Tag: BGS 5+5

BGS 5+5: Olivia Barton

Posted on by Justin Hiltner

Artist: Olivia Barton
Hometown: Maitland, Florida
Latest Album: For Myself and For You (released October 10, 2025)
Personal Nicknames (or rejected band names): Liv

What’s your favorite memory from being on stage?

Last year I played my second ever headline show in Philly. Kind of everything was going wrong… The venue was weird, you could hear Mariachi music playing from the kitchen my whole set, the sound guy was (you guessed it) an asshole. But there were about 40 of the most passionate, present, beautiful fans there with me. And during this one song called “Fun” they started singing the lyrics so loud on the second verse and I just lost it. Sometimes I can miss beautiful moments like that, because it’s almost too much to take it in – but this was too good to miss. I started sobbing, like genuinely crying really hard, and they sang the whole verse for me. It was magical.

Which artist has influenced you the most – and how?

Carole King. She and James Taylor were among the handful in constant rotation in my house growing up. There’s a “chicken or the egg” situation here – do I relate to her because she shaped me, or did I gravitate towards her because I already had similar qualities within me? She’s earnest. She’s not trying to sound smart or unique. She’s saying it like it is and saying it with her chest. She’s gritty and sensitive. No fluff. Songwriting over production, always. Sometimes heartbreaking, sometimes fun, most of the time both. I have a lot to learn from her still.

What other art forms – literature, film, dance, painting, etc. – inform your music?

I love abstract art. I’ve never considered myself to have synesthesia, but I do feel colors when I write. There’s this one abstract artist that’s done a lot for my music. Their name is Brit Chida and we’ve become friends. They make abstract art (mostly watercolor) coupled with their writing on trauma, queerness, finding joy – kinda everything. The first song on my record is called “There’s a Part of Me That Was Never Injured,” which is the title of one of Brit’s paintings. The painting and the title inspired me to write a song based off of that idea. Our deep friendship began from me asking their permission to use it.

If you didn’t work in music, what would you do instead?

Cook! My very favorite person is Julia Child. I’ve read and watched everything there is to read and watch about her. That’s more about me relating to her whole philosophy on creating than it is about me loving to cook, but I do also love to cook. I love food so much and I also associate my mom with cooking. When I was in high school she would light candles and pour a glass of wine and put on Norah Jones and sauté stuff without knowing what she was doing. So I do that now (without the wine) and if I wasn’t a musician, I think I’d go to cooking school and have dinner parties with my friends.

What is a genre, album, artist, musician, or song that you adore that would surprise people?

Charli XCX. I mean, not totally a surprise, who doesn’t love her? But I have thought a lot about what it is about her music that I’m so drawn towards since our genres couldn’t be more different. I’ve landed on the fact that her records (particularly Brat) are direct, minimal, brave, candid, bare, and liberating. I would say those are all things I strive to do in my music too. But beyond all that, Charli teaches me how to have fun.

Photo Credit: Blaire Beamer

BGS 5+5: We Met In June

Posted on by Justin Hiltner

Artist: We Met In June
Hometown: Currently living in Sogndal, Norway
Latest Album: Going Home (released September 19, 2025)

What was the first moment that you knew you wanted to be a musician?

I remember my dad and I driving through Minnesota when I was about eight years old. He had bought Fleetwood Mac’s collection CD so we’d have something to listen to and we played it over and over again. I became completely obsessed and that’s when I found a deep interest in music. I knew I wanted to do what Stevie Nicks and Christine McVie were doing. – Sara

I think I was around seven when I saw the music video for “The Final Countdown” by Europe and I thought the guitar solo by John Norum was the coolest thing ever. I remember thinking, “I want to do that someday!” I’ve also always looked up to my dad, who’s a great guitar player. He was the one who introduced me to acoustic music and bluegrass, which has been the greatest gift. – Gjest

Genre is dead (long live genre!), but how would you describe the genres and styles your music inhabits?

We’d say it’s a blend of singer-songwriter, folk, Americana, and pop. Some journalists in Norway have called our music “Nordicana,” which is basically a Nordic take on Americana. We’re inspired by a lot of ’70s music like Fleetwood Mac, Jackson Browne, Crosby, Stills & Nash, and we also love Kacey Musgraves and the whole Nashville country-pop scene.

On top of that, we listen to a lot of acoustic music like Alison Krauss & Union Station, Gillian Welch, Nickel Creek, Molly Tuttle, etc. Our acoustic guitar playing is very influenced by those bands and the sound on our new record is a dreamy mixture of acoustic guitars, sometimes mandolin and banjo, plus drums, bass, keyboards, and synths. – Gjest

Which elements of nature do you spend the most time with and how do they impact your work?

Living on the west coast of Norway surrounded by mountains and fjords has given us a strong bond with nature – it’s part of our everyday life. I start every morning with a walk to clear my head and get some fresh air. It always seems to lift my mood a bit. – Sara

And then there’s the weather – we get a lot of cold, rainy days here, which makes it easier and more natural to stay inside and play music, write, and practice. We’ve been to Nashville, for example, and it’s hard to understand how people get anything done in that heat! – Gjest

If you didn’t work in music, what would you do instead?

I’d probably be a veterinarian. It used to be my dream before We Met In June. In Norway it’s really difficult to get into veterinary school and I’ve actually applied every year since high school just to see if I’d get in. This summer, for the first time, I was accepted – and I have to admit, it hurt a little bit to turn down the spot. [Laughs] – Sara

I honestly have no idea. As a kid, I thought excavators were the coolest thing, but I probably wouldn’t be good at anything else. I’m just glad I get to do music. – Gjest

What’s one question you wish interviewers would stop asking you?

We appreciate all questions, but there’s one that always comes up: “What’s it like being a couple and working so closely together?”

We get why people are curious, but for us it feels completely natural to spend so much time together. And, honestly, if you’re going to work that closely with someone, why not do it with your favorite person in the world? Of course it’s not without challenges, like any partnership, but most of the time it’s an advantage. That said, we could definitely be better at taking breaks – it’s music 24/7! – Sara

Photo Credit: David Zadig

BGS 5+5: Elexa Dawson

Posted on by Justin Hiltner

Artist: Elexa Dawson
Hometown: Emporia, Kansas
Latest Album: Stay Put (released September 12, 2025)
Personal Nicknames (or rejected band names): A lot of my friends call me Lexy

If you had to write a mission statement for your career, what would it be?

“Music is Medicine.” My songs and the ideas behind them are almost always in response to a heartache or mental puzzle that I find myself working out through lyrics and music. Some of my most positive and uplifting songs were written during times when I was experiencing a lot of hopelessness and depression. The songs are medicine for me, first, and then it’s a privilege to get to share these songs with people who reflect that healing effect back to me.

The most common comment I get from audiences is that they were able to cry during my set and, while that’s not what I set out to do, I lean into it, because in our Potawatomi traditions, tears are healing waters that need to flow through our bodies to help us move on beyond difficulties. So really, it’s an honor to be able to guide someone through an emotion like that.

Which elements of nature do you spend the most time with and how do they impact your work?

I’ve always been obsessed with food, foraging, and natural medicines, so I’d have to say plants. They are older than us humans and they remember how to survive through experiences that haven’t happened to them, but happened to generations before them, which is fascinating to me. They work with mycelium, the fungal strands that transmit messages and food through the soil network between their roots.

“Roots Grow” is all about how roots support life in darkness, and how important compost is to life, which teaches me what to do with the dead and decaying parts of myself that need composting. Plants are one of my greatest teachers.

What’s the most difficult creative transformation you’ve ever undertaken?

This is an interesting question, because the creative transformations that I’ve already undertaken are in hindsight. The obstacles have been overcome and the one I’m currently staring down is always the one I’m having the most difficulty with. The perennial theme is that there is always a tense relationship between the creation of music as a cathartic human exercise and the presentation of the music to the music industry and fans.

I think there’s always an insecurity that the artist feels when they put out new things. With Stay Put being released, I’m feeling simultaneously on edge about reviews and immensely proud of this really unique and singular moment in my creative process where Peter Oviatt (Moonflower Sounds) and I were able to create something that I think stands out, whether the response is as big as I think is deserved or not. I create for myself, but who doesn’t want to see their name on a chart?

If you didn’t work in music, what would you do instead?

I’d be working with the land more and hopefully not alone. I’ve got a degree in sustainable agriculture and while I love my messy garden outside my house, I would love to work with a team on a farm. I started a nonprofit called Good Way Gardens where we produce a monthly lawn concert series that’s free and open to the community and provides access to our educational garden spaces where we grow a lot of pollinator-benefitting plants, as well as a lot of native plants like the four sisters (corn, beans, squash, and sunflowers). It has been on a very small scale and we are working to increase our capacity for next year. So really, I found a way to put music and gardening together, which is a dream come true.

Since food and music go so well together, what is your dream pairing of a meal and a musician?

I’m a big Walnut Valley Festival evangelist. I’ve been attending this bluegrass festival in Winfield, Kansas, for 27 years. My all-femme bluegrass-adjacent vocal group, Weda Skirts, is performing on the main stages for the fourth year in a row. That’s where Heyleon, another group I’ve had the pleasure of recording a lot of material with, was born.

Food and music are all over that place there and one of my campmates is famous for his smoked meat. At the time of my writing this, the festival is approaching and I have to say my perfect pairing is Dusty’s bacon and a jam session at my campsite, which is home to Weda Skirts and also members of The Dewayn Brothers, Bad Chuck and the Bad Dreams, The Bennett Brothers, and Cowgirl’s Train Set. I am also really looking forward to sitting in the grandstands, eating a big plate of greek salad and dolmas, and watching John Depew Trio on Stage 1, who are friends and also phenomenal players. It’s their first time on the big stages and I’m ecstatic that more folks will be able to hear their genius. Winfield is home, and I can’t wait to go back.

Photo Credit: Jordan Storrer, Lifeleak Visuals

BGS 5+5: SAVNT of Ghost Hounds

Posted on by Justin Hiltner

Artist: SAVNT (lead singer of Ghost Hounds)
Hometown: Englewood, New Jersey
Latest Album: Almost Home (released by Ghost Hounds in March 2025)
Personal Nicknames (or rejected band names): Sav

What’s your favorite memory from being on stage?

My favorite memory from being on stage was back in 2018. A close friend of mine, Mitchell Lee, asked me to help him close his show at Music Farm in Charleston, South Carolina. I sang a song which we now know as “You’ll Never Find Me,” on our album Almost Home. By the time I got to the second chorus of the song, people were vibing so much that they were singing the chorus back to me. To witness a song no one had heard before make such an impact – that will forever be one of my favorite memories.

Which elements of nature do you spend the most time with and how do they impact your work?

Water is the element in nature I connect to the most. When I start writing a song, I am either walking in the rain, washing dishes, taking a shower, or standing by a body of water, and that’s when inspiration comes to me the most.

What’s the most difficult creative transformation you’ve ever undertaken?

Stepping into this new space as the lead singer of Ghost Hounds has been the most difficult yet rewarding creative transformation I’ve ever undertaken. As a solo artist you are often told to pick one lane, stick to it, and simplify your words so people can understand you; that doesn’t really work for someone like me, who is not only inspired by many genres of music and appreciates great storytelling.

With Ghost Hounds, I get to move wherever inspiration takes me. I get to explore my love of soul, folk, rock, blues, and country without apology. After coming from a world that was so restrictive, this type of freedom can be scary and you may feel like you are out of place. But with the support of my bandmates I realize the more authentic I am, the more real the music feels – in a world that teaches us to hide our emotions, this music thrives when you expose them.

What is the most random interview question you’ve ever been asked?

The most random question I’ve been asked was, “Is cereal a soup and is a hot dog a sandwich?”

If you were a color, what shade would you be – and why?

If I was a color I would be a shade of electric blue – the color of Iron Man’s heart piece. It reminds me of lightning and, for whatever reason, it makes me feel extremely powerful, like a storm.

Lead Image: Ghost Hounds by Allister Ann. Alternate image: SAVNT by Sergio Colon.

BGS 5+5: Lauren Lovelle

Posted on by Justin Hiltner

Artist: Lauren Lovelle
Hometown: Newton, Kansas
Latest Album: My EP, Other Dreams, released September 9!
Personal Nicknames (or rejected band names): Lolo or Lo. I really liked the band name “Lauren Lovelle and the Matter Babies,” too.

Which artist has influenced you the most – and how?

I’ve always been mesmerized by Linda Ronstadt’s voice, and the passion she channels when singing. She pours her entire heart out. Every song she ever sang felt like it was completely her own.

What’s your favorite memory from being on stage?

My favorite memories onstage are with my dad’s band as a child. There is something supernaturally special about making music with kin. I started playing with him when I was four. The memories of my father and grandpa teaching me to play and perform pass through my mind to the soundtrack of that ABBA song, “Thank You For the Music.”

“Thank you for the music, the songs I’m singing/ Thanks for all the joy they’re bringing… Thank you for the music, for giving it to me.”

What other art forms – literature, film, dance, painting, etc. – inform your music?

I absolutely love to dance. It’s so necessary and healing. Just like my therapist would tell me to do with emotions, I like to identify where exactly I feel the song in my body. It can be powerful to share the emotional embodiments of the songs with the band to help us communicate and feel it as a unit. Sometimes, I write something that I feel in my legs and feet and it makes me want to stomp and strut around the stage. Sometimes I write something in my shoulders and chest and it makes me feel like I’m floating. Sometimes the song springs from my gut or hips where it feels more natural to dig my feet in, staying planted and upright.

If you didn’t work in music, what would you do instead?

I’m a nursing school dropout. I was a CNA for awhile, so I could’ve likely continued down that path. I always told my mom I’d be a truck driver so I could listen to music and sing in the car as loud as I want all day. But when I was old enough to find out they can’t smoke weed, I decided that was no longer in the cards for me.

Since food and music go so well together, what is your dream pairing of a meal and a musician?

It’s simple, but listening to Hank Williams and eating beans or chili and cornbread feels right. I have done it before on purpose and by accident. Real cowboy meal. Makes me feel close to my grandpas.

Photo Credit: Deanie Chen

BGS 5+5: Diane King

Posted on by Justin Hiltner

Artist: Diane King
Hometown: Nashville, Tennessee (grew up in Beverly, Ohio)
Latest Album: SKY (releasing September 19, 2025)
Personal Nicknames (or rejected band names): D-Music

Which artist has influenced you the most – and how?

I actually have five or six artists who have had a big influence on my songwriting and artistry. But, to pick one: it’s Olivia Newton-John. I heard her song, “Let Me Be There,” on our country radio station in southeastern Ohio when I was around 8 years old. I remember it vividly. We had just pulled into the grocery store parking lot as the song began to play. I asked my mom if we could listen to it before going into the store. She happily obliged and, at the end of the song, the DJ said, “That’s Olivia Newton-John,” and my life was changed.

Specifically speaking to her musical talents, the two things I love most are her beautiful voice and her flawless harmonies. I love vocal harmony and her albums are full of them! But, Livy is so much more to me than a singer or musical artist. In addition to loving her angelic voice, I love her kindness and gentle spirit. And, frankly, she was a light for me. As a young girl, I watched her career and accomplishments and I knew there was something outside of the hills where I was growing up.

Here’s an interesting story. When I was working with Harlan Howard we were going to lunch one day and he asked me who I received my “calling” through. I remember just looking at him and pausing, because I hadn’t known anyone before who understood that, receiving your calling to music through another artist. I knew exactly what he meant. After pausing, I said, “Olivia Newton-John,” and in my mind I reflected back on that day in the car at 8 years old, listening to “Let Me Be There.” Harlan nodded and said, “Yep! I met her once; she was a sweetheart and a great singer!” He proceeded to tell me he received his calling through Ernest Tubb over the radio listening to the Opry in a barn loft in Michigan. It was a moment, for someone to fully understand how another artist can have such profound meaning in your life. That person for me is Olivia Newton-John.

What’s your favorite memory from being on stage?

My favorite memory is going to be when I stand in the circle of the Grand Ole Opry to sing my songs on the live show for the first time!

What’s the most difficult creative transformation you’ve ever undertaken?

I had a five-year battle with and recovery from lymphoma. I had a significant amount of trauma to my neck and throat with multiple procedures and surgeries in that area. Once I finally turned the corner on that cancer battle and the healing began, my voice performed differently. That has been and still is a big adjustment for me. Singing is certainly not as easy as it used to be “BC” (before cancer, as I call it), but I keep at it! I’m so grateful to be writing, singing, and recording again!

What is a genre, album, artist, musician, or song that you adore that would surprise people?

These are some songs that will likely surprise you that stop me in my tracks when I hear them. When they’re playing, I have to stop whatever I’m doing and just listen and be in the song. I can’t function in any other way.

“Uptown Funk” – Bruno Mars
“Nessun Dorma” – Aretha Franklin
“Dancing Queen” – ABBA
“Play That Funky Music White Boy” – Wild Cherry
“Shake It Off” – Taylor Swift
“Shoop Shoop” – Whitney Houston
“Simply the Best” – Tina Turner
“Addicted to Love” – Robert Palmer
“Deborah’s Theme” – Chris Botti

Since food and music go so well together, what is your dream pairing of a meal and a musician?

I so love this question! I can’t even tell you how many times my co-producer, Stephan Oberhoff, and I would use food metaphors to communicate with each other what we wanted to hear when recording a song. Such as me saying, “Stephan, it needs to sound more lush, like a creamy, rich alfredo sauce with a subtle hint of salt.” Or, “Can you make it sound warmer – it needs a dash of nutmeg.” So, yes, I agree that food and music go well together, in many ways! To answer your question: Dolly Parton and fried chicken (with some spice) and waffles with real maple syrup, a side of mashed potatoes with butter, sweet iced tea, and a piece of homemade apple pie a la mode!

Photo Credit: Misti Fahr

BGS 5+5: Remedy Tree

Posted on by Justin Hiltner

Artist: Remedy Tree
Hometown: Umatilla, Florida
Latest Album: Beyond What I Can See (releasing September 12, 2025)
Personal Nicknames: Abigail – Abi; Gabriel – Gabi;  Nathan – NayNay; Isaac – Dehydrated And Decaffeinated.

(Editor’s Note: Answers provided by Gabriel Acevedo)

What’s your favorite memory from being on stage?

2024 EMS Spring Bluegrass Fest in Brooksville, Florida, with Chris Henry and Steve Leonard. We got to open for the SteelDrivers and worked tirelessly to put on our best show and production together with props, a late night pre-show, etc. Watching it come to fruition with the perfect vibe and watching everyone dance was very inspiring.

What rituals do you have, either in the studio or before a show?

I used to not have any and it started to affect the show, coming up feeling unprepared and frantic. Nowadays I try to have about half an hour before shows to slow myself down. Laying on my back on the ground, doing vocal warmups. Also ashwagandha gummies. We all kind of just hang out and relax and try to be as chill as possible.

What’s the most difficult creative transformation you’ve ever undertaken?

Becoming a bluegrass band recognized in the industry as such. Funny enough, this upcoming album exemplifies the most difficult creative challenge: Creating a proper bluegrass album while staying true to our flavors and background. Remedy Tree was born within the old-time and folk world. Bluegrass has a formula that must be learned and perfected and that’s one reason why it’s so beautiful. Being on a bluegrass label having recorded much of the album live feels amazing. It’s been so surreal.

What’s one question you wish interviewers would stop asking you?

“So where does your band name come from?” This is unfair, I know, but it’s the most frequently asked question and I never have a good answer for them. The name came from me brainstorming names for hours and using a series of random word generators. I didn’t even like it at first, and then it stuck!

What is a genre, album, artist, musician, or song that you adore that would surprise people?

Being Puerto Rican, I think Latin elements will enter our music sometime, subtly. I don’t know when, but that’s a part of me that is bound to show itself at some point.

Photo Credit: Tucker Joenz

BGS 5+5: Bonnie & the Mere Mortals

Posted on by Justin Hiltner

Artist: Bonnie & the Mere Mortals
Hometown: Avella, Pennsylvania
Latest Album: Take Me to the Moon (available August 29, 2025)
Personal Nicknames (or rejected band names): I get Bonald a lot. Bon Bon, Bonners, Bonnie Romano.

What’s your favorite memory from being on stage?

Two years ago for our Halloween show, I looked out in the crowd and saw a complete stranger scream-singing along for the first time. As an artist, I constantly question what I’m doing. This is a hard path we’ve chosen that can beat you down a lot, but you can’t fabricate that moment. You’ve reached someone, you touched their lives in some way. I’ve since had that experience dozens of times and have even gotten to do a Bonnie & the Mere Mortals tattoo on a fan, but you never forget your first.

What other art forms – literature, film, dance, painting, etc. – inform your music?

I truly think the difference between art forms is no wider than the difference of medium: oil or watercolor? Everything is how you choose to express your idea. I have a literature degree and I grew up in an abandoned coal town; I wanted to make music the way Southern Gothic writers like Michael McDowell made me feel. Southern Gothic is often seen as just slow Americana in a minor key, but I wanted to expand that thinking to include my experience growing up in a Southern Gothic tableau. I also dress up like a drag queen because I want the Mere Mortals to be as visual as we are musical. Our presentation is always firmly tongue-in-cheek because every murder ballad has a punch line and I never think you should take yourself that seriously.

What’s the most difficult creative transformation you’ve ever undertaken?

When I was growing up, it was the golden age of pop-country. Miss Shania Twain, Garth, the Chicks? Everywhere. I grew up on the values of Hank and “Raise Hell, Praise Dale.” Post 9/11 though, I really started to resent my upbringing. I discovered the Cure, Queen, and Bowie, and put aside Ralph Stanley. I moved to the city, came out as queer, and started a metal band. I never truly felt fulfilled though. I felt I had to hide a part of myself that made up so much of my character.

It wasn’t until I heard Gillian Welch for the first time that I started to dive back into myself and realized that I wasn’t really making art authentically. I bought a banjo and started to learn clawhammer. I rediscovered so many loves I had put aside and I began to feel myself again. I realized that what I loved about the Smiths was the same thing I loved about Jason Isbell, and I couldn’t see why they shouldn’t go together. Some of my folks couldn’t understand the transition, but they certainly do now.

What would a perfect day as an artist and creator look like to you?

Film an episode of The Muppets as a special guest and then head over to Dolly’s house to cook her a pasta dinner.

If you didn’t work in music, what would you do instead?

My day job for the last 15 years has been working as a tattoo artist. I co-own a shop in Pittsburgh called the Kindred Spirit Tattoo Co. It can be hard making it as an artist on both sides of the sun, but I feel so grateful I get to do two things I love so much.

Photo Credit: Veronica Baron

BGS 5+5: Cole Quest and the City Pickers

Posted on by Justin Hiltner

Artist: Cole Quest and the City Pickers
Hometown: Brooklyn, New York
Latest Album: Homegrown
Personal Nicknames (or rejected band names): CQCP, incorrectly called: Cole West and The City Slickers. Holding out for Cold Cuts and The City Pickles.

(Editor’s Note: Answers provided by Cole Quest.)

What’s your favorite memory from being on stage?

One of my favorite memories was from our inaugural tour to Germany in 2023. It was a 20+ day adventure and for many in the band it was their first time traveling internationally. I was beyond excited – and equally nervous – leading up to and during the trip, running through the millions of things that could go wrong along the way.

But as we traveled, we were met with packed venues, heartfelt appreciation, and as close to “fandom” as we’ve ever experienced. It was unforgettable.

We closed the tour with four days in the small German town of Rudolstadt, which had swelled to 90,000 visitors and over 20 stages for the Rudolstadt World Music Festival. We played several sets and gave a handful of radio interviews, each appearance building momentum as more fans and followers came out to support us. Our final performance was the big one. Right before we walked on, I gathered the band into a circle and shared a heartfelt moment to thank them for everything that led to us being there. With tear-filled eyes, I stepped on stage just as the emcee finished our introduction to a billowing applause and a spontaneous rendition of “Happy Birthday.” It was my birthday – and I couldn’t have imagined a better way to celebrate it.

What other art forms – literature, film, dance, painting, etc. – inform your music?

I often find it hard to tell where others’ art ends and mine begins. We’re all products of our surroundings and, in my case, those surroundings have always been steeped in art.

My parents had a modern dance company for many years. My grandmother was a founding member of the Martha Graham Dance Company. My grandfather was Woody Guthrie. My great-grandmother, Eliza Greenblatt, was a Yiddish poet. My late aunt Ann Cooper was a painter. The list goes on – and that’s just on my mother’s side.

In our house, many hours were spent discussing what creative expression looks like and the different forms it can take. Having these conversations growing up really pushed my creative boundaries and ways of thinking. I often attribute sounds to colors (chromesthesia) and wonder if that came from these open discussions. I believe all of the art forms influence everything about my life all the time, including my music.

How often do you hide behind a character in a song or use “you” when it’s actually “me”?

I find I actually do the opposite – and quite often. I find myself writing about “me,” putting myself in someone else’s shoes. I find I often use songwriting as an excuse to shift my own perspective – not necessarily to a “better” perspective – but more as exercise to deeper understand things from different angles. For example, “Plane Wreck At Los Gatos” or “Jolly Banker.”

I’m heavily influenced by my grandfather in that way. Growing up, it’s something I’ve always noticed about many of his writings and grew up understanding that to be the norm. It made sense to me, to use songwriting as a tool for greater understanding and gaining a broader perspective.

Since food and music go so well together, what is your dream pairing of a meal and a musician?

I’m not much of a food connoisseur, but I am a fan of good company and good conversation over a slice of cheesecake or a latke. My dream meal would be showing up to downtown Brooklyn’s famous cheesecake establishment, Junior’s, for a late night slice with Stevie Wonder.

To set the scene, Junior’s is basically a classic NYC diner including bright Broadway-style lighting outside, brown and orange vinyl booths, and your food order comes with the best-in-town complimentary beets, coleslaw, and pickles. The main difference is its exceptional desserts and historic presence. Because its location is a central hub of Brooklyn, it’s a true “mosaic of Brooklyn” according to the third-generation owner. The late-night crowd often includes folks coming in after seeing a concert nearby, locals looking to put a few back, families who missed “dinner time,” or the seasoned regulars appreciating a delicious milkshake.

I can’t think of a better spot to sit down and pick Stevie’s brain about all of his songwriting, his lyrical prowess, his thoughts on love, social issues, and anything part of the human experience.

If you didn’t work in music, what would you do instead?

I’ve spent many hours of my life as a computer programmer – and still do – but deep down, I’ve always wanted to drive what I call “the big square.” I want to drive big vehicles: coach buses, school buses, 18-wheelers, and RVs. It’s not that I crave the long hours behind the wheel, which is why I’ve never made it a profession; part of me wants to just spin the big steering wheel and navigate these oversized boxes in narrow and small spaces. I have no idea why.

Between other jobs, I’ve thought about getting my commercial license, but it just hasn’t happened yet. For now, I live vicariously through the 18 Wheeler: American Pro Trucker arcade game.

Photo Credit: Benton Brown

BGS 5+5: Grain Thief

Posted on by Justin Hiltner

Artist: Grain Thief
Hometown: Boston, Massachusetts
Latest Album: House of the Dog (out August 1, 2025)

Genre is dead (long live genre!), but how would you describe the genres and styles your music inhabits?

We’ve sort of faced the “genre-bending” thing throughout our career, so by now you’d think we’d have a good idea of how to summarize ourselves and our music. The beauty is, though, that we don’t really have to put ourselves down for a genre for anything more than maybe a drop-down menu or an intake form.

We’re from Boston, Massachusetts, an area that’s not typically known for its bluegrass scene (think Aerosmith, Dropkick Murphys, and Marky Mark). But through playing together in the early stages, we landed on this instrumentation that would be typical for a bluegrass band. So, does that make us a bluegrass band? Not really.

We welcome our individual musical backgrounds into our collective creative process. Alex (fiddle) went to school for classical music while Mike (bass) played drums in a punk band. Zach (mandolin) grew up in the PNW old-time scene while Patrick (guitar) studied English and developed a knack for songwriting. Tom (resonator) is a hell of an electric guitar player and is ready at the drop of a hat to play any iconic lead guitar riff that you might’ve just made reference to. We’re a mess. Sometimes, it’s a beautiful one.

What this all translates to is that we have a wide range of musicality within our crew and we allow all of that into our creative process and see what we come up with. Sometimes that could be called bluegrass or maybe even derivative of classical. Sometimes it’s lyrically poignant while other times it’s an angsty punky notion. Sometimes it’s, “This bridge kind of sounds like Weezer!” Thankfully this process has allowed us to grow a wide audience and allows for opportunities that are inside and outside of the bluegrass genre.

What other art forms – literature, film, dance, painting, etc. – inform your music?

We’re a group of friends who are all just about the same age, so we’ve all grown up along the same cultural timeline – regardless of the fact that we all first met in our 20s. When we’re making any kind of cultural references together, whether satirically or literally, things generally land with the other band members. We all watch similar series and movies and someone might make a reference from childhood that’s stood the test of time. Other times we’re in the van looking for things to talk about and someone asks, “Hey have you seen Dune 2 yet?” while the odd-man-out immediately goes straight to “earmuffs” mode.

We’ve got hobbyist photographers and not-so-hobbyist visual artists within the group, so we share our work and inspirations with each other which leads to art direction brainstorming for band projects (album art, merch, etc). Many of us enjoy literature and some of us can barely read music. Not bad! While we haven’t necessarily organized the thought before, we certainly draw inspiration from other art forms and that spills into our music and our relationships together as bandmates.

What rituals do you have, either in the studio or before a show?

Prior to making a record we generally go away for a few days (as much as time allows for) while we are on a break from playing shows to take a creative writing retreat. This has taken place now before our albums Gasoline (2020) and House of the Dog (2025), which are the two from our catalog of the past few years that are complete original compositions. This time together allows us to get away from the outside world and work distraction-free and it allows a significant amount of time for creative collaboration or to bring works to the group for arranging. This time together also acts as an opportunity to share meals together, check in, strengthen friendships, and generally just appreciate the role that we collectively play in each others’ lives.

If you didn’t work in music, what would you do instead?

Sadly we all have other jobs, too. Yay music industry life of 2025! Among us are skilled computer programmers, web developers, carpenters, general contractors, bartenders, sound engineers, CAD engineers, teachers, and more. Is anybody hiring for those positions? It’s literally no rest for the wicked. Yet here we are and we are grateful that there is still a place for being a professional musician in our lives at all.

We try to really make it count when we get to do this, and it has never felt like something that we have to do.

Since food and music go so well together, what is your dream pairing of a meal and a musician?

We’ve all got excellent taste in both food and music, so it’s going to be hard to pick a single pairing that would apply for all of us. Sometimes we can’t all even decide on the same place to eat on the road. But, I’ve got two words that are abundantly clear with this one: “Jerry” and “Dogs.” So, probably a night of grilling hot dogs to the soundtrack of Grateful Dead bootlegs.

Photo Credit: Lead image by Toan Trinh; alternate image courtesy of the artist.