11 episodes
The Song Is Never Done Newton’s Dark Room
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- Music
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4.9 • 14 Ratings
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Following a long career in bands like The Walkmen and Jonathan Fire*Eater, musician Walter Martin crafted his 6th studio album, The Bear, warmed by a wood burning stove in a bright red one-room schoolhouse. Tackling themes of family, art, and the changing seasons of life, the album resonated with host Talon Stradley as his own seasons changed.
Part memoir, part musical analysis, The Song Is Never Done is a track by track exploration of Walter Martin’s album The Bear. To help us along the way is Walter Martin himself as well as his collaborators, peers, and appreciators like Matt Berninger of The National, Eric D. Johnson of Fruit Bats and Bonny Light Horseman, jazz singer-songwriter Kat Edmonson, Oscar-nominated composer Emile Mosseri, many more, and even Walter’s mom.
So stop in your tracks, take stock in where you’re at, and get ready to meet The Bear.
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Track 1: Hunters in the Snow
Hunters in the Snow is a song about the changing seasons of life and our place in it all. In this episode, we’ll explore Walt’s own seasons as we look back at his time in Jonathan Fire*Eater and The Walkmen-- two bands that paved the way for the New York City rock scene of the early aughts. This episode features guests Matt Berninger of The National, Peter Mathew Bauer of The Walkmen, and Judy Martin, Walter’s mom.
Listen to The Song Is Never Done Official Playlist on Spotify.
You can purchase The Bear at waltermartinmusic.com.
Find more of my podcasts at newtonsdarkroom.com -
Tracks 2&3: First Voices and New Green
New Green is a song about the complicated but loving relationships we have with our families. We’ll dive into those relationships, how they change, and what it means when time turns our life into memories. This episode features guests Judy Martin, Emile Mosseri, Matt Berninger, and Kat Edmonson.
Listen to The Song Is Never Done Official Playlist on Spotify.
You can purchase The Bear at waltermartinmusic.com.
Find more of my podcasts at newtonsdarkroom.com -
Track 4: Baseball Diamonds
Baseball Diamonds is a song about the moments, memories, and people that make up our life. In this episode, we’ll track the inspirations of the song to find a lineage of loved ones that bring us all the way back to the baseball field. Along the way, we’ll hear about Walt’s longtime friendship with Jonathan Fire*Eater frontman Stewart Lupton and the song that planted the seeds for The Bear. This episode features guests Judy Martin and Matt Berninger.
Find Stewart’s poetry collection The Plural Atmosphere at thirdmanbooks.com
You can purchase The Bear at waltermartinmusic.com
Listen to The Song Is Never Done Official Playlist on Spotify
Find more of my podcasts at newtonsdarkroom.com -
Track 5: The Bear
The Bear is a song about... well, a bear. But it's also about our history, growth, and preparing for what comes next. In this episode, we tell the tale of The Bear before touching on the Faulkner story that inspired the title and meeting the album cover artist, who has a bear story of her own. This episode features guests Peter Mathew Bauer, Eric D. Johnson, Hollis Heichemer, and Judy Martin, Walter's mom.
Listen to The Song Is Never Done Official Playlist on Spotify.
You can purchase The Bear at waltermartinmusic.com.
Find more of my podcasts at newtonsdarkroom.com -
Sharing The Art Grind Podcast w/ Walter Martin
In lieu of a new episode this week, I wanted to share part of an amazing interview Walt did with the Art Grind Podcast earlier this year. This is the very same podcast that introduced him to the art of Hollis Heichemer, whose art is featured on the cover of The Bear. If you like this, I highly recommend checking out Hollis's interview on The Art Grind Podcast.
Listen to The Song Is Never Done Official Playlist on Spotify.
You can purchase The Bear at waltermartinmusic.com.
Find more of my podcasts at newtonsdarkroom.com -
Track 6: Hiram Hollow
Hiram Hollow is a song about parading through town, hunting foxes, and going to war. It's also the most whimsical song on The Bear with an approach closer to Walt's various children's albums. While his kid's music builds into punchlines, Hiram Hollow pivots the formula and ends on a note fitting for The Bear. This episode features guests Eric D. Johnson and Kat Edmonson.
Listen to The Song Is Never Done Official Playlist on Spotify.
You can purchase The Bear at waltermartinmusic.com.
Find more of my podcasts at newtonsdarkroom.com
Customer Reviews
Kinship
I feel a kinship with Walt, I think most will when they slow down and deeply experience the world around us. Thank you for sharing this relaxing podcast with us.
Great listen
Insightful commentary, interesting interviews, looking forward to listening to more episodes.