A longtime icon of New York City's roots-rock community, Emily Duff has spent her career blurring the lines between rock & roll, soul, roadhouse country, and punk. She's been a solo artist. A bandmate. A multi-instrumentalist who strums the guitar, plays the cello and writes her own string arrangements. But above all else, Emily Duff has been — and always will be — a songwriter. 

"If you ain't composing, you're decomposing," she says. "I like to keep myself moving and keep myself writing. I usually write one song a day. It's been that way for years."

Duff’s songs emphatically nod to the sounds that first captivated her attention as a child during the 1970s. Raised in Queens and Long Island, she gravitated toward the era's roots legends and soul singers: Kris Kristofferson, Aretha Franklin, Willie Nelson, Janis Joplin, Johnny Cash, Al Green, and countless others. Don't Let Go turns that rich tapestry of sound into fuel for something original, with Duff delivering a collection of heartland rock anthems, folksongs, barn burners, gothic murder ballads, soulful love songs, and everything in between. 

If Duff's previous albums explored different corners of her musical personality — the Muscle Shoals-sized R&B of Maybe in the Morning, the gospel grit of Hallelujah Hello, the punky rock & roll of Razor Blade Smile — her newest work returns the artist to her roots.

And who, exactly, is Emily Duff? She's a street-smart New Yorker who traded mix tapes with Lou Reed during her 20s and struck up a musical partnership with Gary Lucas, the experimental guitarist who performed with Captain Beefheart's Magic Band before launching his project, Gods and Monsters. When the band's original lead singer, Jeff Buckley, left the lineup to launch his meteoric solo career, Duff stepped in as his replacement. Before long, she'd left that band and formed another group, Eudora, whose mix of Americana instrumentation and baroque textures earned them a gig opening for Bob Dylan and Paul Simon. But, despite the momentum, Duff longed to do something even more personal. By the time she launched her solo career during the 2000s, she'd already lived a life rich in experience and eclectic music, which lent a mature perspective to her songs. 

From the stage of CBGB’s — where she played her first show — to the confines of her 340 square foot Greenwich Village tenement apartment where she is happily raising her two teenage children and hound dog with her husband, Emily Duff has never been afraid to chase her muse into uncharted territory. Duff presently has a record being mixed and another in production. Both are “modern records” inspired by classic American roots music, with Duff upholding her status as a genre-bending lifer.

Rolling Stone Magazine describes Emily as “One Part Muscle Shoals, One Part Patti Smith” And No Depression describes her as “A roadhouse punk rocker — The Clash meets Jerry Lee Lewis”

emilyduff.bandcamp.com

Host | Arwen Lewis
Executive Producer | Jeremiah D. Higgins
Producer - Sound Engineer - Richard “Dr. D” Dugan

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SN2 Ep11- Emily Duff on The Arwen Lewis Show

"Emotive intelligence, place-setting compositions and a gorgeous silky voice are Kathleen's greatest allies. Powered by a quiet urgency, I imagine most of her songs as the backdrop for cathartic moments in dramatic film or love stories performed on the stage" 
- Ryan Spaulding, Boston Music Critic "Ryan's Smashing Life"

Kathleen Sieck's latest album, “Goodnight America" (2020), is a statement piece from this popular singer-songwriter. Paired with a classic sound, her melodies are strong and evocative, with lyrics deeply rooted in a sense of time and location. Produced by Raymond Richards B-Side Studios and co-produced by Bobby Hartry at CatBeach Studio, this 8-song collection was released via CatBeach Music, in the spring of 2020. 
A California native, Kathleen's music envelopes the listener in a sun-soaked West Coast nostalgia that is both laid back and soulful. Kathleen’s confident writing paired with velvety smooth vocals and lyrical melodies are reminiscent of iconic artists such as Carole King, Linda Rondstadt, Susan Tedeschi, and Alison Krauss. This album is a genre-defying group of solid songs that hits all the right feels and is both reflective and relatable. 
 	
After Kathleen decided to turn to songwriting and music, she made a name for herself in the SoCal area as a worship leader. Over the past few years, Kathleen has released two gospel albums and an Americana album (Where the Sleepers Lie, 2014). 

In 2015, Kathleen formed a locally beloved Americana band, The Paradise Road, which performs throughout Southern California. In addition to being the band leader and songwriter, she also writes for film and TV, with songs sync licensed in “The Days of our Lives” and “General Hospital”. 

	Currently, Kathleen is in the studio, recording a new album with The Paradise Road, which will be a collection of California-centric original music, titled Antares This album will be released in summer 2024. Additionally, Kathleen is a mother of three teenage daughters, an independent contract floral designer, a worship pastor at a church in Summerland, California, as well as a touring musician with Shaun Cassidy (2019-present).

Host | Arwen Lewis
Executive Producer | Jeremiah D. Higgins
Producer - Sound Engineer - Arwen Lewis

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SN 3 | EP 16 - Kathleen Sieck on The Arwen Lewis Show

Dezelle is a singer-songwriter based in Los Angeles, California who writes music in a variety of genres, including pop, electronic, R&B, americana, and indie folk. She writes and composes for her own projects as well as for other musicians, film, and TV. She has played The Hotel Cafe in Hollywood, The Bitter End in New York, the Troubadour and Ain't Nothin' But Blues Bar in London, House of Blues, SXSW in Austin, Folk Music Festival in Arizona,  the Uncancelled Music Festival and other venues and festivals. 

At the center of Dezelle's music is honest story-telling, and she has received critical acclaim for her lyrics, which were also recognized through her inclusion in the "Lyrics as Poetry" project, a journal featuring lyrics of singer-songwriters that can be found in bookstores and museums across the world. Dezelle's lyrics are featured in the book alongside singer-songwriters such as Gregory Alan Isakov, Alexi Murdoch, and Rachel Yamagata. Dezelle's music has been placed in numerous films, TV shows, and trailers. She has written for Netflix hit TV shows,
the Hallmark Channel, Bravo, Mar Vista Entertainment, Parkside Pictures, Dailey advertising agency (Nestle and Fender), Lifetime, UpTV, as well other brands and studios.

Host | Arwen Lewis
Executive Producer | Jeremiah D. Higgins
Producer - Sound Engineer - Arwen Lewis

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SN 3 | EP 17 - Dezelle on The Arwen Lewis Show

Hi, my name is Jackson Gillies. I’m 24 years old and I live in Santa Barbara, CA but was born and raised on Long Island, NY until I was 13. I was consistently subjected to fantastic music from a very early age. My parents attended over 100 Grateful Dead shows, and cranked their music throughout the house as I was growing up- Neil Young, Bob Marley, Jimi Hendrix, The Allman Brothers etc..

I started playing guitar when I was 14 years old. I was exclusively a musical theatre kid until I discovered the guitar. My first love was The Avett Brothers and their music awoke something within me that said “I need to be able to do that.” I began learning every single one their songs on acoustic guitar, and soon mimicking their writing style and stage presence. A few years later around the age of 17 I discovered John Mayer and his incredible craft. An effortless blend of classic blues music with pop and folk lyrics and structure. Funny enough, I only discovered him because he started playing with the Grateful Dead! 

I’ve been releasing my own original music since I was 19 and I’ve struggled with it greatly. I am a perfectionist and would always fall out of favor with my works as soon as they were released and doubt myself if people wanted to hear them. I stopped releasing music for a while- until this year. I wrote, performed, recorded, mixed and mastered my first ever album. The songs are all recorded without a click track, captured on an AKG 414 with no tuning or comping. The record is entitled “High & Low” and will be released on April 26.

Host | Arwen Lewis
Executive Producer | Jeremiah D. Higgins
Producer - Sound Engineer - Arwen Lewis

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SN 3 | EP 18 Jackson Gillies on The Arwen Lewis Show

Had it not been for the melodic and accomplished guitar work of Peter Albin flowing out of an upper story window at 1090 Page Street in the early summer of 1965, there might never have been a Big Brother and the Holding Company. It was on that day that Sam Andrew happened down Page Street in San Francisco and was so impressed by what he heard, that he went in and introduced himself.
Peter was born on June 6, 1944 in San Francisco. He began playing guitar at an early age and became involved in the folk scene of the early 60s. While attending The College of San Mateo, Peter and his brother Rodney played in a bluegrass band called the Liberty Hill Aristocrats.
By the time Peter met Sam in 1965, he had aspirations of forming a band that would write and perform children’s songs. One of the first songs he wrote while working with children at The Marin Jewish Community Day Camp, north of San Francisco, was “Caterpillar”. This song went on the appear on the first Big Brother and the Holding Company Album.


But the guitarist who inspired the first meeting with Sam Andrew ended up making the transition to bass and has spent the majority of his career with that instrument. Although his fine guitar work can be heard on cuts such as “Coo-Coo”, “Oh, Sweet Mary”, and “Turtle Blues” and also on Big Brother LPs “Be A Brother” and “How Hard It Is”.
Witty and personable, Peter provided much of the on-stage commentary and also served as the liaison for the group with managers and promoters. Also, in the early days of Big Brother, before Janis, Peter did most of the lead vocals for the band. Among the many songs he sang were “Blow My Mind” and “Down On Me”. Even after Janis, the first album finds Peter’s lead on “Blindman”, “Light Is Faster Than Sound”, and “Caterpillar”.
Peter’s musical pursuits have also extended beyond Big Brother and the Holding Company. He has played with Country Joe and the Fish and can be heard on their 1969 Vanguard album “Here We Are Again”. He later toured in an all-star band with Joe McDonald that cut an album outside Paris (Paris Sessions, Vanguard – 1973) in September of 1972.
In 1982, Peter was one of the founding members of the Bay Area super group, The Dinosaurs. Along with Peter, the group consisted of, John Cipollina, Barry Melton, Merl Saunders, Robert Hunter, and Spencer Dryden.
Peter has loaned many items to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Museum in Cleveland. The most notable piece is his legendary psychedelic Fender Jazz Bass from 1968 which is now a popular museum attraction.

Today, Peter is still playing occasionally with Big Brother and the Holding Company, the Barry Melton Band, and the Irish Newsboys.


Host | Arwen Lewis
Executive Producer | Jeremiah D. Higgins
Producer - Sound Engineer - Arwen Lewis

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SN 3 | EP 19 Peter Albin (Big Brother and the Holding Company) on The Arwen Lewis Show

Rock Garden Records is thrilled to announce that acclaimed Boston singer/songwriter, voice of A&M recording artists Private Lightning, lead singer and songwriter of The Souls, and current member of the legendary Boston band, The Nervous Eaters, Adam Sherman has joined the Garden! 
Sherman, nominated for six Boston Music Awards, has three critically acclaimed full-length solo albums; Songbird, River of Dreams and Triangle Sky and will put out yet another jaw-dropping album this summer with Rock Garden Records. A longtime fixture of the Boston music scene, Adam has made a name for himself performing with many Boston rock icons showcasing his versatility and compositional creativity. 

adamshermanmusic.com/
Facebook: Adam M Sherman
Instagram: @Adam.sherman.music

Host | Arwen Lewis
Executive Producer | Jeremiah D. Higgins
Producer - Sound Engineer - Arwen Lewis

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SN 3 | EP 20 Adam Sherman on The Arwen Lewis Show

A Music Show DJ'd by Arwen Lewis - The Arwen Lewis Show Favorites Radio Hour will feature 10 songs per show performed by artists who have been featured as guests on The Arwen Lewis Show.

Episode 1:

1) Dezelle - I Decided to believe in Visions

2) The Maybirds - Spiders

3) Big Brother and the Holding Company - Piece of my Heart

4) Bob Mosley - I Am a Dreamer

5) Lois Mahalia - Gravity and Love

6) Carly Jo Jackson - Feel It

7) Adam Sherman - If You Think

8) Lux Lawless - Lead

9) Brady Harris - Hotel in the Sky

10) Jackson Gillies - Spring 

Hidden Track - Arwen Lewis - Man on the Moon (Piano Version)

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Producer - Sound Engineer - Arwen Lewis

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EP 3 - The Arwen Lewis Show Favorites Radio Hour

Jeff Berkley shares stories about his life as a songwriter, recording artist and producer based out of Satellite Recording Studio in San Diego, CA - and their Neve Mixing Console... we talk about his creative process, being on tour with Jackson Browne, Street Tacos, and so much more...

Jeff Berkley is a native San Diegan who has made music his life.  He has been called a San Diego legend, and it’s easy to understand why.  Berkley’s musical contributions include his work in current bands Berkley Hart and Jeff Berkley & The Banned, as well as his solo performances.  His previous bands include The Cry, The Redwoods, and Citizen Band.  He is also known for his work with the many musicians he has produced in studios around the world, including his own. 
 
The legend continues as he is also an amazing guitarist and percussionist with multiple acts.  As an accomplished songwriter (he won the Kerrville New Folk Songwriter award in 1999), in any way you engage with Jeff Berkley, he puts you at ease with his good humor, and then engages you with his experience, his ear, and his passion.
 
He is known as one of the finest singer-songwriters San Diego has ever produced. He has a warm, melodic voice and a way with song hooks that are second to none.


Host | Arwen Lewis
Executive Producer | Jeremiah D. Higgins
Producer - Sound Engineer - Arwen Lewis

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SN 3 | EP 21 - Jeff Berkley on The Arwen Lewis Show

Shennie moved to Santa Barbara in 2007 to pursue a career in music and psychology. She worked as a singer and vocal coach throughout her 20s as she was gaining her degree in clinical psychology. She now works in private practice as a therapist, and at Lucid Therapeutics as a psychedelic integration coach. Her clinical focus is on trauma, LGBTQ+ and somatic focused work.

Host | Arwen Lewis
Executive Producer | Jeremiah D. Higgins
Producer - Sound Engineer - Arwen Lewis

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SN 3 | EP 22 - Shennie Smith On The Arwen Lewis Show

Gary Hector is a singer songwriter from Trinidad and Tobago in The Caribbean.

The former leader and frontman for seminal Caribbean rock n roll bands ODDFELLOWS LOCAL and JOINTPOP, Hector is now on a solo career and will simply be known as, GARY HECTOR.

Trinidad and Tobago is home to the music of Calypso and Soca, and the National Instrument the Steelpan, but Hectors’ song writing is based on the classic Rock n Roll, Outlaw Country, Americana songbook, without neglecting the landscape of his homeland.

Recognized at home as a pioneer and legend, he is no newcomer to the scene, as he led, and recorded one landmark album with ODDFELLOWS LOCAL (1991-1995) which created the underground scene in Trinidad. 

His debut solo album was NATIONAL TRASH (3rd Aug 2021). With the first single called “TODAY I RIDE ALONE “(1st July 2021) Both are hauntingly beautiful slices of Americana, with shades of classic country and classic rock n roll. Which Gary jokingly refers to as “ Trinicana”

The first single and the album both made it onto early round “For Your Consideration “Grammy voting lists for 2021.

His follow up solo album MEMPHIS MEDICNE will be released in October 2024.

https://linktr.ee/GARYHECTOR

Host | Arwen Lewis
Executive Producer | Jeremiah D. Higgins
Producer - Sound Engineer - Arwen Lewis

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SN 4 | EP 1 Gary Hector on The Arwen Lewis Show

Smack Champion is an up and coming independent rock group currently based in Los Angeles. Founded by long-time collaborators Ray Williams and Weston Wilson, the band originally formed in 2019 as a backing band for Williams' solo project at the time. During 2020, they decided to combine efforts and co-write some new material, solidifying Smack Champion as a unit. They have spent 2024 rolling out their debut album track by track, offering a distinctive blend of rock, folk, and country influences. Their sound is both fresh and nostalgic, a throwback to the alternative and indie rock that they grew up with as well as a more classic 60's/70's vibe.

Host | Arwen Lewis
Executive Producer | Jeremiah D. Higgins
Producer - Sound Engineer - Arwen Lewis

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On Instagram, Follow Arwen Lewis Here:
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SN 4 | EP 2 - Smack Champion on The Arwen Lewis Show

Arwen Lewis is a musician, songwriter, OMAD records recording artist, and radio/podcast host on The Arwen Lewis Show.  The Arwen Lewis Show features accomplished and upcoming musical artists through interview and song plays to celebrate their careers in the music business.

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SN2 Ep11- Emily Duff on The Arwen Lewis Show

The Arwen Lewis Show

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