What happens when an Irish songwriter living in Milan and a Colorado multi-instrumentalist form a band—without ever being in the same room? Meet Sun Way Street, the cross-continental duo of Steven Eli and Leor Manelis, whose prolific output defies geography.
Their newly released album Ghost Town continues their introspective journey through heartbreak, healing, and hope. In this conversation, we talk about their creative process across oceans, “lo-fi on expensive gear”, what it means to stay true to the song, and much more.
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1:16:19
EP 12: Beauts
Jeff Lawton, Darryl Smith, and Palmer Jamieson from Halifax indie band Beauts join Underknown to talk about their upcoming album Marigolds. We dig into the song’s unlikely path from a 2017 demo to a mid-tempo anthem about middle-age in-betweenness: no longer at home in late-night bars, not quite ready for full domesticity. The band opens up about writing slowly, “studio-dork” experimentation, and why trusting each other enough to mute good parts is their superpower. We talk sequencing vinyl sides, letting songs breathe, and how Palmer’s home studio shaped Marigolds. There’s gear talk, a flaming bass amp, and your host successfully guesses what kind of guitar amps are used on a song. If you like nerding out and laughing about it - this episode is for you.
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EP 11: Covenhoven
Joel Van Horne—better known by his moniker Covenhoven—joins The Underknown for a conversation about memories, craft, and staying the course. We trace the roots of his moniker back to his family’s hand-built Wyoming cabin, talk about his dad’s outsized influence (from Dylan records to dumpster-dived guitars), and relive everyone's high school graduation experience - playing Red Rocks.
Joel digs into his evolving process—from playing nearly everything himself to opening the door on IV with friends like Ben Wysocki (The Fray), Julie Davis (Bluebook), and Gregory Alan Isakov. We sit with the grief that shaped songs like “Nothing Left to Be,” and then zoom forward to The Color of the Dark and its “field notes” companion: stripped performances recorded outdoors along the West Coast, where wind, birds, and chance became part of the music.
Gear talk, open tunings, nylon-string affinity, living-room shows, and plans for a first European run—this one covers a lot of ground with a quiet, steady heart.
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EP 10: The Buoys
On the tenth episode of Underknown, I sit down with Tess Wilkin, drummer of Sydney’s all-female rock band The Buoys. Fresh off the release of their new single “Bitch.” Tess opens up about the story behind the track, the double standards women face in music and society, and how language shapes culture. We dive into her journey from putting down the drumsticks at age 14 to rediscovering the drums at 30, joining The Buoys by chance, and building the chemistry that fuels their explosive live shows. Tess also shares candid insights about touring Europe, the impact of Triple J and ARIA charts, and creating safe, empowering spaces through music.
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EP 09: Rory Gillanders
What keeps an artist going when the world isn’t listening? For Irish indie‑folk troubadour Rory Gillanders, it’s the belief (and hope) that the right song for the right person can still change everything. In this episode, Rory shares the relentless reality of chasing a dream, the stories behind Waiting and Soulless World, and why he refuses to quit.
Before they’re selling out venues—before they’re playlist darlings—you’ll find them here. The Underknown captures artists at that crucial moment: after they’ve found their voice, but before everyone else discovers them. Host Yon Perullo sits down with emerging musicians for conversations that dig beyond the music into the journey, struggles, and moments of revelation that shaped them. It’s like those deep-dive interviews famous artists get, except we’re having them now—at the beginning of their story. Raw. Real. Just before the world catches on.
Ireland