Podcast
Backstage Pass Radio
Hosted by Backstage Pass Radio · EN
A podcast created to showcase local/national/ and world-renowned musicians, resellers, and manufacturers on what is new and exciting as it relates to past and current projects. A podcast by the artist...for the artists!
14episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
S10: E7: Ryan Roxie (Alice Cooper) - Shock Rock Guitar Life
4w ago01:05:27Tap to summarizeLet Us Know What You Think of the Show!SHOW SUMMARY:Date: April 15, 2026Name of Podcast: Backstage Pass RadioS10: E7: Ryan Roxie (Alice Cooper) - Shock Rock Guitar LifeSHOW SUMMARY:Shock rock looks wild from the crowd, but from the stage it’s a craft built on repetition, tone, and trust. We sit down with Ryan Roxie, guitarist in the Alice Cooper band, to get the real behind-the-scenes view of what it takes to deliver one of the most legendary rock shows on the planet while still growing as a player. We talk guitars first, because that’s where Ryan lives: acoustic choices, why the “magic” often starts in the right hand, and how modern tools like YouTube, slow-down features, and looping can accelerate learning while also raising the bar. Ryan shares his best advice for guitar students and working musicians alike: train your ear, learn the 12 tones, and build daily consistency instead of chasing quick hacks. If you care about guitar technique, rock rhythm parts, and developing your own sound, this is a masterclass in practical musicianship. Then we widen the lens to tour life and longevity. Ryan explains why he calls Cape Town home, how he “chases the sun” between hemispheres, and what’s coming next for the Alice Cooper touring calendar, including a new production and a Las Vegas run combining rock and large-scale illusions. We also dig into his touring guitar rig, in-ears, modeling setups like Kemper, Marshall-style tones, and why front-of-house separation matters on a huge stage. Finally, Ryan breaks down his solo single “Fight Another Day,” the mindset behind the song, and the three Ps that keep him moving: practice, persistence, and patience. If you enjoy the conversation, subscribe, share it with a fellow guitar nerd, and leave a review so more music fans can find Backstage Pass Radio.Sponsor Link:WWW.ECOTRIC.COMWWW.SIGNAD.COMWWW.RUNWAYAUDIO.COMBackstage Pass Radio Social Media Handles:Facebook - @backstagepassradiopodcast @randyhulseymusicInstagram - @Backstagepassradio @randyhulseymusicTwitter - @backstagepassPC @rhulseymusicWebsite - www.backstagepassradio.com & www.randyhulsey.comYouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@backstagepassradiopodcastArtist(s) Web Page:www.ryanroxie.comCall to actionWe ask our listeners to like, share, and subscribe to the show and the artist's social media pages. This enables us to continue pushing great content to the consumer. Support Backstage Pass Radio - https://www.buzzsprout.com/1628902/support Thank you for being a part of Backstage Pass Radio Your Host,Randy Hulsey Support the show
Transcribe →S10: E6: John Gentry - Serving The Song & The Country
Apr 300:56:59Tap to summarizeLet Us Know What You Think of the Show!SHOW SUMMARY:Date: April 3, 2026Name of Podcast: Backstage Pass RadioS10: E6: John Gentry - Country With A Combat HeartSHOW SUMMARY:He jokes about sneaking a new guitar past his spouse, then pivots into something heavier: what it means to carry heartbreak, discipline, and memory into a Texas country song. We’re joined by rising artist John Gentry from Willis, Texas, an Army veteran whose music blends honky tonk grit with the spirit of 90s country. We talk about the artists who shaped his ears and his voice, from Vince Gill to Travis Tritt, and why great guitar playing can turn a good show into a lifelong memory. John breaks down his songwriting process as emotion-first and unforced, where a rhythm or a rough day can open the floodgates. He also gets candid about perfectionism, how easy it is to overwork a track, and what he learned from his first co-write on “Mr. Lonely.” John walks us through four recent releases including “Raining Inside,” plus how he recorded them in a small home studio setup with serious players and real feel. You’ll hear him perform “Raining Inside” live, unpack the story behind it, and share what it takes to build a dependable band in the Texas country scene. We also go deeper than music: John shares why he joined the Army, how fast he deployed, what adjusting back to civilian life can look like, and the everyday habits like time management that still shape his career. If you care about independent country music, Texas country songwriting, and the real life behind the stage lights, this conversation delivers. Subscribe to Backstage Pass Radio, share this with a country music fan, and leave a review so more listeners can find the show. What part of John’s story hit you the hardest?Sponsor Link:WWW.ECOTRIC.COMWWW.SIGNAD.COMWWW.RUNWAYAUDIO.COMBackstage Pass Radio Social Media Handles:Facebook - @backstagepassradiopodcast @randyhulseymusicInstagram - @Backstagepassradio @randyhulseymusicTwitter - @backstagepassPC @rhulseymusicWebsite - backstagepassradio.com and randyhulsey.comArtist(s) Web Page:Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/JGCM.OfficialCall to actionWe ask our listeners to like, share, and subscribe to the show and the artist's social media pages. This enables us to continue pushing great content to the consumer. Support Backstage Pass Radio - https://www.buzzsprout.com/1628902/support Thank you for being a part of Backstage Pass Radio Your Host,Randy Hulsey Support the showSupport the show
Transcribe →S10: E5: Denny Somach - Getting the Led Out!
Mar 1101:04:17Tap to summarizeLet Us Know What You Think of the Show!Date: March 11, 2026Name of Podcast: Backstage Pass RadioS10: E5: Denny Somach - Getting the Led Out!SHOW SUMMARY:What if the biggest band in the world won by saying no? Author and hall of fame broadcaster Denny Somach joins us to unpack how Led Zeppelin rewrote the rules—refusing singles, skipping TV, guarding the studio—and still built a global legend on the strength of live shows, mystery, and relentless craft. Drawing on a vast archive, Denny shares the raw voices behind the myth: label chiefs, engineers, publicists, peers, and the band members themselves.We dive into Atlantic Records’ unprecedented deal with Zeppelin and why Jimmy Page and Peter Grant’s terms created a fortress around the music. Then we head to Headley Grange for a ground-level look at Physical Graffiti, Cashmere’s hypnotic power, and the ambient tricks that made John Bonham’s drums feel like thunder in a stairwell. Denny opens the vault on rare memorabilia—global picture sleeves that “weren’t supposed to exist”—and the touring strategy that transformed college halls into a nationwide campaign. Along the way, we chase the near-mythic: Sabbath and Zeppelin jamming with tape maybe rolling, the XYZ sessions with Page and members of Yes, and a $500 Billy Joel headliner that foreshadowed Allentown.Beyond Zeppelin, Denny explains why classic rock radio lost its catalog and how his show, Rock and Roll for Grown Ups, brings back the songs we loved but stopped hearing—paired with tight interview clips that reveal the stories behind them. It’s a conversation about taste, memory, and preservation: what survives, what gets erased, and how to listen with new ears.If you love rock history told by the people who lived it, you’ll feel right at home. Hit play, then tell us your favorite Zeppelin track, the deep cut you miss on radio, and which lost story surprised you most. Subscribe, share with a friend, and leave a review to help others find the show.Sponsor Link:WWW.ECOTRIC.COMWWW.SIGNAD.COMWWW.RUNWAYAUDIO.COMBackstage Pass Radio Social Media Handles:Facebook - @backstagepassradiopodcast @randyhulseymusicInstagram - @Backstagepassradio @randyhulseymusicTwitter - @backstagepassPC @rhulseymusicWebsite - backstagepassradio.com and randyhulsey.comArtist(s) Web Page:https://www.linkedin.com/in/dennysomach/https://rocknroll4grownups.com/Call to actionWe ask our listeners to like, share, and subscribe to the show and the artist's social media pages. This enables us to continue pushing great content to the consumer. Support Backstage Pass Radio - https://www.buzzsprout.com/1628902/support Thank you for being a part of Backstage Pass Radio Your Host,Randy Hulsey Support the showSupport the show
Transcribe →S10: E4: Avery Kern - Rooftops, Roots, And A Rescue Dog
Feb 2501:19:38Tap to summarizeLet Us Know What You Think of the Show!Date: February 25, 2026Name of Podcast: Backstage Pass RadioS10: E4: Avery Kern - Rooftops, Roots, And A Rescue DogSHOW SUMMARY:Some stories sneak up on you from the rooftop. That’s where we reconnect with Americana artist Avery Kern, whose voice moves from honeyed hush to gravel edge and whose songs hold the kind of honesty you feel in your ribs. We chart her leap from a tiny K–12 school in Pawnee, Illinois, to the neon of Nashville, sharing the moments that shaped her: a sixth-grade assembly, the quiet courage it took to sing on American Idol, and the rescue dog who inspired a tender, hooky single called Cowboy Crazy.We get into the craft. Avery talks about writing for the human experience without staying trapped in love-song cliches, and why delivery can be the final verse of any lyric. She explains how Failure To Launch simmered for years until she had the words—and the nerve—to finish it. We compare polished studio cuts with the raw, gritty energy of her live band, where arrangements evolve, grooves grow teeth, and setlists give way to instinct. And if you’ve ever tried to honor a wild request mid-show, you’ll love how she navigates range, bridges, and the difference between serving a song and sacrificing it.There’s a forward pulse too. Avery is building two DIY EPs: one steeped in old-school country and blues swagger (don’t miss Left Him in Georgia), and one orbiting a “space” theme that threads lunar imagery through stories of growth, loss, and finding your footing. TikTok has opened doors to new cities, and a tour feels closer with every venue that fans send her way. Through it all, the aim stays simple—send people home lighter than they arrived, with a chorus humming under their breath.Hit play to hear an artist who refuses to fit a box and makes that refusal sound like clarity. If you enjoy the conversation, follow Avery Kern Music everywhere, subscribe to the show, and share this episode with a friend who needs a new favorite song. Your reviews help more listeners find us—what track should Avery cover next?Sponsor Link:WWW.ECOTRIC.COMWWW.SIGNAD.COMWWW.RUNWAYAUDIO.COMBackstage Pass Radio Social Media Handles:Facebook - @backstagepassradiopodcast @randyhulseymusicInstagram - @Backstagepassradio @randyhulseymusicTwitter - @backstagepassPC @rhulseymusicWebsite - backstagepassradio.com and randyhulsey.comArtist(s) Web Pagewww.averykern.comCall to actionWe ask our listeners to like, share, and subscribe to the show and the artist's social media pages. This enables us to continue pushing great content to the consumer. Support Backstage Pass Radio - https://www.buzzsprout.com/1628902/support Thank you for being a part of Backstage Pass Radio Your Host,Randy Hulsey Support the show
Transcribe →S10: E3: Kendra Erika - Behind The Bond
Feb 1101:23:07Tap to summarizeLet Us Know What You Think of the Show!Date: February 111, 2026Name of Podcast: Backstage Pass RadioS10: E3: Kendra Erika - Behind The BondSHOW SUMMARY:A standing ovation at a Boca Raton restaurant set the stage for a career that would span club anthems, jazz standards, and a daring reinvention shaped by risk and timing. We sit down with Kendra Erika—multiple Billboard Dance Club #1 artist—to map the journey from karaoke nights and Sinatra schooling to a Bond-inspired album and a string of Vegas dates that showcase a new sonic identity.Kendra opens up about the strategy that turned a supposed industry taboo into a win: dropping Self Control during the quiet week between Christmas and New Year’s, when the release calendar goes silent. She breaks down how DJ relationships, club spins, and mix shows drive Billboard dance charting, why accolades are confirmation rather than identity, and how consistency is the real magic potion. We also dig into the craft: writing by conversation, capturing melodies on voice memos at midnight, and treating remakes as re-stylizations that honor the original while stamping your own signature. Her new single Golden Eye, produced with Myron McKinley, channels cabaret swing and Peggy Lee’s Fever, revealing the “quiet power” at the core of her evolving sound.Beyond the studio, Kendra talks acting projects, reading charts with live bands in Vegas, and grounding herself through golf and Rotary service. She shares a candid take on songs that felt forced during polarizing times, and why letting ideas arrive on their own terms often yields the work that lasts. If you’re curious about how artists pivot without losing momentum—or how to turn club credibility into a cinematic, jazz-forward lane—you’ll find a smart, generous blueprint here.Stream now, pre-save License To Thrill, and join us for a behind-the-scenes look at a reinvention done right. If this conversation moved you, follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a quick review to help others discover it.Sponsor Link:WWW.ECOTRIC.COMWWW.SIGNAD.COMWWW.RUNWAYAUDIO.COMBackstage Pass Radio Social Media Handles:Facebook - @backstagepassradiopodcast @randyhulseymusicInstagram - @Backstagepassradio @randyhulseymusicTwitter - @backstagepassPC @rhulseymusicWebsite - backstagepassradio.com and randyhulsey.comArtist(s) Web Pagewww.kendraerika.comhttps://www.facebook.com/KendraErikaMusichttps://www.instagram.com/kendraerika/Call to actionWe ask our listeners to like, share, and subscribe to the show and the artist's social media pages. This enables us to continue pushing great content to the consumer. Support Backstage Pass Radio - https://www.buzzsprout.com/1628902/support Thank you for being a part of Backstage Pass Radio Your Host,Randy Hulsey Support the show
Transcribe →S10: E2: Earl Slick (David Bowie / John Lennon) - The Six String Saga
Jan 2101:55:10Tap to summarizeLet Us Know What You Think of the Show!Date: January 21, 2026Name of Podcast: Backstage Pass RadioS10: E2: Earl Slick (David Bowie / John Lennon) - The Six String SagaSHOW SUMMARY:The guitar can talk if you let it. That’s the lesson Earl Slick brings to the table—equal parts groove, grit, and a sharp sense of what a song really needs. We sat down to trace his path from Little League dreams to stages with David Bowie and John Lennon, and the result is a candid masterclass on rhythm, taste, and integrity. He doesn’t chase trends or pedals; he chases feel. He’ll tell you why the best job in rock might be the sideman who keeps the front person free, and how a two-bar hook can make a track immortal. We dive into the sessions that defined him. With Bowie, Slick had full creative trust and learned to build parts that breathe—signature licks, precise space, and a stage sense that let the star step back when needed. With Lennon, he was the “wild card,” the street player alongside seasoned readers, there to inject heart. He unpacks tone philosophy in plain terms: light bodies for resonance, Telecasters kept honest, Gibson acoustics that bloom, fuzz as spice, and a pedalboard that leaves plenty to your hands. It’s practical wisdom for players at any level, from studio pros to weekend warriors. Slick doesn’t dodge the hard stuff. He talks about anxiety, isolation off the road, and the healing power of telling the truth. His definition of success is refreshingly simple: play the guitar, take care of your family, pay the mortgage, and sleep at night. We explore his Slick guitar line—lighter builds, quality hardware, workable prices—and his advice for the next generation: get in a room with a drummer and bass player, let the first take speak, and don’t mistake social media for a career. There’s new music, a heartfelt David Johansen tribute, and studio experiments on the horizon, all grounded in the same ethic: rhythm first, ego last. If you love real stories from the engine room of rock—Bowie, Lennon, hooks that stick, tone that breathes—this conversation will stay with you. Subscribe, share with a musician friend, and leave a review to keep these deep dives coming. What’s the riff that made you fall in love with the guitar? Tell us.Sponsor Link:WWW.ECOTRIC.COMWWW.SIGNAD.COMWWW.RUNWAYAUDIO.COMBackstage Pass Radio Social Media Handles:Facebook - @backstagepassradiopodcast @randyhulseymusicInstagram - @Backstagepassradio @randyhulseymusicTwitter - @backstagepassPC @rhulseymusicWebsite - backstagepassradio.com and randyhulsey.comArtist(s) Web Pagehttps://www.facebook.com/EarlSlickOfficial/https://www.instagram.com/earlslick_official/Call to actionWe ask our listeners to like, share, and subscribe to the show and the artist's social media pages. This enables us to continue pushing great content to the consumer. Thank you for being a part of Backstage Pass Radio Your Host,Randy Hulsey Support the show
Transcribe →S10: E1: Austin Ingerman (Gunshine) - Firepower in the Sunshine State
Jan 701:07:08Tap to summarizeLet Us Know What You Think of the Show!Date: January 7, 2026Name of Podcast: Backstage Pass RadioS10: E1: Austin Ingerman (Gunshine) - Gunshine From Sunshine StateSHOW SUMMARY:Big riffs, big hooks, zero apologies. That’s the energy we chase with guitarist and songwriter Austin Ingerman of Gunshine, a Florida-born player who balances swagger with sharp songcraft. From Daytona beginnings to LA’s Musicians Institute and arena tours as a hired gun, Austin shares how those miles shaped a band built for choruses you can shout and guitars that actually feel dangerous again. We talk origin stories the honest way: how a pandemic pause pushed Austin home, how early tracks came together before a singer was even in the room, and why the search for a voice with an X factor took years. When Jordan walked in from a dueling-piano bar, the chemistry clicked fast. The result is Gunshine’s “swampy” identity—Southern edge, modern punch—rooted in influences like Boston, Def Leppard, AC/DC, and a touch of early GNR. The name Gunshine nods to Florida’s nickname and the band’s sunburned grit, not a retro costume. Songwriting sits at the center. Austin often starts with melodies and riffs captured on voice memos, while Jordan brings a Nashville-honed lyric lens and the number system to keep structures tidy. We break down “Bayou,” which began as Jordan’s country-leaning sketch and morphed into a layered modern rocker with a ramping chorus. The home-studio pipeline is real: tracks built in Austin’s space, files shipped to Chris Collier for mix and master, and a sound that still hits like a room full of amps. Theory helps in the background—tension, resolution, the occasional Mixolydian wink—but the rule is feel first. Grand Rising, a 13-song album, arrives with more colors: piano textures, heavier corners, and a stealth seven-string thickening the choruses without stealing the spotlight. We dig into touring momentum after a successful run through venues like the Whisky and Sturgis, plus the realities of booking while transitioning agencies. Austin’s parting wisdom is pure working-musician truth: pick one job a day, finish it well, and let the songs lead everything else. If you crave straight-ahead rock with big melodies and no filler, hit play, follow Gunshine on socials, and watch for the first single on January 23. Enjoy the conversation, then subscribe, share, and leave a quick review so more rock fans can find the show.Sponsor Link:WWW.ECOTRIC.COMWWW.SIGNAD.COMWWW.RUNWAYAUDIO.COMBackstage Pass Radio Social Media Handles:Facebook - @backstagepassradiopodcast @randyhulseymusicInstagram - @Backstagepassradio @randyhulseymusicTwitter - @backstagepassPC @rhulseymusicWebsite - backstagepassradio.com and randyhulsey.comArtist(s) Web Pagewww.gunshineband.comCall to actionWe ask our listeners to like, share, and subscribe to the show and the artist's social media pages. This enables us to continue pushing great content to the consumer. Thank you for being a part of Backstage Pass Radio Your Host,Randy Hulsey Support the show
Transcribe →S9: E11: Kendall Beard (Love & Chaos) - When Grit Meets Grace
Dec 1701:14:40Tap to summarizeLet Us Know What You Think of the Show!Date: December 17, 2025Name of Podcast: Backstage Pass RadioS9: E11: Kendall Beard (Love & Chaos) - When Grit Meets GraceSHOW SUMMARY:The story starts on Texas backroads and winds through Opry houses, a teen pop deal, and a reality TV spotlight before landing in an Austin room where sparks fly. Kendall Beard joins us to share how that winding path led to Love & Chaos, her electrifying duo with AJ Vallejo, and why the most interesting music often lives between labels. We dig into the early hustle—weekend shows, VHS audition tapes, and a family that said yes when the dream demanded long drives. Kendall opens up about the label collapse around the Napster era, stepping back for college, and a detour into the business side that confirmed she needed to be on the creative front lines. You’ll hear a candid look at American Idol’s true timeline, the contract strings that stall momentum, and the unexpected upside: a loyal Texas fan base and new doors for songwriting and production. Then the chemistry kicks in. A one-off duet with AJ turns into Love & Chaos, a project where country storytelling collides with rock muscle and a hint of Latin rhythm. We trace their four-year Saxon Pub residency, the craft behind their live duo setup with a suitcase kick drum, and the evolution of Rather Be Alone from sprawling art piece to tight radio edit without losing its pulse. Kendall breaks down their writing process—sometimes 50–50, sometimes whoever has the spark—and why inspiration shows up on runs, in dreams, and in those moments when life refuses to sit still. She also talks about balancing motherhood with touring, choosing fewer but more meaningful shows, and what’s next: a Texas radio tour, new singles, sessions at AJ’s new studio in Gruene, and fresh solo writing. If you love Americana’s open borders, Texas grit, and songs built to breathe on stage, this conversation delivers. Follow Love & Chaos, spin the new single, and tell us which track caught you by surprise. If you enjoy the show, subscribe, share it with a friend, and leave a review to help more music fans find us.Sponsor Link:WWW.ECOTRIC.COMWWW.SIGNAD.COMWWW.RUNWAYAUDIO.COMBackstage Pass Radio Social Media Handles:Facebook - @backstagepassradiopodcast @randyhulseymusicInstagram - @Backstagepassradio @randyhulseymusicTwitter - @backstagepassPC @rhulseymusicWebsite - backstagepassradio.com and randyhulsey.comArtist(s) Web Pagewww.loveandchaosmusic.comCall to actionWe ask our listeners to like, share, and subscribe to the show and the artist's social media pages. This enables us to continue pushing great content to the consumer. Thank you for being a part of Backstage Pass Radio Your Host,Randy Hulsey Support the show
Transcribe →S9: E10: dUg Pinnick (Kings X / Grinder Blues) Motown Roots to Metal Truths
Nov 2601:37:20Tap to summarizeLet Us Know What You Think of the Show!Date: November 26, 2025Name of podcast: Backstage Pass RadioS9: E10: dUg Pinnick (Kings X / Grinder Blues) Motown Roots to Metal TruthsSHOW SUMMARY:A voice that can shake a room and a bass tone you can feel in your ribs—dUg Pinnick of King’s X joins us for a candid, wide-open conversation about art, survival, and building a sound that refuses the mold. From a childhood spent glued to record players to the thunder of Led Zeppelin and Deep Purple, dUg traces how Motown roots and gospel grit fused with heavy riffs to form the King’s X blueprint. We talk about the business as he’s lived it—70 years of evolution and disruption—why validation culture can starve the soul, and how a band can stay small on charts yet massive in people’s lives.dUg breaks down his uniquely architectural approach to writing: drum groove first, guitars and bass next, and lyrics last, pulled straight from lived emotion. He opens the hood on tone design, too—signal splitting for grit and chime, frequency carving that lets bass feel huge without drowning guitars, and why a 12‑string bass keeps his hands honest. We revisit the Dogman era with producer Brendan O’Brien, tuning choices that made the record hit like their live show, and the stubborn love that fuels a cult following decade after decade.There’s warmth and wit here—AC/DC dinner stories, the joy of seeing U2 at the Rose Bowl, and the humility of knowing fans bring their own history to every chorus. dUg shares what’s next: final tweaks on his solo record, the spark of a rock-and-roll cooking show, and a stack of ideas ready for the next King’s X chapter. If you care about songwriting, bass tone, heavy music history, or simply staying true when trends shift, this conversation delivers depth you can use and heart you can feel.If this moved you, follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a quick review so more music fans can find it.Sponsor Link:WWW.ECOTRIC.COMWWW.SIGNAD.COMWWW.RUNWAYAUDIO.COMBackstage Pass Radio Social Media Handles:Facebook - @backstagepassradiopodcast @randyhulseymusicInstagram - @Backstagepassradio @randyhulseymusicTwitter - @backstagepassPC @rhulseymusicWebsite - backstagepassradio.com and randyhulsey.comArtist(s) Web Pagewww.kingsxrocks.comCall to actionWe ask our listeners to like, share, and subscribe to the show and the artist's social media pages. This enables us to continue pushing great content to the consumer. Thank you for being a part of Backstage Pass Radio Your Host,Randy Hulsey Support the show
Transcribe →S9: E9: Annika Catharina - Finding A Voice After The Fall
Nov 501:34:31Tap to summarizeLet Us Know What You Think of the Show!Date: November 5, 2025Name of podcast: Backstage Pass RadioS9: E9: Annika Catharina - Finding A Voice After The FallSHOW SUMMARY:The high you chase onstage feels different after you’ve had to fight for your voice. That’s where our conversation with Canadian country artist Annika Catharina begins: a moped crash in Southeast Asia, a shattered jaw, months of silence, and a slow, stubborn climb back to singing. What could have ended a dream turned into perspective that colors every line she writes and every chorus she belts.We walk through Annika’s roots on a BC farm—sports teams, family skits, and a house filled with Elton John and classic rock—then hit the turning point: discovering Patsy Cline’s delivery before she even called it “country.” From there, the sound evolved. Indie and alt-rock influences blend with modern Nashville polish, giving her debut EP, You and Me, a clean, hook-forward lift. She breaks down her hybrid writing process—ideas alone, voice memos and simple chords, then co-writes that unlock angles she’d never find solo. And we go deep on Love and Hate: the reality-TV spark, the teenage push-pull energy, the producers who heard a hit in a bare demo, and the radio momentum that followed.Annika also shares how national recognition changed the game. As a Top 8 artist in SiriusXM’s Top of the Country, she recorded at Bryan Adams’ Vancouver studio, shot a pro performance video, and saw doors swing open across Canada. She lights up describing the first time a friend texted “You’re on the radio,” and the community pride that came with it. Then we look ahead: Undercovers, the new single Better Hands that finally lets her sing about the love she’s living, and the next era of confident, sassy, stage-ready tracks. There’s a dream stage, too—Vancouver’s Commodore Ballroom on February 14—proof that the grind, the gut checks, and the gratitude are paying off.If you love country storytelling with a modern edge, honest lyrics, and choruses that land clean, you’ll connect with Annika’s journey. Hit play, save your favorite song, and tell us which lyric hit hardest. And if you’re feeling the show, subscribe, leave a rating, and share this episode with someone who needs a reminder to keep going.Sponsor Link:WWW.ECOTRIC.COMWWW.SIGNAD.COMWWW.RUNWAYAUDIO.COMBackstage Pass Radio Social Media Handles:Facebook - @backstagepassradiopodcast @randyhulseymusicInstagram - @Backstagepassradio @randyhulseymusicTwitter - @backstagepassPC @rhulseymusicWebsite - backstagepassradio.com and randyhulsey.comArtist(s) Web Pagewww.annikacatharina.comCall to actionWe ask our listeners to like, share, and subscribe to the show and the artist's social media pages. This enables us to continue pushing great content to the consumer. Thank you for being a part of Backstage Pass Radio Your Host,Randy Hulsey Support the show
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