ifitbeyourwill S05E27 Finale • Matt Gallaway

Matt Gallaway’s creative journey unfolds like a carefully crafted album—each chapter a different sound or mood, yet all tied together by a thread of honest self-expression. From basement jam sessions in Brooklyn to publishing acclaimed novels, Matt’s story is a powerful reminder of how art can shape, and be shaped by, personal transformation.

In our conversation, Matt shares how Saturnine came together almost by accident. He had moved to New York, supposedly for law school, but really to chase the city’s music scene. He lucked into a Brooklyn apartment with a basement perfect for band rehearsals, and soon after, Saturnine was born. They’d go on to record a handful of under-the-radar but beloved indie albums. Matt still lights up when talking about their first show at Brownies, booked by the legendary Karen Edlitz, and an unforgettable rooftop gig on a sweltering July 4th in Chinatown.

What really sets Matt’s story apart is how deeply intertwined his art is with his personal life. Listening back to Saturnine’s albums—especially Mid the Green Fields—he can now hear the hidden struggle he was going through. “I listen to that record and I’m just like, ‘this is about wanting to kill myself,’” he says, half-laughing, half-sighing. It’s raw, but honest—and a reflection of what it meant to grow up gay in a time when role models were few and far between.

Matt didn’t leave music behind; he just found a new way to tell his story. Writing novels like The Metropolis Case and #gods let him explore identity and emotion in a more direct way. “A song takes me a few weeks,” he says. “A novel takes years.” But both are cut from the same creative cloth.

Now, with his latest project Death Culture at Sea, Matt is circling back to songwriting—this time with a broader view and a deeper well to draw from. Last summer, he teamed up with former bandmate Mike D’Onofrio and Matt Kadane of Bedhead/The New Year for recording sessions in Vermont, and there’s more music to come.

Want to hear what this journey sounds like? Head to Matt's blog for a playlist of his latest work with Death Culture at Sea.

 

DL MP3

“Matthew Gallaway’s storytelling manages to be both dreamy and serious; lean and luxurious. His words carry an incantatory power of mythic storytelling where beauty and savagery wrap around each other like bright threads in a gorgeous tapestry.” —Natasha Vargas-Cooper, author of Mad Men Unbuttoned: A Romp Through 1960s America

Baba Pen & The Bim Bam Band • Hare In The Haze • 2025

https://song.link/i/1818579792

Baba Pen & The Bimbam Band return with their third single, Hare in the Haze – a swirling folky journey into the misty corners of old Europe.

Picture this: roadside taverns, wandering bards, and tales passed down by firelight. This one tells of a cunning hare and an aging hunter locked in a never-ending chase. Just as the hunter takes aim, a thick haze rolls in… and the hare vanishes once again. But not all stories end well for those who seek control. With rippling guitars and a timeless groove, Hare in the Haze pulls you into a world of myth and mischief – the kind that makes you want to grab a pint and stay a while.

Spoils System • Hall of Forgotten Names • 2025

The New York band Spoils System was formed in 2021 by Dan Coutant (vocals, guitar, keys), Sean Hansen (guitar, background vocals), David Fateman (bass) and Mark Frankel (drums). Notably, Dan and Sean have roots in the indie/emo outfit Joshua (Doghouse Records) in the early 2000’s. Tours included The Get Up Kids, At the Drive-In, The Stereo, Jets To Brazil, Shift and many more

The Noisy • "Twos” • 2025

Philly dream pop/synth rock band The Noisy announce signing to Audio Antihero (Frog / Avery Friedman / Magana / CIAO MALZ) with “Twos,” a vampy, queer, and silent-movie-esque new music video from director Sam Cush, which teases ‘The Secret Ingredient is Even More Meat,’ an upcoming deluxe edition of their debut album.

Featuring practical effects and vampire makeup by Philly drag talent, “Twos” channels gothic-glam in the spirit of vintage cinema, dripping with theatrical flair and midnight movie camp. Starring local icon Miss Thing, the video follows the success of “Violet Lozenge,”The Noisy’s most recent drag-forward release, which WXPN praised as “glamorous, retro, and proudly queer.”

Front-person Sara Mae Henke (they/them) comments on the upcoming music video for “Twos”:

“I wrote this song like a pop song but wanted the production to bend towards Mannequin Pussy with sludgy guitars and twinkly keys. The music video literalizes the too much-ness of the story, Buffy the Vampire Slayer meets Grey Gardens meets two dates to the prom.”

The Noisy got its start in Knoxville, Tennessee, as a project of award-winning poet Sara Mae Henke. In spring 2023, after evolving from a solo project to a full band, they released “Morricone” with a Strega Nona meets Clint Eastwood music video, launching a crowdfunding campaign for their debut album, ‘The Secret Ingredient is More Meat.’ The band sold merch, raffled a cowboy hat, and ran a GoFundMe alongside a month-long tour, raising over $3,000 to bring this debut to life—an album for their queer community.

To celebrate the first anniversary of ‘The Secret Ingredient is More Meat,’ Audio Antihero will be issuing a deluxe edition entitled ‘The Secret Ingredient is Even More Meat,’ which will include new and reimagined songs.

“Dynamic sound, charming energy, and a confessional tell-all spirit that’s as charismatic as it is irresistible.” – ATWOOD MAGAZINE

“Glamorous, retro, and proudly queer.” – WXPN

“The Noisy’s sound isn’t exactly noisy in the abrasive sense, but it is boisterous, embracing the crunch of grungy pop rock and the twang of Sara Mae’s Knoxville roots to create a muscular and freely associated alt-country belter.” – POST-TRASH

“It sounds really formative. Being “sixteen and see-through” is such a vulnerable feeling, one that “Grenadine” captures really well.” – THE ALTERNATIVE

“Their work examines the surreal, the uncanny, body horror, and intimacy....Their album The Secret Ingredient is More Meat is an intoxicating experience.” – RAINBOW RODEO

Icarus Phoenix • Mark & Kyle • 2025

https://linktr.ee/icarusphoenix

“...someone not afraid of using a pen...” 

- Stereogum

“...makes for a humble and radiant feel.” 

- Daytrotter

“heartfelt and profound...incredible work ethic and superb level of consistent creativity”

- Andrew Frolish/Americana UK

“catchy yet meaningful” 

- Earmilk

iftibeyourwill S05E26 • Marble Sounds

Pieter Van Dessel takes us on an unexpected journey from law student to the creative force behind Marble Sounds, revealing how serendipity and persistence shaped his musical evolution. When his wife received a grant to work in Montreal in 2005, Pieter's planned sabbatical transformed into musical opportunity after landing a position at a recording studio. This fortuitous circumstance provided both equipment access and creative community, allowing the first Marble Sounds EP to take shape with help from Canadian musicians.

His evolution as a performer stands as perhaps the most compelling aspect of Pieter's story. With disarming candor, he admits never aspiring to sing or front a band, making his growth all the more remarkable. "I wasn't a born entertainer," he shares. "I really had to learn it." Through countless live shows and persistence, he gradually developed the confidence that studio work alone couldn't provide. The key lesson? Rehearsals only help so much—real growth comes from repeatedly facing audiences.

For Pieter, songwriting remains his natural strength, with musical composition flowing more easily than lyrics. He chases that elusive creative spark—"the best feeling in the world"—that signals something special is emerging. Recent albums showcase distinct artistic approaches: the self-titled 2022 release employed self-playing pianos in deliberately limited arrangements, while 2025's "Core Memory" embraces 80s influences and childhood musical touchpoints like Phil Collins. Looking ahead, fans can anticipate "More Memory" featuring outtakes from recent sessions, while Peter already contemplates his next full album for 2028. Subscribe to hear our conversations with other fascinating musicians whose unexpected paths led to creative breakthroughs.

 

https://www.marblesounds.com/

ifitbeyourwill S05E25 • SHOPFIRES

What happens when a musician rediscovers their creativity after a 15-year hiatus? Neil Hill's journey with his project SHOPFIRES answers this question with a soul-stirring blend of reverb-drenched melodies and DIY ethos.

Unlike many musicians, Neil grew up in a home devoid of musical influence. No parental record collections, no instruments lying around—just the chance encounters with music through television and radio that would eventually shape his artistic sensibilities. The turning point came through John Peel's legendary radio sessions, introducing him to post-punk and experimental sounds that resonated deeply with his emerging musical identity.

After early musical explorations followed by a lengthy break, Neil returned to creating music with a beautifully minimalist approach. Armed with nothing but "a cheap laptop and the same acoustic guitar from the 80s," he began crafting the intricate, layered soundscapes that define SHOPFIRES. What makes his music truly remarkable is how he creates rich, complex arrangements using just one inexpensive Hohner guitar purchased decades ago for £25.

The result is a sound both nostalgic and fresh—interweaving melodic lines that dance around each other, created through his distinctive technique of recording multiple guitar parts and drenching them in reverb and delay. His latest album "We Are Not There, But We Are Here" represents an evolution toward more mature, cohesive songwriting while maintaining the dreamy atmosphere fans have come to love.

Beyond SHOPFIRES, Neil maintains another project called NEUCLOUDS, his self-described "vacation band" where he challenges himself to write songs under two minutes. This parallel creative outlet showcases his versatility and commitment to exploring different facets of his musical expression.

Listen now to discover how limitations can spark creativity and how sometimes the most beautiful sounds come from the simplest tools. Share your thoughts with us about Neil's unique approach to making music and what inspires your own creative endeavors! 

Some albums are made to dazzle. Others, like "We Are Not There But We Are Here", seem to simply exist quietly, honestly, and deeply, as if they’ve always been with you. Shopfires, the recording project of British songwriter Neil Hill, returns with a collection that’s both delicate and self-assured, weaving stories of memory, youth, distance and affection through the hazy light of jangly guitars and softly whispered melodies.

ifitbeyourwill S05E24 • M Ross Perkins

What happens when toxic furnace fumes accidentally become part of your album's creative process? M Ross Perkins shares this surreal discovery and much more as we delve into his methodical approach to DIY music production.

Growing up with a baseball bat as his imaginary guitar and the crushing disappointment of a shattered Chipmunks record, Perkins' musical journey reflects his systematic yet deeply thoughtful approach to song craft. He reveals how his latest album "What's The Matter M Ross?" came together under bizarre circumstances - with furnace exhaust pumping directly above his writing desk for months. When finally fixed, his bandmates reported sudden clarity during rehearsals, a strange twist that perfectly captures the unpredictable nature of artistic creation.

Perkins takes us behind the curtain of his unique production method, where he records all drum tracks across an entire album before moving to bass, then guitars, and finally vocals. This approach allows him to maintain consistency while maximizing efficiency in his small studio space. He demonstrates remarkable craftsmanship in how he handles tempo, watching a BPM counter while playing claves to allow natural fluctuations within a controlled range - creating recordings that breathe with human authenticity.

Beyond technical insights, our conversation explores deeper philosophical territory. Perkins eloquently dismantles the myth of complete originality in music, comparing it to claiming sole credit for your car while ignoring thousands of workers and generations of innovation behind it. This perspective frames his approach as a "lifelong learner" of his craft, constantly refining his systematic techniques while remaining open to new influences and ideas.

Whether you're a musician looking to improve your own DIY production or simply fascinated by the creative process, Perkins' insights offer a masterclass in thoughtful music creation. Listen now to discover how one artist balances methodical precision with creative spontaneity - even when toxic fumes are accidentally part of the equation.

https://www.mrossperkins.com/

But what about the music? Within 20 seconds of the album’s lead track ‘Hey Man/Hey Self’, you’ll be imagining yourself threading daisies through your hair and flapping Kate-Bush-Wuthering-Heights-style in a gossamer dress on your way to the festival. It would be incredibly lazy to describe the track as ‘Paul McCartney fronting The Byrds’, but it would also be absolutely accurate. GIITV

Dear Boy • Kelly Green • 2025

“Dear Boy have positioned themselves as a band worth indulging your youthful abandon with.”

NYLON

 

“Their work feels evergreen. It’s bittersweet and unabashedly nostalgic”

SPIN

 

"Dear Boy's melodic indie rock has seen them become a driving force in LA’s underground music scene, drawing primarily on late 70's / early 80's post-punk and early 90's britpop, laced with their contemporary perspective, and powered by evocative, wistful lyrics."

WONDERLAND

Dear Boy return with “Kelly Green”, a euphoric shoegaze anthem from their upcoming LP on Last Gang. LA haze meets ‘90s Britpop nostalgia in a swirling, heartfelt deep breath before everything changes. For fans of Slowdive, Pulp, Smashing Pumpkins—and records made with heart, not hard drives.

WEBSITE 

Noah Gazmen • Hold Me While I Disappear • 2025

Noah Gazmen · Hold Me While I Disappear

ifitbeyourwill S05E23 • Pale Blue Eyes

Ever wondered how a great band finds its voice? Sheffield's dream pop trio Pale Blue Eyes offers a fascinating glimpse into the alchemy of friendship, creativity, and musical evolution that shapes extraordinary music.

Fresh off their spring UK tour, Matt and Lucy describe how their most recent performances felt like "one big party" with their best mates, culminating in their biggest London show to date at Islington Assembly Hall. This camaraderie extends beyond the stage; it's the foundation of their creative process.

Their origin story reads like indie music serendipity—a photographer named Aubrey, originally there just to document a studio session, stepped in when a bassist didn't show up. Despite never hearing the songs before, he immediately connected with the material. Six months of rehearsals without gigs or even a band name followed, until they had unwittingly created an album's worth of material right before lockdown hit.

The pandemic, while devastating for live music, became an unexpected catalyst. Their first single "went nuts on Bandcamp," offering what Lucy calls "a beacon" during difficult times. Three albums later, their approach to songwriting continues to evolve deliberately. Matt collects phrases, experiences, and observations in notebooks that later become songs, while the band consciously experiments with different creative approaches to avoid falling into patterns.

What makes Pale Blue Eyes special is their ego-free collaboration. Where many bands falter when "someone thinks that they're it," this trio thrives on their differences. Lucy and Matt bonded over shared loves like Broken Social Scene, while Aubrey brings entirely different influences from disco, soul, and jazz backgrounds. This fusion creates their distinctive dream pop sound that blends shoegaze and synth elements into something uniquely captivating.

Listen in as we explore how three friends from Sheffield crafted one of the UK's most exciting musical projects, and discover why their latest album "New Place" feels like their most honest work yet. Are you ready to discover your new favourite band? 

https://www.paleblueeyes.co.uk/

The third album from Pale Blue Eyes is called New Place – invocation of fresh horizons; swapping creamy Devon for the synth central of Sheffield. The album arrives on the back of extensive and emotional transit. For PBE, 2024 started with a wonderful tour of 12 European countries with Slowdive. Over 12,000 kilometres. Snow and deep cold in Norway and Poland. Drought-stricken landscapes in France and Spain. On and on, joyously so. The year’s end brought more movement for the married couple at the core of Pale Blue Eyes, singer and guitarist Matt Board and drummer and synth queen Lucy Board. Sadly, family tragedy catalysed a move from South Devon to South Yorkshire. 

Lammping feat. Bloodshot Bill • Never Never • 2025

Toronto’s shape-shifting psych project LAMMPING will release Never Never - the first in a four-part album series - on June 27 via We Are Busy Bodies. Lammping started as a heavy psych band, but things shifted when producer Mikhail Galkin returned to the kind of hip-hop production he was doing in his teens. Remixing records for Badge Époque Ensemble and Uh Huh under the Lammping name cracked the project wide open-what began as a one-off stylistic swerve became a long-term permission to make anything, in any genre. Now, whether it’s boom-bap, fuzzed-out folk, beat tape interludes, or full psych freakouts, it all fits. This upcoming cycle is their most ambitious yet: four LPs released over 12-18 months, each one exploring a different corner of their increasingly unpredictable universe.

ifitbeyourwill S05E22 • WOMB

Sibling trio Womb takes us behind the scenes of their dreamy shoegaze sound and shared creative journey. From their childhood musical foundations to the evolution of their distinctive sound, this conversation reveals the beautiful simplicity of creating art with family.

Haz and Georgette (GiGi) share the remarkable story of their musical heritage, tracing back to a great-great-grandfather who holds a world record for distance-walking while playing the fiddle. This musical DNA flourished when the family relocated from Illinois to Wellington, New Zealand, immersing the teenage siblings in a vibrant DIY music scene that would shape their artistic sensibilities.

What began as Cello's solo project organically expanded to include her siblings, with visual artist Georgette courageously picking up drumsticks despite minimal experience. "I did always fantasize about being a musician when I was little," Georgette reveals, recalling childhood dreams of becoming "Alanis Morissette in leather." This natural progression highlights the intuitive understanding that makes their collaboration special—no formal discussions about musical direction needed, just a shared wavelength that produces their cohesive sound.

The band's creative process reveals beautiful insights into collaborative artmaking. Their innovative "self-imposed residencies" carve out dedicated space for creation away from day jobs and distractions, blending structured music-making with time to connect in nature. This approach has yielded three distinctive yet connected albums, including their latest release "One is Always Heading Somewhere."

Looking ahead, the band hints at exciting developments: Cello's upcoming residency in Spanish cave structures, potential string quartet collaborations, and film scoring projects. After completing what they consider a trilogy of albums, they stand at the threshold of a new artistic chapter, ready to explore fresh sonic territories while maintaining the sibling bond that gives their music its emotional depth.

Listen for an intimate glimpse into how family connections create artistic magic, and how three siblings from New Zealand crafted one of indie music's most distinctive voices.

 

linktr.ee

Womb’s third album, One is Always Heading Somewhere, is a palpable attempt to create just such playlist from scratch – a whole album to serve this sort of purpose, one of reflection, introspection, sadness but perhaps also some release, catharsis, hope and repair.

This is a collection of twelve songs each occupying the same dreamy, floaty and slowly rippling soundscape, apparently made from layer upon layer of synthesisers, plucked acoustic guitars, slowly revolving percussion and Cello Forrester’s reverb-drenched and almost angel-like voice. It’s cinematic, ethereal, melancholic – and clearly a refined and now highly tuned version of their sound now developed over three albums. Music NZ

Darren Hayman and his Electric Guitars • Amazing Things • 2025

 Darren Hayman has made an album about death and grief titled Amazing Things, which isn’t morose, slow, or quiet. Instead, it is packed with joyful, melodic guitars and some of Darren’s prettiest tunes. It is sometimes very sad, but also heartfelt, loving, and rewarding.

Darren recorded the album almost entirely solo, except for one song written with his childhood friend Andy Field. Darren is using the name Darren Hayman and his Electric Guitars for this project to reflect the making of the record.

“Apart from drums, bass, and vocals, the only instruments on the record are electric guitars,” explains Darren. “This is both an homage to my friend’s music taste and another one of the rules or limitations I need to make records. Despite the electric guitar being my main instrument, I often run scared from it and feel that records need many other instruments to create texture. This time, I had to take time and care and find out what guitars can be.”

http://hefnet.com/

JULII SHARP • "Pirate in the Room” • 2025

https://www.instagram.com/onlyloversrecords

In 2023, Julii Sharp and her “Toucan” EP left us ecstatic, in the cottony serenity of her soothing, weightless ballads. So there were high hopes for this debut album, “Burning Line”. And the first listen belies all expectations.

Between these two albums, the earth burned. Julii Sharp's life, and that of her musicians, was marked by a series of painful events and put on hold. The music, too, inevitably lay fallow. For a year, everything came to a standstill: rehearsals, writing, concerts... We had to wait, not for the pain to pass, but for it to transform, to make its journey. And when everyone was ready, the band got down to business, united as never before around the same objective, that of rekindling the embers on a field of ashes that was still hot. And so “Burning Line” exploded...

Death Culture at Sea Playlist • 2025

https://www.matthewgallaway.com/

Matthew Gallaway invites listeners into the haunting, dream-lit world of Death Culture at Sea, a project born from restless imagination and sly nostalgia. In one early post, the reflection begins:

“A young boy wanders into the woods of Harlem and witnesses the abduction of his sister by a glowing creature. Forty years later…” 

That unfolding tale of memory, myth, and the surreal sets the tone for the music—introspective yet cinematic. The tracks are intimate confessions, like “Star‑Crossed Lullaby,” which Gallaway shared in December of 2022, layering gentle vocals over propulsive, echoing guitars—thankfully available alongside his Saturnine material 

Fast‑forward to November 2024, and Death Culture at Sea reveals a newer side: “Free Ride on Me” carries a bold, mythic intensity, even as Gallaway ties it back to his novelistic sensibilities (he’s also behind The Metropolis Case and a forthcoming Orpheus‑inspired novel) thegayrecluse.com

The result is a sonic landscape that feels both deeply personal and mysteriously expansive. Each track—a lullaby, a reverie, a folklore fragment—makes Death Culture at Sea an invitation: step into Gallaway’s storytelling waters, where memory, myth, and melody swirl together in beautifully disquieting waves.

ifitbeyourwill S05E21 • Hallelujah The Hills

What happens when a band decides to record not just one album, but a complete 52-song deck of cards? Ryan Walsh of Hallelujah the Hills takes us deep into his most ambitious creative undertaking yet.

"DECK" represents what Walsh calls "revenge creativity" – a defiant response to the pandemic that halted their momentum following their acclaimed 2019 album "I'm You." Rather than producing a standard follow-up, Walsh finally brought to life an idea he'd contemplated for two decades: creating a complete musical deck of cards with four distinct "suits" (albums) each containing thirteen songs.

The concept is brilliantly executed – Diamonds features polished, radio-friendly tracks; Clubs delivers faster, punkier "bangers"; Hearts showcases emotionally vulnerable material; while Spades explores experimental territory. Beyond the musical organization, Walsh designed custom artwork for each song, available as an actual playable card deck that fans can purchase alongside the music.

Most fascinating is how the project reimagines listener engagement in the streaming era. Walsh encourages fans to "shuffle the deck" by randomly selecting 13 songs to create unique playlists that statistically no one else will ever duplicate. This transforms passive consumption into something participatory and personal, giving listeners agency in how they experience this massive body of work.

The album features notable collaborations including Cassie Berman (Silver Jews) and Jeremy Gaudet (Kiwi Jr), reflecting Walsh's collaborative songwriting approach. As Hallelujah the Hills celebrates its 20th anniversary in November 2025, "DECK" stands as both an artistic milestone and a defiant statement against disposable music culture: "You work on something for two years. It gets attention for 48 hours and then everyone's on the next thing... we made this in defiance of that idea."

Listen to "DECK" when it releases this June and catch Hallelujah the Hills on tour across the Northeast as they share this extraordinary musical achievement with the world.

 

https://www.hallelujahthehills.com/

For 20 years, Boston’s Hallelujah The Hills have made full-blast rock ‘n’ roll that manages to be literate without ever losing its sense of humor. So it’s appropriate that the band is celebrating with its biggest and most eye-popping concept record to date: a four-LP set of 52 songs called “DECK".

WBUR, March 11, 2025 for DECK

Marble Sounds • Core Memory • 2025

marblesounds.com

Pieter Van Dessel is not one to stand still when it comes to music: the driving force behind Marble Sounds keeps challenging himself, exploring new horizons on every album. After the more melancholic eponymous fifth album, synths and drums take centre stage for a pure and almost electronic pop sound on sixth effort ‘Core Memory'

Blondshell • The SoCal Sound Session • 2025

Between recording the songs, Blondshell sat down with Julie Slater and Jason Friday to discuss the recording of the album, her creative process, and finding traction as her performer. During the interview, Blondshell explains that much of If You Asked for a Picture was written at home – literally in her room- with demo tracks captured on her phone. Emphasizing this point, she explains how that mind space is so important, “ It has to feel really everyday for me to feel comfortable,” she shared. “If there’s too much ceremony around it, it stops feeling natural.” socal

Rapt • Natural Light • 2025

I got some news on you from a friend

You're in Charlotte again

Teaching Spanish at high school

He said you're going by Joy

You cut your hair like a boy

And you don't talk to your old friends

I found a picture from before our fight

We're in natural light

And you're sitting on my lap

Like everything is alright

I've walked around with you on my mind

The way things were at the time

You know I've changed so much since then

I've thought on the things that we said

And what if we'd had a kid

I guess they'd be 15 now

I found a picture from before our fight

We're in natural light

And you're sitting on my lap

Like everything's alright

credits

released June 6, 2025

Written by Owen Ashworth (Casiotone For The Painfully Alone)