Matt Connarton Unleashed 9-26-26 hour 2

0:00 Speaker 1: When I'm sitting down and out.

0:03 Speaker 2: On your throne And nothing else matters ¶.

0:30 Speaker 3: To me tonight ¶ ¶ ¶.

0:35 Speaker 4: I got a battle of pride ¶ ¶ ¶ Burning through my veins ¶ ¶ ¶ And nothing's gonna bring you back ¶ ¶ ¶ This way.

0:47 Speaker 2: Again ¶ ¶.

0:50 Speaker 4: ¶ When I put my loving down ¶ ¶ ¶ On the line ¶ ¶ I dream of you at night, you fill my mind.

1:07 Speaker 3: Some days I feel so lost, I spend in time.

1:15 Speaker 4: And nothing's gonna bring you back this way.

1:19 Speaker 3: Again guitar.

1:22 Speaker 5: Solo And when I call you on the telephone.

1:32 Speaker 3: It just rings, I know you're.

1:35 Speaker 6: Never home I'm lost in time, but I don't mind Cause now I see it's up to me tonight Tonight

1:53 Speaker 6: Cause now I see it's up to me tonight.

2:16 Speaker 3: Now I lost myself inside for another time.

2:24 Speaker 5: I leave everything I've owned all behind.

2:33 Speaker 3: Wishing I was there.

2:36 Speaker 6: By your side And.

2:40 Speaker 4: Nothing's gonna bring you back this way again And when.

2:50 Speaker 1: I call you on.

2:52 Speaker 3: The telephone It just rings. I know you're never home.

3:01 Speaker 4: I'm lost in time, but I don't mind.

3:06 Speaker 3: Cause now I.

3:07 Speaker 7: See it's up to me tonight.

3:14 Speaker 2: Tonight.

3:16 Speaker 7: Cause now I see it's up to me. Because now I see it's up to me tonight.

3:41 Speaker 2: Tonight.

3:45 Speaker 3: Tonight.

3:46 Speaker 2: Because now I see.

3:52 Speaker 3: It's up to me.

4:15 Speaker 8: What a great sound. I really like that song a lot. That is tonight. That is Sam Lapidese, but we're going to find out if I'm saying his last name correctly. Hey, Sam, welcome to the show.

4:24 Speaker 3: Thanks.

4:25 Speaker 9: How are you doing, Matt?

4:26 Speaker 3: Good, good.

4:27 Speaker 8: Am I in the ballpark with your last name?

4:29 Speaker 9: It's Lapidus, but it's been butchered many times.

4:34 Speaker 8: Oh, I can imagine. Lapidas.

4:37 Speaker 9: Yeah, no problem there.

4:38 Speaker 8: Okay, all right. Well, I'm excited to talk to you. Welcome to the show. I do love that song. It's a little sad, though. It's a little melancholy, but I like it. I love your voice, and I really like the guitar work on that, too. Thanks.

4:53 Speaker 3: Absolutely.

4:54 Speaker 8: I know that this is the second single that you've released recently, right? Because you've also got Kisses in My Pocket, which we're actually going to play later at the end of our conversation.

5:04 Speaker 10: Yeah.

5:04 Speaker 8: But, um, but do these two songs, do they, do they go together in a way or they, are they related or, or do they just happen to be, uh, uh, follow the pattern of singles that you've released lately?

5:16 Speaker 9: Uh, they're distant cousins, I'd say. Cause, uh, um, tonight was a song that I'd worked on for, I had it kicking around for a while, like in a couple of years. And it was, uh, kind of, a result of, you know, getting off a tour in Europe and just having a hard, you know, meeting somebody, having a hard time coming back and just getting back into the regular life, you know, that I was leading. And Kisses in My Pocket was more of, you know, literally it came to me in a dream. I mean, I woke up in the morning and I was, I started I grabbed my guitar, which happens sometimes, but it never seems to work out like it did that time.

6:04 Speaker 3: Yeah.

6:04 Speaker 9: And I kind of just, you know, wrote the chorus, you know, had the chorus in my head already. So kind of did that. And, you know, the rest of it just kind of flowed out. I mean, it was it was one of those songs. That song was one of those songs you write in, you know, five minutes or 10 minutes total. And you're like, OK, yeah, I think it's done.

6:24 Speaker 8: Yeah. Um, uh, it's, it's kind of implied. It sounds like tonight actually, was that the opposite? Did that take a long time to finish?

6:32 Speaker 9: Yeah. I mean, it took me a while to write and then I just kept thinking, Oh, you know, there's something missing and this and that. And, you know, finally, um, you know, I, I brought it to a band I was working with and they were kind of like, yeah, whatever. And then I started working with, uh, Bill, Bill Lloyd, um, from he's, it's not the Bill Lloyd from Nashville, but a different Bill Lloyd. Um, and he, um, he ended up, uh, listening to and going, yeah, this is great.

7:04 Speaker 11: Yeah.

7:05 Speaker 9: Let's work with this. And he came up with that, you know, beautiful guitar part that he does. And, uh, you know, the solo, and it just kind of came together pretty easily, you know? So it was, um, I mean, in that sense, it was, it was great because, uh, you know, Kisses in My Pocket was easy in the sense of coming up with it. Tonight was like, you know, a long time figuring out what to do with it and then bringing it to somebody who kind of saw a vision with it and kind of went with it and did it justice as far as I'm concerned.

7:42 Speaker 12: Right, right.

7:42 Speaker 8: Well, it's a great song, so I would agree. You've been at this for a long time writing songs, right? Like, how do you know when a song is done?

7:53 Speaker 9: Um, I mean, usually, well, I mean, over the years I've had many ways of figuring that out. It used to be, I always had to figure a bridge, um, you know, and then when I had the bridge, it was over like the, the interlude. Um, whereas now I'm just, you know, I figure if, uh, you know, I have something to say, I say it, uh, there's a chorus, you know, I'll listen to it. I'll record it. I mean, now it's so easy to record anywhere on your phone and you can walk around listening to it and, you know, you kind of get a sense.

8:29 Speaker 9: And I think that's as radio, as people that listen to radio know, the more, you know, something is played, you know, people kind of their ears open up to it. So, you know, it's, you know, kind of, I guess, listening to it more and more is a good way to know when it's done too, you know? Yeah. If that makes sense.

8:51 Speaker 8: It does. It does. Although, you know, I've heard some artists say, too, if they work on a song for too long or if they hear it too many times, they start to get sick of it. And then there almost becomes this sort of the law of diminishing returns if you work on, you know, really labor on something, trying to get it perfect or what you think perfection is or something close to perfect. Because, you know, music really should never be perfect, necessarily.

9:14 Speaker 9: Right.

9:16 Speaker 8: Um, but you probably, I mean, I would assume over, you know, something like 40 years, you've probably got songs that, um, you know, that go way back that you, that you haven't finished and maybe revisit from time to time or, or maybe not. I don't know. I'm curious about that.

9:31 Speaker 9: Yeah. I, I mean, I can think of definitely think of one right now that I've, uh, you know, I've kicked around for years and I'm always like, ah, I don't know, you know, maybe that's another one that I can, uh, bring to bill and we'll be like, I think there's something here, you know.

9:47 Speaker 13: Right.

9:47 Speaker 9: And, you know, it could become something from that, which would be great. But, yeah, you know, I will say after all these. years, it is harder in some ways because your expectations are greater. You're also wanting to make sure that it's good enough, you know, that fits what you're doing or you've done. So it's almost harder to really come up with you know, new ideas or new things. I mean, it does get more difficult. I mean, you just have to keep working at it a little harder. You know, when I was younger, it's, it was almost like, uh, it was so easy.

10:27 Speaker 9: You know, you always hear about bands. Oh, we wrote like 20 songs in a month, you know, and we recorded our album and that's always the story they tell you. And, uh, you know, it's kind of interesting because, um, it's, it is, there is some truth that it is. I mean, I think there is a sense when you're, really young you're you're new in the world and you're excited and you have so much to say and you know if you're a songwriter you tend to write you know a lot of songs and and lyrics and whatnot you know and you're you're very on there's no filters in your world so it makes it easier because you think you're so you're the next greatest thing that's gonna that's been in the world so it's it's easy to kind of go with.

11:10 Speaker 8: It right right no that makes sense that makes sense How has the music business affected you two over these years? Because again, it's been a long time. Have you become cynical or are you still able to hold on to optimism or how is that.

11:29 Speaker 8: Especially because we're in a time right now, you know, with AI especially, we're in one of those really, I think anyway, that we're in one of those really transformative moments in the music industry. I liken it to on the scale of back when, you know, late 90s, early 2000s when Napster came in and file sharing became a thing and there was this... seismic shift and how everything worked. I feel like we're in another one of those periods. So I'm curious as you look back and, you know, are you still optimistic?

11:57 Speaker 8: Have you, have you grown cynical? Are you somewhere in between? How do you feel about it all?

12:03 Speaker 9: Um, that's, that's a, that's a very good question. I'd have to say, you know, when Napster first came out and everybody was excited, I was kind of like, you know, I was one of those people. I was like, well, why should you get music for free? You know, what makes you think that? yeah and you know to now it's even you know it's it is almost free i mean what you get from all the streaming services is minimal compared to what they make and even even well-known artists i mean you need like millions of of listens to really make any money in that sense and selling cds has gone out the window um but to you AI is a little scary.

12:42 Speaker 9: And I know that, you know, I've had friends and bandmates who have played, you know, played around with my songs and said, hey, check out this song. It's a big band song, you know, that I put on. I made AI, you know, I did it on AI. And I'm like, wow, that does sound kind of cool. You know, I mean, it is a good tool to like, you know, maybe you can change an arrangement of a song, which could be or speed it up, slow it down. In that sense, it's really good. Um, as far as, um, also the problem, I guess I have too, is the problem of, uh, everybody can record and everybody's a musician, you know, whereas it was, it seems like it's, it's almost less special now than it used to be for me, maybe.

13:26 Speaker 9: Whereas it's, uh, you know, everybody's like, yeah, I'm in a band or my brother's in a band or, you know, my dog's in a band and, uh, you know, he barks on cue, you know, things like that. And you're like, oh, I'm sorry. you know, another musician. And recording was so much more technical. I mean, you had tape and you had a splice. It was much more difficult. So the ease factor is much better now. Am I cynical? Yeah, I mean, it's, you know, you're still, you have ups and downs. You know, I played last night and we were the last band.

14:05 Speaker 9: I actually got home at one o'clock. So about six hours ago, But, you know, it was like being the last band of the night. Our drummer's really young and he was like all excited, like we're headlining. Whereas if you've been, you know, if you know, most people are like, oh, it's 11 o'clock and I'm going home. So when you're the band at 11, it's kind of like you're like trying to keep people there and going. So it's, you know, so that, but then, you know, the beautiful thing was, You know, as much as I was like, I was trying to keep my positive attitude on stage and I got off stage and there was like three or four people that came up to me and they said, that was, I mean, your music is so good.

14:47 Speaker 9: You know, how do I find you and where are you? And that really kind of made it, took away a little bit of the cynicism and made me kind of feel good, you know. And on top of it, we got paid a little bit of money, which is great. in LA at least, um, you know, these days, which is, you know, it's awesome. So cynical.

15:09 Speaker 1: Yeah.

15:10 Speaker 9: You know, but also I'll, I'll end with this. I don't want to gab too much, but, uh, I think that social, you know, Facebook for me has been great because I do a Saturday show every Saturday, Saturdays with Sam, where I just do like one song, um, sometimes original cover, just do it acoustically. And it's been, uh, you know, I've done it for like two years now. And, uh, it's been, uh, it's been really good. I get a lot of, you know, quite a few views as far as I'm concerned, which is great.

15:36 Speaker 8: Oh, very cool. Very cool. Um, have you been doing that for a while? Because a lot of these things, um, uh, artists started doing these types of things during the pandemic. Is, is that, is that when this started or was it more recent?

15:49 Speaker 9: You know, I, I started it, um, I did a few shows in the pandemic, you know, one or two, and I would, you know, do like an hour show. Yeah. And then I just, um, I didn't do it for a while. And, uh, you know, we're, I was powwowing with my wife about like, you know, what can we, you know, she's an artist, you know, she's a visual artist and a painter and we were trying to powwow on what we could do to, uh, you know, make our artistic lives more, uh, fulfilling. And, you know, we kind of somehow came up with, uh, doing a Saturday show for me on Facebook.

16:24 Speaker 9: And I said, Oh, that's cool. That's a great idea. And it just kind of, you know, went from there. And I had a, Part of it was I would, like, learn a, you know, kind of pick up a song sometimes and just go, I kind of know it. And, you know, work on it for a few minutes and play it. And, you know, it was a bit of a challenge sometimes, but it was fun.

16:43 Speaker 8: Yeah, we should mention, too, so you're in Los Angeles. You're on the West Coast, correct?

16:49 Speaker 1: Yes.

16:50 Speaker 8: So for any, so for anyone who's wondering, you know, because you mentioned, uh, uh, 1am was six hours ago. So we do appreciate you joining us. So, so this is early, this is kind of early for you. So we especially, especially appreciate you being with us, uh, Sam, especially after, after you just played a show last night, but, um, speaking of playing live, I'm curious about this. So you started out as a busker, correct?

17:13 Speaker 3: Yes.

17:14 Speaker 9: Um, I, God, years ago, I was living in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and I ended up recording just like with a dub deck, you know, a couple songs. And then I had a friend make a better recording with his studio. And, you know, I put it in the local record store, but I was like, oh, you know, we haven't sold any. So I was like, what do I need to do? So I just kind of, there was a place where I could, I could busk. And I also had this girlfriend who said, I think the people that have any guts are the ones that go play in the engineering arch, you know, underneath the engineering school.

17:56 Speaker 9: And I was like, all right, I'll take that challenge. And so I started busking there and it was like, you know, it was such a success for me. I mean, it was almost like, it was almost, you know, things went really well so quickly for me there. that it was like, Oh, this is so, you know, music business is so easy. I never thought it would be this easy.

18:19 Speaker 10: Right.

18:20 Speaker 9: So I was like, wow. You know, and then, you know, the band came together and we would sell out clubs locally.

18:26 Speaker 3: Wow.

18:26 Speaker 9: And it was great. Yeah. It was, uh, you know, and it was always from busking. Um, and then I went to Boston for, uh, for two, two stints in Boston where it's a great place to bus. I mean, close by you, you know, you know, Manchester.

18:43 Speaker 14: Yep.

18:43 Speaker 9: And, uh, It was, you know, just doing that. And also, you know, people would say to me, especially in Boston, they were like, you know, why are you doing this? Why aren't you playing in clubs? And I said, I just looked at him and I said, yeah, but are you going to come?

18:58 Speaker 11: Right.

18:59 Speaker 9: And they would go, oh. I'm like, yeah, okay, I get your point.

19:03 Speaker 10: Right.

19:03 Speaker 9: I was like, yeah, I'm bringing the music to you so you can hear it, you know?

19:06 Speaker 8: Yeah.

19:07 Speaker 9: Because otherwise you're never going to hear it. So that's kind of what got me to busk.

19:12 Speaker 8: Do you feel like that is.

19:13 Speaker 9: It is fascinating.

19:14 Speaker 8: Oh, go ahead.

19:15 Speaker 9: I'm sorry.

19:15 Speaker 3: Go ahead.

19:16 Speaker 8: Uh, well, I was curious if you feel like you learned things from, from doing that, that you wouldn't have learned, you know, if you, if you were just playing in clubs, but you had never busked, you know, what, what did that teach you that you might not have learned otherwise?

19:29 Speaker 9: Oh, I mean, the biggest thing probably was, you know, busking is, you know, it's, you're trying to, you're trying to make money. So a lot of it was what song's, make people react the best.

19:44 Speaker 12: Yeah.

19:44 Speaker 9: You know, and I mean, I always heard complaints from people. would it's funny i don't know why people always seem to say things to me where it's like are you trying to goat me and they would be like why do all these people in the subways play the same songs over and over again and i was like i looked at you know i'd look at these people and just be like well i try not to do that i'm changing everything but you know a lot of it i think a lot of it was they figured what song made them you know 20 bucks before the next train came versus uh 50 cents you know so exactly it was a good test of like what works.

20:22 Speaker 8: Right right yeah no that makes a lot of sense um do you remember the first time the very first time someone stopped and and you know uh put some money in your uh in your guitar case or or just stop to really listen and pay attention.

20:38 Speaker 9: Um, I'm trying to think, I mean, in, uh, in, I mean, it's, it's very, it's a very different, Ann Arbor was a very different experience because you had a lot of students going to class and, uh, you know, they were passing through. I mean, later in the day people would listen. Um, but, uh, I'm trying to think, I mean, usually, you know, I've always felt like people couldn't say, uh, too much because I knew I was good enough, you know, but I still needed, I still needed to get better. So I don't know.

21:14 Speaker 9: I mean, I guess I can't really specifically remember, but I guess I got enough of a positive, um, response that I kept coming back and it didn't scare me away.

21:24 Speaker 14: Right.

21:25 Speaker 9: So, uh, you know, and there's always, you know, you're always going to encounter somebody who's just, you know, they're just cranky or whatever, and they're going to, you know, say something to you that may not be, you know, as nice as you'd like it to be.

21:38 Speaker 3: Sure.

21:39 Speaker 9: You know, I've gotten thicker skin as I've gotten a bit, you know, as I've gotten older too, which is, uh, which is great, you know, cause you're like, eh, you know, bad sound, which is, you know, always an issue in clubs you play because either they don't know your music well enough or, uh, they're just not, they're just, they don't care. They're just not that good.

22:01 Speaker 11: Right.

22:02 Speaker 9: And, uh, you know, you, you kind of, it used to just upset me so much, you know, a bad sound system or this or that. And now I'm like, you know what? All I can do is hope that my point gets across and people get what I'm doing.

22:16 Speaker 11: Right.

22:16 Speaker 9: And, uh, so yeah.

22:19 Speaker 8: It's a good way to look at it.

22:20 Speaker 15: Yeah.

22:20 Speaker 8: There's only so much that's in your control. And unfortunately, you know, part of human nature is, you know, we like to worry about things that are out of our control. And you do it, you know, as you get older, you kind of learn to let some of that go, or at least some of us do. And I think that's a good thing. You did mention your band too. So is that the Rotten Liars? Is that the band that you've been playing with?

22:44 Speaker 11: Yes.

22:44 Speaker 8: Okay.

22:45 Speaker 9: Yes.

22:45 Speaker 8: And then, oh, go ahead.

22:48 Speaker 9: No, go ahead. Sorry.

22:49 Speaker 8: No, I was just curious to know more about it.

22:53 Speaker 9: Um, it's, uh, it's changed over the years. I mean, I've worked with Bill Lloyd on and off, um, drummers and bass players have come and gone the current, the current, uh, the current band I'm working with. I really like, I mean, uh,

23:11 Speaker 9: it's so nice to have a drummer that really commands the band instead of the band commanding him, which a lot of times I've, I've been in the opposite end where it's like, you know, you're commanding the drummer and you're telling him when to end the song. And this guy is just so like on the money. It's just, it's just such a pleasure. It makes, it makes, it makes you feel so good when you work with people like that. So, you know, the current incarnation is just, you know, it's great. I can't say enough good things.

23:47 Speaker 8: Is it hard to find a... well, let me ask the question this way, because this is a subject that comes up constantly on the show. Like, like every drummer I know is in multiple bands because it's hard to find drummers. Like, is, is your drummer in multiple bands or is he just committed to your band? Or how does, how does that work? Because look, I mean, literally every drummer I know, it's like you, you, there's, there's, they're an endangered species. You can't find drummers. So they end up in multiple projects.

24:16 Speaker 9: I always thought it was bass players, but, uh, Yeah, no, I mean, he's, well, this guy is like, he's very talented. I mean, he's a really good guitar player, and he also, he's actually set my guitar up, so he actually has a pretty good skill set.

24:32 Speaker 8: Yeah.

24:33 Speaker 9: You know, he can just, he's a guitar tech, he's a drummer, and he's good at all these things. And I think, you know, he plays in a heavy metal band as a guitar player.

24:44 Speaker 16: Okay.

24:45 Speaker 9: And I keep saying I want to come see him, and they never tell me exactly where. When he's playing, I'm like, come on, Will. Tell me when it is. But it's harder to get good musicians. And I'm pretty forgiving. Maybe that's my fatal flaw, which is I'm like, well, they're good. We can get through this. So sometimes you don't get the best musicians. you settle for second best, so to speak. But I think in this carnation, I'm pretty satisfied.

25:24 Speaker 8: Oh, that's excellent. And this started in 2014, is that correct?

25:29 Speaker 9: Yeah.

25:31 Speaker 8: Okay.

25:31 Speaker 9: Yeah, actually, yeah, with a completely different drummer, completely different bass player, completely different guitar player. But that was part of it. I said, you know what, after all these years, I'm not going to say, you know, a band name. I'm just going to keep my name and the Rotten Liars, you know, because it's just easier, you know, because they can change.

25:52 Speaker 8: Right, right. No, that makes sense. That makes sense. And can you also tell me about working with Steve Wynn of the Dream Syndicate? He produced some of your early releases, correct?

26:03 Speaker 9: Yes.

26:04 Speaker 16: Okay.

26:04 Speaker 9: Yeah, the funny thing with Steve was I was busking in Venice Beach one day with a friend of mine. And, uh, in my mind, I always, you know, always was, uh, I always thought the dream syndicate was probably one of my favorite bands is, you know, in those days. And I was just like, oh my God, you know, and I started playing burn, which was off medicine show. One of their second release. And, um, you know, I would play it now and again, and I hadn't played it in a while. And I just started playing it one day on the beach and.

26:36 Speaker 9: guess who walked by Steve?

26:39 Speaker 17: When I was like, Oh my God.

26:41 Speaker 3: Yeah.

26:42 Speaker 9: And, uh, he was really funny and, uh, very, you know, very, uh, just really nice guy. And, um, you know, I think probably about a year or two later, it kind of came up, um, that, you know, I was doing a record for this Italian label and, uh, kind of, you know, I was doing a cover of burn on it and I figured, um, you know, hey, would you want to produce this and a couple songs? And he was like, yeah, sure, I'd love to. So we kind of worked with him. He gave us a song for our next record to record before he recorded it, which was interesting because he said, you got to do it exactly like this because you're doing it before me.

27:27 Speaker 9: So I don't want to have the alternate version. It's my version. So do it like I did it. So that was kind of funny.

27:34 Speaker 8: Yeah. Yeah.

27:35 Speaker 9: And then a couple.

27:36 Speaker 6: Yeah.

27:36 Speaker 9: And there was a few other times where we worked together and did some stuff. So it was always and he's always cordial, you know, very nice and very just a good guy.

27:45 Speaker 10: You know?

27:46 Speaker 8: Yeah.

27:46 Speaker 3: Yeah.

27:47 Speaker 8: Oh, that's that's fantastic. And then I'm curious, too, because, again, you've been been at this a long time. how much of your, your early material, like, do you still play songs that you played when you were first starting out playing in clubs and all that?

28:04 Speaker 9: Um, some of them I do. Yeah. I mean, you know, it's like, it's, it's the catalog. So you're like, you know, why not? Um, it's funny. My wife is from Detroit and she said she used to, uh, always see kid rock playing, you know, around Detroit, uh, And he always played that one, she said, he just played that one song, you know, for years, which ended up being his big hit. I forgot. It was like in 1999. It was like his really big hit and it kind of put him on the map. But, you know, it was just funny because it made me think, yeah, I mean, I kind of got it.

28:43 Speaker 9: You know, he believed in that song and he was like, I'm going to keep going. So yeah, to answer your question, yes, I do. You know, I kind of do old, new, middle, in between. Yeah, some covers sometimes. It just kind of varies.

28:58 Speaker 8: Yeah, yeah. Outstanding. Sam, in a moment, we're going to— the time goes quickly. We're going to wrap up in a moment. Like I said, though, we're going to end our conversation. With Kisses in My Pocket, another great song. But I'm curious, so you've got these singles. What's the current trajectory with these? Do you intend to do another album or an EP? We live in an era, and again, you've been around a long time, so you know things have changed a lot. We talked about how the music industry has changed, and now a lot of artists just release singles, or they...

29:34 Speaker 8: release a series of singles that eventually coalesce into an album and sort of the inverse of what it used to be where you'd have an album and then you'd have singles from the album but what what's kind of your long-term plan or if you have one.

29:47 Speaker 9: Uh i mean i think you know i think that it is singles seem to be easier to do only because you know i mean albums it's like then you have to i mean do you need a I don't even know what the answer, answer with an album is. You put it out as like a piece of, uh, you know, metal or vinyl. I know vinyls come back cassettes, unfortunately too.

30:09 Speaker 8: But, uh, the cassette thing is weird, isn't it?

30:14 Speaker 9: Oh my God. It's like, it was horrible then. It's like, why would anybody want to bring those back?

30:19 Speaker 8: You don't like the sound. I get, you don't like the sound of tapis with, it's strange isn't it yeah it's very strange yeah vinyl vinyl is nothing sounds better than vinyl uh but you know the warmth but yeah the cassettes do sound uh pretty terrible i think it's more just the novelty of it most most people who buy cassettes i'm sure they're just really big fans of that artist and want to get everything that they do and i'm sure most people don't even have a hell a lot of people don't even have a record player anymore they just buy the vinyl you know because they're a fan and they want to have it to collect it you know what i mean Right.

30:53 Speaker 9: Sure. Absolutely. Yeah. Yeah.

30:57 Speaker 3: But, um, I don't know.

30:58 Speaker 9: I mean, I'll see what happens. I mean, I've done, I've done probably about five or six singles, uh, in the last three years.

31:07 Speaker 8: Okay.

31:08 Speaker 9: I mean, these, the last two have been, you know, the ones that I've kind of, uh, you know, pushed along a little more, but there was other ones that we just kind of, you know, that I put on Spotify and, uh, itunes and all that so um and you know wherever else you can youtube everywhere yeah um which is a challenge in itself but you know it's uh yeah i mean i'll see what happens i guess if i get enough songs for an album and it makes sense um you know i could do.

31:40 Speaker 8: That right right yeah it's it's almost like uh like you have too many choices now in a way right there's so many different ways to release music now Um, and, and it's interesting to see, you know, the different artists that we talked to on the show, how they, they choose to navigate that. Um, you know, it used to just be so simple, you know, you got an album coming out for a single goes to radio, you know, six to eight weeks before the album, second single after the album comes out, you know, assuming all goes well, there's a second single.

32:07 Speaker 8: If not, then that's it. So it's a lot more.

32:10 Speaker 9: There was a formula.

32:11 Speaker 11: Yes.

32:11 Speaker 9: Yeah.

32:12 Speaker 8: Yes.

32:13 Speaker 9: And now it's like, what's the formula? What do we do?

32:15 Speaker 18: Right.

32:16 Speaker 9: I'm sure like, you know, All the new, you know, up and comings, they're like, oh, this is no problem. You know, we can figure it out. What's wrong with you? But yeah, for people like, you know, yeah, I'm still, I'm still baffled and challenged by it. You know, I just, I just keep doing, you know, keep going, keep doing what I can do, you know.

32:36 Speaker 3: Yeah.

32:37 Speaker 14: Yeah.

32:37 Speaker 9: Because it reaches people.

32:39 Speaker 8: Yeah, because the truth is there is no right answer. It's just whatever is working for you as an artist. And, you know, this seems to be working for you. So I think it's great. Sam, one more thing, though, before we let you go, and then we're going to hit that track. But where's the best place for people to go online to keep up with everything that you're doing?

32:58 Speaker 9: Probably would be iTunes, Facebook, Sam Lapidus, or Sam Lapidus and the Rotten Liars. Um, either one of those places, um, Instagram, um, those are probably, you know, any social media is probably the best and YouTube, YouTube, because you can, you know, you can hear, but for where I'm playing and stuff, probably Facebook and Instagram.

33:24 Speaker 8: Um, Yep. And I would encourage artists, I mean, uh, I'm sorry, I would encourage listeners to, uh, get the music on Bandcamp if you can, because Bandcamp is, um, I'm glad that you're on there because it's, I'm a big proponent of it. It's so artist friendly. And also what a lot of people don't realize is you actually get a higher quality file from Bandcamp than you do, say, if you're just streaming it on, on YouTube or whatever. So, um, I'm a big fan of Bandcamp, so I'm glad that your stuff is on there, too.

33:52 Speaker 8: Yeah. Yeah. Well, this has been wonderful. We're going to play that song, Kisses in My Pocket, so we'll let you go. Sam Lapidus, did I get it right? You got it.

34:01 Speaker 3: Oh, wonderful.

34:02 Speaker 8: Sam Lapidus, thank you so much for joining us. And listen, I'm sure you've got more music coming in the future, so we will definitely have you back. And I would love to have you back on whenever the next single. Do you know, actually? Let me just ask you now. Do you know when the next single is? Are you working on the next one yet?

34:19 Speaker 9: We were talking about it last night. But we'll see what happens. Probably in the next... Bill and I are a little slow. We take our time. He kind of likes to ponder over things, which is cool. He likes to come up with his parts. He does a lot of things MIDI, which is great. you know, cause he's just a master of that, which is awesome. Yeah. Um, but, uh, yeah, you know, we're always working on something, cooking something up. So hopefully we'll have something soon.

34:50 Speaker 3: All right.

34:50 Speaker 8: Well, we can't wait to hear that. So, all right, Sam Lapidus, thank you so much. And, uh, we'll talk to you again soon. I'm sure. Take care.

34:57 Speaker 9: Thank you, Matt. It really, it's been a pleasure.

34:59 Speaker 8: Oh, thank you. All right. Bye-bye. All right, that is the great Sam Lapidus. And let's give this a listen. This is another great song. This is called Kisses in My Pocket.

35:12 Speaker 19: I dream last night about a perfect place.

35:33 Speaker 4: Love was lost and heart still aches She caught my eye but I was afraid I turned my head and walked away.

35:55 Speaker 3: I got kisses in my pocket.

36:02 Speaker 5: And I got so much more to give Two hearts broken in the same places Won't you please just let me in She was.

36:25 Speaker 10: Always on my mind.

36:31 Speaker 3: The days and years they flew by.

36:39 Speaker 20: Always thought I lived a lie When she came back I knew I was right I.

36:54 Speaker 10: Got kisses in my pocket.

37:01 Speaker 3: And I got so much more to give. The two hearts broken in the same places.

37:16 Speaker 5: Won't you please just let me in?

37:22 Speaker 2: Guitar solo I got kisses in my pocket ¶.

38:01 Speaker 3: I got so much more.

38:03 Speaker 10: To give ¶ ¶.

38:08 Speaker 5: Two hearts broken in the same places ¶ ¶ Won't you please just let me in ¶ ¶ I got kisses in my pocket ¶ And I got so much more.

38:32 Speaker 10: To give Two hearts broken in the.

38:41 Speaker 3: Same places Won't you please just let me in.

38:52 Speaker 7: Two hearts broken in the same old places.

38:59 Speaker 3: Won't you please just let me in?

39:08 Speaker 8: That is a great Sam Lapidus, Kisses in My Pocket, and another great song from him. And thank you again to Sam Lapidus for joining us on the show today. I really enjoyed speaking with him. And this is Matt Connerton Unleashed, and we are live from the studios of WMNH 95.3 FM in glorious Manchester, New Hampshire. Of course, you can stream the show from anywhere. Go to mattconnerton.com slash live or the newer site mattconnertonunleashed.com and you can enjoy the show live. You can communicate with us right through the websites, send us messages, enter the chat room.

39:43 Speaker 8: However, you know, we are also streaming to Of course, social media, we are on YouTube right now and Facebook and everywhere. Of course, the show does go out to all the podcasting networks afterward. And of course, hello to our friends streaming online in Australia. I see Scott Browning, General Scotty, as he is known from DARE Media Group, just accepted my friend request on Facebook. So thank you to everyone down under as well. uh, who listens to the show and, exciting times, a lot of growth, a lot of, uh, really good stuff happening.

40:18 Speaker 8: So very happy about that. Of course, uh, if you are listening live, it is Saturday, September 26th, 2026. Please be safe out there. If you are traveling in the Northeast, we're supposed to have quite a nor'easter. So, you know, we're pretty fortunate here where I am in Manchester, New Hampshire, except for a couple of areas of the city. We really don't get much flooding here, but there, you know, there, there are a couple of neighborhoods that are vulnerable to flash flooding, uh, But wherever you are, just, you know, it's something you want to be mindful, be careful of.

40:46 Speaker 8: We'll be traveling a little bit later, though, because tonight at Terminus Underground in Nashua at 134 Haines Street. If you've never been there, please come check it out. And today is the day to do it. Tonight, doors open at 7 for the Mental Health Benefit Show to support On the Road to Wellness, a peer-supported arts-based mental health organization right here in Manchester, New Hampshire. And the show tonight is sponsored by Wanderlust Therapeutic Services. Terminus Underground Community is coming together for a special night of music connection and support benefiting On the Road to Wellness in Manchester, New Hampshire tonight.

41:22 Speaker 8: Mental health is something that touches every community. Sometimes the most important thing we can do is simply show up for one another, create a safe space to connect, and remind people that they don't have to face difficult moments alone. Tonight on the show, let's see, Phantasm, Witchspire, Graboid, Lobotomobile, and I'm going to call them P in public, The first word starts with a P, but it's not actually P, but I don't want to get in trouble and say the actual name of the band on the show, but you can figure it out.

41:54 Speaker 8: This isn't just another show. It's an opportunity for our music community to come together for something bigger than ourselves to support an organization doing meaningful work and help keep the conversation around mental health going. Whether you're coming to support a friend, see your favorite band, discover something new, or simply spend an evening surrounded by good people, there's a place for you here. Let's take care of each other, support our community, and use the power of music and art to remind someone that they matter.

42:20 Speaker 8: So that is, of course, directly from Terminus Underground, our friends Eleanor and Andre, whom we've known forever, love them. They do great stuff. Not only is it a great cause that the show is raising money for, because any organization, any of these organizations that help support mental health are so very important. But Terminus Underground, Eleanor and Andre there, of course, which is run by New Hampshire Underground, they do a lot for the scene, too, for the music scene. So, in fact, it's funny, Malcolm, when he called earlier, Malcolm Wood from Legion of Solace, he mentioned the the Green Jello show that's coming up in Taunton.

42:59 Speaker 8: And Green Jello actually played a couple of years ago at Terminus Underground. That was a show that Jenny set up after Green Jello was here in studio with us after they played in Manchester. Green Jello, probably one of my favorite all-time interviews on the show, although it was also quite stressful because I had to hit the dump button. You know, we're on an eight-second delay. I had to hit the dump, I think, five times during that particular segment. But anyway, the point being, they do a lot of great stuff at Terminus Underground.

43:28 Speaker 8: And if you've never been, I tell everyone this, the first time you walk into that room, it's like walking into another world. It's really, really cool. So I hope you'll join us tonight at Terminus Underground, 134 Haynes Street in Nashua. Door is at 7 p.m. What I think we're going to do right now, looking at the time, let's see, we do have a world premiere this week. We hit it at the top of the show, but we're going to do it again since we are well in hour number two, numero dos. Our friend Lydia Reddy, another great artist from the U.K. who's been with us on the show, A couple of times.

44:06 Speaker 8: And she continues to release new music. But the new song is a little bit different, a little bit of a different vibe for her. So you'll hear that in a moment. And then we'll show some love to our amazing sponsors. And then we'll be back with our number three, Numero Tres of Matt Connerton Unleashed. And our guest in the third hour also joining us remotely. is Soft Science. So looking forward to speaking with them. By the way, speaking of sponsors, of course, I did announce at the top of the show today, Matt Connerton Hypnosis, now an official sponsor here at WMNH.

44:39 Speaker 8: Very excited about that. Also, we brought on Xtrilly recently. I want to remind you about that as well. A new ride share service that is operating right here in New Hampshire. They are accepting drivers, of course, if you want to drive It's a great way to earn some extra money on your own schedule. They're pretty generous with the payouts. If you want to sign up, you can go to Xtrilly.com slash drive 953. And I'll spell that for you. X-T-R-I-L-L-I dot com slash drive 953. And if you want to be a rider...

45:13 Speaker 8: Does need those two. You, the passenger, are a very important part of the business model. You can go to extraly.com slash ride 953. But really encourage that. Obviously, you know, they're here to compete with Uber and Lyft, and I predict great things. I think they're going to do really, really well. So Xtrilli.com. And again, that's X-T-R-I-L-L-I.com. And we welcome them to our roster of amazing sponsors here at WMNH 95.3. But without further ado, let's do it. The world radio premiere. This has not been played anywhere else prior to now on the radio.

45:52 Speaker 8: But here it is, the new single from Lydia Reddy. Check it out.

45:59 Speaker 14: You're listening to Matt Connerton Unleashed on WMNH 95.3.

46:13 Speaker 18: Right now, exclusively on Matt Connerton Unleashed, the world radio premiere of the new single from Lydia Reddy, This Is How.

46:22 Speaker 12: You are listening to WMNH 95.3.

46:26 Speaker 9: World premiere.

46:45 Speaker 13: Their feet on sand Made their way to the promised land Many a man have been paid to look the fool.

47:05 Speaker 3: And just like them I followed.

47:08 Speaker 21: Down the world pool And I think this is how I die And nobody's questioning why.

47:19 Speaker 3: Oh, why.

47:23 Speaker 21: Is this how I die?

47:28 Speaker 13: I want to make something of my life.

47:32 Speaker 3: And I just cry.

47:34 Speaker 13: They flew, they flew. But I'll eventually be dead.

47:53 Speaker 21: Many a man had tried to escape their fate.

47:58 Speaker 3: I'd be a brilliant one in.

48:02 Speaker 15: A red race.

48:05 Speaker 21: And I think this is how I die.

48:10 Speaker 3: And nobody's questioning why.

48:15 Speaker 21: Why is this how I die?

48:23 Speaker 3: I want to make some of my life And not just.

48:28 Speaker 13: Cry This is how I die.

48:34 Speaker 21: Pull the sun out the sun and Watch as you crash and burn.

48:46 Speaker 3: Put on my chain, may.

48:48 Speaker 21: You love her And.

48:53 Speaker 3: Leave you with all.

48:55 Speaker 13: Of the trauma Come and make me live longer.

48:58 Speaker 3: Please make me.

48:59 Speaker 15: Stop suffocating Tighten my grip on my soul Pronounce my soul, Lord Be all the talk All I want, Lord And I.

49:13 Speaker 2: Think This, this.

49:18 Speaker 3: Is how I fight And nobody's questioning why.

49:24 Speaker 21: I'll fight. Cause I wanna make you some of my.

49:39 Speaker 13: Life And I just cry.

49:45 Speaker 7: This is how I fight Yeah, yeah, yeah Oh.

49:55 Speaker 3: Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh This is how I I.

50:06 Speaker 8: Find this is how by the great lydia ready and uh... that is the world radio premiere of that song and one more thing we're in a sneak in before we go to a commercial break because it's not very long grab all it is one of the bands that is playing tonight at the show that i was talking about earlier The Benefit for Mental Health at Terminus Underground in Nashua, New Hampshire. And this is kind of a short song, but I like it a lot. It's called Welcoming America by Graboid. Let's give this a spin.

50:46 Speaker 8: It's short. It's a short song, but I really like it. And then we'll take a break and show some love to our amazing sponsors. Plenty more Matt Connerton Unleashed coming up. Don't go anywhere. But here it is, Welcoming America by Graboid.

51:05 Speaker 2: Ride down the street, discuss everything We'll play a.

51:38 Speaker 3: Little bigger.

52:33 Speaker 1: WMNH, rip the knob off.

52:36 Speaker 18: Are you ready to make a change in your life? My name is Matt Connerton, and I'm a certified hypnotherapist. Hypnosis can help you change habits, overcome obstacles, and reach your goals. Sessions are available online or in person at Birchwood Salon in Hooksett, and your initial consultation is always free. Visit mattconnerton.com. That's Matt, C-O-N-N-A-R-T-O-N.com to learn more or book your appointment. That's mattconnerton.com.

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57:24 Speaker 14: Late Night Delight with DJ Midas right here on WMNH Manchester.

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57:35 Speaker 11: This hour on WMNH is sponsored by CGI Business Solutions, located at 5 Dartmouth Drive in Auburn. They serve all your business needs, including employee benefits planning, corporate design and business administration, investments and wealth management, and customized business insurance solutions. Their phone number is 866-841-4600 or on the web at CGIBusinessSolutions.com.

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59:07 Speaker 1: WMNH, rip the knob off. We're back from the break.

59:13 Speaker 10: Matt Connorson Unleashed.