Episode 45: The Spur by Joan Shelley

In the spring of 2021, singer-songwriter Joan Shelley would visit Earthwave Studio, a recording facility situated in the pastoral landscapes of Shelbyville, Kentucky. In this ideal environment, Shelley and her collaborators would record the collection of songs that would make up her next record. In Episode 45, the native Kentuckian tells the story of her 2022 album The Spur, discussing the lyrical themes and inspirations within the tracks as well as her experience recording them while 7 months pregnant.

For more info on Joan Shelley, visit joanshelley.net

Episode 42: Dirt Yard Street by Clay Harper

Having relocated as a teenager from the suburbs of Philadelphia to a small town in Georgia, singer-songwriter Clay Harper would eventually draw inspiration from the experience, and in the end, make a record. In Episode 42, the former Coolies front man and restaurateur tells the story of his 2020 album Dirt Yard Street. Recorded at his home studio in Atlanta with help from the city’s music community, Harper recounts the events that led to the album’s creation and details the methods used during the writing and recording process.

For more info on Clay Harper, visit clayharper.bandcamp.com

Episode 35: The Bear by Walter Martin

After moving with his family to upstate New York, singer-songwriter Walter Martin would set up in an old, one room schoolhouse and begin working on the material that would make up his next record. In Episode 35, Martin tells the story of his brand new album The Bear. Recorded at his home with some additional sessions in Los Angeles, the former member of The Walkmen and Jonathan Fire*Eater discusses the process of developing the album’s overall sound as well as the inspirations behind much of its lyrical content.

For more info on Walter Martin, visit waltermartinmusic.com

Episode 34: Due North by Liam Kazar

In Episode 34 of In Loving Recollection, Chicago native Liam Kazar tells the story of his 2021 debut record Due North. Recorded at various locations with help from an encouraging group of collaborators, the Kansas City based musician discusses the experiences that led to the album’s creation, touching on the specific influences that inspired the record’s overall sound and the vital piece of songwriting advice he received from Wilco’s Jeff Tweedy.

For more info on Kazar, visit liam.kazar.bandcamp.com or woodsist.com

Episode 33: Songs for John Venn by Lou Turner

While researching the life of English mathematician John Venn, Nashville based singer-songwriter Lou Turner became inspired after discovering parallels between her life and his. In Episode 33, Turner tells the story of her 2020 album Songs For John Venn. Recounting the events that led up to the record’s creation, the native Texan touches on how her work at a library influenced much of the album’s lyrical direction as well as her experience recording with her Styrofoam Winos bandmates.

For more info on Lou Turner, visit louturner.com or spinstersounds.com

Episode 32: All Around by The Oranges Band

After meeting at American University in the late 90s, Roman Kuebler and Dan Black would collaborate on a recording project that would eventually morph into the Baltimore, Maryland based quintet The Oranges Band. In Episode 32, Kuebler and Black tell the story of their band’s 2003 debut full length All Around, touching on their signing with noted independent punk label Lookout Records and their experience of making the album at Key Club Recording Company in Benton Harbor, Michigan.

For more info on The Oranges Band, visit theorangesband.bandcamp.com

Episode 31: The Nerves EP by The Nerves

During their brief time together, the legendary power pop trio The Nerves struggled to gain any sort of recognition. In an effort to remedy the situation, the San Francisco based band would enter a Chinese recording studio and make a record. In Episode 31, The Nerves’ Paul Collins and Jack Lee tell the story of their classic 4 song EP, detailing the band’s formation as well as their various schemes and attempts at achieving rock and roll glory.

For more info on The Nerves, visit alive-records.com and thepaulcollinsbeat.com

Episode 27: Once We Were Trees by Beachwood Sparks

In the winter of 2001, the Los Angeles based psychedelic country band Beachwood Sparks traveled to a snowy New England to make a record at J Mascis’s house. In Episode 27, bassist Brent Rademaker tells the story of the band’s sophomore album Once We Were Trees. Recounting the events that led to the album’s creation, Rademaker touches on the influences that shaped the record’s lyrics and sounds as well as the band’s experience working with producer Thom Monahan.

For more info, visit curationrecords.com and subpop.com

Episode 25: Spotlight on Optiganally Yours by Optiganally Yours

After a chance encounter with a mysterious instrument called an optigan at a thrift store in Oakland, musician Pea Hicks brings it to his home in San Diego and quickly begins making music with his roommate Rob Crow (Pinback, Heavy Vegetable, Thingy). In Episode 25 of In Loving Recollection, the members of Optiganally Yours tell the story of their 1997 debut album Spotlight on Optiganally Yours touching on how the concept for the band was developed and the steps that were taken to avoid being viewed as a novelty act.

For more info on Optiganally Yours, visit optiganallyyours.bandcamp.com and optigan.com

Episode 24: Light Heat by Light Heat

Following the release of his band’s 2005 record We’re Already There, Quentin Stoltzfus would lose the right to perform and record under the name Mazarin. Eight years later, he would finally release new music under the name Light Heat. In Episode 24, Stoltzfus tells the story of Light Heat’s long journey to completion, touching on the events that inspired the record’s themes of loss and hope as well as the experience of bringing the songs to fruition with the help of his friends in The Walkmen.

For more info on Light Heat, visit lightheat.bandcamp.com