March Forth with Mike Bauman

Episode 174: Steven Aripez

On this episode of March Forth with Mike Bauman, Mike chats with Steven Aripez!
Aripez is an independent filmmaker from Temecula, California whose love for movies dates back to his childhood. He started taking film seriously at the age of 16, initially as a writer.
Aripez wrote, produced, directed and edited his first feature film entitled The Director's Cut. Inspired in part by the style of movies like Clerks from Kevin Smith, The Director's Cut (2022) is a hangout murder mystery set in a video store. Additionally, Aripez has writer credits for The Morning Star, as well as writer and producer credits on Switchblade Holiday, and Rob, The Robber. He's also one of the brains behind The Temecula Valley Film Festival.
An avid fan of horror and comedy, the next adventure for Aripez is his raunchy comedy film entitled Romancing with Herp. A nod to gutter cinema in the vein of films like Knocked Up, Superbad, and The 40-Year-Old Virgin, Aripez launched a Kickstarter for Romancing with Herp that's active through 6/5/25 to help bring independent, raunchy romcoms back to the mainstream.
In this episode, Aripez talks with Mike about the genesis of Romancing with Herp, including the film's plot, getting Tober Williams, Nikki Howard, Nick Hibbitts, and Steve Bridges signed on to the movie, the Kickstarter perks for backers, his love for gutter cinema and raunchy comedies, his goal of getting a theatrical release for the movie, shooting the film locally in Temecula, and more.
Follow Aripez on Instagram @aripezfilms. Follow Romancing with Herp on Instagram @romancingwithherp.
To donate and help support the successful launch of Romancing with Herp, visit the Kickstarter link at https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/aripezfilms/romancing-with-herp. Every dollar counts!
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 173: Jay Williz of BLVKOUT

On episode 173 of March Forth with Mike Bauman, Mike chats with Jay Williz of BLVKOUT!
Hailing from Santa Rosa, California, BLVKOUT is a genre-defying band that draws influence from the likes of Memphis May Fire, Bring Me The Horizon, Bad Omens, and Spiritbox, while also mixing in pop influences. In a short period of time, BLVKOUT has already made noise in the punk and metal communities.
After racking up over 50,000 streams in their debut year, BLVKOUT was named "Best Punk Band of 2024" and "Best Metal Band of 2024" by The North Bay Bohemian. Additionally, frontman Jay Williz - who has an extensive catalog as a rapper - took home "Best Hip Hop Artist of 2024" after the release of his introspective rap album Exhume:Rebirth.
On April 18th, BLVKOUT released their explosive new single entitled "Save Yourself," which they worked on with audio engineer/producer/songwriter Nick Miller.
In this episode, Jay talks with Mike about how he got into music, his early influences as a rapper, his struggles that eventually led to his sobriety, his rap return after a five-year hiatus with Exhume:Rebirth, how MGK's Tickets To My Downfall album opened the door for him to pop punk, getting into metalcore and heavier music, what's on the horizon for BLVKOUT, and more.
This episode also features the aforementioned "Save Yourself" from BLVKOUT, available where you get your music!
Follow BLVKOUT on Instagram @blvkoutband. Follow Jay on Instagram @jay.blvk.
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 172: Marc Coronado (The Crowned)

On episode 172 of March Forth with Mike Bauman, Mike chats with Marc Coronado of The Crowned!
 
Formed in 2013, The Crowned is a Texas metal band that's toured internationally and created a fan base around the globe. With a dynamic, cinematic sound reminiscent of Slipknot and Born of Osiris, The Crowned has shared the stage with the likes of ill Nino, Flaw, Hellyeah, Wednesday 13, and the aforementioned Born of Osiris, among others. 
 
Since releasing their album Apparition in 2017, The Crowned has released numerous singles and accompanying music videos, each with a level of creativity that plays out more like a short film.
 
On February 21st, The Crowned released their latest single entitled "Set You Free" featuring Eddie Hermida (Suicide Silence, All Shall Perish). Inspired by the underground boxing scene from the film Snatch, the music video for "Set You Free" continues the cinematic quality of The Crowned's previous music videos. 
 
In this episode, Coronado (lead vocals, drums) talks with Mike about his early interest in percussion, his migration into metal and heavy music, The Crowned's formation, the creativity and effort that goes into the band's music videos, linking up with Eddie Hermida for "Set You Free," keeping a positive mindset no matter what life throws your way, and more.
 
This episode also features the aforementioned "Set You Free" featuring Eddie Hermida from The Crowned, available where you get your music!
 
Follow The Crowned on Instagram @thecrownedband. To stay up-to-date with The Crowned, visit https://www.thecrownedone.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 171: Sean Fitz

On episode 171 of March Forth with Mike Bauman, Mike chats with Sean Fitz!
Based in Arizona, Sean is a musician and singer with Midwest roots who has been active in the rock and metal genres for roughly a decade. He currently plays bass on tour in hard rock mainstays Otherwise, in addition to releasing his own solo music under Sean Fitz.
On March 7th, Sean released his new single entitled "Fake Relationships," an emo anthem that deals with the superficiality and misaligned nature of certain relationships.
In this episode, Sean returns to the pod to talk with Mike about the making of and meaning behind "Fake Relationships," his songwriting process, growing as an artist, what's on deck for his music in 2025, and more.
This episode also features the aforementioned "Fake Relationships" from Sean Fitz, available where you get your music!
Follow Sean on Instagram @fakefitz. To catch Sean on tour with Otherwise this summer, visit https://otherwisemusic.com/pages/tour-info-vip-tickets.
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 170: Adam Port, Pt. 2

On this episode of March Forth with Mike Bauman, Mike chats with Adam Port!
A New York-based photorealist artist, Adam is an athlete who's love for Michael Jordan and art goes back to his childhood growing up on Long Island. His artistic abilities eventually landed him at Syracuse University, where he studied Illustration at the College of Visual and Performing Arts.
After being discovered by a New York Knicks photographer in 2000, Adam earned a prestigious licensing agreement with the NBA. Over the years, the client list for his art has included the likes of Michael Jordan, Allen Iverson, Shaquille O'Neal, Carmelo Anthony, Justin Tuck, Jay-Z and the 40/40 Club, The Ludacris Foundation, and Elvis Presley Enterprises, Inc., among many others. Additionally, Adam's love for MJ and hoops has led to photorealistic paintings of numerous sneakers, including classics from the Air Jordan and Kobe lines.
In his return to the pod, Adam joins Mike for a Part 2 about to go more in depth about his journey and experiences as an artist. The two discuss his recent "New York or Nowhere" Patrick Ewing painting (his largest to date), this year marking the 25-year anniversary he was discovered by a New York Knicks photographer at Madison Square Garden, Carmin Romanelli giving him a dream opportunity with the NBA as a young artist, his experience at the 2009 Basketball Hall of Fame induction, including presenting his painting to that year's class and meeting Michael Jordan, meeting John Salley on The Best Damn Sports Show Period, and more. 
Follow Adam on Instagram @artofadamport. To learn more about Adam and check out his portfolio, visit https://adamport.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.
This episode is dedicated to the late Mik Gonzales and Mike Jameson of Toledo Sports Network.

Episode 169: Sergio Vega (A Moments Notice)

On this episode of March Forth with Mike Bauman, Mike chats with Sergio Vega of A Moments Notice!
A Moments Notice is a metalcore band from Sacramento, California. Originally started as a solo project for vocalist Greg Molina back in 2021, A Moments Notice eventually became a full band and is now comprised of Vega (bass), Molina (vocals), Thomas Ventura (guitar), and Jesse Yen (drums).
Since the band's inception, A Moments Notice has built their name through strong songwriting and live shows. Over the years, the band has played with the likes of A Skylit Drive, Fallujah, Saltwound, and Enterprise Earth, among others. In 2022, A Moments Notice dropped their debut EP entitled Lotus, and has since released numerous singles, the latest of which is "Blood War." In December 2024, the band announced their signing to Overshadow. 
In this episode, Sergio talks with Mike about how he got into metal, being diagnosed with diabetes at 2-years-old and the challenges of being a diabetic, not letting dialysis stop him from chasing his dreams with music, joining A Moments Notice, signing with Joe Tichy and Overshadow, working with Nick Miller, their shared love for Deftones, and more.
This episode also features the new single "Blood War" from A Moments Notice, available where you get your music!
Follow Sergio on Instagram @sergio_amn. Follow A Moments Notice on Instagram @amomentsnoticeofficial. To stay up-to-date with A Moments Notice, visit https://www.amomentsnoticeofficial.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 168: Set The Sun

On this episode of March Forth with Mike Bauman, Mike chats with Arc of Set The Sun!
Comprised of friends Arc and Eris, Set The Sun is a modern metal outfit whose sound blends elements of electronic, metalcore, progressive rock, numetal, and industrial for a cinematic and emotive listening experience. The duo collaborates with other talented musicians they reference as "The Collective," which includes the likes of Ryan Clark (Demon Hunter), Clint Lowery (Sevendust), DJ Lethal (Limp Bizkit), Michael Lessard (The Contortionist), and producer Forrester Savell, among others.
In July 2022, Set The Sun dropped their debut EP entitled In Absentia, Vol. 1. That initial release resonated with heavy music fans, and included songs like "The Way Back" (featuring DJ Lethal & TELLE) and "Invisible" (featuring Ryan Clark).
In November 2023, Set The Sun released their debut LP entitled At War. Featuring everything from the emotional tribute track to Chester Bennington in "A Better Way To Bleed," to the thunderous chorus in "The Truth" with Clint Lowery, and the introspective "The Impossible," the debut record was a hit with modern rock fans. Numerous songs from the record went on to rack up hundreds of thousands of streams on Spotify alone. By the end of 2023, Set The Sun's catalog topped 1 million streams.
That momentum has continued into 2025 for Set The Sun. After dropping a handful of remixed and reimagined songs in 2024, Set The Sun again teamed up with Ryan Clark of Demon Hunter for a joint release with their latest single "Falling Apart." Released on February 7th, "Falling Apart" has already amassed north of 261,000 streams on Spotify alone, while the accompanying music video has over 113,000 views on YouTube.
In this episode, Arc talks with Mike about the early success of "Falling Apart," what it's been like to team up with dream collaborators like the aforementioned Ryan Clark and Clint Lowery, among others, his love for Hans Zimmer and film scores, incorporating that epic and cinematic experience into Set The Sun's music, new music in the works, chasing your dreams, and more.
This episode also features the new single "Falling Apart" from Set The Sun and Demon Hunter, available where you get your music!
Follow Set The Sun on Instagram @setthesunband. To stay up-to-date with Set The Sun, visit https://www.setthesun.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 167: Destined for Doom

On this episode of March Forth with Mike Bauman, Mike chats with Destined for Doom!
Destined for Doom is a new deathcore band from Salem, Massachusetts. With influences ranging from Chelsea Grin, to Bring Me The Horizon, Whitechapel, Thy Art Is Murder, Suicide Silence, Signs of the Swarm, and Devitalized, among others, Destined for Doom is excited to unleash their brand of deathcore and heavy music into the world soon.
On 3/14, Destined for Doom will release their debut single entitled "Vindictive." The song is about a painful and emotionally abusive relationship that vocalist Trent Wilson endured. Recorded with Robbie Litchfield (Saving Vice, Hell Here Studios), the single is the first of more new music to come from Destined for Doom.
In this episode, Trent and Danny Busa of Destined for Doom talk with Mike about how they got into heavy music, their friendship and the formation of the band, working with Robbie Litchfield and Tyler Small of Saving Vice, persevering through self-doubt, the rich history of successful bands and metalcore titans from Massachusetts and the Northeast, and more.
Follow Destined for Doom on Instagram @destinedfordoomma. To presave their debut single "Vindictive" and stay-up-to-date with the band, visit https://beacons.ai/destinedfordoom.
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 166: Barry Donegan

On this episode of March Forth with Mike Bauman, Mike chats with Barry Donegan!
Hailing from Nashville, Tennessee, Barry is a personal trainer and vocalist of Look What I Did. Established in 2001, Look What I Did is a genre-clashing, high energy band from the Music City that's toured with everybody from the likes of Drop Dead, Gorgeous, to Folly, to The Human Abstract, among others.
Nearly two-and-half decades since the band's inception, Barry and Look What I Did are as energized as they've ever been. With musical elements ranging from mathcore, to metal, to pop, to punk, to post hardcore and more, the band's live show intensity and musicianship is hard to match.
In this episode, Barry talks with Mike about growing up as a young rebel with a DJ dad in 80s Nashville, seeing Ozzy and Alice In Chains at a young age, his love for music, the adventurous musical journey of Look What I Did, booking and hanging with Mastodon in their early days, the importance of challenging yourself and bathing in discomfort, staying physically fit and getting stronger as he gets older, basketball's life lessons that also translate to his onstage confidence, being a sneakerhead with taste, and more.
This episode also features the song "Is, Was, And Will Be" off the album Minuteman For The Moment from Look What I Did, available where you get your music!
Follow Barry on Instagram @barrydonegan. Follow Look What I Did on Instagram @lookwhatididjams.
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 165: Nick Karcher

On this episode of March Forth with Mike Bauman, Mike chats with Nick Karcher!
Hailing from Chicago, Nick Karcher is a singer-songwriter in the pop punk vein who has loved music since childhood. Nick went from singing Avril Lavigne songs as a kid to working with one of her multi-platinum producers in Michael Bono (Avril Lavigne, Blink-182, Mod Sun, The Hunna, TSTY) as an adult.
In 2021, Nick turned heads in the pop punk realm with his single "How to Lose a Guy." Since then, Nick has released numerous singles and continues to build a following, garnering attention from the likes of Ghost Killer Entertainment, Scene Daddy, and New Noise Magazine, among others.
In May 2024, he dropped the single entitled "Blame it on the Universe" about a breakup he went through. That July, Karcher teamed up with We The Kings for a remix of the song called "BIOTU." The track went on to dominate the All New Rock editorial playlist on Spotify and has since racked up over 200,000 streams across all platforms.
On February 7th, Karcher released his latest single entitled "Not Another Song Called Perfect" with an accompanying music video, an anthemic love song that's also a playful nod to early 2000s parody films.
In this episode, Nick talks with Mike about his early love for singing and Avril Lavigne, the adversity he faced at a young age with coming out, persevering through that bullying and negativity to chase his dreams, working with the talented Michael Bono, the meaning behind "Not Another Song Called Perfect," horror movies, future plans, and more.
This episode also features the aforementioned "Not Another Song Called Perfect" from Nick Karcher, available where you get your music!
Follow Nick Karcher on Instagram @itsnickkarcher. To stay up-to-date with Nick, visit https://nickkarcher.com/. To watch the music video for "Not Another Song Called Perfect," visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x_rSXah2MAY.
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.