Midweek blues got you down? Not here at "Halfway through the Week" with yours truly, Deb Lamata, where we turn that hump day slump into a launchpad for weekend dreams and creative streams. This episode is packed with the kind of stories that'll have you sharing your luckiest moments—including that time I actually won the lottery—and we get up close with indie sensations like Ash Fault Jungle's C Stevans, unraveling the fabric of their musical quests. It's all about the music, the mayhem, and making it through the week with a bit of help from our indie friends.
Life in the indie lane isn't just about the beats; it's the heart, the hustle, and the hunger for that breakthrough moment. We explore the ins and outs of being a musician swimming against the tide of today's release flood, finding those personal victories, whether it's finally penning a killer artist bio or getting that coveted radio airplay. Gratitude is our attitude as we celebrate the symbiotic relationship between artists and radio hosts—the unsung heroes amplifying the voices of the indie world.
Wrap up your evening with the soulful sounds of the indie community as we spotlight the dedication of radio show host pMad Paul Dillon and tease the emotional depth of tunes like "Red Rocket" by Bone. It's all about supporting one another, so don't forget to show some love for Ash Fault Jungle's latest labor of love. And remember, come next Sunday, we'll be right back at it with fresh interviews and those beats that bind us, ensuring your week is anything but ordinary.
https://linktr.ee/deblamotta
Midweek blues got you down? Not here at "Halfway through the Week" with yours truly, Deb Lamata, where we turn that hump day slump into a launchpad for weekend dreams and creative streams. This episode is packed with the kind of stories that'll have you sharing your luckiest moments—including that time I actually won the lottery—and we get up close with indie sensations like Ash Fault Jungle's C Stevans, unraveling the fabric of their musical quests. It's all about the music, the mayhem, and making it through the week with a bit of help from our indie friends.
Life in the indie lane isn't just about the beats; it's the heart, the hustle, and the hunger for that breakthrough moment. We explore the ins and outs of being a musician swimming against the tide of today's release flood, finding those personal victories, whether it's finally penning a killer artist bio or getting that coveted radio airplay. Gratitude is our attitude as we celebrate the symbiotic relationship between artists and radio hosts—the unsung heroes amplifying the voices of the indie world.
Wrap up your evening with the soulful sounds of the indie community as we spotlight the dedication of radio show host pMad Paul Dillon and tease the emotional depth of tunes like "Red Rocket" by Bone. It's all about supporting one another, so don't forget to show some love for Ash Fault Jungle's latest labor of love. And remember, come next Sunday, we'll be right back at it with fresh interviews and those beats that bind us, ensuring your week is anything but ordinary.
https://linktr.ee/deblamotta
When can we get boss lady out of the attic? It's usually halfway through the week. So here she is, your host, your host of halfway through the week. Dad Lamata, okay, you can applaud now.
Speaker 2:And I am Deb Lamata, and this is Halfway through the Week. It is February 13th, wednesday. It's 59 degrees. It was a beautiful sunny day here and I can't tell you that I am so happy that it is halfway through the week. It's been a week for me, but I made it. I'm here. I'm going to make it to the weekend. Oh, so I've got a great show tonight. I am so excited with the great music I have and my special guest, c Stevens of Ash Fault Jungle. I can't believe that we're here for the. It's the night.
Speaker 2:I've been talking about this for weeks and I can't wait to talk to C Stevens and share everything that he has to share with you. There's lots going on, so stay tuned for that. What else do I have going on? I've got some great interviews coming up for the R2RB Indie Artist Spotlight podcast and I have some great women entrepreneurs also coming up on the studio to record. So it's busy. I'm busy.
Speaker 2:I love what I do. I do what I love. I have a daytime job. Trying to get rid of it. I need to hit the lotto. Oh my gosh, did anybody hit the big one? I should check that out. It wasn't me, because you got to buy the ticket in order to win. I haven't bought the ticket, so there's that. Hey, has anybody hit on any of the scratch offs or any of the other lottoes? I did once. I did many, many, many years ago. I hit for $10,000, which, of course, once the taxes are taken out of that, it dwindles very quickly. But it was fun. It was fun listening to the numbers and getting down to that last one thinking, oh my God, I could possibly win. And sure enough, that was kind of fun. So, yeah, have you won? Let me know. You can text me tonight at 302-272-5389.
Speaker 2:What's going on at R2RB? Well, I have been talking about our new members, that family members that have joined us the Night Away with DJ Nordic, who is on Saturdays, mondays and Thursdays. So check him out. You can find him on the schedule at the R2RBcom website under the schedules. We have some others joining us this month as well. And, of course, we have our resident DJs and podcasters. We have DJ Ron Kay, dj Sister Love, dj Coco Motion. We have Ginger and Nuts show from across the pond. We have the best of Irish indie with P Matt Paul Dylan. We have Friends vs Friends. We love basketball. Check these guys out. It's a great show that they have. They record they do live on Friday and then we get to share it all weekend with everybody. So check that out.
Speaker 2:We've got some other things going on and, of course, I'm enjoying doing these interviews with these awesome indie artists. I was speaking to Alicia from Alicia Maxwell Project Band and I said it's amazing that I started following one group and here I am, almost a year later and I have talked to some awesome indie artists. I've gotten to interview them, get to go listen to them live and I get to share it all with you. So that's you know, life is good. Like I said, I just need to get rid of this day job. So if anybody has any suggestions, or you've got that winning do you have that winning combo number for the lottery? Share it with us. Come on, share it. What else? Let me get all the things out of the way so we can get on to some good music.
Speaker 2:Our two second chance ranch second chance ranch and Felton as you always hear me say, I do volunteer at second chance ranch. It's a horse rescue. Kara and Christian Sabo own the rescue. They are, my goodness gracious. They have such energy and do such an awesome job. We are fundraising for our next project, which will be six runs, so that we can bring in some more rescues, and, of course, with that there's always a budget that needs to be covered, and for this project we are looking for $3,000.
Speaker 2:So if you have a chance, if you go to 2crdeorg, you can donate there, or you can find the fundraiser at second chance ranch on Facebook and I will be posting it on the R2RV Facebook page as well. So I don't ask for much, but if you have a chance, either there or my birthday fundraiser, which will be coming up. So there's that people, there is that and it's a big one. So help me celebrate my 65th birthday next month with. If you have a chance to donate to second chance ranch, I'd appreciate it. All right, let me get some music on. Enough of the talk and we got some good stuff going on. All right, don't go anywhere because Ashfall Jungle is coming up at about 8.30. You do not want to miss that. I'll be back.
Speaker 3:That you see I feel regular. And then I'm on this side of John now, never gonna give up on myself. Gotta get yourself to work every day. Now I wonder if it's gonna be enough to put some food on my table. Guessing my truckin' Now I'm still broke down at EM. Now I'm still broke down at EM. Now I'm still broke down at EM, slippin' down this road way too many times. Now I'm starting to feel regular. And then I'm on this side of John now, never gonna give up on myself. Gotta get yourself to work every day now. I wonder if it's gonna be enough to put some food on my table. Guessing my truckin' Now I'm still broke down at EM Now I'm still broke down at EM.
Speaker 2:Now I'm still broke down at EM Now. I'm still broke down at EM. Now I'm still broke down at EM. Now I'm on the R2RB Broadcasting page for a GoFundMe for his mom. If you could go find that link, I'll do some more posting and some more information later on this evening or tomorrow. But you guys and I've said this so many times that the indie artist community Is so supportive of each other and so there is somebody who needs a little help could Find me, find R2RB on the Facebook page. You all, all of you that follow me, if you could go and do something for Sintel.
Speaker 2:He has taken a break from social media. When he's on, he's a gospel singer, songwriter, awesome guy, just a genuine nice guy, and always has an encouraging word. Before he took his break, you could always find encouraging words every day from him. I've told him this before as well that there was a couple of days that, as we all do, I was having not such a great day and he had posted something and it was like it kind of turned it around for me. Go help a fellow indie artist. As I said, it's on the R2RB broadcasting Facebook page that I just shared with the GoFundMe. I'll share more on the Facebook page later on this evening, if I can stay awake, or tomorrow. And again, sintel, please go find him, or at least go find R2RB and the GoFundMe link. All right, I will be back.
Speaker 3:This is the story of me Day by day. And I'm a gay a violent lay down in hell, day by day. And I'm a gay a violent lay down in hell. And I'm a gay a violent lay down in hell. And I'm a gay a violent lay down in hell. This is the story of me, day by day. And I'm a gay, a violent lay down in hell, round and round without a light. Light can't get down. Day by day, I read the mail mail Day by day. This is the story of me Day by day.
Speaker 1:And I'm a gay, a violent lay down in hell. This is Steve from the word 66 and we are happy to be here on Real to Real Broadcasting, playing the best music from the best artists all around the world.
Speaker 5:I hide in deep within the trees. I want it to stay behind the scenes. Life's on repeat. Yeah, just wait before us I'll take the day I will to ride a different carousel.
Speaker 5:I realize that this guitar has not gotten me very far, but it helps me say what must be said.
Speaker 5:I can't explain just how I feel and I don't understand what I think is real. I got a song that must be sung instead. Listening to the waterfall whispering, because I know I'm so damn small when the sky is yellow and the sun is brilliant and blue, I'll hope in out my heart and then I'll talk to you. I realize that this guitar has not gotten me very far, but it helps me say what must be said. I can't explain just how I feel and I don't understand what I think is real. I got a song that must be sung. Instead I got a song that must be sung instead. I got a song that must be sung instead. I realize that this guitar has not gotten me very far, but it helps me say what must be said. I can't explain just how I feel and I don't understand what I think is real. I got a song that must be sung. Instead I got a song that must be sung instead. I realize that this guitar has not gotten me very far, but it helps me say what must be said.
Speaker 2:Check out our new look. Come, stay awhile. Leave a comment at info at r2rbcom.
Speaker 2:Alright, let me just backtrack here with who I played tonight. Opening was Kili Collette, whether, if you have a chance, go find him on Facebook, instagram At Kili Collette, like him, comment, share him. Yeah, I'm working with him to get him on the show as well. You know, all our lives can go a little left at times, right, but we're getting there. We'll get him on. I'm looking forward to that. Before that or after that, factory of Art Story of Pain out of Germany. I hope you like that one. And then, of course, michael Botte, bam. Michael Botte with his musicians Anthem. I got a song which just released on March 1st. So go find Michael Botte, bam and Factory of Art and Kili Collette. So far, great music tonight, as always, and please, if you have music you'd like to send to me, you can email at mp3andbiotuinfo at r2rbcom, and that's how I get a lot of these great artists on the show it's by you sending me your music. So continue, please. Alright, we'll continue on. I.
Speaker 3:I've got a message. I got something to get up my chest Eating away in me. Only I can kill the pain. I've got more than sailing my ships. I got Jack sitting by my side To address this. Indibriation is sticking to open up. Making me I've got a new my making me play I am. A million other things to nag about. This is the end of the line for you and me. Oh, oh Me. Is this how we say goodbye? Oh oh, oh, oh. Making me, making me, I'm here, you know there things to nag about. This is the end of the line for you and me. It's the end of our time. Now our drink to is my mind. I.
Speaker 4:Hey, this is C Stevens of asphalt jungle and you're listening to halfway through the week with your host, deb la mata.
Speaker 2:That's right, and it is halfway through the week that last song. End of the line, worm rose. They're out of sweden and, oh my gosh, I really like, like that one. Let me tell you I'm actually really, really enjoying tonight's music that I picked out for you all, so I hope you're enjoying it as much as I am. All right, I am gonna spin one more, and while this song is spinning, I'm gonna get. Yes, it is time we are there. We are going to be talking to asphalt jungle. See Stevens, I couldn't be more excited I am. We've been talking about this interview for Quite a few weeks, or? I'm so excited that I've been able to play his song that's going to be released Friday. Finally, america, we're gonna talk about that, I know. When we're done with the interview, we I will be spinning his new single. So everybody, don't go anywhere, get something to drink and get comfy, because see Stevens of asphalt jungle Is gonna be on the line. I'll be back.
Speaker 5:I just want to go home.
Speaker 3:I Just want to go home. The timing was right once we started to fight, but I just want to go home With people.
Speaker 5:I can't stand in a no man's land. I just want to go home.
Speaker 3:Hello, I must be going. As my anger's overflowing, I'll take your time to breathe, but I've got to leave. I'm afraid I must be going. Thank you, commence is a crime. I must be losing my mind. I just want to go home. When the kid with the gun says you want me to run, I hope that I make it home. Hello, I must be going. This violence is ongoing. I'm afraid I must be going.
Speaker 2:And I'm debilimana, and this is halfway through the week and I am, as I said before, so excited to have see Stevens of asphalt jungle. Let me just read to you real quick a new wave of american hair metal. Asphalt jungle is a modern hard rock, non-touring studio band founded by see Stevens. Asphalt jungle has been coined as the new wave of american hair Metal. See Stevens, welcome to halfway through the week. How the heck are you?
Speaker 4:I'm doing great. You played my boy at the top of the hour and get old chili colette.
Speaker 2:Oh my gosh, yeah, I we've. We've been working, um, he's got some things that you know, as we all, as I said earlier about going left, and so he's just trying to get through it all. And I said, hey, dude, you know, just take your time and um helping him Put a bio together and get him on the show. So thank you for right for sending him my way.
Speaker 4:So we uh oh, definitely I love that song, wretched, I do oh my god. Yeah.
Speaker 3:Yeah.
Speaker 4:I love his raspy voice. I wish I had it.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah, but you have such a, you have such a unique voice, nevermind what are you talking about?
Speaker 4:I got a unique and flat.
Speaker 2:Oh god, I don't think so. Oh my gosh, oh man.
Speaker 4:Have you ever met a singer who likes their voice there?
Speaker 3:Oh my god.
Speaker 2:Oh my gosh. So you and I, you know, talk for the first time last year with. I put out on facebook, you know who wants to talk about you know, indie artist, and you and Michael bauté said I will, I will, and so that's how we first connect it and we've been keeping in contact since then and, um, so we, we have that. So, uh, you know again, I'm glad you're back here and your new release, america Uh, oh my god, I have been playing that on the shows. Thank you so much for letting me share america with everybody before it's released.
Speaker 4:Well, thank you, I and I got to say something about that and I mean you and Bunch the others you know have been sharing it and um, I got to say, uh, every time that any of you guys, especially you, do a show and you play that song, I see a spike in youtube, I see a spike on my website. I see a spike in, uh, spotify, that's awesome and and amazon yeah so. Like I.
Speaker 1:I think you saw the post that I did the other day on facebook.
Speaker 4:Uh, and I'm telling everybody out there, listen, that's an indiar. Is this the way to do it, guys? Because, uh, this works. This gets out to the you know, everyday listener. You know, uh, you know, it's always been word of mouth. Uh, you can think back to the 80s. We used to do the thing called trading tapes. Remember that?
Speaker 4:I mean, that's how metallica got signed for crying out loud trading tapes you know, yeah, so it's always been word of mouth, it always has been, and and you guys With this platform Do that for us you get us out there to the everyday Uh music listener, who is not going to be able to find us on facebook. They won't be able to find us on spotify, because there's there, like michael said last week in his interview, there's tens and thousands of us releasing songs every day right.
Speaker 4:You know, so how are you going to find all this new music?
Speaker 2:You get it by word of mouth right and you get it by you guys putting it out there, like I said, to the everyday listener, and it works well, that works tremendously and that, and I think I was, you know, and when I first started doing this, you know it wasn't really I hate to say it really wasn't for the indie artist and because I kind of turned this show into highlighting um indie artists from Delaware and everywhere and across the pond, that's how this show has come about. Um, and I had said how can we help the indie artist? And that's exactly it being able to play your song and whomever songs that we can possibly Put out there, because it it's a tough industry.
Speaker 4:It is, it really is. It's easy. It's easier now to get music out there. It's right you know, but um, it's still hard because there's so many of us doing it and it's so Um being so easy to do it now right the flood dates are open, right, you know.
Speaker 4:So, uh, because you know, back in the day and and Showing both of our agents here, you know you, you know you put your band together, you practice, you write your songs, you go out there and you play these clubs, and you didn't have the chance to go into the studio. It would cost you a couple thousand dollars, Something in the studio.
Speaker 4:It was crazy, you know so, so with the new, you know, with the stuff that's on the computers now, yeah, now we get to do this, we, we, we get to, you know, hone our craft and and we can go into the studio anytime we want to now. Right you know, so that part is easier, but getting it, getting it heard is still the hard part.
Speaker 2:Exactly.
Speaker 4:That's why I love what you guys do. You guys are the the the queens and the kings of the music industry for us, because without you guys, you know, we don't have a platform to put it on.
Speaker 2:We just don't and I'm so happy to do and I get to talk to you and so so many great artists out there, um, and anything that we can do to help I I know I'm I'm not just talking for myself. Well, you know, if we're doing this, if, if it's somebody like me doing a show, radio online or otherwise, we're doing it because we we love doing. I didn't know I was going to love doing this, but I do.
Speaker 4:Right, no, and I mean we are, we are so grateful for, we really are, I mean and, and, and. The cool thing is is, at the same time that we're doing this, engaging with all you guys that do all these shows, we get to find new music ourselves, because we're still music lovers too.
Speaker 2:Absolutely. Yeah, I know I'll say this again because centel, who I just mentioned earlier, had the uh, me too. So he's, he's, really, and his mom is a sweetheart, um, so. So he had put a post. I said this last week about, you know, um, about genres, and he can't just listen to one because you don't know what you're going to miss in all the other genres. And I have such an eclectic taste in music that he's right, I wouldn't. I'm, thankfully. I love listening to everything that's everybody sends me and then just listening to whatever might come across Spotify, because I've listened to one song and they send you know, you, whatever else comes up with it, um, so, yeah, I wouldn't. I don't think I would have, you know, entertained heavy metal here, metal, um, um, and everything else in between, if I didn't just give it a little listen.
Speaker 4:Yeah, and it's funny because when people talk about that I think back to an interview that was done with Joe Elliott from Deaf Leopard, and it's actually the documentary about them recording hysteria and he says then he goes the coolest thing is that for a little bit of time we were the biggest band on earth but at the same time, people that normally wouldn't listen to us we're listening to us because they would have a Michael Jackson CD and right next to it was hysteria in their collection and that is so cool and it's so true.
Speaker 4:Yeah, and actually my CD collection kind of looks like that. I mean, everybody knows that I'm a huge air band guy and all that stuff, but I've got all of Steve Winwood stuff, I've got all this other stuff that I listen to and I pull from it. That is amazing. But that has to do with my upbringing and with my parents' course.
Speaker 2:Right, yeah, so anything that we can do to help, we're always happy to do it. I'm definitely happy to do it, and I think I mentioned to you, besides the shows now, then we're creating the playlist for the R2RB website, so that'll also get some playtime for everybody that has sent me music. There'll be a Delaware Indie playlist and then there'll be everybody else's playlist, so that's filling up fairly quickly. So, all right, we got to talk about you, we got to talk about America, we got to talk about all that. It's like come on, can you believe that March 15th is like two days away? Come on, tell us about America.
Speaker 4:I did not expect the response. I didn't. I really didn't. I didn't expect this. I decided myself.
Speaker 2:Yeah, oh, my God.
Speaker 4:So it took two years to do that song.
Speaker 2:Did it. Well, let me ask you this why did you choose America? Was there a reason? I always like to know if there's a reason behind something.
Speaker 4:Well, I don't want to get ahead of myself, but age four. There's two guys that I idolized, jumping up and down the bed with a tennis racket as a microphone or a guitar, and that was Tom Jones and Neil Diamond. Here you go. My mom Neil Diamond's her guy. I can remember riding around in a 75 gram free with the eight track playing of Hot August Night.
Speaker 3:Oh, my God.
Speaker 4:Yeah, so Neil Diamond's huge in my thing. I remember when I first heard America, my dad went out and got the Neil Diamond jazz singer soundtrack and I remember hearing that song and I'm like what 10, 11, 12 years old and I just those thundering drums and I was like whoa. Back then I had the vision of doing this song as a hard rock song. That's crazy, that's crazy.
Speaker 2:Yeah, it took me 30 years to get there. The best things take time yeah.
Speaker 4:It was just the rolling drums, the violins and all that stuff. It was just one of those songs that stuck with me for so many years. I said I got to do this song, but I got to do it my way, you know. And I mean there were two songs. It was that one and it's a Genesis song. It's kind of a confusion.
Speaker 5:Oh, wow, and I was really mad.
Speaker 3:I was really mad when this herb did it because that's the way I wanted to do it. I was like damn.
Speaker 4:But no, so I got to do. I still got to do America.
Speaker 2:Oh my God, yeah, so I have been spending that for the last what two weeks now? Five weeks, is it? Where does time go? Oh my God, I have to be. So. You know, I always, I always listen, listen to the songs that people send me. And I'm listening to the beginning of that. I mean, I knew what it was and I'm like I never know which way Ashwalt Jungle is going to go with a song. And you didn't disappoint, and so I listened to it first and just let it go, and then I always go back and listen to it a second time so I can really listen to it. And you just like nailed it, like yes, thanks.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and so two years in the making.
Speaker 4:Two years because, well, I kind of had it musically down in a way, you know, had bits of it done and I kept doing, trying these vocal tracks, and I didn't like it, I didn't like what I was doing, and because I refuse to use any vocal enhancing software. If it's flat, it's flat. If I'm off key, I'm off key. I don't care, because I go for that. Live setting is what I go for when.
Speaker 4:I record these songs. So I wasn't happy. I was not happy with it. And then, finally, just one day, I was like I was in this studio messing around, just playing around with some some other things that I was working on, and I heard my voice come back to me and I was like, well, that sounds kind of cool doing it that way, and I thought, ok, oh wait, let's load America up. And I loaded it up and then I just started belting it out.
Speaker 4:And what it was, was I was trying to sound like not sound like Neil Diamond, but I was trying to be like Neil Diamond. I was trying to do his vocal phrasing and that's what was working. I had this thing like me. And that's what I ended up doing.
Speaker 2:I say it like me.
Speaker 4:Oh, my God so yeah, and the funny thing is is the song structure is not anything like the original. It's the very first time I've ever done a cover song where I it's not a cover song. This is a remake, you know, because it's not in the same key. Yeah, I have taken. I took a lot of the structure of it out of what it does and I rearranged it and flipped it upside down how the chord progression goes, just like that. You know so. And then, of course, in the middle section there with the twin guitars, that's the. You know that in the Neil Diamond version that's going throughout it with the violins.
Speaker 2:Right you know yeah. Fantastic, oh my God. And so yeah, so March is here, march 15th is here, oh my.
Speaker 4:God yeah, two more days. I'm excited.
Speaker 2:I'm excited for I am too, even though I've been playing it this whole time but it'll be official. That is, that's what I like. It will be official. Well, congratulations, because that is just so cool. I love Thanks. So I think, being a part of the releases Michael, of course, as you know, was here for his new release, and with you and I have some others as well. It's fun. I love doing this with a new release and the excitement, and that's what it is all about for you guys.
Speaker 4:Yeah, it is, you know, it's your baby you know, and you put it out there and then, when you do get some response back from it, it just you know, it just gives you chills.
Speaker 3:It really does.
Speaker 4:It's great. Yeah, I can remember when playing live, you know, because I've been in a lot of bands, but I didn't. The beginning years, you know, the first like 10 years was all cover bands. From then on, I, you know, I would refuse to be in a cover band. It was always originals. So the cool thing about that was hearing people sing your song back to you. Yeah, that is one of the most amazing things in the world and that is the biggest pie ever. It really is.
Speaker 2:That's crazy. But yeah, I can imagine, because it's always good when you know I'm in an audience and I know the songs are the word Absolutely, so I know how that feels on my side.
Speaker 4:You're right, it's just yeah, I can't explain it.
Speaker 2:It's just that you're for it. Oh my God, do you have musicians in your family?
Speaker 4:Yeah, my father. He's a really great guitar player too.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 4:You know I was raised around music. There was music playing everywhere, whether it was in the house, in the car, whatever you know. And it was A-tracks. You know in the beginning it was. You know it would be Deep Purple Paul.
Speaker 3:Revere and the Raiders Jan and Dean the Beach Boys.
Speaker 4:You know the Beatles, things like that. So you know, it was always there.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and I had my A-tracks too and my vinyl collection. And, man, I don't have my vinyl collection anymore. I gave it to my ex son-in-law and it's like, oh, can I have that back please? Right.
Speaker 3:Right.
Speaker 2:In the divorce. I need those vinyl records back.
Speaker 4:I think you guys did talk about this last week, didn't you? You and Michael? How opening up the albums back then and sitting there reading everything that was in there. That was like an adventure you know, in itself. Oh, my God you know what music listeners today, the young kids today, they, they miss out on that. They don't understand what that was like.
Speaker 2:No, you know, you know and you would stand in the record shop forever Right, I spent all you know.
Speaker 4:I was raised in Canada and I spent all my time at Sam's.
Speaker 2:There you go.
Speaker 4:Exactly, yeah, yeah, all my time I spent at Sam's records, all my time.
Speaker 2:Yeah, it's absolutely insane. Oh my gosh, who's your biggest fan?
Speaker 4:My mother.
Speaker 2:Aw.
Speaker 4:Yep, she's my awesome like biggest critic. She'll come back and go. You're really flat during this section. You need to redo that. Wow, there you go, you know. You know those mom managers can be tough, you know.
Speaker 2:The funny thing is is you know my dad was in, like I said, the farm here in the Raiders, the Beatles, you know, a full-sheep.
Speaker 4:You know he's a big fan of the Beatles. He's a big fan of the Beatles.
Speaker 2:He's a big fan of the Beatles. He's a big fan of the Beatles.
Speaker 4:He's a big fan of the Beatles. He's a big fan of the Beatles. The funny thing is is, you know, my dad was in, like I said, the farm here in the Raiders, the Beatles, you know, a full-spring field and, of course, deep purple, oh my gosh. And my mom was the one who was into the heavier stuff. She loved Janice Joplin, kimmy Hendricks, you know things like that. So it was funny growing up in the 80s, when I started, you know, finding my own music, I would pass my music on to her. So she became a poison fan. She became a Death Leopard fan because of me, oh my gosh.
Speaker 2:I don't know how I because I listened to Metal 2 and I was like and I was trying to think back I don't know who who was who turned me on to the Metal. I mean, I wasn't really, you know, big fan of it, but I listened to all them. You know absolutely. And then you know, fast forward here, we're still talking about them.
Speaker 4:So there is that you know, yeah, my my hard rock and metal. It's steeped in the deep purple for my father. Oh man, yeah, that's where it started it was deep purple, and then I, then I that branched out and found my own, my own aisles and my own favorites and things like that?
Speaker 2:Exactly when did you first pick up a guitar?
Speaker 4:Uh age 10.
Speaker 2:Hey, remember, did you get it as a gift or did you go out and get it yourself?
Speaker 4:No, no, my father got me the lessons and I can't remember the name of the guitar, but it was one of those ones that hurts your hands. But now I know that it was made that way for a reason. But you know, and I just I didn't. I quit because I didn't want to learn the Kukaracha, I'm sorry, I wanted to learn stairway to heaven.
Speaker 2:Oh right, You're going to do it.
Speaker 4:You must do it, right, right. So you know, I tried, I stuck with it for I think a month or two and I was like I don't want to do this anymore, so I didn't. So fast forward of four years later I went out and uh, yeah, I worked. You know I was working my own. You know after school job and stuff like that.
Speaker 3:And.
Speaker 4:I find. Just said I'm going to buy a guitar, my dad was like you're nuts, you're not never going to stick with it. Well, here we are here.
Speaker 2:We are Sorry, dad, but here I am. And so when did you know you wanted to be a musician? You wanted to really make it a part of your life and who you are.
Speaker 4:Like I said, four years old when I was jumping up and down that bed, trying to yep, trying to be like Tom Jones and Neil Diamond.
Speaker 2:I have to go back to Tom Jones, because when you first mentioned his name, um, I remember buying one of his new albums that came out. Um, I was, I was at my grandmother's God bless her and looking at that album cover and looking at him and taking it out you know so so carefully and putting it on the record player and making sure it didn't scratch it like oh my. God, that was crazy.
Speaker 4:My first record was Bay City Rollers. Oh, I just lost a lot of fans.
Speaker 2:I have no comment.
Speaker 4:My second one was the chipmunks Christmas.
Speaker 3:Oh, I had that one.
Speaker 4:The original from the sixties yeah.
Speaker 3:That's the one I had. See I listened to everything.
Speaker 2:Yeah, right, I have to. Yeah, we had. We had music going on in the house, except my grandmother was Irish, so we had a lot of Irish music all the time. She was on Oz. She could sing, she had a beautiful voice and play the harmonica. She was pretty cool. Oh, wow, yeah, she was cool. Yeah, she taught herself. That was crazy. So let me ask you this question Ashfall Jungle? What's the meaning and or how did you come about with that name?
Speaker 4:It's my favorite, one of my all time favorite movies, a film noir movie Sterling Hayden, the Ashfall Jungle.
Speaker 2:I don't know if I knew that and if you did, I apologize if I forgot.
Speaker 4:Yeah, and that of course I did. You know the thing with the spelling of it differently, you know, and just kind of playing around with it and making more like a rock band. But yeah, my dad turned me on to that movie. That movie and I just the title grabbed me. And I was like that'd be a great name for a band. There you go. But then he's like, well, that has to Ashfall. Jungle means New York. I was like, well, I'll just change it somehow. And I did.
Speaker 2:You did. Yeah, oh my God, I love that. Wow, and oh my God, so you're a non-touring band. For those that are listening, what's a and don't know, because I didn't really get in the beginning, what's a non-touring band?
Speaker 4:Well, you know I am asphalt jungle, so every instrument that you hear I play in one form or another. That's amazing. Every vocal is done by me. I do sometimes tend to use vocal harmonizers because you have to you know, but yeah, everything's done by me, so I can't tour because I'm the band. But on top of that I don't really want it. I'm going to be 54 this year. I don't want to tour anymore. I'm too old for that. Plus, I don't think anybody would want to go on the road with me because I'm free.
Speaker 4:When it comes to music, I'm pretty, you know, I get the blinders on and when I get a vision, I get a vision and it's like oh, hell of a high water. That's it, You're done.
Speaker 2:Oh my God. Yeah, I think that's cool in that you play so many different instruments and you have learned all those. I do have a guitar. I know three chords, and that's all. I've taught myself those three chords, so I'm proud of that so far.
Speaker 4:Well, you know, sometimes three chords is all you need.
Speaker 2:Yeah, okay, well, no, okay.
Speaker 4:I'm going to give you an example, and everybody out there is not going to know what we're talking about, but that song I sent you the other day, that's three chords.
Speaker 2:Oh, my God Okay. Sometimes simplicity is the best way to go, I'll learn those three chords and I can play with your song.
Speaker 4:It's DCG. There you go.
Speaker 2:Oh my gosh. I happen to know one of those People think we're crazy tonight, but hey, you've got to have some fun. I don't know about you, but I've had one hell of a week. Oh my God.
Speaker 4:Oh yeah.
Speaker 2:Wow, how did COVID-19 affect you with the music? Because you're non-turing and didn't.
Speaker 4:Well, no, believe it or not, I wasn't making music then, so I was. Actually I've been away from the music scene since 2014. So just certain dark areas. My life went down and other things got in the way, and a writer's block on top of that. So I had almost 10, well, not 10 years, because I started in 2021, right after the COVID was coming to its tail end. So I'm a Texas boy. I say I'm a Texas boy because I lived there for 22 years. But then I got a great job opportunity to move up to outside of Chicago, here in Illinois, and, of course, when I moved up here and that's when I said you know what I started getting the urge to play again and do things. So I built a studio, I moved up here and I built a studio. In fact, I built a studio before I fully furnished my place. Wow.
Speaker 2:Why am I not surprised?
Speaker 4:Right, I'm buying all these guitars, drum kit and everything else and my mom and dad are going. Did you get a bedroom set yet?
Speaker 2:No, Well, some of them.
Speaker 4:I got this. I'm sitting in pictures of guitars and stuff and they're like when are you going to get a bedroom set? I'm like I don't need a bedroom set right now, I got a couch.
Speaker 2:What more do you need? You got your studio. That's what counts, absolutely what counts. Right, that's great. Oh my gosh, let me ask you this, because I think this is a big thing right now what obstacles are getting in the way of indie artists right now, or even just newcomers?
Speaker 4:Okay, I'm going to kind of go left field on this one. Here's the thing I see with a lot of the indie people out there they're focusing too much on Facebook and Facebook followers. That is an obstacle. If you start only looking at trying to get the followers and the numbers up on Facebook, you're, in my opinion this is just my opinion now you're destined to somewhat kind of fail. Michael Botte is the reason I have what little success I have, because I listen to what he had to say. What he had to say is what we were talking about at the top of this interview Get out there. You got to get out there. It's all about networking and it's word-of-mouth. If you just focus on just Facebook and stuff, again, it's not enough. It's not enough. You've got to get your brand out there. You need help, of course.
Speaker 2:If.
Speaker 4:Facebook can't help. There's a lot of great groups out there that you can join band together run by Christina from Vox and Sticks. She does an amazing job, but that's not enough. It's not enough because, again, 10,000 to 20,000 people putting out music a day it's all small fish out there. I'm only talking from the aspect of a guy who does stuff out of the studio. I don't know what it's like to tour nowadays. I don't know what it's like to try to get gigs, but it's probably still the same.
Speaker 2:It's probably hard, I'm sure. Yeah, absolutely. I'm so glad you said that because I talked with my partner, ron, about Facebook and R2RB and it's like, okay, we have more followers, but what can we offer everybody? That's going to help, just not me. Going on to Facebook, it certainly helps with the show and everything. Yeah, you definitely have to get out there, no matter what you're doing. Like you said, network reach out to other people off of Facebook, whatever else you do.
Speaker 4:The heroes on Facebook are guys like you that have these podcast radio shows and some of the independent radio stations that actually do that, those that dedicate their time to putting together those Spotify playlists and share them on Facebook.
Speaker 4:Those are the heroes on Facebook. Those are the people that you want to network with, people like you and all those other radio podcasts around the world that they're doing online like this and again, cultivate a relationship with these people and the people that do these playlists. That's the name of their handle Something, something, something podcast or something playlist.
Speaker 2:Playlist yeah.
Speaker 4:Yeah, cultivate a relationship with those people, and that's the way to start networking and getting the word out there.
Speaker 2:Exactly. I'm glad that it does help and I'm glad that it is helping. And every chance I get it's like you send me your music. I love to spin it. I always look at everybody's bio if they send me one. If they don't, I do go and look them up, just because I like to share a little bit more than just the song, if I can say they're from Sweden, they're from Germany, they're from here, they're from it's, whatever it is. I hope that helps because it just gives it a little bit more of a more friendly feeling Well.
Speaker 4:Kelly Collette, I sent him your way.
Speaker 2:You do.
Speaker 4:Yeah, again, word of mouth. It's networking is what it's all about.
Speaker 2:Absolutely. That's great advice and that would have been a question. But your answer already about what's a good tip to give to a new artist and again, just get out there and network. That's with any entrepreneur, any indie artist. Just get out there and network, All right. Well, I can't wait to ask you this next question, because you're always doing something. I need to know what's next for Ash Fawke Jungle. I hear through the grapevine there's some great things happening.
Speaker 4:Yeah, the first Miss Hides from the wild side over there in England does what you do. We're getting together with a partnership to do a song. I'm going to leave that teaser, not even going to say what it is. We are looking to get other independent artists out there to help us with this thing, but it's going to be us making awareness of building and things like that.
Speaker 2:That is just so fantastic.
Speaker 4:Then, excuse me, plan is mid-summer, maybe late summer. I got a five or six song EP coming out. Of all originals it's titled Destination Unknown. There will be a guest on there. Who she is my. I love her to death. You know her because you found her song from me. Sarah and the others, oh my.
Speaker 3:God.
Speaker 4:Sarah did a song for me that I wrote over 30 years ago. It's all she's amazing. She did this song for me because my voice wasn't right for it. I've always known that this song, I think, is great because it can cross over into country rock and be Southern rock at the same time. She just nailed it. I think everybody's going to fall in love with this song.
Speaker 3:I can't believe I really do.
Speaker 2:It's just amazing, oh my gosh. That is just amazing. Both the EP and then the single is a single for the bullying, because it's such a thing. I don't know who knows or doesn't know, but I work for an alternative school in the darn day job the kids, it happens and it's terrible. It shouldn't happen. It just shouldn't happen. Exactly. That's amazing, yeah.
Speaker 4:She reached out to me and I jumped on right away. I was like, yeah, I'll be a part of this.
Speaker 2:I'm telling you, these kids these days are just, they're out of control. To be honest with you, so many of them, just this generation coming up, is a little scary. But anyway, that's for another show. You got to sometimes reel me back in and like, oh wait, what am I? Oh my gosh. See Stevens, you are amazing. I am so excited to have you here on Halfway through the week with me, excuse me, I am so excited to be able to share America. I'm looking forward to the release on Friday. Everybody, if you haven't pre-saved it, go find Ashwalt Jungle, please. Like him, comment, share him. Go find him wherever he's all over, so it's not hard to just Google him. You will find him and be on the outlook for all the new projects coming up. And see, stevens, is there anything else you want to share with everybody that we haven't touched on?
Speaker 4:No, you've done a great job. It's been a blast. It has been a blast.
Speaker 2:Oh my gosh, it certainly is. This has been great. I mean, we were talking about leading up to today. It's been like, oh my god, it's here, you're right. All right, see, stevens, don't go anywhere. Everybody. I am so happy to share with you that we're not jungle.
Speaker 3:We've been traveling far without a home. We are all alone. We are all alone. We are all alone. We are all alone. We are all alone. We are all alone, we are all alone. We are all alone. We are all alone. We are all alone. They come into America. They come into America. They come into America. They come today. They come today. My country is a being. They live in the beauty of the sea. Would you like it all to burn and disappear?
Speaker 5:I was halfway to hell. I was halfway to hell and the heat got too much, but if it wasn't for the money, I'd be out of here. Do what they say. We're just turning to summers, new colors off the charts. Fire, fire, fire, hate, hate, hate. It's just become the norm. Fire, fire, fire.
Speaker 3:All we do is mourn you turn us up and you find us that it will be so soon, that it will be soon, but when is that? Fire is rising. Fire, fire, fire is rising. Fire, fire, fire is rising, fire, fire, the fire is rising fire, fire.
Speaker 5:The fire is rising, rising, rising the fire is rising. Flames, flames, flames are rising, rising, rising the Washington River beach in the thousands.
Speaker 3:And wonder, reply, wonder, reply, wonder, reply, reply. If that wasn't for the money, I'd be out of here.
Speaker 5:Hate, hate, hate has just become the norm. Fire, fire, fire. All we do is mourn. All too late, all too late. Fire is rising, the fire is rising. If it wasn't for the money, I'd be out of here. Fire, fire, fire. Hey folks, this is Big Records recording artist Michael Bate from the Michael Bate Band, and you are listening to my music right here on Halfway Through the Week with Deb Lamada.
Speaker 2:And it is Halfway Through the Week and I am Deb Lamada, it is 9.09 and I hope you all enjoyed the interview with C Stephen's Ash Fault Jungle, because we certainly enjoyed it, Absolutely 100%. I am so happy for him, excited for him America coming out on releasing on Friday, March 15th If you haven't done it already, please go pre-save it, Go find Ash Fault Jungle and that's A-S-H Fault F-A-U-L-T. Wherever you are on social media Instagram, Facebook like him, comment, share him. He's a great guy and again, I thank all the indie artists that I have met, got to talk with and get to talk about their new releases, have a new release. Are you listening tonight for the first time? Email me at info at R2RB or find me on Facebook at R2R Broadcasting. I'm also on Instagram, R2R Broadcasting. I'd be happy. As you heard, we had a great time talking with C Stephen's tonight and America and his new projects coming up. So I'm very excited for him and to look forward to leading up to whenever the release is coming out for his two projects. Don't you worry, I will have all that information when it is ready to be put out there, C Stephen's will definitely let me know.
Speaker 2:Okay, so what else? P-mab Paul Dylan over in Ireland. That was fire. He is. What a great guy. He had sent me his music way back when, and that's how we connect it. He is now doing a radio show the Best of Irish Indie on Saturday over in Ireland and then we rebroadcast on Sunday afternoon before Out of the Attic Live from Delaware. His show starts at 3.30 and then my show starts at 7. So, if you have a chance, go find P-Mab Great, great indie artist, and I have enjoyed listening to his music and I get to listen to all the Irish Indie that he plays on his show. Alright, so I will be back. I'm going to finish up with some great music. This one is Red Rocket by Bone and that's B-O-N-E and that's the two dots on top of that. Oh there, yeah, gotta go find them too. I'll be back, Ashfalt Jungle. Thank you so much.
Speaker 3:Rock it, Rock it, Rock it, Rock it, Rock it, Rockin'. Workin' with Rockin' you cannot stop him. Oh, arrangement, rocking. The sea has prodigy, the kind of shining. Oh, just embracing him Rockin' down the street and the air is so nice, Red rockin' drops dead. You wipe your eyes, you see them understand and they curtain clear.
Speaker 3:This little bumper is back inside me. Get rockin', rockin', rockin', let's dance. Get rockin', rockin', let's dance. Oh, oh, welcome home. You'll hear the power of this shit explode. Now is the time for me to knock. So just enter, Take my rocket, let me rock it. You can't stop it. Oh shit, red rocket. You see it's heavy, it kind of sped ay. So just take it and let me know. You see that bitch, her ass is so thick. Just think it pow, how you'll do it. Miss, you think I'm bad. And see it in the back. My little rose could give a lot of room. Red rocket, rocket, let's dance. Red rocket, rocket, let's dance. Oh, oh, welcome home. You'll hear the power of this shit explode. Now is the time for me to knock. So just enter, Take my rocket, let me rock it. You can't stop it. Oh shit, red rocket. You see, we're all done. It's been lots of fun. I gotta go now. I don't need much more. Red rocket, rocket, let's dance. You'll hear the power of this shit explode. Red rocket, rocket, let's dance. Red rocket, rocket, let's dance. Red rocket, rocket, let's dance. Red rocket, rocket, let's dance. You'll hear the power of this shit explode. It's like I'm crying in space. My tears don't go away. They've been running since the day I found out about what's his name and I haven't thought at all About our trips down to the city To see the leaves fall. Now I can't ever be the same. I messaged you it's four o'clock in the morning. Don't leave me drunk and lonely. Please don't leave me drunk and lonely. Oh, I know I need you now tonight. Don't leave me drunk and lonely. Please don't leave me drunk and lonely. I've got no more to waste. I gave them all away and I haven't seen your face Since that night when she had last made Searching through each bottle For the smile I left behind, but all I seem to find Is a no-better name. I messaged you it's four o'clock in the morning. Don't leave me drunk and lonely. Please don't leave me drunk and lonely. All I know I need you now tonight. Don't leave me drunk and lonely. Please don't leave me drunk and lonely Tonight. Tonight I wanna call when it's over. You never call when it's over and I told you I'm not doing this again. Do you still recall Our last trip down to the city? I've seen your lips and fall Always the same. I'll message you. It's four o'clock in the morning. Don't leave me drunk and lonely. Please don't leave me drunk and lonely. All I know I need to know tonight. Don't leave me drunk and lonely. Please don't leave me drunk and lonely. I'll message you. It's four o'clock in the morning. Don't leave me drunk and lonely. Please don't leave me drunk and lonely. All I know I need to know tonight. Don't leave me drunk and lonely. Please don't leave me drunk and lonely Tonight. Tonight. Heed my warning. Don't look back. Evil lies on your trail Before the morning sun. Just rise. The devil's game plays tonight. Oh, now you better hold on to your soul. There's a devil on the road. You better go for what you know. Take control how this life can be sick, and now so am I. Some try so hard to live, Some try so hard to die. Treats you like an animal and I question why Together cause.
Speaker 1:No one else will Better think of something quick, quick, quick To get so thrilled. Better think of something quick, quick, quick, quick, cause I am meant to kill Tonight Tonight, tonight, tonight.
Speaker 5:You're listening to Halfway Through the Week right here on r2rbcom.
Speaker 2:That's right, and we are winding down Halfway Through the Week. I hope everybody again enjoyed my special guest tonight C Stevens of Ash Fault Jungle. I certainly did great time talking with Ash Fault Jungle, his new release coming out on Friday March 15th. Please find it, pre-save it like it, share it. Find Ash Fault Jungle like that, comment and share. And again, pre-save America when you get a chance. The music I just spun was Built to Kill and Under the Den, drunken Lonely. And again, let me just go back to the beginning.
Speaker 2:If you have a chance to go check out one of my favorite organizations, which is Second Chance Ranch and Fulton, delaware, If you can, there's a project coming up. Donate from the website. I'll be posting my fundraiser for my birthday. That's right. It's my birthday coming up in April. And of course, I spoke of Centel. Please go find my post on Facebook at r2rb broadcasting. Centel has a fund rate. Go find me link on my page. This is my voice tonight. As we all know, things happen and if you have a chance to go donate to Centel, that would be awesome. Again, as I said, the indie artists the support that is in that community for each other is unbelievable. So there is a brother in need. If you have a chance, please go find my post. I'll be posting more probably tomorrow. You can find the link on the post that I did do for them, so please go check them out.
Speaker 2:And everybody have a great night. I did thoroughly enjoy the music tonight. I enjoyed the show and everybody have a great week. You can catch me Sunday night at Out of the Attic live from Delaware. And what do I got going on this Sunday? Oh, yes, I have another great indie artist joining me to talk about one of her upcoming events, so tune in. I have lots of great stuff happening. Everybody. Have a great night. I am going to spin another Ash Fault Jungle song to take us out for the night and I will see you. Or I won't see you, but I'll talk to you all next week. Have a good one. Peace out. You think you got the right choose. You don't allow me, but I know you. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. It's better for me, but not for you. You try my days. It all goes away. Let me tell you something I'm in the same. Don't kill me up. Bring your cheap shit to life. Don't let me use your head high.
Speaker 3:You got no one to blame. You got no shame, no chance to play. You got no one to blame. You got no shame, no chance to play. You got no one to blame. You got no shame, no chance to play. You got no one to blame. You got no shame, no chance to play.