Smouse in the House Podcast Season 5, Episode 9:

Brainerd, MN-based singer-songwriter Kelley Smith’s debut album Moon Child found an immediate audience and plenty of exposure, and now she’s processing that experience and planning the next chapters of her life and music career. Experiences like sitting in Kelley's kitchen and hearing how her surrounding environment has influenced her songwriting are the exact reason this podcast was created.

Smouse in the House Podcast Season 5, Episode 8:

Minneapolis country-folk band The Gated Community’s bandleader Sumanth Gopinath lives just blocks away from the 3rd Police Precinct that burned down during the 2020 protests. He was compelled to write about that tumultuous era in new songs, which fit perfectly with their existing songs and socially conscious perspective as a band. Tom got to hear about the evolution of a band without egos, part of what makes The Gated Community so special.

Smouse in the House Podcast Season 5, Episode 7:

“Bit of a recluse, a naturalist, and about to release something, or so I hear." That's how another artist described Whit Page to our host Tom Smouse. Having heard her perform before, he was immediately piqued to understand her more non-traditional approach as an artist. We had the special opportunity to record her performing two unreleased songs inside her home. You’re about to discover a new artist that you’ll surely want to see live.

Smouse in the House Podcast Season 5, Episode 6: Recently, Tom sat down with local singer-songwriter John Louis, who just so happens to be the former co-owner one of Tom’s favorite venues, The Warming House. While tossing a dog toy for the new puppy and chatting, you can hear the importance John places on the stories that explore the depth of emotions and pain. It’s this skill that brings a healing factor over those that connect with his music.

Smouse in the House Podcast Season 5, Episode 5: Gabriel Rodreick, aka Freaque, revels in the darker crevices of our shortcomings while championing those who live on the fringes of society. Getting to sit inside his home and discuss the process for creating such powerful stories gives us a glimpse inside each of us all, struggling to make sense of an often unforgiving world around us.

In this episode, Tom Smouse visited the home shared by Siri Undlin (aka Humbird) and Luke Callen, two Twin Cities-based artists who each deliver their own unique take on folk music. Both fresh off the release of their newest albums, Humbird and Luke give us an inside peek into two new songs and upcoming tour plans.

Season 5, Episode 3: In this episode, Tom Smouse visited the home of Luke LeBlanc, a Twin Cities musician active since his early teens. Now in his twenties, Luke LeBlanc is one of those storytellers who brings an authentic perspective to everything he writes.

Season 5, Episode 2: Recently, Tom sat down with local 17-year old singer-songwriter Josie Hasnik, aka FINICK, who has emerged in the Twin Cities in a variety of circles and venues, earning recognition for her debut album. FINICK has found an audience with her whimsical indie folk sounds that are infused with real-life emotions.

Season 5, Episode 1: For our inaugural Season 5 episode, Tom Smouse met up with Pine & Fire, aka Jobi Adams and Brandi Foster. A folk duo from the north woods of Minnesota, they discussed their unique blend of traditional roots music with modern punk.

Season 4 Amerigrass, Episode 6: Tom met with Zak Norton and Bronson Bergeson, who together make up Poppa Bear Norton, are a country duo from northern Minnesota and one of seven acts appearing at Amerigrass, a one-day festival taking place October 7 at the Hook and Ladder in Minneapolis.

Season 4 Amerigrass, Episode 5: Tom met with Jarah Sullivan and Julian Edoff of Dellwood inside The Hook and Ladder Theater, the site of the inaugural Amerigrass Festival here on October 7th, and one of the 7 bands performing at the festival.

Season 4 Amerigrass, Episode 4: Tom met up with three members of Wild Horses at the Hook and Ladder Theater in Minneapolis to talk songwriting, musical influences, their origin story and more.

Season 4 Amerigrass, Episode 3: For the third episode I met up with Tyler Pautsch of Americana soul supergroup Ty Pow & The Holy North in the Hook and Ladder Theater.

Season 4 Amerigrass, Episode 2: For the second episode I met up with jam-grass band Buffalo Galaxy in the Nokomis neighborhood of South Minneapolis.

Season 4 Amerigrass, Episode 1: Our first guests are an award-winning Americana act and organizers of the festival. Maygen Lacey and Noah Neumann talk about how their unique sound inspired the creation and lineup of this one-day festival.

Season 3, Episode 10

The beauty of local music is the ability to witness new artists grow, and I feel so honored to have an opportunity to follow the rapid and organic development of Molly Brandt, a truly authentic artist finding her voice and place in our community. Nestled in Lowry Hill on one of the coldest evenings of the year, we discuss her burgeoning songwriting skills, experiencing a dream come to fruition by recently opening for the Cactus Blossoms, and how she navigates the Twin Cities music scene through valuable support from other artists. Molly Brandt is a fresh country voice in a city that is ready for the charm, rhinestone sparkle, and genuine love of music.

Season 3, Episode 9

Ellen Stanley, aka Mother Banjo, and Ben Cook-Feltz are such pillars in our music community, both supporting artists through promotion, live shows, and making music accessible to as many people as possible. Seated downstairs in their home, you can feel the passion they carry in songwriting. It’s a tangible experience where they can pull from places in their past, expressing their experiences in visual ways. Ellen and Ben are also both transplants to Minnesota, so memories of their past environments have proven to be an interesting angle from within their “sandboxes.” Their passion for music and musicians is contagious and inspiring.

Season 3, Episode 8

Possibly my favorite beginning to any of our podcast episodes, I walked right into a magical off-the-cuff song about pancakes performed by Geoffrey Lamar Wilson and his young child playing a cardboard guitar. Surrounded by books and photos of his kids, we chatted about that first spark of joy playing music as a child in the family basement with his dad’s band, how his move to New York influenced his songwriting, and how the move back to his childhood neighborhood in Minneapolis was mindfully intentional. A true triple-threat, Lamar is a gifted saxophonist, guitarist, and even writes podcast theme songs. Join us as we discuss Lamar’s intention to stay grounded in his family and neighborhood while infusing mood, vulnerability, and historically weighted conversations within his music.

Season 3, Episode 7

If you close your eyes and listen to Sister Species, you’ll be able to imagine the home of Emily Kastrul – sprawling plants, DIY home improvements, the gentle give of a wood floor, and a trove of local art surrounding the home. Each song connects to the environment, such as how the Mississippi River and Emily’s backyard garden find their way into the lyrics. An emotionally intelligent songwriter, Emily discusses her process and the prominence place holds in her work. Local band Sister Species continues to avoid being placed in a genre box, and they put in the effort to support others willing to create unique, authentic music.

Season 3, Episode 6

Iowan native Tracey Blake is an enigma to country music. His R&B swagger, admiration for Prince, and student of the Minneapolis sound is a combination that doesn’t immediately make you imagine country music. But in that multifaceted skill set comes an authentic voice that feels all his own. We discuss the ironic importance of the Mississippi by his home, along with how he decides where a song can succeed the most. Oftentimes that means sharing a song with another artist to perform. Beneath the performer is a producer's mindset that cares deeply about the creation and sound of the song. Grab a whiskey and enjoy the chat!