Smouse in the House Podcast Season 6, Episode 8: In our final episode of season 6, Tom Smouse visits with Laura Sellner, aka Superior Siren, near her home in Duluth. Sellner is a master in infusing mood and character into her music, and Lake Superior looms large as a core influence and inspiration. So hop in the car and ride along with us “up north” to explore the magic of Lake Superior and the ethereal folk music of Superior Siren!

Smouse in the House Podcast Season 6, Episode 7: Join Tom Smouse as he chats with the incredibly promising young Minnesota-based singer-songwriter Josie Langhorst in an empty church outside of Mahtowa!

Smouse in the House Podcast Season 6, Episode 6: In this episode, Tom Smouse hung out with local singer-songwriter Clare Doyle, who has garnered a lot of buzz and praise for her music. Tom and Clare discuss how songs tend to come together and how one long road ended up becoming a theme in her album. If you haven’t already discovered Clare Doyle, this is the perfect time to get aboard!

Smouse in the House Podcast Season 6, Episode 5: In this episode, Tom Smouse meets up with Kevin Kniebel and Justin Bruhn, two members of storied Midwest stringband Pert Near Sandstone. Justin and Kevin talk about the richness of the local music scene, what it’s like to collaborate as a band of songwriters, and how they’ve kept their music fresh and fun over the past 20-plus years. Get ready to listen to a lovely chat with these down-to-earth music veterans and two killer songs from their most recent album, right here on Smouse in the House!

Smouse in the House Podcast Season 6, Episode 4: Join Tom Smouse as he hangs out with local singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, teacher, and luthier McKain Lakey to discuss their most recent album Somewhere and how their lived experiences far and wide across the country and a deep appreciation of a variety of genres that influence their songwriting. Kick back and join us for another installment of Smouse in the House!

Smouse in the House Podcast Season 6, Episode 3: Join Tom Smouse as he hangs out with local indie-folk duo The Twins of Franklin — best friends Laura Lou and Becky Shaheen — where they share the inspiration for writing songs and music. In this episode, The Twins of Franklin gift us listeners with a completely new, never performed song that we’re so honored to premiere. Grab your beverage of choice, get cozy, light a crackling scented candle, and join us for another installment of Smouse in the House!

Smouse in the House Podcast Season 6, Episode 2: Join Tom Smouse as he sits down with local singer-songwriter Matthew French in his home to talk about the importance of supporting and celebrating local musicians and where he finds creative inspiration. Grab a cup of coffee, get cozy, and join us for another round of Smouse in the House!

Smouse in the House Podcast Season 6, Episode 1: First up for Season 6 — Tom Smouse sits down with Minneapolis-based harpist and songwriter Nikki Lemire, in her home where she not only creates and practices, but where she is actively passing down the artistry of the harp to her children, just as it was passed down to her. Grab a cup of coffee, get cozy, and join us for another round of Smouse in the House!

Smouse in the House Podcast Season 5, Episode 9:

Brainerd, MN-based singer-songwriter Kelley Smith’s debut album Moon Child found an immediate audience and plenty of exposure, and now she’s processing that experience and planning the next chapters of her life and music career. Experiences like sitting in Kelley's kitchen and hearing how her surrounding environment has influenced her songwriting are the exact reason this podcast was created.

Smouse in the House Podcast Season 5, Episode 8:

Minneapolis country-folk band The Gated Community’s bandleader Sumanth Gopinath lives just blocks away from the 3rd Police Precinct that burned down during the 2020 protests. He was compelled to write about that tumultuous era in new songs, which fit perfectly with their existing songs and socially conscious perspective as a band. Tom got to hear about the evolution of a band without egos, part of what makes The Gated Community so special.

Smouse in the House Podcast Season 5, Episode 7:

“Bit of a recluse, a naturalist, and about to release something, or so I hear." That's how another artist described Whit Page to our host Tom Smouse. Having heard her perform before, he was immediately piqued to understand her more non-traditional approach as an artist. We had the special opportunity to record her performing two unreleased songs inside her home. You’re about to discover a new artist that you’ll surely want to see live.

Smouse in the House Podcast Season 5, Episode 6: Recently, Tom sat down with local singer-songwriter John Louis, who just so happens to be the former co-owner one of Tom’s favorite venues, The Warming House. While tossing a dog toy for the new puppy and chatting, you can hear the importance John places on the stories that explore the depth of emotions and pain. It’s this skill that brings a healing factor over those that connect with his music.

Smouse in the House Podcast Season 5, Episode 5: Gabriel Rodreick, aka Freaque, revels in the darker crevices of our shortcomings while championing those who live on the fringes of society. Getting to sit inside his home and discuss the process for creating such powerful stories gives us a glimpse inside each of us all, struggling to make sense of an often unforgiving world around us.

In this episode, Tom Smouse visited the home shared by Siri Undlin (aka Humbird) and Luke Callen, two Twin Cities-based artists who each deliver their own unique take on folk music. Both fresh off the release of their newest albums, Humbird and Luke give us an inside peek into two new songs and upcoming tour plans.

Season 5, Episode 3: In this episode, Tom Smouse visited the home of Luke LeBlanc, a Twin Cities musician active since his early teens. Now in his twenties, Luke LeBlanc is one of those storytellers who brings an authentic perspective to everything he writes.

Season 5, Episode 2: Recently, Tom sat down with local 17-year old singer-songwriter Josie Hasnik, aka FINICK, who has emerged in the Twin Cities in a variety of circles and venues, earning recognition for her debut album. FINICK has found an audience with her whimsical indie folk sounds that are infused with real-life emotions.

Season 5, Episode 1: For our inaugural Season 5 episode, Tom Smouse met up with Pine & Fire, aka Jobi Adams and Brandi Foster. A folk duo from the north woods of Minnesota, they discussed their unique blend of traditional roots music with modern punk.

Season 4 Amerigrass, Episode 6: Tom met with Zak Norton and Bronson Bergeson, who together make up Poppa Bear Norton, are a country duo from northern Minnesota and one of seven acts appearing at Amerigrass, a one-day festival taking place October 7 at the Hook and Ladder in Minneapolis.

Season 4 Amerigrass, Episode 5: Tom met with Jarah Sullivan and Julian Edoff of Dellwood inside The Hook and Ladder Theater, the site of the inaugural Amerigrass Festival here on October 7th, and one of the 7 bands performing at the festival.

Season 4 Amerigrass, Episode 4: Tom met up with three members of Wild Horses at the Hook and Ladder Theater in Minneapolis to talk songwriting, musical influences, their origin story and more.