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.com

Lorenzo'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

In this episode of Lorenzo's Music Podcast, I meet Michał Seta and Dirk Stromberg, of Telepaesants. The project is an innovative way for musicians to collaborate across continents. Michal joins us from Canada and has a background in music and technology, while Dirk shares his experiences as an audio engineer based in Singapore. Together, they tell me about the concept of telepresence in music, how they leverage technology to perform and create art remotely.

We discuss their unique instruments, as well as the challenges of collaborating in real-time across different time zones. They share their creative process, including how they utilize open-source software and virtual spaces to enhance their performances. With a mix of improvisation and collaboration.

To check out their work and learn more about their projects, visit their website at https://telepeasants.space and their YouTube channel, Telepeasants.

Lorenzo's Music Website - https://www.lorenzosmusic.com

In this episode of Lorenzo's Music Podcast, I meet Andy Piper, the head of communications for Mastodon, to talk about his involvement with Oggcamp, a unique unconference that runs on collaboration and creativity.

We discuss the origins of Oggcamp, its roots in the Ogg Vorbis audio format, and how it has evolved into an event for tech enthusiasts and creators. Andy explains the unconference format, where attendees can propose topics and engage in discussions that spark new ideas and collaborations. I wanted to ask him about the potential for a similar model in the music industry, where musicians can connect, share, and innovate together.

Andy also talks about his work at Mastodon, and the platform's commitment to decentralization and community-driven content in a federated social network.

For more information about Oggcamp, visit https://www.oggcamp.orgYou can also follow Andy on his blog at https://andypiper.co.uk

Lorenzo's Music Website - https://www.lorenzosmusic.com

In this episode of Lorenzo's Music Podcast, I meet Randy, a musician known as Lime Bar. We talk about how he got back into music after a long hiatus. Based in Indianapolis, Randy discusses how the pandemic reignited his passion for music creation, diving into digital tools and collaborating with other artists on the Fediverse.

He tells me his experiences with MIDI and Cakewalk, reflecting on how technology has transformed music production since the 80s. Randy covers his approach to blending video and audio for his projects. We also cover his involvement with Indie Beat TV, a platform he helped build to showcase indie music videos to support other artists through community engagement.

Check out Lime Bar's music on his website https://limebar.space

And watch videos and more on the Indie Beat TV self-hosted stream https://tv.theindiebeat.fm

Lorenzo's Music Website - https://www.lorenzosmusic.com

In this episode of The Lorenzo's Music Podcast, I meet Timezone LaFontaine, a multimedia artist based in Asheville, North Carolina. Timezone is a Creative Commons musician, animator, and comic creator. We discuss these creative pursuits and how he finds time and inspiration to create.

Timezone tells me about his approach to making music, including his use of spreadsheets to organize album projects and collaborate with other artists from the BlocSonic Netlabel. Plus, we also talk about his latest album, "The Unrealist," and the comic series he’s been developing, "Zoom Bats."

Listen to Timezone’s music on Bandcamp https://timezonelafontaine.bandcamp.com.

Lorenzo's Music Website - https://www.lorenzosmusic.com

In this episode of The Lorenzo's Music Podcast, I talk with Ryno, also known as Ryno the Bearded, a long-time podcaster and passionate supporter of Creative Commons music. Ryno talks about hosting his Creative Commons music podcast for over 15 years, discussing how he celebrates open culture and connects with independent artists around the world every Friday night.

Ryno explains how he curates his extensive library of over 5,500 Creative Commons tracks, how he finds new music, and the importance of supporting independent musicians. Ryno also tries to help the music community by promoting artists.

To check out Ryno's show, visit https://ryno.cc for live streams and archives.

Lorenzo's Music Website - https://www.lorenzosmusic.com

In this episode of Lorenzo's Music Podcast, I meet fluffy, a VR musician behind Sockpuppet. fluffy tells me about their unique approach to music creation, blending genres from alternative rock to EDM. fluffy discusses their experiences performing in VR chat environments, the challenges of hand tracking, and other things involved in virtual performances.

We also talk about Canimus, a project they are working on aimed at creating a decentralized music distribution platform, participating in game jams, and the Trans Academy, where fluffy volunteers as a lead composer.

Sockpuppet website: https://sockpuppet.band

Lorenzo's Music Website - https://www.lorenzosmusic.com