The Bandwich Tapes

On this episode of The Bandwich Tapes, I sit down with composer Adam Schoenberg for a thoughtful and deeply human conversation about artistic identity, creative conviction, and the long arc of a life in music. Adam reflects on the early success of Finding Rothko, the orchestral work that helped put him on the map, and what it means to look back on a piece written in his twenties with both gratitude and perspective.

We talk about the tension between writing to please others and writing from a place of honesty. Adam shares a formative story from his student years about reshaping a piece to fit institutional expectations, only to realize later that the version that truly sounded like him was the one that opened doors. It leads us into a wider conversation about tonality, contemporary classical music, and why he believes today’s musical landscape is more open to different kinds of expression than it once was.

Adam also opens up about mentorship, education, and the very different kinds of teachers who shaped him along the way. We discuss studying with John Corigliano, the emotional difficulty of feeling artistically out of place as a young composer, and how those experiences ultimately influenced the kind of teacher he wanted to become for his own students.

One of the most moving parts of our conversation centers on Adam’s recent health crisis and the way it has changed his relationship to composing, ambition, and time. He speaks candidly about depression, survival, recovery, and the vulnerability of returning to the page after a long silence. We also talk about his percussion concerto Losing Earth, his collaborative relationship with percussionist Jake Nissly, and a powerful new work on the horizon: a Concerto for Body that explores illness, healing, and the orchestra as a living system.

Key Takeaways
Adam Schoenberg’s breakout orchestral work, Finding Rothko, launched his career and continues to resonate with audiences nearly 20 years later.
He learned early on that shaping music to satisfy gatekeepers can come at the expense of artistic truth.
Studying with mentors like Robert Beaser and John Corigliano helped him refine both his craft and his confidence as a composer.
Adam sees today’s classical music world as more stylistically open, with greater room for composers to write in an authentic voice.
His percussion concerto Losing Earth, written for Jake Nissly and the San Francisco Symphony, grew out of a highly collaborative process and a desire to create an immersive musical experience.
A serious medical crisis took Adam away from composing for nearly two years and forced him to rethink identity, ambition, and what kind of work still matters to him.
His upcoming Concerto for Body reflects a new creative chapter shaped by illness, survival, and the experience of coming back.
Music from the Episode
Adam Schoenberg - American Symphony - I. Fanfare - Kansas City Symphony (Michael Stern, Conductor)
Adam Schoenberg - Finding Rothko - III. Red - Kansas City Symphony (Michael Stern, Conductor)
Adam Schoenberg - Losing Earth: Concerto for Percussion & Wind Ensemble - The University of Texas Wind Ensemble (Jerry Junkin, conductor) - Jake Nissly - percussion
About the Podcast

The Bandwich Tapes is a podcast where I sit down with musicians, composers, songwriters, and creative artists for honest conversations about craft, collaboration, career paths, and the deeper stories behind the work. It’s a space for thoughtful musical dialogue, with a focus on process, perspective, and the lived experience of making art.

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Email: [email protected]

On this episode of The Bandwich Tapes, I sit down with composer, performer, and educator Casey Cangelosi for a conversation that moves comfortably between teaching, podcasting, composing, and the realities of building a life in the percussion world. Casey teaches at James Madison University, where he directs a busy percussion studio and constantly balances artistic ambition with the practical challenges of giving students meaningful performance opportunities.

We talk about how he approaches programming percussion ensemble, often leaning toward smaller-group repertoire that allows more students to develop chamber instincts and real musical ownership. That naturally leads into a larger discussion about education, specifically the gap that can exist between strong performance skills and deep knowledge of repertoire. Casey makes a compelling case for listening, score study, and curiosity as essential parts of becoming a complete musician.

A big part of Casey’s recent creative life has been the Percussion Podcast, where he hosted more than 300 episodes of conversations with percussionists and composers. He reflects honestly on what that project gave him, as a communicator, teacher, and community builder, as well as the real workload of producing that many episodes and the challenge of keeping conversations fresh over time.

We also spend time inside Casey’s composing process. He talks about the difference between writing for hands versus writing for humans, and how limitations, instrumentation, skill level, or context can actually unlock more interesting musical ideas. Increasingly, he’s thinking about accessibility in repertoire: writing music that still feels compelling but can reach more performers instead of only fitting one ideal player.

Toward the end, Casey shares some of the unexpected places his music has recently appeared, including projects connected to theater, dance, and visual art, from a performance context in Mannheim, to an installation tied to Ligeti’s 100 Metronomes, to a circus production in Italy using his piece Bad Touch. It’s a reminder that percussion music continues to travel in surprising directions.

Key Takeaways
Teaching requires balancing artistry and logistics — ensemble programming often means finding ways for more students to perform meaningfully.
Listening and score study deepen musicianship — strong playing should be paired with a deep knowledge of repertoire.
Podcasting builds community but demands consistency — producing hundreds of episodes requires serious time and energy.
Constraints can unlock creativity — limitations often lead to stronger compositional ideas.
Writing for performers matters — accessible repertoire can reach more musicians without sacrificing musical depth.
Percussion music is expanding beyond traditional venues — Casey’s work now appears in theater, visual art, and interdisciplinary projects.
Curiosity fuels long careers — staying open to new contexts keeps creative work evolving.
Music from the Episode
Scry - Casey Cangelosi
Blink - Casey Cangelosi
The Big Audition - Casey Cangelosi
Ligeti: Symphonic Poem for 100 Metronomes - Casey Cangelosi
About the Podcast

The Bandwich Tapes is a podcast hosted by Brad Williams, featuring conversations with musicians, composers, producers, and creative thinkers about their musical journeys. Each episode explores the influences, decisions, and experiences that shape a life in music—one conversation at a time.

Connect with the Show

Email: [email protected]

On this episode of The Bandwich Tapes, I sit down with singer and songwriter Lila Forde for a conversation that feels like it’s unfolding mid-song, equal parts instinct, craft, and heart. I actually discovered Lila in the most “Bandwich” way possible: while preparing for my episode with Larry Goldings, I heard her voice in a video and immediately texted a few musician friends saying, “You need to hear this singer.” That moment led to this conversation.

Lila shares how her collaboration with Larry Goldings has been developing, and the creative process behind it: record everything, follow the spark, and build outward from the accidental moments that feel alive. Hearing her describe that approach, trusting discovery instead of forcing results, made me even more excited about what they’re creating together.

We spend a lot of time talking about voice, not range or technique, but identity. Lila recalls a powerful moment from John Legend during her time on The Voice: "Don’t try to out-sing anyone… just be Lila." That idea opens up a deeper conversation about influence versus imitation, the pressure to fit into genre boxes, and the constant temptation to chase whatever sound the internet is rewarding in the moment.

Lila’s musical roots run deep, from classical piano at home to years in the Seattle Girls Choir, and later jazz studies that reshaped how she hears harmony and melody. She explains how ear training and solfege still influence her songwriting today, and why understanding just a little bit of theory can unlock creative freedom for singers.

We also talk honestly about the gig-life reality that many musicians know well: some of your biggest growth happens when nobody is paying attention. For Lila, that meant years of hotel-lobby gigs, four hours a night, five nights a week, where she learned to experiment, take risks, and build a durable musical voice. We close by talking about her debut album Vessel, recorded live with the band in just three days, and how she’s stepping into a bigger creative leadership role as she works on her next record.

Key Takeaways
Authenticity defines artistic voice — the goal isn’t to out-sing others, but to sound like yourself.
Creative discovery often comes from accidents — capturing and following spontaneous musical moments can lead to powerful ideas.
Influence is different from imitation — artists grow by absorbing influences while protecting their own identity.
Musical training builds creative vocabulary — ear training, harmony, and theory can open doors for singers.
Gig experience shapes real musicianship — long, quiet gigs often provide the space to experiment and grow.
Recording live captures energy — tracking Vessel with the band in three days preserved the immediacy of the music.
Leadership evolves with each project — Lila is stepping further into the creative driver’s seat with her next record.
Music from the Episode
Temptation - Lila Forde
All I Expected - Lila Forde
Brick by Brick - Lila Forde
About the Podcast

The Bandwich Tapes is a podcast hosted by Brad Williams, featuring conversations with musicians, composers, producers, and creative thinkers about their musical journeys. Each episode explores the influences, decisions, and experiences that shape a life in music—one conversation at a time.

Connect with the Show

Email: [email protected]

On this episode of The Bandwich Tapes, I sit down with Texas songwriter Amber Westerman for a conversation about new chapters, creative honesty, and the courage it takes to build a life that actually fits. Amber’s journey has taken her from farming in Hawaii to writing songs in Nashville, and now back to a place that feels more like home.

We talk about that turning point—recognizing when a path that once felt exciting no longer feels right. Amber shares what it meant to leave Nashville behind and return to Texas, and how that decision helped reconnect her with the reasons she started writing songs in the first place.

Amber also speaks candidly about the less glamorous parts of being a modern artist, including social media burnout and the pressure to chase trends. Instead of leaning into the constant push for visibility, she’s chosen to focus on authenticity and genuine connection with listeners—something that comes through clearly in both her songwriting and the way she approaches her career.

Along the way, we talk about the story behind her single “Barefoot Days,” how Hawaii continues to shape her musical perspective, and what’s coming next as she moves forward with new music and her band. It’s an honest conversation about staying grounded, trusting your instincts, and building a creative life on your own terms.

Key Takeaways
Creative paths evolve — sometimes the most important move is recognizing when it’s time for a new chapter.
Place shapes the music — Amber’s time in Hawaii and Texas both deeply influence her songwriting voice.
Authenticity matters more than trends — real connection with listeners lasts longer than viral moments.
Social media pressure is real for artists — navigating that landscape requires intention and boundaries.
Songwriting grows from lived experience — personal shifts often lead to deeper creative work.
Returning home can reset perspective — reconnecting with roots can bring clarity and purpose.
Building a sustainable music life requires honesty — both with yourself and with your audience.
Music from the Episode
Barefoot Days - Amber Westerman
About the Podcast

The Bandwich Tapes is a podcast hosted by Brad Williams, featuring conversations with musicians, composers, producers, and creative thinkers about their musical journeys. Each episode explores the influences, decisions, and experiences that shape a life in music—one conversation at a time.

Connect with the Show

Email: [email protected]

On this episode of The Bandwich Tapes, I sit down with Billy Allen and Jay Burgess from Billy Allen + The Pollies for a conversation that feels less like an interview and more like hanging out with musicians who care deeply about feel: the kind of musical quality you can’t really quantify. Still, you know immediately when you hear it.

We start with a full-circle moment: the band was scheduled to play Smith’s Olde Bar in Atlanta the night of our conversation, a venue I know well. That quickly turns into stories about the realities of life as a working band: stairs, load-ins, and the kind of shared touring experiences that musicians everywhere instantly understand.

From there, we trace the long arc of how Billy and Jay’s collaboration actually came together. Their connection began years earlier when Jay first heard Billy singing in a bar, but it took time for the right musical moment to develop. That theme of timing runs through the entire conversation, how artists grow into themselves, and how patience can be the difference between a short-lived project and something sustainable.

One of my favorite parts of the conversation centers on their philosophy about recording. Billy and Jay talk about their love for capturing music as a band in the room, embracing the push and pull of human tempo and the small imperfections that give a track its life. Jay describes himself as a “perfectionist at imperfection,” and we unpack that idea through classic records that breathe, groove as personality, and what “Southern” really means musically, less about technical flash and more about emotional honesty.

We close by talking about what’s ahead: the creative pressure of follow-up releases, the temptation to chase past successes, and why the healthiest path forward might be to keep writing, recording, and trusting the process.

Key Takeaways
Feel whether the foundation of great music — groove and emotion often matters more than technical perfection.
Timing matters in creative partnerships — the right collaboration can sometimes take years to develop fully.
Touring creates a shared language among musicians — the realities of life on the road shape the band experience.
Recording together captures something unique — the push and pull of human tempo can’t be replicated digitally.
Imperfection can be musical strength — small flaws often give recordings their personality.
Southern musical traditions emphasize soul and storytelling — emotional honesty over technical showmanship.
Trusting the process is essential — the best songs often reveal themselves when artists give them time.
Music from the Episode
All of Me - Billy Allen + the Pollies
Lady Luck - Billy Allen + the Pollies
If You Want Me to Stay - Billy Allen + the Pollies
About the Podcast

The Bandwich Tapes is a podcast hosted by Brad Williams, featuring conversations with musicians, composers, producers, and creative thinkers about their musical journeys. Each episode explores the stories, influences, and experiences that shape a life in music—one conversation at a time.

Connect with the Show

Email: [email protected]