ABOUT THIS EPISODE
"Moonshine" by Young Gun Silver Fox stands out as a modern classic, and Trist and Elaine break down the song's inventive chord progressions, lush orchestration, and the unique contribution of legendary songwriter Rod Temperton. This episode includes an in-depth analysis of the song's production techniques, vocal layering, and the creative journey from forgotten demo to polished release, making this episode a must-listen for musicians and music lovers seeking fresh insights into contemporary songwriting and arrangement.
In the Mailbag segment, Trist and Elaine discuss maintaining a sense of joy in music, sharing personal strategies for keeping music-making fresh and meaningful. The discussion explores the privilege of playing with top-tier musicians, the importance of balancing mentorship with personal growth, and how both amateur and professional musicians can rediscover the pure pleasure of music, offering inspiration for anyone passionate about their craft.
Listen to the song
- YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9y_WVos6YS8
- Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/track/3mZ42jDYwCs4xRM3YXYMMT?si=731a5e47711649c9
- Apple Music - https://music.apple.com/us/album/moonshine-single/1669592663
- Amazon - https://music.amazon.com/albums/B0CMJNZNZV?marketplaceId=ATVPDKIKX0DER&musicTerritory=US&ref=dm_sh_CMPjyEjK4dr0FzQgyJvKv0ZGz&trackAsin=B0CMJP389T
Other links
- Playlist of the songs we’ve reviewed
- YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9y_WVos6YS8&list=PLc5k8aOI4hVc
- Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4uCOVpr4NcWT5SGWlZEnnw?si=8j8p7QwlQxmTNNFwFMvCeg
- Apple Music - https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/songs-reviewed-on-the-musicians-loupe/pl.u-V9D7maah06JNo
- Amazon Music - https://music.amazon.com/user-playlists/57132299c0b9470dbd67fcab0b41db79sune?ref=dm_sh_LYPlw2RWiTdf09DUmvLHjqGve
- Interview with Andy Platts about working with Rod Temperton: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ypNZbeMxhaI
About us
Trist Curless is a Los Angeles-based vocalist, educator, and sound engineer. As a performer, Trist has toured worldwide as a co-founder of the pop-jazz vocal group m-pact and a 10 year member of the Grammy-award winning The Manhattan Transfer. In addition to these two vocal powerhouse groups, he’s also performed with Take 6, Bobby McFerrin, New York Voices, Vox Audio, Naturally 7, and The Swingle Singers. His latest venture, The LHR Project, is a new vocal group collective celebrating legendary jazz vocal group Lambert, Hendricks, and Ross.
As an audio engineer, Trist has toured nationally with several vocal groups and bands in a large variety of venues, working for Grammy award winners Pentatonix and Take 6, as well as prominent a cappella vocal groups Straight No Chaser, VoicePlay, and Accent.
Elaine Chao, M.Ed is a San Francisco Bay Area-based vocalist, multi-instrumentalist, vocal percussionist, and songwriter whose career spans a cappella, contemporary worship, and classical music. She has leveraged her training in classical and choral music over the course of her contemporary performance, including in orchestras for musical theatre and in sacred spaces. In addition to music, she also is a martial artist and published author. She currently leads a product management team at a major software company dedicated to creative expression. All statements in this podcast are her own and do not reflect the opinions of her employer.
