Making Ways: The Art of Music

If there’s one word that describes Lambchop, it’s reinvention. Kurt Wagner has been on an unpredictable musical journey since his first release under the moniker in the mid-90s. From “How I Quit Smoking” to “Aw Cmon,” “No You Cmon,” “Nixon,” and his latest release, the masterful “The Bible,” his albums veer from folk to gospel to electronic and all the sonic nooks and crannies in between. And the artwork that represents his music has evolved just as quickly, with each step forward, the visuals match Kurt’s fearless approach to his creative work. In this episode we’re joined by Kurt and Craig Allen from the design group New Formalists discussing the team’s decades-long creative partnership alongside their late partner Jerry Joyner, their process together, the art of the new album, and how Kurt thinks about art representing music.

Big thanks to Mike Caulo and Daniel Murphy for making this interview a reality.

Original episode artwork by host Rob Goodman.

Visit http://www.makingwayspodcast.com for art, episodes, show notes, blog posts, and exclusive merchandise.

Follow us on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/making.ways.

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“Trust the vision.” So says Buzz Osborne of the legendary band Melvins who joins the show with his creative partner of 30+ years and wife, Mackie Osborne, whose incredible portfolio includes design for Tool, Bad Religion, and Mr. Bungle. We’re talking about the seriously dark sense of humor in the band’s art and music, hardcore work ethic, and what makes for a longstanding creative partnership.

Visit http://www.makingwayspodcast.com for art, episodes, show notes, blog posts, and exclusive merchandise.

Follow us on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/making.ways.

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In this first episode of the new season, we're joined by Doug Martsch of Built to Spill and music video director Jordan Minkoff chatting about Doug's hands-off approach to creative collaboration and the hysterical backstories behind some of the band's latest videos for their newest record When The Wind Forgets Your Name .

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New bands! New artists! Making Ways: The Art of Music is returning with a brand new season! And we’re so excited to be joining the Weirder Together podcast network for it all. This season we’re bringing together even more bands and musicians with the visual artists they work with to talk all about the art of music and creative collaboration. Everything from band posters to album design, music videos, and stage shows –– and you’ll hear about the art of music for film, TV, and fashion too. Each episode features a custom 'gig poster' to commemorate the conversation, illustrated by host and series creator Rob Goodman. We have an amazing line-up of musicians and visual artists for you this season –– like the Melvins, Built to Spill, Lambchop, Neil Frances, Dead Cross, and a lot more. And we're celebrating with a brand new website at http://makingwayspodcast.com . So be sure to subscribe and follow wherever you're listening and get ready for new episodes very soon.

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In this conversation, we go deep into the art of the music for “Marrow,” the latest single from Thao & the Get Down Stay Down off the deluxe edition of their album, Temple. Thao and filmmaker Linda Mai Green discuss their collaboration for the music video for “Marrow,” the meaning behind the song, and Thao shares the influence her work as host of the podcast Song Exploder had on her overcoming creative blocks in writing the album.

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What happens when the anthem for our times meets… elf yourself? It’s the story behind the music video and song, Born For This Bullshit , with acclaimed and beloved rocker Ben Lee and the brilliant director Byron Spencer. Buckle up for a wide-ranging conversation about the music video, Ben’s upcoming 20th (?!) LP “I’m Fun” and explore why embracing your own weirdness can lead to amazing new work.

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We're talking about building consensus in creative projects, how to give feedback, and the value of clearly defined roles... so much goodness in one lil' bonus episode. You'll hear from Laura Lee of Khruangbin and designer Nate Utesch, Anaïs Mitchell of Hadestown and Bonny Light Horseman with designer Aaron Denton, and Ra Ra Riot’s Mathieu Santos with designer Chris Everhart. Tune in for lessons in creative collaboration from this past season of Making Ways: The Art of Music. Hear the full episodes by subscribing today, wherever you're listening to this podcast.

Follow Making Ways for stories behind the art of music. Learn more at www.makingwayspodcast.com. Original episode artwork by Rob Goodman atwww.robgoodman.com.

Discover more from Khruangbin atwww.khruangbin.comand explore the work of Nate Utesch atwww.utesch.xyz.

Hear Bonny Light Horseman atwww.bonnylighthorseman.com and see Aarron Denton’s designs at www.aaronlowelldenton.com.

Check out Ra Ra Riot atwww.rarariot.comand see Chris’s artwork atwww.chriseverhart.com.

All music used by permission of the band, label, and publisher.

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We implore you to watch the music videos for Cholla, My God, and Your Cocoon, they will most certainly blow your mind. Lucas Nathan aka Jerry Paper makes music that is chill, breezy, absurd, and as Lucas puts it: funny with a touch of sadness. Steve is one of the most talented 3D animators out there and he’s worked with Team Coco, Snapchat, and edited the TBS TV series The Dress Up Gang. Both Lucas and Steve have done various TV projects including work for Adult Swim. In this conversation, we talk about the creative collaboration between Lucas and Steve on Jerry Paper’s music videos, go into the making of Jerry Paper’s latest album Abracadabra, and discuss Lucas and Steve’s art and music origin stories. You’re in for a truly unique conversation with two fascinating, funny, and very talented creators.

Follow Making Ways for stories behind the art of music. Learn more at www.makingwayspodcast.com. Check out Jerry Paper’s music at https://jerrypaper.guru and see more from Steve Smith at https://stevesmith.co. All music used by permission of the band, label, and publisher.

A big thanks to Bree Wilkinson at Yes Please for helping to make this episode possible.

Cholla music video:

https://youtu.be/ytTrL6qqDJs

My God music video:

https://youtu.be/EpfGP_vY1Hw

Your Cocoon music video:

https://youtu.be/jzEKSTYa5FE

Face Lift | Adult Swim:

https://youtu.be/UxBl73QX000

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Speedy Ortiz started off as a solo project for musician, songwriter, and poet Sadie Dupuis that quickly grew into a full band experience. Over the past several years Sadie has been experimenting with a new solo project under her own moniker of Sad13. Her latest album Haunted Painting is a loud danceable indie-pop gem that is as personal as it is relatable. Michael DeForge is a celebrated comic book artist from Toronto, Ontario, with a treasure trove of original books to his name and artwork that has been featured in The New York Times, The Believer, Bloomberg, and he’s worked as a designer on Adventure Time for six seasons too. Michael and Sadie recount the projects they’ve collaborated on over the years, their creative processes for songwriting and art-making, the joys of procrastination, the fight for artists' rights, and the story behind the art for Sadie’s latest album (with cover painting by Sadie’s mom).

Follow Making Ways for stories behind the art of music. Learn more at www.makingwayspodcast.com. Discover more from Sadie Dupuis at www.sad13.horse and explore the artwork of Michael DeForge at www.michael-deforge.com.

All music used with permission of the band, label, and publisher.

Big thanks to Bree Wilkinson at Yes Please for helping to make this episode possible.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In today’s episode, we’re joined by Eric D. Johnson of Fruit Bats and Bonny Light Horseman and his wife and creative collaborator, photographer Annie Beedy, all about their work together that pairs his music with her vivid documentary-style photography. And we’re joined later in the episode by Daniel Murphy, acclaimed album designer, now residing as Art Director at Merge Records. Daniel has designed albums for Bon Iver, Hiss Golden Messenger, Sharon Van Etten, The War On Drugs, Dinosaur Jr., and has worked with Fruit Bats on their brilliant, new album The Pet Parade. We go behind the art of the music and talk through Annie’s photography, how it connects with Eric’s music, how Eric thinks about the artwork that represents his body of work, the making of stories and themes of the new album, and how Daniel Murphy puts the puzzle pieces together for incredible packaging.

Follow Making Ways for more stories behind the art of music. Learn more at www.makingwayspodcast.com. Original episode artwork by Rob Goodman at www.robgoodman.com. Discover more from Fruit Bats at www.fruitbatsmusic.com. See Annie Beedy’s photography at www.anniebeedy.smugmug.com. And view Daniel Murphy’s portfolio at www.5pt5panoramic.com.

Hear more about Bonny Light Horseman in our episode with Anaïs Mitchell and designer Aaron Denton at www.makingways.co/episodes/bonnylighthorseman.

All music used with permission of the band, label, and publisher.

Special thanks to Dean Christesen at Spacebomb Group for helping to make this episode possible.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.