Shows
EMOlition DerbyKamtin Mohager (Heavenward, The Chain Gang of 1974, ex-Teenage Wrist)Kamtin Mohager is undoubtedly one of the scene’s most prolific figures. As the musical brainchild behind The Chain Gang Of 1974 and Heavenward as well as the former bassist and co-lead vocalist of Teenage Wrist, Mohager has made a career out of staying as artistically and creatively diverse as possible. In this episode, we talk to Mohager about his early days spent touring as the bassist for 3OH!3 (with whom he still performs with), and his remarkable stint with shoegaze darlings Teenage Wrist and the creation of their seminal record Chrome Neon Jesus. Now in June 2023, Mohager is s...2023-06-141h 52
EMOlition DerbyDaniel Anderson (Idiot Pilot/Glowbug)This week’s guest is Daniel Anderson, guitarist and vocalist of the electronicore duo Idiot Pilot who were arguably one of the most underrated bands in the scene. Forming in 2003, in the dreary city of Bellingham, WA, Idiot Pilot quickly caught the attention of the greater music industry due in large part to their visceral, chaotic and ethereal hybrid of post-hardcore and electronica. The band would score a major label deal right out of high school and for their sophomore record ‘Wolves,’ the band would work with legendary music producer Ross Robinson (Korn, Slipknot) alongside blink-182’s Mark Hoppus and Trav...2023-05-311h 29
EMOlition DerbyMurray Macleod (The Xcerts)EMOlition Derby welcomes its first Scottish guest! Murray Macleod of The Xcerts - the genre bending alternative trio from Aberdeen Scotland. We caught up with Murray to discuss the early days of The Xcerts, their diverse influences (Blink-182, Sleigh Bells, and Slowdive) and their exciting new record, LEARNING HOW TO LIVE AND LET GO, which will be released August 18th via UNFD. One of the singles, ACHE, features scene titan, Sam Carter, of Architects singing in a style you haven't heard yet. Talking with Murray is like sitting down and talking with a fast friend you met at a s...2023-05-171h 03
EMOlition DerbyPhangs (Songwriter/Designer)Nashville-based singer-songwriter and clothing designer Phangs is our latest guest this week on the EMOlition Derby podcast. Phangs has been a key fixture in the scene for well over 15 years, initially rising to prominence as a member of The Secret Handshake and Relient K, among many others. Now, Phangs, aka Jake Germany is a full-fledged solo artist who fuses everything from nostalgic yet forward-thinking pop-rock to EDM and hip hop to create an entirely unique sound. Phangs has scored millions of streams, landed several successful TV and movie placements for his music, including Love Island and has now released 3...2023-05-031h 06
EMOlition DerbyTrevor Hedges (Sundressed)Joining us this week is none other than Trevor Hedges, frontman and guitarist of Phoenix, AZ-based indie/emo outfit Sundressed. Hedges has always spoken candidly about important topics ranging from mental health, therapy, medication and substance misuse yet finds a way to channel it all through vulnerable and infectiously catchy pop songs. Sundressed have been making significant waves in the industry following the release of their 2020 critically-acclaimed album Home Remedy via Rude Records and have since shared the stage with everyone from scene legends The Maine and Hawthorne Heights to Armor For Sleep and The Dangerous Summer. In 2023, the...2023-04-1930 min
EMOlition DerbyShane Told (Silverstein)The almighty Shane Told of Silverstein joins us for a landmark episode of EMOlition Derby. Shane hardly needs an introduction as Silverstein have been a staple of alternative music for over two decades, selling hundreds of thousands of records to date. Initially part of the Victory Records tidal wave of the early 2000's with the likes of Taking Back Sunday and Hawthorne Heights, they have continued to evolve upon their original sound to keep things current. Because of this, they are the biggest they have ever been - selling out shows in the biggest rooms they have played. In...2023-04-121h 03
EMOlition DerbyJoey Chiaramonte (Koyo)Joey Chiaramonte is the vocalist for Koyo, a Long Island melodic hardcore band that has exploded onto the scene in the past few years. During this interview, Joey talks about Koyo’s busy touring schedule and the highlights of playing alongside scene elder statesmen Silverstein and Bayside. We also hear about Koyo’s highly anticipated debut full length, which is slated to come out later this year despite the record being finished for months now. Koyo’s future is bright and we are so excited to watch them continue to grow. Photo credit Madison Stern @madisonsphoto Thanks...2023-04-051h 23
EMOlition DerbyDanny Stevens (Songwriter - formerly The Audition)Danny Stevens is a Nashville based singer and songwriter who was also the frontman of The Audition, an underrated and prolific pop-rock band that was active in the early to late 2000's. Danny admittedly hasn't done any long-form interviews about his time with The Audition so we get the most in-depth and honest record to date about Danny first joining the band, their relationship with the controversial Victory Records, to the band's quiet disbandment. Danny also unveils his new solo project, which hasn't been officially announced, but will be sweeping the airways in the next few months. As you'll...2023-03-151h 19
EMOlition DerbyAndre Fili (MMA Fighter)Andre Fili is your new favorite MMA Fighter. Not only is he one of today's most exciting competitors in the UFC, but he is an avid lover of alternative and heavy music. So much so that he started a hardcore band called "Born Breach" who are set to work with legendary producer Will Yip this year. In this interview, we discuss the parallels of coming up as a mixed martial artist and coming up as a musician and how there is an immense amount of hard work for an unknown amount of reward. Also, we dive into his musical...2023-03-081h 03
EMOlition DerbySam Tinnesz (Singer/Songwriter)Nashville-based singer/songwriter Sam Tinnesz has several multi-platinum songs under his belt as well as cowrites with Dashboard Confessional, The All-American Rejects, and many more. If you have not yet heard of Sam Tinnesz, you have definitely heard his songs in your favorite TV shows/movies or on viral TikTok videos. His platinum hits “Play with Fire (feat. Yacht Money)” and “Legends Are Made” have over 500 million combined streams. In this interview, we find out how Sam got to where he is today and how alternative music has always been at his core. His newest album “There Goes the Neighborho...2023-03-011h 00
EMOlition DerbyHoly Wars (LIVE EPISODE)Coming to you LIVE from Pasadena, we have our first in-person interview with Kat Leon and Nick Perez from HOLY WARS. If you like dark, poppy, industrial and anthemic tunes then Holy Wars are your new favorite band. They had a monumental year in 2022 with many high points including opening for Coheed and Cambria and Alkaline Trio in huge amphitheaters and releasing their debut album, "Eat It Up, Spit It Out" which was on all of our top albums of 2022. With millions of streams and tens of thousands of fans, Holy Wars continue to inspire us as artists, but...2023-02-2252 min
EMOlition DerbyZac Eisenstein (Man Overboard)On today’s episode, we welcome Zac Eisenstein from Man Overboard. In case you’ve been living under a rock, Man Overboard are one of the legendary torchbearers of the 2010’s pop punk revival and made famous the iconic “Defend Pop Punk” hoodies that you and your friends have in your closet. During our conversation today, we learn how Man Overboard’s sound was born from rebellion of the neon pop punk era and how they eventually scored a high-profile deal with Rise Records. Real Talk, The Self Titled Record and Heart Attack are incredible records that are often mentioned in...2023-02-151h 38
EMOlition DerbyBest Albums of 2013 RoundtableIt's roundtable time again! Today, we are diving deep into 2013 - a simpler time filled with neon monster merch, funko pops and viral YouTube trends. Emo was in its teenage years - face-full of zits and all. In a rebellious spirit, emo split into different factions - the pale-grunge-tumblr faction, the suppy nation faction, etc which really made for an interesting year of music. This roundtable has its share of hot takes - including Ethan comparing Man Overboard to the Beatles. Thanks again for listening. Please make sure to leave us a review! And if you enjoyed t...2023-02-0950 min
EMOlition DerbyBest Albums of 2013 RoundtableIt's roundtable time again! Today, we are diving deep into 2013 - a simpler time filled with neon monster merch, funko pops and viral YouTube trends. Emo was in its teenage years - face-full of zits and all. In a rebellious spirit, emo split into different factions - the pale-grunge-tumblr faction, the suppy nation faction, etc which really made for an interesting year of music. This roundtable has its share of hot takes - including Ethan comparing Man Overboard to the Beatles. Thanks again for listening. Please make sure to leave us a review! And if you enjoyed t...2023-02-0850 min
EMOlition DerbyAndrew de Torres (The Scene Aesthetic, Danger Radio, Shallowdiver)Andrew de Torres is a humble titan of the early 2000's emo scene. His most notable contributions include being the singer/songwriter of The Scene Aesthetic and Danger Radio. Did you know that The Scene Aesthetic's breakout hit "Beauty In the Breakdown" was written the first night that de Torres and fellow member, Eric Kimberlin, met after Kimberlin's car broke down? This episode is full of "no sh*t" moments. We also learn about de Torres' current endeavors on the artist management side and his newest musical endeavor, Shallowdiver. Thanks again for listening. Please make sure to...2023-02-011h 32
EMOlition Derby2022 Albums of the Year RoundtableThis week's episode is our first roundtable discussion where our host Alessandro sits down with the show's two co-producers, Joe Giordano and Ethan Fuller, to do nerdy deep dives on all topics alternative and emo. This week's topic is our 2022 Albums of the Year! 2022 signified the musical floodgates opening as the world returned to normal from the global pandemic. Bands returned to the road in full force, legacy bands put out the albums they were sitting on, and new bands jumped at the opportunity to finally get their dream off the ground. There was no shortage of a...2023-01-251h 18
EMOlition DerbyJoe Boynton (Transit, narrowcast.)Joe Boynton is the singer of legendary pop punk band, Transit. This is a special episode for our host, Alessandro DeCaro, as Boynton is one of his biggest musical influences. In this interview, Boynton walks through the entire Transit discography in detail - outlining the thought process for each record, what was going on in their lives, and what was the dynamic of the band as a whole. Boynton is now a part of shoegaze indie duo, narrowcast., who have just released a new EP on October 28th on Firestarter Records. Transit fans are finally ge...2023-01-171h 45