KAANP (Knox Area Artist Networking Platform)

To me Vincent Drake had always been an aloof figure in the realm of Knoxville creatives. His work has a look that I really enjoy but hard to label. It's deconstructed, composed, chaos, and order all at the same time and I really dig it. When I made it into his studio to record our conversation he made it clear that he very much disliked small talk and was very excited to have a long form conversation about his work, the environments that spawn his creations, and we even get into the nature of free will a bit. We went all over the map with this one and it was a treat to pick his brain but he also picked mine a bit too. So be ready, this conversation could be considered a bit revealing for more than just the guest, we both take a dive into our creative ethos just to do so.

This episode features a wonderfully talented Skout Smith. She paints, she draws, but mostly she tattoos. We cover the bases, influences, work flows, and how chasing the muse is a bitch sometimes. Also her adventures into vintage camper ownership and its hurdles. She's gonna be tattooing at Golden Heart in Seymour for the next little while, I would definitely check her out sooner than later if you're in the market for some new ink. We had a fun chat and I hope you enjoy listening.

I found Randy L Purcell on the ole Instagram and had to bend his ear. I had never seen and was totally ignorant of his particular form of expression. Luckily, I asked nicely, and he obliged to let me pick his brain. I found bees, their wax, lots of tiny pieces of paper, and a very vivid imagination. I hope you all enjoy hearing me be educated about his process and a little bit of joyful banter.

Episode 69 was another shot in the dark, question into the ether, random questions via the internet. I gathered a group of glorious individuals in the super secret studio, Brandi Augustus, Chance Losher, Derek Rucker, John Starkey, and Adam Rowe. In effort and spirit to gather more creative folks and make the world smaller I hosted another group episode. We all touch base on the struggles of being creatives, what its like being a creative person in Knoxville, and a bit of how and why we advocate for our chosen forms of expression.

Mallory was kind enough to let me pick her brain a bit about her chosen profession and her passion. We went over some favorites, things we despised, childhood trauma and death row meals. A good general romp through he foodie life with some laughs sprinkled in.

Tiny Stage Comedy came to the mic represented by Rowan and Rikki. Rowan started Tiny Stage and Rikki is her prime co conspirator in the effort. They are both comedians and creators looking to make spaces for people like themselves. Give a listen to the episode and let em tell ya how and why they do it.

links:

Chance Losher AKA the Professor Rainbow himself graces the mic once again. We play a little catch up since his last appearance on the program, talk about making old things new again, and how fun that is. Noteable mentions go to AI shenanigans, local print houses, and pyramids.

Stick it in your ears and lets see what happens.

Sometimes fun conversations just sorta fall in a person's lap, and this is definitely one of those conversations...

Wills and Brandi got on mic with me to talk about The Black Power Rangers Comedy Tour. Specifically the Knoxville date with Brandi. You'll hear all about it in the episode, the hows, the whys, and all that jazz. This is the first time I've had professional funny people and radical story tellers on the show. We talk a lot about funny, inspirations, and a little about joke craft. I hope yall enjoy.

Here are their websites, go check em out and go see the Black Power Rangers Comedy Tour!

To be blunt, and whether he may know it or not, Bill has been a must get guest for the show. I think that he has my favorite perspective on the culture and night life of the city and I had to pick his brain about some stuff. He kindly obliged and sat down with me to chat about how he does his thing.

Ame's wheelhouse seems to be broad esoterica with a heavy influence from the natural world around her...which I think is pretty cool. We have an all around good chat about her style, workflow, ethos, and why we both hate cat hair when it comes to art. We also dive into where she wants to go with her art for the foreseeable future. I really enjoyed recording this conversation, I hope y'all enjoy listening just as much.

Exceptionally capable but crudely equipped, the king corndog, and purveyor of a very specific brand of raunch, my friend Steph Cabell, song slinger about town.

Go see her do her thing, its a great time, Ive done it, you should too!

Alon is one of those folks that you meet on occasion that views things in a light a bit different than most. Which for what he does with his life and professional pursuits is a wonderful thing. He describes himself as a spiritual counselor for creators, makers and artists. After this conversation I can see why and hope you can to. 

Neurochemistry, a chrome mannequin, and floral theory are all things that happen in this conversation. Why? I dont know, it just did. Lots of art chat and a studio tour, with just a hint of a squeaky chair.  Chloe let me pick her brain about her creative self and how she navigates it. This episode was a blast to record and it delights me to share.

Michael is one of those guys whos always got something churning in the back of his mind. Whether it be a melody, chess strategy, or the ins and outs of a game he is designing. Its always something. I invited him to my super secret studio location to set up his keyboard and talk about how creativity finds its way through his life and in return he decided to give you wonderful listeners a bit of a show with live music in studio. He plays us in plays us out and some goodness in between so I hope yall enjoy.

As advertised Alex Bullock is a one stop shop for anyone trying to build a brand. This episode covers a lot of ground. We talk about his career as a creative, Sailor Moon, work flows, styles and influences, his dog, painting shoes, crazy hectic video shoots, his dog as a camera man, and all sorts of other stuff you'll just have to listen to fond out. The world became a little smaller with this conversation and I like that. 

This episode features Jered Sprecher. He's a Knoxville based multimedia artist who has work on display regionally and internationally. His work explores the space where the tangible and intangible aspects of our highly digitized lives meet. Finding the contrasts and tensions natural to the context and highlighting them in visually rich ways that keep your eyes glued to the piece. 

Conversations like this make me happy I started the podcast. Evan is a multidisciplinary talent who also gives back to the world he lives in with art and creativity the best he can. In this episodes he explains a bit on the hows and whys he does what he does. Tattoos, murals, fine art, and whatever else he decides to do. It as a privilege to pick his brain for he episode and I hope Y'all enjoy.

I know you didn't know you needed comics and funnies about a cat, donuts, and a very foul mouthed turkey. However it exists and you can get it in digital form and as a literal comic book. These glorious creations come from the mind of a person named Whiskykitteeeeee. 

This person is busy, stays busy, loves being busy. She makes large format oil paintings that in my opinion are surreal and fantastical. I really enjoy her work and her work can be found in galleries all over the country and private collections all over the world. So give this episode a listen, hit the website, maybe find a gallery and take in these hyper colorful works of art for yourself.

The music scene is Sneedville is pretty small, and the folks that really know how to play bluegrass number smaller yet. I was able to wrangle a family friend for a bit of time on the other side of the mic. Matthew grew up surrounded by music and eventually took the plunge. We chat a bit on his creative process, where he draws inspiration, and how music and life sorta just go together. 

Another episode from Hancock county. I was super pleased to get this one recorded and out to yall. Ms. Danita was my high school Spanish teacher, at which she did an amazing job. She also does amazing jobs in other aspects of her life that do not involve classrooms. She's worldly and well traveled, articulate and an excellent listener, able to recognize things for their inherent beauty and to just be.  When I learned she was putting together a collection of her poetry I knew I had to read it and I knew I had to chat with her about it. This is that chat, about Trailing the Azimuth. 

You can find her social media outlets below.

Rick has been playing music for a while, and playing professionally on his own terms, which is a great accomplishment on its own. We gathered in his garage on a sort of windy day in east Tennessee. It was a privilege to sit with him and hear him tell of some of his favorite moments as a musician, pick his brain about how he makes the music he shares on youtube, and learn a little bit about how things used to be.

I met up with Gin to talk about her practice of creativity, she tends to express intense sensations of the human experience through imagery that I would call surreal. She has a unique style that I feel is very recognizable. Even though the content of her work may be polarizing aspects of the human experience the colors and line work feel warm and inviting. You can find all her social media and web shop links below!