Season 2, Episode 5

New Salty Dog is a group of guys you want to hang out with. They are laid back, entertaining, and care deeply about creating special moments with their music. You can feel the camaraderie that they have for their city, musician friends, and neighborhood in our chat. For someone that has covered more Americana, acoustic-based performers, speaking with a more jam-based band brought a new level of lingo, jive, and energy to the table. The best part is discovering this band at the beginning of their musical evolution, and you can sense there is still growth and emergence in their songs. I can’t wait to see where New Salty Dog is heading, and I’m excited to introduce them to new listeners!

Season 2, Episode 4

Breanne Marie represents so many of the themes this podcast seeks to explore. Her Duluth home sits on the border of city and nature, nestled high above Lake Superior. There's an instant warmth in her voice, charm in her stories, and rich environmental influences. In this fourth episode of season two, Breanne shares two songs that speak directly to our discussion, revealing how deeply Duluth lends its character to her writing.

Season 2, Episode 3

Storytellers have the gift of poetically communicating beyond words. Emily Haavik is one of those special individuals that can weave a story with a feeling, both simple and deeply weighted. In this third episode of the second season of Smouse in the House, we get an opportunity to learn about her creative process, where she finds inspiration, the importance of literature, and thinking past the basic meaning of a word. Emily beautifully describes the ways we can connect our own personal stories to a wider discussion of common human feelings. With the added bonus of two special acoustic performances on her patio, recorded just for us!

Season 2, Episode 2

Trevor McSpadden and Mary Cutrufello hold each other with a high level of mutual respect. You can hear it in their stories, jokes, and when sharing their creative process. Individually, they represent songwriting forces and storied histories that converged with their Texas pasts. It came full circle for Tom when he learned that even highly talented and skilled musicians are fans of other artists. That lightbulb-moment offers a great insight to how artists are driven to create, develop and collaborate, and thankfully possible that even the best musicians are not above admiring and appreciating other artists – for the love of not just good but great music.

Season 2, Episode 1

Pit Stop is a gift shop of musical variations on traditional Americana bands. Stuffed into Jake Balistrieri and Sarah Mevissen’s small apartment, the band (including James Patrick Horigan, Gage Webster, and Zack Warpinski) shared their songwriting process, including the tools Jake and Sarah use to collaborate as songwriting partners and the inspiration of blues, country, rock, and even doo-wop inspire their music. In this episode, we discuss pruno, track records, and side passions that found their way into their lives during the pandemic, including a special Pit Stop Hot Slop sauce. A new force in the Twin Cities, Pit Stop is the new sound you didn’t know you were waiting for.

Season 1, Episode 7

In the 7th and final episode of season 1, Tom visits the amazing St. Paul home of Adam Levy of the retro folk-pop band Turn Turn Turn. Here, Tom chats with Adam and fellow band members Savannah Smith and Barb Brynstad–all mainstays of the Minnesota music scene–about how they work together and influences underpinning their irresistible sound. And even better–we get a first listen to two fresh-from-the-studio new songs!

Season 1, Episode 6

In the sixth episode of season one, Tom Smouse visits the home of singer-songwriter/yoga + music teacher Mary Bue to discuss how love, loss, and dreams inspire and infuse her work and life.

Season 1, Episode 5

In the fifth episode of season one, Tom Smouse visits the home of Quillan and Kim Roe. These founding members of Roe Family Singers embody "family," from stories of their past to the art on their walls to their music and relationships within the local music community–particularly at 331, having served as the longest running residency in Minnesota. Join Tom as he enters the inner sanctum of the Roe Family Singers to learn more about their songwriting process and the ups and downs of life as musicians and as partners in music and life.

Season 1, Episode 4

In the fourth episode of Smouse in the House, Tom visits the home of two of the funniest and most insightful artists—Isaak and Tori Elker of Good Morning Bedlam—to discuss their newly released album, Lulu, and what’s shaping up to be an exciting year ahead, packed with shows and growing national recognition.

Season 1, Episode 3

In the third episode, Tom visits the home and creative space of Aaron Cabbage, aka Surge And The Swell. A musician who is passionate about supporting and celebrating the local music scene, Cabbage draws inspiration from his environment and experiences to create songs, honoring the individual experience, as being enough. Join Tom as he dives into Cabbage’s personal creative well.

Season 1, Episode 2

In the second episode of Smouse in the House, our host, Tom Smouse, is graciously invited into the home/creative nest/safe space of local singer-songwriter Becky Kapell. Becky has a humbleness and deep appreciation for her place in the Twin Cities music scene. She respects her peers, gets excited for others' successes, and the joy she has as an artist shines brightly through each song. Listen now to episode 2 of season 1!

Season 1, Episode 1

In this inaugural episode of Smouse in the House, season one, Tom Smouse sits down at Caydence Records & Coffee with The Sapsuckers to discuss their creative songwriting process and influences.