The Hang! As Seen On Almost Famous Magazine!

Nordista Freeze interview, indie pop artist tour, DIY musician story—this episode dives deep into the relentless grind of one of indie music’s most driven performers. In this episode of The Hang!, Scott Saldinger sits down with Nordista Freeze to explore what it really takes to build a music career from the ground up.
This interview explores Nordista’s journey from a cappella looping experiments to playing 500+ live shows, building community-driven events like Space Prom, and attempting an ambitious 50 shows in 50 states tour—all fueled by DIY hustle and passion.
From Nashville roots to nationwide ambitions, Nordista shares how independent artists survive, create, and connect in today’s music landscape.
🎧 What You’ll Learn:How Nordista Freeze built a career through relentless touringThe reality of DIY music and independent artistryWhy physical music (vinyl) still matters in a streaming worldHow to stay creative without burning out
If you care about indie music, artist hustle, or the future of touring—this episode delivers raw insight and inspiration.
👉 Subscribe for more artist interviews on The Hang!👉 Support Nordista Freeze—links below
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Chapters:00:00 Intro – Meet Nordista Freeze01:15 Nordista Freeze: Indie Pop Road Warrior02:35 Origin Story – How Music Found Him04:16 Early DIY Days & First Shows05:25 Why Indie Pop & Psych Pop?06:31 Musical Influences (Beach Boys → Zappa)08:15 50 Shows in 50 States – The Plan10:17 Breaking Records & Tour Strategy10:32 Vinyl Comeback & Free Album Strategy12:34 Physical vs Streaming Music Debate15:21 Songs You Should Hear First18:34 When Is a Song “Done”?21:53 Letting Go of Music Creatively24:06 Staying Creative as an Artist26:27 Touring vs Creating – The Struggle28:40 The Story Behind Space Prom31:42 Building Community Through Music32:19 Influences & Life on the Road35:10 Dream Collaboration Artists38:09 Artists He’s Listening To Now39:30 Tour Logistics & Survival Plan 😅40:46 Final Thoughts + Where to Follow

In this episode of The Hang!, host Scott Saldinger sits down with Oakland-based comedian Jenny Roberts to explore the raw, unfiltered journey behind her fearless approach to stand-up comedy.
Jenny shares how her creative roots in singing, debate, and visual arts ultimately led her to the stage—where instant feedback and vulnerability became her greatest teachers. From bombing in front of crowds to headlining iconic venues like Cobb’s Comedy Club and Yoshi’s, her rise is powered by bold self-belief and unapologetic authenticity.
The conversation dives deep into how personal experiences shape her material, including turning grief, motherhood, and societal pressures into powerful, thought-provoking comedy. Jenny opens up about using humor as a tool for healing and why tackling difficult topics—like miscarriage and identity—matters more than ever.
Scott and Jenny also explore the realities of modern content creation, dealing with online criticism, and the freedom that comes from letting go of fear and external validation. With sharp wit and no shortage of honesty, Jenny reveals what it really takes to find your voice and own it.
If you’re curious about the intersection of comedy, creativity, and personal truth, this episode delivers insight, laughter, and perspective you won’t forget.
#StandUpComedy #comedypodcast #WomenInComedy #comedylife #FearlessComedy
00:00 – Intro to comedian Jenny Roberts01:45 – Early creative roots: singing, debate & performance04:30 – Why comedy? Facing rejection head-on07:00 – Finding her comedic voice and style09:30 – Using pain and personal experience in comedy13:30 – Humor, healing & difficult conversations18:30 – Fear, freedom & not caring what people think23:00 – Comedy vs real life: relationships & identity28:45 – Breakthrough moment: Yoshi’s headlining story32:00 – Handling trolls, content & online criticism45:00 – Dream collaboration & closing thoughts
The Hang! Podcast – Presented by Almost Famous Magazine
https://www.almostfamousmagazine.com

Craig Fort, frontman of Lightning Stills, joins The Hang! to share a raw and deeply personal journey from the chaos of punk rock to the honesty of outlaw country. What began as a DIY punk upbringing—house shows, skate videos, and underground scenes—evolved into something far more vulnerable and reflective after life-changing moments, including sobriety and fatherhood.
In this conversation, Craig breaks down how his early influences—from classic rock to hardcore—shaped his identity as an artist, and how reconnecting with country music became both a creative outlet and a form of healing. Lightning Stills wasn’t originally meant to be a full band, but through collaboration and community, it transformed into something bigger than a solo project.
Craig opens up about the emotional weight behind songs like “My Mama Wants a Love Song” and “Closed Down the Bar,” revealing how personal experiences, humor, and pain all collide in his songwriting. He also reflects on the realities of being an independent musician today—balancing family, work, and creative ambition in a world where visibility often comes at a cost.
This episode is about more than music. It’s about resilience, reinvention, and finding your voice when it matters most.
#CraigFort #LightningStills #outlawcountry #musicinterview 
Chapters:00:00 Welcome to The Hang!01:05 Craig Fort’s Musical Origin Story05:40 DIY Punk Scene & Omaha House Shows07:20 From Hardcore Punk to Outlaw Country12:20 Learning Vulnerability as a Frontman14:50 Inside the Lightning Stills Album18:00 Song Breakdown: “My Mama Wants a Love Song”19:20 Sobriety, Fatherhood & Life Turning Point23:10 The Reality of Being an Indie Musician Today30:30 Mental Health, Creativity & Staying Grounded37:50 Dream Collaboration: Todd Rundgren41:30 Artists Craig Is Listening To Right Now43:50 Punk vs Country: Why Not Both?
The Hang! Podcast – Presented by Almost Famous Magazine
https://www.almostfamousmagazine.com

On this episode of The Hang!, Scott Saldinger sits down with Emily Petersmark, lead singer and co-founder of The Crane Wives, to explore the band’s evolution from local Grand Rapids beginnings to becoming a globally recognized indie rock force.
Emily shares how her early musical foundation—learning piano by ear through the Suzuki Method—shaped her songwriting instincts and creative voice. She reflects on the band’s humble origins, including performing in a Chinese restaurant while working service jobs, and how those early struggles fueled both their sound and storytelling.
The conversation dives into the band’s transition from a folk duo into a full-band indie rock act, highlighting how key members expanded their sonic identity and opened new opportunities. Emily also discusses the realities of being a modern independent artist—balancing creativity with content demands—and why staying authentic matters more than chasing algorithms.From viral growth during the pandemic to building a fiercely loyal fanbase, this episode reveals how The Crane Wives built a sustainable career on passion, collaboration, and community.
If you’re an indie music fan, songwriter, or creative navigating today’s landscape, this is a conversation you don’t want to miss.
 
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Las Vegas pop-punk trio Crimson Riot joins host Scott Saldinger on The Hang! to talk about their musical roots, the evolution of their band, and why the Las Vegas punk scene is one of the most exciting underground communities in music right now.
Fronted by powerhouse vocalist and guitarist Roxy Gunn, alongside bassist Chris Reject and drummer Ryan J, the band shares the story of how Crimson Riot grew from the early Roxy Gunn Project into a high-energy trio built on DIY spirit, collaboration, and community. The conversation explores their songwriting process, the emotional inspiration behind songs like “Hurt” and “Gatekeeper,” and how the band crafts anthemic pop-punk built for both the stage and the underground scene.
Roxy also reflects on the growing wave of femme-fronted punk bands, discussing how the genre is becoming more inclusive and supportive of diverse voices. The band talks about the power of local scenes, why supporting independent artists matters more than ever, and how Las Vegas venues and musicians are creating a thriving ecosystem outside the Strip.The episode also dives into legendary Punk Rock Bowling memories, their upcoming community-driven event Riot on Fremont, and the artists who inspire them today.
If you love pop-punk, underground music scenes, DIY touring stories, and honest conversations about making music, this episode offers a candid look at how a band builds something meaningful from the ground up.
Listen, discover new music, and support independent artists.
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#CrimsonRiot #lasvegasmusic #punkscene #diymusic #thehangpodcast

In this episode of The Hang, host Scott Saldinger sits down with Toronto-based electro-rock duo ROMES—brothers Jacob and Nicolas Bitove—to unpack how they built a global audience completely on their own terms.
From recording in a basement studio to selling out their first-ever European headline tour, ROMES share how experimentation, risk-taking, and raw creativity fueled their debut album Sonic Trash. Without a traditional label push, the duo leaned into unconventional sound design, blending punk energy with electronic textures to create something entirely their own.
The conversation dives into their early influences, growing up surrounded by vinyl and mixtapes, and how trial-and-error experimentation led to their signature “punktronic” sound. They also reveal how posting studio experiments online sparked viral momentum—turning casual viewers into ticket-buying fans.
ROMES open up about collaborating on the Call of Duty: Black Ops soundtrack, the creative freedom of staying independent, and why making music for themselves—not algorithms—changed everything.
If you’re into genre-bending artists, DIY success stories, or the future of indie music, this episode is a must-watch.
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In this episode of The Hang!, host Scott Saldinger sits down with Nashville-based indie rock artist Quinn O’Donnell for a thoughtful and deeply human conversation about music, creativity, and emotional honesty. Born into a musical family in Nashville, Quinn shares how growing up around touring musicians shaped not only her artistic instincts but also her understanding of collaboration, community, and resilience within the music industry.
Quinn reflects on her earliest experiences performing—starting with DIY living-room shows as a teenager—and how those formative moments helped her build confidence, find her voice, and connect authentically with audiences. Songwriting, she explains, has always been her primary way of processing emotions and life experiences. Rather than masking vulnerability, Quinn embraces it, allowing her songs to function as emotional documentation and personal growth markers.
The conversation dives into the creation of her recent single “Ghost,” a track that represents a turning point in her artistic evolution. Quinn discusses how collaboration played a pivotal role in finishing the song, highlighting the power of working with artists from different musical backgrounds. That openness to collaboration, she notes, continues to shape her creative process as she looks toward future releases.
Beyond the music itself, Quinn offers an honest perspective on navigating the modern music industry—especially the emotional toll of social media. She speaks candidly about the importance of protecting mental health, setting boundaries with technology, and resisting the pressure to constantly perform online. For Quinn, success isn’t defined by numbers or virility, but by authenticity, sustainability, and the ability to keep creating meaningful work.
This episode of The Hang! is a compelling look at what it means to grow as an artist—creatively, emotionally, and personally—while staying true to yourself in an ever-changing music landscape.
#QuinnODonnell #IndieRock #NashvilleMusic #Songwriting #TheHangPodcast

In this episode of The Hang, host Scott Saldinger sits down with Sam Blasucci, the Ojai-based singer-songwriter known for his work with psychedelic folk duo Mapache and his ambitious solo project Physical Dream.
Sam shares the story behind creating his massive 28-song double album, recorded on a remote island in British Columbia and shaped by a deeply personal creative journey. Blending indie folk, Latin influences, mysticism, and experimental textures, Physical Dream represents one of Sam’s most expansive artistic statements yet.
The conversation explores Sam’s musical roots growing up with a musician father, his early influences ranging from Enya and the Beatles to Mexican folk traditions, and how those sounds helped shape his distinctive style. Scott and Sam also dive into the role of mental health in creativity, the value of artistic exploration across mediums like painting and photography, and why live music remains the most powerful way to connect with audiences.They also discuss the evolving landscape of music consumption, the importance of supporting independent artists, and Sam’s dream collaboration with global star Rosalía.
If you love conversations about music, creativity, and the artistic process, this episode offers a deep look into the mind of a musician who refuses to limit himself to one form of expression.
🎧 Listen now and discover why Sam Blasucci believes music should be experienced as a journey from start to finish.
 
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What shapes a punk frontwoman? For Stacey Dee of Bad Cop/Bad Cop, it started in a San Francisco band house, reel-to-reel tapes, and seeing The Go-Go’s at five years old.
In this episode of The Hang!, Stacey opens up about growing up surrounded by reggae, MTV, and rock history, and how that foundation led her to co-found one of modern punk’s most vital bands. She shares the creative evolution behind Lighten Up, why collaboration transformed the band’s sound, and how trusting her instincts changed everything.
But this conversation goes deeper than music.
Stacey talks about sobriety, surviving cancer, touring for seven straight months, and co-founding The Sidewalk Project — a nonprofit serving unhoused artists in Los Angeles. From Skid Row outreach to overdose response efforts that helped reduce deaths in the community, her activism is rooted in lived experience.
You’ll hear about:
• Writing songs that take years to find their moment• Why authenticity matters more than trends• The punk community as chosen family• Dream collaboration with Amy Poehler, Maya Rudolph, Rachel Dratch, and Tina Fey• The real story behind Bad Cop/Bad Cop’s creative process
This isn’t just a band interview. It’s a conversation about purpose, identity, and believing in yourself.

Oakland/San Francisco punk trio BitchFit aren’t waiting for permission — they’re building their own lane.
In this episode of The Hang!, Ailish, Tallulah, and Lila break down how three teenage musicians turned friendship, therapy, and shared rage into one of the Bay Area’s most fearless young punk bands. Raised around classical, jazz, soul, and punk, they found common ground in Riot Grrrl, political urgency, and the need to say what others won’t.
They talk about writing “Girl Soldiers” the day after the election, why songs like “Barbie’s World” and “Paid Administrative Leave” feel personal, and how flow state transforms their live shows into something electric. The band opens up about facing criticism in the scene, being labeled “too Riot Grrrl,” and why they refuse to shrink themselves to make others comfortable.
BitchFit also shares what it means to play Doll Fest alongside artists who paved the way — and how Kathleen Hanna and My Chemical Romance still inspire their creative fire.
This isn’t just a punk interview. It’s a conversation about voice, feminism, privilege, community, and why young artists using their platform matters more than ever.
If you care about punk, Riot Grrrl, or the next wave of politically fearless bands — this one’s essential.
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Doll Fest Volume II