Twirl Radio Playlist – Show #855 – 12/15/2018: Melissa Phillips interview!

This week’s show was the final live Twirl Radio episode of 2018. Just like that…poof! And that’s another year of great music in the books. So how do we wrap up a year like this? Well, fortunately, my friend Melissa Phillips, a wonderful Bay Area singer-songwriter, just released her brand new EP “Both Ways”, a few days ago. She’s perennially been one of my favorite people to chat with on the radio, so it was a no-brainer to ask her on. And it was a comfortable, fun conversation. We covered everything…her songwriting inspirations, the process of making Both Ways, and her take on how we discover and acquire new music in the 21st century, vs. during our formative years.

Both Ways is an intimate album, mostly in the Americana vein. It’s a fitting showcase for Melissa’s songs, which as she revealed, were crafted individually and separately from one another. She and her husband, James DePrato, who produced and played all the guitars on the album, really did take each song one at a time, and didn’t start another one until the current song was finished. Each of these stories gets you thinking and feeling some powerful emotions about life and its changes. It’s a sad album, with notes of loss, but it’s buoyed by Melissa’s hopeful soprano voice and attitude. Her voice has really strengthened and matured since her last album. As good as it was back then, there’s a certain depth to it now that makes these songs really stick to you. And as a rock guitarist, James adds some touches of electric guitar that beef up the overall sound. Much care went into this record–from the sequencing of the songs, to the lovely artwork and packaging. It’s not every day that Melissa Phillips releases an album, so when she does, it’s an occasion. Learn more, and pick up your copy at http://www.melissaphillipsmusic.com.

This show also featured some great music from 2018–and even a song by The Who’s John Entwistle, which could reluctantly be called a “Christmas song”! Give a listen to all of it, and enjoy. Happy holidays from Twirl Radio!

Artist | Track | Album
John Entwistle | I Believe In Everything | Thunderfingers: The Best Of John Entwistle
Dara Ackerman | Golden Circle | Partially True Stories
The Re-Used Electrics | You Can’t Put Your Arms Around A Memory | For Johnny
Blake Jones Holiday Greeting
Blake Jones & The Trike Shop | String Lights And Hold On | Single release
Byron Isaacs | Daddy’s Farm | Disappearing Man
Maxi Dunn | How Was I To Know? | Welcome To Soonville

Melissa Phillips interview
Melissa Phillips | The Flame | Both Ways
Melissa Phillips | So Young | Fits & Starts
Melissa Phillips | Better Now | Both Ways

Wilkerson | Let It Go Tonight | Wilkerson
Sunshine Boys | Glider Pilot | Blue Music
Lannie Flowers | Day Glow | Single release
Duncan Faure | Nightfall | Anthology
The Sleep Junkies | The First Time Is Never The Last Time | The Fowl Tone Sampler
Roger Joseph Manning Jr. | Funhouse | Glamping
Sensations | Incredible Man | Listen To My Shapes
Bill Lloyd | Til The Day That I Break Down | Working The Long Game
Vegas With Randolph | Three Red Hooks | Legs And Luggage
Elk City | 25 Lines | Everybody’s Insecure