Fuegostine's Music Club

Katelyn Tarver joins the podcast to discuss her latest album Tell Me How You Really Feel, a deeply personal project centered around love, loss, and self-discovery. She opens up about writing through divorce, embracing vulnerability in songwriting, and the emotional weight of releasing such an honest record. Katelyn also shares stories from touring with Big Time Rush, her evolving sound, and what’s next in both music and acting.

Foll...

In this episode of Songs That Built Me, Matt Firestine sits down with Jason Singer—better known as Michigander—to break down three songs that shaped his life and sound.

From learning his first guitar riff with The White Stripes, to discovering Coldplay in a video rental store, to finding artistic identity through The National, Jason walks through the moments that defined his musical journey.

This conversation dives into nostalgia, mu...

In this episode, Matt sits down with singer-songwriter Riley Pearce to talk about his journey as an independent artist, his latest album, and the realities of building a music career today.

Riley shares insights into touring across Australia and Europe, explaining how geography and audience culture shape the live music experience. He also dives deep into his songwriting process, from early acoustic influences to writing emotionally ...

Jack and Harry of Seafret join the podcast to talk about their new album Fear of Emotion, the evolution of their sound, and navigating today’s music industry.

From their viral hit “Atlantis” taking off years later to the realities of modern music promotion, Seafret opens up about balancing authenticity with content creation, writing from real-life experiences, and how the industry has changed over the past decade.

They also dive into...

Jayson of Coyote Theory joins the podcast to break down the band’s unexpected viral resurgence with “This Side of Paradise” and their return after a 10+ year hiatus.

We dive into how a dormant song exploded on TikTok, the reality of navigating label attention as a DIY band, and the pressure that followed. Jayson also shares how the group organically reunited before the viral moment, how their songwriting process has evolved, and wha...

In this episode, Matt sits down with New Constellations (Harlee Case and Josh) to discuss their breakout track “Hot Blooded,” their debut album It Comes in Waves, and their evolution as an indie pop duo.

The band shares how their first-ever release turned into a long-term viral success, generating hundreds of millions of user-created videos, and why it never felt like an overnight moment.

They also dive into their collaborative songw...

What songs actually shape an artist? The Songs That Built Me is inspired by some lyrics of a Miranda Lambert song called "The House That Built Me". Songs throughout our lives stick with us for various reasons and these are the stories associated with those. 

In the debut episode of Songs That Built Me, Nico of Proxima Parada joins host Matt Firestine to reflect on the songs that shaped his life, sound, and musical journey.

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Wrabel joins Fuegostine’s Music Club to talk about his latest album, the deeply personal journey behind it, and how his approach to songwriting has evolved over the years.

From writing more independently and co-producing his own work to exploring existential themes like impermanence and love, Wrabel shares what makes this project his favorite to date.

He also reflects on the impact of his song “The Village,” why it remains the most m...

Athens, Georgia indie pop band Hotel Fiction stop by to discuss the deluxe edition of Staring at the Sun, the evolution from Soft Focus to now, and what it means to grow up through music.

We talk about writing songs that won’t leave the vault, revisiting old versions of yourself through records, seasonal depression and songwriting, and how AI is reshaping the music industry. The band also shares their thoughts on social media promot...

Sam Gellerstein of Philadelphia band Snacktime joins the podcast to talk about the band’s journey from busking in Philly parks during COVID to touring nationally with Portugal. The Man and Electric Guest.

In this episode, Sam shares:

• How Snacktime started as a food-and-music community event
• Building a loyal Philadelphia fanbase from street performances
• Evolving from a brass band into a genre-blending funk, rock, and pop powerhouse
• W...

In this episode of Fuegostine’s Music Club, Matt Firestine sits down with all members of Krooked Kings to discuss the band’s upcoming album In Another Life and the creative evolution that shaped it.

The band shares how working with a new producer helped them move from a bedroom-style recording approach toward a fuller, live-band sound, and how increased collaboration changed their songwriting process. The conversation explores theme...

In this episode of Fuegostine’s Music Club, Matt Firestine sits down with Sam Bentley of The Paper Kites to discuss the band’s latest album and the themes of home, belonging, and creative balance that shaped its creation.

Sam shares stories about growing up around gospel music before discovering punk, how indie folk has evolved over the last decade, and why songwriting is often more work than therapy. The conversation explores recor...

Scarlett McKahey of Teen Jesus and the Jean Teasers joins the podcast to talk about the band’s journey from forming at 14 years old to releasing their confident, anthemic second album Glory.

Scarlett shares how the band finally felt in control of their creative vision, the accidental themes of confidence and self-belief that shaped the record, and the story behind standout tracks like “Turn Around.” We also talk about the band’s Jac...

In this episode, Matt sits down with genre-bending artist Deloyd Elze for a deep dive into his musical identity, influences, and creative process. Deloyd talks about growing up between his parents’ eclectic music tastes, discovering rock on a turquoise iPod Nano, and eventually forming his own sound—a unique blend of country storytelling and modern experimental production.

He breaks down the origin of his track “Write of Passage,” w...

Australian singer-songwriter and producer Hayden Calnin joins the show to talk about the inspiration behind his latest EP Middle Night, the creative pull of late-night songwriting, and his fascination with the paranormal and esoteric. Hayden opens up about how film sound design shaped his production style, why he avoids “demo-itis,” and what it’s like balancing the many roles modern musicians carry — from producing and scoring to n...

In this episode, Matt speaks with Terra Lopez, artist and Community Manager at Backline, the nonprofit delivering free mental health and wellness services to musicians and music industry workers.

Terra shares powerful insights about the realities of touring, the emotional and financial barriers artists face when seeking help, and how social media has intensified the mental health challenges within the music world.

We discuss Backline...

On this episode of Fuegostine's Music Club, Matt talks with Colby Acuff who opens up about his path from Idaho to Nashville, the creative process behind his albums, and the challenges facing musicians in a rapidly changing industry.

Colby dives into:

• The influences that shaped his sound, from classic rock to modern country
• The inspiration and stories behind his songs, including Rolling With the Wind
• The impact of AI-generated ...

In this episode of Fuegostine's Music Club, I sit down with BIG SPECIAL, a rising punk duo known for vulnerable, soulful style. We talk about their creative process, the story behind their music, how they developed their sound, and what’s coming next.

If you love discovering new music, underground gems, and artists before they blow up, this conversation is for you.

In this conversation on Fuegostine's Music Club, Joe of BIG...

In this episode of Fuegostine’s Music Club, Harrison Storm sits down for a heartfelt and honest conversation about the experiences that shaped his new album Empty Garden. Fresh off a six-week European tour, he reflects on the breakup that sparked much of the record, the emotional core behind “Someone Else,” and what it means to make music that feels both vulnerable and grounding.

We explore the realities of touring, the pressure (an...