FLASHBACK: Both Sides On Bondfire

 

All comments, questions, and general feedback can be sent to radiobsots@gmail.com.  Record a voice message and send it my way or leave one at the Speakpipe page!

Visit the BSOTS Linktree for all the podcast and social media platforms.

This episode's track list:

1.  The Hot 8 Brass Band - "Homies" (2012) [Bandcamp]
2.  DJ EFN - "Paradise (feat. Talib Kweli, Wrekonize & Redman)" (2015) [Bandcamp]
3.  DJ Vadim And Sena - "Work Hard" (2015) [Bandcamp]
4.  Markis Precise - "Back To Life (feat. Eligh)" (2015) [Bandcamp]
5.  Blitz The Ambassador - "JuJu Girl" (2015) [Bandcamp]
6.  Core Rhythm And Zajazza - "Grown Folk Biz (feat. Homeboy Sandman And Eagle Nebula)" (2015)  [Bandcamp]
7.  Romare - "Nina's Charm" (2015) [Bandcamp]
8.  Semi Hendrix - "Jesus Pressed Mute" (2015) [Bandcamp]
9.  Sebastian Paul - "Birth" (2015)
10.  Public Enemy - "Corplantationopoly" (2015) [iTunes]
11.  Benjamin - "Those Memories (Sneak Up On Me)" (2015) [Bandcamp]
12.  NxWorries - "Link Up" (2015) [Bandcamp]
13.  The Greg Foat Group - "The Hunt" (2015) [Bandcamp]
14.  Mbongwana Star - "Malukayi (feat. Konono No. 1)" (2015) [iTunes]

 

(Please note that this is a revisit of an episode that originally premiered on the BSOTS feed in May of 2016.)

For over eight years, Bondfire Radio was my home away from home, a place where I built community with a number of immensely talented people.  It was the place where I learned how to celebrate the successes of others and how to truly be a team player while championing music from unsigned, independent and major label artists as both a broadcaster and a music director.  Being a part of #teamBondfire was everything to me and I was gutted when it was announced that the station's end was unavoidable.  Our last broadcast day was on Saturday, December 30, 2023, and I truly believe that we went out on top.  That entire day was absolutely magical and I'm sure that a number of us involved are still trying to process what it all meant to us as individuals and as a collective.

With my Bondfire broadcast days behind me, I wanted to revisit an earlier episode from 2016.  In an attempt to bring the BSOTS on Bondfire broadcast experience to the podcast feed, I thought it would be wise to share some of the indie cuts that I was playing on the station during my first year.  It's a fun mix of tunes with some special guests along the way that offers an accurate overview of what my early broadcasts were like.  This one's for my Bondfire family and for anyone that never got the chance to hear my broadcasts live while the station was still around.  Best believe that I am #teamBondfire for life!

Black Pioneers In Radio promo produced by Bondfire Radio co-founder Coole High.  ID drops courtesy of Fave, Kahlee, EJ Flavors, Core Rhythm, and Jonny Sonic.

Background music selections include the following:
"Pond" by Lavender Worm
"Vanity (Instrumental)" by BADLUCK.

Other key info:

The Weeksville Project
Both Sides On Bondfire (pt. 2)
BSOTS on Bondfire archives
Macedonia on Mixcloud

Life At Camp Lo-Fi: The Last Nine Years

 

All comments, questions, and general feedback can be sent to radiobsots@gmail.com.  Record a voice message and send it my way or leave one at the Speakpipe page!

Visit the BSOTS Linktree for all the podcast and social media platforms.

This episode's track list (title / artist / source / license):

1.  Minor Event by Nangdo [Free Music Archive] (CC-BY-NC-SA) (2010)

2.  Where The Love Is (ft. Dale Novella) by Mikal Amin [Bandcamp] (2019)

3.  Stroll by Exmiranda [Jamendo] (CC-BY-NC) (2018)

4.  Home Is Free by Soul Inscribed [Bandcamp] (2020)

5.  Guaranteed (feat. Ace Hashimoto) by Devin Morrison [Bandcamp] (CC-BY-NC-ND) (2019)

6.  It's Not Fair (Feat. Illspokinn) by Core Rhythm & Zajazza [Bandcamp] (2020)

7.  Socks by Shlohmo [Free Music Archive] (CC-BY-NC-SA) (2009)

8.  INSTANT CLASSIC (Intro) / Tip Jar by CM & Tha Silent Partner [blocSonic] (CC-BY-NC-SA) (2021)

9.  Alright Anyway Ft. Taelor Gray by SHON THA PHENOM [Jamendo] (CC-BY-NC) (2022)

This episode is the second of a two-part series looking back on 18 years of Radio BSOTS.  Truth be told, the second half of the BSOTS life span is largely defined by inconsistency on the podcast feed and finding a regular groove on the broadcast side of the equation due to joining Bondfire Radio in 2015.  Being a part of that radio family felt bigger than BSOTS and I wanted to be a team player.  One might say that I ghosted my own podcast, but I came back to the feed when I felt like I had something to say.  And when I couldn't find the right words, I let the music speak.

The selections included in this episode are all from artists that I've played in the past.  Nangdo and Shlohmo both provide some stellar beat business found on the Free Music Archive.  The moodiness of Shlohmo's "Socks" feels murky and disoriented while "Minor Event" by Nangdo plays around with brighter tones and vocal harmonies.  Over on Jamendo, Canadian artist Exmiranda offers up a hynotic, hip-shaking cut in "Stroll" and Shon Tha Phenom turns the power of positive thinking into the anthmemic "Alright Anyway."  Meanwhile, I used to play Devin Morrison's music on my Bondfire broadcasts years before I found out that his work is released under a Creative Commons license.  "Guaranteed" is warm and soulful and feels like the nervous energy one gets when trying to play it cool around someone that they're attracted to.

It was important for me to represent for the music of Mikal Amin, Mtume Gant, and Baba Israel on this episode.  All three of them spoke to me separately about being a part of Bondfire Radio, but long before that, they were all good friends of mine and artists that I had in mind when starting this podcast.  Their recorded output and live performances rekindled my love for hip-hop at a time when I thought that I was done with it.  CM & Tha Silent Partner represent another shining example of hip-hop that can reaffirm or reestablish one's faith in the genre.  Their blocSonics E.P. remains one of the sonic highlights of the blocSonic netlabel's back catalog.  I still can't get over the fact that a clip from one of my early podcast episodes kicks off their follow-up release, blocSonics 2!

The last nine years have been full of highs and lows for this podcast, but I'm just thankful that it's still here.  Although I take some time to tell my story, the music is still the star of the show and I hope that you find a new favorite artist or song as you listen.

Previous BSOTS episodes mentioned include:
Show #144 - Project: Mooncircle
Show #164 - Cupid Hunt's 2017:  grass ain't greener...
Show #175 - Does Music Belong In Podcasting?
Show #179 - In Conversation With Douglas Whitfield (pt. one)
Show #182 - Life At Camp Lo-Fi:  The First Nine Years

Other key info:
Macedonia on Mixcloud
Black Men Win episode with Jason Smith
Friends Of CC Music episode with Jason Smith
In The Mix With Leah B.
The Bloc Report
The Bugcast
Afros & Audio
Black Podcasters Association

Theme music produced by Cy Tru and edited by Macedonia.  ID drops courtesy of Chyll Will, DarrenKeith, and Morganics.  Background music includes "Infinity 2" by Techniken Defunkus.

Music by SoulProdMusic from Pixabay

This work is licensed under Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International

Radio BSOTS show #163 - BBE Label Profile

Feedback's always cool, so feel free to get in touch via email, Twitter, or leave a message on the Speakpipe page.

This Radio BSOTS episode is actually a Bondfire Radio broadcast that I wanted to share with the podcast feed subscribers.  It's a show that celebrates the music of the fiercely independent Barely Breaking Even (BBE) Records label, so I figured that this would be a great one to share with those that have yet to experience a BSOTS on Bondfire broadcast in its entirety.

BBE has been celebrating its 20th Anniversary all year long.  The playlist below represents a mere toe dip in the pool of their massive catalog, but it speaks to the diversity of this great label.  Hope you enjoy the show.


Download this file

You can subscribe to Radio BSOTS via the following options:
RSS | iTunes | Stitcher | Tune In | Google Play Music | iHeartRadio

Connect with Camp Lo-Fi via social media: Twitter | Facebook | Google+

This episode's track list:

1.  Katalyst - Dreaming Of You {Bandcamp}
2.  Mathias Stubø - I Never Knew {Bandcamp}
3.  Jim Dunloop - The Only Thing feat. Devon Parker & S. Squair Blaq {Beatport}
4.  Pete Rock - Something Funky {Bandcamp}
5.  Phantogram - As Far As I Can See {Bandcamp}
6.  Kid Sublime - Music ft. Dudley Perkins & Georgia Anne Muldrow {iTunes}
7.  Lady Daisey - My Story {iTunes}
8.  Tha 4rce - Damned If I Do feat. Russell Nash
9.  Space Invadas - Done It Again (Remix by Katalyst) {iTunes}
10.  J Dilla - So Far To Go feat. D'Angelo and Common (7" Edit) {iTunes}
11.  The Ambassadors - Ain't Got The Love (Of One Girl On My Mind)
12.  will.i.am - Possessions {iTunes}
13.  Jay Dee - Rico Suave Bossa Nova {Bandcamp}
14.  Marley Marl - Hummin' feat. Roy Ayers and Edwin Birdsong {Bandcamp}
15.  Slakah The Beatchild - Enjoy Ya Self V2 {iTunes}
16.  King Britt - Cobbs Creek (Great Skate Mix) feat. Pos and Trugoy {iTunes}
17.  Foxy - Tena's Song {Beatport}
18.  Deep Tenor City - Fireheart {Bandcamp}
19. Joy Jones - Over (Osunlade Remix) {iTunes}
20. DJ Duke & Roland Clark - D2-D2 (Blaise Fade)
21. Aaron Jerome - Late Night Mission (feat. Yungun) {iTunes}
22. Kalyanji Anandji - Back Ground Music {iTunes}
23. Universal Robot Band - Barely Breaking Even {Bandcamp}

Other key info:

The Music Podcast Consortium's Facebook Fan Page
Macedonia on Mixcloud
Macedonia's Tumblr Page
Radio BSOTS on Bondfire Radio
BSOTS on Bondfire archives and subscription feed

Radio BSOTS show #162 - Tranquil Beats: Mondays In August, 2016

Not even gonna front:  I LOVE me some feedback, so feel free to get in touch via email, Twitter, or leave a voice message on the Speakpipe page.

Early on in 2016, Bondfire Radio began a playlist series called Tranquil Beats.  Focused on chilled out instrumental music, this playlist opens and closes the broadcast day Monday through Friday (9 a.m. and 12 midnight, EST).  A new guest curator is invited to select music to feature every month.  I took on the guest curator role for August of 2016.

Normally, Bondfire asks for individual songs from the guest curator that are played in whatever order they see fit.  From the website, listeners can see both the artist name and song titles as they play.  This episode features my Tranquil Beats picks that were played on Mondays in August, but they are presented in more of a mix tape style rather than a playlist one.  This is not the same order in which the songs were originally broadcast on Bondfire, either.  I just felt like the podcast audience should have something a little different.

This show is dedicated to all my USA heads who will be suffering from P.T.S.D. due to the 2016 presidential election campaign.  We all need a moment to decompress and I certainly hope that the songs within this episode can help with that effort.



Download this file

You can subscribe to Radio BSOTS via the following options:
RSS | iTunes | Stitcher | Tune In | Google Play Music

Connect with Camp Lo-Fi via social media: Twitter | Facebook | Google+

This episode's track list:

1.  Jon Phonics - "Candy Coupe" (2014) {Bandcamp}
2.  Darondo - "I Don't Want To Leave feat. Tall Black Guy (Sure Know How To Love Me Re-Edit)" (2013) {Bandcamp}
3.  Keyboard Kid - "Life's Real World 2 Gil" (2012)
4.  BADBADNOTGOOD - "Speaking Gently" (2016) {Bandcamp}
5.  ELWD - "citystreetflower" (2016) {Bandcamp}
6.  The Stuyvesants - "Sunrise In The Stuy" (2010)
7.  Submerse - "Fumes" (2014) {Bandcamp}
8.  Dabrye - "Piano" (2006) {iTunes}
9.  Karriem Riggins - "12's in 8" (2008}
10.  Darkhouse Family - "Disco Duck" (2016) {Bandcamp}
11.  Denaun Porter - "jUsT 4 dA hAwAiI eVeNiNg" (2013) {Bandcamp}
12.  fLako - "Humming" (2011) {Bandcamp}
13.  Def Dee - "Rain" (2011)
14.  Alain Goraguer - "Le Bracelet" (2014) {iTunes}
15.  Ultramarine - "Nova Scotia" (1991) {iTunes}
16.  Sepalcure - "See Me Feel Me" (2011) {iTunes}
17.  Mount Bank - "We Could Be Real" (2016) {Bandcamp}
18.  Big La vs. Todd - "Death Wish" (2016) {Bandcamp}
19.  Nangdo - "1st 2 Know" (2010) {Free Music Archive}
20.  Tha Silent Partner - "Love really?" (2016) {Free Music Archive}

ID drop courtesy of TGrundy.  Theme music courtesy of Cy Tru.  Background music featured is "Vanity (Instrumental)" by BADLUCK.

Other key info:

The Music Podcast Consortium's Facebook Fan Page
Macedonia on Mixcloud
Macedonia's Tumblr Page
Radio BSOTS on Bondfire Radio
BSOTS on Bondfire archives and subscription feed
Anji Bee on Mixcloud
Joseph Aleo's Journey To Tranquility mix
Gaming Looks Good YouTube series

Radio BSOTS show #160 - Both Sides On Bondfire (pt.1)

Believe me when I tell you that your feedback matters.  Please get in touch via email, Twitter, or leave a message on the Speakpipe page.

I could list a dozen reasons as to why I haven't done this earlier, but none of them would be good ones.  For any one who ever wondered what on earth has been keeping me from creating new podcast episodes, the live broadcasts for Bondfire Radio every other Friday certainly have something to do with it.  With that being the case, I figured that I really ought to bring the BSOTS on Bondfire broadcast experience to the podcast feed.

Big shout out to Classick Material of the Cold Slither Podcast Network, whose encouragement served as inspiration for me to finally get this show done.  With that being said, it's clear that consistency lies on the broadcast side of things, so for more Bondfire archives and to subscribe to the broadcast feed, just go here to make that happen.




Download this file

You can subscribe to Radio BSOTS via the following options:
RSS | iTunes | Stitcher | Tune In | Google Play Music

Connect with Camp Lo-Fi via social media: Twitter | Facebook | Google+

This episode's track list:

1.  The Hot 8 Brass Band - "Homies (Radio Edit)" (2012) {iTunes}
2.  DJ EFN - "Paradise (feat. Talib Kweli, Wrekonize & Redman)" (2015) {iTunes}
3.  DJ Vadim And Sena - "Work Hard" (2015) {iTunes}
4.  Markis Precise - "Back To Life (feat. Eligh)" (2015) {Bandcamp}
5.  Blitz The Ambassador - "JuJu Girl" (2015) {Bandcamp}
6.  Core Rhythm And Zajazza - "Grown Folk Biz (feat. Homeboy Sandman And Eagle Nebula)" (2015) {Bandcamp}
7.  Romare - "Nina's Dream" (2015) {Bandcamp}
8.  Semi Hendrix - "Jesus Pressed Mute" (2015) {Bandcamp}
9.  Sebastian Paul - "Birth" (2015) {Bandcamp}
10.  Public Enemy - "Corplantationopoly" (2015) {iTunes}
11.  Benjamin - "Those Memories (Sneak Up On Me)" (2015) {Bandcamp}
12.  NxWorries - "Link Up" (2015) {iTunes}
13.  The Greg Foat Group - "The Hunt" (2015) {Bandcamp}
14.  Mbongwana Star - "Malukayi (feat. Konono No. 1)" (2015) {iTunes}


ID drops courtesy of Fave, Kahlee, EJ Flavors, Core Rhythm, and Jonny Sonic.

Background music selections include the following:
"Pond" by Lavender Worm
"Vanity (Instrumental)" by BADLUCK.

Other key info:

The Music Podcast Consortium's Facebook Fan Page
Macedonia on Mixcloud
Macedonia's Tumblr Page
Radio BSOTS on Bondfire Radio
BSOTS on Bondfire archives and subscription feed

The State Of Camp Lo-Fi

On February 2, 2015, I found myself at The Social Butterfly lounge in Brooklyn, NY celebrating the 2nd Anniversary of Bondfire Radio.  The co-founders TastyKeish and Coole High had blown out the candles on the cake, the music was pumping and spirits were high.  Shortly before gathering for a group photo, Coole gave me a big hug and said, "Welcome to the family."  Four days later, Radio BSOTS made its Bondfire Radio broadcast debut.  I hadn't done live radio since the Spring semester of 1998 at SUNY Albany for WCDB and I was nervous as hell, but still managed to pull off a decent show even with broadcaster jitters.

And to think, it was around that same time last year that I seriously considered calling it quits.  Had I done that, this new chapter of Radio BSOTS may not have happened.

I have close friends who had envisioned my show on Bondfire, so when one of them let me know that they were considering show submissions for the Winter/Spring 2015 programming schedule, I took that as a sign.  I was over the moon when my show was accepted and became even more excited when I listened to other shows on the station.  The morning show alone made me realize that I would be a part of something truly special:  independent radio that's Black owned and community minded with amazingly diverse programming.  I became a fan before my first actual broadcast for the station, the archives of other shows now dominating my listening time every week.

Suddenly, Radio BSOTS had something that it has never had before in its nine and a half years of existence:  a regular day and time slot.  If I'm not doing the show live in the studio on an alternating Friday from 8:30 to 10 P.M. Eastern Standard Time, then it's prerecorded beforehand to air during that time.  With the broadcast taking top priority, the podcast went silent after the Cupid's Hunt episode released during Valentine's Day weekend.  The every day demands of being a husband and father coupled with a relentless day job forced me to keep the main thing the main thing.  In terms of my creative outlets, the main thing is BSOTS on Bondfire.  It may look like I gave up podcasting for Lent and then some, but I didn't plan it that way.

Over the past three months, I realized something:  I don't feel like walking this audio content creation road by myself anymore.  Being a part of Bondfire Radio shed a blinding light on how lonely I felt in the podcasting world.  Granted, I can certainly take the blame for not getting out to meetups and conferences to meet people in person, but this new experience has shown me what I have been missing in being part of a team.  I can actually see how that's done now, as compared to my WCDB days where I made it all about me. I've been referring to Bondfire as "radio redemption," a place where I can start again now that I can handle the responsibility of having a radio show, recognizing it as a privilege and not a right.  I love being able to root and represent for others at Bondfire in various social media spaces as well as on the air.  The station just added a new show to the schedule and it feels like getting a new family member.

At the same time, I know that the broadcast opportunity wouldn't have come without the podcast grind.  I've been listening to some of the earlier shows on my podcast feed from 2008 lately and it's nice to hear episodes from seven years ago that I can still stand behind.  In addition, I've been very inspired by my brother-in-podcasting, DarrenKeith of My Love For Music, who's been making up for lost time by releasing several shows within days of each other, providing the universe with hours of chill out music (the world can certainly use that right now).  At the moment, I'm gearing up for a return in podcast form, reminding myself that, above all else, this should be fun.  I'm feeling the feed to tap into the energy that I had back in 2008, or at least play around with the structure of the show a little bit so that I don't get bored.  There has been no shut down for Camp Lo-Fi.  A quiet period, yes, but no shut down.

Until the return, love and respect.