GUEST LIST: Emma Callahan
Cibo Matto, Soapkills, Liam Benzvi, Duendita, SahBabii, Ice Spice, NewJeans
This week’s guest list is from Emma Callahan! I’m honored!
I came to know Emma from my public access show, The Special Without Brett Davis, which started ten years ago this month. Emma was just a “kiddo” but had already been recognized for her writing by BJ Novak of all people. She joined the show with friend Beatrice and they helped write and Emma popped in on a few episodes. Emma was, frankly, underutilized!
When The John Gentle Show started, I had Emma in mind as Eva, the co-host, a student producer that had to deal with the ex-poetry professor’s dark impulses and inappropriate prose. Eva is the true star of the show!
Emma has become a polymath since The Special days, juggling writing, producing, editing, acting, comedy-ing and so much more. Emma’s directed and edited videos for Earth Dad, and Country Girl
Emma can also be seen on The Jordan Show as the show’s director and is also actually the show’s director. Also Emma beautifully directed this earworm, Rosalia’s Tooth Gem Girl about trying to book Rosalia’s tooth gem girl on the show:
You should get on the Emma bandwagon if you aren’t already and you can start by following on the ‘gram and if you’re in NYC, seeing Emma’s play First Date on April 22nd at The Brick.
Emma Callahan’s Picks:
I tried to organize these in order of getting rowdy, or like getting up in the morning. None of them are that rowdy, but we have a little fun at the end.
Cibo Matto “Aguas De Marco”
Cibo Matto is awesome and their album Stereo Type A has one of the best album covers ever:
I’ve been obsessed with this song and every cover of it since seeing The Worst Person in the World when it came out, so Aguas de Marco generally on repeat. Cibo Matto is also one of the bands to play a song in Buffy The Vampire Slayer in the weird club they have in Sunnydale, and Sean Lennon was in the band, you can see him in the back of the scene as Buffy grinds on Xander:
Brett’s note: I love this song (the original is so damn cute) and Cibo Matto in general and The Worst Person in The World and Buffy a little
Soapkills “Herzan”
I found about Soapkills through the Joana Hadjithomas and Khalil Joreige movie A Perfect Day, which they did the soundtrack for. The movie is this guy’s aimless wander in Beirut looking for his girlfriend, while his mom looks for his missing dad.
Soapkills music has an atmospheric wander. I was like who is this… Also fabulous name, obviously. Was stalking them on Wikipedia and they say this about their name in the context of post-Lebanese civil war: “We thought that at the time, in the context of Beirut being ... you know, reborn, and all the war being wiped clean, we thought, wow, it's shiny and it's awful and it's soap kills.”
Brett’s note: this is my kinda shit
Liam Benzvi “2N4”
This song rocks and is probably one of my favorite songs that came out this year off one of my favorite projects this year. Every song is like, a little silly, a little beautiful, a little haunting, a little pop fun, oh yeah, awesome. The whole album is worth listening to. Liam is the coolest. Voice of an angel. So good live!
duendita “born with power”
Duendita is a project by Candace Camacho that just is consistently some of the most beautiful stuff you’ve ever heard. They have a new band line up that’s soooo stunning beautiful lovely and worth seeing live if you ever get the chance to. This song makes me feel peaceful, loved, cared for, powerful. And it’ll make you dance. What’s better than this! Perfect for the new year.
SahBabii “All The Way”
I was listening to the new SahBabii album all of this Christmas season. Maybe weird Christmas music. Maybe I was horny. It came out in November and I completely missed it, but horny god strikes again. All of the songs, but especially this one have an inspirational feel and production to them… more new year energy.
Ice Spice “No Clarity”
This song is literally an on repeat for me. I’ve been trying to go to the gym and it’s so hard to find motivation without songs that make me feel like, “Oh yeah.” The Zedd sample is soooo funny, and Ice Spice is so wronged. Drill Zedd 2025. Kidding. But she’s just being a girlie from the Bronx. Pre-orange hair Ice. She is not beating the percs allegations here however. If our love is insanity… why are you my clarity. ♪
Brett’s note: miss dancing-by-the-drink cooler Ice Spice
NewJeans “ETA”
This is another gym song…. Embarrassing. I was so late to New Jeans. But also we talked about lot about New Jeans in LA when I was visiting and how Erika de Casier wrote a lot of their EP! This song is not written by de Casier, but just by some KPOP gods. It’s really good to bike to, when you’re in a rush. This is probably easily my top played song of 2024, from just the past 3 months. Been a weird 3 months to be honest.
Brett’s note: so glad to spread the word about this obscure band!