NF’s go-to producer and fast-rising industry sensation Tommee Profitt stops by Inside Music to discuss his unique journey in entertainment.
You might not know the name Tommee Profitt, but you know his work. Profitt is responsible for dozens of recent hits, including the biggest songs from breakout rapper NF, and his career is still very much just getting started.
But Tommee is more than a man behind the scenes of music’s biggest names. He’s also an artist, writing and recording material the he keeps for his personal catalog, and he’s currently preparing to release his debut album in late 2020.
In this episode of INSIDE MUSIC, host James Shotwell calls Tommee to discuss his adventures in the entertainment industry. Tommee recounts his childhood in West Michigan and how he resisted the urge to move to Nashville until it made sense for his family. The pair also discuss The Birth Of A King, Tommee’s highly-anticipated album, and what it’s like to work on solo material after years spent creating hits for others to release.
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With a new EP to promote and a lifetime of stories to share, American Authors’ Matt Sanchez stops by Inside Music to talk all things entertainment.
Growing up in music is hard. The sound that makes you somebody people know may not reflect the sound you want to define your career. Every artist and band face this hurdle at one point or another, but it’s hardest on those who hit it big early in their careers. Those first singles and records can mean everything to everyone who cares about your music, but with a little luck and a lot of talent, it is possible to mature. Fortunately for American Authors, they have skills and luck to spare.
When American Authors hit it big with “The Best Day Of My Life,” no one could predict what would happen next. That song became the ‘gold standard’ in music licensing, producing placements in dozens of commercials, films, and television shows. It’s the kind of song that everyone knows even if they don’t know the musicians behind it, and that kind of success can be a double-edged sword. American Authors can do what they love full-time, but they know a very specific form of industry pressure that other musicians don’t understand.
With their third album, Seasons, American Authors took a chance on themselves by giving fans something different. The big hooks the group made their name on remain, but the structure and feel of the music as a whole shifted toward something more significant and more meaningful. The band made the record they wanted to make, and, fortunately for them, fans welcomed their evolution with open arms.
The band’s new EP, Counting Down, is the conclusion to this era of American Authors. It’s everything want to hear, as well as an exploration of where the group may go in the future. American Authors do not have a plan, per se, but they recognize that change is the only constant, and they make it clear with this release that they find excitement in not knowing what the future holds.
On this episode of INSIDE MUSIC, American Authors’ drummer Matt Sanchez stops by to discuss various topics, including his band’s new EP. Matt tells James about the evolution of the group and the friction that occurs when musicians try to change their sound. The pair also discuss maintaining your creativity amid a global pandemic, becoming the ‘gold standard’ in music licensing, and the allure of Nashville. It’s a big conversation stuffed into a small amount of time, and we believe you’re going to love how it sounds.
Hot on the heels of her debut single “Hurt Me,” singer-songwriter Taylor Colson stops by Inside Music for a short conversation about creativity and the future.
Commit the name Taylor Colson to memory. The singer-songwriter has a limited amount of music online, but her talent is easy to find. She has a voice that crawls under your skin and lives rent-free in your head. Maybe that’s because of her gift for poetic wordplay and how she balances the best and worst parts of life through songs, or perhaps its something else too intangible to describe. When people are talking about having the ‘it’ factor, they refer to whatever it is that drives Taylor Colson to create.
In this very special Inside Music Mini-sode, host James Shotwell calls Los Angeles transplant Taylor Colson to discuss creativity amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Taylor drew James’ attention when she shot and edited the video for her debut single, “Hurt Me,” using an app found on all MacBook computers. Her poetic vision is matched by her angelic voice, which is poised to make a significant impact on fans of pop music in the years ahead.
In a time of great confusion and frustration, Seattle’s PRETTY AWKWARD strives to unite misfits everywhere with the power of music.
When Jackie DeShannon sang “What The World Needs Now is Love” back in 1965, the planet was a mess. America was fighting itself, the war in Vietnam was escalating, and the space race was in full swing. 2020 has less talk of space, and the war has changed, but chaos continues to reign. Our need for love has evolved into a need for community, which PRETTY AWKWARD is trying to offer through their unique sound.
PRETTY AWKWARD exists to defy classification. The Seattle-based band blends elements of their many genre influences into every song they create. Some are more rock-oriented, while others are bombastic pop offerings meant to move hearts and feet in perfect time. The result is a sonic exploration of the possibilities that arise when people choose to express themselves to the fullest extent. If you want to know the members of this band, their music will tell you everything, and that’s the kind of transparency people want from musicians today.
On this episode of Inside Music, host James Shotwell speaks with Austin Held over Zoom. Austin tells James about his experiences during COVID, the story behind PRETTY AWKWARD’s new single “Misfits,” and how the current pandemic is informing his creativity. The pair also lament the lack of live music, which seems to be a recurring theme on our show.
Ahead of The Path arriving in stores, Fit For A King’s Ryan Kirby stops by Inside Music to discuss promoting your art in the age of COVID.
COVID continues to keep the live music business in a stranglehold that is killing venues and hurting artists. No one knows when touring will resume, and nobody can guess who will be left to perform or where they will go to play. The abrupt changes forced on us by the current pandemic will cause many to seek other careers or business models, but Fit For A King is determined to remain.
2020 is a banner year for the members of Fit For A King, even if it isn’t going as planned. The success of the group’s 2018 album, Dark Skies, catapulted the hardworking rock band to the forefront of the heavy genre. FFAK saw this year as the start of a new, bigger era for their music, but the pandemic shelved their road warrior plans to play in front of as many faces as possible while raising hype for their upcoming record (The Path). The pivot was hard on the band, but they’ve found a way to continue forward without losing much, if any momentum.
On this episode of Inside Music, Fit For A King’s Ryan Kirby chats with host James Shotwell about the band’s unique approach to the business of music. FFAK is known for being forward-thinking, but Kirby admits they were as lost as everyone else when COVID-19 forced them off the road in March 2020. The band has spent the last six months creating a new approach to marketing and engagement to ensure their new album, The Path, receives the response they’re seeking. The band knows they’ve created the best music of their lives, and in this conversation, Kirby explains how they’re working to make everyone else aware of what they’ve made.
Denmark’s metal deities in Manticora stop by Inside Music to discuss their epic new project, creativity, and the future of live music.
Denmarks’ Manticora is nearly a quarter-century into a career built on the premise of constant reinvention. The band has written more songs and toured more cities than most groups can ever imagine. Their tireless work ethic almost broke the group in the early 2010s, but a bold vision for a concept album and accompanying book breathed new life into the band. That project took years to bring together, but as of August 2020, it’s finally complete and available for all who wish to lose themselves in Manticore’s unique creation.
On this episode of Inside Music, host James Shotwell chats with founding member Kristian Larsen about his time in metal. Kristian recounts the lessons he’s learned along the way, as well as the night that led to Manticora’s most ambitious project to date. He also speaks to the concept of creativity and what it takes to survive life in the unpredictable world of music.
Listening to this conversation is akin to attending a lecture from a soldier that has spent the past three decades at war. Larsen has seen the extreme highs and impossible lows that a life in music can present. His dedication to making a life in music has never wavered. He’s climbed every peak he gave himself, and he’s now confronted by the notion of what to do once your dreams come true.
Virginia’s Pale Blue Dot is not letting a global pandemic prevent them from becoming your new favorite band.
Last weekend, something I thought impossible happened. After spending months watching musicians I know and love perform online with various degrees of success and production, I found and discovered someone new because of a live stream. A group of musicians I had never heard or met was performing on Facebook, and I not only watched but made an effort to seek out and support their career. It gave me hope for a concert-less world, and I think they’ll give you hope as well.
Virginia rock band Pale Blue Dot knew 2020 was going to be a wild year before it even began. Their new album was nearing completion, people were starting to pay attention, and every week brought new press. Then the pandemic happened, and every plan the band had was ruined in a matter of weeks. That kind of abrupt change can derail anyone, but the members of Pale Blue Dot did not miss a beat. The group pushed their album release, explored new marketing practices, and started work on what would become their first live stream performance.
On this episode of Inside Music, Pale Blue Dot shares the lessons they’ve learned throughout this tumultuous year. The group explains how merely pushing ahead without acknowledging the impact of change is a weak recipe for success, and that taking the time to understand what you’re experiencing matters. The current pandemic is impacting everyone differently, and it’s okay to take the time you need to process the present moment. Others might be able to brush it off and move forward, but others cannot, which is perfectly fine! Pale Blue Dot knows you have to listen to your heart and body above all else, which is what fuels their exciting take on modern alternative music.
Ahead of his band Be Well’s new album, scene staple Brian McTernan stops by Inside Music to speak on creativity and aging.
Brian McTernan needs no introduction, but we’ll give him one anyway. Brian is a producer and musician whose work in the alternative scene has influenced some of the most notable records of the last twenty years. Everyone from Texas Is The Reason to Darkest Hour, Circa Survive, Sharptooth, and more owe a few thanks to Brian for his work behind the boards. But like all great creatives, Brian has stories he wants to share, and that’s what people get on the new album from his incredible hardcore band, Be Well.
The heavier side of alternative music is sometimes written off as being reserved for young people. When teenage angst meets the struggle to survive adulthood, creativity blossoms in a unique way that often expresses itself through heavy music. Many of the greatest hardcore albums are written by people in their late teens and early twenties who are speaking to experiences recognized by their peers. Those same listeners age, just like the musicians, but the embrace of heavy music often fades along the way.
Be Well is an exception. While their music can and will inspire young listeners, the band’s work speaks directly to the lives of those deep into adulthood. The group’s latest record, The Weight And The Cost, tackles the frustrations of parenting alongside the constant struggle to understand ourselves. It’s in McTernan’s ability to speak on both topics that magic is found, and the resulting recordings are sure to provide comfort to many during these uncertain times.
On this episode of INSIDE MUSIC, Brian chats with host James Shotwell about his history in production and how the challenges of creative expression change with age. The pair also discuss the influence of Brian’s former band, Battery, as well as the way his work will be remembered in the years to come.
The future of rock and roll is in good hands as long as Zero Theorem continue churning out original, thought-provoking music with a message.
Our heroes are tired. The rock and metal legends that gave us the blueprint to making music that riles audiences and incites mosh pits are growing older with each passing day. If the heavier side of music is to survive it needs fresh ideas from younger artists who not only have something to say, but who can also convey those thoughts in ways that capture our imagination. There are many musicians doing this already, and one of the most promising is the men of Zero Theorem.
Combining big ideas about existence and the human condition with groove-heavy rock and a penchant for science fiction, Zero Theorem is one of a kind. The band strives to make us reconsider not only our place in the universe but the importance of relationships. Like a great novel or a powerful film, the band’s music speaks to what we can be rather than what we are, and they do so without ignoring the work required. They recognize that we cannot accomplish anything without focused effort, and the group hopes to encourage us to pursue the difficult, but necessary growing pains that lie ahead.
On this episode of Inside Music, host James Shotwell chats with Zero Theorem about the importance of having something to say in music today. The discussion also highlight’s the band’s new single, “Swarm,” and how they are using their time during COVID-19.
Ahead of his new EP, The Outside, Rapper and creative ToBy stops by Inside Music to discuss why now is the perfect opportunity to make your talent known.
ToBy is one of the brightest minds in entertainment today. His music speaks to the struggles we all experience and channels those commonalities into songs that soothe the soul. He isn’t trying to convince you that your problems don’t matter, but instead, ToBy aims to provide comfort as you go through life. His latest EP, The Outside, plays like a late-night road trip spent with the wind in your hair and the radio on as loud as it will go. In other words, it’s precisely what many of us need.
The magic of The Outside lies in the themes and aesthetics that tie the five-track release together. As ToBy works through the highs and lows in life, not to mention the things he cannot change, the production creates a near-dreamlike state. As much as heaviness may exist in the lyrics, the music is weightless, and that allows listeners to lose themselves in every note and melody that ToBy chooses to share.
On the latest episode of Inside Music, ToBy chats with host James Shotwell about his creative process and the surreal experience of releasing music during the coronavirus pandemic. He shares the way the chaos around us is informing his marketing efforts, as well as why he feels listeners are drawn to a different kind of music than usual. It turns out, the ‘new normal’ might not be as bad as some in the industry are making it out.
