If you have been paying attention to music circles for the past 25+ years, you will be familiar with Hrishikesh Hirway. He formerly released music under the moniker The One AM Radio and has also produced and hosted THE premiere music podcast of the 21st century (the only century with podcasts so far, so clearly we feel strongly): Song Exploder. Until recently, his name had not been front and center on any of his projects until his newest album, 'In the Last Hour of Light.' Hrishi grew up in Massachusetts the son of Indian immigrants, immersed and in love with music. After releasing music as The One AM Radio until 2011, he started the podcast Song Exploder in 2014. He's hosted and produced numerous shows and has been a crucial part of the podcasting landscape for 12 years.

In our Basic Folk conversation, Hrishi expands on the power of grief after his mother died and how his came gradually because of her long illness. He spoke of his name and what it's felt like to reclaim it in a public space in 2026 versus 1999, and he gives a little shout out to Obama. He gets into his feelings about his speaking voice and the person who likes it the most (his wife). We also hear from Hrishi about what it's like to be a figure in music that can offer musicians a bigger platform with his podcasts. He is someone who enjoys connecting and collaborating with others, but I wanted to know how it felt when sometimes the equation doesn't always add up. Overall I give this interview a 10/10! It was a pleasure getting to know the wonderful Hrishikesh Hirway.

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Lancaster, Pennsylvania-born, Nashville-based songwriter Maya de Vitry has been on Basic Folk a half dozen times (she's only second to our fave man-bestie Mark Erelli), because we are so obsessed with her songwriting perspective, from her time in the Stray Birds to her solo work. Every time she's on the show, we try and do something special. She's been on with her siblings (Nina & Lyle), her partner (Ethan Jodziewicz), and her musical besties (Shelby Means & Joel Timmons). When we heard about her fifth studio album, 'All My Faith,' we knew we had to raise the Basic Folk bar on one of the best working songwriters today. When I (Cindy) first heard Maya play these songs live, I thought they were next level. Even though I'm not a musician or songwriter of any kind, I really wanted to know why they were so incredible. I thought it would be a cool exercise to get other songwriter friends of Maya's together to dig deep and explain what's happening with Maya's writing. What is it about the lyrics, the phrasing, the melodies that is really outstanding?

Maya was down with this idea and invited Ana Egge, Caitlin Canty, John Craigie, Kristin Andreassen, and Oliver Wood on this episode of Basic Folk, so we could hear from some of HER favorite writers about these new songs. We had everyone here listen to the record a few times before recording the podcast; Maya shared the lyrics, album credits, and a track-by-track write up for the songs. She chose three songs for each person to specifically dig into, but of course everyone is free to share comments on any songs. We knew it was going to be a great experience, but it turned out even better than we had hoped. The insight these writers share intensify Maya's new songs and give an even greater understanding of why they make such an impact.

Notes from Maya:

I still can’t believe that across several time zones and with their own busy touring schedules, Oliver Wood, Caitlin Canty, Kristin Andreassen, Ana Egge, and John Craigie were down to make this happen. Cindy Howes of Basic Folk dreamed up this idea for me to ask 5 of my favorite songwriters to talk about my record. I met Caitlin Canty the first time I went to NERFA with The Stray Birds, I first heard an Ana Egge song on a Slaid Cleaves CD from the Lancaster Public Library back in PA, Kristin Andreassen writes some of the most timeless feeling melodies you’ll ever hear and created the transformational Miles of Music camp, John Craigie invited me out to open shows for him and I learned so much from him and his brilliant songwriting, and Oliver Wood’s voice and writing and sense of phrasing and space has been in my bones since high school when I would go to see his then-duo with his brother Chris. I’ll never stop going on about how music exists in an ecosystem, and for as much as we talk about independence, interdependence is where it’s at — and the fact is I just wouldn’t be who I am without the influence, mentorship, encouragement, and experiences of other musicians in my community. These are 5 songwriters and music makers whose craft — and ways of being — I admire so deeply.

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Lizzie No, Kaïa Kater, Nathan Evans Fox, Olivia Ellen Lloyd, Tray Wellington, A.J. Haynes, and more are featured on the new compilation album 'Outlaws’ Almanac,' a response to the 250th anniversary of the United States of America. Led by executive producer Lizzie No, the project features a diverse range of songwriters and storytellers working in broadly-defined folk, Americana, and roots traditions. Lizzie envisioned the compilation as an opportunity to be in conversation with the American project, taking an oft-overlooked perspective. Their curation centers Black, brown, Indigenous, queer, rural, and women’s voices, with traditional and contemporary music melding in a manner that brings to mind America’s promise of being a melting pot.

Lizzie and Kimaya join Basic Folk for a candid and vulnerable conversation about the project and its inspirations. We talked about how they each relate to outlaws and the difference between them and those tasked with protection within the law. We also talked about the significance of the album art by Mia Kristen, a folk art-inspired painting of a woman with a guitar riding a donkey surrounded by corn and flowers. I (Cindy) get into the details of some of the bungled celebrations of America's major birthdays (namely the 100th and the 200th) and why those celebrations continually leave out marginalized and overlooked voices. We talk about how there are Black people in the future and why that is actually a radical idea in 2026. We end with a light hearted Lightning Round called "IS THIS OUTLAW?" Thanks to Lizzie and Kimaya for being so open and honest in this intense and special conversation.

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