What It Takes To Be A Rockstar

This week I am chatting with Ryan Smith of the band Crusasis. This episode hits super close to home cause Ry is my boyfriend and bandmate, but he has a really interesting perspective with music because he has played many different instruments in many different genres in many different ways. He's done:

• Jazz/Wedding/R&B gigs on sax
• Busking in NYC
• Hired gun gigs on drums
• Singing/screaming/drumming in a DIY metal band
• Touring in the US and Europe
• Singing and playing guitar in Crusasis
• Months in the open mic scene in Hungary
• Music in the mountains of California
• DIY recording
• A ton of drumming for my band Francie Moon

We also chat about a time in life where he stepped away from his life in music as he knew it and found himself making music anyway wherever he was. We chat about how if you are a musician, it is always a part of who you are, but you also need to care for the other aspects of your identity as well.

Check out Crusasis here.

You can watch this full episode (we recorded in our house) on Youtube.

If you enjoy this podcast, please make sure to hit subscribe - it's free and goes a long way!
If you'd like to support the show you can "Buy Me A Coffee" here:
https://buymeacoffee.com/whatittakestobearockstar
Or become a monthly subscriber here:
https://www.buzzsprout.com/2397323/support
Join the Discord community and chat with others about the episodes:
https://discord.gg/fQRCka4SQ8

Listen to the Playlist of all the guests' music here.
About the podcast: Host and musician Melissa Lucciola talks with signed and DIY musicians from around the world about their lives behind the scenes. From maxing out credit cards, sleeping on floors, sharing beds and having the whole band get paid $250 to play Madison Square Garden, you will hear the in's and out's of life on and off the road and the real struggles of the modern day musician.

Third intro song is "Wind Strings" by Francie Moon
https://franciemoon.com/

Support the show

Edited, recorded, mixed and produced by Melissa Lucciola.
This episode is sponsored by SORRY Cables - rad and colorful quality instrument and microphone cables handmade in LA.
Intro song is called "I'm Starting a Podcast" by Tea Eater
Other music is by Pretty World

This week I talk with Emily Ashenden from the band 95 Bulls about her story with music, how her band got a booking agent and how they afford to tour.
Find out more about 95 Bulls here:
https://www.95bullsnyc.com/
https://www.instagram.com/95bullsnyc/

Support the show

Edited, recorded, mixed and produced by Melissa Lucciola.
This episode is sponsored by SORRY Cables - rad and colorful quality instrument and microphone cables handmade in LA.
Intro song is called "I'm Starting a Podcast" by Tea Eater
Other music is by Pretty World

This week I am chatting with LG from Thelma and the Sleaze about crusty crash spots, having street smarts when it comes to picking out and protecting your van, why she dove into music and if she's going to keep playing forever. We also cover a lot more including finances and setting boundaries and this is only PART 1! Part 2 is coming out next Tuesday. Enjoy!
You can also watch this episode on Youtube on my channel -
https://www.youtube.com/@WhatItTakesToBeARockstar

Support the show

Edited, recorded, mixed and produced by Melissa Lucciola.
This episode is sponsored by SORRY Cables - rad and colorful quality instrument and microphone cables handmade in LA.
Intro song is called "I'm Starting a Podcast" by Tea Eater
Other music is by Pretty World

This week I chat with Tall Juan about his backstory of how he got into music, his move to the US from Argentina, how he got into recording and having a studio, and why he chooses to not really tour these days. We also chatted about how he managed to get a booker and to get 20+ people to play on his recent album, Racoon Nights.
Check out more on Tall Juan here: https://talljuan.com/
Watch other full episodes of this podcast on Youtube here:
https://www.youtube.com/@WhatItTakesToBeARockstar
Please subscribe if you enjoy this podcast! It's free and goes a long way - thank you!
You can also support here:
https://buymeacoffee.com/whatittakestobearockstar

Support the show

Edited, recorded, mixed and produced by Melissa Lucciola.
This episode is sponsored by SORRY Cables - rad and colorful quality instrument and microphone cables handmade in LA.
Intro song is called "I'm Starting a Podcast" by Tea Eater
Other music is by Pretty World

This week I talk with Lowell Hobbs of Tongues of Fire about DIY touring, recording in a garage-turned-studio, opening for Modest Mouse and turning down a well paying wedding gig to be able to tour. We also talk about how he tries to get creative and have fun with marketing, how he once sent 100+ emails and didn't hear back from anyone, and how he keeps staying persistent. He also gives some tips and tricks for how to not piss off a soundperson. Enjoy!
About the podcast: Host and musician Melissa Lucciola talks with signed and DIY musicians from around the world about their lives behind the scenes. From maxing out credit cards, sleeping on floors, sharing beds and having the whole band get paid $250 to play Madison Square Garden, you will hear the in's and out's of life on and off the road and the real struggles of the modern day musician.
Check out Tongues of Fire here: https://tonguesofire.com/home
Check out my playlist of all the guests here.
You can watch this full episode on Youtube along with others.
Check out my bands here:
Francie Moon
Gustaf
Crusasis

Support the show

Edited, recorded, mixed and produced by Melissa Lucciola.
This episode is sponsored by SORRY Cables - rad and colorful quality instrument and microphone cables handmade in LA.
Intro song is called "I'm Starting a Podcast" by Tea Eater
Other music is by Pretty World