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One of the great pleasure of putting together this podcast every week is finding those amazing individuals whose work bring art and culture together to tell the story of adventure. Unfortunately it’s not often that I can make a more direct connection to the active lifestyle through the performing art of music. But more two years ago I became acquainted with the work of climber and rap artist Kris Hampton, a singer known as O-Dub. His name was derived while a blending his love for music with his passion for climbing wide cracks on rock walls commonly called off-widths.

“I was recording songs in a studio in a bad neighborhood in Cincinnati. I was the only white that recorded in the studio,” O-Dub said. “And I came out of the booth one day to record a song…the song “Off-Widths.” And these thugged-out guys with white T-Shirts down to their knees are all staring at me like I’m an idiot. Like what is this guy talking about?

“They understood the spirit of the song, but they didn’t have a clue what I was talking about. So they caught onto the word off-width and started using it like ‘off the hook’ or ‘off the chain’ like ‘Man! That was off-width.’ So they used it all week while I was in there recording. And they started calling me off-width and then someone shortened it to O-Dub and it just went from there.”

With topical lyrics and bouncy jams authentic to his own experience Kris O-Dub Hampton brings the art of song writing to the sport of climbing. Through his rap songs he’s creating new anthems to both inspire and chronicle the life of adventure but with a modern twist that still’s reminiscent of the poets and ballad writers in the classic style of the mountaineering tradition. Read the rest of this entry »

Music and art blend in a new collaboration project by singer songwriter and most recent JTP contributor John Common. In conjunction with the release of his latest album Beautiful Empty the Denver-based musician has invited photographers to illustrate the songs’ lyrics with images as compelling as the words.

The Beautiful Empty Photo Conspiracy calls for the creation of original pictures from across the country. Photojournalist Lucia De Giovanni curates the collection that will be on display at the Fox Theater in Boulder on June 12^th. The event coincides with the release of the album by the indie band John Common & Blinding Flashes of Light.

“I think artists of all types should collaborate more… this project is an excuse to do that,” Common said in an exchange via Facebook. “There aren’t restrictions for participating — you don’t have to be a “professional” photographer to be in this project. Anyone can make art.” Read the rest of this entry »

The Joy Trip Project welcomes a new contributing artist to our list of muscians. Chad Farran has made a name in the San Diego music scene by playing hundreds of shows with many local bands throughout the region, producing music for TV shows and independent films, and recording CD projects for local musicians.

Over the past 3 years he has been involved in the production of music for the popular surf/travel show On Surfari that airs on FOX network’s Fuel TV, and has managed to capture the essence of foreign countries that the show travels to by studying the traditions and instruments from each place, incorporating them into musical pieces, and creating a contemporary and refreshing soundtrack. 

Farran’s most recent CD release is , with 22 songs featured in the first season of Fuel TV’s On Surfari. The CD features a rich landscape of music with ethnic instrumentation and grooves inspired by travels to India, Panama, Mauritius and New York.

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An interview with Love Hope Strength executive director Shannon Foley

A couple of weeks ago I got an email from my friend Maitri. A friend of hers was in serious trouble and she wanted my help.

“I’d seen her the day before and everything was fine. And she said, ‘I think my husband has leukemia‘.” Maitri said. “And they’ve checked him into the UW cancer ward.”

Here in Madison the University of Wisconsin is home to one of top research facilities in the county the Carbone Cancer Center. With very little notice Maitri’s friend was immediately admitted to the affiliated community hospital.

“I was most surprised with how quickly it happened and how urgently the medical profession had to respond,” Maitri said. “Sunday I was at church with her. She went home after church. Her husband said ‘I have some pain in my legs. I think I’ll go to the doctor tomorrow.’ And she said ‘Let’s give the nurse on call a quick phone call and just make sure this is fine.’ The nurse said you need to go to the emergency room now. We went and they were ready to check him into the hospital that afternoon. So one minute fine, leg cramp, next minute checked into the UW Hospital ward.”

“With leukemia,”I said.

“Correct,” she said. Read the rest of this entry »

Gabrielle Seals is an aspiring piano student with big ambitions. “I want to go to Juilliard,” she says. “But for my career… my career, career I want to go to Harvard to be a forensic anthropologist.”

This Madison sixth grader, age 11, only started taking piano lessons in September. And despite her family’s economic challenges she’s already making plans for the future. Thanks to a unique program called Piano Pioneers Gabrielle can include training in music on her application to the Ivy League.

“I’ve done some research and Harvard is a really good school,” she says. “Graduating from there I’ll be eligible to go anywhere in the world.”

Bright and precocious -she skipped the 1^st grade- Gabrielle is one of many children in Dane and five adjacent counties who receive free piano lessons. They are also provided with a used instrument from the Steinway Piano Gallery of Madison so they can practice at home. Read the rest of this entry »

There’s nothing quite like synergy when it comes to saving the world. The folks at 1% for the Planet are teaming up with singer songwriter Jack Johnson to produce an album featuring never heard before tracks from other artists such as Josh Ritter, G. Love, and Grace Potter. Proceeds will go to support of non-profits that protect the environment. Read the rest of this entry »

Music is an incredible gift. Talented artists who share the joy of lyric and melody are among the many wonderful people who make life on this planet truly worthwhile. Add to that a message of environmental protection and you’ve got an incredible combination to make lasting social change. Hot Buttered Rum is just that kind of band.

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