Songs & Stories

Jan 18 2025 266 ep. 28 mins 1

Songs & Stories Podcast artwork

Backstage Bay Area is an exclusive podcast that explores the local music scene in depth. It features intimate interviews with emerging and established artists in various genres, including jazz, blues, rock, pop, folk, classical, urban, and world music. The program also offers a unique glimpse into the artists' creative processes, inspirations, and upcoming projects.

Copy RSS

Subscribe on Podcast Addict

From Houston Roots to Global Stages: Kat Edmonson Keeps Movin’ Forward

Jan 18 2025 27 mins

Episode Summary:In this episode of Backstage Bay Area, host Steven Roby interviews award-winning singer-songwriter Kat Edmonson. Known for her enchanting blend of jazz, pop, and vintage charm, Kat shares the deeply personal stories behind her music, including her latest single, “Keep Movin’,” inspired by her late mother. From her Houston roots to standout performances at Carn

Lakecia Benjamin: The Jazz Trailblazer Redefining the Live Experience

Jan 17 2025 28 mins

Show Notes: In this captivating episode of Backstage Bay Area, host Steven Roby sits down with five-time Grammy nominee Lakecia Benjamin, a saxophonist, composer, and trailblazer redefining modern jazz. Lakecia shares insights into her latest album, Phoenix Reimagined (Live), a vibrant celebration of resilience featuring collaborations with legends like John Scofield and Randy Brec

Jamie Baum: Redefining Jazz with Poetry and Global Sounds

Jan 16 2025 45 mins

Show Notes: In this episode of Backstage Bay Area, Steven Roby sits down with the extraordinary flutist, composer, and educator Jamie Baum. Known for her trailblazing work blending jazz with classical, South Asian, and spoken-word influences, Jamie discusses her latest album, What Times Are These. She reflects on her inspirations, her creative process of setting modern poetry to mu

Sam Lucid of Dogs in a Pile Talks New Music, Touring Adventures, and Bay Area Vibes

Jan 12 2025 35 mins

Episode Overview:In this episode of Backstage Bay Area, host Steven Roby sits down with Sam Lucid, bassist, vocalist, and songwriter for the genre-defying band Dogs in a Pile. Based out of Asbury Park, New Jersey, the band has built a passionate fanbase with their eclectic blend of funk, jazz, rock, and psychedelia. Sam talks about the band’s creative process, upcoming album, and

Karen y Los Remedios: Redefining Cumbia with a Modern Twist

Jan 10 2025 28 mins

Show Notes:In this episode of Backstage Bay Area, host Steven Roby sits down with Karen Barajas of Karen y Los Remedios, the trailblazing trio redefining the boundaries of cumbia. Karen shares the group's origin story, from early collaborations with Jonathan Muriel (Jiony) and the addition of guitarist Guillermo Berbeyer (Z.A.M.P.A.) to their evolution into one of the most innovati

Inside the Sonic Apocalypse: Lana Del Rabies Takes Us Beyond the Noise

Jan 09 2025 38 mins

Show Notes:In this episode, we sat down with Sam An, the artist behind Lana Del Rabies, to explore the intersection of myth, music, and survival. Known for her genre-defying sound that blends industrial, gothic noise, and experimental metal, An discusses the creative process behind her critically acclaimed album STREGA BEATA, from the apocalyptic themes of “Apocalypse Fatigue”

Mads Tolling: Jazz Collaborations and Classics Reimagined

Jan 08 2025 27 mins

Show Notes In this episode of Backstage Bay Area, host Steven Roby chats with two-time Grammy-winning violinist and composer Mads Tolling to explore the art of collaboration and musical reinvention. Mads shares the stories behind his groundbreaking work with celebrated jazz pianist John R. Burr and acclaimed vocalist Kenny Washington, including their reinterpretations of classics l

Derek Gripper and Ballaké Sissoko: Strings in Perfect Harmony

Jan 07 2025 36 mins

Episode Overview:In this captivating episode of Backstage Bay Area, host Steven Roby sits down with South African guitarist and composer Derek Gripper to discuss his groundbreaking collaboration with Malian kora master Ballaké Sissoko. Known for his ability to translate the kora’s 21 strings onto a six-string guitar, Derek shares the stories behind their self-titled album, reco

Richard Bona: Exploring Roots, Freedom, and Global Sounds

Jan 06 2025 27 mins

Show Notes In this episode of Backstage Bay Area, host Steven Roby sits down with Grammy-winning bassist and global music ambassador Richard Bona. Known for his dynamic blend of jazz, Afropop, and the vibrant traditions of his Cameroonian heritage, Bona shares insights on his creative process, the challenges and triumphs of being an independent artist, and his latest projects. List

Nyte Skye: Dream-Pop Roots and Family Harmony

Jan 03 2025 26 mins

In this episode of Backstage Bay Area, we’re thrilled to feature Nyles Lannon, the visionary behind Nyte Skye, a band that blends atmospheric dream-pop with shimmering shoegaze textures. Formed during the pandemic, Nyte Skye is a family-driven project founded by Nyles and his son Skye. It showcases a beautiful collaboration of talent and creativity. Their debut album, Vanishing,