Every artist starts somewhere. Some made music in their basements, and wrote love songs in their biology notebooks. Others were obsessed with that one mind-blowing band who seemed to write music just for them. At some point, they all felt inspired to make their own music. My Youth on Record (MYOR) is a podcast where artists share the music they created as teens, and the stories behind the songs. Host Shawn King from DeVotchKa, together with a featured teen co-hosts, take musicians back to the feeling of making music during their most awkward, vulnerable – and often most creative and raw – phase as novice music makers. Artists laugh, cry, cringe and hopefully learn something new about their own creative process as they take this musical trip down memory lane.

Broadcast from Youth on Record, a Colorado-based nonproﬁt that empowers youth to find their voice and value through music, MYOR interviews include early recordings from our musical guests, and conversations about the past, the present, and the future of music for all generations.

Season 1

Today’s episode is like a virtual hug for anyone who proudly, or otherwise, felt like a nerd in high school. The lead emcee of denver-based Flobots takes us deep into his high school “nerdery,” a gives of a inside view of his never-ending quest for artistic improvement.

#1 Stephen Brackett of Flobots: On Gobots, conspiracy theories, freestyle crutches, and nerd culture

Some of us have high school teachers we never forget for all the right reasons. The Lumineers vocalist, cellist, and pianist - Neyla Pekarek - tells us about that teacher, and how his influence changed her professional course. Tune in also to hear some early work from her Barbershop Quartet “Vogue,” and for a personal account of just how challenging it still is to be a women in the male-dominated music industry. (Neyla lest the Lumineers after this episode was recorded to pursue personal projects).

#2 Neyla Pekarek of The Lumineers: On quartets, high school teachers, and misogyny in music

When Ben walks into the room, it’s almost as if his heart is on the outside of his body. 
Just by being around him, you feel the depths of his emotions. He’s raw. He’s real.
And truth telling matters to him. This year he’s been sharing his story of his own encounters with sexual abuse in the Catholic church. But as we learned in this interview, he’s been attempting to tell this story through his music since he was a teen. He shares that music with us in today’s episode. In true Ben style, to content of the music is very real and somewhat graphic, and is intended for audiences who have the maturity to hear the story.

#3 Ben Roy of Spells & Those Who Can’t: On crust punk, the catholic church, and meow tracks

It’s no question that Big Gigantic is….well….BIG. The music they make now didn’t exist when they were teens. So, in a sense, they began building the future of music before most of the world caught on. As they shared their earliest song with us, and memories about their early years of learning to use computers, we began to see just how ahead of the curve these two friends really were.

#4 Jeremy Salken & Dominic Lalli of Big Gigantic: On early computers, Fraggle Rock, and giving back

We spoke with the amazingly rebellious and talented Kalyn Heffernan, frontwoman and creator of the indie political hip-hop jazzy funk ensemble, Wheelchair Sports Camp. Kalyn is a natural comedian, artist, activist, and teacher. An avid storyteller, Kalyn gives us her take on growing up with hip hop, and her early life as a queer rapper. She challenges the able-bodied community to examine their privilege. Just how accessible (or inaccessible) are our schools, our communities, and the music industry? Kalyn knows first hand.

#5 Kalyn Heffernan of Wheelchair Sports Camp: On hip-hop, pranking hospitals, and chaos

We’re back with the forever funky, always entertaining Kalyn Herffernan of Wheelchair Sports Camp. We didn’t want our conversation with Kalyn to end, and in part two of our interview we learn about her teenage life, and about how music and activism have worked to heal this Colorado legend.

#6 Part Two - Kalyn Heffernan of Wheelchair Sports Camp: On self care, legos, and finding community

Youth on Record’s vision is for youth to discover how their voice and value can create a better world through creative education opportunities and arts exploration. Youth on Record's Media Arts program teaches podcasting interns to produce multiple youth-centered and youth-facing podcasts each year. This program gives youth the chance to explore podcast production and storytelling through hands-on learning in the field and in the studio.

#6 Part Two - Kalyn Heffernan of Wheelchair Sports Camp: On self care, legos, and finding community

Youth on Record Podcasting