05. This song is so petty and angry at no one with Laura Galindo

Welcome back to Shay & The Good People. We have Laura Galindo on today!! She was one of the first 2 guests I ever had on Shay & The Good People back in 2022. She played a set along with Morninglory (who is on episode 02, go back and listen!). Laura is a Brooklyn-based folk-rock, multi-hyphenated musician and theater artist born in Cali, Columbia. Throughout our interview, you will hear actual recordings of her songs as opposed to her S&TGP set. We had some technical difficulties during our very first show and couldn’t record anything. I clip in her produced music and you can stream the real thing after you listen to the pod.

Laura and I have known each other for a few years now, but we’ve never actually gotten a chance to have a real sit-down chit-chat. Laura is one of the most self-aware humans/artists that I know and you can hear it in her frickin’ brilliant lyrics. I really think you are going to enjoy this heart-centered conversation!

In this episode, we talk about:

• Using the craziness and drama in our heads to write really good songs.

• How Laura is really focusing on what the universe is aligning for her.

• Laura explains her triangle approach when saying ‘Yes’ to projects: Is it with friends or people you will have a good time with? Does it pay well? Does it have artistic merit that aligns with me?

• Anxiety always has a reason. Doesn’t mean it’s right or wrong, but it’s trying to tell ya something!

• The Latin word for an amateur is ‘amātor’, meaning lover. Seeing ourselves as amateurs and to be an amateur is to be a lover.

• Being a very chill music teacher!

• “What is the point of all of this?”. Asking and living that question!!

• Winter Desert in New York is real.

• Life, death, life cycle. That’s truly all there is.

Laura played on the March 7th, 2022 show of Shay & The Good People.

Songs in the episode by Laura Galindo:

• Last Place

• Hangover

Listen to more music by Laura Galindo: Spotify | Apple Music | Youtube

Come out and see us live! Shay & The Good People happens monthly at Pete’s Candy Store (709 Lorimer St, Brooklyn NY). The music starts at 8:30 pm!

Follow us on Instagram for show dates: @shayandthegoodpeople.

Guest - Laura Galindo: @thelauragalindo

Host - Shayna Blass: @shaynablass

Pod edits + mastering by Irving Gadoury: @irvingg_recording

Episode recorded at New Daydream Media: @newdaydreammedia

04. My twenties were terrible with Jasmine Jang

Welcome back to Shay & The Good People podcast! Jasmine Jang was born and raised in New York-based songwriter. We had a delightful conversation about growing up sheltered, finding your community in college, no drugs, and not writing love songs. Jasmine has such a grounding presence that you can feel in person and hear in her lyrics. Jasmine has such a strong mission as a musician. I am really inspired by Jasmine’s approach to her process. Jasmine is also the Co-Founder and Show Director at Keepsake House, a home for independent artists to share the stage and make memories out of live performances. I know you’re going to enjoy this conversation!

In this ep, we talk about:

• An artist’s complicated relationship with social media.

• Jasmine’s core values of making music.

• Jasmine’s Patreon and how the platform feels like an exchange of stories. It can be a really nice antidote to social media.

• Jasmine’s 2 main tools of songwriting: Voice memos and notebooks.

• We both write very few love songs. What’s up with that?

• How we think everyone should be in therapy.

• Realities of what a pandemic did to musicians.

• How I’m obsessed with her song ‘Morning Joe’

• Keepsake House!

Jasmine played on the August 8th, 2022 show of Shay & The Good People.

Songs in the episode by Jasmine:

• Flowers Bloom Upsidedown

• Crow’s Feet

• Morning Joe

Listen to more music by Jasmine Jang: Spotify | Apple Music | YouTube

Come out and see us live! Shay & The Good People happens monthly at Pete’s Candy Store (709 Lorimer St, Brooklyn NY). The music starts at 8:30 pm!

Follow us on Instagram for show dates: @shayandthegoodpeople.

Guest - Jasmine Jang: @jasminejang

Keepsake House: @keepsakehouse

Host - Shayna Blass: @shaynablass

Pod edits + mastering by Irving Gadoury: @irvingg_recording

Episode recorded at New Daydream Media: @newdaydreammedia

03. I’m such A hands pen type of gal with Morninglory

Welcome back to Shay & The Good People podcast. Livvy Marcus, who performs under the moniker, Morninglory, was one of the FIRST guests on Shay & The Good People. Livvy is an unbelievable songwriter. I have been a fan of her tunes since 2018 when I cried listening to her play songs on a living floor in the Berkshires. Her songs make me feel nostalgic for a long drive across the Midwest that I’ve never even taken before. I’m super grateful for Livvy’s friendship over the years and am always inspired by her commitment to good music. You should stream her album, Livvy Marcus Eats Her Shoe, immediately after this interview.

In this ep, we discuss:

• Being from Massachusettes

• Is memorizing scripts hard…or are the scripts just bad?

• Using tarot cards and drawing as a morning spiritual practice.

• The balancing act of theater and music careers.

• Babysitting. Always babysitting.

• How obsessed I am with her album, Livvy Marcus Eats Her Shoe.

• Livvy shares with us a really tricky and traumatizing experience with a music manager. What happens when you’re so close to getting what you want? How do you navigate the fallout of it not working out the way you thought?

• When writing lyrics keep your Notes app open. All the time.

• “Feeling rushed and feeling old is the number one reason why I don’t get sh*t done on time.” - Mornglory

Morninglory played on the March 7th, 2022 show of Shay & The Good People.

Songs in the episode by Morninglory:

• I’m Tired

• Don’t Forget Me

• Lenny

Listen to more music by Morninglory: Spotify | Apple Music | Livvy Marcus Eats Her Shoe.

Come out and see us live! Shay & The Good People happens monthly at Pete’s Candy Store (709 Lorimer St, Brooklyn NY). The music starts at 8:30 pm!

Follow us on Instagram for show dates: @shayandthegoodpeople.

Guest - Morninglory: @morninglory.music

Host - Shayna Blass: @shaynablass

Pod edits + mastering by Irving Gadoury: @irvingg_recording

Episode recorded at New Daydream Media: @newdaydreammedia

02. We're not romanticizing the New York Grind with Noah Lexi | Shay & The Good People

Welcome back to Shay & The Good People podcast. Brooklyn-based, Noah, Lexi is an incredible guitar player and has really good tattoos. I’m so excited for you to get to know Noah! I first saw him at a jam in Brooklyn, wearing sunglasses on stage and absolutely ripping on guitar. After seeing each other at gigs, we quickly became great friends. He plays guitar for my full band now. He’s an incredible talent and always brings amazing energy into every room. If you get to play with a musician like Noah, you’re super lucky. If you get to have a friend like Noah, you’re even luckier. Enjoy our conversation!

In this episode, we talk about:

• Moving to New York from Ohio after school and hitting the ground running.

• Going to Brooklyn jams not knowing anyone in the room and the importance of putting yourself out there.

• Going to college for English, but then remembering you’re a badass guitar player.

• Do you have to have a “big kid” job after school even if you want to be playing music all the time?

• Expectations of living in New York. Noah’s Mom had some pretty good advice.

• Shay is scared when people in their 60’s say they are “still trying to figure out what they want to do with their life.”

• Self-trust as an artist. There is truly only one of us in the world. How Noah keeps his sparkle!!

• Noah’s many animals and how he wrote a love song to his pet snake. There’s a zoo at Noah’s apartment. Also how dogs have no shame about asking for love.

Noah played on the October 4th, 2022 show of Shay & The Good People.

Songs in the episode by Noah Lexi:

1. “My Religion” - Noah Lexi

2. “Waiting” - Noah Lexi

3. “Call Tyrone” - original song by Erykah Badu

Come out and see us live! Shay & The Good People happens monthly at Pete’s Candy Store (709 Lorimer St, Brooklyn NY). The music starts at 8:30 pm!

Follow us on Instagram for show dates: @shayandthegoodpeople.

Guest - Noah Lexi: @noahleximusic

Host - Shayna Blass: @shaynablass

Pod edits + mastering by Irving Gadoury: @irvingg_recording

Episode recorded at New Daydream Media: @newdaydreammedia

01. Queerness is so normal, actually. with Sophie Hearn

Welcome to the first episode of Shay & The Good People! Shay & The Good People is a singer-songwriter showcase hosted by me, singer Shayna Blass, in Brooklyn, NY. All the guests I feature on the show are so good and I wanted to know more about them. So I started this podcast! After they perform on the show, I have them in the studio to interview them about their lives.

Sophie Hearn is an amazing singer-songwriter and actor based in New York City. We sat down for a heartwarming conversation about being a female guitar player, queerness, and keeping your music off social media. I learned so much about Sophie and her songwriting style. I think you’re really going to love this episode!

In this ep, we chat about:

• Not telling people that you’re scared to do something. Just show up and do it!

• How and why does Sophie get asked to show her calluses (by other guitar players)?

• How Sophie’s voice makes me feel really safe.

• Sophie talks about seeing Brandi Carlile live in high school and how that changed a lot for her.

• Wanting to hear sad songs at the end of the summer. What’s wrong with that?!?!

• “There are so many things about myself that were so obviously queer in such a beautiful way. I knew it, but I didn’t have words. I didn’t know all the shades of queer that there were.” - Sophie [30:31]

• “Queerness is so so normal, actually. It’s everywhere, it’s all the time.” - Sophie [ 40:37]

• Being drawn to beautiful expression. Saying the sad thing so you can feel the happier thing.

• What does it mean to be a bad bisexual?

Sohpie Hear played on the June 6th, 2022 show of Shay & The Good People.

Songs in the episode by Sophie Hearn:

• “Anymore”

• “Massachusettes”

• “Come to Jesus”

Come out and see us live! Shay & The Good People happens monthly at Pete’s Candy Store (709 Lorimer St, Brooklyn NY). The music starts at 8:30 pm!

Follow us on Instagram for show dates: @shayandthegoodpeople.

Guest - Sophie Hearn: @_sophiehearn_

Host - Shayna Blass: @shaynablass

Pod edits + mastering by Irving Gadoury: @irvingg_recording

Episode recorded at New Daydream Media: @newdaydreammedia

Shay & The Good People Trailer!

HI! WE HAVE A PODCAST!!!

Shay & The Good People podcast is coming to your ears, folks!

I am so frickin’ happy you’re here. Hi, I’m Shayna Blass and I’m the host of Shay & The Good People. We’re already off to a great start.

 This is the trailer/intro episode for Shay & The Good People which is the name of this podcast AND a live, monthly music show that happens in Brooklyn, NY. 

The Shay & The Good People live show is a singer-songwriter showcase, where I’ll sing original music and feature 3 different singer-songwriters in each show. I then bring each guests featured on the show (The Good People) into the studio for one-on-one interviews. We talk about pretty much everything! From creativity to battling hardships, to near-death experiences, to bad melodies, and their unrelenting resiliency. If you want to know what it’s truly like to be a New York musician navigating the uncharted waters of a post-pandemic era this pod is for you, sweetie!!

 Whether you're an aspiring musician, an avid lover of music, or simply seeking a dose of motivation, Shay & The Good People podcast promises to give you a greater appreciation for the unwavering spirit of an artist.

Also, don’t forget to come out to see the show!! Shay & The Good People happens monthly at Pete’s Candy Store (709 Lorimer St, Brooklyn NY). The music starts at 8:30 pm!

Follow us on Instagram for show dates: @shayandthegoodpeople.

Shayna Blass: @shaynablass

Pod edits + mastering by Irving Gadoury: @irvingg_recording

Episode recorded at New Daydream Media: @newdaydreammedia