In July of 2024 I was asked if YK would be interested in releasing a collaboration between Cortney Tidwell and Tristen called phiz. These songs were recorded a decade prior but had recently been revived from a hard drive and were ready for the world to hear.

Of course I jumped at the opportunity and now two phiz songs are out in the world for all to enjoy – get them on Bandcamp, Ampwall or streaming everywhere.

Tristen and Cortney were kind enough to sit down and spend some time with me to talk about their long friendship, their relationship to the city of Nashville, their process for songwriting and how they’ve learned to ignore the critical voice. It’s a fantastic chat that covers a great number of topics; all quite compelling if you ask me!

It turns out, Cortney Tidwell herself had also recently been revived into the world having overcome some substance abuse struggles. She speaks very honestly about these experiences and how her involvement with Thistle Farms helped her overcome it all. It’s incredible to see her on the healthy side of things now. (If you are struggling, there is help!)

The episode is in your podcast app now. Find it on Apple Podcasts, YouTube, Spotify, Overcast, etc etc.

Also, since you’re paying attention – you can pick up tickets to the Tristen + Cortney Tidwell + phiz show happening July 12th at Soft Junk right over here.

In August of 2024, Fetching Pails released “Shattery” – the first single from a new batch of songs written and recorded as a trio. Previously, Jill Townsend had written and recorded the entirety of Telekinesis for Beginners and was looking to freshen up the process. Who better to help with that than Dillon Smith and Andrew Core?

Today they release “Ruiner” – the third single from the braintrust trio and it’s a slow burn that unfurls into a cathartic avalanche of sound.

This is one you must stick with to get the full effect. Even skipping ahead won’t do the trick. Turn it on, crank it up and let it sit with you. Townsend’s vocals transform and transcend through the duration as the music creeps it’s way into a massive wall of sound. It makes for a gripping experience if we say so ourselves.

The track is available everywhere today – Bandcamp, Ampwall, Apple Music, Spotify, YouTube, Amazon Music, Soundcloud, et al. You name it, it’s there!

Bonus good news: Fetching Pails will play The Basement on Friday, May 23rd along with HR Lexy and Caroline Cronin – an incredible night of music. Tickets are available here.

phiz is the spontaneous collaboration of two of Nashville’s finest, Cortney Tidwell and Tristen Gaspadarek. These two tracks were found on an old hard drive, revived from a batch of bootleg recordings of jam sessions captured years ago. Tristen recalls, “We came together to play music and sing with each other and trade songs. Her house was bustling with her kids and their friends and music was at the center. “ Music remains at the center of it with these two songs being created purely for the job of creating together.

YK Records is excited to present these gems recovered from the past. Tristen and Cortney Tidwell are names that we have followed independently for years. Their work is consistently compelling and always in regular rotation. To discover that they had performed together was a shock and a delight.

It’s unknown exactly when these songs were recorded but I suspect roughly in 2014. A different time in both of the artists lives but also very prolific times for them both. “i lost my fkn mind” and “If I Had Known” are quite distinct from one another but both contain a striking introspection and simplicity. And the vocal pairings could not be more captivating.

For this unique collaboration, YK pressed a unique physical manifestation of the songs – a yellow Flexi 7″. Miles Price took photos in Tristen’s backyard. The artwork was printed by Risology Club. It’s a wonderful item that sounds delightful.

The songs are streaming everywhere – Apple Music, Spotify, etc. They’re on Bandcamp and Ampwall. The Flexi is in the YK Shop. Wherever you like to get your music, it’s there. Please enjoy.

The recent YK World episode with Talking with Hands was a real delight to record. The discussion around Organic Machine , Matt Smith’s songwriting process and inspirations was insightful to say the least!

In fact, we had such a blast that once the interview was over, we continued chatting.. for awhile! It was such an enjoyable time that we just left the recording on and didn’t worry about the fidelity or the topics we covered. We meandered a bit but never strayed too far from art and technology.

We’re calling this a B-SIDE podcast – a continuation of the A-Side but maybe not as focused or polished. It’s not any less enjoyable, just a little more free form. Hope you enjoy as much as we did!

The podcast is streaming on all the things – Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Overcast and, of course, Spotify. Subscribe anywhere and everywhere.

At the tail end of 2024 I got the chance to sit down with Matthew Smith – aka Talking with Hands – and talk in-depth about his third full-length record, Organic Machine.

Much to my delight, I got a lot more than just a track-by-track breakdown of the record. Matt divulged his history with music, his songwriting processes, his techniques for challenging himself to stay fresh and so much more. Having worked with Matt on all three of his TWH records – The World and Ourselves, New Public Domain and Organic Machine – it’s really enlightening to finally get such context around Smith himself.

If you’ve not heard Organic Machine yet, let this be your jumping off point! No time like the present. It’s on Bandcamp, Ampwall and streaming. There’s even a handful of vinyl copies still available.

The podcast is streaming on all the things – Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Overcast and, of course, Spotify. Subscribe anywhere and everywhere.

The very first demo that Talking with Hands – aka Matthew Smith – sent over from Organic Machine was an early version of “Unprofessional Artist.” The song was an immersive atmospheric endeavor with Smith musing on his self-doubts and questioning his drive into the creative process. Even as a non-musician, it was immediately grabbing – as we’ve all had the same doubts.

The final album version isn’t much different from that demo. Smith’s vocals are still buried in the mix, the atmospheres are still immersive but the truly negative thoughts manifest themselves directly through the computer; in this case both  figuratively and literally. It’s the mid-point of the album, ending Side A of the vinyl – a perfect place to pause and contemplate your own creativity.

Fittingly, the video is its own creative journey. A tale told through terminal prompts, ANSI text and interloping antagonists. If “ANSI” is a term that is even remotely familiar to you, I can all but guarantee you’ll love what’s on the other end of that link.

The process of making it was much like much an album; pulling influences from life, from other art and from the rudimentary tools available. I believe it does the song justice and, hopefully, gives you some resonance with your own internal monologue.

Organic Machine is a layered, introspective and thoughtful record. If you haven’t heard anything from it before now, I hope this video can be your introduction to the work, as the song was for me.

Organic Machine is streaming everywhere. We have a handful of copies remaining of the vinyl and you buy the digital on Bandcamp or Ampwall.

For the second episode of YK WORLD, I attempt to dodge the sophomore slump by sharing my experiences releasing records. Specifically, how to release a record. What steps do I go through? What kind of decision making is involved? What’s it like to release a vinyl record or a cassette? How do you make album art? Lots of questions you may not have ever considered but, after 15 years of doing this, it felt appropriate to share.

YK Records is a small, optimistic, indie but by no means do I claim to be an expert or guru on these subjects. Releasing music can be trial by fire and I hope that by sharing some knowledge, you can avoid as much fire as possible.

This is the blank template Release Planner that I use; feel free to make a copy for yourself.

The podcast is streaming on all the things – Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Overcast and, of course, Spotify. Subscribe anywhere and everywhere.

Please get in touch for anything you’d like to hear covered in a follow-up episode – corrections, additional questions, whatever!