Riley Pearce Interview: Touring Australia vs Europe, Songwriting Process & Indie Artist Life

Elizabeth & the Catapult on Writing "Responsible Friend," Grief, and 16 Years in the Music Industry

In this episode, Matt sits down with Elizabeth of Elizabeth & the Catapult to talk about her sixth studio album, "Responsible Friend." Elizabeth shares the story behind the band's name, the emotional weight she carried while writing the record (including loss, illness, and the heaviness of the news cycle), and how a grant called the DAG Prize allowed her to fully produce the album with a band of longtime collaborators rather than writing it alone. The conversation covers a lot of ground: her early classical training and the artists who shaped her ear (Stevie Wonder, Joni Mitchell, Nirvana, and more), how her live performances have evolved to favor improvisation over note-perfect renditions, and the surprising afterlife of her song "Thank You For Nothing," which found its way into an Anne Hathaway film. Elizabeth also gets candid about the realities of being on a major label versus releasing music independently, and offers a piece of advice every young musician should hear before signing a record deal. She closes out with her five required-listening albums for anyone studying songwriting and a look ahead at her tour schedule, including dates opening for Amy Helm and a possible songwriting retreat in the French countryside. Elizabeth & the Catapult's new album "Responsible Friend" is out now. Follow Me On Socials * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fuegostine/ * TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@fuegostine * YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@fuegostine [https://www.youtube.com/@fuegostine] * Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/fuegostine [https://www.patreon.com/fuegostine?utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator]

Arroba Nat: Looking Inward, Healing Out Loud, and the World of "Mirar Adentro"

This week we sit down with Arroba Nat, a Mexican indie singer-songwriter from Zacatecas, just days after the release of their third studio album, Mirar Adentro. It's their most vulnerable work yet — an album born out of therapy, self-examination, and the hard work of learning to believe they deserve love and care. In this conversation, Arroba Nat shares the eclectic musical household they grew up in — Bolero legends like Chabela Vargas and José Alfredo Jiménez alongside Iron Maiden and reggae — and how those influences quietly shaped their sound. They talk about the evolution from writing strictly about relationships with others to finally turning the lens on themselves, the collaborative process behind "Mirar Adentro" with producers German and Ravi, and a songwriting camp in Spain that produced one of their favorite tracks. We also explore the breathtaking visual world they built around the album: an immersive art exhibition where every room represents a song and a feeling, now available to experience online. Plus, they open up about managing pre-release anxiety through therapy, the realities of touring Mexico and Latin America as an indie artist, and the artists they can't stop listening to right now. The message at the heart of everything: you deserve everything you want. Links: 🎵 Mirar Adentro & online art exhibit: https://arrobanat.com.mx/miraradentro/ [https://arrobanat.com.mx/miraradentro/] 📸 Instagram: @arroba.nat Follow Me On Socials * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fuegostine/ * TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@fuegostine * YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@fuegostine [https://www.youtube.com/@fuegostine] * Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/fuegostine [https://www.patreon.com/fuegostine?utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator]

Hana Eid: Stream of Consciousness Songwriting, the Nashville Indie Scene, and Life Behind "Trains Running Backwards"

This week I sit down with Hana Eid, Nashville-based indie rock artist and songwriter behind the acclaimed debut album Trains Running Backwards. At just 23, Hana has already carved out a distinctive voice in the indie alternative space — blending confessional songwriting with a full-band, shoegaze-influenced sound. In this episode, Hana talks about growing up listening to everything from Fish and Rush to Ed Sheeran, how moving to Nashville for college unlocked a whole new sonic world, and how she wrote most of her debut album between ages 19 and 21. She breaks down the story behind "Waldo" (spoiler: it's about being ghosted), her obsessive and hands-on approach to production, and the challenges of balancing touring life with day jobs and a high-maintenance pet rabbit. We also get into her philosophy on social media, the art of writing under your own name, why co-writing is a muscle she wants to flex more, and the five albums she'd make required listening in a music class — including picks from Wilco, Autolux, and Addison Rae. Hana is currently gearing up for a tour supporting Fox Tide and deep in writing mode for whatever comes next. Links: 🎵 Listen to Trains Running Backwards — hanaeid.com 📸 Instagram: @hanaeid Follow Me On Socials * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fuegostine/ * TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@fuegostine * YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@fuegostine [https://www.youtube.com/@fuegostine] * Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/fuegostine [https://www.patreon.com/fuegostine?utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator]

The Animeros on Latin Psychedelic Cumbia, Getting Discovered by Dan Auerbach & Their Debut Album on Easy Eye Sound

Austin-based Latin psychedelic cumbia band The Animeros join the show to share one of the wildest origin stories in recent music. Nick Tozzo and Mauro Maldonado break down how their band formed out of Austin's vibrant Latin music scene, blending psychedelic rock with traditional cumbia rooted in Colombian folklore. We dig into how they grew up along the Texas-Mexico border, discovered Latin music later in life, and developed a sound that draws from everything — punk, jazz, salsa, indie rock, and deep bolero traditions. Then comes the story: playing only their second-ever show at a South by Southwest rooftop gig, Dan Auerbach (The Black Keys) heard them from the sidewalk below, tracked them down through the hotel and the promoter, and flew them to Nashville to record at Easy Eye Sound. Within a week, they'd recorded 20 songs and walked out with a record deal. We talk about what it was like working in Dan's legendary studio, balancing music careers with full-time jobs and family, and what songs from the upcoming album they're most excited about — including the bolero album closer Al Final Del Camino and the genre-bending Traffic Sound cover La Camita. Plus, required listening recommendations spanning The Beatles, Ray Barretto, Willie Rosario, Pink Floyd, Little Joy, and more. The debut album drops in August on Easy Eye Sound. Don't sleep on this band. Topics: Latin music, cumbia, psychedelic rock, South by Southwest, Dan Auerbach, Easy Eye Sound, Austin music scene, bolero, independent artists, music career balance Follow Me On Socials * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fuegostine/ * TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@fuegostine * YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@fuegostine [https://www.youtube.com/@fuegostine] * Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/fuegostine [https://www.patreon.com/fuegostine?utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator]

Pretty Jane on Fuegostine's Music Club at SXSW

I'm joined by the band Pretty Jane at Waterloo Records in Austin, TX as a part of SXSW. We dive into to the backstory behind their EP "Public Intimacy", their new sound, and the effects of AI on the music scene. Special thanks to Waterloo Records for letting us use their space and to SXSW for giving us the ability to have these conversations in Austin! SXSW Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sxsw/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sxsw   Check Out Waterloo Records: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/waterloorecords/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@waterloorecords    Follow Pretty Jane on Social Media: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/prettyjaneband/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@prettyjaneband  Follow Fuegostine On Social Media: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fuegostine/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@fuegostine Follow Me On Socials * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fuegostine/ * TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@fuegostine * YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@fuegostine [https://www.youtube.com/@fuegostine] * Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/fuegostine [https://www.patreon.com/fuegostine?utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator]