The Sound of Success with Nic Harcourt
Nic Harcourt, a well-known LA radio DJ, interviews fascinating people from various fields—writers, musicians, artists, business and tech leaders—about the songs, bands, and concerts that have shaped their lives. Each guest shares the tracks they return to, new artists they've discovered, and how music has influenced their personal and professional journeys. The podcast offers revealing and relatable conversations that explore the profound impact of music on individuals.
Episodes
Teenaged John Roderick rode box car trains across the U.S; Aged 30 he walked from Hook of Holland to Istanbul. He was surprised to find he liked Coldplay & If he could only listen to one song for the rest of his life he'd pick Elliot Smith's Waltz #2
Nic's guest on this episode is musician, singer, songwriter, podcaster, John Roderick.John is the lead singer and guitarist of the Seattle band The Long Winters and co-hosts the podcasts Roderick On The Line with Merlin Mann and Omnibus with former Jeopardy! champion and current host Ken Jennings, but that doesn't even begin to scratch the surface of his remarkable life. Nic had a great time talk
On Gail Ann Dorsey's ninth birthday, her godmother and neighbor Edith gave her a Kay parlor guitar. The first album she bought was 'Slayed' by Slade, and Isaac Hayes was the first artist she saw live in concert.
Accomplished songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, vocalist and one of the most highly regarded bass guitar players working today, Gail Ann Dorsey is Nic's guest on this episode. As a session musician Gail's work has graced recordings and performances by numerous artists. including The National, Lenny Kravitz, Bryan Ferry, Boy George, The The, Gwen Stefani, Seal, Charlie Watts, Gang of Four, Ani DiFr
The Spice Girls loom large in Lauren Mayberry's musical DNA & she thinks that Missy Elliott has made some of the best music videos of all time. George Michael or Whitney Houston will get her dancing & maybe, there's a Broadway musical in her future.
Lauren Mayberry is the lead singer of the Scottish band Chvrches. She has played the piano since she was a child and drums since she was a teenager. Before her music career took off Lauren completed a four-year undergraduate law degree at the University of Strathclyde and earned a master's degree in journalism leading to her first gig in music as a freelance music journalist. In Chvrches she co-wr
B-52's founding member Kate Pierson's first music purchase was Sheb Wooley's "Purple People Eater", her first concert? The Doors (Jim Morrison dropped his pants) in Chicago, and the music of Neil Diamond is a guilty pleasure.
Kate Pierson's band the B-52s, who formed in Athens Georgia in 1976, have a long list of bona fide hits, including "Rock Lobster" "Planet Claire" "Party Out of Bounds" "Private Idaho "Love Shack" and "Roam". Her distinctive mezzo-soprano vocal range is a trademark of the B-52s' unique sound. Outside of her work with the band she has appeared in films and TV shows, including "The Flintstones" (with
Thurston Moore wrang glorious sounds from his electric guitar through his work with Sonic Youth, who in 1981 emerged from the experimental No Wave art & music scene in New York before evolving into arguably the most influential independent band ever
Nic is joined on this episode by guitarist, singer, songwriter and author Thurston Moore, who is probably best known as a member of the groundbreaking and highly influential band Sonic Youth. Outside of that band Thurston has a long list of side projects and credits, including work with John Zorn, Richard Hell, Lydia Lunch, Yoko Ono, Dave Grohl. REM, and Beck! He has also made 9 solo albums, the m
Musician. curator and composer Camilo Lara grew up in the Mexico City neighborhood where Trotsky lived. His earliest musical memory is XTC's album 'English Settlement', his first concert, The Cure In San Diego on their 'Kiss Me Kiss Me Kiss Me' tour.
Camilo Lara is perhaps best known for music that he releases under the name Mexican Institute of Sound, with six full-length albums released since 2006 and a recent compilation 'Algo Ritmo Hits 2004 - 2024'. He is also a highly sought after producer and his list of collaborators is long and impressive, Sly and Robbie, Tom Tom Club, Gaby Moreno, Calexico, and Norah Jones are just a few.Camilo is in
Neil Finn's first musical memory is of his mother singing while washing dishes. The first album he bought was Donovan's 'Fairy Tale', his first live show was Elton John at Western Springs in Auckland & he's a fan of ethnomusicologist David Fanshawe.
Neil Finn is best known for being in two of the most important bands to come out of his homeland of New Zealand. Split Enz, a band in which he shared writing and lead duties with his brother Tim, That band had a string of hit's including "I Got You", "History Never Repeats" and "Message to My Girl". After that band broke up he was a founding member of Crowded House whose hits include "Don't Dream
Stuart Murdoch is the lead singer and songwriter of the band Belle and Sebastian which began as a project at the University of Glasgow. His early music purchases included albums by Simon and Garfunkel, Stevie Wonder and the Welsh metal band Budgie.
Musician, writer and filmmaker Stuart Murdoch is the lead singer and songwriter for the Scottish band Belle and Sebastian. The group's first album 'Tigermilk' was released to critical claim in 1996; sparking a career that has seen them put out a series of singles, 9 ep’s and 12 albums, the most recent, 'Late Developers was released in 2023'. Stuart says "We definitely wouldn't describe ourselves a
Jason Schwartzman's earliest musical memories are his mom playing the tape of the musical 'Into the Woods' in the car, and listening to Michael Jackson's thriller on his Boombox; the first album he bought with his own $ was Nirvana's 'Nevermind'.
Actor, writer, and musician, Jason Schwartzman began his acting career in 1998 when, at the age of 18, he starred in Wes Anderson’s 'Rushmore'. Since then he has taken roles in an eclectic array of both film and television projects. His movies include, 'Marie Antoinette', 'Saving Mr. Banks', 'The Grand Budapest Hotel' and 'The Polka King', his most recent films are Wes Anderson’s 'Asteroid City' a
Alexi Lalas played hockey before soccer. His love of music came from his mom, who was in a group of madrigal singers, and sent him to piano lessons and taught him basic guitar chords. His first live music experience? Pat Benatar.
Former USMNT soccer star, Alexi Lalas exploded onto the international stage during the 1994 FIFA World Cup, a summer in which Americans embraced the world's most popular sport. He went on to become the first American to play in Italy's Serie A; and when Major League Soccer kicked off in 1996, he returned to the US and spent the rest of his playing career helping launch the league, with stints at t
Grace Potter's first instrument was piano (her mom taught piano). Before she made money from her music she installed sheet rock and painted houses. Ace of Base are her musical guilty pleasure and Esquivel's Mucha Muchacha is her dance jam.
Beginning with her debut album 'Red Shoe Rebel' in 2002, Singer-songwriter and musician Grace Potter has released 5 albums under her own name, and another four with her band Grace Potter and the Nocturnals. At the time of this conversation in October of 2023, her most recent release 'Mother Road' finds Grace deconstructing her deepest fears and darkest regrets, charting the fallout with brutal hon
Johnny Marr's first musical memory is of his mum and aunt playing and dancing to 'Walk Right Back' by The Everly Brothers. His first music purchase was 'Jeepster' by T.Rex and his first concert was Slaughter & the Dogs at the Manchester Forum in 1976
Musician, songwriter, and singer Johnny Marr was the guitarist and co-songwriter of The Smiths (from 1982 thru 1987). He has at one time or another been a member of The Pretenders, The The, Electronic, Modest Mouse, The Cribs; as well as becoming a prolific session musician. In the last decade he has worked in film, collaborating with Hans Zimmer on scores for movies such as 'Inception', 'The Amaz
Ghanaian/Australian musician Genesis Owusu's earliest musical memories are the Kriss Kross song 'Jump' & watching the Michael Jackson 'HIStory' DVD and trying to learn the dance moves to the 'Thriller' video with his cousins. His first concert? Kanye
When he was just two years old musician, Kofi Owusu-Ansah (known professionally as Genesis Owusu) and his family emigrated from Ghana in West Africa to Australia's capital city, Canberra. In a town where his family were the only black people he knew, he immediately found himself an outsider and had to learn as he says, "how to be myself from a young age." His early efforts at music included collab
Emily Haines is the lead singer, keyboardist & songwriter of the band Metric, and a member of the musical collective Broken Social Scene. Her first concert was seeing Corey Hart & her favorite video is The Strokes' 'Ode To The Mets' (Dir. Warren Fu)
It was perhaps inevitable that Emily Haines would become a writer/lyricist and musician; her dad (Paul Haynes), was a revered Avant Garde poet and musician. Emily formed her first band at age 15 (Edith's Mission) with school pal Amy Millan (STARS). She spent her University years in Vancouver (UBC) and Montreal (Concordia) before meeting James (Jimmy) Shaw in 1997 and forming the band that would be
14 year old Natalie Merchant spent her babysitting money on 8 track cartridges of 'cut out' albums by Brian Eno, Roxy Music and David Bowie from her local drugstore and her first live show was seeing the Styx Grand Illusion tour at Buffalo Auditorium
Singer, songwriter and composer Natalie Merchant got her start when she joined the band 10,000 Maniacs in 1981 at age 17, becoming the lead vocalist and primary lyricist for the group. She made seven albums with the band before setting out on a solo career and in 1995; her debut album 'Tigerlilly' was an immediate success with singles 'Carnival', 'Wonder' and 'Jealousy' helping the album sell over
Roger Bennett's first musical purchase was Simon & Garfunkel's 'Sounds of Silence', his first live show was Orchestral Maneuvers in the Dark at the Liverpool Empire and his favorite video is for the Talking Heads song 'Once in a Lifetime'.
Liverpool born, Manhattan based broadcaster, podcaster, and filmmaker Roger Bennett hosts multiple podcasts and TV shows focussing on soccer/football through his Men in Blazers Media Network. He’s also a published author releasing his memoir 'Reborn in the USA: An Englishman's Love Letter to his Chosen Home' in 2021; which debuted at #1 on The New York Times Bestseller List.
Lyle Lovett thinks The Milk Carton Kids are a modern day Smothers Brothers, his first musical memory is seeing Nat King Cole on TV, his first album was 'The Monkees' and he found his first backing band in Luxembourg!
Lyle Lovett began performing by playing acoustic sets at bars just off of the Texas A&M University campus, while studying for bachelor degrees in German and Journalism. His career has been typically associated with country music and he’s won four Grammys, including awards for Best Male Country Vocal Performance and Best Country Album. He’s also incorporated gospel, blues, jazz and swing into h
Noel Gallagher's first musical memory is Elvis' death. His first show? the Damned at Manchester Apollo in 1980; 88-90 Acid House is his dance jam, he digs U2's 'Joshua Tree' videos and he likes routine!
This week's guest is songwriter, producer, (and let’s just say it) rockstar, Noel Gallager. Noel was the main songwriter, lead guitarist and co-lead vocalist of the band Oasis (the most popular and successful UK band of the 90's) from 1991 until their split in 2009. He has written nine UK number-one singles and ten UK number-one studio albums. After leaving Oasis, he formed Noel Gallagher's High F
Portugal The Man's John Gourley grew up in the Alaskan wilderness listening to his parents' Motown records. His first musical memory is hearing The Beatles 'Here Comes The Sun', The Aphex Twin will get him dancing & his favorite live band is Pantera.
John Gourley is the lead singer and rhythm guitarist of the band Portugal. The Man, a group who after five independently released albums and another three on Atlantic Records, found crossover success around the world with their 2017 album ‘Woodstock’ and it's hit song "Feel It Still” which scored the group a Grammy for Best Pop Duo/Group performance in 2018. Like many in the creative community th
Lucinda Williams talks about her memoir 'Don't Tell Anybody the Secrets I Told You', and shares the music that inspired her. From Peter, Paul and Mary, Bob Dylan & Joan Baez to John Coltrane, James Brown & Prince.
Lucinda Williams is one of the most celebrated singer-songwriters of her generation. Her first two albums 'Ramblin' on My Mind' and 'Happy Woman Blues', recorded in 1979 and 1980 respectively, received critical acclaim. Her 1988 self titled release opened the doors to a career that has has seen her mix of Rock, Blues, Punk and Country Americana establish her own unique lane in the music business.
Film maker and Academy Award® winning documentarian Alex Gibney's first '45 was Herman's Hermits 'Mrs. Brown, You've Got a Lovely Daughter', his first concert experience was seeing the Jimi Hendrix Experience at age 14 and Prince will get him dancing
Alex Gibney is a documentarian and film maker whose body of work includes 'Enron, The Smartest Guys in the Room', 'Taxi to the Dark Side', which won an Oscar, 'Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief', 'The Inventor: Out for Blood in Silicon Valley' (about Elizabeth Holmes), 'The Forever Prisoner', and most recently, 'Boom! Boom! The World Vs Boris Becker'. He has an Academy Award, mult
Judy Greer's first musical memory is listening to The Doobie Brothers with her dad, the first single she bought was "Eye Of The Tiger" by Survivor, and Chicago house music is her dance jam.
Judy Greer has appeared in most of your favorite films and tv shows of the last 20 years, including early roles in the films Jawbreaker, What Women Want, Elizabethtown and Love & Other Drugs. Judy's other film roles include 13 going on 30, The Village, Adaptation, Carrie, the Planet of the Apes reboot series, and she joined the Marvel Universe for Ant-Man and Ant-Man and the Wasp. Judy also pl
Robert Hilburn's first assignment for the LA Times was covering Johnny Cash's Folsom Prison concerts. His first record purchase was Bill Haley's 'Rock Around the Clock', his favorite artist is John Prine, and his musical guilty pleasure is ABBA!
Robert Hilburn was music editor for the Los Angeles Times from 1970 to 2005; his thought provoking reviews, essays and profiles appeared in the Times as well as other publications around the world. His work helped shine a light on the nascent careers of a diverse range of artists from Elton John, Tom Petty, Patti Smith and Elvis Costello to Prince, Guns and Roses, Public Enemy, Eminem and The Whit
Zach Braff's dad loved movies, it was perhaps inevitable that after the success of his TV series 'Scrubs' that he'd turn to film. His debut, 'Garden State' had a killer soundtrack. His first album was by Sheena Easton; his first concert? Rush at MSG.
You probably know Zach Braff from his work on the television series 'Scrubs' which ran from 2001 to 2010 (nine seasons); and his 2004 movie 'Garden State', which he wrote, directed and co-starred in. The film, which was based on Zach's real life experiences, received positive reviews and won a grammy for Best Compilation Soundtrack album for a Motion Picture Television or other visual media. The s
Steve Kilbey talks about playing in cover bands before forming and finding international success with The Church. A life derailed by a brutal heroin addiction, and the music of his life including his favorite song The Beatles' 'Strawberry Fields'
Steve Kilby, singer, songwriter and bass player for the legendary Australian band, The Church, has amassed an impressive body of work with over 1000 original songs registered with the Australasian Performing Rights Association. The Church have released 25 studio albums, their most recent 'The Hypnogogue' arriving in February 2023. Their 1989 single 'Under The Milky Way' was a massive hit around th
Jamie Lee Curtis talks about the end of 'Halloween', new beginnings with 'Everything Everywhere All At Once', and the music of her life, from Joni Mitchell, James Taylor and Rickie Lee Jones to DJ Snake and a splash of Django Reinhardt.
Actor, producer, author and activist Jamie Lee Curtis' career has spanned multiple genres in both television and film, including the role of Laurie Strode In the 'Halloween' series and comedies such a 'Trading Places', 'A Fish Called Wanda' and 'Freaky Friday'. She won her first Golden Globe for her work on ABC’s 'Anything But Love', and a second for her role in James Cameron’s 'True Lies' opposit
Death Cab for Cutie's Benjamin Gibbard's first record purchase was 'Big Bam Boom' by Hall & Oates. When he wants to dance he listens to New Order and you might be surprised to know that he's a fan of Post Malone!
Benjamin Gibbard is the lead singer and guitarist of the band Death Cab for Cutie. The group released their debut album, 'Something About Airplanes' in 1998, and quickly built a fan base throughout the next five years with a series of independent releases before breaking into the mainstream with their fourth album, 2003's 'Transatlanticism' followed by their major label debut, the platinum selling
Actress, Producer and Singer/Songwriter Rita Wilson's earliest musical memory is hearing the Beatles, her first concert experience, Led Zeppelin in Los Angeles and if she could only listen to one song, she'd pick Joni Mitchell's 'A Case Of You'.
Rita Wilson's film appearances include 'Sleepless in Seattle', 'That Thing You Do!' 'Runaway Bride' and 'It's Complicated'. She has produced a whole bunch of movies, including the smash hit 'My Big Fat Greek Wedding', 'The Mama Mia' movies and the new film “A man called Otto" starring her husband, Tom Hanks. Rita co-wrote the theme song for the movie, 'Til You're Home' the with David Hodges and co
Actress, singer, comedian and author Sandra Bernhard's mother played Ravel and Debussy on the piano. Her first album purchases were Carole King's 'Tapestry' and Joni Mitchell's 'Ladies of the Canyon', and her musical guilty pleasure is Whitesnake!
Sandra Bernhard is perhaps best known for portraying Nancy Bartlett Thomas on the ABC sitcom 'Roseanne' from 1991 through the end of the show in 1997. More recently she played Nurse Judy Kubrak in the FX drama series 'Pose' and Fran in the current season of 'American Horror Story'. Her other work includes Martin Scorsese's "The King of Comedy" where she played a crazed fan, who along with Robert D
On this 'Minisode' of The Sound Of Success, Moby answers Nic's "21 Questions" about life and music. His favorite musician is David Bowie, Jane Goodall is his female hero. If he had a superpower it would be to teleport himself anywhere in the universe
Moby’s early days in the music world found him playing in underground punk bands before moving to New York City and turning to electronic and dance music, finding success as a DJ and remixer throughout the first part of the 90’s. He's considered to be one of the most important dance music figures of that decade. His career exploded in 1999 with the LP 'Play' which became the most licensed collec
Electronic music pioneer Jean-Michel Jarre was forever changed by hearing Stravinsky's "The Rite of Spring" at the age of four, and age seven seeing Egyptian singer Umm Kulthum perform. Early disco and ELO's "Discovery" make him happy.
Composer producer and performer Jean-Michel Jarre is a pioneer in electronic and ambient music as well as massive outdoor spectacles featuring his music, along with laser displays large projections and fireworks.His 1976 album, 'Oxygène' (recorded in a home studio on analog synthesizers) and its 1978 follow up 'Équinoxe', heralded the arrival of an international star, and in 1979 Jean-Michel perfo
John Lloyd, the British television and radio producer behind hits like 'QI', 'Spitting Image' and 'Black Adder' talks about the music of his life, from Little Eva, The Beatles and Ten Years After to The HU and Dum Dum Girls.
John Lloyd is an English television and radio comedy producer and writer whose work includes Not the Nine O'Clock News, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, Spitting Image, Blackadder and QI. He is also the author of the book "1,411 Quite Interesting Facts to Knock You Sideways", a collaboration with John Mitchinson and James Harkin. John is currently the presenter of BBC Radio 4's The Museum of
Fran Healy of the band Travis talks about the band's massive success in the early 2000's, and sustaining their career, getting carjacked in LA, The Beatles, the poetry of Seamus Heaney and the musical "Annie"!
Fran Healy, songwriter, lead, singer, and guitarist for the band. Travis. The band's first studio album, 'Good Feeling' released in 1997, recorded in the famous Bearsville Studios in Woodstock, New York garnered them early praise, and the follow up release 'The Man Who' and its single "Why Does It Always Rain On Me” saw the band find mainstream success. A number one album, a slew of awards, includ
On this 'Minisode' of The Sound Of Success, the legendary Willie Nelson answers Nic's "21 Questions" about life and music. His inspirations include Bob Willis, Hank Williams, Sinatra, Streisand and Loretta Lynn.
This week's podcast is a "minisode"; occasional interviews and conversations that don't quite fit our format, but that we think you might enjoy. This episode features a Proust like questionnaire about music and life with 21 questions for the legendary musician and cultural icon, Willie Nelson.Born during the Great Depression and raised by his grandparents, Willie wrote his first song at age seven,
Writer, Director and Producer Adam McKay (Anchorman, Talladega Nights, Step Brothers, The Big Short, Succession) talks about his climate change activism and the music of The Who, Run DMC, LL Cool J and early Flaming Lips and Come live shows.
Writer, director and producer, Adam Mackay and Nic actually met almost 20 years ago when Nic was asked to help make some music suggestions for his film 'Anchorman: the Legend of Ron Burgundy'. Adam's comedy credits include 'Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby', 'Step Brothers', and 'The Other Guys'. Along with his then business partner Will Ferrel he also co-produced the HBO series 'Eastbo
Olympic and World Champion figure skater and now broadcaster Tara Lipinski, talks about her heroes and mentors in her iceskating and television careers, her opinions on Russian cheating in the sport, and shares the music soundtrack of her life.
Tara Lipinski is the 1997 world champion and 1998 Olympic champion in women's singles figure skating. She was the first woman to complete a triple loop, triple loop combination jump in front of judges, and when she turned professional, she won every competition she entered during her professional skating career. Her second career as a broadcast commentator and tv host began when she joined NBC, te
Patti Smith joins Nic to discuss returning to live performance after lockdown, and the soundtrack of her life. From Little Richard, Marvin Gaye, Dylan and Hendrix to Television, Bronski Beat, Rhianna, Adele, Ariana Grande and Harry Styles.
Patti Smith is a singer songwriter, poet, author, and visual artist who was at the forefront of the New York city punk movement. Her 1975 debut album 'Horses' announced her arrival, and since then she has carved out a career that allows her to speak truth to power in and outside of her work, and is cited by many artists including Michael Stipe, Johnny Marr and Shirley Manson as an important influe
Singer Songwriter David Gray talks about his breakthrough album 'White Ladder' and it's success as he takes the album on the road for a 20th anniversary tour, and shares the music that influenced and inspires him.
When David Gray released his 'White Ladder' album in 2000, he had nothing to lose. After three critically acclaimed but commercially unsuccessful albums, he found himself adrift, without a record label and an unsure future. Freed of the "write a hit" shackles, he enlisted the help of a couple of trusted friends and essentially recorded 'White Ladder' at home in his bedroom. The rest is history, t
Journalist, Television anchor and producer Soledad O'Brien discusses the damage that has been wrought on local news, her podcast on finance, and her love of Anita Baker, Luther Vandross and shh.. Duran Duran.
From her early days in radio and local television to high profile anchor gigs at NBC and CNN, and more recently hosting and producing her own syndicated weekly talk show 'Matter of Fact' Soledad O'Brien has covered live breaking news, Presidential elections and Hurricanes. She has also produced and hosted documentaries on the experiences of Black and Latino families in America, and co-hosts a podc
Ben Harper, Multi instrumentalist, singer songwriter and producer talks about growing up around musicians at his grandparents Folk Music Center in Claremont, California, his love of skateboarding and the "best part of the gig", collaborations.
With his mix of guitar, slide guitar playing, vocals and musical styles, Ben Harper's career has taken him around the world. From full band rock records and searing shows to intimate solo albums and performances, he's a busy guy. Ben is also in high demand for his production skills, helming projects for many greats, including Mavis Staples, The Blind Boys Of Alabama and Charlie Musslewhite. Nic ca
Actress and activist Rosanna Arquette shares the music of her life, and talks about the importance of young people registering to vote in a post Roe v Wade America.
Rosanna Arquette has a pretty impressive list of credits, moving seamlessly from movies like 'Desperately Seeking Susan', 'Pulp Fiction' and 'Crash' to Television shows like 'What About Brian', 'The L Word' and 'Ray Donovan'. Rosanna has also been a constant advocate for causes she believes in, and in this episode shares her response to the US Supreme Court striking down Roe v Wade. She also share
On this 'Minisode' of The Sound Of Success Fred Armisen answers Nic's "21 Questions" about life and music, including his earliest musical memory, Sammy Davis Jnr's "Candyman", childhood piano lessons and his respect for the career of Mike Myers.
This weeks podcast is a Minisode; occasional interviews and conversations that don’t quite fit our format but that we think you might enjoy. This episode features a Proust like questionnaire about music and life with 21 questions for actor, comedian, writer, producer and musician Fred Armisen. Fred has carved out an extensive career in the worlds of television film and music, he spent eleven year
Bret McKenzie talks about his solo album "Songs Without Jokes", his musical contributions to 'The Simpsons' Quillougby/Morrissey episode, discovering the music of John Prine, and his love of Kiwi bands, Supergroove and The Phoenix Foundation.
Brett McKenzie is best known as one half of the music and comedy duo 'Flight of the Conchords' and along with his partner in crime Jemaine Clement created the BBC radio series and HBO television series of the same name.On the solo tip Brett has worked extensively as a songwriter in film and television, most notably on the last two Muppets movies, (he won an academy award for best original song for
Dave Foley on the new Kids In The Hall TV reunion, going to his first concert: The Rolling Stones (with his older brother), and rediscovering ELO and new artists Phoebe Bridgers and Mitski through his daughter.
Actor, Comedian, Writer, Director and Producer, Dave Foley is a co-founder of the sketch comedy group The Kids In The Hall, whose groundbreaking show ran on CBC in Canada and HBO and later CBS in the U S from 1988 through 1995. Dave went on to star in the NBC sitcom NewsRadio, and his numerous acting and voice over credits include 'Flik' in "A Bug's Life" and 'Terri and Terry' in "Monsters Univers
Amanda Palmer on spending the pandemic in New Zealand, her early love of The Beatles, The Stray Cats and The Cure, her recent discovery of 1920's Jazz great Bix Beiderbecke and why the internet should be a public utility.
Amanda Palmer is a best-selling author, feminist songwriter, community leader, pianist, and ukulele enthusiastic!She began her career with the highly regarded theatrical punk cabaret duo, the Dresden Dolls, before moving on to diverse solo work such as the groundbreaking crowdfunded "Theater is Evil" album, which debuted at the top of the billboard 200 in 2012 and remains the top funded original m
Satirist Harry Shearer talks about his love of Nelson Riddle era Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin records, as well as the bands, Ball Park Music and Fountains Of Wayne.
Actor, Musician, Comedian, Director and Producer Harry Shearer, aka This Is Spinal Tap's Derek Smalls, aka The Simpsons' Mr. Burns, Waylon Smithers, Principal Skinner, Ned Flanders, Reverend Lovejoy, Kent Brown and many more, joins Nic this week and talks about his first gig (aged 7!) with Jack Benny, his early years creating satirical news on the radio in LA, and how Spinal Tap came to be (It alm
Julieta Venegas, Multiple Grammy and Latin Grammy award winner, American-born Mexican singer, songwriter, and producer talks about moving to Buenos Aries in Argentina, acting onstage for the first time and making new music during the pandemic.
Classically trained on both piano and cello and a student of music theory, Julietta Venegas horrified her parents when her first live concert was with a Ska band in Tijuana. They shouldn't have worried. Julieta's career has spanned 30 years, in which she toured the world becoming an international star winning multiple Grammys, Latin Grammys and other awards. She plays 17 different instruments and
Paige Sara, Rock Music Photographer and Creative Director for artists such as Greta Van Fleet, on how she got her start shooting bands in Southern California & her mom's insistence that her career is a result of being taken In Utero to a Jazz Concert
Paige Sara began her wide ranging career at age 12 when she purloined her family's point and shoot camera during summer vacation. On this week's episode of the Sound Of Success Paige tells Nic about how editorial fashion layouts in magazines like Vogue inspired her career choice, her early love of boy bands and Justin Bieber's music, how she came to work with artists like Billie Eilish and Greta V
Mike O'Malley, Actor & Writer, On Conducting a Showrunner Symphony, Friendship, LOVING His Job and Why Buffalo Tom Should Be As Big As U2!
Mike O'Malley, actor & writer, hosted the early 1990s children's game show Nickelodeon Guts before moving to Los Angeles later that decade to star in his own sitcom for NBC called The Mike O'Malley Show. He is best known for his role as Jimmy Hughes on Yes, Dear, a CBS series which aired from 2000 to 2006. He was nominated for an Emmy Award for his role as Burt Hummel on the Fox series Glee. H
Congressman Ted Lieu on Russia's Weakness, Presidential Indiscretions and Glam Hard Rock
Congressman Ted Lieu, Colonel in the United States Air Force Reserves, joins Nic on the latest episode of Sound of Success to discuss how he and Congressman Cicilline were moved to act inside the Capitol on January 6th, Russia's weakness and former President Trump's alleged appetite for classified documents. Congressman Lieu reveals his fear of flying and why the theme music for Hawaii 5-0, Blondi
Musician Chris Pierce On His Glass of Wine with Bill Withers and Using Music to Fight 'American Silence'
Singer-songwriter Chris Pierce joins Nic this week. His latest album, American Silence, is filled with soulful, stirring songs that stay stuck in your mind and your heart. His music has been praised by NPR Music, Rolling Stone and LA Weekly among other publications, and his songs have appeared on several episodes of the NBC hit, This Is Us. He's also collaborated or shared stages with a variety of
Author Susan Orlean on Cat Stevens, Neko Case and Why Neil Diamond Deserves a Shot
Susan Orlean joins Nic to talk about her latest book, On Animals, a collection of essays on all creatures great and small originally published in the New Yorker, where she has been a staff writer for the past thirty years. Orlean is the author of seven books, including Rin Tin Tin, The Library Book, and The Orchid Thief, which was made into the Oscar-winning film Adaptation. Orlean describes her l
They Might Be Giants' John Flansburgh On Missy Elliott, Drunk Dancing and 'Get Back'
They Might Be Giants' John Flansburgh joins the Sound of Success this week to discuss the band's 40-year-career and its 23rd studio album, BOOK, out now. He talks to Nic about how Flansburgh and bandmate John Linnell make it work four decades later, the glory of the Beatles and why 'Get Back' is so damn long, his unpleasant introduction to Frank Zappa live, his love for Missy Elliott, Tierra Whack
Music Executive Jason Flom on Criminal Justice Reform and the Songs That Help Him Get By
Jason Flom is an influential figure in both the social justice and music worlds — he is a criminal justice reform advocate and has also served as the former chair and CEO of Atlantic Records and Virgin Records/Capitol Music Group, discovering Tori Amos and Stone Temple Pilots, before launching Lava Records and the careers of Lorde and Katy Perry. He is the founding board member of the Innocence Pr
Bill McKibben On Soothing Music for Dark Days, the Lasting Power of Protest Songs, and Raphael Saadiq
Bill McKibben is one of the world's foremost environmentalists and experts on climate change and is a regular contributor to the New Yorker and the Guardian. He is also the author of several books on the climate crisis, including his watershed work The End of Nature. Bill joins Nic on this episode to talk about his recent project, Third Act, an organization of people over the age of 60 dedicated t
David Solomon On Moonlighting as a DJ and the Wonder of the Musical "Hair"
When Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon isn't running Wall Street's biggest investment bank, he's scratching his itch to be an EDM DJ, spinning in clubs—and even appearing on the Billboard dance charts—as "DJ D-Sol." His hobby has inspired much head-turning from peers and the media, but as he tells Nic on this episode, it's simply a way for him to exercise the creative side of his brain. He also disc
Michael Imperioli on the Power of the Sopranos, Freddie Mercury, the Raincoats and More
Emmy-winning actor, screenwriter, author, and musician Michael Imperioli joins Nic on the Sound of Success this week to discuss his time on the Sopranos as tortured wiseguy Christopher Moltosanti, the new book he's publishing about the show, and the upcoming music he's recording with his band Zopa. Michael also discusses the power of Freddie Mercury, David Cassidy, De La Soul, the Raincoats, Hole,
Writer Carrie Courogen's 'We Didn't Start the Fire' Litmus Test
Writer and video producer Carrie Courogen works for the seminal music website Pitchfork, and is also writing a much-anticipated book about the life of famously press-shy screenwriter and director Elaine May, due out in 2023 on St. Martin's Press. Carrie joins Nic to talk to him about the difficult art of writing a book about someone who makes it a point not to give interviews, the precision she pu
Singer-Songwriter Raye Zaragoza On Mariachi, Broadway and Roller Skating
L.A.-based singer songwriter Raye Zaragoza was named "one of the most politically relevant artists in her genre" by Paste magazine for good reason — her folk songs are powerful commentaries on feminism and race. As a Japanese-American, Mexican, and Indigenous woman, Zaragoza's lyrics and her songs like "The It Girl" lay bare the isolating realities of being a brown woman in a world rooted in white
Twitch's Sunita Kaur On the 'Super Bon Bon' Bond She Has With Her Husband
Sunita Kaur, senior vice president of APAC at Twitch, talks to Nic about how the massive live-streaming platform has changed the internet (especially during the pandemic) and how it's influencing the music industry. Kaur, a former Spotify executive, also talks about the incredible power of K-Pop, her love for Soul Coughing and Carly Rae Jepsen, and the only band she's ever pulled strings to see.
Musician Pearl Charles On Neil Young, the Eagles and the Spice Girls
Pearl Charles' Magic Mirror came out last year to glowing press from NPR and Rolling Stone and just before she was out to go on tour....the pandemic struck. She talks to Nic about navigating quarantine, her big plans for an ABBA gym, the art of writing sad songs versus go F yourself songs, the Spice Girls and more.
Michael Musto Is Certain ABBA Is Holograms
Deeply influential Village Voice columnist and journalist Michael Musto joins Nic on the Sound of Success this week to talk about the recent return of his legendary Voice, column, his love for ABBA, Motown, and what it was actually like to stand in line at Studio 54.
Comedy Writer Alex Scordelis On the Funniest Music Video Of All Time
TV and film writer Alex Scordelis (Billy on the Street; Difficult People) joins Nic this week to talk about ACDC's hilariously stupid "Jailbreak" video, the Pasadena-based "top-secret dad's music club" he's a member of, and the unxepectedly good music of children's musician Caspar Babypants (Chris Ballew, former frontman of The United States of America), who Scordelis finds himself listening to e
Paper magazine Founder David Hershkovits On the Boogie Down Bronx
Paper magazine has been capturing everything cool in mainstream pop culture and underground counter-culture since 1984, and joining Nic today is the publications' co-founder and former editor-in-chief David Hershkovits. David and Nic talk about how Paper was one of the first magazines to cover the breakdancing and hip-hop worlds exploding out of the Bronx in the early 80s, as well as post-punk, no
Nic Harcourt's Pleather New Romantic Era
Nic is switching things up with producer Elizabeth this week and letting her interview him. That's right, Nic is answering his own Sound of Success Proustian questionnaire about formative music moments in his life on this episode, and also reveals he was in a band in the early '80s in which he performed live wearing a billowy sheer top and skin-tight pleather pants. Listen as Nic talks about growi
Marco Caneva Is Headbanging His Way Through Life
Sound of Success is welcoming its first international guest this week with Marco Caneva, joins us from Italy where he lives. After over a decade of working for Goldman Sachs in their London, Paris, and Milan offices, Caneva went on to serve as the chief investment officer from multi-billion dollar family office in Italy is now serving as a mergers and acquisitions consultant to American and UK pri
Best Of! First Albums
The Sound of Success team is working on our tans this week, so we're bringing you a best-of episode featuring our favorite responses this season to the question: "What was the first album you bought with your own money?" From The Orchard VP and GigLife Pro CEO Priya Dewan buying a contraband Marilyn Manson album under the counter at a skate shop as a teenager to Barry Ritzholtz being thrifty as a
Elle Hawkins On Mozart's Missed Career as a DJ
Macroeconomist Elle Hawkins of Tematica Research spends her days figuring out what the economy is doing (or is not doing) and her nights dancing to everything from Dubstep to Tchaikovsky. Listen as Hawkins tells Nic about sneaking out to see bands on the Sunset Strip as a teenager and her belief that Mozart would have been a great dubstep DJ.
Jon Lukomnik's Nomination for Nastiest Song Is...
Jon Lukomnik was deemed "one of the pioneers of modern corporate governance” by Forbes, has overseen all five of the New York City pension funds, and is the author of the new book "Modern Portfolio Theory." Pretty impressive, right? He's also the first guest in Sound of Sucess history to add on questions to Nic's questionnaire. Find out what questions Jon wants to tack on, and hear him discuss his
TikTok's Tracy Gardner On Growing Up In the Miami Sound Machine
TikTok's influence on the music industry is undeniable. The addictive short-form video platform has bolstered the careers of reigning top 40 musicians like Olivia Rodrigo, Lil Nas X, Meghan Thee Stallion, Doja Cat, SZA, and more. (It even made Fleetwood Mac’s “Dreams” return to the charts in 2020.) As head of label licensing and partnerships at TikTok, Tracy Gardner has since helped the app lean e
Reggie Browne: Forever Funkadelic
Before GTS Principal Reggie Browne became known as the "Godfather of ETFs" and one of the most influential people in the exchange-traded funds space, he was listening to George Clinton's "Atomic Dog" and Prince in his room. And then there was the formative Public Enemy/Beastie Boys concert he went to wearing work clothes after a day on the Philadelphia Stock Exchange and left drenched in beer. Fro
Best-Of! First Concerts ....
We're on a break this weke and bringing you a greatest hits episode, featuring all of our favorite responses to a question Nic asks all of his guests: What was your first concert? Their answers are far-ranging, from Kendrick Lamar at Governor’s Ball, to David Bowie at the Tower Theater in Philadelphia to a Pearl Jam concert that Malaysian police kept interrupting. We’re hearing about first-time sh
Priya Dewan: Rollerblading Goth, Tiffany Fan
Priya Dewan made a name for herself as a label manager for the esteemed UK label Warp Records during the early aughts, working with bands like Grizzly Bear, Beach House, and Flying Lotus. Raised in Singapore, Dewan has returned to Asia where she is now a VP of South Korea & Southeast Asia at music distribution company the Orchard, and founder and CEO of Gig Life Pro, which helps the music industry
Jim Wiandt Will Always Be a Deadhead at Heart
Spark CEO and ETF.com founder Jim Wiandt (that's our boss) joins Nic this week to talk about a childhood spent listening to country music and the works of Gilbert & Sullivan, before graduating to E.L.O. and, later, the Grateful Dead. Listen as Wiandt talks about discovering music in Boston attending Tufts after a childhood in "bible-belt" Ohio and his scary experience with a serious case of Covid.
Jon Fee's Thrasher Magazine Childhood
For Salesforce's Jon Fee, who also owns the record label Parks and Records, it all started with memorizing Van Halen's "Jump" as a kid. From there, it was California skate-punk bands, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Mike Watt's Firehose. Listen as Fee tells Nic about his first concert in Humboldt County, CA, his love for Yacht Rock, and what his guiltiest pleasures are.
Drew Voros Is a Punk Rocker
ETF.Com Editor-In-Chief Drew Voros came of age with older siblings who played him essentials like the Beatles before he graduated to the Doors, and, later, as a teenager, had a full-blown "Disco sucks" punk phase. The Sex Pistols fan talks to Nic about his first concert, where some guy named Tom Petty opened for the Police, slam dancing at rock clubs and re-discovering the broody sounds of the ban
Tyrone Ross Jr.'s Isley Brothers Obsession
Tyrone Ross Jr. is CEO of Onramp Invest, creator of the financial literacy program "Learn to Money," and an advocate for the underbanked and closing the wealth gap in America. He's also a huge fan of the Isley Brothers (which may or may not have permanently scarred his parents), the Notorious B.I.G. and will always have a soft spot for Garth Brooks' emo alter-ego Chris Gaines. You read that correc
Eric Balchunas Found the Pixies By Way of Duran Duran
Before Eric Balchunas joined the finance world, where he works now as a Senior ETF Analyst for Bloomberg, he had dreams of working in the music industry, interning at Virgin Records and whiling away the hours at record stores in Manhattan . The host of Bloomberg's "Trillions" podcast and author of an upcoming book on visionary Vanguard founder Jack Bogle, Eric sits down with Nic to talk about his
Bethany McLean's Heavy Metal Youth In Dylan-Land
In 2001, journalist Bethany McLean wrote a piece for Fortune magazine simply titled "Is Enron Overpriced?" It led to the landmark collapse of one of Wall Street's biggest companies under the weight of its shocking fraud. She also grew up in Hibbing, MN, home to America's rock 'n' roll laureate Bob Dylan, listening to Handle, Bach, Metallica, and Def Leppard. The former Goldman Sachs analyst turned
Bob Pisani Was Never the Same After Ziggy Stardust
Journalist Bob Pisani has been gracing your television screens for CNBC since 1990, where he reports live from the floor of the New York Stock Exchange as the network's on-air stocks editor. He also writes its daily Trader Talk blog. Pisani, who grew up in Philadelphia, where he still resides, cut his teeth on Bee Gees 45s and wearing his platform shoes to see Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from M
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