Keep Up the Good Work #5 w Stefan Alexander and Chanice Taylor
Keep Up the Good Work #4 w Steven Horowitz and Belle-Skinner
Keep Up the Good Work #3 w Dan Domenech and Doctor Delia
Miya Dunets "A Good Life"
From Miya Dunets: “NEW SINGLE, “A Good Life” is now out!
I wrote it for my grandparents (Sherman “Sharky” Mikio and Harue/June Kishi - watch the video to see some extreme cuteness ) on their 70th anniversary (a lifetime ago, in 2016) and am releasing it during Asian & Pacific Islander American Heritage month, to celebrate their legacy of commitment, service, honor, and love. Thank you to Andrew Horowitz and Elliot Jacobson for production, guidance, and your excellent hearts. Thank you to the incomparable Marin Leong for the beautiful cover art!
Grandma and grandpa were in high school when they fell in love. Then, Pearl Harbor was bombed and 120,000 Japanese Americans were shipped off to and forcibly imprisoned in internment camps. At Amache, the camp where my grandparents were taken, the men’s and women’s showers were in one barracks, with a dividing wall that didn’t reach the ceiling. They would go to the showers at the same time, to sing Irving Berlin’s “Always” to each other over that wall. Grandpa later volunteered for and served in the US army, despite being unjustly interned and deemed un-American. In the face of darkness, they chose love; and they choose it now, in their mid-90s. When I feel deep anger and sadness about the racism and xenophobia that are still so present and ugly in our country and around the world, I think of their choice to truly and wholly belong to one another, to share that deep sense of belonging and open arms with those around them, to uphold and believe in the value of a life guided by virtue - a good life. They taught me that we always have the option to show up for our families and communities, to speak up for those who are silenced, to demonstrate the power of kindness and love in ways big and small.”
Keep Up the Good Work #2 w Casey Shea
Livia Blanc "Room 405"
Out today, a new one from LIVIA BLANC. This one's a long time in the making, the video was a passion project from Livia that went way over budget and took way more hours than anticipated. But it's here and it's fantastic.
Song written/produced by Livia, Coyle Girelli, and me.
Trumpet by Lauren Klein
Bass by Jim Robertson
Mixed/mastered by Chris Connors
"Keep Up the Good Work" on Instagram Live
In an effort to connect with fellow human beings, I’m attempting a new weekly series. Tomorrow will be episode one on Instagram Live with Ross Federman, Immunologist, drummer, DJ, friend, all around brainiac. I don’t know what we’ll discuss.
If you have Ross Federman-related questions, please tune in and ask. The convo will be 15 minutes. If it goes well, I’ll continue doing this with other peeps. If not I hate everyone (except Ross, thanks for doing this.) Stay safe!
David Bowie "Heroes" cover for Facebook
It was a pleasure to cover some Bowie for a worthwhile cause, our frontline workers! thanks to
Buzzy Cohen, Quinn Donnell, and the rest of The Teenage Diplomat for making this happen.
Stefan Alexander "Cry Again EP"
Lots of great music out today and just listened to a couple new releases I love (Fiona Apple, Mothica). Excited to contribute the next chapter in the story of Stefan Alexander, the "Cry Again EP." Two of the songs are recent, two were recorded years ago at the start of the journey. "Signs" I believe is the first tune Elliot Jacobson, and I did together. Mixed by Mike Tuccillo, mastered by Emily Lazar at The Lodge Mastering. Still gives me goosebumps and I'm super proud of this production and thrilled it's seen the light of day. Also new today is the most recent track we did, "Up and Away." Different tone but illustrates Stefan's evolution as an artist. All tunes (besides "Signs" mixed/mastered by Mike Tuccillo. Anyway, thanks for checking it out. Stay safe out/in there.