Citywide Blackout

Jennifer Tefft talks new music, old venues, and working with the best

If you’re part of the Boston music scene, then the name Jennifer Tefft likely rings a bell. If not, you’ve got some listening to do!

 

In this episode, Curtis and I talk with Jenn about the recent release of the acoustic version of “Going Out,” all about escaping for a night on the town. We talk about its sound and what the full band version will be like. She’s got another single, “Love & War,” and goes into what we can expect from that. Friend of the show Nina Pickell was the executive producer for both songs. Part of the process included working with musical heavyweights Munk Duane at Bad Stella Studios and Hans DeKline, a Grammy winning Los Angeles mastering engineer.

 

Jenn has been part of the Boston scene for some time and we talk about her fave venues, both past and present. We look at the state of the scene and get her take on all the recent changes. Jenn also share some stories from her time as a music teacher and the lessons she works to impart.

 

We kick off the show with an excerpt from “Love & War,” and end the show with the full “Going Out.”

The heroic (and steamy) world of Ryder O’Malley

You’ve toured the world of superheroes in author Ryder O’Malley’s Heroes of Vanguard series. Now, it’s time for something a little bit darker.

 

This writer (whom I have never spoken to before, honest!) used his love of comics to craft a M/M romance series, now four books long. On Sept. 14, Ryder debuts the Villains of Vanguard with the first installment, “Corrupted Desire.” Here’s a look at what’s in store:

 

The world is going to burn, and I’m the one holding the match.

Prison hardens a man. Even worse, my ex testified against me in court. Ten years into my sentence and the inmates of Cold Iron fear me. It’s lonely, but it’s the price of survival. This isn’t the place to think about friends, let alone a relationship.

When Vanguard needs a criminal with my fiery skills, my time in the slammer is cut short. To keep my freedom, I only have to put down a Southland’s newest king pin. It’d be easy if the local do-gooder stopped interfering. Gallant won’t be the reason I get locked up again. If he wasn’t smoking hot, I’d crush him. On second thought, maybe he needs a pounding.

The heroes are playing with fire, but I’m not the one about to get burned.

 

Ryder and I dive right in, starting with the origins for this series and the climactic battle of shifting from his previous work to the world of romance. He takes us on a journey through the process of how romances are written (and Hallmark movies too, apparently) and the unique style he’s going for. We even get treated to a brief excerpt from the writer himself!

 

Buckle up folks, this one’s gonna be epic.

Todd McKay shares the therapeutic mission of Help; Hear; Heal

Therapy is one of the most important tools to help someone who has experienced from abuse—but it’s so expensive that many cannot access it. That’s where Help; Hear; Heal comes in. Since their founding, they’ve connected people with the resources to get the help they need.

 

Founder and CEO Todd McKay joins us to share the organization’s progress since it was launched just one year ago and some of the dedicated people who’ve joined. We discuss how they provide financial support to help people access therapeutic services and how they can sign up if needed. Todd also talks about their partnership with Thriveworks and what they’ve done together.

 

Todd shares some personal stories regarding a member of his family who was assaulted and how this led to Help; Hear; Heal’s founding. We discuss the stigma for those who need therapy, both men and women, and the challenges they face while on this journey.  

Chris Cuffaro takes us on a journey through 50 years of music photography

As the man said, “I have a million stories and the photos to prove it.”

 

Over the last four-plus decades, Chris Cuffaro has photographed the biggest names in the music industry and now those photos—and the stories behind them, have been collected in a new app called “Greatest Hits.” Using the app, you can see some of the photos he took of all the greats and hear a brief tale of the experience.

 

But this is just the beginning, Chris says.

 

In this interview, we talk about the app’s origins and how he came to work with the New Zealand-based digital media team at iSPARX. We talk about how he spent 12 years going through his countless photos to select the best—in black and white, of course—and record the stories that he remembers best.

 

We also dive into Chris’ past—the inspiration he received from legendary photographer Richard Avedon and how taking photos at local concerts led to a career that has put him in the same room with the likes of Rob Zombie, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Ice-T. We talk gear for a bit, his preferences and the importance of staying current in a business where the equipment is always changing.

 

Chris shares his plans for the future of the app and how he plans to grow it in the years to come.

It’s a magical dystopian paradise in “The Lioness and the Rat Queen”

Did I say paradise? Because I meant wasteland….as in, there’s a part of the world called “The Wastes.” It’s just one of the many things that we go into talking with author Noah Lemelson for the continuation of his steampunk-apocalyptic-noir trilogy, “The Lioness and the Rat Queen” (August 29, 2023, Tiny Fox Press).

 

But that’s not all! For this episode I welcome back Curtis Hughes as my new co-host. Curtis was a part of the show way back when, and instrumental in its early success with his keen mind and quick wit.

 

Together, Curtis and I look at how this book picks up following Noah’s first novel, “The Sightless City,” and find a murderous tycoon on the run, and three vigilantes out for revenge. We dissect the characters of Lazarus Roache, Marcel and Sylvaine and look at what each brings to the story and what they experienced in the first book. Curtis and I talk with Noah about the worldbuilding that went into this series, as well as his pivot from a career in biology to creative writing.

Lorenza Wildcard off to a stellar star with debut singles

With just two songs, singer-songwriter Lorenza Wildcard has captured the attention of the music world, being named an artist of the month and charting high on several stations. She joins Citywide to talk about her debut singles, “You & I” and “My Army.” Both songs come from different points in her life—the first from one of her most difficult moments and the other showcasing the strength to move forward.

 

We look at how she went from recording a song at home during the early days of the pandemic to meeting with a producer to get the track recorded. We talk about her early success, how this influences her as an artist and pushes her to that next level. We also look at the very different sounds of “You & I” and “My Army” and her process of experimenting with different styles.

 

Opening this episode is an excpert from “My Army,” and closing the interview is the full “You & I.”

“The Science Fictionary” defines the undefinable

Author Robert Bly is a longtime fan of—and writer of—the world of horror, fantasy, and science fiction. But what is a black hole? And how does warp speed work? And how many kinds of demons are there?

 

Robert set on the most epic of quests in “The Science Fictionary,” now available through Crystal Lake Publishing helping reader to understand the unique language of these genres. In this interview, we talk about what inspired this book and how he went about learning the precise definitions for all sorts of words. We look at those that really stumped him and the process of defining words that have been anything but.

 

We also look at Robert’s lengthy writing career and how this all helped in his research and writing. The book also includes over 50 illustration and we talk about how these came to be.  

James Dunne brings some ‘outlaw country’ with his debut album

After hearing James Dunne’s single “Black Train,” I immediately thought, “I need to talk to this guy.” And here we are.

 

James and I talk about is first single, “Duty,” which reflects on is own time serving in the British Armed Forces and the other tales he covers in the EP, released earlier this year. Music has been a part of James’ life for years but it’s only recently that he decided to release it and we look into what led to this.

 

James and I talk about the music video for “Black Train” which features—you guessed it—a black train. There’s a story with this one, and the visuals are amazing. We also talk about the reception he’s gotten since the release of his music and the different folks he’s met as he’s begun this new part of his life.

 

Opening the episode is an excerpt from “Black Train” and closing the show is the full song.

Brave Girls Collection moves to story of trauma, bravery, and finding your voice

In author Kimberly Behre Kenna’s first book, “Artemis Sparke and the Sound Seekers Brigade,” we’re introduced to a young girl determined to save the environment. It’s the first of the Brave Girls Collection, and on Aug. 3, we get to meet the newest protagonist in the series, “Jett Jamison and the Secret Storm.”

 

In this book, Jett is fighting two battles—one against the censorship of books at her local library. The second is her secret personal trauma, which reflects that of the author. In this interview, Kimberly and I talk about the choice to include her own struggles and how it shapes the character. We talk about central messages and what she hopes people take away from the story.

 

We discuss book censorship in the story and the motivations of those behind it, as well as how Jett fights back and the friends who stand by her side. Kimberly wrote “Jett Jamison” well before book censorship became the hot-button issue it is now and we give our takes on what’s going on in the world.

 

Libraries have been important places for both of us, and Kimberly talks about her younger years roaming the stacks looking for the perfect tale. She and I share our favorite books and experiences as young readers.

Four years of music and shows with Frankie Raye

It was in 2019 that I first interviewed Florida-based singer-songwriter Frankie Raye. Since then, she’s played hundreds (yes, hundreds) of shows, debuted at The Bitter End in NYC, and gotten the chance to try out voice acting in “The Boar Knight” podcast.

 

In 2021 alone, Frankie booked over 300 shows and talks about her approach with a venue, especially one she’s never worked with. We go over her time at The Bitter End, a first for her as a performer and talk about some potential future Northeast shows. Frankie also shares the stories behind her recent single, “Foot in Mouth,” which is about being content with where you are in your journey, specifically in the music business. 

 

Frankie takes us through her time with “The Boar Knight” podcast as Dr. Comet Chianina of the United Bovine Science Coalition on Episode 13, “Up, Up and Away.” We talk about getting into character and some future episodes.

 

Opening this episode is an excerpt from her single “Over Now” and closing out the show is “Foot in Mouth.”