Shows
What It Takes To Be A RockstarEpisode 20 (BONUS) - On artists losing $50,000 on sold out US tours and why signed bands are going DIYThis week I am ranting in my van parked on a side street in NYC about the state of the music industry. I bring in recent news about Kate Nash starting an OF to finance her tours, and Caroline Rose leaking their own album on Bandcamp. I talk about the realities of the music industry currently and why many bands are choosing to go back to DIY, even if it looks like they got it all. This is the final episode of Season 2, see you in Season 3! Check out a clip of a Kate Nash interview h...2025-03-1113 minWhat It Takes To Be A RockstarEpisode 19 - Randy Ojeda (Music Attorney & Manager) - On collecting royalties, the future of music with AI, and how to prevent an ugly band breakupThis week I'm chatting with Randy Ojeda, a music attorney and a long time music manager. Randy has also done A&R for Symphonic Distribution and has hosted his own podcast, Cigar City Radio, among a ton of other things within the music industry. We chat about how he ended up becoming a music attorney and manager. He also gives some valuable insights and nuggets of wisdom including how bands can collect performance royalties for playing their own songs at shows, what the first thing a band should do is, and when a band should start thinking about getting...2025-03-0556 minWhat It Takes To Be A RockstarEpisode 18 - Donzii - On burning emotional energy for the aliens + doing sketchy things to get to shows on timeThis week I'm chatting with Jenna Balfe and Dennis Fuller of Donzii, a "time-bending, post-punk vision: a unity of go-hard industrial bangers, darkly ambient balladry, [with] new takes on the funk traditions of No Wave" band. This band is super fun and they keep it weird in such a good way! We chat about how they met on an island and started the band, how they feel about social media within the music world, their move to LA from Miami, the sketchy things they have done to get to shows and how they once had to leave t...2025-02-251h 16What It Takes To Be A RockstarEpisode 17 - Tea Eater - On how much it costs to tour Europe, growing a cult following and raffling off good vibesThis week I'm chatting with my bandmates Tarra Theissen and Vram Kherlopian of Tea Eater, Gustaf, MamajoeVramajoe, Francie Moon and more!! We chat about how much it costs to tour Europe/the UK, how they have been building a cult following and how much they love the color purple. These two have traveled the world playing music in "projects of varying degrees of investments and returns" and have a lot of insight into the music industry, DIY or not. Enjoy!!Check out Tarra and Vrams' projects here:Tea Eater: https://www.teaeater...2025-02-1856 minWhat It Takes To Be A RockstarEpisode 16 - Crusasis - On never being able to quit music even if you want toThis week I am chatting with Ryan Smith of the band Crusasis. This episode hits super close to home cause Ry is my boyfriend and bandmate, but he has a really interesting perspective with music because he has played many different instruments in many different genres in many different ways. He's done: Jazz/Wedding/R&B gigs on saxBusking in NYCHired gun gigs on drumsSinging/screaming/drumming in a DIY metal bandTouring in the US and EuropeSinging and playing guitar in CrusasisMonths in the open mic scene in HungaryMusic in the mountains of CaliforniaDIY recordingA ton of drumming f...2025-02-111h 30What It Takes To Be A RockstarEpisode 15 - Charles Ellsworth - On touring in a $600 van with zero dollars, building DIY skills and being a good hangThis week I am chatting with Charles Ellsworth, an incredible songwriter, podcaster and filmmaker originally from Arizona who has toured most of his adult life. Chuck tells me stories about living in his van while being flat broke to years later getting a full time job working with LCD Soundsystem. We chat about how he learned guitar in the back of a furniture store, his movie-worthy travel stories and the realities of choosing a life in the arts. You can also catch a glimpse of his dog Banjo if you watch on Youtube. Check out Chuck's w...2025-02-041h 43What It Takes To Be A RockstarEpisode 14 - Spoon Benders - Stolen vans, Europe plans and dirty laundryThis week I am chatting with Katy Black (guitar/vox) and Casey Hanson (bass) of Spoon Benders, a heavy fuzzy psychy garage psych band from Portland, Oregon. We chat about how they got into music, how they got their van stolen multiple times, their upcoming plans to tour Europe and how they feel about big vs. small venues. We also chat about if they have other jobs, their life on the road and how they got their EURO booking agent. Enjoy!Check out Spoon Benders here. Check out my playlist of all the guests here. 2025-01-281h 19What It Takes To Be A RockstarEpisode 13 - Tongues of Fire - On choosing flexibility to tour over stability, getting creative with marketing and being persistentThis week I talk with Lowell Hobbs of Tongues of Fire about DIY touring, recording in a garage-turned-studio, opening for Modest Mouse and turning down a well paying wedding gig to be able to tour. We also talk about how he tries to get creative and have fun with marketing, how he once sent 100+ emails and didn't hear back from anyone, and how he keeps staying persistent. He also gives some tips and tricks for how to not piss off a soundperson. Enjoy!About the podcast: Host and musician Melissa Lucciola talks with signed and DIY musicians...2025-01-211h 08What It Takes To Be A RockstarEpisode 12 - Sloppy Jane - On making big imaginative visions come to life with small steps everydayThis week I chat with Haley Dahl of Sloppy Jane about how she got into music via acting and how she was able to bring up to 14 people around on tour. We also talk about how she made a record in a cave, how she turns goals into smaller bite sized steps and how she affords it all. Check out Sloppy Jane here: https://www.sloppyjane.land/Support Haley's Patreon here: https://www.patreon.com/haleydahlSupport the showEdited, recorded, mixed and produced by Melissa Lucciola.This episode is s...2025-01-1427 minWhat It Takes To Be A RockstarEpisode 11 - Tall Juan - From having shaky knees to standing tallThis week I chat with Tall Juan about his backstory of how he got into music, his move to the US from Argentina, how he got into recording and having a studio, and why he chooses to not really tour these days. We also chatted about how he managed to get a booker and to get 20+ people to play on his recent album, Racoon Nights. Check out more on Tall Juan here: https://talljuan.com/Watch other full episodes of this podcast on Youtube here: https://www.youtube.com/@WhatItTakesToBeARockstarPlease subscribe if...2025-01-071h 12What It Takes To Be A RockstarEpisode 10 - (BONUS) - On making your own opportunities happen + the secret inspiration for this podcast!Hi! This week is a little different - I am doing a short recap of what we covered so far and giving a quick update about the next season for this podcast. Today I chat a little bit about my own thoughts as a working musician, while fresh on back to back tours in Europe and the USA. This podcast was inspired by a quote made by Caroline Rose which I do read to you all. Thanks for tuning in to Season 1! Season 2 will be out as soon as possible :). If you have any questions, comments, concerns you can...2024-11-0517 minWhat It Takes To Be A RockstarEpisode 9 - Show Brain - On throwing free and all ages punk shows in NYC parksThis week I am chatting with Ozzie Silva of Show Brain. Show Brain is a DIY non-profit organization in NYC that books free shows in different parks around the city. Ozzie has tirelessly put on incredible and consistently fun shows for the last couple years with epic lineups and has done a lot for the NYC music scene. He also is a drummer who fills in for lots and lots of bands on a regular basis, sometimes during the same shows he is organizing. I wanted to chat with him because he has been making a big impact on...2024-10-2951 minWhat It Takes To Be A RockstarEpisode 8 - BALACLAVA - On DIY recording, booking and getting comfortable with rejectionThis week I chat with Dylan Joyce of BALACLAVA, a "NYC trash rock" band. We chat about DIY recording, how he booked his own tours, coming back to music after taking a break and tour finances. They are currently on tour now in the US on the east coast so check them out if you can! BALACLAVA Tour Dates: NYC TRASH ROCK 10/20 BALTIMORE10/22 RICHMOND10/23 ASHEVILLE 10/24 MURFREESBORO10/25 CARBONDALE10/26 LOUISVILLE 10/27 CINCINATTI10/28 CLEVELANDCheck out their music here: https://balaclavanyc.bandcamp.com/album/have-a-tasteYou can watch the w...2024-10-221h 04What It Takes To Be A RockstarEpisode 7 - SKORTS - On playing bars and arenas in two different bands simultaneouslyThis week I chat with Emma Welch, the bass player of the Brooklyn based bands SKORTS and Aggie Miller. I wanted to chat with Emma because she spent time playing huge shows in the band Sir Chloe while helping build SKORTS from the ground up. She has a unique perspective to offer from seeing and experiencing these two different sides of the music industry simultaneously. You can watch this whole episode on youtube here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kPPe1l2rUcsCheck out SKORTS here: https://skorts.bandcamp.com/Check ou...2024-10-151h 07What It Takes To Be A RockstarEpisode 6 - PT. 2 - Dead Tooth - On chasing the carrotThis week is Part 2 with Zach Ellis from Dead Tooth. During this conversation we talk about finances, keeping relationships going through tour, staying healthy and the sacrifices he has made to do music. You can watch this episode on Youtube on our channel - https://youtu.be/ibPX5TwjpfoCheck out Dead Tooth here: https://deadtoothbk.bandcamp.com/Check out the European Tea Eater tour dates here (I will be on bass!): https://www.teaeater.com/tourdatesSupport the showEdited, recorded, mixed and produced by M...2024-10-0850 minWhat It Takes To Be A RockstarEpisode 5 - PT. 1 - Dead Tooth - From booking on Myspace to getting a managerThis week I'm talking with Zach Ellis from the Brooklyn based band Dead Tooth. We talk about the history of Zach's musical journey where he chats about how he started playing music, his move to NYC, booking tours on Myspace and showing up to gigs not knowing they've been cancelled. We also chat a bit about the modern day attention span and how he navigates that as a musician. Then he shares how he got his whole team including a label, a publisher, a manager and even a liquor company on board.Catch Part 2 coming out next...2024-10-011h 14What It Takes To Be A RockstarEpisode 4 - PT. 2 - Thelma and the Sleaze - On finances, being a woman in rock and roll and DRUMS!This week I'm talking again with LG from Thelma and the Sleaze. This time we talk about finances, breaking even on tour, being a woman in the music industry, vibrating drum stools and who she thinks the new Prince is. We also have a pretty hefty drum talk so strap in folks!! Check out LG's band here - https://thelmaandthesleaze.com/And LG's podcast here - https://www.queenofshitmountain.com/You can also watch this episode on Youtube on my channel - https://www.youtube.com/@WhatItTakesToBeARockstarEdited, recorded, mixed and pr...2024-09-2450 min
We're Probably Not Ok!Melissa Lucciola | Secret Blanket | Episode 59Send us a text to let us know what you think of the show!David sits down with Melissa Lucciola of bands Francie Moon and Gustaf. They discuss why one would want to be the center of attention, if it has to do with being the youngest child, the psychology of being on tour, food, and many other things. Melissa shares the painful and life-threatening experience that led her to not only trying hypnotherapy but becoming certified in the field to help others.Watch our video game goofs on YouTube @ We're Probably Not Okay!Fo...2024-09-231h 02What It Takes To Be A RockstarEpisode 3 - PT. 1 - Thelma and the Sleaze - On running an all female queer southern rock and roll band with over 35 membersThis week I am chatting with LG from Thelma and the Sleaze about crusty crash spots, having street smarts when it comes to picking out and protecting your van, why she dove into music and if she's going to keep playing forever. We also cover a lot more including finances and setting boundaries and this is only PART 1! Part 2 is coming out next Tuesday. Enjoy! You can also watch this episode on Youtube on my channel - https://www.youtube.com/@WhatItTakesToBeARockstarSupport the showEdited, recorded, mixed and produced by Melissa Lu...2024-09-1747 minWhat It Takes To Be A RockstarEpisode 2 - Ghost Funk Orchestra - On bringing an 8+ piece band on the roadThis week I talk with Seth Applebaum of Ghost Funk Orchestra about how he brings an 8-11 piece band on tour, how he got his booker and label and how he makes it all work logistically and financially. Find out more about Ghost Funk Orchestra at https://www.ghostfunkorchestra.com/I recorded this interview via Zoom and you can watch that on Youtube here. Support the showEdited, recorded, mixed and produced by Melissa Lucciola.This episode is sponsored by SORRY Cables - rad and colorful quality instrument and m...2024-09-101h 33
What It Takes To Be A RockstarEpisode 1 - 95 Bulls - Riding the line between DIY and having an agentThis week I talk with Emily Ashenden from the band 95 Bulls about her story with music, how her band got a booking agent and how they afford to tour. Find out more about 95 Bulls here:https://www.95bullsnyc.com/https://www.instagram.com/95bullsnyc/Support the showEdited, recorded, mixed and produced by Melissa Lucciola.This episode is sponsored by SORRY Cables - rad and colorful quality instrument and microphone cables handmade in LA.Intro song is called "I'm Starting a P...2024-09-0352 min