March Forth with Mike Bauman

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.