Ongoing History of Protest Music Episode 21: Ten Demands (with Awkword)

This episode features activist, journalist, and rapper Awkword. We discuss his new tune “Ten Demands (featuring Jesse Jett)’ and his work with the Ten Demands for Justice initiative which provides a roadmap towards abolition. We also discuss how he views music has an extension of his activism and how rap and punk music saved his life.  During the episode, we play portions […]

Learn more →

Ongoing History Of Protest Music Episode 20: My Politic (with Kaston Guffey)

This episode features Kaston Guffey of the Americana duo My Politic. He discusses their recently released political concept EP Short-Sighted People In Power. We discussed the motivation behind the tunes, the possibility of backlash, and the musical influences who further help inspire the songs on the album.  The podcast opens with a portion of the album title track, during the […]

Learn more →

Ongoing History Of Protest Music Episode 19: A Selection of Protest Albums From The Rolling Stone 500 List

This episode discusses some of the socially conscious albums which made the recently revamped Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Albums list. Also discusses plans to create a 500 Protest Album project.  Along with posting the google doc to accumulate website visitor and podcast listener votes, I will also be reaching out to journalists, musicians, and music historians to serve as panelists. If […]

Learn more →

Ongoing History of Protest Music Episode 18: Updates

This is a brief episode that discusses a couple of updates in connection with the website and podcast. I discuss the recently launched Patreon and remind listeners about the 2020 Protest Hall of Fame Nomination Poll. The episode opens up with the track “Beepocalypse” by experimental musical duo Grex, off their latest album Everything You Said Was Wrong. Karl Evangelista of the duo […]

Learn more →

Ongoing History of Protest Music Podcast Episode 17: Old Friends (with Gathering Time)

This episode features Stuart Markus, Hillary Foxsong, Gerry McKeveny of the folk-rock harmony trio Gathering Time who have just released a new album entitled Old Friends, which is a cover album which features several socially conscious tunes. We discussed the motivation behind the songs selected and the parallels between the 1960s and what is happening now. We also discussed some of the […]

Learn more →

Ongoing History of Protest Music Podcast Episode 16: Protest Music Hall of Fame

This episode discusses the Protest Music Hall of Fame, an online archival project which chronicles the artists, albums, and songs which have contributed to the historical development of protest music. We also review the current inductees and discuss the recently posted nomination poll for 2020.  On the podcast, we play Bartees Strange’s cover of Woody Guthrie’s “Tear These Fascists Down”, and […]

Learn more →

Ongoing History Of Protest Music Podcast Episode 15: Grex (with Karl Evangelista)

This episode features Karl Evangelista, one half of the experimental music duo Grex (with Rei Scampavia). We discuss the duo’s upcoming album Everything You Said Was Wrong which will be released on September 5. Evangelista also talks about the album track “Criminal” which protests against fascistic policies in the Philippines. He explains his personal connection to the subject and the […]

Learn more →

Ongoing History Of Protest Music Podcast Episode 14: Oceanator (with Elise Okusami)

This episode features Elise Okusami who performs under the name Oceanator. We discuss her full-length debut album Things I Never Said which is out August 28. We also discuss the three-song EP Tear The Fascists Down which she released through Bandcamp to raise funds for the New York affiliate of Survived and Punished, “a coalition of defense campaigns and grassroots […]

Learn more →

Ongoing History of Protest Music Podcast Episode 13: Recap

This episode features soundbites of interviews from previous guests. It also features songs by these guests. Songs played on the podcast: Spirit of Hip-Hop – David Strickland (featuring Ernie Paniccioli, Artson, Northern Eagle Singers) Truth – David Strickland (featuring Maestro Fresh Wes, Que Rock, Soufy, Leonard Sumner) Suffocating Evil – Jeremiah Craig They Never See Us As Teachers – Mat […]

Learn more →

Ongoing History of Protest Music Podcast Episode 12: Whitewashing (with Louis Rive)

This episode features special guest Louis Rive, a singer-songwriter from Glasgow Scotland who has composed several protest tunes. We specifically discuss three of the songs that he wrote (“Business as Usual,” “Whitewashing” and “Where Do We Go From Here”) and the motivation behind them. We also discuss how the content of his music took a shift with the current political […]

Learn more →