Citywide Blackout

Nicki Kris's new album and Lady V on her radio show

For this week's episode, singer-songwriter Nicki Kris talks about her new album “Heartbeat” and some of the very personal stories behind her music. She's a Grammy-ballotted artist and she shares her experiences with the award process. She's also had the chance to have her work featured in movies and television.

Boston's own Lady V is up next and she's got a lot to talk about, from the origin of her program The V Line and some of the artists she's interviewed. She's a recent entry into social media and talks about how it's helped the program and some ways to avoid the pitfalls.

And for new music, it's another single from Finland-based artist Zuhlke, “Imaginary Me.”

April 2, 2019: Kitty Game/Amrit Ghatore/Naomi Westwater

Opening this week's podcast, I talk to the husband and wife comic-creating team of Comfort and Adam. I interviewed them a couple months ago for their comic “Rainbow in the Dark,” and this time, we look at their cat-inspired title “Kitty Game.” Based in part on their cat Obi-Wan, this comic follows and adventures of Marty the cat as he traverses lands of science fiction, fantasy, and action.

London-based musician Amrit Ghatore has a new music video out for his song, “It's OK.” This video includes a detailed battle scene that Amrit helped to choreograph, and we talk about the work that went into it. In addition to his work as a musician, Amrit is a model and actor and he tells us how he balances these various aspects of his career.

Boston-based artist Naomi Westwater closes out this week's show with a look at her life as a modern mystic, how it's changed her life and factoring it into her music. She's got a new album out, “Huntress: from dark to light,” inspired by the Roman Goddess of the hunt and moon, Diana. Naomi talks about the many sides to a huntress, both positive and negative.

And for new music, after the first segment I bring you “Flowers on the Moon,” from Stereo in Solo, from a new album by Thierry Noritop, a member of the French synth pop duo Stereo. And after their interviews, it's the songs “Burn” followed by “It's OK” from Amrit and “Bloodlust” and “Running” from Naomi.

Citywide Blackout, March 23, 2019: Fabien Nicieza and Reilly Brown

Comic legends Fabian Nicieza and Reilly Brown join me to talk about their highly popular comic “Outrage,” available exclusively through WEBTOON. A virus is attacking people who abuse others on the internet. Comedic ass-kickings are occurring across the country by a sentient entity that appears through the personal devices of people everywhere. We talk about the origin of the character, how the story developed, and how the current social climate plays a role. We also delve into the many, many titles that these two have worked on over the years.

And for music, it's the Manchester-based band Sepsiss with “Eyes of Empathy.” They've played a ton of shows in the Boston area, and these feature bespoke lighting, wild costumes, choreography and dazzling effects.

March 20, 2019: Boskone Podcast 2 with Brenda Clough and Morgan Duran

In the second episode of my Boskone podcast series, author Brenda Clough and I chat about time travel and how it works in her science fiction series. She also talks about the inherent challenges that come with writing a novel and the methods she uses to ensure she's able to complete a book once it's started.

Morgan Duran has both music and books to talk about, and we open with “The Chilling Zone,” a sci-fi tale with political intrigue and dark secrets. She shares her work in music, the styles that influence her, and how one connects with the other.

And for new music, I've got “The Cowboy Way,” another tune from Americana artist Mike Allen. He's on during the first break and after the second interview it's “Tread Softly” by Emily Jean Flack, a singer-songwriter whose music is rooted in folk and Celtic.

Citywide Blackout, March 16, 2019: Kathleen Valenti/Avanti Nagral

On this week's podcast, I open with author Kathleen Valenti, who has a new book in her Maggie O'Malley seires, “As Directed.” She talks about the Maggie's development, going from recent college grad to solving one murder after another. Kathleen also delves into her marketing background and how this has helped her to spread the word about her work.

Following this I play a new single from Mike Allen, “Set in Stone.” Mike began playing professionally at 16, working for the Little Walter Price Blues Band. Switching to country in 1980, he spent years on the road playing for Jeff Hord and the Texas Fullhouse Band, Hatfield and McCoy, Phoenix, and others.

After the break, Boston-based singer-songwriter Avanti Nagral joins me to share the story behind her new single. “thank u (pls).” This song centers on a recent breakup, and how she grew from the experience. She's on the way to India to begin a press tour for the music video for this song, and she talks about the social media influencers and YouTube stars who worked with her on the project.

 

Citywide Blackout, March 12, 2019: Boskone Part 1 with S.L. Huang/Eugene Doucette

Welcome to the first in my series of Boskone interviews. Boskone is an annual science fiction and fantasy convention that takes place in Boston. I've covered it for the past few years, and it's always been a great time.

First up, author S.L. Huang and I talk about the times she's been set on fire (seriously) while working as a stunt person and how this and martial arts training come into play in her work. We chat about villains and how they sometimes imitates life, particularly in this current political climate. This is her first Boskone, and she shares some of her favorite parts and how she became involved in the first place.

Eugene Doucette is a hybrid author, and he talks about what that means and how it's benefited him as a writer. We talk reviews, both good and bad, and how even the bad ones can offer a lesson. We chat about marketing one's work and some of the biggest challenges that he's faced.

And for new music, I bring you “Last Call” from Maida a singer-songwriter based in Germany. Her style has been compared to that of Melissa Etheridge. Her song is up after the first interview, and to close the show, I give you “I Drink Alone,” from “Wildman” Pebo Wilson, who grew up in the Appalachian Mountains of Tennessee and began singing at age 16.

 

Citywide Blackout, March 10, 2019: Mikel Wisler/The Adventures of June Bug

On this week's show, I welcome back author and filmmaker Mikel Wisler to talk about his new book, “Sleepwalker,” a thrilling tale involving the bleeding edge of robotics and nanotechnology. We talk about the real vs. the fiction and how our own world mirrors the one he created.

Next up, we're talking radio dramas! Writer Jim Newman of the podcast The Adventures of June Bug shares the origin story of this new series, how it was casted and the process of bringing these characters to life. We've also got a bonus for you, episode one in the June Bug series.

And what would this show be without new music? After the first interview enjoy “Nothing But You” from Andreas Carlsson & The Moonshine Band, a rock and country band from Sweden. Check them out on Facebook for all news on their new music currently being recorded.

 

Citywide Blackout, March 3, 2019: Richard Starkings/Matt Warren

Comic legend and creator of the Elephantmen series Richard Starkings opens the show. We talk about the concept behind his new series “Ask for Mercy” –available exclusively on ComiXology Originals—a tale of Nazi demons and the group of supernatural warriors tasked with stopping them. We also talk the “graying” of the world of comics and how it's impacted the characters of this and other titles. We spend some time on our favorite characters, the notion of hope and it's reflected in certain titles.

Matt Warren is up next, and with 40 years in the industry he has a lot to share. We talk about the advent of house music, how one made a career back in the era of vinyl and cassettes, and his upcoming tour for his debut album, “Music is My Life.”

On this week's podcast, I feature the song “Star-Crossed,” by the band Excorde, made up of Jimena Arroyo, from Buenos Aires, Argentina, and Jonnie Cook, from Chicago. This is a great tune and I hope you enjoy it.

Citywide Blackout, Feb. 23, 2019: Christine Lajewski/Dust Prophet

Opening this week's podcast is horror author and haunt actress Christine Lajewski. We talk about the monster in her book, “Bonebelly” and her time working at haunted houses and how it's become a part of her book. We've even got a cool giveaway, so be sure to listen for the question.

After that, industrial metal artist Otto Kinzel is back on the show with https://dustprophet.com/ Some old friends have returned to lend their talents to this new foursome and the result is some amazing metal. They've got shows lined up, and Otto talks about getting noticed in this day and age and some other projects by his kids.

And I'm continuing to provide you with new tunes. After the first interview, Montreal, Canada-based artist Ghostly Beard has a new single out called “Papercut,” and after Otto's interview I play two Dust Prophet songs, “The Big Lie” and “Revolutionary Suicide.”

Boskone Preview, Part 2: Fonda Lee/Christopher Golden

In this episode of Citywide Blackout, we continue our pre-Boskone coverage. Boskone is an annual fantasy and science fiction book festival that I've attended for years and always have a blast at. It's happening this weekend, Feb. 15-17, and you can learn more at boskone.org.

First up, I talk to Portland, Oregon-based writer Fonda Lee about audiobooks and how to get the voices just write, her joy at writing fight scenes, and how to best prep for a convention like Boskone.

Next up, it's author Christopher Golden, known for his work not only with books, but also comics and television. He shares some behind-the-scenes info on what it means for a book to be optioned for film or television and talks about scenes that have been intense, even for him.

Plus, it's more new music! Michael Egleton, a Blues, Soul and Jazz artist from Akron, Ohio. He describes himself as a soulful sound with innovative techniques and style, and I can't argue with that. I'm playing “Behind These Walls” and “Situations” at both breaks.