The Bandwich Tapes

On this episode of The Bandwich Tapes, I sit down with Barns Courtney for a wide-ranging conversation about performance, songwriting, musicianship, ambition, and the strange balance between control and chaos.

Barns talks about the solo acoustic shows he has been playing and how stripping away the band has changed his relationship with an audience.  Without a fixed stage plan, every night becomes more unpredictable, more conversational, and more dependent on what is happening in the room. We discuss why great performances need an element of risk and how those shows have reminded him not to let ambition overshadow gratitude.

We also talk about his ongoing work as a singer and the discipline required to maintain an instrument that is constantly changing. Barns reflects on vocal lessons, life on the road, the financial realities of touring, and the challenge of building a sustainable career without losing the joy that made him want to perform in the first place.  Barns also takes us inside the making of his new album with producer and multi-instrumentalist Jonathan Wilson. He describes being challenged to improve as a musician, learning when to loosen his grip on an arrangement, and discovering how a fresh perspective can reveal what a song actually needs.

Our conversation moves through meditation, neurodivergence, social media, aging, creative discipline, and the story behind “Glitter & Gold,” which was recorded with one microphone, an out-of-tune piano, filing cabinets, and whatever sounds were available in the room. Throughout it all, Barns returns to one idea: the real purpose of performing is not to prove how impressive you are, but to connect with people and bring them some measure of joy.
Key Takeaways
Barns continues to take vocal lessons and views singing as an instrument that must be constantly relearned as the body changes.
His acoustic shows have created more space for improvisation, audience interaction, humor, and genuine unpredictability.
He believes a performance can become too controlled, and that risk is often necessary for a show to feel transcendent.
Working with Jonathan Wilson challenged Barns to become more proficient as an instrumentalist and more open to outside ideas.
Barns now approaches songwriting with greater discipline, comparing the process to fishing: showing up regularly without knowing what will surface.
The live album captured the sound of a band that had developed trust, instinct, and a shared musical language through touring together.
Barns has come to see performance less as a display of ambition and more as an opportunity to connect with people and bring them joy.
Music from the Episode
Fun Never Ends - Barns Courtney
99 - Barns Courtney
Glitter & Gold - Barns Courtney
About the Podcast

The Bandwich Tapes is a music interview podcast hosted by Brad Williams. Each episode features thoughtful conversations with musicians, songwriters, producers, and other creative artists about their careers, influences, collaborations, musical craft, and the experiences that shape their work.

Connect with the Show

Questions, comments, or guest suggestions:
contact@thebandwichtapes.com

On this episode of The Bandwich Tapes, I sit down with Terri Lyne Carrington to discuss her remarkable career, her artistic evolution, and her ambitious new album, Trip the Night Fantastic. Widely recognized as one of the most influential drummers, composers, producers, and educators working today, Terri shares how groove, storytelling, and social consciousness have become inseparable parts of her creative voice.

We talk about the concept behind Trip the Night Fantastic, which Terri describes as a groove-centered project created for difficult times. Our conversation explores the relationship between dance, rhythm, and emotional connection, and how groove can often reach listeners before lyrics ever do. Terri reflects on jazz’s historical relationship with dance music and why reconnecting with that tradition felt important for this project.

We also dive into her journey as an artist and how life experience eventually led her to fully integrate her identity, values, and artistic work. Drawing on lessons learned from mentors such as Wayne Shorter and Herbie Hancock, Terri discusses leadership, collaboration, production, and the challenge of balancing a strong artistic vision with creating space for others to contribute.
The conversation also explores the work of the Berklee Institute of Jazz and Gender Justice, the role of representation in music education, and the importance of creating environments where new voices can shape the future of the art form. Along the way, Terri reflects on her upbringing in Boston, her experiences working alongside some of the greatest musicians in jazz history, and what gives her hope when she looks at the next generation of artists.

This is a thoughtful conversation about creativity, purpose, community, and the ongoing evolution of jazz from one of its most important modern voices.

Key Takeaways
Trip the Night Fantastic was conceived as a groove-oriented album designed to reconnect jazz with its dance traditions.
Terri believes groove often creates an emotional connection before listeners fully engage with lyrical content.
Her artistic identity became stronger when she stopped separating her life experiences from her creative work.
Lessons from mentors like Wayne Shorter and Herbie Hancock continue to influence her approach to music and leadership.
Producing music requires balancing a clear artistic vision with openness to collaborators’ ideas.
The Berklee Institute of Jazz and Gender Justice was created to expand opportunities and perspectives within jazz education.
Terri remains optimistic about the future of jazz because of the creativity, knowledge, and commitment she sees in younger musicians.
Music from the Episode
Riddim Song - Terri Lyne Carrington
Identity Song - Terri Lyne Carrington
Autonomy Song - Terri Lyne Carrington
Solidarity Song - Terri Lyne Carrington
About the Podcast
The Bandwich Tapes is a podcast hosted by Brad Williams that features in-depth conversations with musicians, composers, producers, educators, and other creative artists. Each episode explores the craft of making music, artistic growth, collaboration, creative philosophy, and the stories behind the people shaping today’s musical landscape.

Connect with the Show
Email: contact@thebandwichtapes.com

On this episode of The Bandwich Tapes, I sit down with singer-songwriter Celeste Marie Wilson for a conversation about songwriting, identity, performance, and the long road toward becoming the artist she always wanted to be.

With her debut album, Southern American Princess, on the way, Celeste shares how the project has become more than just a collection of songs. We talk about embracing Southern roots after once wanting to escape them, how poetry naturally evolved into songwriting, and why place, family, and storytelling have become central to her artistic voice.

We also spend time discussing the craft behind the music. Celeste talks about developing her voice over more than a decade of dedicated work, the importance of vocal health, recording in the studio with an open mind, and why collaboration often leads to performances she never could have imagined on her own.

Along the way, we dive into musical theater, songwriting influences like Dolly Parton, Kris Kristofferson, Janis Joplin, and Kristin Chenoweth, the experience of winning a Josie Music Award, and the thoughtful process of assembling an album that tells a complete story from beginning to end. It's an honest conversation about finding confidence in your own voice, both musically and personally.
Key Takeaways
 Celeste discusses how Southern American Princess became an exploration of Southern identity, heritage, and personal growth. 
 She explains why she considers herself a writer first and a singer second, with songwriting rooted in poetry and storytelling. 
 Musical theater helped shape her approach to live performance, from stage presence to visual presentation and audience engagement. 
 She shares her disciplined philosophy on vocal health, including regular coaching, fitness, and the protection of her instrument. 
 Recording sessions are collaborative, and she intentionally leaves her ego behind so producers, engineers, and musicians can shape the songs together. 
 Celeste reflects on winning a Josie Music Award and how trusting her instincts ultimately led her to opportunities in Nashville. 
 The conversation explores why album sequencing still matters and how a carefully ordered record creates a meaningful listening experience. 
Music from the Show
Marie - Celeste Marie Wilson
About the Show

The Bandwich Tapes is a long-form interview podcast in which I sit down with musicians, songwriters, composers, producers, and artists to explore the creative process behind their music. Rather than focusing on biographies, these conversations dive into artistic philosophy, collaboration, craft, career development, and the stories that shape the people making today's music.

Connect with the Show

Email: contact@thebandwichtapes.com

On this episode of The Bandwich Tapes, I sit down with brothers Jesse and Noah Bellamy to talk about their outstanding new album, The Sunshine Shop, and what it means to build music around family, trust, and years of playing together. We discuss why recording with the same band they tour with gives the album its live energy, and how they found a studio environment that captured their sound without overproducing it. 

Our conversation naturally turns to family harmony, and the unique connection siblings share when they sing together. Jesse and Noah reflect on growing up surrounded by music, the influence of classic country, rock, soul, and gospel, and how artists like The Louvin Brothers, The Everly Brothers, Charlie Rich, Jerry Lee Lewis, Marty Robbins, and Don Williams continue to shape their musical identity. 

We also talk about life in Nashville, navigating the music business as members of the Bellamy family, and how their goals have evolved over time. Rather than chasing record deals or industry expectations, they've reached a place where they can simply make the music they believe in and let the songs lead the way. 

Along the way, we discuss memorable collaborations on The Sunshine Shop, including appearances from Tess Frizzell and Riders in the Sky, their songwriting process as brothers, and why they're already looking ahead to the next record while continuing to let this one find its audience. 

Key Takeaways
 Jesse and Noah intentionally recorded The Sunshine Shop with their touring band to preserve the chemistry and feel they had already developed on stage. 
 Family harmony comes naturally, but years of performing together refine phrasing, blend, and musical instincts. 
 Their influences stretch well beyond traditional country, drawing from soul, gospel, classic rock, and artists like Charlie Rich, Jerry Lee Lewis, Elvis Presley, Marty Robbins, and Don Williams. 
 Nashville—and the music industry itself—has changed dramatically since they arrived, leading them to focus more on artistic independence than industry expectations. 
 Collaborations with Tess Frizzell and Riders in the Sky grew out of genuine relationships and mutual respect for country music traditions. 
 Rather than scheduling formal co-writing sessions, both brothers write independently and allow the strongest songs to emerge naturally. 
 They're already preparing material for their next album while continuing to refine older songs through live performance. 
Music from the Episode
 I Told a Lie — Jesse & Noah Bellamy
About the Podcast

The Bandwich Tapes is a podcast where I sit down with musicians, composers, producers, and artists to explore the stories behind the music. Rather than focusing solely on career highlights, these conversations delve into creativity, collaboration, musicianship, songwriting, recording, performance, and the experiences that shape an artist's musical life.

Connect with the Show

Email: contact@thebandwichtapes.com

On this episode of The Bandwich Tapes, I sit down with country singer and songwriter Trey Calloway for a conversation about authenticity, tradition, performance, and the responsibility that comes with carrying country music forward.

Trey grew up singing in church, where he learned early how music can bring people together. We talk about the influence of his Pentecostal upbringing, watching his father preach, and how those experiences shaped his instincts as an entertainer and his ability to connect with an audience. We also discuss the lessons he learned playing honky-tonks and working his way through the Myrtle Beach music scene.

Trey explains why he wants his music to remain unmistakably country while still sounding current. He reflects on the influence of artists including George Jones, Garth Brooks, George Strait, Loretta Lynn, and Merle Haggard, as well as the Southern rock music of Lynyrd Skynyrd, The Marshall Tucker Band, and Molly Hatchet.

We also dig into Trey’s approach to songwriting. His songs explore working people, family, heartbreak, faith, redemption, and the lives he observes around him. Trey talks about drawing inspiration from conversation, writing about his father’s life as a construction worker, and trying to create songs that hold a mirror up to ordinary experience.

Trey also shares the story behind his recording of “Slide,” a song previously recorded by Gary Allan and written by Ross Ellis, Alex Kline, and Michael Whitworth. He explains why the song felt personal enough to become his own, the importance of honoring great outside songs, and why country music still needs strong relationships between singers and professional songwriters.

Key Takeaways
Trey believes country music can honor its history while still sounding fresh, modern, and personal.
Growing up in a Pentecostal church taught him how to communicate with an audience and make music feel communal.
His years in the Myrtle Beach music scene taught him how to lead a band, manage production, run a show, and treat music as a business.
Moving to Nashville required Trey to start over, accept a smaller role, and rebuild his career in a more competitive environment.
Trey approaches songwriting as a way to observe people and turn conversations, family experiences, and everyday struggles into songs.
Many of his working-class songs are inspired by his father, who spent his life in construction and other forms of physical labor.
Recording “Slide” reinforced Trey’s belief that a singer does not have to write a song to deliver it honestly and make it feel personal.
Music from the Episode
Slide - Trey Calloway
About the Podcast
The Bandwich Tapes is a music interview podcast hosted by Brad Williams. Each episode features thoughtful conversations with musicians, songwriters, producers, and other creative artists about their careers, influences, collaborations, musical craft, and the experiences that shape their work.

Connect with the Show

Email: contact@thebandwichtapes.com