Spout Podcast

On this episode of Spout, host Nick Major sits down with genre-bending artist Charlotte Sands for a wide-open conversation about touring, creativity, independence, and the strange, exhilarating world of being a musician in 2025. Charlotte opens up about her move from Nashville to LA, why touring feels like her “dream reality,” and how she balances stimulation, routine, and the chaos of life on the road. She and Nick swap travel-hacks (including an inflatable neck pillow demo), laugh about Halloween guilt, and dive into what it’s like to thrive creatively in an era where social media demands nonstop output. They unpack Charlotte’s sonic evolution—from rock-leaning releases to acoustic influences and experimental pop—plus the stories behind her latest singles “Afterlife,” “Hush,” and more. Charlotte shares how she approaches genre without limits, what inspires her writing, and how she unexpectedly ended up co-writing “In My Head” for Demi Lovato. The conversation also explores her childhood music roots, the blue-hair origin story, her dad’s DIY home studio, touring with Youngblud, collaborating with The Maine and Taking Back Sunday, and what it actually felt like to attend (and play) Warped Tour for the very first time. Charlotte also teases new music, new shows, and what fans can expect heading into 2026—plus an honest look at the pressure, thrill, and gratitude that drive her as an independent artist. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode of Spout, host Tamara Dhia sits down with rising alt-pop force Sophie Powers—an artist redefining what it means to build a world, an aesthetic, and a career completely on her own terms. Sophie opens up about the wave of singles kicking off her 2025, why her long-awaited album won’t land until 2026, and how she’s building an entire sonic and visual universe to match it. She breaks down the five-year journey behind her deeply personal new single “Spiderwebs,” the emotional weight she carried while writing it, and what it feels like to finally release a track rooted in survival, therapy, and truth. From her viral Crash Adams freestyle (60M+ views), to directing her own visuals, to shooting music videos on an iPhone, to performing K-Pop collabs on festival stages in Korea, Sophie details the process, discipline, and surprising side quests that shape her artistry. She opens up about going independent after being dropped, the reality of financing and controlling her work, and why she’s never been more creatively free. They also get into fan culture, deadpan delivery, touring with YUNGBLUD, EDM roots, the story behind Grimes’ Coachella-played remix, and yes—how she ended up spending eight hours in a mud tank promoting her single “Muddy.” Plus: K-Pop fandoms, hot chocolate reviews, performing at Warp Tour Orlando, and a teaser about a major upcoming collaboration dropping this December. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ashnikko joins Nick Major for a wildly fun and unexpectedly heartfelt deep dive into Smooches, her bold new era filled with bunny-coded visuals, body-horror buck teeth, alter-egos, and the most personal music of her career. In this episode, Ashnikko opens up about:    •   The making of Smooches, her most autobiographical album yet    •   How Sunday Smooch became the mischievous lead character of the Smooch World universe    •   Learning to create from joy instead of pressure (and why TikTok virality can be a trap)    •   The surprising stories behind “It Girl,” “Lip Smacker,” “Skin Cleared,” and her favorite lyrics    •   Her evolution from teenage poet to global touring artist    •   How heartbreak, intuition, and healing shaped the new music    •   The ambitious vision for her upcoming Smooch World Tour—think musical theater meets cabaret meets fever-dream circus    •   Her love of side quests: fossil hunting, sword-making, crafts with her mom, pottery, and building household items from scratch    •   Life on the road with her dog Wednesday (aka Winnie Penny Chickadee Chicken Chach Chicken Girl) It’s Ashnikko like you’ve never heard her—witty, introspective, creatively unhinged, and fully in command of her artistic universe. If you’re a fan of bold pop, world-building artists, or creative reinvention, this episode is a must-listen. Check out Smooches everywhere now and catch Ashnikko on tour across the globe. ⁠https://www.skims.com⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Days before his debut album There I Go dropped, rising country artist Vincent Mason sits down with Tamara Dhia to talk about the three-year journey behind the record and how heartbreak, hustle, and a John Mayer co-sign helped shape it. Mason opens up about writing his fastest-growing single “Damn I Do,” what he learned touring with Luke Bryan, and why playing the Grand Ole Opry still makes him nervous. He also shares stories from the road, the song that changed everything (“How Is a Dance Floor”), and how Peyton Manning ended up in one of his tour announcement videos. Highlights: The story behind There I Go and its emotional timeline John Mayer calling his songwriting “101” Lessons from Luke Bryan, Parker McCollum & Riley Green From opener to headliner: selling out How Is a Dance Floor Tour The Grand Ole Opry moment that left him speechless Shop SKIMS Fits Everybody collection at https://www.skims.com/spout⁠ #skimspartner Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Singer-songwriter Lily Lane joins Nick Major on Spout to talk about her bold new era and upcoming EP, Domesticated— a cheeky, soulful reflection on marriage, womanhood, and redefining what “happily ever after” really means. Lily opens up about the inspiration behind her latest singles “Don’t Stop,” “Crybaby,” and “Reciprocation,” and why her favorite unreleased track, “Amnesia,” might be her most personal yet. She shares how her love of Motown shaped her sound, how growing up in Boston led her to NYU’s Clive Davis Institute, and why she’ll always be “extra gluten, please.” From collecting stop-sign purses to writing Christmas songs to being proposed to mid–wiffle ball game, Lily’s storytelling is as colorful as her music. Plus, she and Nick dive into the nostalgia of Warped Tour, Kelly Clarkson’s legacy, and what it means to make music that lasts longer than the algorithm. Stream Lily Lane’s Domesticated EP, out November 28th. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices