Carla Patullo: GRAMMY-Winning Composer on her album Nomadica, Grief, LGBTQ+ Mentorship & Healing
Conversations with Musicians, with Leah Roseman
08/27/25
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Welcome to Conversations with Musicians with Leah Roseman with powerful, in-depth conversations with a fascinating diversity of musical guests wordwide. In this moving episode, I sit down with GRAMMY-winning composer Carla Patullo. Carla shares her deeply personal journey as well as audio clips from Nomadica, her gorgeous new album born from grief, healing, and resilience following the traumatic loss of her mother and her own battle with cancer. We dive into Carla’s creative process, her emotional transformation, and the collaborative magic behind the album — including features with Martha Wainwright, the Scorchio Quartet, and Tonality. You'll also hear about her powerful projects with partner Elizabeth Beech honoring animation pioneer Lotte Reiniger, her longtime work with Sandra Bernhard, and the meaningful mentorship she’s received within the LGBTQ+ music community, including from Laura Karpman. From her tight-knit Italian family roots to her evolution as a touring artist and composer, this episode is a must-listen for fans of ambient music, film composition, and stories of personal and artistic growth. Like all my episodes, you can watch the video or listen to the podcast; the transcript is linked to my website.
All the clips from Nomadica are listed in the timestamps, and you can buy or stream the album from Carla’s website.
Other episodes I’m sure you’ll love: Anze Rozman and Kara Talve Adam Blau Martha Mooke EmmoLei Sankofa J. Walter Hawkes Kavisha Mazzella
(00:00) Intro (02:05) album Nomadica, Scorchio quartet, Carla’s mother death (07:46) clip of A Handblown World (13:04) cancer treatments, Carla’s mother’s hair salon (16:40) clip of Nomadica (17:29) Tonality vocal ensemble (19:20) Martha Wainwright (21:35) clip of Fly Under (22:23) cover art, Jamie Dwyer (23:51) Italian family (28:08) Carla’s youth, first album, Berklee (33:07) Sandra Bernhard, LGBTQ+ community (37:25) Lotte Reiniger (39:31) Other linked episodes and ways to support this podcast (40:20) Lotte That Silhouettte Girl (42:26) inspiration for Nomadica, All of Us Strangers (46:40) creative process with clip of Isochronic Waves (48:19) film score work, immigrant experience, Italian heritage (50:52) cancer and recovery, self-care (56:40) Below the Surface with excerpt (59:20) The Hurricane musical, getting back on stage with SO SHE HOWLS (01:02:50) film composer life, effects of GRAMMY win, mindset, orchestration
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Darol Anger is an acoustic music legend known as much for his innovative fiddle style beyond Bluegrass and Jazz traditions, and his teaching. Darol has helped drive the evolution of the contemporary string band through his involvement with numerous pathbreaking ensembles such as the Turtle Island String Quartet, the David Grisman Quintet, and his current touring group Mr Sun. This podcast episode is being released a few days before his new 2-album set Diary of a Fiddler #2: The Empty Nest, and you’ll be hearing many clips from this brilliant collaborative project that features dozens of phenomenal string players and improvisers. You’ll find the titles and performers from these clips in the timestamps Diary of a Fiddler #2 Album Anyone interested in the history of American acoustic music will be curious to hear Darol’s stories from his long career, and his advice to students from his many years teaching at Berklee and online at ArtistWorks. Most importantly I’m sure you’ll be inspired by Darol’s openness and generosity to musical connection. My website including YouTube
Darol Anger website Newsletter Buy me a coffee? Podcast Merch Martin Hayes Tracy Silverman Brittany Haas Joe K. Walsh Leslie DeShazor Julie Lyonn Lieberman Sara Caswell (00:00) Intro (02:14) summer festivals, Diary of a Fiddler projects (09:28) Brittany Haas with clip of I Coulda told U (10:49) recording the album, Liza Jane Parade with clip (14:44) Mike Barnett with clip Liza Jane Reboot (18:48) Darol’s early career in San Francisco (28:57) 5 string acoustic violin (33:30) Enion Pelta with clip Ouditarus Rez, teaching (39:00) other linked episodes (39:53) ArtistWorks, Berklee teaching (47:52) Ella Jordan, John Mailander with clip The Unberable Gift (49:43) Berklee, Jenna Moynihan with clip Melt the Teakettle (53:32) the importance of a positive and supportive atmosphere (57:54)playing bowed string instruments, baritone violin (01:01:46) Martin Hayes, Allistair Fraser, Natalie MacMaster (01:07:20) Casey Driessen with clip The Amen Corner (01:09:44) Rembemering Emy Phelps with clip of The Crooked Road to Emy with Tristan Clarridge (01:17:51) Mr. Sun 01:19:23) Diary of a Fiddler #2 with clip of the end of La Ville Manteaux with Trent Freeman, gardening
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Tammy Takaishi is a Board Certified Music Therapist, Podcaster and writer based in New York.
We talked about her podcast Creative Peacemeal, her meaningful and multi-faceted career as a Music Therapist, and her full creative life including her writing. If music therapy is a career you’re curious about, you’ll be inspired by her stories and insights.
As a fellow podcasters, we definitely bonded over our enthusiasm for the medium and the wide range of fascinating, creative people we’ve been able to connect with. I know that fans of Tammy’s podcast will be interested to learn more about her path, personal perspectives and great advice including avoiding burnout.
You can watch this on my YouTube or listen to the podcast; I’ve also linked the transcript to my website
Tammy's podcast Creative Peacemeal
I wanted to let you know about some other episodes I’ve linked directly to this one, with Martha Anne Toll
(00:00) Intro
(01:42) Tammy’s musical childhood, juggling creative pursuits
(08:15) Creative Peacemeal podcast
(14:15) preventing burnout
(16:55) Music Therapy with babies NICU
(22:54) Music Therapy careers and training
(29:53) inspiring stories from life as a Music Therapist
(38:30) other linked episodes and ways to support this podcast
(39:10) music therapy life
(49:52) contrast between Houston
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