🎙 Post-punk Heartstrings – Episode 042
Guest: Kevin Bianchi of Vanishing Shores
Special Guest: Mark Feldbush
Title: Ghosts, Maps, and Enduring Hope

In this intimate and far-reaching conversation, Kevin Bianchi—frontman of Cleveland-based indie rock/Brit-pop outfit Vanishing Shores—shares the story behind the band's formation, his personal musical journey, and the emotional and lyrical depth that defines their sound.

Kevin reflects on:
• 🎸 The spark that led to forming Vanishing Shores and his path into music
• 🧭 Early projects that helped shape his current sound
• 🎧 Influences from Paul McCartney, Neil Finn, Elvis Costello, Bruce Cockburn, and Mark Heard

We dive deep into Kevin’s lyrical world:
• 👻 The recurring presence of ghosts in songs like “In Between” and “Monologue + Transcript” as metaphors for memory, loss, truth, and the Holy Spirit
• 📝 The personal significance of lines like “We want the truth like ghosts” and “Hope is a dark train”
• 🌊 Reflections on Bande-son pour la survie and Maps, and how isolation and introspection informed their creation
• ⭐ Favorite lyrical lines from “Long Gone” and “First Light”, and the stories behind them

Kevin also pulls back the curtain on the Vanishing Shores sound:
• 🎙 The role of collaborators and layered vocal harmonies in crafting emotional impact
• 🥁 The intensity and energy brought by the rhythm section, both in studio and live
• 🎹 The atmospheric use of synthesizers to shape mood and texture
• 🌅 The meaning behind the band name Vanishing Shores and its thematic resonance

💿 Later in the episode:
We’re joined by Mark Feldbush to discuss the upcoming benefit compilation album No Distance Between Us: A Benefit for Ukrainian Refugees, supporting the humanitarian work of the International Rescue Committee. Kevin shares his motivation for contributing to socially conscious projects and how music can be a vehicle for empathy and action.

This conversation is a journey through the poetic and sonic world of Vanishing Shores—a band rooted in introspection, spiritual yearning, and emotional honesty. Whether you're a longtime fan or discovering their music for the first time, Kevin Bianchi’s insight offers a rich and rewarding listen.

You can find the music of Vanishing Shores at the following links:

Vanishing Shores website: https://vanishingshores.com/

Bandcamp: https://vanishingshores.bandcamp.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vanishingshores

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@vanishingshores5514

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4o1hUb6mX2C3QpeF8r8lzX?si=l1x02d9YSdSOGOo2lv3HHw

Please look the band up and support!

You can find Post-Punk Heartstrings on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PostpunkHeartstrings

Post-punk Heartstrings can now be found onYouTube at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjKWsuzqWiSY0vln1Py5ahg

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🎙️ E041 – Dover Lights: Inside the Soundscape
Guests: Daniel Brinker & Andy Moore of Dover Lights

In this intimate and wide-ranging conversation, we sit down with Daniel Brinker and Andy Moore of Dover Lights to explore the origins of their creative partnership, the stories behind their latest album, and the eclectic mix of influences that shape their distinctive sound.

From This Mortal Coil, Talk Talk, and The Blue Nile to Peter Murphy and Sigur Rós, the duo pulls from a broad sonic palette to create something uniquely their own.

🎧 Highlights:
• How Daniel and Andy met and began collaborating
• Deep dive into the track “Prisoners” – bass vs synth dynamics
• Why “Stone” ends so abruptly
• Andy’s upcoming solo record (Blue Nile, Mogwai, Paul Simon vibes)
• Their earliest musical influences and first albums
• Behind the songwriting process – who writes what
• Exploring standout tracks: “Terrors of the Night,” “Memory Dissolves,” “Blue Fox,” “Carrauntoohil I & II,” and more
• Honoring a friend’s memory in “Carrauntoohil II”
• What’s next for Dover Lights, including collaborations with members of The The and The Church

🔗 Connect with Dover Lights:
Website: doverlights.com
Bandcamp: doverlights.bandcamp.com
Spotify: Listen on Spotify
Apple Music: Listen on Apple Music
Instagram: @doverlights_official
Facebook: Dover Lights on Facebook

🎧 Listen now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all major podcast platforms.
If you enjoy the episode, please rate, follow, and leave a review—it really helps support the show!

In this episode, we dive deep into the career and creative journey of our guest, Steve Taylor, exploring his influence in the music industry, film, and beyond.

We start by reflecting on Steve's time at Squint Entertainment, a pivotal era that gave rise to major artists like Chevelle and Sixpence None the Richer.

Next, we discuss the 2012 film Blue Like Jazz and explore the process of curating a compelling soundtrack, featuring artists like Menomena, Katie Herzig, and Danny Seim.

We discuss how Steve Taylor and The Perfect Foil’s track "A Life Preserved" contributed to pushing the film past the finish line.

Speaking of Steve Taylor and The Perfect Foil, we delve into their 2014 album Goliath and the creative synergy between Peter Furler, Jimmy Abegg, John Mark Painter, and Daniel Smith. We break down key tracks like The Sympathy Vote, Rubberneck, and In Layers, analyzing lyrical themes and potential influences—There really was a Pixies reference in The Sympathy Vote!!

Our conversation continues with Danielson - How the partnership came about and how the recording experience was.

Shifting gears, we talk about Steve's experience teaching film at Lipscomb University.

The film Sketch also makes its way into our discussion. What it was like working on this project, which features Tony Hale (Arrested Development) and D’arcy Carden (The Good Place, Barry)? After seven years, will audiences finally be able to stream this film?

Then, we explore The Dead Sea Squirrels, an animated series collaboration with Mike Nawrocki and Disney animator Tom Bancroft.

We also talk about Russ Taff – Cover Story and Steve's involvement in the project alongside producer Matt Wallace.

Finally, we wrap things up with a look at what’s next. Are there plans for new music? Any upcoming projects we should keep an eye out for? Tune in to get all the details in this fascinating episode!

Sketch Movie Interview with Seth Worley and Tony Hale

Steve Taylor License to Rock video

Episode contains the follow clips for critique purposes:

Sixpence None The Richer - Track: Kiss Me

Menomena Track: Taos

You can find Post-Punk Heartstrings on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PostpunkHeartstrings

Post-punk Heartstrings can now be found on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjKWsuzqWiSY0vln1Py5ahg

Please come by and follow the page and say, “Hello!”

In this episode, JimOA and I got an opportunity to chat with legendary musician and film director, Steve Taylor. He is a pioneer of Christian new wave/post-punk music and has had a major influence on me and so many others throughout his career over the past 45 years. He is known for his satirical social commentary, clever lyrics and rapid-fire vocal delivery. This is part one of our conversation so please join us and listen as we talk about his music career from the post-punk perspective. Thanks for joining us!

PLEASE check out the music of Steve Taylor at the below links:

Spotify: Steve Taylor on Spotify

Facebook: Steve Taylor on Facebook

You can find Post-punk Heartstrings on Facebook

Post-punk Heartstrings can now be found at Post-punk Heartstrings on YouTube

Please come by and follow the page and say, “Hello!”

In this episode, JimOA and I sat down for an enchanting chat with Jonathan “Jono” Womack of the Newcastle Upon Tyne, one-man project Citizens of YEAH! I was immediately pulled in by the warm, intimate vocals and indie post-punk ambiance. The production is rich with an edge of experimentalism and lives up to the self-described, “Recorded in a bedroom, for listening in stadiums.” Don’t forget to support this project and follow Citizen of YEAH! on Instagram, Facebook, Apple Music, YouTube and Spotify. If you enjoy the music, PLEASE consider becoming a supporter on Bandcamp. If you like Radiohead, The Smiths. Pavement, Blur, Pixies, And You Will Know Us By the Trail of Dead, and The Go-Betweens, you will enjoy the music of Citizens of YEAH! Thanks for joining us!

Jono’s previous band was Beever. Beever morphed into guvdaan and then finally into Youth of America. Here is a link to the “internet vintage” guvdaan website

Post-punk Heartstrings on Facebook

Post-punk Heartstrings on YouTube

Please come by and follow the page and say, “Hello!”

This episode is part two of the conversation Jim Anderson and I had with Steve Scott. Steve is a legendary yet obscure musician and artist who played an essential role in the integration of new wave music and art in the church in the late 70’s and early 80’s. His unique musical style and vision has had a profound effect on many. Please follow the links in the show notes to check out Steve’s albums and spoken word projects. If you enjoy Peter Gabriel, David Bowie, The Associates, The Comsat Angels and other early new wave/post-punk acts, you should check out his music and poetry. Thanks for joining us!

PLEASE check out Steve Scott at the below links:

Band Website: http://www.emotionaltourist.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stevescottart/

Bandcamp: https://stevescottpoet.bandcamp.com/community

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6z8Aht0me1GvTRVgfdVfBr?si=VHoX9mp5Q06DOY7xLb7qkg

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCK_soRuuRjq71Wrwuj8HuCQ

Steve Scott's comments on Something's Got to Change

The band Suicide's track Ghost Rider 1977

Steve Scott - Tower of Babel Live with the 77's

Miriam Huffman Rockness, biography of Lilias Trotter`’A Passion for the impossible'

https://liliastrotter.com/

The band Eisley - Marvelous Things

Anna Miriam Brown https://youtu.be/yeZr7CwtfwQ

You can find Josh Rude’s music at the following links:

Josh Rude Bandcamp

Josh Rude on Facebook

Josh Rude on YouTube

You can find Post-Punk Heartstrings on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PostpunkHeartstrings

Post-punk Heartstrings can now be found on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjKWsuzqWiSY0vln1Py5ahg

Please come by and follow the page and say, “Hello!”

This episode is part one of the conversation Jim Anderson and I had with Steve Scott. Steve is a legendary yet obscure musician and artist who played an essential role in the integration of new wave music and art in the church in the late 70’s and early 80’s. His unique musical style and vision has had a profound effect on many. Please follow the links in the show notes to check out Steve’s albums and spoken word projects. If you enjoy Peter Gabriel, David Bowie, The Associates, The Comsat Angels and other early new wave/post-punk acts, you will probably enjoy his music. Thanks for joining us!

PLEASE check out Steve Scott at the below links:

Band Website: http://www.emotionaltourist.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stevescottart/

Bandcamp: https://stevescottpoet.bandcamp.com/community

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6z8Aht0me1GvTRVgfdVfBr?si=VHoX9mp5Q06DOY7xLb7qkg

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCK_soRuuRjq71Wrwuj8HuCQ

Steve’s current ongoing musical project, the band Eisley:

Steve mentions Jeremy Cowart in the podcast.

You can find his website at https://www.jeremycowart.com/

You can watch the video where he mentions Jimmy Abegg giving him a camera at https://youtu.be/jC-rpAkfE2I

You can hear David Bowie’s “Moonage Daydream” here: https://youtu.be/RPUAldgS7Sg?si=VHO38mPUf_HnoaTP

You can hear WRITZ song “Luxury” here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e6Qy0O32sS4

You can listen to Mike Roe’s interview where he talks about the 77’s titled album on Island records and U2’s The Joshua Tree: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PKycTep3f0w

Miriam Huffman Rockness, biography of Lilias Trotter`’A Passion for the impossible'

https://liliastrotter.com/

Anna Miriam Brown https://youtu.be/yeZr7CwtfwQ

You can find Post-Punk Heartstrings on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PostpunkHeartstrings

Post-punk Heartstrings can now be found on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjKWsuzqWiSY0vln1Py5ahg

Please come by and follow the page and say, “Hello!”