Alicia Witt and Lisa Burns Interviews on The Time Machine

Singer-songwriter Alicia Witt released a self titled EP that become one of our most played on the air for the year 2010 and it was wonderful to have her on as a guest to discuss her music.




Alicia shared with the radio audience what served as musical inspiration for her songs and included her take on covering Paul Simon's "You Can Call Me Al". The EP was produced by Matt Beckley and this radio program also includes two live performances from Alicia.




The Time Machine Crew appreciated the time that Alicia took to do the interview because her studio cohort Blue (previous musical guest on The Time Machine) was standing by in the studio just a few feet away to work on some more songs for Alicia's next musical project.






Rocker and singer-songwriter Lisa Burns was also on the same broadcast of The Time Machine. Lisa discussed the stories behind the music on her recent release "Channeling Mary".







Lisa also shared with the radio audience about her previous work including "Unadorned" from 2004, her debut single from 1978 and her musical influences including Mary Weiss and Jackie DeShannon.




Above Photograph: Sal Maida and Lisa Burns




Brand new music was also featured from Bleu, Nushu and Lannie Flowers. Other artists heard on this Maui afternoon FM broadcast include; The Smith Bros., The Shangri-Las, Milk 'N' Cookies, Bangles and Blondie.






Click here to listen or download the interview with Alicia Witt and Lisa Burns






Alicia Witt on MySpace Music

Alicia Witt on Facebook

Alicia Witt on Twitter

Official Website for Lisa Burns and Sal Maida

Lisa Burns on MySpace Music

Greg Laswell Covers Rachael Yamagata's "Worn Me Down" for The Voice Project

The Time Machine Crew were wondering for the last seven years who would tackle the artistic works of songsmith Rachael Yamagata. A strong singer-songwriter in his right, Greg Laswell, a friend of Rachael's did a wonderful performance of "Worn Me Down" for The Voice Project last September. Below is the video from the website and the words of introduction from The Voice Project:


Always that sense of excitement at the door, something new waiting just beyond. Greg buzzed us in and we met him halfway up the stairs to his sweet rooftop studio in Brooklyn. We were really excited to hear he was going to covering Rachael who was actually at Nikki and Oli's wedding when we first showed the video of the ladies in Gulu singing Suitcase to Joe Purdy. And to tie it all in even more, Oli actually played cello on the original album release of "Worn Me Down" from Rachael (Oli, we're coming for you too soon, you better have a song ready). Greg's soulful version seems to echo what he says right before, a quiet expression of admiration and love for the song and for his old friend.

Thanks to Greg, Nicole Martin and to Kristen Daly for shooting this one.





Official Website for The Voice Project

Official Website for Greg Laswell

Hanging With Mike Viola and Ducky Carlisle

Singer-songwriter Rachael Yamagata , frequent musical guest on The Time Machine, chimes in for the new year after her third album just got pressed this weekend with a release date soon to be announced.


Just back from Boston after swell fabulouso recording session with Mike Viola and Ducky Carlisle. Got a movie track done that I’m excited about, for all it’s hymnal non pop glory will have a place in this world after all. Will let you in on further details bout that as I get them. We caught a vibe like a surfer catches waves so we stayed a day later and did two covers just for fun. I’ve decided I was meant to hit my hey day in the 70s so am waiting patiently for time to reverse itself and welcome me in.

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Some words about the magic men. Viola is a bit of a musical genius with energy that can only be supplied by some other planet I’m longing to visit. He can play anything and when I say anything I mean all instruments, sing any melody and he’s damn fine behind a grill as well. We’ve written together many times and you will see some of our co works making their way out on the next record. He has a new mustache and therefore a new nickname (Luigi) and like a select few has become a mentor that supplies me with wisdom and guts as well as music.

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Ducky. The other magic man. He turns the knobs and dials it in and switches the levels and presto I become a real voice. I don’t know how he does what he does, but there are some that just get me and my tone and my need to have some bourbon. He is one of the few that creates the right setting and says just enough, but not too much that allows me to sing the one takes and be in the moment and even love it after 20 listens and much habitual self deprecation. His studio is filled with creativity in every inch (lots of ducks of course), paintings, records, books, gear, trinkets etc and when I go to sleep in my flannel duck sheets I know that the next morning the coffee will be perfect, the dogs zen filled and imagination set loose for another great day.

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I could go on and on about Paul (the string arranger guru that makes it all better), the fab quartet, the kick ass flautist Tim that blew our minds AGAIN and Penny who just makes everything better…

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It’s been sooooo long since I’ve written and there is so much I want to say. Why this morning I have no idea.. I have the flu AGAIN and can’t sleep AGAIN and was thinking back to a time where there were no barriers to my brain and what I let out there for anyone interested to read. It’s always this balance of how much you want to tell and stay positive and not jinx etc., but at the end of the day as artist to friend how will you hear anything if I stay in my own brain forever? (whaaa is she talking bout – I have no idea…)

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So hey – happy new year and merry late holidays. Enjoy the next two years because 2012 is the end. (watched Nostradamous special for 3 hours and those birds!??). Did I look up survival guides 2012 on amazon.com ok so maybe I did so what. The reviews of those books are hilarious.. Someone actually marveled that a book was so negative. I’m not sure how you put a positive spin on the end of the world, but in fact there was one book saying how to make it fun as well.

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‘Career wise’, since this is a catch up blog of sorts – has been a continual ride. Had amazing session with another of the greats - Joe Chiccarelli – over the summer and a cast of insane musicians that truly turned songs I was scratching my head about into fab works. He forced me to become a better singer and did some serious ass kicking that led to me dedicating myself to actually learn how to play the piano and take better care of my voice. These are very good things. He is a sensitive zen master that is just a true joy and boy if this blog isn’t becoming a love letter to the men in this little girl’s life (reference to oldie song – you get it? You get it?).

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Perry I miss you. If ever there was a guide to give me renewed confidence in what makes me love the diamond in the rough songs and remember who I am and how to get there….

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Alrighty, it’s late and I’ve gone on and on. The basics are – I’m still writing, I’m recording. I am doing everything I can to get you new songs through the web of label shifting and 2012 preparations (wink). There are silver linings – enter Kate. I have a show later this month in South Korea ( I could start in on the irony there, but that would take up too much space) and am setting up a residency for wood lovers to regain some chops and flesh out some songs before a proper tour. I am positively positive in my way. I’ve died my hair red, but it didn’t work and am still a cat lady (5 currently – 2 are visitors). I miss the road. I miss all of you.

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I will write again.

Xoxo

r



Posted by Rachael Yamagata



Rachael's music has had a home on our playlists and in our hearts since her debut release. While waiting for her third album release this year, be sure to pick up a copy of her first album, "Happenstance" and her sophomore double album release, "Elephants...Teeth Sinking Into Heart". Rachael currently topped our airplay chart for 2010 with her song with Semisonic's Dan Wilson, "You Take My Troubles Away" and closed out the year with her yuletide song, "Baby Come Find Me At Christmas". You can get a sampling of what she's been up to lately at her website www.rachaelyamagata.com

Although Rachael has done a number of guest slots on The Time Machine, you can also check out two of her extremely detailed interviews on The Time Machine's archived broadcasts below. You can download them as podcasts or listen to them from the embedded players on the webpage itself.


Rachael Yamagata Interview


Rachael Yamagata Interview from 2008

Samantha Hale and Amanda Taulere Interviews on The Time Machine

Director Samantha Hale was a guest on The Time Machine to discuss her film "Map The Music". In addition to being a filmmaker; Samantha is a comedic alumna of Second City, granddaughter of The Skipper on Gilligan's Island and therefore genetically diseased to be an actor, and fervent music lover.




Samantha refers to herself as an accidental filmmaker. The documentary was triggered by the death of her father. It was her love and loss for her Dad along with her love of music that took on her journey around the country to try to explain the power that music has over people. She did this by following some of her favorite artists from concert to concert around the country and through interviews with legions of devoted fans and the incredible artists who inspire them, she tries to uncover the mystery behind the music while struggling with her loss. Artists include many of the core artists that are heard daily on The Time Machine; Imogen Heap, Kate Havnevik, Schuyler Fisk, Zoe Keating, Rachael Yamagata, Cary Brothers, Charlotte Martin and Jim Bianco. The film also features unreleased concert performances and behind the scenes footage with some of the most unique musicians in independent music.




Above Photo: Director Samantha Hale and singer-songwriter Imogen Heap

Below Photo: Singer-songwriter Tori Amos and director Samantha Hale








Producer and director Amanda Taulere was also a guest on the broadcast. She discussed The Comedy Hui which is Maui's wacky character based comedy group.




On the set of NBC's sitcom "News Radio", Phil Hartman urged Amanda in the direction of improvisation and she trained at the prestigious Groundlings Theatre in Los Angeles, where she has brought and trained their fantastic improvisational technique to Maui. The Groundlings technique consists of “pure” improvisation.





The cast of The Comedy Hui uses no props, sets or costumes in the show and relies completely on the power of pure imagination and suggestions from the audience much like the television show “Whose Line Is It Anyway?”. The performance has the cast co-creating 90 minutes of excitement with the audience that keeps you on the edge of your seat and wondering, “How the heck to do they do that?!”. The Comedy Hui's current talented cast include; Rachel Deboer, Chino LaForge, Karen Stavash, Alexis Ziegler, John Ziegler and Justin Michael Banek along with musical director Francois Kie accompanied by John McMullen on drums.





Above photos by Jack Grace Photography and Desiree Maher of Infinity Art Photography


Below Photo: The Time Machine's radio host Michael McCartney on stage at Amanda Taulere's production of The Comedy Hui with Alexis Ziegler, Rachel Doboer and Karen Stavash.









Musical artists featured on this Maui afternoon FM radio aircheck include Tori Amos, Imogen Heap, Schuyler Fisk, Rachael Yamagata, Huey Lewis & The News, The Smith Bros., The Beatles, Salt-n-Pepa with En Vogue, Adam Ant and Katie Armiger with her song "Best Song Ever".




Click here to listen or download the interviews with Samantha Hale and Amanda Taulere













Official Website for Samantha Hale's Documentary "Map The Music"

"Map The Music" can be purchased at InSound.com

Samantha Hale on Facebook




Official Website for The Comedy Hui

The Comedy Hui on Facebook

The Comedy Hui's Flash Mob Stunts