn’t pigeonhole her, and didn’t welcome her. Discouraged, Connie left New York in 1960, and in 1974 she wrote farewell letters to her friends and family, packed up her Volkswagen Beetle and disappeared. She has not been heard from since. Connie Converse Walking In the Dark first aired on WNYC Radio in 2009, and is very slightly revised for this podcast. David now has more to add to Connie’s story — aspects to her life that will be covered in the next Spinning On Air podcast.

Episode 4 — Connie Converse Walking In the Dark

Miles Davis said Jeri Southern was his favorite singer. Frank Sinatra called her “the very best.” David Garland has interwoven his 1990 interview Jeri Southern with a new conversation with Jeri’s daughter Kathryn King—mother’s and daughter’s comments together forming a vivid portrait of wonderful artist who should not be forgotten. The episode includes a previously unheard 7-minute piano improvisation by Jeri.

Episode 3 — Jeri Southern: Thoughtful Chanteuse

Miles Davis said she was his favorite singer. Frank Sinatra was a fan. Coming in October: David Garland's extensive interview with Jeri Southern.

Preview – Jeri Southern

David Garland features his rare 1984 interview with composer Julius Eastman, who died homeless in 1990. With startling candor and insight, Eastman tells of his musical and spiritual life. Also included: a 15-minute vocal performance by Eastman recorded in 1984 and not heard since, and an interview with Jace Clayton, a contemporary composer influenced by Eastman.

Episode 2 — Julius Eastman In His Own Voice

Coming in September, David Garland features his rare 1984 interview with composer Julius Eastman. This preview features a collage of interview excerpts.

Preview — Julius Eastman

Spinning On Air connects us to people who think creatively about what they do. Originals, whose ideas and perspectives can open us up to being more creatively aware in our own lives. Hosted and produced by David Garland, Spinning On Air began as radio broadcast on WNYC in New York City 30 years ago, and now originates independently from a little studio at the edge of the woods in the Hudson Valley of upstate New York. From this spot outside the mainstream, we get in touch with the new decentralized artistic imagination that’s bubbling up all around us.

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