Heart UK

Music Person

A podcast about the music life and the people who live it, by Dylan Tupper Rupert.

Dylan Tupper Rupert & Talkhouse

Join host Dylan Tupper Rupert as she experiences her first Newport Folk Festival, during the weekend of July 24-26, 2026. 

Featuring musings, appearances, and performances by/about: 

Jenn Pelly, Eleanor Petry, Kareem Rahma, Hayley Williams, Remi Wolf, Wednesday, Madi Diaz, Morgan Nagler, Medium Build, This Is Lorelei, Victoria from the street, Ben from the crowd, the I Hate Mayonnaise Guy, Gillian Welch, David Rawlings, Tyler Ballgame, Styrofoam Winos, Ryan Davis and the Roadhouse Band, Dove Ellis, Kelly Taylor, Father John Misty, Kathleen Edwards, Case Oats, Spencer Tweedy, Ian O’Neill from Deer Tick, Mavis Staples, Nathaniel Rateliff, Kevin Morby, Waxahatchee, Amy Helm, Joan Baez, Brandi Carlile, John C. Reilly, and Dave Matthews.

Follow Music Person on Instagram at @musicpersonpodcast.

Subscribe to the Music Person Quarterly on Substack. It's a listening companion to the podcast that takes you even deeper into the music life. Featuring playlists, album reccs, guest posts from music friends, Dylan's blog, and behind-the-scenes insights.

Find more illuminating podcasts on the ⁠⁠⁠⁠Talkhouse Podcast Network⁠⁠⁠⁠. 

Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠talkhouse.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ to read essays, reviews, and more. 

Follow @talkhouse on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter (X)⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠.
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Newport Folk Festival 2026 Scene Report

Wendy Eisenberg of New York City. Wendy and Dylan discuss craftsmanship, the loneliness of the suburbs, toxic dynamics in the jazz scene, subversion, Bambi, “respecting someone’s hustle,” the tension between relief and subversion, permission, and what if the Minions covered John Anderson. 

+ Wendy offers a letter of recommendation.

Artists & spaces we mentioned:

Greg Freeman, Zoh Amba, Cat Power, Lily Seabird, Jazz is Dead, Jiji’s Jazz Club, Femme Jam Session, John Hartford, Willie Nelson, Bobbie Gentry, Patsy Cline, John Anderson, Mekons, Simon Fisher Turner, Judee Sill, Joanna Newsom.

Follow Music Person on Instagram at @musicpersonpodcast.

Subscribe to the Music Person Quarterly on Substack. It's a listening companion to the podcast that takes you even deeper into the music life. Featuring playlists, album reccs, guest posts from music friends, Dylan's blog, and behind-the-scenes insights.

Find more illuminating podcasts on the ⁠⁠⁠⁠Talkhouse Podcast Network⁠⁠⁠⁠. 

Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠talkhouse.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ to read essays, reviews, and more. 

Follow @talkhouse on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter (X)⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠.

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Wendy Eisenberg

Sean Monaghan of Stud Country, from Los Angeles, California. Sean and Dylan discuss the history of queer country dancing, coming out of the closet (as alternative), trainhopping, sprung dance floors, collective movement, the role of tradition within subcultures, making space welcome for elders, folx dancing, Irish dancing, and freegans.

+ Sean answers a listener advice question. 

Artists we mentioned:

Connie Frances, Connie Fucking Frances, Shannon and the Clams, Hit Bargain, Cold Beat, Grass Widow, Rough Francis, Death, Jerry Garcia, Vince Gill, Dixie Chicks, Shania Twain.

Follow Music Person on Instagram at @musicpersonpodcast.

Subscribe to the Music Person Quarterly on Substack. It's a listening companion to the podcast that takes you even deeper into the music life. Featuring playlists, album reccs, guest posts from music friends, Dylan's blog, and behind-the-scenes insights.

Find more illuminating podcasts on the ⁠⁠⁠⁠Talkhouse Podcast Network⁠⁠⁠⁠. 

Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠talkhouse.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ to read essays, reviews, and more. 

Follow @talkhouse on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter (X)⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠.
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Stud Country (Sean Monaghan)

Zoh Amba from New York City and Kingsport, Tennessee. Zoh and Dylan discuss reclaiming Tennessee pride, fireflies, reinvention, devotional music, seeking wisdom within artist interviews, and keeping what’s precious close to your chest. 
+ Zoh gives a letter of recommendation. 

Artists we mentioned:
Wednesday, Michael Chapman, Bridget St. John, Jim White, the Dirty Three, Jason Molina, PJ Harvey, Courtney Barnett, Kim Gordon, Joan Jett, Kim Deal, Le Tigre, John Prine, Drive By Truckers.

Follow Music Person on Instagram at @musicpersonpodcast.

Subscribe to the Music Person Quarterly on Substack. It's a listening companion to the podcast that takes you even deeper into the music life. Featuring playlists, album reccs, guest posts from music friends, Dylan's blog, and behind-the-scenes insights.

Find more illuminating podcasts on the ⁠⁠⁠⁠Talkhouse Podcast Network⁠⁠⁠⁠. 
Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠talkhouse.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ to read essays, reviews, and more. 
Follow @talkhouse on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter (X)⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠.
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Zoh Amba

Swamp Dogg from the San Fernando Valley, CA. Swamp Dogg and Dylan discuss his status as cult legend of soul music, the country and Americana scene embracing his legacy, his friendship with John Prine, his cure for the male loneliness epidemic, his ceaselessly chirping smoke alarm, his late wife Yvonne’s steadying influence, and what it takes to sustain a music career over seven decades.

+ Swamp Dogg gives a letter of recommendation. 

++ Bloopers. 

Artists we mentioned:

Gene Pitney, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Margo Price, John Prine, Willie Nelson, Jenny Lewis, Gary “U.S.” Bonds, Moogstar, Guitar Shorty, Bon Iver. 
Follow Music Person on Instagram at @musicpersonpodcast.

Subscribe to the Music Person Quarterly on Substack. It's a listening companion to the podcast that takes you even deeper into the music life. Featuring playlists, album reccs, guest posts from music friends, Dylan's blog, and behind-the-scenes insights.

Find more illuminating podcasts on the ⁠⁠⁠⁠Talkhouse Podcast Network⁠⁠⁠⁠. 
Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠talkhouse.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ to read essays, reviews, and more. 
Follow @talkhouse on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter (X)⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠.
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Swamp Dogg

To celebrate Music Person’s very first birthday—June 18—Dylan Tupper Rupert answers your questions for a change! About music, scenes, phones, life, lore, live…laugh..and love…

+ Dip gives a letter of recommendation.



Happy birthday, little podcast.



Thank YOU for listening to Music Person, the elite question-asking podcast about indie music.



Follow Music Person on Instagram at @musicpersonpodcast.



Subscribe to the Music Person Quarterly on Substack. It's a listening companion to the podcast that takes you even deeper into the music life. Featuring playlists, album reccs, guest posts from music friends, Dylan's blog, and behind-the-scenes insights.

Find more illuminating podcasts on the ⁠⁠⁠⁠Talkhouse Podcast Network⁠⁠⁠⁠. 

Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠talkhouse.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ to read essays, reviews, and more. 

Follow @talkhouse on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter (X)⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠.


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Ask Me Anything: Music Person’s 1st Birthday Edition

Hannah Frances from Vermont. Hannah and Dylan discuss musician towns versus band towns, longing for the shire, loose pants, her career paths of healer vs. astrologer vs. musician, a Saturn return analysis, Hejira as a musical compass, the connection between EMDR therapy and guitar, and family.

+ Hannah gets something off her chest.



Artists we mentioned:

Jenn Wasner aka Flock of Dimes, King Tuff, Lily Seabird, Greg Freeman, Jessica Pratt, Joanna Newsom, Allegra Krieger, Kevin Copeland, Daniel Rossen, Grizzly Bear, Steely Dan, Neil Young, and some we cannot name.



Follow Music Person on Instagram at @musicpersonpodcast.

Subscribe to the Music Person Quarterly on Substack. It's a listening companion to the podcast takes you even deeper into the music life, featuring: playlists, album reccs, guest posts from music friends, Dylan's blog, and behind-the-scenes insights.

Find more illuminating podcasts on the ⁠⁠⁠⁠Talkhouse Podcast Network⁠⁠⁠⁠. 

Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠talkhouse.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ to read essays, reviews, and more. 

Follow @talkhouse on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter (X)⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠.
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Hannah Frances

Charlotte Cornfield from Toronto, Ontario. Charlotte and Dylan discuss being Wilco Teens, the Toronto aughts music scene, finding permission in Lucinda Williams’ memoir, the logistics of bringing your baby on the road, her group chat of working musician mothers, 
+ Charlotte answers a listener advice question.

Artists we mentioned:
Friendship, Neil Young, Lucinda Williams, Wilco, Broken Social Scene, Stars, Arcade Fire, Joni Mitchell, Bob Dylan, the Cure, David Bowie, Finom, Feist.
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Charlotte Cornfield

Kyle Thomas of King Tuff from Brattleboro, Vermont. Kyle and Dylan discuss foundational powerpop classics, returning to his Vermont homeland, memory lane, orbs, Bigfoot, UFOs, playing Ringo Starr’s birthday party, and Carvel Cake’s Cookie Puss.
+ Kyle answers a listener advice question. 

Artists we mentioned:
The Nerves, Modern Lovers, Happy Birthday, Kevin Morby, Hand Habits, Sasami, Shannon and the Clams, Hunx and His Punx, Feathers, WITCH, Crazy Band, Mika Miko, Robber Robber, Greg Freeman, Lily Seabird, Rough Francis, the Beatles.
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King Tuff

Kevin Morby from Los Angeles, CA and Kansas City, MO. Kevin and Dylan discuss butterflies, his return to Los Angeles, the nuances between Kansas and Missouri culture, his life with partner and fellow songwriter Katie Crutchfield, a canon of indie musicians who play the long game, examining your own mythos, Elvis, and tennis.

+ Kevin gives a letter of recommendation.

++ Kevin asks the Magic 8 Ball on Dylan’s coffee table some questions.



Artists we mentioned:

David Berman/Silver Jews/Purple Mountains, Hand Habits, Woods, Lou Reed, Bruce Springsteen, Tom Petty, Joan Baez, The National, Taylor Swift, Waxahatchee, the Babies, Geese, Elvis Presely.
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Kevin Morby

Luke Temple of Los Angeles, CA. Luke and Dylan discuss advocating for yourself as an artist, taking War on Drugs and Big Thief on the road as openers, the distinction between being a studio guy versus a road guy, Krautrock changing your brain, time travel, plus: a heady argument regarding Dylan’s bread and butter (music criticism, and lyricism). 

+ Luke gives us a letter of recommendation.

Artists we mentioned:

Here We Go Magic, Grizzly Bear, War on Drugs, Big Thief, Deerhoof, Mike Watt of Minutemen, Haroumi Hisono, Arthur Russell, Happy Mondays, Lizzie Mercier Descloux, Grace Jones, Robert Palmer, Talking Heads, Allegra Krieger, Life Without Buildings, West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band, Morphine, Dinosaur Jr., Lemonheads, Cameron Winter, Geese, Neu!, Cass McCombs, Neil Young, Lou Reed.
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Luke Temple

Jenn Wasner of Flock of Dimes from Los Angeles. Jenn and Dylan discuss touring with Bon Iver versus playing basement shows, aging with intention as a female artist, being your own creative engine, and writing about addiction and codependence.

+ Jenn answers a listener advice question. 

Artists we mentioned:

Sylvan Esso, Bon Iver, Wye Oak, Madeline Kenney.


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Flock of Dimes

Brian of PHILM (@phishonphilm) from Durham, North Carolina. Brian and Dylan discuss the connection between jam band culture and indie rock, how people (guys) treat music like sports, the realities of being a  prolific music poster, AA, the fickle algo, and sticking your neck out online for what you believe in.

+ Brian gives us a letter of recommendation.

Artists we mentioned:

Phish (obviously), Grateful Dead (obviously), Ex-Cops, John Siket, MJ Lenderman, the Doors,  Nina Simone, Silver Apples, Spoon, Ween, Steely Dan, Ben Lee, Ninajirachi, Sumé.


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PHILM

Folk Bitch Trio from Melbourne, Australia. 

Folk Bitch Trio and Dylan discuss what it actually looks like to break into America as Aussies, housing espresso martinis at SXSW, meeting your bandmates at age twelve, astrology, formative cultural artifacts, and growing up as Gleeks.

+ Folk Bitch Trio gets something off their chest.

Cultural references we mentioned:

Michael Jackson, Glee, Step Up, Grumpy Cat, the Lashes, Hannah Montana, the Beatles, Rocky Horror Picture Show, Blues Brothers, Nancy Sinatra, Mary Poppins, Billy Elliott, Hairspray, Electric Light Orchestra, Amyl and the Sniffers, Nirvana, Frank Sinatra. 
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Folk Bitch Trio

Greg Freeman from Burlington, Vermont. 

Greg and Dylan discuss the Burlington music scene, Delta Blues YouTube wormholes, the Northeast, the strangeness of the artistic statement, and Greg’s Saturn return. 

+ Greg gives us a letter of recommendation.

Artists we mentioned:

Greaseface, Robber Robber, Dari Bay, Lily Seabird, Rockin’ Worms, Fugazi, Bill Callahan, The White Stripes, Son House, Neil Young, the Beatles, Bob Dylan. 
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Greg Freeman

Toody Cole of Dead Moon, Pierced Arrows, and the Rats from Portland, Oregon. Recorded live onstage at Treefort Music Fest on March 26, 2026. 

Dylan and Toody discuss her life as a pioneering woman in punk, love at first sight, homesteading in the woods, building a punk house temple from scratch and salvaged scrap, raising children, how the grunge era hit different in middle age, and continuing the legacy of her late husband Fred Cole.

Artists we mentioned:

Dead Moon, Pierced Arrows, the Rats, Range Rats, the Weeds, the Lollipop Shoppe, the Wipers, Nirvana. 


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LIVE at Treefort: Dead Moon (Toody Cole)

Buck Meek of Big Thief from Los Angeles, CA. 



Buck and Dylan discuss growing up in Texas Hill County amongst guitar legends, channeling youth with older legends, unpacking the mythology of Big Thief’s relational intelligence, working alongside your ex-wife, your current wife, and your brother, wearing suits, and regional BBQ. 

+ Buck answers a listener advice question. 



Artists we mentioned:

Big Theif, Slim Richey, Django Porter, Brandon Gist, Lucinda Williams, Laraaji, Tucker Zimmerman, Adrianne Lenker, James Krivchenia. 


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Buck Meek

Florence Shaw of Dry Cleaning from South London, England. 

Florence and Dylan discuss the difficulties of international touring, what your brain feels like on art school, black plastics, wanting to become a horse, reaching an associative songwriting state, and riding the bus as an idea-generating machine.

+ Florence gets something off her chest.

Artists we mentioned:

Cate Le Bon, Ryan Davis, Black Midi, bar italia, Jeff Tweedy, Elton John. 




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Dry Cleaning (Florence Shaw)

Join Dylan as she catches up with a hit parade of music friends from the 2025 season of Music Person! Cozy up by the fire (or whatever) for a warm chat as we take a fond look back at our best music memories of 2025, and look ahead to a very exciting 2026.   

Featuring: Ryan Davis, Aaron Dowdy of Fust, Madi Diaz, Esther Rose, Georgia Maq, Merce Lemon, and a surprise holiday visit from Lily Seabird. 

Happy New Year, Music People! Thank you for listening. 

We’ll be back soon!


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The 2026 New Years Eve Special

The final installment of a 3-part travelogue mini-series exploring the music life in the Hudson Valley, New York. 



For this very special Christmas Eve episode, Dylan sits down with Dan Littleton and Elizabeth Mitchell of the band Ida, and their daughter, singer-songwriter Storey Littleton have a wide-ranging discussion about the multigenerational experience of living the music life. Starting off in the DC punk scene of the 80s, to the indie rock scene in Brooklyn in the 90s and early aughts, to moving to Woodstock in the before times (pre-cell phone).  They discuss how the lore of Woodstock drew Dan and Elizabeth there, how Storey found her own voice growing up in the shadow of musical giants, and the differences between growing up in an artist colony-style small town versus an industry city.

Artists referenced in this episode:

Ida, the Hated, The Band, Levon Helm, Amy Helm, Bad Brains, Michael Hurley, Happy Traum, Larry Campbell, Ronnie Spector, the McGarrigle Sisters, Tsunami, Simple Machine Records.


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A Postcard from the Hudson Valley, Part 3: The Littletons

Part 2 of a 3-part travelogue mini-series exploring the music life in the Hudson Valley, New York. 

Maya Bon and Ryan Albert of Babehoven from Hudson, New York.

Maya, Ryan, and Dylan discuss the seasonality of creativity, moving from the West Coast to the Northeast, gardening, doing a ton of drugs in old age for fun, unconventional wedding brainstorming, Hilma af Klint, and water.
+ Music journalist Jenn Pelly takes Dylan to a sitar concert at a secret ashram.
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A Postcard from the Hudson Valley, Part 2:  Babehoven

A 3-part travelogue mini-series exploring the music life in the Hudson Valley, New York. 

Hannah Cohen of the Catskill Mountains, New York, featuring Sam Evian.

Hannah and Dylan discuss building the residential recording studio of your dreams, connecting to the seasons, small town living forcing you to grow up, and the music community in and around Woodstock today.
+ Dylan, Jenn Pelly, Olivia Bee, and friends take a swim at Colgate Lake, and visit Big Pink.
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A Postcard from the Hudson Valley, Part 1:  Hannah Cohen featuring Sam Evian at Flying Cloud

Daniel Bateman of Frog from New Rochelle, New York.

Dylan and Daniel discuss fathering twins, working in film production, cult fandom, improvisation, and whether New Rochelle is the best city in the entire world.

Artists we referenced:
Uncles, Count Basie, Weirs, Ariel Pink, Holy Shit, Girls.
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Frog (Daniel Bateman)

S.G. Goodman from Murray, Kentucky.

S.G. and Dylan discuss slow burn careers, connections between manual labor and songwriting, mental health and life on the road, how a Southern Baptist kid becomes a Calvinist teenager, and spreadin’ them toes out all across the nation.

Artists we referenced:
Tyler Childers, Erin Rae, the Savage Radleys, Fust.
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S.G. Goodman

Ryan Davis of Ryan Davis and the Roadhouse Band from Louisville, Kentucky. 

Dylan and Ryan discuss music life in the Southern Midwest, being a reluctant entrepreneur, Air Guitar by Dave Hickey, how much the UK loves literary songwriters, being embarrassed by your vision addiction, and cracking the case.
+ Ryan gives a letter of recommendation.

Music stuff we referenced:
Sophomore Lounge Records, Cropped Out Festival, State Champion, Fust, David Berman and Silver Jews, Greg Mendez, Elliot Smith, Townes Van Zandt.
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Ryan Davis

A scene report from Dylanfest 2025.

It was on August 2nd, on Orcas Island, in the San Juan Islands of Washington State. It was a weekend-long mini music festival produced by Dylan, in collaboration with Jay Blackington and Jocelyn Cecil of Houlme, and R.J. Myers and Ali Boe of Alder Vulture. Live sound was by Caleb Turner at Going Left Sound. Check out @dylanfest on Instagram for more.

(Dylanfest is the name of any show that Dylan produces, but, like, this one is the main one.)

Artists we referenced:
Bellflower, Lily Seabird, Thomas Dollbaum, Jeffrey Silverstein, Squirrel Flower, Dean Johnson, Gillian Welch, Lucinda Williams, the Replacements. 
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Dylanfest 2025

Madi Diaz of Nashville, Tennessee.
Madi and Dylan discuss her rural homeschooled childhood to her Philly punk scene adolescence, fucking around songs and finding out songs, post-breakup shame, tabbing out, the real artists of Nashville, and faith. 
+ Madi answers a listener advice question.
Artists we referenced:
Allison Kraus, Mannequin Pussy, Turnstile, Japanther, Lightning Bolt, Marren Morris, Brothers Osborne, Kacey Musgraves, Tennille Townes.
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Madi Diaz

Melina Duterte of Jay Som from Los Angeles, CA. 
Melina and Dylan discuss her pandemic pivot to music production, distinctions between the algorithm and OG social media, the Bay Area, the changing landscape of indie success, how love helped her music career, and b*dr**m p*p.
+ Melina answers a listener advice question.
Artists we referenced:
boygenius, Chastity Belt, Bachelor, Routine, Whitmer Thomas, Vagabon, Lucy Daucus, Phoebe Bridgers, Julien Baker,  Fenne Lilly, Al Menne, Sour Widows, Blonde In Car, Lala Lala, Lucinda Williams, My Bloody Valentine, Mini Trees, Craft Spells, Molly Burch, Bethany Cosentino, Alex G, Caroline Polacheck, HAIM.
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Jay Som

Esther Rose from Santa Fe, New Mexico. 

Esther and Dylan discuss her early hip-hop and techno influences, her divorce jumpstarting her musical career, being too weird for roots music and not weird enough for indie rock, quitting drinking, and Dylan drinking so much coffee she starts spilling tea.
+ Esther answers a listener advice question. 

Artists we referenced:
J Dilla, The Deslondes, Dean Johnson, Adrienne Lenker, Wednesday, Hurray for the Riff Raff, Video Age, Jack White, Bella White, Cameron Winter, The Lostines, Chris Acker, Duff Thompson, Twain, Mashed Potato Records, Bonnie Raitt.
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Esther Rose

Greg Mendez from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 
Greg and Dylan discuss preferring recording to performing, ripping up moldy drywall, his partner V, feeling attuned to your city, the verbose and depressive songwriter-addict canon, and the isolation and connection that comes from making music. 
+ Greg gives a letter of recommendation. 
Artists we referenced: 
Shannon Moser, Amelia Cry Til I Die, Sadurn, Soup Dreams, Townes Van Zandt, David Berman, Elliott Smith, Maria Saint Maria.
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Greg Mendez

Dylan goes to the Hopscotch Music Festival in Raleigh, North Carolina in September 2025.
Dylan discusses North Carolina, aquatic animal-based band names, the scene at the Sheraton Hotel, alcoholic Gatorade, Southern man chaos in stereo, shrimp, boring angels, BeerTeq, and “feeling inevitable.”

Artists we referenced:
Frog, YHWH Nailgun, Weirs, Pat Keen Band, Thomas Dollbaum, Greg Mendez, Geese, Cameron Winter, Villagerrr, Merce Lemon, Florry, This Is Lorelei, Hemlock, Little Mazarn, Superchunk, Sluice, Libby Rodenbough, Mipso.
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Hopscotch Scene Report

Aaron Dowdy of Fust from Durham, North Carolina.
Fust’s latest album, Big Ugly, is out now on Dear Life Records. 


Aaron and Dylan discuss the map of North Carolina indie rock, getting his PhD at Duke, where to find the best Guinness in the Triangle, and finding your people through music.
+ Aaron gets something off his chest. 


Artists we referenced: 
Drive By Truckers, Thomas Dollbaum, Merce Lemon, Friendship, Tomberlin, Weirs, Sluice, Wednesday, the Mountain Goats, Hiss Golden Messenger, Florry, Dead Gowns
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Fust (Aaron Dowdy)

Dean Johnson from Seattle, WA. 
His new album, I Hope We Can Still Be Friends, is out now.

Dean and Dylan discuss launching his solo career breakthrough in middle age, Seattle neighborhood micro-scenes, the New Orleans Americana scene, and tales from the frontlines of Dylanfest. 
+ Dean gives a letter of recommendation.

Artists referenced: 
Fleet Foxes, Band of Horses, Iron & Wine, the Moondoggies, Sera Cahoone, Ryan Davis and the Roadhouse Band, Chris Aker, Esther Rose, The Deslondes, Steph Green, Duff Thompson
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Dean Johnson

Georgia Maq from Melbourne, Australia and now Los Angeles. 
Her new EP, God’s Favourite, is out September 4, 2025.

Georgia and Dylan discuss Georgia being a nurse in the pandemic, discovering her post-Camp Cope solo sound, spirituality, Erewhon, fathers, altruism, cosmetic surgery, personality transplants, Steely Dan, cursive singing, and Waffle House.
 + Georgia gets something off her chest.
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Georgia Maq

Greg Rutkin of Night Club 101 and Baby’s All Right in New York City. 

Greg and Dylan discuss the current cultural moment in NYC, the legacy of Billy Jones, SUNY Purchase as a music scene petri dish, real talk about career prospects in the indie music industry, the literary versus music undergrounds, and looking like a human flute.

+ Greg answers a listener advice question.
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Greg Rutkin’s New York City Scene Report

Francie Medosch of Florry from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 

Francie and Dylan discuss Zyn, silliness, being a Last Waltz truther, discovering the underground through Bandcamp, and being tired of sad indie rock music.
+ Francie gets something off her chest.
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Florry (Francie Medosch)

Zack Borzone of YHWH Nailgun and Sha La La from New York City.

Zack and Dylan discuss speaking in tongues, imagination, poetry, the relationship between faith and noise, and finding agency as a kid in DIY scenes.
+ Zack gives a letter of recommendation.

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YHWH Nailgun (Zack Borzone)

Indigo De Souza from Marshall, North Carolina, and now Los Angeles. 
Her new album, Precipice, is out July 25, 2025. 

Indigo and Dylan discuss losing her home in Hurricane Helene, the magic of Los Angeles, and her inner child.
+ Indigo answers a listener advice question.
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Indigo De Souza

Rachel Brown of Water From Your Eyes from New York City.

Rachel and Dylan discuss the Water From Your Eyes/This Is Lorelei/Fantasy of a Broken Heart extended universe, being Paul Bank’s wedding band, passions for both corn and Korn, and NYC DIY. 

+ Rachel gets something off their chest. 
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Water From Your Eyes (Rachel Brown)

Merce Lemon from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. 
Her album Watch Me Drive Them Dogs Wild is out now. 

Merce and Dylan discuss growing up amongst adult artists, city nature, swimming, youth, grief, and wooden spoons. 
+ Merce gets something off her chest.
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Merce Lemon

Molly Burch on leaving music to start PICNIC Studio, a progressive art space for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, in Pasadena, California. 

Follow PICNIC Studio and Molly Burch on Instagram. 

Molly and Dylan discuss joy and self-doubt, real talk about the indie music business, learning when and how to pivot your whole career, and the delights of working with developmentally disabled artists. 

+ Molly gives us a letter of recommendation. 
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Molly Burch

Karly Hartzman of Wednesday from Asheville, North Carolina. 
Wednesday’s new album, BLEEDS, is out September 19, 2025. 

Karly and Dylan discuss being an introverted observer writer girl type, the merits of staying in your local scene, complicated feelings about Los Angeles, and Karly’s breakup with partner and bandmate MJ Lenderman. 
+ Karly answers a listener advice question.
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Wednesday (Karly Hartzman)

Dylan Tupper Rupert is a music writer, podcast host, and producer in Los Angeles. You might know her as the host of KCRW's Lost Notes: Groupies, or as the producer fka Producer Dylan of Bandsplain.

This spring, her new show Music Person is coming to the Talkhouse Podcast Network—where she'll have in-depth conversations with musicians and brilliant people in the greater music ecosystem, and will sometimes maybe even go on an adventure.

So here's a sneak peek—Dylan's diary of her week in Austin for South By Southwest. 
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2025 SXSW Scene Report

Coming June 18: a new podcast from writer and producer Dylan Tupper Rupert about music people and the lives they lead. Featuring interviews with Karly Hartzman of Wednesday, Indigo De Souza, Molly Burch, and more to come. 
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