banner
LightNews
stephentrageser615.bsky.social
Stephen Trageser
@stephentrageser615.bsky.social
290 followers 170 following 470 posts
music editor, Nashville Scene; regular, Gyro Spot; some call him "Goose"; probably thinking about Kate Bush ---- "I was put on Earth to do a certain number of things. Right now, I am so far behind I will never die."
Posts Media Videos Starter Packs
Reposted by Stephen Trageser
rachelcholst.bsky.social
Rachel Cholst @rachelcholst.bsky.social · 1d
Excellent thoughts on the impossibility of separating the art from the artist
countryuniverse.net
Country Universe @countryuniverse.net · Aug 31
Have had this one cooking for several weeks now: www.countryuniverse.net/2025/08/31/a...
A Separate Peace
Considerations on separating the art from the artist in 2025.
www.countryuniverse.net
1 6
stephentrageser615.bsky.social
Stephen Trageser @stephentrageser615.bsky.social · 2d
And there's so much more. I can't thank my coworkers and our contributing writers enough for all the work they put in to this issue (and the ones we do every other week of the year).
stephentrageser615.bsky.social
Stephen Trageser @stephentrageser615.bsky.social · 2d
Hayley Williams is a worldwide star, but puts a heap of effort into supporting important stuff at home. We're so lucky to have some rich resources in independent media, and WNXP is vital in that ecosystem.
Best Surprise Single Drop
It’s been a tough year for public media amid federal funding cuts, and Nashville Public Radio music-discovery station and indie radio darling WNXP stood at risk. The loss of Music
www.nashvillescene.com
1
stephentrageser615.bsky.social
Stephen Trageser @stephentrageser615.bsky.social · 2d
Storytelling is a huge part of great music, and Gee Slab stands tall in a town full of fantastic storytellers.
Best Rapper
Gee Slab is deeply involved in a lot of collaborative work — see: everything the Six One Trïbe collective is up to, including the second run of their 615 Day
www.nashvillescene.com
1
stephentrageser615.bsky.social
Stephen Trageser @stephentrageser615.bsky.social · 2d
Jo Schornikow's new one told me something new about an instrument I've always been fascinated by. Even setting that aside, it's a beautiful and contemplative listen.
Best Multidisciplinary EP
Jo Schornikow might be known for the atmospheric indie folk she makes as the keyboardist in Phosphorescent, but her 2025 solo EP Quiet Excerpts is more like the dreamy drone
www.nashvillescene.com
1
stephentrageser615.bsky.social
Stephen Trageser @stephentrageser615.bsky.social · 2d
What does Charly Ortiz-Martinez NOT do? That's the easier list to make, honestly.
Best Indie Hustle
James Brown’s death left the title of Hardest Working Man in Show Business vacant, but Charly Ortiz-Martínez has come for the title belt. He not only kept the backbeat for
www.nashvillescene.com
1
stephentrageser615.bsky.social
Stephen Trageser @stephentrageser615.bsky.social · 2d
Daisha McBride's single is fantastic and reminds me of one of the coolest things I ever saw growing up. Even if kids didn't have access to any kind of instrument, let alone an MPC, they were gonna figure out how to make beats to practice freestyling over.
Best Hip-Hop Single
All of Daisha McBride’s July EP So Much for Summer deserves a shoutout for being cohesive in spite of its tonal and stylistic variety, as well as for McBride’s incisive
www.nashvillescene.com
1 1
stephentrageser615.bsky.social
Stephen Trageser @stephentrageser615.bsky.social · 2d
William Tyler has been out here busting it for a long time. His music is something I personally love a lot but even if it's not your thing, he's one of many who keep feeding positive things back into the ecosystem.
Best Solo Artist
William Tyler has been a familiar presence in Nashville music since his high school rock band Lifeboy made waves around town in the late ’90s. In the wake of tenures
www.nashvillescene.com
1 1
stephentrageser615.bsky.social
Stephen Trageser @stephentrageser615.bsky.social · 2d
Just gonna thread a couple things that really hit home for me in Music. 'Rhinestone Revolution' rips, full stop.
Best Album
The debut full-length from the duo of twin brothers and country singer-songwriters Brandon and Derek Campbell has been more than a decade in the making. Both the work and wait
www.nashvillescene.com
1
stephentrageser615.bsky.social
Stephen Trageser @stephentrageser615.bsky.social · 2d
BON saison! I'm naturally partial to the music section and our regular contributors there, but there's so much deserving celebration across the board.
nashvillescene.com
Nashville Scene @nashvillescene.com · 2d
Best of Nashville 2025 has landed! Read all the writers' choices and readers' poll results in the Scene's massive 37th annual #BON25 issue. Illustrations by Kat Conde.
Best of Nashville 2025
www.nashvillescene.com
1 1 3
stephentrageser615.bsky.social
Stephen Trageser @stephentrageser615.bsky.social · 2d
One of those things that can be easy to miss because it happened later in the day, but nonetheless important:
nashvillescene.com
Nashville Scene @nashvillescene.com · 2d
Vanderbilt students, faculty and professors marched on Wednesday as Chancellor Diermeier mulls funding deal with Trump administration.
Campus Crowd Demands Vanderbilt Reject Trump Deal
Students, faculty and professors marched on Wednesday as Chancellor Diermeier mulls funding deal with Trump administration
www.nashvillescene.com
Reposted by Stephen Trageser
marissarmoss.bsky.social
Marissa R. Moss @marissarmoss.bsky.social · 4d
asked Kelsey Waldon to answer our DRTI questionnaire and she did not dissapoint!
Kelsey Waldon Answers the DRTI Proust-ish Questionnaire
For as long as I have been living in Nashville, Kelsey Waldon has been making her own kind of country music. I remember the first time I heard that voice, the voice John Prine said he’d listen to sing...
www.dontrocktheinbox.com
2 7 14
stephentrageser615.bsky.social
Stephen Trageser @stephentrageser615.bsky.social · 5d
There is a lot of absolute garbage in the world and it's incredibly hard to be an artist. But people are still out here busting their asses to put on a culturally engaged Happening-type affair of a show. And people are getting it!
stephentrageser615.bsky.social
Stephen Trageser @stephentrageser615.bsky.social · 5d
I like Snooper a lot. Even if I didn't enjoy the music — a friend described them p accurately as "a Devo LP played at 78 rpm" — I would love that they exist.
1
stephentrageser615.bsky.social
Stephen Trageser @stephentrageser615.bsky.social · 5d
Major thanks to P.J. and Angelina for catching the release party for the latest from Nashville art-punks Snooper! It's a muscular DIY whirlwind.
Snooper Goes ‘Worldwide’ at Eastside Bowl
From our live-review column The Spin: Pressure Heaven and massie99 joined in the art-punk aces’ album release celebration.
www.nashvillescene.com
1 2
stephentrageser615.bsky.social
Stephen Trageser @stephentrageser615.bsky.social · 7d
Sometimes when it sounds like I am sighing I was focused on something and simply forgot to breathe deeply for a minute there 😂
stephentrageser615.bsky.social
Stephen Trageser @stephentrageser615.bsky.social · 8d
Big thanks to Noah, who happens to be our editorial intern, for catching up with Isaac Brock from Modest Mouse. Good talk, also great to see student journos turning out strong work.
Modest Mouse’s Isaac Brock: The Cream Q&A
Catching up with the acclaimed rock frontman ahead of the band’s show at The Pinnacle.
www.nashvillescene.com
stephentrageser615.bsky.social
Stephen Trageser @stephentrageser615.bsky.social · 8d
Whether one gives a proverbial shit about any of the releases or not, the indie stores are here every day. We've got a lot of them! Very cool.
stephentrageser615.bsky.social
Stephen Trageser @stephentrageser615.bsky.social · 8d
Barely feeling like fall, but RSD Black Friday is a-comin', with special releases from Cage the Elephant, Kesha, GloRilla, Chappell Roan and a bunch more.
Cage the Elephant, More Announce RSD Black Friday Titles
The annual list of special releases also includes titles from Kesha, Marcus King, GloRilla and many others.
www.nashvillescene.com
1 1
stephentrageser615.bsky.social
Stephen Trageser @stephentrageser615.bsky.social · 9d
You won't be surprised that Trump trade policy is having the exact effect that experts have been telling us it would have. (👋 @kairyssdal.bsky.social, @crampell.bsky.social et al)
stephentrageser615.bsky.social
Stephen Trageser @stephentrageser615.bsky.social · 9d
It's yet another packed issue! Massive thanks to JP Olsen (and everyone who spoke with him) for this in-depth look at where tariffs are hitting the Nashville independent music world.
Nashville’s Independent Music Economy Takes Tariff Hits
Talking with gear makers, gear sellers and indie musicians about the impact of trade policy under Trump 2.0.
www.nashvillescene.com
1 2 2
stephentrageser615.bsky.social
Stephen Trageser @stephentrageser615.bsky.social · 9d
Greatly appreciate Bobbie talking with Carter Faith, who's having a hell of a debut year.
Carter Faith Creates a Country Dreamworld in ‘Cherry Valley’
The rising star discusses her debut LP, writing with Billy Bob Thornton and more.
www.nashvillescene.com
2 5
stephentrageser615.bsky.social
Stephen Trageser @stephentrageser615.bsky.social · 9d
Huge thanks to Margaret for the deep dive on one of Music City's biggest cultural institutions. Thoughts from the show's exec producer, key critical perspective from Holly G and lots more.
nashvillescene.com
Nashville Scene @nashvillescene.com · 9d
This week’s cover story from contributor Margaret Littman: After a century, the ‘Grand Ole Opry’ is Nashville’s most enduring icon — and faces the challenge of remaining relevant into its next century.
The 'Grand Ole Opry' Remains Nashville’s Most Enduring Icon
The Music City institution celebrates a century of ballads and sing-alongs
www.nashvillescene.com
2
stephentrageser615.bsky.social
Stephen Trageser @stephentrageser615.bsky.social · 9d
New ambient solo work from Nashville Ambient Ensemble's Michael Hix is great! High and lonesome, in a different way.
Another Look: 'Wonderful Aspiration of the Source'
Check out the new solo guitar album from Nashville Ambient Ensemble's Michael Hix.
www.nashvillescene.com
stephentrageser615.bsky.social
Stephen Trageser @stephentrageser615.bsky.social · 10d
Three nights of shows to help out a longtime local musician who needs a hand:
Friends Set Liverpalooza Benefit for John Delworth
Emma Swift and Robyn Hitchcock, Paul Burch, Chuck Mead, Fats Kaplin and many more to play during three-show run at The 5 Spot.
www.nashvillescene.com