Songwriters & Tour Riders
By KOSU
Categories: Music, Music Interviews
Songwriters & Tour Riders is an Oklahoma music podcast, giving you an inside look at musicians coming from Oklahoma and those just passing through. Join host Matthew Viriyapah as musicians tell stories of recording, touring and living as an artist.
69 episodes indexed on PodSearch.
Recent episodes
- Ken Pomeroy
Cherokee singer-songwriter Ken Pomeroy was named Emerging Artist of the Year at this year’s Americana Honors and Awards. But she was on the verge of quitting until she recorded her debut album, Cruel Joke, with her partner Dakota McDaniel.On this episode, Pomeroy talks about a song she wrote…
- Parker Millsap
Singer-songwriter Parker Millsap celebrated ten years of his album The Very Last Day earlier this year. The then-23-year-old musician from Purcell, Oklahoma was near the beginning of the his career when he released the doomsday-themed album.Now at 33, Millsap reflects on being a working class…
- Kalyn Fay
Kalyn Fay made her way back home after graduating with a Master of Fine Arts in Printmaking from the University of Arkansas to take a job curating Native Art at the Philbrook Museum of Art in Tulsa. She recently left that position to pursue music full-time, and this spring, released her first…
- Traindodge
Traindodge's Jason Smith formed the band with bassist Chris Allen and his younger brother Rob Smith in 1996 when the places for a punk band to play in Oklahoma ranged from houses, convenience stores, and bowling alleys.30 years later, Traindodge has kept chugging along. They released their eighth…
- Ramsey Thornton
When Ramsey Thornton graduated college during COVID, he wasn't sure what to do. He just wanted to do something with music.He enrolled into a masters of history program at Oklahoma State University to study the history of the banjo and worked as an intern at the Bob Dylan Center in Tulsa.But while…
- Johnny Mullenax
Johnny Mullenax didn't expect playing a weekly brunch show in Tulsa would help launch his touring career. Now he's playing at festivals and stages across America and Europe.In this episode, Johnny Mullenax talks about starting the bluegrass brunch, touring, and plays his song 'Used to Work For a…
- Clay Street Unit
While Clay Street Unit was formed in Denver, most of their members are transplants, with lead singer Sam Walker originally hailing from Alabama. There, he was in a jam band that covered Phish and Grateful Dead songs.Clay Street Unit’s first album, titled Sin & Squalor, was scheduled for release…
- Haffway
Sam Westhoff almost quit music and started working at Lowe's.Now, under the moniker Haffway, he's starting his first headlining tour in Tulsa after releasing his album, Wither, last fall.The album purposefully is a roller coaster of highs and lows, reflecting Westhoff's mental health journey, one…
- Horton Records President Brian Horton
Horton Records has been a home for what president Brian Horton estimated to be more than 150 different artist releases. But he has always thought the label's goal was not just to release music, but have music connect the community.That's the plan for this weekend's Horton Fest, celebrating 20…
- Cheyenne
It’s been 20 years since Oklahoma band Cheyenne’s first album “I Am Haunted, I Am Alive” was released and singer Beau Jennings is bringing the band back together to play through it.At the time, Jennings was graduating college and unsure of where his life would take him. On this episode, he…
- Lance Roark
Lance Roark was singing at an open mic at a bar in Tahlequah one night, where RC Edwards — bassist for the then-on hiatus Turnpike Troubadours — was in the audience.With Turnpike on hiatus at the time, Edwards asked Roark to join his Americana rock band, RC & the Ambers. When Turnpike returned to…
- Broncho
It's been seven years since Broncho's last album release. In the time since, singer Ryan Lindsey has had two children and moved to Tulsa. Broncho's latest album, Natural Pleasure, is a return to a pace more natural to Lindsey.In this conversation, Lindsey reflects on 15 years of Broncho, the…
- Chat Pile and Hayden Pedigo
The day Hayden Pedigo moved to Oklahoma City, he messaged Chat Pile, a metal band that puts Oklahoma front and center on their albums.And despite their wildly different genres, they found they got along, watching movies and going to shows together.Hayden Pedigo is known for beautiful acoustic…
- Brent Cobb
Brent Cobb has been writing songs and playing music since he was a teenager.Inspired by his son's discovery of classic and southern rock, Brent's latest album, Ain't Rocked in a While, looks back at his earliest influences while also exploring what it takes to be a working musician, just trying to…
- Keyland
When Kyle Ross isn't teaching English or coaching football in Bixby, he is the lead singer and songwriter of Americana band Keyland.They are opening up for The Droptines this Friday in Oklahoma City and will be playing Tiny Porch in Tulsa on Saturday.Matthew Viriyapah spoke to Ross before his show…
- Noeline Hofmann
Noeline Hofmann was playing bars after quitting her job working on a ranch when Zach Bryan came across her singing on TikTok in 2023.The two recorded a duet of that song “Purple Gas” which kickstarted the Canadian twenty-something's country career that has continued to overlap with Oklahoma.She…
- Vincent Neil Emerson
Texas singer-songwriter Vincent Neil Emerson released his latest album, Golden Crystal Kingdom in 2023.In this episode, Vincent Neil Emerson talks about the title track, the song he wrote inspired by Uvalde, Texas, and connecting with other Native musicians.
- Federal funding for KOSU has been eliminated. Here's how you can help
Despite a valiant effort by KOSU listeners and public media supporters nationwide, Congress has voted to rescind $1.1 billion from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.This money had already been promised and budgeted for at KOSU and public media stations across the country. Losing it is…
- Douglas Miller
On this episode is Douglas K Miller. He's an OSU professor and author Washita Love Child: The Rise of Indigenous Rock Star: Jesse Ed Davis.Our previous episode we explored the life and legacy of the native Guitarist who played with Bob Dylan, Jackson Brown, and more.On this episode we talk about…
- An urgent message from KOSU
In the next few days, the U.S. Senate will consider a package that would devastate many public radio stations by clawing back two years of previously approved funding. At KOSU, it would significantly impact our ability to provide emergency alerts and Oklahoma news.You can help by calling Senator…
- Jesse Ed Davis
From different members of The Beatles, Jackson Browne and Taj Mahal to Bob Dylan, Leon Russell and John Trudell, Jesse Ed Davis resided in a universe of classic rock superstars, but is not as well known as those he shared the stage with.In this first episode of a two-part series, Miller takes us…
- Samantha Crain
Oklahoma Singer-songwriter Samantha Crain new album is titled Gumshoe, named in part about how she became a detective to solve the mystery of being a lone wolf but wanting to find community.In this episode, hear her talk about overcoming newfound stage fright, spending hours beading her album…
- Johnny Manchild on coming back to Oklahoma City, his latest album, and new music literature club
Johnny Manchild revisits KOSU's music podcast Songwriters & Tour Riders. He was previously on the 4th episode and since then, he has put out 2 more albums, moved to LA and back, and even married.Matthew Viriyapah catches up with Johnny about the years since, how LA compares to OKC, and the new…
- Steven Stark is bringing Oklahoma music to the big screen
A music video showcase titled OKC MTV is coming to the historic Rodeo Cinema at the Stockyards in Oklahoma City.Composer and classical musician Steven Stark talks about what inspired the event and how he hopes to foster more connections between Oklahoma's film and music industries.
- Josh Crutchmer
Rolling Stone writer and New York Times editor Josh Crutchmer has spent years in the Red Dirt music scene, from the back of bars and concert halls to being on stage at Cain's Ballroom. He also recently gave Oklahoma State University's fall commencement speech.Matthew Viriyapah spoke to him about…
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