MICRO SPY

I speak with Sonny Kay, vocalist of the bands Angel Hair and The VSS. 

He’s also the founder of the seminal record label, Gold Standard Laboratories, having released albums by The Locust, Melt Banana, The Rapture, Arab on Radar, Mohinder, and The Mars Volta, just to name a few. Sonny and I discuss the perception of time, nostalgia, leading a creative life, and transcending the traditional molds of punk and hardcore.

We also talk about being an outcast, taking matters into your own hands, and creating your own space within creativity, punk rock, and community.

Jeromes Dream's new album, "The Gray In Between" is out TODAY, and this is a special episode to celebrate it. JD and renowned engineer/ producer, Jack Shirley sit down and listen through the record and reflect on the experience of making it together at Jack's studio, Atomic Garden East, in Oakland, CA. This conversation was recorded a few days before Christmas, 2022.

Buy THE GRAY IN BETWEEN:

https://bit.ly/44xbccM

Track Listing in this episode:

JEROMES DREAM | THE GRAY IN BETWEEN

01. Conversations: In Time, On Mute
02. Stretched Invisible from London
03. South By Isolation
04. Pines on the Hill (With Guests)
05. Cosmos In Season
06. AAEEAA
07. On Holiday with Infinity
08. The Future of Memory
09. Often Oceans
10. The Last Water Pearl

JD Tour Dates + Tickets:

https://bit.ly/3VNNmpz

JD Merch:

https://bit.ly/3I2XIw7

Preorder Loma Prieta's, "Last"

https://bit.ly/3p0yU0Q

Follow Jack Shirley:

https://bit.ly/3LWcpTN

Follow Microspy:

https://bit.ly/3npemPn

In this episode, I speak with Mike York of the band, Pianos Become The Teeth, who recently released their fifth studio album, “Drift” on Epitaph Records. Mike and I discuss the beauty of imperfection in music, how intentionality influences songwriting, and the bond he’s established with his bandmates over the years. We also talk about the importance of gratitude, and the excitement for what lies ahead.

In this episode, I speak with visual artist, Jesse Draxler.

Jesse is probably most known for his abstract, visual manipulation through collage. He’s had solo exhibitions between New York and Los Angeles and has done commercial work for brands like Saint Laurent, Alexander McQueen, and Ferrari.

One of his most iconic works became the cover art for Daughters’ 2018 comeback album, “You Won’t Get What You Want”.
Jesse has also worked with Nine Inch Nails, and Chelsea Wolfe.

Our conversation explores creative process during a pandemic, using collage as a way to warp reality, isolation as a concept, and his latest project entitled Reigning Cement.

In this episode, I speak with Robert Pettersen and Rex Shelverton of the band Portraits of Past.

Portraits of Past was a hardcore band from Half-moon Bay between 1993 and 95, and did a handful of reunion shows between 2008 and 2009.

Their debut LP, released on ebullition records came out after they had already broken up. And it wasn’t until overtime did people start to catch on to the brilliance of this band’s music.

I met with Rex and Robert in San Francisco. We recorded this conversation at Rex’s rehearsal space and talked for almost 3 hours.

They reveal their very beginnings with punk rock and paint a very saturated picture of their surroundings during the time Portraits of Past was a band. We discuss how environment affects creative process, and how there are some things in art that simply can’t be articulated.

In this episode, I speak with Anthony DiDio of the Boston hard-core band Vein. Vein is one of the heaviest hardcore bands out there today. Their creativity along with their musical capability is arguably unrivaled.

Their 2018 full length, Errorzone is a blistering and beautiful record that pushes musical and conceptual boundaries. This band has such a unique style, combining various influences, creating a sound and visual world all of its own. Anthony and I discuss those influences, creative process, what determines a good song, and the nuance of triggering emotion.

In this episode, I speak with Hrishikesh Hirway, creator of the award-winning podcasts, Song Exploder and The West Wing Weekly. His most recent endeavor is hIs new podcast entitled, Partners — where he explores the bond between people who have made something together.

Hrishi is also the executive producer and theme composer of The Jump, a Podcast hosted by Shirley Manson of the band, Garbage.

He is also the musical talent behind The One AM radio and a member of the hip hop group, Moors, with actor Lakeith Stanfield.

Hrishi and I met in 1998 when we played a show together in New Haven, CT. Our conversation recalls moments of our past but quickly moves to the inner workings of his relationship with music, design, and creative process.

In this episode, I speak with Geoff Garlock of the band Orchid. Though Orchid hailed from Massachusetts, Geoff grew up in Connecticut like me. And not surprisingly we were exposed to a lot of the same bands.

We talk about the Connecticut hardcore scene in the mid-nineties and how the state acted as a sieve for bands that came through between New York and Boston.

Jeff also talks about his relationship with hardcore and the pros and cons that have come with it as he’s become older.

In this episode, I speak with Jeff Howe of the legendary hardcore band, Reversal of Man. He also played bass in Combat Wounded Veteran and is currently playing in the band Horsewhip. Jeff is also the co-founder of Nah Dogs, an all vegan hot dog stand, which he runs with his wife in St. Petersburg, FL.

Jeff and I talk about Reversal of Man’s history and the challenges they faced and endured through their end.

We also talk about the biggest takeaways of punk rock, friendship, perseverance, and how ROM turned an unfortunate conflict into a song that to this day, people still talk about.

In this episode, I speak with Jack Shirley, a musician, an audio engineer, producer, and owner of The Atomic Garden studio in Oakland California. Jack is probably best known for his work with the band, Deafheaven, whose sophomore album, Sunbather was named Best New Music by Pitchfork. He has also recorded and produced bands like Loma Prieta, Gouge Away, Joyce Manor and countless others, including my band, Jeromes Dream. He was a founding member of the punk band Comadre and now plays guitar in Dangers!

We talk about his beginnings with recording, the Oakland punk scene, work/life balance, and using ACDC's Back In Black as a sonic reference point for all his recordings.