Heavy Rotation Story Archives - West Virginia Public Broadcasting

WVPB's Joni Deutsch, Fil Bo Riva Featured on NPR's Heavy Rotation

Every month, NPR asks 10 public-radio music curators to share the songs they’re loving right now.

This early-winter mix doesn’t disappoint. West Virginia Public Broadcasting’s Joni Deutsch (host of A Change of Tune and producer/guest host of NPR’s Mountain Stage) shared her favorite song with NPR’s Weekend Edition.

Listen to her recap of the music below. Make sure to keep up with her indie/alternative program “A Change of Tune” to discover even more emerging music from the Mountain State and beyond.

Joni's Pick: Fil Bo Riva, 'Like Eye Did' from If You're Right, It's Alright Fil Bo Riva is not your typical 24-year-old singer-songwriter. Born in Rome and schooled by monks in Dublin, Riva began his career in music relatively recently as a busker in Berlin. He's got a raw, soulful voice that easily draws comparisons to Benjamin Clementine, George Ezra or Tom Waits. "Like Eye Did," the first song from Riva's debut EP, If You're Right, It's Alright, is an explosive track written in response to a relationship gone sour. Within seconds, you can hear Riva's soul tearing its way out through his voice as he recounts the story of that unrequited love, a guttural lament fueled by the sort of rejection and introspection we've all experienced. And when the chorus picks up, you begin to hear almost-comical bubble pops in the background, as if love's fragile, idyllic dream is sure to pop without notice, without resolve. Between his captivating voice and dynamic production, Riva is sure to keep us coming back for more.

John Mark Nelson Is Going Places

Heed Larry Groce’s words, folks: John Mark Nelson is going places.

I had a hunch when I picked up Nelson’s new full-length I’m Not Afraid, and I had stronger feelings when I realized I’d unconsciously mapped out dance chore to his single “Dream Last Night,” but I had final confirmation of his inevitable fame when I saw him bring a tent of people to their feet on the shores of Lake Superior.

So when the opportunity came to talk new music with NPR’s Heavy Rotation and Morning Edition, I knew exactly what to do.

Check out my recap of John Mark Nelson’s infectious “Dream Last Night” below, and make sure to tune in to West Virginia Public Broadcasting (this Saturday at 8pm EST and next Friday at 8pm EST) to hear the Minnesota singer-songwriter’s live performance on Mountain Stage, recorded this September at the North House Folk School in Grand Marais, Minnesota.

When a bearded folk crooner kicks off a song with a riff that calls to mind both the bounciness of Katy Perry's "Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)" and the seasoned Memphis licks of Steve Cropper, you know you're in for a treat. Such is the case with "Dream Last Night," a new song by Minneapolis singer-songwriter John Mark Nelson. After cranking out two down-to-earth folk records in his bedroom and taking to Kickstarter to fund a third (all before turning 21), Nelson booked five days of studio time and emerged with I'm Not Afraid, the mesmerizing flagship release for Trampled By Turtles frontman Dave Simonett's GNDWIRE Records. It's a testament to Nelson's craftsmanship as a songwriter and skills as a performer that "Dream Last Night" works so well live, too, with his able road band bringing the tune's ethereal guitar grooves and spooky harmony vocals into sharp focus.

West Virginia Indie Rockers Ona, 'A Change of Tune' Featured on NPR's Heavy Rotation

There’s no place like public radio when it comes to discovering new and emerging music. And there’s no better time than today to be a part of West Virginia’s budding music scene.

That’s why I was so excited to be a part of NPR’s Heavy Rotation to talk about my love for Ona, a Huntington band that has been on my radar for a while but will be on the world’s radar soon enough.

Check out my recap of the band’s first single, and make sure to keep up with my indie/alternative program “A Change of Tune” to hear more from Ona’s full-length debut:

While we were focusing on the biggest and brightest releases out of London, New York and Los Angeles, a little ol' band from little ol' Huntington, W.Va. has been able to craft a debut single that knocks all else out of the water. All Songs Considered fans recognized this, picking Ona's single "Ides of July" as one of their favorite musical discoveries of 2015 (so far) — and for good reason. It's an expansive piece from the five-piece band, an indie-rock/alt-folk symphony that seamlessly captures a sense of wanderlust. The band's self-proclaimed "What Would Neil Young Do?" work ethic certainly lays the foundation for the song's catchiness. So does brilliant production by American Minor guitarist turned West Virginia music magician Bud Carroll on this track from Ona's upcoming debut album, American Fiction. I have no doubt that the band will have even more brilliant rock orchestrations for our wanting ears.