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Is being a talented musician enough to make a living in today's music industry?  Kenny Feinstein joins OurSpace with Matt Vettese to talk about his new book More Than Talent and what independent musicians actually need to do to build successful, sustainable careers in 2026. After more than 25 years working in music, Kenny has learned a few things about finding fans, marketing your songs, and making money as an artist. And he isn't afraid to challenge the way musicians have traditionally approached their careers. We talk about why he believes musicians need to embrace becoming content creators, how to promote music on TikTok and Instagram without feeling cringe, why the first second of a video matters, and how to turn social media views into genuine fans who actually want to support your music. Kenny also gets into the business side of being an artist, including where to invest your first $1,000, building multiple income streams, when hiring a publicist might be a waste of money, and how independent musicians can use targeted advertising to sell concert tickets. We also dig into some bigger questions: Do artists really need to tour to make a living? Why do TikTok-famous musicians sometimes struggle to earn respect? Is it too late to pursue a music career in your 30s, 40s, or beyond? And why do so many talented musicians eventually give up? Plus, Kenny shares some advice about remembering why you started making music in the first place, his experiences building a career through grassroots promotion, and a few underrated artists you should check out. Whether you're an independent musician, a band trying to grow, or just someone who loves music and wants to understand the business behind it, this conversation is packed with interesting perspectives. More Than Talent by Kenny Feinstein is available now. Learn more: worksmartermusicmarketing.com OurSpace with Matt Vettese is now powered by elderemo.com — shop emo and pop punk apparel for yourself, your kids, and even your pets. Use code OURSPACE for 15% off your next order. https://elderemo.com/OURSPACE.

Tenlung joins OurSpace with Matt Vettese to talk about I Follow Birds, “The Shed Song,” blending emo and pop punk with hyperpop, and the years-long personal journey that unexpectedly became part of her art. We get into the incredible story behind “The Shed Song,” which was written years before its release and accompanied by a music video that ended up documenting part of Tenlung's transition, despite that never being the original plan. Tenlung opens up about growing up deeply religious in the American South, being closeted, leaving the evangelical church, and eventually coming to terms with her identity. We talk about how those experiences shaped I Follow Birds, the changing meaning of the bird imagery throughout the record, and how accepting her queerness helped unlock something creatively. I Follow Birds by Tenlung is out NOW! -- OurSpace with Matt Vettese is now powered by elderemo.com — shop emo and pop punk apparel for yourself, your kids, and even your pets. Use code OURSPACE for 15% off your next order. https://elderemo.com/OURSPACE.

From First to Last are back and Matt Good joins OurSpace with Matt Vettese to take us inside the band's new era. With We Were Bleeding Anyway arriving October 2, Matt talks about bringing Lil Lotus into From First to Last, why his perspective as a fan helped shape the band's new music, and how the goal was never to recreate the past but to respect what made records like Dear Diary, My Teen Angst Has a Bodycount connect in the first place and bring that into who they are today. Then we talk about the question longtime FFTL fans are inevitably going to ask: could Sonny Moore ever come back? We Were Bleeding Anyway by From First to Last arrives October 2. Remember to follow/subscribe and leave 5 stars if you like interviews with your favourite bands.  -- OurSpace with Matt Vettese is powered by elderemo.com — Play the new card game 'Are You Even Emo?' shop emo and pop punk apparel for yourself, your kids, and even your pets. Use code OURSPACE for 15% off your next order. https://elderemo.com/OURSPACE.

Rody Walker of Protest the Hero returns to OurSpace with Matt Vettese to talk about the band's new album Within, their first completely independent release, and why he's feeling excited about the future of the band again. We get into the challenges of leaving record labels behind, the financial realities of releasing an album independently, and why Protest the Hero want more control over their music and back catalogue. Rody also opens up about the overwhelmingly positive response to Within and why he almost convinced the band to change “Mouthpiece” just days before its release. If you enjoy this chat remember to leave 5 stars and follow along for more!  Interviewer: Matt Vettese Producer: Tala Mukaddam Editor: William Langlais -- OurSpace with Matt Vettese is now powered by elderemo.com — shop emo and pop punk apparel for yourself, your kids, and even your pets. Use code OURSPACE for 15% off your next order. https://elderemo.com/OURSPACE   #ProtestTheHero #RodyWalker #ProgressiveMetal

Talker joins OurSpace with Matt Vettese to dive deep into her new album Runaway Jane, why she completely changed her creative process to make it, and what happened when she stopped trying to make everything perfect. After feeling disconnected from her debut album by the time it was finally released, Talker approached Runaway Jane differently. Instead of finishing the entire record and sitting on it for months, she started releasing music while parts of the album were still being finished, giving herself deadlines, embracing imperfections, and trusting the emotion of a performance instead of endlessly trying to perfect it. Subscribe to OurSpace with Matt Vettese for more conversations with the artists shaping emo, pop punk, indie rock and alternative music. -- OurSpace with Matt Vettese is now powered by elderemo.com — shop emo and pop punk apparel for yourself, your kids, and even your pets. Use code OURSPACE for 15% off your next order. https://elderemo.com/OURSPACE. -- Talker, Talker Runaway Jane, Runaway Jane, Talker interview, Talker artist, Runaway Jane album, Talker podcast, indie rock, alternative rock, emo, songwriting, OurSpace with Matt Vettese

Harrison Gordon returns to OurSpace to talk about the band's new sophomore album, Bliss, and everything that's changed since our first conversation two years ago. After the viral success surrounding The Yuppies Are Winning, Harrison Gordon had a choice: keep chasing TikTok and the algorithm or try to build the kind of band they grew up loving. They chose the latter. Harrison talks about consciously stepping away from being a “content band,” how touring with Free Throw helped transform their audience, and the strange transition from playing DIY house shows to performing in front of a thousand people a night. Then we dive deep into Bliss, a record Harrison describes as the band's “Pinkerton.” Written in a tiny windowless room in Milwaukee, the album deliberately embraces feedback, heavy guitars and imperfection while drawing inspiration from bands like PUP, Microwave and Born Without Bones. We also unpack the meaning behind songs including “Pretty,” “Like Me Less,” “Side of Blood,” “Scab” and “Bliss.” Bliss is out now. Listen to Bliss: https://open.spotify.com/album/1pJwxjT7wAcMaDa62sKHJ9?si=5c31832dfc254605  -- If you enjoyed the chat follow and leave 5 stars for more conversations like this! -- OurSpace with Matt Vettese is now powered by elderemo.com — shop emo and pop punk apparel for yourself, your kids, and even your pets. Use code OURSPACE for 15% off your next order. https://elderemo.com/OURSPACE.

After nearly two years without new music, Sam and Nick of Savings join OurSpace to talk about their return with their new single “Stressed Out” and why stepping away was exactly what the band needed. Sam and Nick talk about rediscovering that creative spark, writing “Stressed Out” without any expectations, and realizing they were ready to move forward again. We also dive into the pressure modern artists face to constantly “feed the machine,” why being in a band today often means becoming your own marketing department, and how building a stronger team has helped Savings find a better balance between the business side and the music itself. -- If you enjoy the chat remember to follow and leave 5 stars!  -- OurSpace with Matt Vettese is now powered by elderemo.com — shop emo and pop punk apparel for yourself, your kids, and even your pets. Use code OURSPACE for 15% off your next order. https://elderemo.com/OURSPACE.

What does Vans Warped Tour mean in 2026? At Vans Warped Tour Montreal, OurSpace spoke with 11 bands from the emo, pop-punk, punk, post-hardcore and metalcore scenes to see why Warped Tour remains such an important part of alternative music culture. Veterans including Taking Back Sunday, Atreyu, Hawthorne Heights, Cartel, Escape The Fate and The Devil Wears Prada look back on Warped Tour’s role in their careers and what it feels like to return years later as a new generation experiences it for the first time. Meanwhile, Chase Petra, Suddenwaves, Origami Angel and Good Sleepy share what it means to step onto a Warped Tour stage, connect with new listeners and become part of a festival they once viewed from the outside.  Boston Manor also discusses bringing the different eras of the band together, revisiting Be Nothing. and creating a festival set that works for longtime fans and first-time listeners. Beyond Warped Tour memories, the artists talk about songwriting, new music, evolving without abandoning their roots and balancing nostalgia with what comes next.  The Devil Wears Prada also explains why metalcore may be bigger than ever, while Taking Back Sunday reflects on discovering punk rock at an early Warped Tour and how the festival changed the direction of their life. Whether you attended Warped Tour in the ’90s or 2000s or Montreal was your first experience this episode is about the past, present and future of the scene. Who was your favourite band at Vans Warped Tour Montreal, and what does Warped Tour mean to you? Let us know in the comments. Subscribe to OurSpace for more artist interviews, festival coverage and conversations from across the alternative music scene. Interviews: 00:00 Introduction 02:30 Chase Petra 10:25 Boston Manor 18:39 Taking Back Sunday 27:04 Atreyu 33:11 Escape The Fate 40:36 Hawthorne Heights 59:56 Cartel 1:05:24 Suddenwaves 1:10:27 Origami Angel 1:19:05 Good Sleepy 1:23:23 The Devil Wears Prada   Vans Warped Tour 2026, Warped Tour Montreal, Vans Warped Tour Montreal 2026, Warped Tour interviews, Taking Back Sunday interview, Atreyu interview, The Devil Wears Prada interview, Hawthorne Heights interview, Escape The Fate interview, Boston Manor interview, Cartel interview, Origami Angel interview, Chase Petra interview, Suddenwaves interview, Good Sleepy interview, emo interviews, pop punk interviews, metalcore interviews, alternative music podcast, OurSpace, Warped Tour Canada

Brian of Good Terms returns to OurSpace with Matt Vettese to talk about what it meant to actually performing at Warped Tour, why Warped Tour still matters for up-and-coming emo, pop punk and alternative bands, and how the experience is already influencing Good Terms' live show. We also dive deep into the band's new single “Hard Call,” why they made the bold decision to OPEN their Warped Tour set with a brand-new song, and how years of experimenting with their sound on Burnout helped Good Terms figure out what they want to double down on next. If you enjoyed the chat remember to leave 5 stars on Spotify and Apple!  -- Get 15% off your next order at www.elderemo.com/ourspace by using code OURSPACE -- #GoodTerms #WarpedTour #PopPunk #Emo #HardCall #OurSpacePodcast #AlternativeMusic

What happened to emo between the 2000s mainstream boom and the resurgence we're experiencing today? Andrew Sacher joins Matt on OurSpace to discuss his new book, Emo Revival, which documents the fourth wave of emo and the underground community that helped keep the genre alive. Having covered the scene for Brooklyn Vegan as it was unfolding, Andrew brings a unique perspective to the story of bands like Modern Baseball, Title Fight, Snowing, Algernon Cadwallader, Joyce Manor, Foxing, Citizen, The Menzingers, The Wonder Years and more. Andrew and Matt discuss why fourth-wave emo has sometimes felt like the genre's "forgotten wave," how bands that once played constantly for a few dollars have become holy grails for younger fans, and whether the success of today's emo scene is finally giving these bands their flowers. They also dive into the DIY community that made the emo revival possible, why the suburbs seem to be fertile ground for emo bands, whether bands lose something when they graduate from basements to arenas, the changing idea of "selling out," and why Andrew believes this movement was about community as much as it was about a particular style of music. Plus, they look back at the role MySpace, Facebook, Twitter and Tumblr played in building the fourth wave, how the internet has changed regional music scenes, and why today's fifth wave of emo might actually be an extension of what the fourth wave started. 📖 Order Andrew Sacher's Emo Revival: https://bookshop.org/p/books/emo-revival-community-diy-and-rebirth-in-post-hardcore-and-emo-2008-2018-andrew-sacher/aedad98efa9919b2 📝 Read Andrew's Substack: https://andrewsacher.substack.com/ OurSpace with Matt Vettese is now powered by elderemo.com — shop emo and pop punk apparel for yourself, your kids, and even your pets. Use code OURSPACE for 15% off your next order. https://elderemo.com/OURSPACE. #EmoRevival #Emo #ModernBaseball #TitleFight #MidwestEmo

Recorded outside the Toronto stop of Slow Joy's I Love You So Much I Could Die Tour, David of Bike Routes joins OurSpace for a special on-location conversation about the band's breakout year. We discuss the making of their debut album Prairie, how World Apart became the song that introduced so many listeners to the band, and what it's been like hearing fans sing along to songs that began as simple acoustic demos in New Jersey. David also reflects on the musical influences that shaped Bike Routes (including Bruce Springsteen, The Gaslight Anthem, My Chemical Romance and Spanish Love Songs), why Prairie became a surprisingly conceptual record, and how the band is already writing the next chapter. Plus, we talk about touring with Slow Joy, the surreal experience of hearing your music on the radio, and the importance of building a local music scene. If you enjoyed this chat remember to leave 5 stars! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ -- OurSpace with Matt Vettese is now powered by elderemo.com — shop emo and pop punk apparel for yourself, your kids, and even your pets. Use code OURSPACE for 15% off your next order. https://elderemo.com/OURSPACE -- #BikeRoutes #Prairie #SlowJoy #Emo #IndieRock #AlternativeMusic #GaslightAnthem #BruceSpringsteen #SpanishLoveSongs #MusicPodcast #OurSpace

What really happens after a song goes viral? This week on OurSpace with Matt Vettese, Gavin and Ricky from INOHA share the story behind the band's breakout success with "Seventh Heaven," the surreal moment they watched the numbers climb in real time, and how they transformed one viral reel into international touring opportunities. The conversation also explores the making of their new album, This Might Be Useful, why they completely changed their songwriting process, learning to balance creativity with the business side of being an independent band, touring alongside Good Kid, and the tracks they're most excited for fans to experience live. Follow the show for more interviews from the Pop Punk, Emo, and Alternative scenes. If you enjoyed this conversation leave ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ -- #INOHA #PopPunk #Emo #AlternativeRock #IndieRock #NewMusic #GoodKid #MusicPodcast #OurSpace #MattVettese #ThisMightBeUseful #SeventhHeaven

What does it really take to build a music career without a label or a viral moment doing the work for you? lolitslea joins OurSpace to talk about her journey as an independent artist, embracing her "neon pop punk" sound, and bringing the colorful, electronic energy of the late-2000s alternative scene into a new generation. lolitslea opens up about starting out making pop music before finding the confidence to make the music she'd always wanted to make, the reaction that convinced her to embrace pop punk, and how her collaboration with Sleeping With Sirens vocalist Kellin Quinn came together. We also dive into the less glamorous reality of DIY music: funding a career yourself, working multiple jobs, booking your own shows through DMs, learning when to spend money versus investing your own time, and navigating an industry increasingly obsessed with social media numbers and viral moments. Plus, we get into the stories behind "Rollercoaster Tycoon," "Burnout" and "Exit Plan," her love of video games, the artists currently in her rotation, and what's coming next. -- OurSpace with Matt Vettese is now powered by elderemo.com — shop emo and pop punk apparel for yourself, your kids, and even your pets. Use code OURSPACE for 15% off your next order. https://elderemo.com/OURSPACE -- #lolitslea #PopPunk #NeonPopPunk #IndependentArtist #DIYMusician #Emo #AlternativeMusic #KellinQuinn #OurSpacePodcast

Nicole Alexis joins OurSpace to discuss her new EP, Mirrors and Smoke, growing up alternative, and why one of her biggest songs almost never existed. The Nashville-based DIY artist opens up about living with ADHD, teaching herself multiple instruments, hearing fully formed songs in her head from a young age, and documenting life's biggest moments through music. Nicole also shares how social media helped validate her artistic voice, why she intentionally kept Mirrors and Smoke stripped back, and how Find Another You went from being deleted off her computer to becoming the first song that truly connected with millions of listeners online. We also discuss: Growing up listening to Nirvana, Green Day, Paramore & Flyleaf ADHD and creativity as an artist Learning multiple instruments Finding confidence in vulnerability Creating music without chasing commercial expectations The realities of being a DIY independent musician Why music can feel like reading old diary entries years later Plus, Nicole recommends an underrated Nashville artist that deserves to be on your playlist right now. OurSpace with Matt Vettese is now powered by elderemo.com — shop emo and pop punk apparel for yourself, your kids, and even your pets. Use code OURSPACE for 15% off your next order. https://elderemo.com/OURSPACE   #NicoleAlexis #AlternativeMusic #DIYArtist #ADHD #Emo #NashvilleMusic #IndependentArtist #MirrorsAndSmoke #MusicPodcast #OurSpace

What does touring actually do to your mental health? Licensed mental health counselor Daniel Rinaldi joins OurSpace to discuss the hidden struggles that musicians, touring crew members and creatives face both on and off the road. From burnout and sleep deprivation to loneliness, anxiety and the difficult transition back home after tour, Daniel shares practical advice for maintaining your mental health while working in the music industry. We also discuss why touring crew members are often overlooked, the importance of creating safer spaces at concerts, and the mental health resources available for artists and fans alike. This episode isn't just for musicians, it's for anyone who has ever struggled with burnout, finding community, or feeling disconnected from the world around them. We also discuss: -Mental health for touring musicians and crew -Artist burnout and creative wellness -Staying connected with loved ones while on tour -Finding the right therapist for you -Practical grounding techniques for creatives -Why mental health should never be treated as a luxury -How fans can help create safer spaces within music communities If music helped you through difficult moments in your life, this conversation is for you. -- OurSpace with Matt Vettese is now powered by elderemo.com — shop emo and pop punk apparel for yourself, your kids, and even your pets. Use code OURSPACE for 15% off your next order. https://elderemo.com/OURSPACE -- #MentalHealth #MentalHealthAwareness #Musicians #TouringMusicians #ArtistBurnout #MusicIndustry #Emo #AlternativeMusic #OurSpacePodcast #MentalHealthMatters