In this episode of Lorenzo's Music Podcast, I meet Jonathan, the person behind the band Negative Players, a self-proclaimed "hypothetical indie rock band" from southwest Michigan.Jonathan's initial vision to create music with family evolved into this solo endeavor. He discusses the creative process behind his music, drawing inspiration from iconic bands like The Beatles and 90s indie rock such as Sonic Youth and Pavement. He talks about songwriting, including his recent forays into banjo and ukulele, and how these instruments have influenced his sound.Jonathan also tells me about recording in the DAW, Ableton Live, and using his methods for programming drums and arranging tracks. We talk about the challenges of being a solo artist in a band-centric world and the online platforms like Mastodon and its community in promoting his work.Negative Players on Bandcamp - https://negativeplayers.bandcamp.comLorenzo's Music Website - https://www.lorenzosmusic.com

In this episode of Lorenzo's Music Podcast, I meet Dave Mallick, a dedicated volunteer for the Internet Archive, specifically focusing on the Live Music Archive. Dave shares how he started as a music enthusiast and recorder, archiving live music from the late 90s to the present day.We talk about the evolution of the Live Music Archive, its role in preserving high-quality recordings, and the challenges faced in obtaining permissions from artists. Dave discusses the process to standardize and distribute live recordings, highlighting the importance of community contributions in maintaining this extensive collection.We also mention the various formats available for uploads and lossless audio of live recordings. Dave mentions the cultural preservation aspect of the Internet Archive and encourages musicians and fans alike to contribute their recordings.To learn more about the Live Music Archive and how to get involved, visit https://archive.org/details/etreeLorenzo's Music Website - https://www.lorenzosmusic.com

In this episode of the Lorenzo's Music Podcast, I have a fascinating conversation with Jean-Baptiste Kempf, the lead of the VLC open source project, which has been a staple in multimedia for nearly two decades. Jean shares the origins of VLC, tracing back to a student project in Paris, and how it evolved from a niche solution for streaming video on local networks to a widely used media player that supports an extensive range of codecs and formats.We talk about the challenges of maintaining this project, community contributions, and how VLC has managed to remain relevant even today. Jean discusses the project's commitment to accessibility and quality, emphasizing the need for open-source alternatives in a world increasingly reliant on corporate platforms for media consumption.We also talk about its ongoing efforts to ensure that users can play any media format, new & old, preserving access to all kinds of media.To learn more about VLC and its ongoing projects, visit https://www.videolan.orgLorenzo's Music Website - https://www.lorenzosmusic.com

In this episode of The Lorenzo's Music Podcast, I meet Owen Williams, a developer to the MIXXX Open Source DJ project. Owen tells me about how he went from being a DJ enthusiast to actively contributing to the software he uses to perform. We also talk about the origins of MIXXX and how it has evolved since it began in 2002.Owen explains how they maintain the open-source DJ platform, including the importance of community contributions and the continuous improvements being made to the software. We discuss digital DJing, the transition from traditional turntables to digital controllers, and the unique features MIXXX offers, such as support for various audio plugins and streaming services.To learn more about MIXXX at https://mixxx.orgLorenzo's Music Website - https://www.lorenzosmusic.com

In this episode of Lorenzo's Music Podcast, I meet Carles Barrobes, a software engineer from Barcelona, who is part of a collective building a platform for musicians called Fairplayer, a project aimed at helping artists outside of mainstream streaming platforms with a more direct connection with their listeners.Carles tells me about how Fairplayer is designed to promote decentralized music, the challenges of building a cooperative model, and how Fairplayer serves as a bridge between musicians and their own platforms.We discuss how Fairplayer works, including its verification process for artists and integrating with other platforms like Mirlo, Faircamp, and more to enhance discoverability and funding for musicians.To learn more about Fairplayer and how to get involved, visit https://fairplayer.bandLorenzo's Music Website - https://www.lorenzosmusic.com

In this episode of Lorenzo's Music Podcast, I meet Johannes Ernst, who is involved with the Unconference FediForum. Johannes is deeply involved in the Fediverse. We delve into the concept of unconferences and how they foster open discussions about technology, and I want to learn how something like this could be created for music. Johannes talks to me about his history in classical music and his involvement with community management, and how he founded the FediForum, a platform for people passionate about decentralized social media to connect and collaborate.We explore the unique structure of unconferences, emphasizing their interactive nature, where participants create the agenda based on their interests. Johannes explains the challenges and opportunities of organizing these events online, especially in a global community. We discuss ways of creating a supportive environment like this for musicians to connect and share ideas in a non-traditional setting.To learn more about the FediForum and upcoming events, visit https://fediforum.orgLorenzo's Music Website - https://www.lorenzosmusic.com

In this episode of Lorenzo's Music Podcast, I meet Brandon Lucas Green, creator of the new site for musicians called Unstream. Brandon tells me about being a musician and also a product builder, specifically his latest project, Unstream. This app helps music lovers discover where to support their favorite artists beyond mainstream streaming services, aiming to help independent musicians financially by sharing their non-streaming platform info.We discuss Brandon's musical background, from classical piano training to alternative rock and experimental genres. Brandon also tells me about his experiences in the tech industry and the importance of transparency in building community-driven projects like this.To learn more about it, visit https://unstream.streamLorenzo's Music Website - https://www.lorenzosmusic.com

In this episode of Lorenzo's Music Podcast, I meet Cory Casciato, also known as Ether Diver. Cory talks about starting out as a music journalist to becoming a musician and also a creator of sample packs and presets for synthesizers. We discuss sound design and the tools he uses to make music for both digital and physical synthesizers.We talk about music interests, from his early influences and what inspires him creatively today, along with his recent music project "Mechanics of Mysticism". We also talk about his community music review project, "Other People's Music," where he reviews independent artists' tracks, to hear new music and connect with the people who make it.For more about Ether Diver's music and projects, visit https://etherdiver.comLorenzo's Music Website - https://www.lorenzosmusic.com

In this episode of Lorenzo's Music Podcast, I meet Jay, who runs the music calendar website mkeshows.com, a community calendar dedicated to showcasing live music events in Milwaukee. Jay talks about becoming involved in the DIY music scene and connecting local artists and audiences through this centralized calendar. We discuss the challenges of show promotions and the innovative use of Gancio, the open-source federated calendar software that powers his site.Jay tells me about his history in the music scene over the years, including his work with various bands like Milorganaut and his involvement in the now-defunct Borg Ward venue. He also shares insights into his new project, Fall Tragedy, and his upcoming tour in Japan. We mention the importance of grassroots efforts in promoting local music and the potential for mkeshows.com to become a great resource for both artists and fans.For more information about Jay's projects and to check out the community calendar, visit https://mkeshows.comLorenzo's Music Website - https://www.lorenzosmusic.com

In this episode of Lorenzo's Music Podcast, I meet Gregory Davis, also known as Tha Silent Partner. Gregory describes himself as a "noisemaker" and talks about his music creation and how he produces.We discuss his latest album, "Platters: The Final Act, The Lost Plates of Egads," and its theatrical elements and compositions. Gregory shares how he crafts his music, using samples from vinyl records, old movies, and TV.Check out Tha Silent Partners releases on Blocsonic - https://blocsonic.com/releases/tha-silent-partner/platters-tha-final-act-tha-lost-plates-of-egadz/Lorenzo's Music Website - https://www.lorenzosmusic.com