On this show, we take it to a new place. Somewhere we’ve never been before. Specifically, all the way to Belgrade, Serbia, in Eastern Europe, 9 time zones ahead of us here in California.
I had the chance to chat with Tobias Nathaniel of The Red Step on the show. He’s originally from San Diego, moved around some, and landed in Belgrade, where his wife is from. He’s part of the core of American band Black Heart Procession, but as you’d expect from a relocated musician, he’s found some of the best musicians in his new city, and formed a new band.
It was decided (by the whole band, not just Tobias) that the songs should be written and sung in English, and that Tobias should be the frontman. But–he’d never before been the lead singer, always preferring to play keyboards in the background. So he just stepped up, wrote some songs, and started singing. As he explains in our conversation–it was a bit strange and difficult at first, but he kept at it, and had great fun in the process. Inspirational.
A common theme we’re finding in 2020–the worldwide pandemic changes almost everything. That includes album release dates. The debut album, “The Red Step”, was recorded pre-pandemic, and scheduled to come out this month. But Covid-related manufacturing delays for the physical media mean the release date will be pushed out to February or so. So this means we had a super early sneak preview of some of the songs on this album. And it’s a good, loud, cathartic listen. A lot of Tobias’ songwriting is analytical and questioning. He directs your attention to what’s going on in the world, things he’s observed, and may not have a ready answer for.
We had a really interesting discussion. It was fun to learn about far away Belgrade, and it was great to hear some new music from The Red Step. More information can be found at https://theredstep.bandcamp.com
Artist | Title | Album
Nushu | Another Rainy Weekend | Nushu
Translator | Everywhere That I’m Not | Translation
The Braam Brothers | Nashville | Landscapes
Aimee Mann | Going Through The Motions | The Forgotten Arm
The Orange Peels | Grey Holiday | Sun Moon
Sue Leonard | Who Wrote This Book On Love | Leonardville
Trip Wire | Bottle Rocket | Once & Always
Gordon Weiss | I’m Your Fan | It’s About Time
Tobias Nathaniel interview
The Red Step | Reset | The Red Step
The Red Step | Temporary Loss | The Red Step
The Red Step | Black Summer | The Red Step
Fishbone | Party at Ground Zero | Fishbone
The Armoires | When We Were in England (And You Were Dead) | Zibaldone
Marshall Holland | Our Fate | Paper Airplane
Chandler Travis Philharmonic | Going Back To Work Tomorrow | Waving Kissyhead, Vol 2 & 1
Lost Leaders | Probably Why We’re Here | Promises Promises
Quint | Bows Of Holly | Yes It’s Christmas
Iggy Pop | I Won’t Crap Out | Brick By Brick
The Brothers Steve | Carry Me | #1
Sunshine Boys | The Serpent in Spring | Work and Love
Gretchen’s Wheel | interloper | such open sky
Lannie Flowers | C’mon Over | Circles
Allyson Seconds | Bag Of Kittens | Bag of Kittens
Hannah Judson | Parachute | Stingray
Brad Brooks | Angel Of Angles | God Save The City
Robyn Hitchcock | Sally Was a Legend | Jewels for Sophia
The Bottle Kids | Guitars In The Sky | Starry Eyed: The Records Tribute
Banjo Bones | Walking On A Thin Line | Lucifer’s Hand
Elk City | Pity Of A Rose | Souls In Space
The Jayhawks | Settled Down Like Rain | Hollywood Town Hall
Felsen | Skydiving Without A Parachute | Accidental Drowning
Jody Porter | Sunsick Moon | Waterways
Desario | Down Among Them | III
The Schramms | Hearts And Diamonds | Omnidirectional
Brandi Ediss | Linoleum | Bees and Bees and Bees
The Sleep Junkies | The FIrst Time Is Never The Last Time | The Fowl Tone Sampler
Bill Lloyd | The Girls Of Sylvan Park | Don’t Kill The Messenger
Rachel Taylor Brown | Up You | Run Tiny Human
Chris Church | Look Out, You’ve Got It Made | Goodbye Blue Monday
mylittlebrother | Goldmine | Howl
Quint | Mistletoe Sway | Yes It’s Christmas
Kat Jones | Losing | We Are Warm, Young, Blood
Farrington | Anatomic | Single release
Krista D | Left of Me | Playing with Myself
John Wesley Harding | The People’s Drug | The Name Above The Title
The Stone Roses | Waterfall | Single release
Glenn Morrow’s Cry For Help | The Sun The Moon The Scars | LP2
My Little Hum | Rise Over Run | Remembering Houses
The Amplifier Heads | September Song | Music For Abandoned Amusement Parks
Malo | Suavecito | Malo
The Who | New Song | Who Are You
Pugwash | Everyone Knows That You’re Mine | Silverlake
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