The Basements Were Stars is a podcast that explores music and the musicians behind the artform. With a focus on indie rock, classic rock, jazz, electronica & beyond, episodes will feature album discussions, behind-the-scenes stories, and in-depth interviews with musicians/artists who shape the sound and grace the stages. Whether you're a musician, vinyl collector or just love discovering new artists, this show is your access to the music that moves us all. The title, The Basements Were Stars is a play on Sunny Day Real Estate's (one of my all time favorite bands) song, The Blankets Were Stairs
Welcome to Season 2 of The Basements Were Stars. Thank you to all who have tuned in this past year. I kick things off with LG from Dead Leaf Echo. We get into some of his musical background, some Dead Leaf Echo history, the current state of shoegaze, and of course the big dream pop / shoegaze festival, I Have a Dream Pop, that is happening later this week in New York City which Dead Leaf Echo will be a part of. You don't want to miss it.
Follow Dead Leaf Echo:
Bandcamp (https://deadleafecho.bandcamp.com/music)
Linktree (https://linktr.ee/deadleafecho)
Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/deadleafecho)
Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/deadleafecho)
Twitter (https://x.com/deadleafecho)
I Have a Dream Pop Festival:
Night 1 Tickets (https://dice.fm/event/92v93o-i-have-a-dream-pop-festival-the-veldt-big-spirit-y33ba-heaven-22nd-oct-pianos-showroom-new-york-tickets)
Night 2 Tickets (https://dice.fm/event/3o8q8l-i-have-a-dream-pop-festival-the-veldt-darksoft-diary-day-dream-23rd-oct-pianos-showroom-new-york-tickets)
Day 3 Tickets (https://dice.fm/event/dk7y2e-i-have-a-dream-pop-festival-the-veldt-burnt-sugar-honeychild-colemans-dem-more-24th-oct-pianos-the-mezzanine-new-york-pianos-showroom-new-york-tickets)
I Have a Dream Pop (https://www.instagram.com/ihaveadreampop/)
Telepathic Windows (https://www.instagram.com/telepathicwindows/)
Theme and outro music by V. Paul Janbazian • Caspian Seal Sounds and Music, ASCAP
Incidental music by HitsLab • Ievgen Poltavsky, BMI
The Basements Were Stars is a Caspian Seal production
10 Sept 2026
Episode 14: Aren Emirsian, Musa Dagh & Harmful
Welcome to the last episode of the season! V. Paul welcomes Aren Emirsian of the bands, Musa Dagh and Harmful (also of his own solo project, Emirsian, Germany based pop duo, Arem & Chima, and LA Armenian folk duo, Emirsian & Dabandjian) to the pod. This is a great conversation between two old friends. They discuss the making of Musa Dagh's new album, Endurance, the changes the band recently undertook, the constant guiding force both Black Sabbath and Faith No More have been on him and all his projects, and much, much more.
Follow Aren and all his projects on IG:
Emirian (https://www.instagram.com/emirsian/)
Musa Dagh (https://www.instagram.com/musadagh_official)
Harmful (https://www.instagram.com/harmful_music/)
Aren & Chima (https://www.instagram.com/arenundchima_official/)
Emirisan & Dabandjian (https://www.instagram.com/emirsiandabandjian)
Musa Dagh: Endurance
Order Musa Dagh's new album, Endurance, here (https://musadagh.bandcamp.com/album/endurance)
Stream Musa Dagh's, Endurance (https://musadagh.ffm.to/endurance)
6 Sept 2026
Episode 13: Todd Philips, The Juliana Hatfield Three / Bullet LaVolta / The Lemonheads / Moving Targets / Other Star People
V. Paul Janbazian welcomes one of his absolute favorite drummers to the pod. A member of both legendary Boston bands, Bullet LaVolta and The Juliana Hatfield Three, he brought a sense of pocket, feel, and flair that wasn't very common in indie rock at the time. He is of course multi-instrumentalist, Todd Philips. They get into his musical background/upbringing in Lynnfield, MA, touring with Moving Targets while still in high school, joining Bullet LaVolta, and later Juliana Hatfield's band, his pivot into motion picture advertising, the late great bassists, Mikey Welsh and Jennifer Finch, what he's up to now, and a whole lot more.
Follow Todd Philips and Bullet LaVolta on IG:
@taphilips (https://www.instagram.com/taphilips/)
@bulletlavoltaofficial (https://www.instagram.com/taphilips/)
Check out Juliana Hatfield's music:
Bandcamp (https://julianahatfield.bandcamp.com/music)
Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/artist/4L1danWWAgSc0b7nBgY9CB)
27 Aug 2026
Episode 12: Jeremy Winter, All Natural Lemon & Lime Flavors / Jett Brando
V. Paul Janbazian welcomes long time friend, Jeremy Winter of legendary NJ shoegaze/dream pop/indie rock band, All Natural Lemon & Lime Flavors and solo project, Jett Brando to the pod. They sorta/kinda came up in the same music scenes as V. Paul's former bandmates in Sleep Station went to high school with Jer. We go deep into Lemon & Lime history, his musical/artistic upbringing, My Bloody Valentine (actually a lot into MBV), and much, much more.
Follow L&L:
Linktree (https://linktr.ee/all.natural.lemon.lime.flavors)
Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/allnaturallemon.limeflavors/)
Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/AllNaturalLemonAndLimeFlavors/)
Merch Store (https://i-and-w-merch-and-more.printify.me/)
Follow Jett Brando:
Bandcamp (https://jettbrando.bandcamp.com/)
Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/jettbrando7)
Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/JettBrando)
Bluesky (https://bsky.app/profile/jettbrando7.bsky.social)
Cherry Red Records' We Are the Beautiful Comp/Box Set:
Streaming on Spotify (https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6InMLdUtnaUf40Yjry2jlX)
4 CD Box Set (https://www.cherryred.co.uk/various-artists-we-are-the-beautiful-4cd-box-set?srsltid=AfmBOopZoGNAs9Wk1sH70Qg-FKzvGUo5qJdHeXXD5_mlZW8kP8LgTayy)
Theme and outro music by V. Paul Janbazian • Caspian Seal Sounds and Music, ASCAP
Incidental music by HitsLab • Ievgen Poltavsky, BMI
The Basements Were Stars is a Caspian Seal production
28 Jul 2026
Episode 11: Danny Chavis, The Veldt / Apollo Heights
V. Paul welcomes soulgaze / dream pop pioneer, Danny Chavis to the pod. They reminisce on the first time they met when Apollo Heights opened for TV On The Radio at the First Unitarian Church of Philly. They also get into the early music scene in Raleigh, their influence on bands/artists today, the resurgence of shoegaze music in the last 5 years, and a whole lot more.
Follow The Veldt:
Bandcamp (https://theveldtmusic.bandcamp.com/)
Website (https://taplink.cc/theveldt)
Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/_theveldt/)
Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/VeldtThe)
Twitter (https://x.com/VeldtThe)
Bluesky (https://bsky.app/profile/theveldt.bsky.social)
Theme and outro music by V. Paul Janbazian • Caspian Seal Sounds and Music, ASCAP
Incidental music by HitsLab • Ievgen Poltavsky, BMI
The Basements Were Stars is a Caspian Seal production
14 Jul 2026
Episode 10: SayMo, hip-hop artist/poet/writer, Part 2
V. Paul welcomes back SayMo, hip-hop artists/producer/poet/writer to the pod. They continue their conversation from last time. Topics discussed include, songwriting, production, AI, rappers/emcees, classic Armenian musicians, cultural integration in modern popular music, and a whole lot more.
Follow SayMo:
Bandcamp (https://saymobeendead.bandcamp.com/)
Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/saymobeendead/)
Threads (https://www.threads.com/@saymobeendead)
Twitter (https://x.com/saymobeendead)
Theme music & outro music by V. Paul Janbazian • Caspian Seal Sounds and Music, ASCAP
Background music by HitsLab • Ievgen Poltavsky, BMI
The Basements Were Stars is a Caspian Seal production
2 Jun 2026
Episode 9: Gordon Raphael, Producer & Musician (The Strokes, Skin, The Cribs, Regina Spektor & more)
I'm finally back after taking another long unintended break, but I'm back and my guest i none other than, legendary producer, Gordon Raphael, the sonic wizard behind The Strokes' first three recordings (The Modern Age EP, Is This It, and Room on Fire) and a bit of their fourth album, First Impressions of Earth. We get into his upbringing in Seattle, his early bands, moving to New York, opening his studio in the Lower East Side, meeting/working with The Strokes, moving to London, and a whole lot more.
Follow Gordon:
Instagram (http://instagram.com/GordonRaphael)
Facebook (http://facebook.com/GordonRaphaelMusic)
YouTube (http://youtube.com/GordonRaphael)
Bandcamp (https://shoplifterrecords.bandcamp.com/)
Theme music & outro music by V. Paul Janbazian • Caspian Seal Sounds and Music, ASCAP
The Basements Were Stars is a Caspian Seal production
Get in touch and support the pod! (https://campsite.to/tbws)
29 Apr 2026
Bonus Episode (Ep. 8): Psyops and sock puppets and indie bands, oh my!
This episode is a response to Rick Beato’s video (https://youtu.be/xdwDwiQLx-8) from last week, the latest offering to the discourse and talk around Wired’s now infamous article (https://www.wired.com/story/geese-chaotic-good-marketing-industry-plant/) on Chaotic Good Project’s illicit marketing tactics and their client, Brooklyn “indie” rock band, Geese. Hopefully this is the last time I have to talk about this. Somehow, I doubt it.
Theme music & outro music by V. Paul Janbazian • Caspian Seal Sounds and Music, ASCAP
Background music by HitsLab • Ievgen Poltavsky, BMI
The Basements Were Stars is a Caspian Seal production
18 Apr 2026
Episode 7: SayMo, Hip-hop artist/poet/writer
V. Paul welcomes SayMo, hip-hop artists/producer/poet/writer to the pod. They get into microphones, production techniques, the state of modern pop music, AI, System of Down, his upcoming Western Armenian project, and a whole lot more.
Follow SayMo:
Bandcamp (https://saymobeendead.bandcamp.com/)
Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/saymobeendead/)
Threads (https://www.threads.com/@saymobeendead)
Twitter (https://x.com/saymobeendead)
Theme music & outro music by V. Paul Janbazian • Caspian Seal Sounds and Music, ASCAP
Background music by HitsLab • Ievgen Poltavsky, BMI
The Basements Were Stars is a Caspian Seal production
8 Apr 2026
Episode 6: Matthew Zeitoun, Filmmaker/Photographer/Curator/Comedian|Prototype/Phenotype Paterson, NJ
We're switching things up a bit this episode. I had a good sit down with Matthew Zeitoun (filmmaker/photographer/curator/comedian), co-founder of Phenotype Stages and resident/co-manager of Prototype 237 in Paterson, NJ. We had a nice conversation over a few beers on the patio of our mutual friend Paul Larsen's gallery. We get into our favorite Middle Eastern Paterson spots (both of our families are from Lebanon), his filmmaking and photography background, standup comedy, his various projects at Prototype 237 and Phenotype Stages, and a whole lot more. Thank you to Paul Larsen for providing his space (Paul Larsen Gallery (https://www.paullarsengallery.com/)) for this episode.
matthewzeitoun.com (https://matthewzeitoun.com/)
The Patersonian (https://thepatersonian.substack.com/)
IG: @matthewzeitoun (https://www.instagram.com/matthewzeitoun/) • @zeitounpromotions (https://www.instagram.com/zeitounpromotions/) • @artistexhibitions (https://www.instagram.com/artistexhibitions/) • @openfilmscreenings (https://www.instagram.com/openfilmscreenings/) • @phenotypestages (https://www.instagram.com/phenotypestages/) • @prototypepaterson (https://www.instagram.com/prototypepaterson/)
Theme and outro music by V. Paul Janbazian • Caspian Seal Sounds and Music, ASCAP
The Basements Were Stars is a Caspian Seal production
1 Apr 2026
Episode 5: Dave Narcizo of Throwing Muses and Lakuna, Part 3
We last left things with Bernard Georges joining Throwing Muses and the recording of their live album, The Curse. In this final installment of my talk with Dave we discuss the recordings of University, Limbo & Throwing Muses’ reunion album ("Uses"), Kristin Hersh’s creative process, album art, Dave’s solo project, Lakuna (which is also the namesake of his and his wife’s design company), Jane’s Addiction, Tricky, Massive Attack, Dave’s future with Throwing Muses, and a whole lot more.
* * *
Throwing Muses:
W: https://www.throwingmuses.com/ (https://www.throwingmuses.com/)
Bandcamp: https://throwingmuses.bandcamp.com/ (https://throwingmuses.bandcamp.com/)
IG: @throwingmusesofficial (https://www.instagram.com/throwingmusesofficial/)
Facebook: @throwingmusesofficial (https://www.facebook.com/throwingmusesofficial/)
Bluesky: @throwingmuses.bsky.social (https://bsky.app/profile/throwingmuses.bsky.social)
Twitter: @throwingmuses (https://x.com/throwingmuses)
≈≈≈
David Narcizo, IG: @davidjnarcizo (https://www.instagram.com/davidjnarcizo)
Lakuna Design, IG: @lakunadesign (https://www.instagram.com/lakunadesign)
W: https://www.lakunadesign.com/ (https://www.lakunadesign.com/)
Lakuna on Apple Music (https://music.apple.com/us/album/castle-of-crime/3031444)
* * *
Theme and outro music by V. Paul Janbazian • Caspian Seal Sounds and Music, ASCAP
Background music by HitsLab • Ievgen Poltavsky, BMI
The Basements Were Stars is a Caspian Seal production
23 Feb 2026
Episode 4: Dave Narcizo of Throwing Muses and Lakuna, Part 2
V. Paul welcomes back Dave Narcizo of Throwing Muses and Lakuna for a part 2 of their conversation. We last left off with Dave talking about the impact Fort Apache and the late Gary Smith had on him. We continue with the changes and adjustments Throwing Muses went through over the years. We also get into Newport’s hardcore scene back in the day, The Pixies, REM, The Real Ramona (my introduction to Throwing Muses), China cymbals, and a whole lot more.
Theme and outro music by V. Paul Janbazian • Caspian Seal Sounds and Music, ASCAP
Background music by HitsLab • Ievgen Poltavsky, BMI
The Basements Were Stars is a Caspian Seal production
9 Feb 2026
Episode 3: Dave Narcizo of Throwing Muses and Lakuna, Part 1
V. Paul welcomes Dave Narcizo (one of his all time favorite drummers) of Throwing Muses and Lakuna to the pod. They get into growing up in Newport, the formation of Throwing Muses, signing to 4AD, the Boston scene, the late great, Gary Smith, and much, much more.
Theme and outro music by V. Paul Janbazian • Caspian Seal Sounds and Music, ASCAP
Background music by HitsLab • Ievgen Poltavsky, BMI
The Basements Were Stars is a Caspian Seal production
11 Jan 2026
Episode 2: Eli Nowak of Break to Broken, No Wake, Doc Flo & Dr. Reaper
V. Paul welcomes Eli Nowak of Break to Broken, No Wake, Doc Flo, and Dr. Reaper. Eli and V. are longtime friends, having come up in the same scenes and creative circles; their connection runs deep through mutual friends and shared musical influences. They discuss his musical family, musical upbringings, high school days, current projects, and a whole lot more.
Follow Eli Nowak and all his music projects: All links in his Link Tree (https://linktr.ee/NoWakeMusic)
Theme music by V. Paul Janbazian • Caspian Seal Sounds and Music, ASCAP
Background music by HitsLab • Ievgen Poltavsky, BMI
Outro Music is No Care feat. Mike Watt by Break To Broken (Engineer Records)
The Basements Were Stars is a Caspian Seal production
27 Dec 2025
Episode 1: Vram and Tarra Thiessen Kherlopian of Gustaf, Tea Eater, MamajoeVramajoe, Sharkmuffin, and The Big Drops
V. Paul welcomes Vram and Tarra Thiessen Kherlopian of Gustaf, Tea Eater, MamajoeVramajoe, Sharkmuffin, and The Big Drops for the first episode of The Basements Were Stars. They discuss their musical upbringings, influential bands, guitar pedals, classic Brooklyn & New Jersey venues, and a whole lot more.
Follow Vram & Tara:
patreon.com/TeaEater (https://www.patreon.com/TeaEater?utm_campaign=creatorshare_fan)
teaeater.bandcamp.com (https://teaeater.bandcamp.com/)
teaeatertarot.substack.com (https://teaeatertarot.substack.com/)
instagram.com/teaeatertv (https://www.instagram.com/teaeatertv/)
instagram.com/mamajoevramajoe (https://www.instagram.com/mamajoevramajoe/)
www.tiktok.com/@mamajoevramaj0e (https://www.tiktok.com/@mamajoevramaj0e)
www.twitch.tv/mamajoevramajoe (https://www.twitch.tv/mamajoevramajoe)
instagram.com/gustaf_nyc (https://www.instagram.com/gustaf_nyc/)
Theme & Outro music by V. Paul Janbazian • Caspian Seal Sounds and Music, ASCAP
Background music by HitsLab • Ievgen Poltavsky, BMI
The Basements Were Stars is a Caspian Seal production
18 Sept 2025
Introduction
Just a brief overview of the podcast and also a little about myself. I discuss potential future episodes and in general what to expect from the show. The title, The Basements Were Stars is a play off Sunny Day Real Estate's The Blankets Were Stairs. Because for many of us musicians the basement is where it all starts. I'm still looking for a co-host or even just a regular(s) to co-pilot this thing from time to time. Thanks for stopping by.
Intro music by V. Paul Janbazian • Caspian Seal Sounds and Music, ASCAP
Background music by HitsLab • Ievgen Poltavsky, BMI
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
5 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
2 ratings
Contact The Basements Were Stars
Guest appearances
Books guests
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