#54: From the Heartland with Jay Farrar

Explicit content warning

05/02/19 • 74 min

After spearheading the alt country movement with Uncle Tupelo, Jay Farrar pursued his vision with Son Volt, who recorded three landmark albums in the ’90s before the groundbreaking artist put the band on extended hiatus and cut three solo LPs. Missing the free exchange of ideas and the surprises that inevitably occur when a group of simpatico musicians lock together, Farrar assembled a new lineup of Son Volt in 2004 and has since released five albums. Along the way, Farrar has collaborated with Ben Gibbard, Jim James, Will Johnson and Anders Parker to produce odes to Jack Kerouac and Woody Guthrie. The latest Son Volt album, Union, out March 29, confronts our turbulent politics and articulates the clarity and comfort music can offer in the tumult.

Jay Farrar’s work often seeks out the ghosts of America's discordant or forgotten past, converses at length with them, and writes songs that stake a claim to a better future.

Jay Farrar’s work often seeks out the ghosts of America's discordant or forgotten past, converses at length with them, and writes songs that stake a claim to a better future.

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#53: A Self-Haunting with Nick Tveitbakk

Nick Tveitbakk is a recording engineer, producer and currently runs Pachyderm Studios, a legendary recording studio that has hosted many great artists like Nirvana, Son Volt, PJ Harvey, Arcade Fire, and Motion City Soundtrack.

Nick has worked in the industry for over 20 years making records and running studios. For the past five years he has worked to integrate that experience and the amazing history of Pachyderm Studios to make an extraordinary place to make records

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#55: Tom Elmhirst: The Midwife of Audio

This is part 1 of a 3 part series recorded at the legendary Electric Lady Studios. Tom Elmhirst was a 1 year old when Electric Lady first opened its doors in 1970. Today, Tom resides in Studio C as Electric Lady’s lead mix engineer. Tom began his career at SARM studios in London under the tutelage of Trevor Horn, and spent close to a decade in residence mixing at London’s Metropolis Studios. Needing a change Tom found his way to New York City, and has become an integral part of the community that makes Electric Lady what it is. He has received 13 Grammy awards for his mixing work, and holds the record for winning the most Grammy’s in one night, taking home 6 in 2017 for his work with Beck, Adele, David Bowie, and Cage the Elephant. Tom was kind enough to show us around his mix room, and share his insights and passion about the craft that he has mastered.