Music And We

Working On Being 'At Peace': A Conversation With Propagandhi's Chris Hannah

(RECORDED ON MARCH 20, 2025) The creation of a podcast (or radio show) is an interesting process; one of the most rewarding parts can sometimes be the most heartbreaking, as you take a lot of chances in hoping the person you've contacted will reach back out to you.  Many times they do, and there are times they don't. 
But you keep on pushing.
And pushing on is what Propagandi has done since the birth of their existence.  Facing rejection, isolation, threats and more over the years, they never waned on their mission to be a musical representation of the 'Animal-Friendly, Anti-Fascist, Gay/Trans/Non-Binary/Intersex-Positive, and Pro-Feminist' voice. 
jamilah has had a relationship with Propagandhi's music for over 20 years (beginning with Less Talk, More Rock), and they have become one of her favorite bands of all time. So admittedly, sitting down and having a conversation with guitarist, vocalist and co-songwriter Chris Hannah was a long-time dream, fulfilled.  
Chris and jamilah discuss a range of subjects, from growing up as punk (and metal) kids in the 80s and 90s, aging bodies and self-care, musical inspirations, subject matter caveats, ideological maturation, current Canada/US relations, parenthood, and more.
Songs featured:
-Fuck The Border (Today's Empires, Tomorrow's Ashes, Fat Wreck Chords, 2001)-Oka Everywhere (Where Quantity Is Job #1 (Compilation), G7 Welcoming Committee, 1998)-When All Your Fears Collide (Victory Lap, Epitaph, 2017)-Haillie Sallasse, Up Your Ass (How To Clean Everything, Fat Wreck Chords, 1993)-Comply/Resist (Victory Lap, Epitaph, 2017)-A People's History Of The World (Less Talk, More Rock; Fat Wreck Chords, 1996)-Apparently, I'm A "P.C. Fascist" (Because I Care About Both Human And Non-Human Animals) (Less Talk, More Rock; Fat Wreck Chords, 1996)-Superbowl Patriot XXXVI (Enter The Mendicant) (Potemkin City Limits; G7 Welcoming Committee/Fat Wreck Chords, 1996)-Dear Coach's Corner (Supporting Caste, G7 Welcoming Committee/Smallman Records, 2009)-At Peace (from upcoming album 'At Peace'; Epitaph, 2025)-Rio De San Atlanta, Manitoba (Less Talk, More Rock; Fat Wreck Chords, 1996)-Cognitive Suicide (Failed States, Epitaph, 2012)-Letters To A Young Anus (Victory Lap, Epitaph, 2017)-Note To Self (Failed States, Epitaph, 2012)
Thanks for listening!
For more information and to keep up with Propagandhi, go to:  https://propagandhi.com/
To get a hold of us, you can reach us here: musicandwejj@gmail.com

On Being A Leftist In The Black Metal World: A Conversation With Brutus Bathory

(RECORDED ON FEBRUARY 28, 2025) Black Metal as a subgenre tends to get a pretty bad rap- not only because of its sound, but also because some of the most well-known proponents have unsavory, toxic and hateful alliances.   On jamilah's search for some counters to this stereotype, she found the Youtube channel of a certain Brutus Bathory, a leftist Black Metal fan who gave an anticapitalist, critical lens to the music he loves. 
Slightly sarcastically described as a channel which discusses "Metal, politics, and other uncontroversial topics," Brutus addresses the contradictions of patriarchy, consumerism, and the various forms of reactionary sentiments and behaviors which permeate the scene.  His commentaries are a measured love letter of sorts; with well-researched, and pretty accessible responses.  While he displays adoration for a music that has gotten him through life, he pleads for its static nature to cease.
In the conversation, jamilah and Brutus discuss some of the content of the commentaries, as well as addressing some of our own personal (at some points major) contradictions regarding the music we love. 
For questions, comments, etc.  you can reach us here: musicandwejj@gmail.com

jamilah Makes A Record, And jesse Interviews Her...

(RECORDED ON JANUARY 20, 2025) Well...  We don't know what to say.  jamilah is usually the one asking the questions, talking to others about the things which inspire them.  Because she recently came out with a record (called One Day I Slipped And Fell On A Thought), jesse had an idea- and to her surprise, that idea was to flip the mic around and ask jamilah some questions. 
She discusses the process for making the record, as well as some of the methods, events and people which inspired her.  Hopefully, the episode is interesting!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
One Day I Slipped And Fell On A Thought is here: https://teodorasfist.bandcamp.com/album/one-day-i-slipped-and-fell-on-a-thought
For questions, comments, etc.  you can reach us here: musicandwejj@gmail.com

Artists Against Apartheid: A Conversation With Savannah Imani Wade

(RECORDED ON NOVEMBER 21, 2024)  As long as injustice exists, there is always a need for artists to respond.  On this episode we speak with Savannah Imani Wade, a member of the Baltimore chapter of Artists Against Apartheid, a collective who's objective is to "commit to using our platforms to challenge at every turn the massive misinformation campaigns waged by those who have a vested interest in the destruction of the Palestinian land and people without fear of repercussions. We dedicate ourselves to standing in solidarity with the Palestinian people and to use our artistic and cultural practices as tools of liberation in the struggle for sovereignty, dignity, and self-determination."
Savannah and jamilah talk about the importance of art collectives in telling the stories of globally oppressed peoples, the importance of not parting with family members due to ideological or political differences, the healing power of music,  the gift of sharing grief, and more! 
Thank you for listening!
For more information, go to https://againstapartheid.art/
For questions, comments, etc.  you can reach us here: musicandwejj@gmail.com
 
 
 

'Soundtrack Of A Revolution': A Conversation With The Internationale (Delila Paz and Edgey Pires)

(RECORDED ON OCTOBER 17, 2024) In the 11 years of doing radio (and now podcasting), jamilah has been experiencing a process of time where increasingly, you have to have some level of notoriety or fame for someone to take the time out to be on an episode of your podcast- or, you have to go through scores of agents and handlers (and sometimes, you don't get a response at all).  We understand that there's an overwhelming amount of media out there currently, and people must be selective.  It's an incredibly humbling experience to be able to converse with someone who is sharing their limited time with us.
The Internationale are no exception.
Quintessentially NYC, Delila Paz and Edgey Pires create music that, from its inception has been decisively anti-racist, antifascist, anti-imperialist and anti-capitalist; they utilize their craft to counter the intersections of classism, racism and misogyny.  Their inspirations range far and wide, from Woodie Guthrie and Buffy Sainte-Marie, to Nina Simone and John Coltrane.  So of course...  we had to talk to them.
And we are certainly glad we did.
Similar to our last episode, this conversation occurred prior to the announcement of Trump's second term presidency, but so much still applies.  Edgey, Delila (both who are incredibly funny) and jamilah discuss everything from moments of fearlessness, the political self-censoring of artists, vanguard/small cadre vs. mass organizing, the limitations of rock lyricism, the moments that inspired a questioning of the system, the misinterpretation of 'revolution',  the experience of being on a major label in transition, appreciation vs. appropriation, where 'protest music' goes wrong under capitalism, (older) rock musicians and fans hoarding the culture for themselves, and most importantly, finding humanity amidst the struggle.
Songs featured on this episode:
-5th World (Soul On Fire, 2019)-1984 (Running For A Dream, 2023)-Freak Revolution (Soul On Fire, 2019)-Bourgeois Blues (New York I Do Mind Dying, 2013)-Life, Liberty, And The Pursuit Of Indian Blood (We Will Reign, 2014)-Try Me (Soul On Fire, 2019)-Workers Of The World- Unite! (Live) (This Bootleg Kills...  Vol 1, 2016)
Thank you for listening! 
For more information on The last Internationale, go to: https://www.tlinyc.com/
Also, For questions, comments, etc.  you can reach us here: musicandwejj@gmail.com

The Role Of An Artist In Troubled Times: A Conversation With Mic Crenshaw

(RECORDED ON OCTOBER 2, 2024)  Interestingly, this is the first episode up since the announcement of Donald Trump's election for a presidential second term; however, despite a bit of time passing in between the recording of this conversation and current events, what was said still applies, since we are living under the same system, regardless of administration.  There may be an argument (or several) that this is not the case.  jamilah and Mic Crenshaw discuss why it is.
Mic Crenshaw is a Portland, Oregon-based artist whose primary vehicle is hip hop, though he has a solid history in the punk tradition.  Much of his life has been spent physically fighting oppressive forces (such as racists) in the streets; in more recent times he utilizes music as a means of education and unity and awareness building, through organizations such as the Afrikan Hip Hop Caravan. 
The topics discussed are (of course) the role of a radical artist, the stupor and deception of U.S. politics, It Did Happen Here (an audio/visual series with Erin Yanke), the positive effects of travel (and the class inequities which prevent it), and more.
Mic Crenshaw’s forthcoming LP, produced by Jonny Cool, entitled True Original (Black Skinhead II) will be out in 2025.
This episode features the forthcoming singles:
-'Retribution' (aka 'Dark Moon') (featuring Toni Hill), produced by Jonny Cool -'Ready' (featuring Toni Hill and Kiloriti Maasai), produced by DJ Trox-'Tiger', produced by Jonny Cool
A video for Ready, shot in Tanzania and Portland Oregon will be released in early December, 2024. He has also organized a band for writing of original material and  live shows called The True Originals.
For more information, go to Mic's socials, as well as https://www.miccrenshaw.com/
Thank you for listening!  For questions, comments, etc.  you can reach us here: musicandwejj@gmail.com

RIP David Sanborn, Gary Floyd and Steve Albini

In this episode, jamilah pays tribute to three influential figures in the music world- genre-defying saxophonist David Sanborn; outspoken vocalist Gary Floyd, and one of the most uncompromising beings to ever get behind a sound board, Steve Albini.  So many are leaving us, but they have left behind the gifts of their music.
 
Thank you for listening.  For questions, comments, etc.  you can reach us here: musicandwejj@gmail.com

The Marriage Of Sports And Music, With Anthony Broome

(RECORDED ON MARCH 15, 2024) While there are connections based on interest of a particular piece of music or band; many of us live lives outside of that singular interest. 
jamilah and Anthony Broome met via the Metal Up Your Podcast community, specifically through the Discord network.  Because life stories are so vast and interesting, jamilah invited him to come on and speak about his experience/history as a sports writer, a forum moderator (Discord being one of those places), and of course, a ginormous fan of Metallica.  How do these worlds merge?  What are some of the challenges that come up?  What are some of the paths to inspiration (and peace among the noise)?
If you're interested in joining the Discord, let us know and we'll get a link to you!  If you have any questions, comments, etc.  you can reach us here:
Thanks for listening!

The 'Giving Flowers' Series (episode 3): Bad Religion (feat. Chris Warne)

(RECORDED ON FEBRUARY 11, 2024) This episode developed from a few situations; jamilah wanted to do an episode on Fugazi (one of her favoritest bands of all time), but could not  necessarily find someone to do that episode with.  As Fugazi has not been a band since the early 2000s, doing a 'Flowers' episode would not have been feasible; however, members of Fugazi have embarked on several projects since then, so hopefully someone will want to do a 'Fugazi: Past And Present' episode with her.   
In terms of the episode you're listening to now; in a conversation that involved Bad Religion (another one of her all-time favorite bands), Chris Warne mentioned that even though he loved Fugazi, he would be more comfortable with doing an episode on BR- and thus, another 'Flowers' episode was born.  As a matter of fact, Chris and jamilah (along with mutual friend Rob) have started a tri-continental band, borne from a love of Bad religion. 
In this episode you will hear music from Chris' (primary) band, Cowboy Dan; you will also hear several covers, where all the instruments and vocals were performed by jamilah.  We also discuss the various ways this band has positively impacted/inspired us- including the results of a very arduous task of compiling eight specific songs.
We hope you find something positive in your listening experience- we certainly had fun doing this!
You can find Cowboy Dan's music here: https://cowboydanmusic.bandcamp.com/music
We'd love to hear from you!  For questions, comments, etc.  you can reach us here: musicandwejj@gmail.com

Podcasts Unite: A Conversation With Clint Wells (Metal Up Your Podcast)

(RECORDED ON FEBRUARY 7, 2024) We are happy to bring in the first episode of the year of our humble little podcast, a conversation with Clint Wells!  You may be familiar with him as the host of Metal Up Your Podcast;  he's also a professional touring and studio musician, a songwriter and producer...  and all-around nice guy.  In this episode, Clint and jamilah pontificate (in humorous, thoughtful and empathetic ways) on the importance of family and community, what makes a good songwriter, the importance of dialog with those who may hold different views, producing Morgan Wade's upcoming album and of course, Metallica. 
Thank you for listening! 
To hear Metal Up Your Podcast, one way of listening is here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/metal-up-your-podcast-all-things-metallica/id1187775077
We'd love to hear from you!  For questions, comments, etc.  you can reach us here: musicandwejj@gmail.com