This episode’s guest is DJ, music historian, and curator, DJ Amir Abdullah. Known for his On Track mixtapes with DJ Kon, Amir currently run his own record label, 180-Proof (founded in 2011), which owns the exclusive rights to release Strata Records’ influential back catalog and unreleased sessions. This is a re-issue of an interview I did with DJ Amir back in December 2018 for the Fresh is the Word Podcast that would fit well as a Renaissance Soul episode.

During our conversation, we talked about Amir’s roots in music, his collaborations with DJ Kon and the On Track mixtapes, becoming a music historian and curator, researching music to reissue/unearth, obtaining the Strata Records catalogue, the history and political activism of Strata in Detroit, and Charles Mingus Jazz in Detroit / Strata Concert Gallery / 46 Selden and the stories behind the recordings.

PURCHASE/STREAM: CHARLES MINGUS – Jazz in Detroit / Strata Concert Gallery / 46 Selden

Follow DJ Amir Abdullah:
Web: 180-proof.com
Twitter: twitter.com/djamir70
Mixcloud: mixcloud.com/djamir
Soundcloud: soundcloud.com/djamir70
Instagram: instagram.com/180proofrecords
Instagram: instagram.com/djamir70
Facebook: facebook.com/DJ-Amir-161195730583168
Bandcamp: 180proofrecords.bandcamp.com
Twitch: twitch.tv/djamir70

SUBSCRIBE/RATE/REVIEW FRESH IS THE WORD:
Subscribe on all major streaming platforms. Please rate and review on Apple Podcast and Stitcher.
List of where Renaissance Soul streams: podlink.to/RenSoulPod or just search “Renaissance Soul”. Also available on IHeartRadio.

THEME MUSIC
Courtesy of STEVE O. Check out more music at eyeamsteveo.bandcamp.com.

For this episode of Renaissance Soul, I’m joined by Dave Stephens, founding member and vocalist of the Troy, Michigan metalcore band We Came As Romans, as we talk about their debut album To Plant A Seed. Originally released on November 3, 2009 via Equal Vision Records, a deluxe edition of the album was released on January 18, 2011 which includes one bonus track and a DVD titled To Plant a DVD. In covering this monumental debut album, we talk about the beginnings of the band through their early touring and their two EPs, Dreams and Demonstrations, both self released in 2008 before getting signed to Equal Vision. We also go track-by-track throughout the album and Stephens shares any stories he has about the song or making of it. We also touch on the vocal contributions of the late Kyle Pavone, who passed away in 2018, from this album.

We Came As Romans originally were going to tour this album to both celebrate it and retire the songs from it for live shows when the pandemic hit and were only able to perform a handful or so shows before all live music got cancelled. We discuss the reasoning for that tour as they are set to do a live stream on April 23rd playing To Plant A Seed in its entirety online. To purchase tickets and merch bundles, head over to thebarricade.live.

Follow We Came As Romans:
Web: romansmerch.com
Instagram: instagram.com/wecameasromans
Facebook: facebook.com/wecameasromans
Twitter: twitter.com/wecameasromans

SUBSCRIBE/RATE/REVIEW FRESH IS THE WORD:
Subscribe on all major streaming platforms. Please rate and review on Apple Podcast and Stitcher.
List of where Renaissance Soul streams: podlink.to/RenSoulPod or just search “Renaissance Soul”. Also available on IHeartRadio.

THEME MUSIC
Courtesy of STEVE O. Check out more music at eyeamsteveo.bandcamp.com.

Support via Patreon
If you want to support Fresh is the Word, please consider pledging via Patreon at Patreon.com/freshistheword.

For this episode of Renaissance Soul, I’m joined by singer-songwriter, musician, actress, and Detroit rock pioneer and legend Suzi Quatro to talk about her new album The Devil In Me, released on March 26, 2021 via Steamhammer / SPV. Now at the age of 70 with 54 years in the music game, Suzi Quatro helped kicked down the doors for the women who wanted to rock! The Devil In Me is the second time she collaborated with her son Richard Tuckey after 2019’s No Control, a decision made after both their touring schedules were cancelled due to the pandemic.

As you will hear, Suzi Quatro has a poetic mind as we talk about her longevity in music and how her career has always been a family affair since her early years with the bands The Pleasure Seekers and ‎Cradle‎ with her sisters. We talk about how the pandemic gave life to The Devil In Me, how working with her son was different on this album, as well as going track-by-track through the album, its videos, and the album artwork. It was an honor to have such a legend on the show who is still going strong after decades making music. Listen closely because she drops a lot of gems of knowledge throughout this episode!

Stream/Purchase The Devil In Me: SuziQuatro.lnk.to/TheDevilInMe

Follow Suzi Quatro:
Web: suziquatro.com
Instagram: instagram.com/suziquatroreal
Facebook: facebook.com/Suziquatrorocks
Twitter: twitter.com/Suzi_Quatro
YouTube: youtube.com/user/SUZIQUATROOFFICIAL

SUBSCRIBE/RATE/REVIEW FRESH IS THE WORD:
Subscribe on all major streaming platforms. Please rate and review on Apple Podcast and Stitcher.
List of where Renaissance Soul streams: podlink.to/RenSoulPod or just search “Renaissance Soul”. Also available on IHeartRadio.

THEME MUSIC
Courtesy of STEVE O. Check out more music at eyeamsteveo.bandcamp.com.

Support via Patreon
If you want to support Fresh is the Word, please consider pledging via Patreon at Patreon.com/freshistheword.