Independent Minded

Independent Minded

Independent Minded is a podcast where DIY music professionals, indie artists, and pop culture icons tell their origin stories, talk about inspirations, commitment to craft, and struggles and triumphs in the entertainment biz. Hosted and produced by Ron Scalzo, an indie musician with an independent record label of his own, Bald Freak Music.

Episodes

March 31, 2025 • 57 mins

#157. Big Black Delta meditates on an era of uncertainty, Janet Devlin comes back to her senses, Theodore has musical orgasms, and Ron shares new faves from Courting, Alan Sparhawk, + more.

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#156. Ron talks with Minnesota singer/songwriter Dillon Spurlin about a pure love of creating, our cold email courtship, growing up in a musical family, embracing baldness and The Beatles.

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February 21, 2025 • 53 mins

#155. Social Station finally meets their record label, mclusky makes a comeback with a phallic opener, Love In Reverse stops so band members can move forward, and Ron shares new faves from Niis, Preoccupations, + more.

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February 3, 2025 • 23 mins

#154. Ron talks with NYC guitarist Rob Mastrianni about being banished to Catholic school, his Brooklyn roots, birds of prey, belly dancers, releasing his first-ever solo album.

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January 11, 2025 • 52 mins

#153. Shutdown celebrates 30 years of Brooklyn hardcore, Gloin gets dynamic, Pray For Sound bakes an album opener for two years, and Ron shares new faves from Boutique Feelings, Eidola + more.

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December 22, 2024 • 33 mins

#152. Ron talks with singer/songwriter Paul Spring about touring in a canoe, his bohemian ancestry, playing Sunny's Bar, pottery-related popularity, and why he'll likely never sign with a label.

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December 11, 2024 • 56 mins

#151. Nona Invie raises their vocal game, Ben Hazlewood is too loud for Tokyo, Bear Hands wreck cars in the desert, and Ron shares new faves from Paul Spring, Haley Heynderickx, + more.

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November 21, 2024 • 30 mins

#150. Ron talks with Miami guitarist Ben Katzman about competing on Survivor, teaching young people to shred, Jews who rock, why being yourself is the best recipe for success.

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#149. Bike Routes cruise through the streets of New Jersey, Illiterate Light push themselves towards Hollywood, Patrick Watson loses his voice and finds inspiration, and Ron shares new faves from Sinkane, Waxahatchee + more.

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October 29, 2024 • 26 mins

#148. Ron talks with Georg Holm of post-rock trio Sigur Ros about what being a musician really means, authenticity, embracing laziness, and finally making a record that sounds like Iceland.

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#147. Nitecap mixes funk and synth-heavy soul to make a voice memo sound bananas, OMBIIGIZI puts Big Pharma on trial, Rebecca Haviland waxes nostalgic for late-night New York City, and Ron shares new faves from SPRINTS, Father John Misty, + more.

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October 2, 2024 • 24 mins

#146. Ron takes a tour of Nashville's United Record Pressing - the largest and longest-operating vinyl manufacturer in the US - and talks 75 years of music history with URP's Cam Sarrett.

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#145. John Van Deusen releases the oldest song he's ever written, Bird Call overcomes pandemic-provoked OCD, One Morning Left pays tribute to Knight Rider, Love In Reverse takes a digital detour, and Ron shares new faves from The Smile, Hammock + more.

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August 30, 2024 • 19 mins

#144. Ron talks with drummer/composer Mario Gutierrez about his solo project niecesandnephews, joining Ghost Funk Orchestra, growing up on Tito Puente, bringing positive energy to the studio and the stage.

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#143. Caroline Kingsbury fulfills her wildest Bruce Springsteen dreams, Unlearn and MP Shaw recruit Daniel G. Harmann to take a forgotten song to intergalactic places, and Ron shares new faves from niecesandnephews, Jerry Cantrell + more.

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#142. Kyle Andrews' song tells him how to write it, ASHRR speak French to unlock a space disco hook, One Hundred Thousand reevaluate relationships, and Ron shares new faves from Highly Suspect, La Luz + more.

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July 7, 2024 • 29 mins

#141. Ron talks with sax legend Bill Evans about playing with Miles Davis, building a fanbase in Europe, wearing bandanas, getting help from MTF, and living in New York City in the '80s.

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June 11, 2024 • 61 mins

#140. Urban Heat prepare for the apocalypse, Chris Kelly of Hillhaven hits rock bottom, Unwed Sailor deconstructs a song, and Ron shares new faves from Liily, Drab Majesty, Beth Gibbons + more.

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June 3, 2024 • 26 mins

#139. Ron talks with Michael Eliran of New York indie rock band Dolly about reconnecting with his musical community, shortening his band name, touring with Michael Imperioli, and the trials and tribulations that led to a new EP.

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May 6, 2024 • 29 mins

#138. Ron talks with Ted Drozdowski of Nashville cosmic roots band Coyote Motel about Mississippi blues, Pennsylvania coal mines, his theremin-playing wife, recording with chickens, a rotation of hats, and making his first-ever movie.

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