35:05 minutes (32.12 MB) Stereo 44kHz 128Kbps (CBR)

Juliana Finch was raised in the South, in an Italian-American family, listening to Irish music. Her songwriting style reflects that bizarre cocktail. She has most recently been compared to Shawn Colvin, Mary Chapin Carpenter, and Natalie Merchant, which flatters her and never fails to make her want to keep it up. Juliana is a professional eavesdropper, a perpetual student, and an amateur chef. Some of her favorite things include scarves, breakfast, handmade stuff, pugs and the color red.

30:00 minutes (27.47 MB) Stereo 44kHz 128Kbps (CBR)

Even at the sideshow they're just trying to sell a lie
Look, you won't believe what you see 
But I know the truth buried way deep down inside 
The freaks are the same as you and me 
~ Wonder Wheel, Lisa Brigantino 

Spend a few minutes perusing Lisa Brigantino's website and links and you'll start to wonder if there is anything this talented musician can't do!  It starts to make sense when you realize she has been steeped in music making since the age of 5, when she started piano lessons.  Now able to play at least 14 instruments, Lisa has garnered a variety of songwriting and performing awards, has toured the world with an all women Led Zeppelin tribute band, shares a musical comedy act with her sister in New York, and still found time to write, record and produce her two solo albums, the newest one to be released June 7th.

30:00 minutes (27.47 MB) Stereo 44kHz 128Kbps (CBR)

If you're feeling useless baby,
all you gotta do is just focus
on the movement of the moon.

~ A Great Notion, Stephanie Nilles

Bored with playing other people's songs, classically trained pianist Stephanie Nilles turned to writing her own.  Tiring of New York City, she hit the road in 2008 and found her way into the indie/folk/coffee house circuit, booking herself about 20 shows a month and playing for tips on nights she didn't have an official show.

Stephanie's music has earned her comparisons to Ella Fitzgerald, Regina Spektor and Tom Waits.  Her subject matter "address issues ranging from drug busts in her neighborhood to the challenges and joys of life on the road."  She is a modern day troubadour, and these are songs that make you pay attention. 

30:00 minutes (27.47 MB) Stereo 44kHz 128Kbps (CBR)

I don't know what I want from you
I pretend that I do
I'm sure you see it in my eyes
I'm sure you feel it in my grip
I'm sure you hear it my voice
I'm sure you're hip
~ I'm Sure You're Hip, The Sweater Set

Friends as teens in a DC church choir, Maureen Andary and Sara Curtin reunited in 2008 when Maureen was selected as a finalist in the Mountain Stage NewSong Contest.  Maureen knew Sara was pretty much the only person she could think of who would be able to do the high harmonies in her songs.

In their short time as a band, the women have been wowing audiences with quirky-smart, self-aware songs, beautifully intertwined soprano voices, and a plethora of musical instruments including guitar, ukulele, flute, glockenspiel and kazoo, to name a few!

30:00 minutes (27.47 MB) Stereo 44kHz 128Kbps (CBR)

Mainframe is calling my name
I can't get out, I'm the one to blame
There's no way out once you're in the flame
We must get out before it's too late
~ Mainframe, Nefertiti & the nefTUNES

When Nefertiti wrote an email of introduction, she described her music as "Acoustic Gangsterism" and went on to explain that the style "is a mix of reggae, hip-hop, folk, rock, soul, and blues. The music comes out sounding like Kanye West and Jill Scott's love child had a love child with Lauryn Hill and Lil' Wayne's love child, all grown-up."  Needless to say, I was intrigued and had to find out more.

I can guarantee there hasn't been an artist like this on Lyrical Venus yet!  Tune in to meet this soulful, creative and independent spirit.

30:00 minutes (27.47 MB) Stereo 44kHz 128Kbps (CBR)

Rose petal moon
In the freckled indigo sky
My red, your white
Come bathe me in your light
Sing me to sleep tonight
~ Undertow, Coyote Grace

Coyote Grace is the Folk/Roots/Grass/Indie/Blues/Left/Love/Yes duo of Joe Stevens and Ingrid Elizabeth.  Energetic and engaging performers, the pair has the seasoned confidence that comes from years of touring, including one solid year back in 2007 on the road in an old RV named Harvey.

Fresh off a whirlwind tour with folk legends the Indigo Girls, Coyote Grace is headed East from their homebase in Northern California and will be arriving in Iowa mid-April for shows in Des Moines (4/17) and Fairfield (4/18).

30:00 minutes (27.47 MB) Stereo 44kHz 128Kbps (CBR)

We talked a long winding road
while I press my ear against the phone
to hear the changes in your face
as we spoke about songs
~ Honey, Jan Smith

Lyrical Venus welcomes back Jan Smith to talk about her upcoming album, as well as getting a sneak preview of some of the new tracks.  Her poetry is arresting, her assured guitar chugs and clickety-clacks like a steam engine, her voice lays bare the heart (hers and yours).  Tune in for this treat!

30:00 minutes (27.47 MB) Stereo 44kHz 128Kbps (CBR)

Loved my baby, ain't that enough?
Why'd you have to go and make a widow of
My Hallelujah
~ My Hallelujah, Sweet Talk Radio

Sweet Talk Radio is the husband and wife team of Kathrin Shorr and Tim Burlingame. With a sound that has been described as alt-folk or americana-pop, the seasoned musicians have that magic chemistry of two people who have each others backs, and are passionate about making music. As they seamlessly trade vocals, guitar riffs and even instruments, they always give their songs room to breathe. The metaphors and imagery in the lyrics paint characters and whole relationships with just a few well chosen words.

Sweet Talk Radio will be at Cafe Paradiso on Saturday March 20th at 8pm.  Previous Lyrical Venus guest Mary McAdams will open that show!

Read more about Sweet Talk Radio over at LyricalVenus.com

30:00 minutes (27.47 MB) Stereo 44kHz 128Kbps (CBR)

A faulty device is marking time
On every Everest that I climb
Leading me back 10 years ago
Leading the track back to hello
~ Opposite Man, True Margrit

San Francisco based piano-pop trio True Margrit is fronted by singer-songwriter and piano-player Margrit Eichler.  Backed by Gary Hobish on bass and Andrew Bacon on drums, Margrit delivers her intelligent, upbeat songs with just enough pop flavor to be head-boppingly catchy, and just enough indie quirk to keep your ears on their toes.  Their newest album, The Juggler's Progress, is the fifth release for the band that has been described as "Aimee Mann & Ben Folds meet the Decemberists for speed Scrabble."

30:00 minutes (27.47 MB) Stereo 44kHz 128Kbps (CBR)

There's something there that's always on my mind
It hurts me right down to the core
Something that I just can't redescribe
Always there, can't close the door
~ Between You and Me, Lexie Shine

L.A. based singer-songwriter Lexie Shine does just that.  With a delivery that is passionate and raw, her songs glow from inside out.  Whether they are flirty or funny, romantic or rockin' there is always a familiar thread for the listener to find their way to relating to Lexie's song, and a catchy hook that will have you humming long after you press stop.

30:00 minutes (27.47 MB) Stereo 44kHz 128Kbps (CBR)

This morning I woke up grey
Just like this cloudy day
Still haven't made up my mind
Whether to shine or to rain
~ Between The Earth & The Sky, Laura Meyer

Laura Meyer lists New York City as her base, but between moving often while growing up and her extensive touring, it seems that this independent artist is also an independent spirit, able to find beauty wherever she lands.  Her latest album, Miles From Nowhere, supports that idea, capturing slices of the traveling life from New Orleans to Colorado, Carolina and back to New York.  Painting word pictures with a shimmering, smokey voice, Laura supports her little road vignettes with deft finger-picking and crunchy blues riffs in turn, providing as much of a trip for your ears as your imagination.

30:00 minutes (27.47 MB) Stereo 44kHz 128Kbps (CBR)

Maybe now
you'll stop pushing me
pushing me around
Maybe now
you'll stop holding me
holding me down
~ Bulldozer, Bess Rogers

You'll find New York singer-songwriter and multi-intrumentalist Bess Rogers' name on a lot of projects these days.  Whether it's for touring, backup, podcasting, YouTube shorts or television performances, her talents are in high demand!  Bess' Travel Back EP takes the listener on a trip through a rich, varied aural landscape. In less than 20 minutes you can go from rip-roarin', foot-stompin', hand-clappin' rockers to stripped down, bittersweet, vocal showcasers and back again.  I have a feeling Bess' name is going to keep popping up a lot more for years to come, I don't see how anything could hold her down!

30:00 minutes (27.47 MB) Stereo 44kHz 128Kbps (CBR)

I'm coming home to you
Like a lighthouse in the dark
I reach for you whenever we're apart
~ Coming Home to You, Ellis

Minnesota-based singer-songwriter Ellis has been busy since her last visit to Fairfield, including working on a new album and showcasing at the Sundance Film Festival!  With her sweet voice, gigantic grin and heart-opening songs, I'm sure she made a whole bunch more new fans. 

26:45 minutes (24.5 MB) Stereo 44kHz 128Kbps (CBR)

As I walk above the pavement,
I can feel you walking with me carrying me
And I hear above the silence
all these voices screaming loudly at my ear
~ Shed Their Fear, Yael Meyer

A dancer and singer since childhood in her native Chile, Yael Meyer received a scholarship to Berklee College of Music at the age of 19.  It was there that she gained a deeper appreciation of the power of music and its ability to make a positive difference in the world.  Currently residing in L.A., Yael released her new Heartbeat EP just a couple months ago.  A beautiful blend of folk, pop and electronica, the delicate, delightful songs on Heartbeat will tickle your ears and put a smile on your heart. They are definitely making a positive difference in MY world! :)

33:25 minutes (30.6 MB) Stereo 44kHz 128Kbps (CBR)

I got my fingers crossed
And my hopes are high
So I'll try to stay calm
Try to stay dry
~ Fingers Crossed, Allison Weiss

Allison Weiss' music is said to sound like “Your saddest memories sung to the tune of your happiest”, and I think that is a pretty apt description. If you separated the lyrics from the music you’d probably get a very different feeling from each. Put together as they are though, the bittersweet, upbeat pop gems have you tapping your feet while feeling that little tug on your heart that happens when you remember something sad or the longing that comes with a crush.

30:00 minutes (27.47 MB) Stereo 44kHz 128Kbps (CBR)

I'm pretty sure that almost every time I've seen Jan Smith play live, she makes me cry. In a cathartic, "there is a crack in everything, that's how the light gets in" sort of way. She is just so real and raw that the notes creep in to my heart and force it open. The poetry reminds me to breathe deep. Her voice floats, soars, hovers, cracks, and tumbles over words in ways I don't always expect, but have me hanging on to every syllable.

30:00 minutes (27.47 MB) Stereo 44kHz 128Kbps (CBR)

I'm sliding, gliding, skating from here
From the clouds in my life to a goal that is clear
I'm on the edge of a dream with the wind in my hair
As I skate

~ Skating, Cheryl Branz

When I first saw Cheryl Branz on stage, she had a twinkle in her eye similar to the one many people attribute to the "Jolly Old Elf". That twinkle shines through her Christmas album, The Christmas Gift. Cheryl's crystalline voice shines equally bright on all the songs from silly to sweet to serious.  The album is like the best kind of gift - some parts familiar, some parts surprising, all parts delightful.

36:00 minutes (32.96 MB) Stereo 44kHz 128Kbps (CBR)

When I first met Emily Dunbar two years ago at Rocky Mountain Song School, I was immediately impressed with her insightful and quirky lyrics, her optimistic attitude and her generous heart. So I was overjoyed to find out a few months ago that she had finally made an album including those songs I first heard around the campfire and wanted to hear again! As it says in the album description, Catch It When You Can "... is slick enough for the big time, but homespun enough to imagine Dunbar strumming just for you from across the room."

35:38 minutes (32.62 MB) Stereo 44kHz 128Kbps (CBR)

I'll see you as you are this Christmas
I'll see you as you are right now
~ I'll See You As You Are, Anne Heaton

Earlier this year, Anne Heaton, Antje Duvekot, Meg Hutchinson & Natalia Zukerman joined forces to record an 8 song EP of both new and traditional holiday songs called Winterbloom: Traditions Rearranged. Each artist wrote one original and put their twist on a traditional, and the other three joined in on harmonies and instruments. The girls are now touring as a group this season in support of the album, kicking off at CSPS in Cedar Rapids.

30:00 minutes (27.47 MB) Stereo 44kHz 128Kbps (CBR)

Dusty Cleveland doesn't seem that long ago
to four boys in grade school running down that dusty road
to find the precious oriole.
~ Sue Krehbiel, Dusty Cleveland

Music has been of Colorado songwriter Sue Krehbiel's life for as long as she can remember, starting out harmonizing with her dad at neighborhood sing-alongs as a kid.  It has only been in the more recent times though that Sue has stepped forward to perform on her own, thanks to the coaxing and encouragement of her friends.  You wouldn't know it - from her assured presence and beautiful guitar work on stage and in her debut CD, Dusty Cleveland, Sue seems like a pro who has been performing for years.

30:00 minutes (27.47 MB) Stereo 44kHz 128Kbps (CBR)

In this interview we'll talk to New York rocker Dejha Colantuono about her first solo album, Tea and Vodka. No stranger to the music scene, Dejha has fronted a number of Seattle bands, including 3DS&M, the Pin-Ups, Rotten Apples, and Ragazza. Her solo album is informed by a variety of influences, but is all tied together with her amazing voice.

Click here to read more about Dejha on Lyrical Venus.

31:42 minutes (29.03 MB) Stereo 44kHz 128Kbps (CBR)

Well I guess I stole his heart
Cause when I got into his car
he asked me how do you feel?
And I said, I'm a theif not a liar
I'd rather just keep my mouth shut
~ Kait Berreckman, Theif

I can't remember if it was first on the open stage or around one of the song circles that Kait Berreckman first wowed me out at Rocky Mountain Song School in Colorado, but boy did she ever! I loved the way she told her stories through songs - simple little jewels that cut through with flashes of sharp insight into human nature.

A native of Nebraska, Kait is currently studying at Berklee College of Music in Boston, and playing at local venues like Club Passim where she recorded her newly released live EP called Without A Bullet.

30:00 minutes (27.47 MB) Stereo 44kHz 128Kbps (CBR)

 

Today we'll talk with Hallie Pritts, frontwoman of the indie-folk group Boca Chica from Pittsburgh. Their second full-length CD, Lace Up Your Workboots, finds the band expanding to add more lush layers of sound while maintaining that hip-yet-vintage flavor so unique to Boca Chica.

9:42 minutes (8.88 MB) Stereo 44kHz 128Kbps (CBR)

This weekend the Iowa Women's Music Festival will be celebrating their 16th year of bringing great line-ups of women musicians to the outdoor stage in Iowa City.

This year's performers on the Saturday day-stage are Michelle Shocked, Carolyn Wonderland with Shelley King, Cosy Sheridan, Tracy Walker, and Lynne Rothrock and Friends, with high-energy emcee Kim-Char Meredith.

This week on Lyrical Venus I'll play songs by a few of the performers and interview Laurie Haag, one of the festival organizers.

31:03 minutes (28.43 MB) Stereo 44kHz 128Kbps (CBR)

The cities and towns are in trouble
as the factories run out of luck
but the kids keep blowing bubbles
and the bubbles keep floating up
~ Bubbles, Mary McAdams

Des Moines based singer-songwriter Mary McAdams has been supporting
area musicians of all sorts for years, from teaching music to students
in the schools to hosting the Open Mic at Ritual Cafe, so it's great to
see her out there with her own brand new album! 

23:46 minutes (21.76 MB) Stereo 44kHz 128Kbps (CBR)

You've been playing a tired game
Spinning silver from your tongue
Baby you may have your wicked way
But who will have you when the day is done?
~ Nathalie Nahai, Sly Girl

London-born singer-songwriter Nathalie Nahai was classically trained on violin and self-taught on guitar. Blend that together with her French, Iranian, Scottish and Gibraltarian heritage and her fascination with tarot and out emerges a lovely collection of bluesy folk songs with occasional twinges of country. Her smooth voice flows over bittersweet lyrics like caramel into hot coffee for a delicious aural treat that perks up your ears!

28:27 minutes (26.06 MB) Stereo 44kHz 128Kbps (CBR)

 

 

Tune in to meet  Seeing Blind, the Indie Alt-Rock group from Seattle. Seeing Blind also incorporates classical instruments in their music in fresh and unexpected ways! Comparisons to Zappa, Tori Amos, Jeff Buckley, and Ani DiFranco have been made in an attempt to describe Seeing Blind's unique style of music.

30:33 minutes (27.97 MB) Stereo 44kHz 128Kbps (CBR)

In this interview, Jessie Murphy - In The Woods calls in from New York City. The trio combines indie pop with dark humor and classical sensibilities. They have been described as "Vampire Weekend meets Neko Case meets The Carter Family at a salon hosted jointly by Stevie Nicks and Emily Dickinson."

 

32:52 minutes (30.09 MB) Stereo 44kHz 128Kbps (CBR)

You claim I'm dramatic
I'm not made of plastic
I just am femtastic

~ Jennings, Femtastic

While throwing around names like Sarah McLachan, Imogen Heap, Tori Amos and Moby will help you figure out what general category to put Jennings into, she definitely has her own unique sound. Her piano-driven electronica-pop would definitely fit nicely into a music library with those other greats, but you wouldn't mistake her for any of them. Jennings' music is sweet, lush, powerful and full of great hooks, and intelligent and meaningful to boot! I love it!

46:17 minutes (42.37 MB) Stereo 44kHz 128Kbps (CBR)

Hello my eyes, I must apologize
For all my fears
Though I was blind, you saw so clear
~ Hello, The Evangenitals

One of Fairfield's favorite drummers, David Hurlin, has been living in LA and playing with the alt-country, love drunk, hillybilly rock, freak-folk revolution band known as The Evangenitals for some time now. Band leader and main songwriter Juli Crockett is a fountain of inspiration, energy and creativity with multiple degrees and titles - a BFA in Theater, an MFA in directing, and she's working on a PhD in Philosophy. She's an ordained minister of the ULC and a retired, undefeated professional boxer! What kind of music would come from such varied life experience? One of my favorite descriptions on the band website is: "The jukebox at the Mad Hatter’s tea party."

The band's current project is a musical called Dawn of Quixote: Chapter the First. Written and directed by Juli, the philosophical and musical exploration of the first chapter of Don Quixote features a live original score performed by The Evangenitals. They have been invited to perform at the prestigious Fringe Festival in Edinburgh, Scotland this August!