Welcome to "loves music," a Podcast with Julian Jones!

Episodes

Aug. 28, 2025

How IMVNI Blends Jazz, Rock & Soul into a Healing Soundscape

Ep.021: There’s no one like IMVNI. Born on “Planet X” and raised in Louisiana, her music folds jazz, R&B, rock, and soul into a sonic experience that’s both otherworldly and deeply rooted. In this conversation, we break down ...

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Aug. 21, 2025

The Art of Slow Growth and Earnest Music with RIMENY

Ep.020: What happens when a film composer decides to stop playing it cool and finally puts his own name, and heart, into the music? In this episode, I talk with RIMENY, the alt-pop project of Zak Engel, who’s flipping the scr...

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Aug. 14, 2025

Building a Podcast Brand and Finding Your Voice with Quia Morgan-Hill

Quia Morgan-Hill knows how to make a brand stand out in a crowded media space, and she’s been doing it for over a decade. From her start in radio to building a full-service multimedia company, Quia has mastered the art of ble...

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Aug. 7, 2025

The Business of Bars: Publishing, Branding & the Power of Consistency…

This one’s bigger than bars. In this episode, I reconnect with Philly artist, writer, and producer Scholito, a true force in the independent music world. We talk about everything from publishing deals to post-traumatic growth...

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July 31, 2025

How Wilhelm Duke Built a Genre-Defying Rap Career Without Industry Ba…

Wilhelm Duke has bars, bounce, and a catalog deeper than you might expect. In this episode, I catch up with the Swedish American rapper who’s been carving his sound from the streets of Chicago to viral moments on Facebook. We...

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July 24, 2025

Plans Change, So Make a Band: Adrienne Swiatocha’s Musical Rebirth

Adrienne Swiatocha didn’t grow up playing in bands or chasing music dreams from the jump. She built a career, had a family, and then picked up a guitar… and thank God she did. In this episode, we talk about what it’s like to ...

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July 17, 2025

Making Music in the Age of Algorithms, with Lina Cooper

From the first time I heard Lina Cooper, I knew she wasn’t just writing songs; she was writing scenes. The kind that feel like your life, but funnier, messier, louder, and somehow still tender as hell. In this episode, I catc...

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July 10, 2025

What It Takes to Make "Timeless" Music, with Rob Tait

There are some artists who just keep getting better, and Rob Tait is one of them. In this episode, we dive into the making of At the End of the World , his gorgeously raw solo album, and his collaborative journey with the sou...

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July 3, 2025

Going Viral with Integrity: Mike Nappi (of NappiMusic) on Philly, Pas…

In this episode, I catch up with Philly artist and internet swiss-army knife Mike Nappi: someone who’s equal parts musician, comedian, and marketing mind. From writing soul-sample bangers to rapping with Logan Paul and droppi...

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June 26, 2025

How to Build an Artist Brand Without Losing Yourself, with Kirsten Iz…

Kirsten Izer isn’t trying to find her sound; she’s already living in it. Her debut EP The Perfect Hire is a genre-blurring, emotionally precise collection that pulls just as much from ambient indie pop as it does from confess...

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June 19, 2025

The Joy and Struggle of Indie Music: Rebecca McCartney Gets Real Abou…

Some artists write music. Rebecca McCartney channels it. Her voice is warm, her lyrics cut deep, and her songs feel like pages from the journal you’ve been afraid to open. In this episode, we dive into how she turned a childh...

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June 12, 2025

From Funk Legend to Fatherhood: James Jones on Breakwater, Balance, a…

In this special Father’s Day edition of “loves music,” I sit down with my dad—James Jones, drummer of the legendary Philly funk band Breakwater—for a conversation that’s part history lesson, part love letter to music, and par...

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June 5, 2025

How to Build a Brand That Moves with Your Music, with Lauren Tafoya (…

This conversation opens the door to a side of music we don’t often talk about: the business beneath the art. Lauren Tafoya, also known as Laquela, has created a powerful framework for helping artists turn their message into s...

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May 29, 2025

Why You Don’t Need a Blueprint to Be a Musician Today, with Tony Oso

In this episode, I get into it with Brooklyn-based artist Tony Oso; someone who’s built his music career from the ground up without chasing trends or compromising his sound. From working in music tech by day to playing late-n...

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May 22, 2025

Building a Purpose-Driven Media Platform as a One-Woman Show with Sha…

Shameika Rhymes wears many hats, but every one of them comes with heart. In this episode, I sit down with the award-winning journalist, producer, and creator behind Check the Rhymes TV , Solebration , and the Ladies Edition p...

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May 15, 2025

How Theo Smith Built a Platform With Nothing But a Phone and a Dream

In this episode, I sit down with Theo Smith, the creative force behind the viral street interview series Please Don’t Irk Me . We talk about everything from growing up in a musical family and finding his voice in church, to b...

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May 8, 2025

Creating from the Dark: Art, Identity, and Embracing Your Own Path wi…

In this episode, I sit down with Jorge Valentine, an indie alt-rock artist who’s reshaping his sound—and his story—through emotional honesty and creative evolution. We talk about his move from Mexico to Milwaukee, how music h...

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May 1, 2025

Finding Your Voice Again: Creativity, Mental Health, and Rebuilding C…

In this episode, I sit down with Katlyn Cook, a creator whose journey through music, mental health, and entrepreneurship reveals the power of starting over. We talk about how losing—and reclaiming—her voice shaped her adult l...

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April 24, 2025

Building an Authentic Music Career as an Independent Artist with Raqu…

In this episode, I sit down with Raquel Liane, a powerhouse R&B singer-songwriter whose journey from musical theater to soulful self-expression is as compelling as her voice. We talk about how growing up in a military family ...

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April 24, 2025

“If It’s in You, Let It Out”: Finding Your Sound with Dareen

In this episode, I sit down with singer-songwriter Dareen, an emerging R&B and pop artist known for her moody, ethereal sound and deeply emotional songwriting. Born in Gambia with Polish and Lebanese roots, and currently base...

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April 24, 2025

How to Create Fearlessly and Write Every Day: Inside the Mind of M11S…

In the very first episode of the “loves music” podcast, I sat down with Philadelphia-based artist M11SON – singer, songwriter, and co-founder of the Sacred artist collective — for a raw, thoughtful, and at times hilarious con...

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