Ian Brennan: Recording Extraordinary Musicians in Remote Places Part 1 (Tanzania, Rwanda, Malawi)
Conversations with Musicians, with Leah Roseman
03/11/26
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This episode is with one of the most inspiring people I’ve ever had the privilege to meet: the Grammy-winning producer, musician and author Ian Brennan who has traveled the world in search of countries and languages that are underrepresented. He has produced over fifty remarkable international records since 2009 across five continents with his wife the Italian-Rwandan filmmaker, photographer and author Marilena Delli Umuhoza.
In this Part 1 of a new series with Ian within this podcast, you’ll hear about the Tanzania Albinism Collective, Rwanda’s The Good Ones, the Zomba Prison Project in Malawi, Comorian and Africatown’s Ancestor Sounds, music of the descendants of the last slave ship in Mobile . Ian also has a fascinating personal story and is sought after for his work in empathy-based violence prevention.
The links for all the music you’ll hear are in the Show Notes
In the show notes you'll also find the link to sign up for my newsletter, where you'll get exclusive information about upcoming episodes, different ways to support this podcast and linked episodes, as well as the YouTube video and transcript.
Photo: Marilena Delli Umuhoza
(00:00) Intro
(02:48) book “Missing Music: Voices From Where The Dirt Road Ends”, Comoros
(09:00) Music: excerpt of track 1 Please Protect My Newborn Child from the Spirits from Comorian's album "We are an Island, but we're not alone”, recording in Comoros, Marilena Umuhoza Delli.
(14:51) Rwanda, The Good Ones, Marilena’s mother
(20:51) Music: excerpt The Good Ones album"Rwanda...You See Ghosts, I See Sky" track 9, "My Chubby Baby, Please Sleep( I will protect you from anything)”
(21:50) The Good Ones, Kinyarwanda language, Rwanda history
(29:06) dominance of English in media and songs
(33:09) Music: excerpt The Good Ones album “Rwanda...You See Ghosts, I See Sky” track 4 “Every Job Has Importance”
(34:05) dominance of English, nonverbal communication, Ian’s sister who had Down syndrome, working in psychiatric environments
(41:15) other linked episodes and ways to support this podcast
(42:02) violence prevention and anger management books and workshops, “Peace by Peace”
(47:32) efficiency in recording
(51:08) Zomba Prison Project
(51:08) Zomba Prison Project
(54:53) Music: clip from track 4 "All is loss" album Zomba Prison Project "I will not stop singing”)
(55:39) Zomba prison recording with clip of track 3 “I Will Never Stop Grieving For You, My Wife” from Zomba Prison Project album “I will not stop singing”
(01:00:44) how Ian records and produces
(01:02:50) Africatown, Mobile,Alabama trip, descendants of slaves on the Clotilda
(01:05:39) Clip of track 1 “Run if you can, don’t go down that road” from Ancestor Sounds
(01:07:04) history and music of Africatown, Ian’s life as a songwriter and guitarist, becoming a parent
(01:12:31) Music: clip of Track 8 Comorian "Bandits Are Doing Bad Deeds" from album "We are an island, but we’re not alone”)
(01:13:43) early career recording in the laundromat
(01:18:00) Tanzania Albanism Collective, Ukerewe island, Standing Voice
(01:22:22) Tanzania Albinism Collective, track 23 “Happiness”, album “White African Power”
(01:22:51)Standing Voice organization, dangers of albinism
Previous Episode
It was so inspiring to have this conversation with the multi-talented singer-songwriter and pianist Vienna Teng .
In this episode we’re featuring the band Few of a Kind’s new album, a beautiful collaboration with Vienna, Brandon Ridenour, Ben Russell, Yousif Sheronick, and Andrew Gutauskas. Vienna takes us inside their creative process with excerpts from each track. She also reflects on what truly makes a great song, how her identity evolved with parenthood, and how she has connected with audiences through her climate action workshops. Vienna also shared insights into two other brilliant recent projects, her unique album We’ve Got You and “The Riversitter” after Dave Eggers’ “The Museum of Rain”.
You’ll hear the charming story of how she actually found her stage name, some highlights including opening for Joan Baez, performing on the Late Show with David Letterman and especially what it felt like to return to touring and recording after a ten-year hiatus after working in environmental sustainability.
Full Show Notes for all the links: Vienna Teng's albums, website, Songwriter podcast, linked episodes with Gabriel Kahane, Jean Rohe, Ida Gillner, Fern Lindzon and Diane Nalini and my Newsletter, Merch store and how you can buy me a coffee to support this series!
photo: Sherwin Lainez
(00:00) Intro
(02:21) Stage name story, David Letterman and early fame, working at Cisco
(07:09) Few of a Kind band, with clip track 1 “Transcontinental 1:30 AM”
(11:49) life of a singer, Ben Russel with clip of track 4 Two Steps From the Blues
(18:31) creative process Few of a Kind, Octavian studios
(20:52) environmental sustainability, decision to go back to university
(28:07) Few of a Kind, clip of track 2 Alone, Brandon Ridenour
(31:32) crafting a life in music with social impact
(34:12) other linked episodes and ways to support this series
(35:02) what makes a great song, Asian American identity Alex Wong
(42:31) climate action workshops connected to concerts
(47:20) We’ve Got You with clips, how Comfort and Spark fit together
(54:33) writing “The River Sitter” after David Eggers “The Museum of Rain”
(01:00:36) Few of a Kind, with clip of track 3 Five’s Alive, Andrew Gutauskis, Yousif Sheronick
(01:07:40) touring, opening for Joan Baez
(01:12:03) coming back after 10 year hiatus
Next Episode
Carolyn Kendrick is a fiddler, songwriter, and producer based in California.
I’m really looking forward to her upcoming podcast with Tristan Scroggins “Don’t Call Me Darlin’,” based on an archive of Women in Bluegrass newsletters. You’ll also be fascinated to learn about Carolyn’s project “Each Machine” and you’ll be hearing some of that music and about her research into the Satanic Panic. She also started a really cool initiative with her friend Isa Burke, the Gender Equity Audio Workshop. You’ll hear Carolyn’s tips on songwriting, how she remembers songs, and how she’s built balanced life in music.
Photo: Natalie Petersen
Timestamps:
(00:00) Intro
(01:46) Don’t Call Me Darlin’ podcast, Women in Bluegrass, Murphy Hicks Henry
(06:12) trailer Don’t Call Me Darlin’ (link in show notes)
(10:45) women in bluegrass
(14:34) Each Machine album and zine, satanic panic
( 18:09) audio clip "A Perfect World" Each Machine album linked in show notes, from poem by David Keig, research into satanism, clip of “Sugar and Spice”, interviewing Stephan Jones
(28:10) clip of “Leela” from Each Machine
(28:58) murder ballads, with clip of “Wind and Rain”
(30:57) upcoming new album, Gender Equity Audio Workshop with Isa Burke
(35:05) Berklee experience
(36:20) other episodes you’ll enjoy and ways to support this podcast
(37:08) Carolyn’s musical path
(45:25)clip of Silver Dagger from Tear Things Apart linked in show notes
(46:23) singing, different styles, memorizing songs, fiddle tunes
(50:34) love of Los Angeles, importance of being rooted in community
(54:42) love of making podcasts, Don’t Call Me Darlin’
(58:02) songwriting support group, creative outlets and prompts
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