Fresh Is The Word

The guest for this episode is Los Angeles-based model and actress JoAnna de Castro, star of the comedic horror-thriller Blood Pageant, now available on DVD and on demand on all streaming platforms. This is de Castro’s first leading role in a film as she plays “Crystal”, a contestant on the American Dream Pageant where her religious beliefs are tested during what happens to become a battle for her life and everyone else involved in the show.

Blood Pageant stars the likes of Stephen Baldwin, David Chokachi, Ted Lange, Beverley Mitchell, Ellia English as Madame Destiny, and introducing Juliana DeStefano and JoAnna de Castro as the film’s main characters, along with Snoop Dogg, Matthew Marsden, and Danielle C. Ryan playing themselves as the pageant’s celebrity judges.

During our chat, de Castro shared her upbringing and how she got the acting bug, the process of auditioning and landing the role of “Crystal” in Blood Pageant, some of her favorites parts of the movie, and how the idea of “faith” is defined and tested throughout this movie, along with much more. JoAnna de Castro was a blast to have on the podcast and I hope for nothing but the best for her in future endeavors.

For more information on where to buy or stream Blood Pageant: bloodpageant.com

SUBSCRIBE/RATE/REVIEW FRESH IS THE WORD:
Subscribe on all major streaming platforms. Please rate and review on Apple Podcast and Stitcher.
List of where Fresh is the Word streams: linktr.ee/freshisthewordpodcast or just search “Fresh is the Word”. Also available on IHeartRadio.

THEME MUSIC
Courtesy of STEVE O. Check out more music at eyeamsteveo.bandcamp.com.

Support via Patreon
If you want to support Fresh is the Word, please consider pledging via Patreon at Patreon.com/freshistheword.

The guest for this episode is Frankie Mish, drummer of the Grand Rapids, Michigan-based metalcore band Sleep Waker, who just released their new album Alias on July 23, 2021 via UNFD. We go through a track-by-track breakdown of the album and Frankie explains all the weird and interesting themes and influences that went into the creation of Alias.

Stream/Purchase Alias: unfd.lnk.to/Alias

Socials:
Web: chooseyouralias.com
Instagram: instagram.com/sleepwakerband
Twitter: twitter.com/sleepwakerband
Facebook: facebook.com/sleepwakerband

SUBSCRIBE/RATE/REVIEW FRESH IS THE WORD:
Subscribe on all major streaming platforms. Please rate and review on Apple Podcast and Stitcher.
List of where Fresh is the Word streams: linktr.ee/freshisthewordpodcast or just search “Fresh is the Word”. Also available on IHeartRadio.

THEME MUSIC
Courtesy of STEVE O. Check out more music at eyeamsteveo.bandcamp.com.

Support via Patreon
If you want to support Fresh is the Word, please consider pledging via Patreon at Patreon.com/freshistheword

The guest for this episode is Detroit-based composer, pianist, and vocalist Vanessa Cuccia to talk about her debut album This is a Spell. I came across Vanessa’s music earlier this year when a mutual friend shared her single “Ode to Body” on Instagram. I really liked the song, but when I heard the full album and learned more about her, I definitely wanted to meet her and have her on the podcast. This is actually Vanessa’s first podcast interview about her music has she has already made successful waves in the world with her company Chakrubs, her natural crystal sex toy company (which has been featured on Conan, Playboy TV, Nylon, Teen Vogue, among other publications). Cuccia also runs Freque Magazine, described as “combining FREQUEncies of art, music, and culture through a lens of spirituality”.

Between her music and the interviews I watched beforehand, I very much related to her experiences that would go into the creation of Chakrubs and into the heart of her music. During our conversation, we talked about her musical beginnings, how all of her projects lend in service of each other, the making of This is a Spell along with a track-by-track breakdown, and so much more. This is a Spell is one of my favorite albums of 2021 and Vanessa Cuccia is a wealth of positive energy and spirit.

Stream/Purchase: This is a Spell

Socials:
Instagram: instagram.com/vanessa_cuccia
Instagram: instagram.com/Chakrubs
Instagram: instagram.com/frequemagazine

SUBSCRIBE/RATE/REVIEW FRESH IS THE WORD:
Subscribe on all major streaming platforms. Please rate and review on Apple Podcast and Stitcher.
List of where Fresh is the Word streams: linktr.ee/freshisthewordpodcast or just search “Fresh is the Word”. Also available on IHeartRadio.

THEME MUSIC
Courtesy of STEVE O. Check out more music at eyeamsteveo.bandcamp.com.

Support via Patreon
If you want to support Fresh is the Word, please consider pledging via Patreon at Patreon.com/freshistheword.

For this episode, we are joined by a hip-hop legend, New York emcee O.C. of the crew Diggin’ in the Crates (DITC), but he’s humble enough to not accept that title just yet. O.C. originally jumped on the scene as a guest on Organized Konfusion’s “Fudge Pudge”, the soon after on the remix of MC Serch’s “Back to the Grill”. O.C. would go on to meet the likes of Lord Finesse and Buckwild from DITC, and Buckwild would produce most of his debut album Word…Life released in late 1994 on Wild Pitch Records that would spawn classic tracks like “Times Up” and “Born 2 Live”.

In Summer of 1997, O.C. released his sophomore album Jewelz via Pay Day Records, but there was no sign of a slump here. Fueled by the DJ Premier-produced “My World” and the Buckwild-produced “Far From Yours”, O.C. had another classic in the books with Jewelz. O.C. would go on to release countless solo and collaborative albums throughout the years, still keeping his pen tight now at the age of 50.

Purchase A New Dawn vinyl/CD: ditcent.myshopify.com
Free Download of Same Moon Same Sun: ditcent.myshopify.com

SUBSCRIBE/RATE/REVIEW FRESH IS THE WORD:
Subscribe on all major streaming platforms. Please rate and review on Apple Podcast and Stitcher.
List of where Fresh is the Word streams: linktr.ee/freshisthewordpodcast or just search “Fresh is the Word”. Also available on IHeartRadio.

THEME MUSIC
Courtesy of STEVE O. Check out more music at eyeamsteveo.bandcamp.com.

Support via Patreon
If you want to support Fresh is the Word, please consider pledging via Patreon at Patreon.com/freshistheword.

For this episode, I’m joined by Skynd, lead singer and one half of the industrial-tinged, true crime-inspired electronic duo also known as SKYND.

SKYND is the dark creative outlet for Skynd, along with producer and multi-instrumentalist Father. SKYND released Chapter I in 2018, followed by Chapter II in 2019. Now, with over 18 million hits on YouTube, “Michelle Carter” marks the second single in Chapter III, following 2020’s “Columbine.”

SKYND is unique in the way of releasing their singles one at a time because so much detail goes into their creations, as Skynd does heavy research on each subject and then must condense it all into a song and a video along with her collaborator Father. All the information about the cases they research can be found on the band’s web site skynd-music.com, where you can find more information and links about all the subjects in the Case Files section.

During my conversation with Skynd, we talked about how her upbringing lead her into an interest in true crime subjects, meeting Father, the process that goes into every song and video, and the creative outlet she feels doing this SKYND project, and much more.

Socials:
Web: skynd-music.com
Facebook: facebook.com/skynd.music
Instagram: instagram.com/skynd_music
Twitter: twitter.com/itsSKYND
YouTube: youtube.com/c/skynd

SUBSCRIBE/RATE/REVIEW FRESH IS THE WORD:
Subscribe on all major streaming platforms. Please rate and review on Apple Podcast and Stitcher.
List of where Fresh is the Word streams: linktr.ee/freshisthewordpodcast or just search “Fresh is the Word”. Also available on IHeartRadio.

THEME MUSIC
Courtesy of STEVE O. Check out more music at eyeamsteveo.bandcamp.com.

Support via Patreon
If you want to support Fresh is the Word, please consider pledging via Patreon at Patreon.com/freshistheword.

For this episode, we are joined by Jeremy DePoyster, vocalist/guitarist of the metalcore band The Devil Wears Prada. They just released their latest project, the ZII EP, on May 21st, 2021 via Solid State Records. While their has been many releases from the band since their original Zombie EP released in August 2010, ZII is a bit of a continuation. Now veterans of metalcore, The Devil Wears Prada continue to progress showing there is no boundaries to this genre of music, always pushing the limits of both its sound and its visual accompaniment.

With the ZII EP, DePoyster shares with us the creation of the this project, along with the differences between their full-length projects and their EPs, dealing with the growing pains of evolving as a band, how the pandemic has changed their creative process, revisiting their early albums, and much more!

Stream/Purchase ZII EP: tdwp.ffm.to/ziiep

Socials:
Web: tdwpband.com
Linktree: linktr.ee/tdwpband
Instagram: instagram.com/tdwpband
Facebook: facebook.com/tdwp
Twitter: twitter.com/TDWPband

SUBSCRIBE/RATE/REVIEW FRESH IS THE WORD:
Subscribe on all major streaming platforms. Please rate and review on Apple Podcast and Stitcher.
List of where Fresh is the Word streams: linktr.ee/freshisthewordpodcast or just search “Fresh is the Word”. Also available on IHeartRadio.

THEME MUSIC
Courtesy of STEVE O. Check out more music at eyeamsteveo.bandcamp.com.

Support via Patreon
If you want to support Fresh is the Word, please consider pledging via Patreon at Patreon.com/freshistheword.

For this episode, we are talking about the debut album from UK Alt-Metal band Vexed titled Culling Culture, released on May 21, 2021 via Napalm Records. Joining me for this episode is the band’s lead vocalist Megan Targett. After dropping a pair of brutal singles in 2019, “Elite” ft. CJ McMahon of Thy Art Is Murder and “Dominate”, the Hertfordshire foursome made enough noise to link up with Napalm Records for the release of their debut album. With Culling Culture, the band dives into topics of hate and anger that is so prevalent in today’s society as a way to show that people dealing with any sort of struggles in their lives are not alone and they can prevail.

During our discussion, Megan shares with me how the band got started and the making of Culling Culture. We also go into the topics covered on Culling Culture, her experiences with sexual abuse, how discrimination is perceived in the UK, and even our favorite hip-hop and grime artists.

Purchase Culling Culture: napalmrecordsamerica.com/vexed

Socials:
Web: vexedvexedvexed.com
Facebook: facebook.com/vexedvexedvexed
Instagram: instagram.com/vexedvexedvexed
Instagram: instagram.com/megan_targett

SUBSCRIBE/RATE/REVIEW FRESH IS THE WORD:
Subscribe on all major streaming platforms. Please rate and review on Apple Podcast and Stitcher.
List of where Fresh is the Word streams: linktr.ee/freshisthewordpodcast or just search “Fresh is the Word”. Also available on IHeartRadio.

THEME MUSIC
Courtesy of STEVE O. Check out more music at eyeamsteveo.bandcamp.com.

Support via Patreon
If you want to support Fresh is the Word, please consider pledging via Patreon at Patreon.com/freshistheword.

For this episode, we are talking about the new graphic anthology Dead Beats 2, released by A Wave Blue World, an independent publisher of high-quality graphic novels, anthologies, and art books, focusing on socially conscious storytelling and providing a platform for a multitude of creative voices. Joining me for this discussion is A Wave Blue World co-founders Wendy and Tyler Chin-Tanner, who started the company over 15 years ago. Dead Beats 2: London Calling, is a continuation after a successful campaign for the first volume which also received high acclaim for both its art direction and storytelling.

For those unaware, Dead Beats is a full-color anthology of music-themed horror comics centered around the curiosities for sale at one peculiar record store managed by the enigmatic Shoppe Keeper. Think Tales From the Crypt, but in a record store. For London Calling, we travel to the new Dead Beats location across the pond in London.

The original editors, Joe Corallo (Oh S#!t, It’s Kim & Kim, Lost On Planet Earth) and Eric Palicki (All We Ever Wanted, Maybe Someday), are back for more Dead Beats featuring over twenty new comics stories and more than forty creators. Lisa Sterle (Long Lost, Witchblood) returns to provide the cover with our interstitial narrative illustrations by Val Halvorson (Finger Guns, The Sequels).

During our discussion, Wendy and Tyler share how the idea of Dead Beats got started, the process of putting together an anthology, how they picked creators for the stories, along with the founding of A Wave Blue World, running this publishing company for over 15 years, how Wendy’s training in sociology informs her work with A Wave Blue World, and their favorite types of music.

Pledge to Dead Beats 2: kck.st/3fCD2gw

Socials:
Web: awbw.com
Instagram: instagram.com/awaveblueworld
Facebook: facebook.com/AWaveBlueWorld
Twitter: twitter.com/AWaveBlueWorld

SUBSCRIBE/RATE/REVIEW FRESH IS THE WORD:
Subscribe on all major streaming platforms. Please rate and review on Apple Podcast and Stitcher.
List of where Fresh is the Word streams: linktr.ee/freshisthewordpodcast or just search “Fresh is the Word”. Also available on IHeartRadio.

THEME MUSIC
Courtesy of STEVE O. Check out more music at eyeamsteveo.bandcamp.com.

Support via Patreon
If you want to support Fresh is the Word, please consider pledging via Patreon at Patreon.com/freshistheword.

The guest for this episode is lead vocalist Jesper Vicencio from Danish metalcore outfit Ghost Iris. They just released their latest full-length album Comatose via Long Branch Records. During our conversation, we talked about movies he’s currently watching, the making of Comatose, the recording process, going back to old ideas, what they did better on this album, how he writes and collaborates with his bandmates, music he listens to, his hip-hop background, and the music scene in Denmark.

Purchase/Stream Comatose: smarturl.it/ghostiris_comatose

Ghost Iris Socials:
Facebook: facebook.com/GHOSTIRIS
Instagram: instagram.com/ghostirisdk
Bandcamp: ghostiris.bandcamp.com
Merch: ghostiris.bigcartel.com

SUBSCRIBE/RATE/REVIEW FRESH IS THE WORD:
Subscribe on all major streaming platforms. Please rate and review on Apple Podcast and Stitcher.
List of where Fresh is the Word streams: linktr.ee/freshisthewordpodcast or just search “Fresh is the Word”. Also available on IHeartRadio.

THEME MUSIC
Courtesy of STEVE O. Check out more music at eyeamsteveo.bandcamp.com.

Support via Patreon
If you want to support Fresh is the Word, please consider pledging via Patreon at Patreon.com/freshistheword.

The guest for this episode is Rick Giordano, member of the synth-driven horror metal trio from St. Louis, The Lion’s Daughter. They have a new album out, Skin Show, via Season of Mist that dropped on April 9th, 2021. The thing that really pops out with Skin Show is the visuals, from the album cover artwork to the cinematography of the music videos. It really makes them stand out, almost intriguing to someone who has never heard them before. During our conversation, we talked about those visuals and how they complement the music, the making of Skin Show and how that differed from previous albums, how they got discovered, and 80s horror and action movies!

Purchase Skin Show: redirect.season-of-mist.com/TLDshop or thelionsdaughter.bandcamp.com

The Lion’s Daughter Socials:
Facebook: facebook.com/thelionsdaughter
Bandcamp: thelionsdaughter.bandcamp.com
Instagram: instagram.com/thelionsdaughterstl
Twitter: twitter.com/THLNSDGHTR

SUBSCRIBE/RATE/REVIEW FRESH IS THE WORD:
Subscribe on all major streaming platforms. Please rate and review on Apple Podcast and Stitcher.
List of where Fresh is the Word streams: linktr.ee/freshisthewordpodcast or just search “Fresh is the Word”. Also available on IHeartRadio.

THEME MUSIC
Courtesy of STEVE O. Check out more music at eyeamsteveo.bandcamp.com.

Support via Patreon
If you want to support Fresh is the Word, please consider pledging via Patreon at Patreon.com/freshistheword.