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Episode Transcript
From the Major label debut podcast network. Vis is your
MLD News. I'm Graham Wright and joining me as always
to break down the news and deliver it to you
and delicious bite sized chunks is major label debut producer
and my good friend John Paul Bullock. John Paul, The
March of Time continues. Apace twenty twenty five is at
(00:26):
an end. How you feeling I am feeling great, Graham.
I'm gonna take these glasses off.
Speaker 2 (00:31):
Oooh where we're going we won't need glasses to see.
Speaker 3 (00:34):
This is I like how we have matching Gutfoyd shirt son.
Gutfoyd is the band of twenty twenty five and twenty
twenty six.
Speaker 2 (00:43):
Absolutely my favorite band.
Speaker 3 (00:44):
It is my favor band.
Speaker 1 (00:45):
I happen to know that gut Void is cooking up
a new record right now. We can exclusively reveal here
on MLD News that gut Void will return. Guffoyd will
never die, Guphoyd Forever, gut Void will never die. This
podcast may turn into just a gut Void scent Podvoid
coming twenty twenty six, say detailed breakdown of the work
of doom Metal. I believe Toronto Doom Metal Quartet, gut
(01:08):
Void our close personal friends.
Speaker 2 (01:11):
We're here at the end of the year.
Speaker 1 (01:12):
You're here at the end of the year, dear listener,
and this is not time to really dig in deep
to any chewy or meaty topics. Instead, we're just sort
of here to look ahead at what's next for major
label debut. We have now completed not just our first
like twelve months of work, but our first complete year
(01:33):
as a podcast, and I think that you know, the
best is very much yet to come. What are you
looking forward to in twenty twenty six in the major
label debut world, Paul oh Man.
Speaker 3 (01:44):
Oh Man, we have so many good interviews coming up.
We've already recorded a bunch of new stuff, the first
of which, although this may not be the order, you
may just be you're getting an exclusive. I want to
say this word because I've been saying a lot recently Milange.
Oh Yes, coterie of guests here, but number one, the
(02:04):
attorney and champion of good music and all around great guy,
Randy Ohada, is going to come on and talk about
what it's like advocating for artists and protecting them in
the world of the law. And it's a fascinating conversation
about music law between Graham and Randy. He manages a
great band called Ganzer that I love. He's just an
(02:29):
all around great guy. As I said, so, I'm excited
for that conversation.
Speaker 2 (02:32):
And it is truly fascinating.
Speaker 1 (02:33):
There may be some of you out there whose eyes
glazed over at the notion of a fascinating conversation about
music law. But as I learned through twenty years of
doing professional music, the elemental mechanism by which commerce is
applied to art is the contract. And when you talk
about getting your major label deal, the deal in that
(02:55):
sentence is the contract. That's what's in the proverbial Manila envelope.
And I really talked about like what is in record
contracts and how the things in those contracts, both the
boiler plate stuff that is just sort of always in
there and the stuff that you negotiate over, how those
things really define how the not just the business of
(03:15):
the music business, but the music of the music business
is created and facilitated. And it's like pretty important to
know if you care about how this stuff unfolds, and
if you're you know, interested in all the stuff we
talk about here, I really do think you'll find the
conversation fascinating, even though it is about the law.
Speaker 3 (03:34):
Also, I am super psyched that we've got Steve Bays
from Hot Hot Heat coming on.
Speaker 2 (03:42):
And they were.
Speaker 3 (03:43):
Sort of a Tokyo Police Club contemporary. I think they
you know, predate y'all a little bit. But his career journey,
his thoughts about the industry, his story about working with
the major label, and all the fun, weird stuff that
the band did and all the great music they made
and trials and tribulations, it makes for an epic journey.
Speaker 1 (04:05):
Steve was one of the first guests that we thought
of to have on the podcast, and I know some
people through Vancouver who know him, and I actually I
got his number and I reached out to him really
early in the life of the podcast, and then, as
sometimes happens, he had a new kid and is you know,
working making music and stuff, and so he got back
to me about fourteen months later, having missed the text,
(04:26):
which I can say.
Speaker 2 (04:27):
Is something that I've done many times to people as well.
Speaker 1 (04:30):
And it really worked out timing wise, because I feel
like I didn't have the juice to interview him as
well as it went this time back when I first
hit him up. So the universe conspired to bring Steve
and I together at the exact right moment, and we
had a a really cool, kind of all over the
place conversation about music and major labels and stuff, and
also about spirituality and fatherhood and like what's truly important
(04:54):
in art and in life. And it was great, Like
the best conversations we have on this show. I left
it feeling changed.
Speaker 3 (05:01):
I can't wait to share it with the world. And finally,
the last spoiler we'll give is a incredible book by
a woman named Greta Morgan who is an incredible artist.
And Greta's conversation with Graham about her book and about
her career or she was in Vampire Weekend, she was
(05:23):
in her own band called Springtime Carnivore. She was in
a bunch of other bands, one called The Hush Sound,
one called Golden Motel Like She's written songs with tons
of people. She made work with Katie Goodman, and then
she got long COVID and lost her voice. And it's
the story of her journey through that experience and coming
(05:48):
out on the other end and staying true and active
as an artist when you're forced to deal with horrible
health concerns. It's incredibly inspiring, and the book is an
excellent history of sort of recent popular music and a
couple specific scenes that she was a part of, and
(06:09):
she and Graham, I think, really had a wonderful talk
and it was something that filled my heart and mind
with I guess, with warm red blood.
Speaker 1 (06:21):
The book is called The Lost Voice, So you have
a chance now to get it out of your local
library or at your local bookstore and read it in
advance of our conversation, which I did. I consumed it
voraciously and then sort of went right into talking with Greta.
So it's amazing. It's one of those stories where you
kind of can't believe everything that happens to her thing
by thing and sort of what she makes of it,
(06:44):
which is something really beautiful and meaningful that like a
classic story of finding finding something bigger than you knew
existed by going through what appears to be like a
pretty unpleasant and undesirable experience that you never in a
million years would have wished for yourself, but then ends up,
you know, sort of being in a way exactly what
(07:05):
you needed.
Speaker 2 (07:06):
And it really.
Speaker 1 (07:06):
Happened to her, and she really took it on its
own terms, but also in a way that seems like
only she could. Anyway, I'm doing a worst job describing
it than the book does.
Speaker 3 (07:16):
So read the book. Read the book, Buy the book.
By all the Hot Hot Heat Records, Hire Randy to
represent you as an attorney. That's just three of a
ton of great interviews we have coming up. We've got
all this stuff scheduled already for January where we're going
to be I won't say who it is now, but
potentially one of our favorite guests from twenty twenty six.
(07:41):
All our guests are our favorite guests, but this guest
is particularly heroic to me and might be returning pretty
early in twenty twenty six, so I'm excited for that.
It will be our first return guest.
Speaker 1 (07:57):
Yeah, that's going to be really cool. That's sort of
unfolding via text message. The MLD group chat is on
the job right now. So that's right from the breaking
news desk. Before we go, I thought we should check
in and see if either of us have any podcast
centric New Year's resolutions slash music centric New Year's resolutions. I,
(08:20):
for example, resolved to listen to music again in twenty
twenty six. I must confess, although this may dent my
credibility as a commentator. The moment came when everyone was
putting out their best to twenty twenty five lists, best records,
best songs, and I realized, with this sinking feeling, that
I don't even think I listened to ten new records
(08:41):
in twenty twenty five, let alone ten that I could
order as favorites. That can happen when you work in music,
when you talk about music, when you immerse yourself in
the business of music so thoroughly, it changes your relation
to ship to it.
Speaker 2 (08:53):
Obviously, as we talk about with every.
Speaker 1 (08:55):
Guest, and every like ten years or five years or so,
I realized that I I kind of dried up on
listening to music, and I have to stop and shake
myself by the shoulders and get my head back in
the game. So twenty twenty six, I'm getting my head
back into music game. And also I'm gonna change my
setup here. I'm gonna get some more soft goods. I'm
(09:15):
gonna get some textiles to surround myself with to dampen
my sound and also create a new visual experience. And
I think I might get even a different microphone. So
that's something for everyone to look forward to next year. Wow,
especially Joshua, the producer of the show.
Speaker 3 (09:30):
I'm excited for your new music is not my problem though,
But I've got a piece of advice which as you
go through this best of end of the year, lest
get used to Geese, because Geese is on every single list.
Speaker 2 (09:46):
I'm gonna check it out.
Speaker 1 (09:47):
I just saw a video which I consumed in the
best possible way, which was it was like a four
minute live performance split into Instagram carousel videos, so I
would sort of slip through them of Geese covering Burn
the Witch, the latter period Radiohead song which you know,
my Radiohead super fandom is a matter of record here.
Speaker 2 (10:08):
But I was that song.
Speaker 1 (10:09):
I was always kind of like getting a little self
parodic Tom York. But the Geese version of it, which
takes out all the you know, the sort of like
check out our Johnny Greenwood fancy string arrangement and replaces
it with just a band rocking, which makes the song
a little less aloof and like radio Head cool, but
gives it this punch and clarifies a chord progression that is,
(10:33):
you know, was previously sort of slathered in microtnes and
it kills and I'm ready. I'm ready to listen to Geese.
I think I actually know what they're about now. I
thought they were sort of a gut Void style band,
possibly because they both start with G and they're not.
Speaker 2 (10:47):
I gather that they're not.
Speaker 1 (10:49):
I've seen a lot of pictures of the guy playing
the piano at Carnegie Hall, which I've never a Gutvoid
has never done. Yes, well, Brendan Dean is an excellent
piano player, my childhood friend and gut Void singers.
Speaker 3 (11:00):
I do not doubt that for one second, and I'm
excited to see him perform at Carnegie Hall next year.
My podcast New Year's resolution is to a shave before
I do this, because I've got this like going on
little sandpaper action and be also to spice up the
(11:24):
visuals here. Maybe I'll purchase a ring light. Maybe I
will start wearing some makeup. Maybe I get a wig
like what.
Speaker 2 (11:32):
Happened to two pays in our society.
Speaker 3 (11:34):
I gotta be honest with you, it's it's hard to
pull off. It's hard to do well. It's not. I mean,
I think there's a lot of a lot of wig action.
You know, Uh, there are wig shops everywhere. If there's
one thing I know about every downtown in every American city,
it is full of wig shops. If there's one thing
I know about every suburban strip mall in every American exurb,
(11:58):
or it is full of shops. So people are buying wigs,
people are buying hair pieces, and I feel like it's time.
Twenty twenty six is my time to fully investigate what
it would be like to wear a wig.
Speaker 2 (12:11):
All the time.
Speaker 1 (12:11):
This is from the MLD Financial Desk. Bye bye, bye
week stocks.
Speaker 2 (12:17):
The wig sphere is going up, up up.
Speaker 3 (12:20):
Let's get some wigs.
Speaker 2 (12:21):
Let's get some wigs. I'll get you a wig.
Speaker 3 (12:23):
You don't need it, but it might be fun just
to try something new.
Speaker 2 (12:25):
Yeah, I have you know.
Speaker 1 (12:27):
I have a long complicated relationship with my obstinate hair
and I would love just to have some beautiful, flowing
locks for once in my life.
Speaker 2 (12:34):
That is a no vocal.
Speaker 1 (12:38):
And I'd also like to issue a promise slash threat,
depending on who's receiving it, which is of course twenty
twenty six. I have not forgotten the sub series, A
rush of pods that head the major label debut Deep
dive into the complete catalog of Coldplay.
Speaker 2 (12:53):
I have started lining up guests.
Speaker 1 (12:55):
I have started, In fact, I had started coming up
with thoughts about these records long before MLD ever came out.
And this is going to be the year when it happens.
And if you want to make a sub series about,
you know, one of the cool bands you like, we
can talk about that too.
Speaker 3 (13:14):
The beautiful disdain in your voice for that, I know,
I refuse and I will do everything I can to
sabotage your cold Play.
Speaker 2 (13:23):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (13:23):
Actually, I actually don't hate Coldplay as much as I'm
pretending to hate.
Speaker 1 (13:28):
Oh it's a time for honesty. Tis the season it's
live and let live. I guess that's exactly right. And
the immortal words of Chris Martin.
Speaker 2 (13:37):
Trouble. You gotta have a quote. I didn't have a
quote right in Yellow Clocks. Chris Martin.
Speaker 3 (13:46):
If you're listening to this, I mean, you know harm.
Speaker 1 (13:49):
Chris Martin, if you're listening to this, blanket invitation to
join us as fourth mic on MLD anytime you want
talk about anything, you have an open invitation than sure.
Speaker 2 (14:00):
For any other polplay boys.
Speaker 1 (14:02):
Happy New year, John Paul, It's been what a wonderful year.
Making podcast Gold and Magic together and of course with
our friend Josh Hook is well.
Speaker 2 (14:12):
Josh.
Speaker 3 (14:13):
We love you, Josh, we love you so much. And
I'll also say hi Josh.
Speaker 1 (14:16):
And we love you all the listeners. We hope you
have had a tolerable twenty twenty five. We hope that
twenty twenty six brings with it lots of joy and
beauty and great musical moments. We'll confine ourselves to great
musical moments here. The world at large is not mld's purview,
thank goodness, and in this part of it, in the
music world, in the thinking and stroking our chins over
(14:39):
this art form that we all love so much, Twenty
twenty six is going to be another year of interesting
times in the world of music and in commerce. So
we'll be here to talk about all of it, and I,
for one can't wait. But for now, let's go. Let's
go celebrate the turning of another hour glass.
Speaker 2 (14:59):
And that's.
Speaker 3 (15:03):
Happy here. Thank you for listening. Thank you Josh, Thank
you Greg, Thank you Graham.
Speaker 1 (15:08):
That's a Josh Hook. Producer of the show. John Publock
is also a producer of the show. Greg Alsop created
our Wonderful theme music and you, our wonderful listener, are
who makes this all worthwhile and who make the proverbial
tree falling in the proverbial forest make a proverbial sound.
So we thank you, we encourage you to stay with
(15:30):
us in twenty twenty six and beyond, and we'll see
you next year. That's your MLD news, but Major Label
Debut will be back next year with more stories and
news from.
Speaker 2 (15:41):
The intersection of art and commerce.
Speaker 3 (15:43):
Happy New Year, Happy here, Jue the Quay, let's be
got it.
Speaker 2 (16:01):
Alto
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