March Forth with Mike Bauman

Episode 184: The Spaceman

On episode 184 of March Forth with Mike Bauman, Mike chats with The Spaceman!
Not just a traveler of the Cosmos, The Spaceman is a harbinger of what's to come. After being launched into the void by a secretive, black budget space program, he vanished beyond a black hole. His identity, reality, and time were all fractured.
When he crash-landed back to Earth, The Spaceman was no longer human. He had transcended, returning with glowing eyes and a mission encoded in madness. That mission? To utilize seduction, spectacle, influence, and the powerful soundwaves of music to prepare the world for its unraveling as the first of the Four Horsemen: Conquest.
Upon his return, The Spaceman has attached himself to the music of the Nashville-based rock duo Sleep Nation. Comprised of Bran Merritt (vocals, guitar) and Joey Lauretta (drums), Sleep Nation has made a name for themselves in the Music City with their own style and energetic live shows.
In September 2023, Sleep Nation dropped their sophomore album entitled AND THEN THERE WERE 2, their first release as a two-piece. That album helped them get nominated for "Best Rock Album" and "Best Duo of the Year" at the 2024 Josie Music Awards, which were held at The Grand Ole Opry House. In November 2024, Sleep Nation released their album entitled Deadbeat Disco, which featured contributions from their friends and fellow talents in the local Nashville music scene.
On August 22nd, under the influential umbrella of The Spaceman's mission, Sleep Nation dropped their latest EP entitled The Spaceman - Conquest.
In this episode, The Spaceman graces Mike and listeners with his presence from an unknown location to divulge what he remembers from his time beyond a black hole, his return to Earth, potential impending doom as the first of the Four Horsemen, his attachment and fondness of Sleep Nation, the power of music, and more.
This episode also features the Sleep Nation single "The Spaceman - Setup the Controls," available where you get your music! The track is also featured on Apple Music's curated "New In Alternative" playlist.
Follow Sleep Nation on Instagram @sleepnationtv. To stay up-to-date on Sleep Nation, visit https://www.slpntn.com/.
Follow Mike on Instagram @marchforthpod. To stay up-to-date on the podcast and learn more about Mike, visit https://linktr.ee/marchforthpod.
Thanks for listening! If ya dug the show, like it, share it, tell a friend, subscribe, and above all, keep the faith and be kind to one another.

Episode 183: Johnny Zirkel

On episode 183 of March Forth with Mike Bauman, Mike chats with Johnny Zirkel!
Originally from New Jersey, Johnny is a California-based musician, producer, songwriter, and content creator, among numerous other hats he wears. Over the years, he's performed in the nu-punk band The Wildfires Projekt, and also developed and hosted of the show Sounds of the Underground. An alternative rock TV series which features interviews and live performances from both up-and-coming and established artists in the alternative, punk, and hardcore music scenes, the Zirkel-hosted Sounds of the Underground aired on CBS, Amazon Prime, and Samsung TV.
In recent years, Zirkel has been releasing music under his own name. Additionally, Zirkel has been building his audience as a content creator on socials through videos and shorts that share his sense of humor, love for music, video games, and more.
The music videos for his singles "Going Blind" and "Rapture" with Outline In Color - the former inspired by Fallout and the latter inspired by Bioshock - have racked up over 165,000 and 193,000 YouTube views, respectively. In April, Zirkel just dropped his latest single entitled "Upside Down," the lyrics and artwork of which are inspired by The Killers.
In this episode, Johnny talks with Mike his decision to start releasing music and content under his own name, his love for video games and their influence on the songs "Going Blind" and "Rapture," not getting caught up in the comparison game of social media and industry stereotypes, persevering through career and mental health challenges, the excitement and changes that come with being a new dad, and more.
This episode of the podcast also features the song "Upside Down" from Johnny Zirkel, available where you get your music!
Follow Johnny on Instagram @johnnyzirkel. To stay up-to-date with Johnny, visit https://linktr.ee/johnnyzirkel.
Follow Mike on Instagram @marchforthpod. To stay up-to-date on the podcast and learn more about Mike, visit https://linktr.ee/marchforthpod.
If you or someone you know needs mental health support, please visit https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists.
Thanks for listening! If ya dug the show, like it, share it, tell a friend, subscribe, and above all, keep the faith and be kind to one another.

Episode 182: Ali Slater

On episode 182 of March Forth with Mike Bauman, Mike chats with Ali Slater!
Based in LA via NYC, Ali is a singer-songwriter in the pop-punk/emo vein who has been into music since she was a child. Following the deaths of a coworker and her high school music teacher Joe Carbone during the pandemic, Ali kickstarted her music dreams in a big way.
On 4/8/22, Ali released her debut EP entitled LUS!D. Fueled by catchy, well-written anthems like "Over It" (featuring Jacky Vincent) and the title track, the five-track EP showed off Ali's melodic and songwriting abilities, putting her on the radar of pop-punk and emo fans.
Since her debut, Ali has continued to release new singles and covers to bring listeners into what she calls the Ali-Verse. With three different characters/alter egos - Princess Ali, Miseria (Missy), and Hallie - Ali takes listeners on a personal trip in the Ali-Verse with her music and mental health journey on her latest releases. The latest of those is a cover of "Love the Way You Lie, Pt. 2" from Rhianna and Eminem, which just dropped on June 6th.
In this conversation, Ali speaks with Mike about her latest batch of songs and accompanying music videos with the Ali-Verse, her mental health journey with Bipolar II disorder, exploring those aspects of herself through her music, people who have encouraged and helped her along the way, inspiration from Lady Gaga, growing her audience via livestreams on Twitch and TikTok, and more.
This episode also features the song "Round The Ring" from Ali Slater, available where you get your music!
Follow Ali on Instagram @alislaterofficial. To stay up-to-date with Ali, visit https://linktr.ee/alislater.
Follow Mike on Instagram @marchforthpod. To stay up-to-date on the podcast and learn more about Mike, visit https://linktr.ee/marchforthpod.
If you or someone you know needs mental health support, please visit https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists.
Thanks for listening! If ya dug the show, like it, share it, tell a friend, subscribe, and above all, keep the faith and be kind to one another.

Episode 181: Resider

On episode 181 of March Forth with Mike Bauman, Mike chats with Resider!
Resider is a 4-piece Southern California nu-metalcore band who just dropped their new EP entitled SHADE on July 25th.
Fusing elements of nu-metal and metalcore from both past and present, Resider's aggressive and emotive sound is one that's already capturing the attention of heavy music fans. Since releasing their first single "SPORE BREATH" back in 2022, Resider has continued to hone their craft, building an audience through energetic live shows and powerful songs. That hard work has led to a big 2025 so far for the band.
In February, Resider announced their signing with Overshadow, releasing multiple singles leading up to the release of SHADE. One of those singles is "Gasfight," which is nearing 100,000 streams on Spotify alone as of this episode's release. On August 2nd, Resider will perform at Brick by Brick in San Diego, California for their EP release show with The Undertaking!, Hyper Vigilant, and Fire & Flesh.
On this episode, AJ Loera (guitar) and Will Wehrung (vocals) talk with Mike about how they got into heavy music, including influences and inspiration ranging from the likes of Linkin Park, to All That Remains, Parkway Drive, and Void of Vision, developing their sound with Resider, linking up with Joe Tichy and Overshadow, making a cohesive creative output with SHADE, music as a way to express darker emotions, and more.
This episode also features the song "Ishimura" from Resider off their new EP SHADE, available where you get your music!
Follow Resider on Instagram @residerofficial. To stay up-to-date with Resider and go see them live, visit https://linktr.ee/resideordie.
Follow Mike on Instagram @marchforthpod. To stay up-to-date on the podcast and learn more about Mike, visit https://linktr.ee/marchforthpod.
If you or someone you know needs mental health resources, please visit the following links: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us; https://988lifeline.org/
Thanks for listening! If ya dug the show, like it, share it, tell a friend, subscribe, and above all, keep the faith and be kind to one another.

Episode 180: Free Friends

On episode 180 of March Forth with Mike Bauman, Mike chats with Free Friends!
Comprised of Ben DeHan (vocals/guitar), Lauren "Lo" DeHan (vocals/cello), and Gil Perez (drums), Free Friends is a pop punk/emo trio from Baltimore, Maryland that formed in 2023. Since their inception, Free Friends has captured the attention of pop punk and emo fans with their own unique blend of emotion, energy, Lo's cello, Gil's chops on the kit, and Ben's lyrics and riffs. 
From releasing new singles, making music videos, and playing live gigs, Free Friends has been on the grind since first forming back in May, 2023. Over the years, the band has collaborated with the likes of Makeout, Hit The Lights, glimmers, The Dangerous Summer, Pine Creek Academy, The Great Heights Band, and High Wire, among others.
In 2024, Free Friends dropped their debut EP entitled Sweet Nothing, which was produced by Matt Malpass (Blink-182, Magnolia Park), Eric Taft (The Great Heights Band), and Bryan Czap (The Dangerous Summer). Their latest single entitled "Toxic Trait" with Pine Creek Academy just dropped on May 28th. 
This August, Free Friends will release their debut, full-length album. Prior to that, they're going to hit the road July 25-27 for "The Poolside Maintenance Tour" with Pine Creek Academy, and August 14-23 for the "Now That's What I Call Pop Punk Tour, Vol. 1" with Mighty Vices and Break Out Day.
In this episode, Ben, Lauren, and Gil talk with Mike about forming Free Friends, persevering through the challenges of being a band in the modern-day music scene, making their upcoming LP, hitting the road this summer with their friends, not quitting on your dreams, and more.
This episode also features the song "Toxic Trait" from Free Friends and Pine Creek Academy, available where you get your music!
Follow Free Friends on Instagram @freefriendsrock. To stay up-to-date with Free Friends and go see them on tour this summer, visit https://freefriendsrock.com/.
Follow Mike on Instagram @marchforthpod. To stay up-to-date on the podcast and learn more about Mike, visit https://linktr.ee/marchforthpod.
If you or someone you know needs mental health resources, please visit the following links: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us; https://988lifeline.org/
Thanks for listening! If ya dug the show, like it, share it, tell a friend, subscribe, and above all, keep the faith and be kind to one another.

Episode 179: Jesse Weber of The Failsafe

On this episode of March Forth with Mike Bauman, Mike chats with Jesse Weber of The Failsafe!
The Failsafe is a modern rock band that melds soaring riffs, powerful choruses, electronic elements, and pop-inspired vocals for a sound that's both catchy and filled with conviction. Since dropping their LP Erasing Color in 2019, The Failsafe has a musical catalog that's topped 1 million streams. Over the years, they've shard the stage with the likes of Nonpoint, Skillet, Drowning Pool, Saliva, Adelitas Way and Saving Abel, among others.
On June 27th, The Failsafe dropped their latest single, a cover of Panic At The Disco's "The Ballad of Mona Lisa." The cover will be featured on Ghost Killer Entertainment's Pop Goes Hardcore Volume 3 playlist, which releases July 4th.
The Failsafe has upcoming tour dates this July, including 7/18 at Rockfest in Cadott, Wisconsin, and a headlining performance 7/25 at Booney Bash Fest in Gould City, Michigan.
On this episode, Jesse returns to talk with Mike about The Failsafe's cover of "The Ballad of Mona Lisa," finding his rock voice after starting out in choir when he was younger, including being able to sing "Pardon Me" from Incubus, his new covers channel, the challenges of music marketing for bands today, upcoming tour dates with The Failsafe, and more.
This episode also features the aforementioned cover of "The Ballad of Mona Lisa" from The Failsafe, available where you get your music!
Follow The Failsafe on Instagram @wearethefailsafe. Follow Jesse @thefailsafejesse and @jesse_vox.wav. To stay up-to-date with The Failsafe and check out their upcoming tour dates, visit https://wearethefailsafe.com/.
Follow Mike on Instagram @marchforthpod. To stay up-to-date on the podcast and learn more about Mike, visit https://linktr.ee/marchforthpod.
If you or someone you know needs mental health resources, please visit the following links: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us; https://988lifeline.org/
Thanks for listening! If ya dug the show, like it, share it, tell a friend, subscribe, and above all, keep the faith and be kind to one another.

Episode 178: Wes Anderson

On episode 178 of March Forth with Mike Bauman, Mike chats with guitarist Wes Anderson!
Based in Baltimore, Maryland, Wes is a guitarist who has been playing music for over 25 years. Since 2018, Wes has focused on his solo work, collaborating with artists from the hip hop, rock, alternative, and numetal genres.
By 2024, Wes' musical collaborations had amassed over 500,000 streams. Among those collaborations are the likes of P-Nut (311), Howi and Donald Spangler (Ballyhoo!), Lyrics Born, Duke Sims, Kosha Dillz, Marlon Asher, King Green, DJ Lethal (Limp Bizkit), Jared Gomes (Hed PE), Trey Miller (Cherie Amour), Bevin Hamilton, The Kaleidoscope Kid, MC Bravado, Blake G, and Madalen Duke, among others.
On May 23rd, Wes dropped his compilation album entitled destination nowhere, which was accompanied by two new singles the day of the release: the title track with RDGLDGRN, and "chillin on the couch" with Blake G and Madalen Duke.
In this episode, Wes talks with Mike about the decision to put together his compilation record destination nowhere, music marketing strategy for his releases, his favorite albums from growing up (is Slipknot's Iowa the heaviest album of the 21st Century?), attending the Turnstile show at Wyman Park Dell in Baltimore, future music in the works, making decisions that would make the 8-year-old you proud, and more.
This episode also features the title track off destination nowhere from Wes Anderson and RDGLDGRN, available where you get your music!
Follow Wes on Instagram @songsbywes. To keep up-to-date on the latest with Wes, head over to https://wesandersonmusic.com/.
Follow Mike on Instagram @marchforthpod. To stay up-to-date on the podcast and learn more about Mike, visit https://linktr.ee/marchforthpod.
Thanks for listening! If ya dug the show, like it, share it, tell a friend, subscribe, and above all, keep the faith and be kind to one another.

Episode 177: Firmament

On episode 177 of March Forth with Mike Bauman, Mike chats with Firmament!
Hailing from Canton, Ohio, Firmament is a melodic, metalcore/progressive rock duo comprised of brothers Eric and Brandon Carbenia. Formed in 2014, Firmament released their debut LP entitled Spirit of Place in 2018. The album received critical acclaim and drew the band comparisons to the likes of Tool, Porcupine Tree, and The Contortionist.
Having persevered through lineup changes, financial struggles, personal hardships, and a hiatus marked by a relocation to Austin, Texas, Firmament moved back to Ohio in 2023. On May 2nd, they dropped their sophomore album entitled A New World If You Can Take It, which was self-produced by the Carbenia brothers, and mastered by Kris Crummett and Jens Bogren. The 17-song effort takes listeners on a musical journey that explores themes of personal loss, mysticism, and philosophy, all while fusing Firmament's own blend of alternative rock, modern metalcore, and progressive post-hardcore. 
In this episode, Eric and Brandon talk with Mike about how they got into music, including music theory and music production, their relocation to Austin, learning about different people and lifestyles, life in Ohio and the rust belt, the stories and themes which helped inspire A New World If You Can Take It, a visit to New Vrindaban in West Virginia, how they incorporate those stories and elements in their music, and more.
This episode also features the song "Liquid Lush" off A New World If You Can Take It from Firmament, available where you get your music!
Follow Firmament on Instagram @firmamentband. To stay up-to-date with Firmament, visit https://ffm.to/firmamentband.
Follow Mike on Instagram @marchforthpod. To stay up-to-date on the podcast and learn more about Mike, visit https://linktr.ee/marchforthpod.
If you or someone you know needs mental health resources, please visit the following links: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us; https://988lifeline.org/
Thanks for listening! If ya dug the show, like it, share it, tell a friend, subscribe, and above all, keep the faith and be kind to one another.

Episode 176: Bury the Masses

On episode 176 of March Forth with Mike Bauman, Mike chats with Tai of Bury the Masses!
With influences like Dropout Kings, Limp Bizkit, and System Of A Down, Bury the Masses has a blend of trap metal, nu-metal, and rap that's already capturing the attention of music fans in a short period of time. Fronted by rapper Berran Lee, Bury the Masses dropped their debut single "Hitta Lick" on April 18th. Recorded with Everest Studios, the accompanying music video for "Hitta Lick" has already amassed nearly 80,000 views on YouTube.
With masked identities outside of Lee, Tai of Bury the Masses joins Mike in this episode to discuss the band's genesis, working with Everest Studios, annoying alpacas, how they teamed up with Lee, future collaborations, including a track with Black Cat Bill of Dropout Kings, and more. 
This episode also features "Hitta Lick" from Bury the Masses and Berran Lee, available where you get your music! 
Follow Tai on TikTok @tai.burythemasses. To stay up-to-date with Bury the Masses, visit https://linktr.ee/burythemasses. To watch the music video for "Hitta Lick," visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F9tYKCBy6Zw.
Follow Mike on Instagram @marchforthpod. To stay up-to-date on the podcast and learn more about Mike, visit https://linktr.ee/marchforthpod.
Thanks for listening! If ya dug the show, like it, share it, tell a friend, subscribe, and above all, keep the faith and be kind to one another.

Episode 175: Julia Who

On episode 175 of March Forth with Mike Bauman, Mike chats with Julia Who!
Originally from Louisville, Kentucky, Julia Who is a Nashville-based singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. In a vibrant, local Nashville music scene, Julia plays bass live for the Music City-based Sleep Nation, in addition to making her own music.
On May 7th, Julia released her solo EP entitled Shadow Self-Portrait. The 5-song EP is a very personal, introspective listen that deals in part with Julia's self-reflection on her past relationships, addiction, and growth.
In this episode, Julia and Mike discuss how Julia got into music at a young age back home in Kentucky, eventually learning the bass, the pain she dealt with after a breakup from a long-term relationship, personal regrets on her healing journey, addiction, sobriety, moving to the Music City, the local Nashville music scene, the making of Shadow Self-Portrait, feeling unlovable, relationships, and more.
This episode also features the song "Evidence" off Shadow Self-Portrait from Julia Who, available where you get your music!
Follow Julia Who on Instagram @juliawhotunes. To listen to Shadow Self-Portrait, visit https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/juliawho/shadow-self-portrait/.
Follow Mike on Instagram @marchforthpod. To stay up-to-date on the podcast and learn more about Mike, visit https://linktr.ee/marchforthpod.
This episode is dedicated to Adam Ramey of Dropout Kings. If you or someone you know needs mental health resources, please visit the following links: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us; https://988lifeline.org/
Thanks for listening! If ya dug the show, like it, share it, tell a friend, subscribe, and above all, keep the faith and be kind to one another.