Synthesis Radio » Jake Sprecher

Kim Deal, July, 2009

Jake Sprecher — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 00:26:06 +0000

Kim Deal needs very little introduction. As a founding member of both the Pixies and the Breeders, it would be very difficult to identify any woman over the last 20 years as a more seminal figure in the realm of alternative rock ‘n’ roll. These days, Deal finds herself back to the Breeder grind having self-released the four-song EP, Fate to Fatal, in late April. Primed for a tour of the East Coast in early August before shooting abroad to represent 10 years of All Tomorrow’s Parties in December, the pleasantly candid Deal took a bit of time to chat with Synthesis while kicking back at home in Dayton, Ohio.

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Kim Deal of The Breeders

Matt Sharp [Part 2]

Jake Sprecher — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 23:40:02 +0000

Welcome to part two of Synthesis Radio’s recent interview with Matt Sharp, founding father of The Rentals. Here Sharp reflects on his work with the Haden sisters, and speaks of the broad and rewarding toll which Songs About Time will ultimately hold.

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Matt Sharp on MySpace

Matt Sharp official site

Matt Sharp of The Rentals (Part 2)

Matt Sharp [Part 1]

Jake Sprecher — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 23:34:32 +0000

Claiming fame back in the day as a founding member and bass player of Weezer, Matt Sharp has since 1995 been at the helm of the cult-status electro/pop outfit known as The Rentals. Working through a variety of lineup changes over the years, The Rentals have continued to produce, and now, with Sharp leading the way, are currently in the throes of an ultra-ambitious project entitled Songs About Time, which incorporates a daily grind of photography and film on top of the music. I caught up with Sharp in one of his exceedingly rare moments of downtime to discuss all the latest Rental happenings.

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Matt Sharp on MySpace

Matt Sharp official site

Matt Sharp of The Rentals

Naomi Shelton

Jake Sprecher — Fri, 29 May 2009 22:44:51 +0000

Daptone Records, based out of New York City, is the music world’s beating heart when it comes to throw back soul, rhythm and blues. And in keeping with their commitment to excellence come Naomi Shelton and the Gospel Queens; a thick and robust bunch that reps nothing but the finest in the veins of Otis Redding and Sam Cooke. Led by the prevailing rasp of the Alabama-raised and longtime NYC club sensation Naomi Shelton and powered by the release of a debut record, What Have You Done My Brother, Naomi and company are poised to leave an inky imprint on most anybody with a true touch of soul. I recently caught up with the lovely Ms. Shelton, who with the greatest of ease can beam light even through a telephone.

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Naomi Shelton and the Gospel Queens MySpace

Daptone Records

Naomi Shelton and the Gospel Queens

Wayne Coyne, December, 2008

Jake Sprecher — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 03:07:01 +0000

Wayne Coyne, founding and seminal member of The Flaming Lips, is a man out on another trip. This of course is a compliment, as Coyne happens to be endowed with a sense of creativity and professionalism that does not apply to the average musician or, for the sake of cliché terminology, artist. Begun in 2001, this fall season has finally seen the long-awaited release of Christmas On Mars, a psychedelic sci-fi film written, produced and scored by The Lips with Coyne at the helm. Destined for campy-but-not-too-campy cult status, Mars has enjoyed success with independent theatres across the country. Synthesis recently spoke with the elegant Coyne while kicking back at his Oklahoma City residence.

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Christmas On Mars (IMDB)

Flaming Lips Site

Flaming Lips MySpace

Wayne Coyne of the Flaming Lips

Weird Al Yankovic, August, 2008

Jake Sprecher — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 20:33:04 +0000

Weird Al Yankovic.

Interviewed by Jake Sprecher of Synthesis.net

[From Wikipedia.com]

Alfred Matthew “Weird Al” Yankovic (born October 23, 1959) is a Grammy-award winning American singer, musician, actor, satirist, parodist, songwriter, music producer, accordionist, and television producer. Yankovic is known in particular for his humorous songs that make light of popular culture and that often parody specific songs by contemporary musical acts. Yankovic received his first accordion lesson a day before his seventh birthday, and since his first-aired song parody in 1979 has sold more than 12 million albums (more than any comedy act in history), recorded more than 150 parody and original songs, and has performed more than 1,000 live shows. His works have earned him three Grammy Awards among nine nominations, four gold records, and six platinum records in the United States. Yankovic’s first top ten Billboard album and single were both released in 2006, nearly three decades into his career.

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Weirdal.com – Official Weird Al Site

Weird Al Myspace Page

Weird Al Yankovic

Silver Jews’ David Berman, June, 2008

Jake Sprecher — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 21:48:09 +0000

Perennial American indie/folk-ers the Silver Jews will mark June 17th with the release of their sixth full-length record, Lookout Mountain, Lookout Sea. David Berman is up to his usual tricks, spurting imaginative poetry that wraps beauty and sorrow around the everyday doldrums (”Suffering Jukebox”) , waxing whimsical fantasies (”Candy Jail”), as well as spinning good and long yarns (”San Francisco B.C.”). Berman’s wife Cassie is featured prominently on Lookout…, lending an undeniable female warmth to the feel of the record. The Joos are even touring for the occasion, with a current stint in Europe.
Jake Sprecher speaks with David Berman.

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David Berman of the Silver Jews

Melvins, June, 2008

Jake Sprecher — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 22:31:59 +0000

[From Wikipedia.com]

Buzz Osborne (b. 1964), also known as King Buzzo, (birth name Roger Osborne) is the guitarist/vocalist/songwriter and technically the only remaining founding member of The Melvins. (Drummer Dale Crover is often regarded as a founding member, but he joined after the band was formed, though before they had yet recorded an album.) Buzz Osborne is also a founding member/guitarist for both Fantômas and Venomous Concept.

Jake Sprecher of Synthesis Magazine speaks to Buzz about the new album Nude With Boots, and what 25 years of Melvins can do to a man.

Download this podcast HERE [right click save as]

King Buzzo of The Melvins

Frank Black, May, 2008

Jake Sprecher — Wed, 21 May 2008 18:50:00 +0000

When Eugene, Oregon comes up in conversation, several fixations quickly pop to the average mind: rain, forest, hippies, marijuana and Ducks. Easy to miss would be a chubby, middle-aged man with a shaved head who often adorns dark sunglasses. But that, perhaps, may be just how Frank Black likes it.

Leisurely enjoying the morning at his home in the rainy college town, Frank Black, the former leader of the Pixies, is on daddy duty. Jake Sprecher of Synthesis Magazine speaks to Frank Black about the new album, Svn Fngrs and a whole bunch of other stuff.

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Frank Black Official Site

Black Francis Official Site

Frank Black or Black Francis?

Nada Surf, March, 2008

Jake Sprecher — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 20:06:24 +0000

Nada Surf’s history as a band is in some ways a story of survival. Founding members Matthew Caws (guitar, vocals) and Daniel Lorca (bass) began the group in Brooklyn circa 1993. Moderate success was found early on within the alternative scene, but not until linking with drummer Ira Elliot in 1995 did the band hit stride. Upon connecting with former Cars member Ric Ocasek in Southern California, Nada Surf was able to negotiate a contract with Elektra and proceeded to release their 1996 debut, High/Low. In a matter of months the trio was riding the wave of a runaway hit with “Popular,” though mainstream success proved to be fleeting as Elektra refused to release Nada Surf’s second offering without a true single. The group was eventually dropped, and spent two years fighting to release The Proximity Effect independently. Nada Surf did however get the last laugh — the group maintained a large fanbase and has released four additional full lengths,including their shiny new LP, Lucky. Nada Surf has been represented by Barsuk Records since 2003, and is currently on the brink of three months worth of American and European touring. Jake Sprecher of Synthesis caught up with frontman Matthew Caws in anticipation of their stop in Sacramento.

Download this podcast and listen to it surfing. HERE [right click save as]

Nada Surf Official Site

Nada Surf MySpace Page

Matthew Caws of Nada Surf speaks with Jake Sprecher of Synthesis.net

Mike Patton, February, 2008

Jake Sprecher — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 20:51:06 +0000

Mike Patton has been in a couple bands throughout his career. Most notably Faith No More from 1988 to 1998.
He has also handled lead vocals for Mr. Bungle, Tomahawk, Lovage, Fantômas, The Dillinger Escape Plan, and Peeping Tom.
Recently he has lent his voice to characters in The Darkness video game and the Will Smith movie, I Am Legend.
His latest project was to craft the soundtrack to the Derrick Scocchera film, A Perfect Place. The album drops on March 11th, 2008 on Ipecac Recordings.

Jake Sprecher of Synthesis Magazine caught up with Mike, who was at home in San Francisco.

Download this podcast and listen to it with a glass of Port and a Tommy Gun HERE [right click save as]

Ipecac Recordings Official Site

Mike Patton on MySpace

Mike Patton speaks with Jake Sprecher of Synthesis.net

George Clinton, February, 2008

Jake Sprecher — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 02:11:32 +0000

George Clinton aka Dr. Funkenstein, aka The Prime Minister Of Funk, aka The Interplanetary Master Of Funkmanship.
Call him what you want so long as you say it with respect. As the creator of a very special and unique brand of funk,
George Clinton’s stamp on both past and present rock ‘n’ roll and hip-hop is indisputable.
His work with the groups Funkadelic and Parliament have transcended all things groove within a rock medium,
yielding a laundry list of super hits and making him one of the most sampled artists in musical history,
second only to James Brown.
At 67 years old, Clinton and the gang are still up to the same old tricks; out on tour with new records coming down the pipe.
In anticipation of Parliament Funkadelic’s February 9th performance at the Senator Theatre, the Master Of The Mothership took a timeout from life in Detroit to chat with Synthesis writer Jake Sprecher.

Download this podcast and listen to it on the Mothership HERE [right click save as]

George Clinton Official Site

George Clinton on MySpace

Parliament Funkadelic Master George Clinton speaks with Jake Sprecher of Synthesis.net

Bayside, November, 2007

Jake Sprecher — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 22:08:18 +0000

Jake Sprecher of Synthesis Magazine speaks with Bayside bassist Nick Ghanbarian.

Download this podcast and listen to it on the LIE HERE [right click save as]

Bayside Official Site

On MySpace

Bayside Victory Records Page

Buy the new album The Walking Wounded

Page Hamilton of Helmet, September, 2007

Jake Sprecher — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 00:10:28 +0000

At 47 years old, Page Hamilton cares little for beating around the bush.
He speaks in the frank, honest nature that one might expect from a man of experience, but still knows how to laugh at himself. The bottom line is that Page Hamilton has been around.
By 1989 Hamilton had formed his own group that was to be known as Helmet. Releasing their first EP through Amphetamine Reptile Records (1990’s Strap It On) Helmet found themselves gigging alongside the likes of Sonic Youth, Unsane, and Killdozer to name a few, and quickly established themselves as heavyweights among the east coast independent rock scene. there is no immediate album release in sight, but Helmet is back out on the road, playing for the sake of playing, doing what Helmet does best. Jake Sprecher of Synthesis Magazine caught Page Hamilton for a few words:

Download this podcast and listen to it while aging gracefully HERE. (right click, save as)

Helmet MySpace page

Helmet Official Website

Buy Helmet Stuff

Al Green, September, 2007

Jake Sprecher — Wed, 05 Sep 2007 22:55:59 +0000

What can you say about Al Green? Well, one can think of a few things, the first being this: Al Green is a living legend. He was a giant in the heyday of soul rhythm and blues. His name hangs with the big boys, like James Brown, Marvin Gaye, and Sly Stone. The albums Green released during the early 1970’s under the guidance of Hi Records guru Willie Mitchell are quite simply among the greatest R&B records ever recorded. The majority of people are merely familiar with Al’s super hits, such as “Let’s Stay Together,” and “I’m Still In Love With You,” but it is important to remember that songs like these were gems within masterpiece works. His voice was, and still is, like heaven on earth. A Baptist Reverend since 1979, he is a man of passion, love, and soul to the bone. Jake Sprecher of Synthesis had the privilege of catching up with Al, who sings what he means and talks what he sings.

Download this podcast and listen to it while makin’ sweet love. HERE. (right click, save as)

Al Green MySpace page

Al Green’s Official Website

BUY Al Green at Amazon