JAKE NEWTON

This week we have Steven McMorran of Satellite. We talk songwriting, moving to los Angeles, and Moving away to Nashville. Check out his music at www.wearesatellite.com

 

Hey Everybody, 
This week on the podcast we have Singer/Songwriter Andy Davis. Had a great time talking to him about the differences between Nashville (where he currently resides) and Los Angeles. We also take both towns out to the woodshed for a good beating. 

Tonight I will be opening for Foy Vance at the Hotel Cafe, it is sold out but if you get there early there should be a few tickets at the door. There’s another date up on the 7th of November which is a benefit for a great cause, Check out the links and info below. 

SHOWS

Do me a favor, send me your Costume reccomendations for me. I have no idea what to wear for Halloween. 

    I hope this finds you well. This last week brought all the whips and whistles that come with adult life, and due to a lack of proper scheduling (the culpability being set squarely in my court) SharkBrain did not appear on your proverbial radio dial. I’ve been kicking myself for it all week. I just, Hell, ran out of time. I don’t want it to happen ever again. I know better than to promise that it won’t because, let’s just face it, I’ve made enough promises and wide-sweeping statements in my life that haven’t allowed for the imperfection of time and schedules. I know these haunt me mercilessly and needlessly. 

I’ve been told that I need to loosen up. To go easier on myself. Then the other side of my dark spirit calls attention to the countless leagues of great expectations, set upon my shoulders from lifetimes ago in my youth, before I set out from the mining town to the big city. How Dickensian. To hold your life to a narrative that’s predetermined, will only give hemorrhoids, sleepless nights, and countless.bitter pillow talks to yourself about the roads not taken. 

Good God man. That will sap you. Many nights I’ve taken my past selves out to the metaphorical woodshed for a good beating. And many was the morning afterward where I cracked upon waking like a walnut shell under a large muddied boot. Made useless, ruined before getting out of bed by the tarnished stain of ill will I secretly (and sometimes not so secretly) held for myself. It’s a compromised constitution I force myself to face the world with. It’s not only debilitating toward my artistry, but to a manageable life. It’s an insidious disease. Thankfully, I believe there are cures for this disease. 

The cures for me have been to get out of my head, physically and psychologically. The physical aspect is just to make sure I run my ass off. I try for 3 miles a day. I’m happiest when I get them. Something about the road under my feet and the delightfully simple goal pushes the myriad of noises to the background. They may still be there yammering away in my head, but they’re behind frosted glass, so their voices muffle and I can’t make out their faces of terror as clearly. My body begins to make the serotonin it’s in desperate need of. I don’t always feel amazing, but I just feel good. 

The second form of attack against the darkness is talking to people. Getting away from the turnstile conversations that go round and round in my aching brain. Getting into someone else’s perspective. That’s what a lot of these SharkBrain talks have done for me. They’ve shown me that I’m not alone in my fears and weaknesses. They’ve shown me I’m not the only one with certain insecurities, certain desperate voices rattling around like old ghosts on chains in the confines of cerebra. These conversations have shown me others who’ve gotten past my current hurdles, their stories guide me to my next step. 

Margo Harshman is the guest this week on SharkBrain. She’s a phenomenal actor with an inspiring outlook on art, work, and life. I only wish I had her as a friend earlier in my career to help advise me against overwrought tension and desperation. But people come into your life at the appointed time, at least that’s what I hold to be true. 



But returning to the negative self speech. It’s taken me so long to get past simple disempowering beliefs, I sometimes feel like the artistic equivalent of Rip Van Winkle. That I’m finally starting to rise above these petty ropes that bound me. I’m grateful to those of you who’ve helped me through. Some of you know who you are and yet some don’t. Anyone who’s come up to me after the show to take the time to tell me how much they’ve enjoyed my music, anyone who’s written me an email about my work, who’ve listened to the records, the podcast, or the vlogs, or the movies. I thank you. Fall is upon us in the best of ways and it’s meant to spark something ancient and novel in the same breath. Let’s face it with the wisdom of the ages and the warm curiosity of children. 

Be Well my friends, 

JN

Hey all, 
       This week on the show I have Brent Puls, a singer/songwriter and graphic designer from Chicago, who incidentally did all the design work on my latest record. We talk about his early influences of hip-hop, being in a funk band in the 90’s, and a transformative experience with Abbey Road. Take a listen below
 

Hello All, 
         Halloween is on the the wind. The big box stores have already begun the brandishing of orange and black. Novelty graves and huckster skeletons with mischievous grins are peppered into the isles of every drug store. It’s here again. 

What a strange holiday. Mix some pagan with some dark ages mystic Catholicism and you have the largest dress up party in the whole year. That last sentence seems to take the magic out of the whole thing doesn’t it? 

Well I’ll endeavor to re-infuse the wonder and whimsy back into Halloween, or All Saints Eve, or Hallomas, it’s gone by many names. Halloween has always been the harbinger of mystery to my mind. When You’re a kid, holidays represent a true and utter basking excess and sugary richness, the likes of which you can’t even begin to conceive of in a boring month, say for example, May. Screw May, school’s not out yet and the only Holidays involve getting your mom a subpar present (which she’ll love) and Memorial Day, which to your young mind you have ZERO clue as to the significance, So yes. October 31st is incredible. 

It’s a holiday centered around the dead, the afterlife, the clawing gnawing voices that go wisp in the dark and kiss the hairs of your neck with ice. Monsters, Goblins. Mysticism. 

But it wasn’t always so Camp. So Harry Potter. In the Past it was believed that the portals to the dead were open on Hallow’s Eve, that the dead could seek revenge upon the living who had wronged them, and that for this reason disguises and costumes were adorned to protect those who hadn’t shuffled off their mortal coils. With this fact in mind I’d like you to know that during my childhood I went as a Ninja not once, not twice, but FOUR YEARS IN A ROW! I don’t know why I loved being a Ninja so much. But if you want to dissect it psychologically, just ruminate over the fact that I wanted to be a japanese professional burglar/assassin, powerful and invisible at the same time. If that isn’t a roadmap to Wallflower City I don’t know what is. 

This week we have Garrison Starr on the podcast. She’s an excellent story teller and wonderful human and I feel great pleasure having known her and gotten close to her. Have a Listen Below

 

It's Fall Everybody! 
     And you know what that means, it's time to take out those sad records, it's time to think about the changes of life and ebb and flow of time. It's time to talk to friends about music. Justin Glasco has been my friend for many years and we've made two records together, both Kill the Past and Soldier of the Heart. It's my best work and he was at the helm of it. Cannot thank him enough for that. We talk about making music, and avoiding becoming grumps. 

 

Jesse Thomas is a Force of Nature with a great spirit and a sweet face. We had a great talk about music, Cayote Ugly, career advice from Tyra Banks and my dog Banjo. Check out her music at www.iamjessethomas.com. Also Be sure this week to check out the release of past SharkBrain guest Broken anchor This Tuesday September 17th, more info at www.brokenanchormusic.com

 

This week brought Jon Titterington of the Roof Beam Carpenters into the studio to share his thoughts on creativity, neurosis, and getting out of your college town come Hell or high water. I've known Jon for a few years, and we've always been able to connect on our own blinding personal fears and our common love of Patton Oswalt. Do yourself a favor and check out The Roof Beam Carpenters Official Site where you'll find links to his music, as well as a tumblr blog filled with razor sharp wit and absurdism. 

As always thank you so much for listening to the show, continue to spread the word, go to www.sharkbrainpodcast.com to hear other episodes, donate via paypal to the show, or to comment on the existing shows. I'm going to attempt going to the beach, maybe that will spark some creative juices? Or perhaps just give me skin cancer.

Be well,

JN
                                                                                                                  

This week on the podcast we have Javier Dunn! Do yourself the huge favor of going out and getting his record "Trails" right now. Also check out his music at www.javierdunn.com. We talk growing up in Northern California, Taking the plunge into professional musicianship, and easy college jobs. 
 

 This week we have Austin Hartley-Leonard of Broken Anchor! A funny guy with razor wit and the looks to go with it.New We discuss touring, band politics, and terrible shows. Broken Anchor's latest release will be "Fresh Lemonade" available September 17th on iTunes and www.BrokenAnchorMusic.com

Thanks to all of you who've tweeted and written about the show. Please continue to spread the word! Email me at Sharkbrainpodcast@gmail.com and check out the shows and merch tabs!