In 2024, Vermont’s Lutalo released their debut album, The Academy. In this episode of Basic Folk, they share the profound influence of their father, whose deep love for artistry and creativity laid the foundation for Lutalo’s musical path. We delve into the broad variety of their influences, from underground hip-hop to African drumming classes, each shaping their unique sound and approach to music. Lutalo’s candid reflections on their experiences in a private prep school reveal the complexities of navigating expectations…
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Archiving the Heart: Greg Brown on Music, Family, and Throwing Out Old Notebooks
Iowa folk music icon Greg Brown is living that retired life. After playing his farewell retirement concert in 2023, he’s…
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The Reckoning of Montreal Banjo-Witch Kaïa Kater
After banjo player Kaïa Kater attended Americana Fest in 2016, the music industry started telling her she was a part…
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Guster is a Place
Frontman Ryan Miller joins us to talk about all things Guster. From their tried and true collaborative writing process to…
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Finding Freedom in a Flip Phone: John Moreland’s Quest for a Simple Life
I hate surprises. However, Oklahoma’s pride and joy John Moreland surprised us with his latest album Visitor and I guess…
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Claps, Covers, and C’MONs: Inside Barnstar!’s Musical Mischief
Barnstar!, Boston’s premiere kinda bluegrass and definitely bombastic band, has released their new album Furious Kindness and we’re #blessed to…
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Fran & Flora Are Reimagining Traditional Yiddish Folk Music
Two long-time collaborators, cellist Francesa Ter-Berg and violinist Flora Curazon, Fran & Flora, have bonded over their obsession with ancient…
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Relevant, Radical & ROTFL: Billy Bragg, Folk Music’s Political Poet
Billy Bragg joins lizzie and Cindy on-board Cayamo to talk about songwriting, social justice, punk rock and, of course, The…
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Leyla McCalla’s Joyful Rebellion: Sun Without Heat and the Freedom of Play
Singer-songwriter Leyla McCalla and her band (bassist Pete Olynciw, drummer Shawn Meyers and guitarist Nahum Zdybel) join us onboard the…
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Humbird: From Dinner Table Singing to Dismantling White Supremacy
Siri Undlin, better known as Humbird, is a talented singer-songwriter from the Twin Cities with deep roots in Minnesota music…
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