Voice & Verse Podcast

This week I'm joined by Stephen Christian, mastermind behind the project Anchor & Braille and former frontman of Florida alternative rock band Anberlin. Anberlin was a mainstay of the punk and emo scene throughout the 2000s, releasing celebrated albums like Never Take Friendship Personal and Cities; they also had a bona fide hit single, "Feel Good Drag," which went gold and at one point held the record for most consecutive weeks spent on the Billboard Alternative Songs chart. The band broke up in 2014, but Stephen is back with new music. His third album under the name Anchor & Braille, Songs For The Late Night Drive Home, is out this Friday, February 5, and is a phenomenal collection of moody, vibey pop in the spirit of acts like Washed Out and Active Child. I caught up with Stephen to chat about how writing this album was different than past projects, discuss how major labels tend to ruin the songwriting process, dive into some Anberlin songs and much more. Hope you enjoy! -------- Stephen Christian's Twi

Along with his writing partner, Nate Ruess, Sam Means was responsible for making some of the most compelling and forward-thinking pop music of the new millennium as one-half of indie-pop band The Format. The band's debut album, Interventions and Lullabies, produced the minor hit "The First Single" – but the follow-up, 2006's Dog Problems, was an instant classic, blending big band, folk, pop, rock and Broadway into an undeniable blend of fun. Musically, things have been quiet for Sam since the Format disbanded in 2008, but he's back with his first solo album, 10 Songs, set for release this Friday, January 22 – and what a welcome return it is. I sat down with Sam late last year to chat about spreading his musical wings again, his writing partnership with Nate Ruess, our shared love of Third Eye Blind, and much more. -------- Sam Means' Website | Twitter | Facebook 10 Songs on iTunes Voice & Verse Podcast on iTunes | Stitcher | Twitter | Facebook

Episode 041 is a really special one for me, because I'm joined by Steven Page, co-founder and former frontman of Barenaked Ladies and my all-time favorite songwriter. With BNL, Steven's songs—including "Brian Wilson," "If I Had $1,000,000," "The Old Apartment," "It's All Been Done," and more—were undeniable smash hits in the '90s and early '00s. All told, BNL have sold more than 15 million albums worldwide. Since leaving the band in 2009, Steven's been busy: He released a solo album, Page One, in 2010; hosted his own TV show, The Illegal Eater; and has performed with the acclaimed Art of Time Ensemble. Most recently, he's on the road with Art of Time, bringing a re-imagined version of The Beatles' classic Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band to cities up and down the East Coast (tour dates here). He's also readying a brand-new solo album, set for release in early 2016. I sat down with Steven in Fairfax, Virginia, for one of my favorite interviews to date. We discussed his work with Art of Time and how perf

(photo credit: Jade Ehlers) This week, I'm joined by singer, songwriter and actor Max Schneider, known as MAX. You might have seen him out on the road this summer with Fall Out Boy and Wiz Khalifa, or on YouTube, where he's a prolific cover artist. MAX truly does it all. He got his start on Broadway before moving to Nickelodeon, where he starred in the show How To Rock. His new EP, Ms. Anonymous, was recently released on Pete Wentz's DCD2 label, and MAX has a part in the film Love & Mercy, a biopic about Beach Boys legend Brian Wilson. I caught up with MAX to chat about his early days, how rejection at a young age affects his art today, his odd couple friendship with Rancid's Tim Armstrong, and much more. Thanks for listening! ---------- MAX's Twitter | Facebook Ms. Anonymous on iTunes Voice & Verse Podcast on iTunes | Stitcher | Twitter | Facebook

I've had the pleasure of knowing Casey Crescenzo for 11 years, back when he was playing in The Receiving End of Sirens. Since then, he's gone on to become one of the most prolific and praiseworthy songwriters in the scene as frontman and brain trust of The Dear Hunter. In addition to releasing four of the band's six-part Acts series, Casey has penned seven EPs worth of material based on the color spectrum, composed a symphony, and much more. To celebrate the release of The Dear Hunter's new album, Act IV: Rebirth in Reprise, I caught up with Casey to chat about hitting creative roadblocks, the uncharacteristic music path he almost took and how someone who can't read music goes about writing a symphony. Thanks for listening! ---------- Casey Crescenzo's Twitter | Instagram The Dear Hunter's Facebook | Twitter Act IV: Rebirth in Reprise on iTunes Voice & Verse Podcast on iTunes | Stitcher | Twitter | Facebook

Dan Wilson's first hit single came in the late '90s, when his band, Semisonic, released the seminal sing-along "Closing Time" – a song that practically feels like a federally mandated inclusion to any karaoke night. But his songwriting prowess didn't stop there. Overseas, Semisonic enjoyed another smash hit with "Secret Smile," and Dan parlayed that success – along with the desire to branch out and start collaborating with outside writers – into a career as one of the most well-respected songwriters in the industry. Since then, he's worked with everyone from Adele (with whom he wrote the already iconic "Someone Like You") and the Dixie Chicks (netting a Grammy for "Not Ready to Make Nice" along the way) to Weezer, Nas, John Legend, Pink, Dierks Bentley, and many more. His newest solo album, Love Without Fear, was released last year. In this chat, Dan and I discuss why it's best not to toil over a bad song, how his painting passions contrast his day job, Love Without Fear and much more. Hope you enjoy! -----

If you own a TV, odds are you've heard an X Ambasasdors song. This New York quartet have exploded recently, with their hit singles "Jungle" and "Renegades" appearing everywhere from Beats and Jeep commercials to a promo for the 2014 World Cup. But the band are more than just jingle writers; the group's debut album, VHS, is an intoxicating mix of rock, hip-hop, soul and funk anchored by frontman Sam Harris' powerful vocals. On this episode, Sam and I chat about the band's early influences, the proclivity of the Brooklyn music scene to out-indie one another, how his favorite childhood movies colored VHS, and much more. Thanks for listening! ---------- X Ambassadors' Website | Twitter | Facebook VHS on iTunes Voice & Verse Podcast on iTunes | Stitcher | Twitter | Facebook

Good Old War's new album, Broken Into Better Shape, was just released a few weeks ago, but it's already in contention for one of my favorite albums of the year. Combining the band's knack for picture-perfect folk with a newly tuned melodic precision, songs like "Never Gonna See Me Cry" and "Tell Me What You Want From Me" seem destined to find a home on a radio dial near you. But this is the culmination of years of hard work for the Philadelphia-based band; rising from the ashes of Fueled By Ramen act Days Away, Good Old War have been making music together since 2008 and have released four studio albums. They also serve as Circa Survive singer Anthony Green's backing band, which, as you'll hear in this episode, allows them to step outside of the classic Good Old War sound and embrace some weirder tendencies. I caught up with Dan just shortly before the release of Broken Into Better Shape to chat about the band's history, how their work with Green impacts how they approach making music with Good Old War, why y

Frank Iero is best known for his time spent in My Chemical Romance, but the guitarist shouldn't just be defined by that decade-plus period. He's also fronted hardcore band Leathermouth, joined up with My Chem and Get Up Kids keyboardist (and Reggie and the Full Effect bandleader) James Dewees in Death Spells, and, most recently, released an album of solo material under the name FrnkIero AndTh Cellabration. On this episode, Frank stops by to chat about his fantastic new solo album, Stomachaches, how his identity as one of My Chemical Romance's two guitarists has (or hasn't) shaped the music he's written since, how fatherhood has affected his workflow, and much more! ---------- Frank Iero's Website | Twitter | Facebook Stomachaches on iTunes Voice & Verse Podcast on iTunes | Stitcher | Twitter | Facebook

What a thrill it is for me to welcome Guster's Ryan Miller, one of my all-time favorite songwriters, onto the show. I first heard Guster in 2000, but they'd already been making music for nine years at that point. Their 1999 major-label debut, Lost And Gone Forever, pushed them into more mainstream popularity, as did subsequent tours with the likes of Barenaked Ladies and John Mayer. Since then they've been a pop-rock mainstay, releasing four more albums – including 2015's awesome Evermotion. Ryan's also an accomplished composer, scoring for films like Safety Not Guaranteed and The Kings of Summer. We chatted about how his film work has expanded his horizons when it comes to Guster, the best songwriting advice he's ever received, and much more! ------------------- Links: Guster's Twitter | Facebook | Website Evermotion on iTunes Voice & Verse Podcast on iTunes | Stitcher | Twitter | Facebook

You'd be hard pressed to find a more iconic couplet in the early '00s than "He's too stoned/Nintendo," from American Hi-Fi's hit single "Flavor of the Weak." That's why I'm thrilled to have Hi-Fi frontman Stacy Jones joining me on Episode 033. In addition to fronting Hi-Fi – who released their fifth (and really, really great) album, Blood & Lemonade, last year on Rude Records – Stacy serves as the musical director and live drummer for Miley Cyrus, live drummer for Matchbox Twenty, and an acclaimed producer and co-writer. He truly does it all. In this episode, we trace his musical history, learn how a tour with Bush sparked his songwriting skills, chat about how "Flavor of the Weak" began as a joke song, and much more. ------------------- Links: Stacy Jones on Twitter | Instagram American Hi-Fi's Website Summerland tour dates Blood & Lemonade on iTunes Voice & Verse Podcast on iTunes | Stitcher | Twitter | Facebook

We're serving up another blast from the past this week with a deep dive into Gatsbys American Dream's beloved album Volcano. Released on April 12, 2005, Volcano was GAD's debut release for Fearless Records and cemented the Seattle-based band as one of the most intelligent, forward-thinking acts in the scene. The album loosely centered around the story of Pompeii and its volcano, Mt. Vesuvius, while also exploring themes of humanity and emotion in a package that was equal parts mathematical and melodic. To celebrate 10 years of Volcano, I caught up with frontman Nic Newsham to chat about the album's origins, how hearing loss contributed to the overall sound, the odds of an anniversary tour, and much more. ------------------- Links: Nic Newsham on Twitter Volcano on iTunes Voice & Verse Podcast on iTunes | Stitcher | Twitter | Facebook

Photo: Tom Falcone Alex from All Time Low drops by on Episode 031, just after topping both the US and UK sales charts with a brand-new album, Future Hearts. In this hour-long chat, Alex and I discuss our shared musical interests, how his opinions on co-writing have changed over the years, and the singular event that spurred him and his All Time Low bandmates to ditch the covers and begin writing songs of their own. Plus, stick around until the end of the show to find out how you can win a poster signed by All Time Low along with a copy of Future Hearts. Thanks for listening! Links: All Time Low's Website | Facebook | Twitter Alex Gaskarth on Twitter Future Hearts on iTunes Voice & Verse Podcast on iTunes | Stitcher | Twitter | Facebook

On Episode 030, I chronicle the making of one of my all-time favorite albums: The Receiving End of Sirens' Between The Heart And The Synapse. Released on April 26, 2005, Between The Heart And The Synapse was TREOS' debut full-length album – and marked the introduction of newcomer Casey Crescenzo, who stepped into the Boston-based group after original singer Ben Potrykus left the band in 2003. Crescenzo's musical versatility – bordering on genius – was immediately felt, and he pushed his new bandmates to greater musical heights along with introducing the electronic elements that made Synapse such a masterpiece. Balancing three guitars, three adept singers, complex time signatures, and cohesive lyrical content is no easy task, but TREOS made these lofty ambitions look effortless. That's why it remains a favorite of mine a decade later – and inspired bands like Cartel and Panic! At The Disco to push their craft to the next level. To celebrate the album's 10th anniversary, I caught up with old friends Brendan Br

Photo credit: Alex Liscio (Twitter | Instagram) On Episode 029, John O'Callaghan, frontman for Arizona-based rock band The Maine, stops by. The Maine formed in 2007 and quickly became one of the hottest young acts in the late-00s pop-punk/emo scene thanks to a mix of unbridled energy and sugary hooks. That formula landed them a major-label record deal, which, as you'll hear, forced the band into some uncomfortable collaboration situations. Undeterred, The Maine have been a fearless DIY force since leaving Warner Bros. in 2011. They've released three albums under their own 8123 collective – the newest of which, American Candy, was released this past week and finds the band melding the spunk of their early days with mature, socially aware lyricism to create their best work. I called John to chat about his songwriting evolution through the years, how a very unlikely source inspired the sound of American Candy, his reaction to Zayn leaving One Direction, and much more. Plus, stick around until the end of the sh

On Episode 028, Matt from Vertical Horizon calls in for a great chat. As the frontman and chief songwriter of Vertical Horizon, Matt penned some of the biggest hits of the late '90s and early '00s including "Everything You Want" (which eventually hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100) and "You're A God." Scannell formed Vertical Horizon in the early '90s at Georgetown University along with fellow student and songwriter Keith Kane. The duo released two albums, 1992's There And Back Again and 1995's Running On Ice, before signing to RCA for the major-label efforts Everything You Want (1999) and Go (2003). Vertical Horizon's newest album, Echos From The Underground, was released in 2013, and Matt's also been collaborating off and on with renowned songwriters like Richard Marx and Bruce Hornsby. --------- Links: Vertical Horizon's Website | Twitter | Facebook Echos From The Underground on iTunes Voice & Verse Podcast on iTunes | Stitcher | Twitter | Facebook

We're back with another look at an album celebrating its tenth anniversary: The Everglow by Mae. Released on March 29, 2005, The Everglow marked Mae's second release for Tooth & Nail – and an album that to this day remains their most beloved. The Everglow is a rare concept album that doesn't collapse under its own self-importance, instead brimming with optimism and limitless potential while seamlessly marrying indie-rock and emo. The band is celebrating the album's anniversary this year; in January, they embarked on a short tour and will be bringing The Everglow to cities across the country this spring and summer. I caught up with frontman Dave Elkins to chronicle the album's creation, how it catapulted them onto a tour with one of his all-time favorite bands, and to learn a little about the new music brewing in the Mae camp. Enjoy! --------- Links: Dave Elkins on Twitter | Instagram Mae's Website | Twitter | Facebook Schematic's Website | Twitter | Facebook Voice & Verse Podcast on iTunes | Stitcher | Twi

On Episode 026, I sit down with Sam Hollander, an Emmy-nominated producer/songwriter who was one of the true architects of the late '00s emo/pop-punk scene. Boys Like Girls' "The Great Escape"? Yeah, that's Sam. Cobra Starship's "Snakes on a Plane (Bring It)"? Also Sam. Along with his longtime writing partner, Dave Katz (the two dubbed themselves S*A*M and Sluggo), Hollander wrote songs with acts Gym Class Heroes, The Academy Is..., Metro Station, All Time Low, Mayday Parade and many more. These days, he dabbles in different things; more recently, he's penned songs for One Direction ("Rock Me"), Katy Perry ("If You Can Afford Me"), Daughtry ("Waiting For Superman") and Train ("This'll Be My Year"). I caught up with Sam to chronicle his role in the scene's rise, writing with the Baha Men and why his song for One Direction was one of the best – and worst – things to happen to him as a songwriter. Links: Sam Hollander's Twitter | Instagram | Website Voice & Verse Podcast on iTunes | Stitcher | Twitter | Facebo

For our first show of the new year, we're heading back to 2005 to chronicle Motion City Soundtrack's breakthrough album, Commit This To Memory. Released on June 7, 2005, the Mark Hoppus-produced album served as Motion City Soundtrack's coming-out party and established them as one of the strongest acts in the burgeoning pop-punk/emo music scene thanks to songs like "Everything Is Alright" and "When 'You're' Around." To celebrate the album's 10-year anniversary, MCS are embarking on a US tour, during which they'll be playing the album front to back. I caught up with MCS frontman Justin Pierre just days before the tour's first show to reflect on the album's creation, how his songwriting approach has changed over the years, and much more. Links: Justin Pierre's Twitter | Instagram Motion City Soundtrack's Website | Twitter | Facebook Commit This To Memory on iTunes Junkshow Cinema's Website | Twitter Book Narcs' Website | Twitter Farewell Continental's Website | Twitter | Facebook Voice & Verse Podcast on iTunes

This week, I'm joined by Kevin Devine, an indie-rock singer-songwriter from Brooklyn, New York. Since the early 2000s, Devine has been making some of the most forward-thinking (and thoughtful) songs in the folk rock genre, drawing on political unrest and personal heartache alike to create songs that are often beautiful but never boring. He's also a member of indie-rock super group Bad Books, featuring Manchester Orchestra; together, the band has released two albums: 2010's self-titled effort and 2012's II. Last year, thanks to a fervent grassroots fanbase, Devine funded two albums via Kickstarter: Bubblegum—the loud one, produced by Brand New's Jesse Lacey—and Bulldozer, a quieter affair helmed by Rob Schnapf. I caught up with Kevin to chat about crowdfunding, how collaboration has affected his songwriting, why idol worship never really leaves you, and much more. Enjoy! ----- Links: Kevin Devine's Website | Twitter | Facebook | Tumblr Buy Bubblegum and Bulldozer on iTunes She Can See Me 7" via Bad Timing Re