Weeds, Prison, and the Good Time Gang

Description: Gwendolyn Sanford is most famous as a composer for TV shows Weeds and Orange Is the New Black, but she got her start as a quirky children’s singer. In fact, it was because of her children’s band that she and her writing partner Brandon Jay scored the audition for Weeds in the first place. On this episode, we talk about how to craft suitable music for show characters, play some of Gwendolyn’s favorite TV cues, and learn more about her hilarious, unbelievably “L.A.” tale of spontaneity, opportunity, and good old fashioned grit.

Note to Our Listeners: The Underscore team is currently undergoing transition, as we shift our focus to other exciting projects within the musical-digital realm. Thus, the Underscore podcast is now on indefinite hiatus, at least in its current incarnation. We are so grateful to the astounding guests and loyal listeners who’ve made our ears dance and brains light up episode after episode. If you’ve enjoyed the podcast, please continue to listen, revisit, and share it with friends, as the unique stories and artists featured on the show deserve to be celebrated! Last but not least, we hope you stay in touch with Chrysanthe, Thomas, and the rest of the Underscore team; we have many more things coming soon...

Playlist: Here is a Spotify playlist with hand-picked selections from Chrysanthe, Thomas, and Gwendolyn Sanford.

Music Featured in Interview

“Free to Be...You and Me” by Marlo Thomas (iTunes / Spotify)
“Freedom of the Heart (Ooodily, Ooodily)” by Gwendolyn and the Good Time Gang (iTunes / Spotify)
“Drain” by Gwendolyn Sanford (CD Baby)
“Selfish Shellfish” by Gwendolyn and the Good (iTunes / Spotify)
“Somebody Else’s Man” by Gwendolyn (iTunes / Spotify)
“Huskaroo TV Spot” (from Weeds) by Brandon Jay & Gwendolyn Sanford (iTunes / Spotify)
“Toy Piano or Toy Poodle” (Weeds cue) by Brandon Jay & Gwendolyn Sanford
“Skimming Tree Tops” (Weeds cue) by Gwendolyn Sanford & Brandon Jay
“Walk the Walk” (Orange Is the New Black cue) by Gwendolyn Sanford & Brandon Jay
“Walk the Walk by Gwendolyn Sanford & Brandon Jay
“Bad Man” by Gwendolyn Sanford (Music video on YouTube)
“Fun with Cigarettes” (from Orange Is the New Black) by Gwendolyn Sanford & Brandon Jay (iTunes / Spotify)

Lightning Round:

What genre is your music? Folklore
Performance ritual? Warm up my voice and play her songs without singing them.
A modern/technological tool that’s extremely helpful to your practice? Metronome
A failure that turned out for the best? Not getting signed with the Good Time Gang and not getting the TV show for kids.
Something besides music that you’re obsessed with right now? Being a good mom. (Gwendolyn has two daughters, but only one of them is a Good Time Gang fan.)
A piece of art that changed your life? Performing The Insanity of Mary Girard (by Lanie Robertson) at age 12

Find Gwendolyn Sanford online:

Personal website / Gwendolyn and the Good Time Gang

 

Something Old: “Piano Concerto No. 5 - Emperor” by Ludwig van Beethoven (iTunes / Spotify)

Something New: “Birdsong” by Regina Spektor (iTunes / Spotify)

Something Borrowed: “my lips from speaking: III.” by Julia Wolfe, performed by Lisa Moore (iTunes / Spotify)

Something Blue: “The Blue Studio” piano trio by Stephen Hartke (Live performance on YouTube)

Credits:

 

Hosts: Chrysanthe Tan and Thomas Kotcheff
Guest: Dorian Wood
Script: Chrysanthe Tan
Recording engineer: Mark Hatwan
Produced by: Chrysanthe Tan
Editing: Mark Hatwan
Underscore is an extension of the Classical KUSC family
Podcast theme: "Playground Day" by Chrysanthe Tan (iTunes / Spotify)

 

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Thomas is @thomaskotcheff on Twitter and Instagram.

Chrysanthe is @chrysanthetan on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

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