196 - Going Back Underground

Jon Harnish Interviews a Robot

Ambient Rushton Podcast #199 features Jon Harnish interviewing a robot. Or maybe it’s the other way around? It’s 13 minutes and 30 seconds. Stick around to the end. It’ll be worth it. Music in this podcast: * The Air in This Room - Mark Rushton & Jon Harnish (2011) * The Water Tower - Ambient Matyk (2009) * Hold Yourself Accountable - Cannabis Unanimous (2026 release) * Ornate Culmination - Mark Rushton & Jon Harnish (2008) * Tactile Music - Mark Rushton & Jon Harnish (2008) * Esker - Mark Rushton & Jon Harnish (2010) * Open Sesame - Mark Rushton & Jon Harnish (2005) * Birds and Dogs - Mark Rushton & Jon Harnish (2005) * Sokol - Mark Rushton & Jon Harnish (2006) * Challenger Deep - Mark Rushton & Jon Harnish (2010) * Seven Sea - Ambient Matyk (2013) This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit markrushton.substack.com [https://markrushton.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

Why I Am Doing a Live Ambient Gig

Talking about doing my first public gig in about 15 years. Why xBk Annex in Des Moines. Why I’m bringing free giveaways of physical media instead of merch. Why I’m promoting it with a zine sent in the snail mail.Link for Rehearsals for the Annex [https://markrushton.bandcamp.com/track/rehearsals-for-the-annex] at Bandcamp, a free 58 minute ambient track by me, or pay what you want. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit markrushton.substack.com [https://markrushton.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

Ambient Shoes - A 20th Anniversary Podcast

I started podcasting around November of 2004 and this is, more or less, my 20th anniversary podcast. Episode 197. But I had the hardest time coming up with a new idea for the show. In the past, I mostly played music and used it as a promotional vehicle for new releases. In the age of streaming and playlists, perhaps that’s not needed anymore, and it should become more of a “talky” podcast - something I’m not used to doing. On Substack, I follow the musician Damien Jurado, and he posted a note about how was tired of listening to podcasts with musicians talking about music. He thought they should talk about different topics, and the one he mentioned was “shoes”. That seemed like a clever idea. It definitely kickstarted my brain. I deliberately made the podcast “low-fi” by using my bluetooth earbuds with my phone in the Skywalk in downtown Des Moines, and walking through 801 Grand, which is super echo-y, and outside in the cold. I’m comfortable leaving voicemails this way, and the quality was “good enough”. It’s a little rough in the beginning, but it does get better. Music during the podcast is by Mark Rushton and is “out there” unless otherwise noted: * Dream State of Floating - from my January 2025 album “Stop Updating” * Stop Updating - the title track of my new album. * Processional * Keep Your Mind Active * Severance * Repair the Web of Time * A Short Walk Inside * A Short Walk Through Peaks and Valleys * Office Ghosts * Midnight Tunnel (by Rushton) * Aleodeological Travel (by Aleodeology) * Downtown Buddhas (by Calmer Feeling) My web site and mailing list is at: https://www.markrushton.com [https://www.markrushton.com] Art gallery and merch is at http://www.markrushtongallery.com [http://www.markrushtongallery.com] Thanks for listening. This was fun. I will try to do this again soon with a different topic. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit markrushton.substack.com [https://markrushton.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

196 - Going Back Underground

Topics: My new ambient album Brighter Curves, composing via live streams, I’m done with Spotify, any interest in physical media like CDs? More about my music on Pond5, DISCO, and the Mark Rushton Gallery. Brighter Curves on Pandora: https://pandora.app.link/dOcUXDspfKb [https://pandora.app.link/dOcUXDspfKb] Stock music at Pond5: https://www.pond5.com/artist/markrushton704?ref=markrushton704 [https://www.pond5.com/artist/markrushton704?ref=markrushton704] Artworks and merch at: https://www.markrushtongallery.com [https://www.markrushtongallery.com] Main web site and contact info: https://www.markrushton.com [https://www.markrushton.com] This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit markrushton.substack.com [https://markrushton.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

195 - Substack

Mark Rushton publishes his 195th Ambient Rushton Podcast, but the first on Substack. A couple of brief, unreleased tracks are in the mix. Start the deep dive at https://www.markrushton.com [https://www.markrushton.com] Mark Rushton Gallery:  https://www.markrushtongallery.com [https://www.markrushtongallery.com] Join my email list:  This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit markrushton.substack.com [https://markrushton.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]