Let Us Know What You Think of the Show!

Date: November 5, 2025
Name of podcast: Backstage Pass Radio
S9: E9: Annika Catharina - Finding A Voice After The Fall


SHOW SUMMARY:
The high you chase onstage feels different after you’ve had to fight for your voice. That’s where our conversation with Canadian country artist Annika Catharina begins: a moped crash in Southeast Asia, a shattered jaw, months of silence, and a slow, stubborn climb back to singing. What could have ended a dream turned into perspective that colors every line she writes and every chorus she belts.

We walk through Annika’s roots on a BC farm—sports teams, family skits, and a house filled with Elton John and classic rock—then hit the turning point: discovering Patsy Cline’s delivery before she even called it “country.” From there, the sound evolved. Indie and alt-rock influences blend with modern Nashville polish, giving her debut EP, You and Me, a clean, hook-forward lift. She breaks down her hybrid writing process—ideas alone, voice memos and simple chords, then co-writes that unlock angles she’d never find solo. And we go deep on Love and Hate: the reality-TV spark, the teenage push-pull energy, the producers who heard a hit in a bare demo, and the radio momentum that followed.

Annika also shares how national recognition changed the game. As a Top 8 artist in SiriusXM’s Top of the Country, she recorded at Bryan Adams’ Vancouver studio, shot a pro performance video, and saw doors swing open across Canada. She lights up describing the first time a friend texted “You’re on the radio,” and the community pride that came with it. Then we look ahead: Undercovers, the new single Better Hands that finally lets her sing about the love she’s living, and the next era of confident, sassy, stage-ready tracks. There’s a dream stage, too—Vancouver’s Commodore Ballroom on February 14—proof that the grind, the gut checks, and the gratitude are paying off.

If you love country storytelling with a modern edge, honest lyrics, and choruses that land clean, you’ll connect with Annika’s journey. Hit play, save your favorite song, and tell us which lyric hit hardest. And if you’re feeling the show, subscribe, leave a rating, and share this episode with someone who needs a reminder to keep going.

Sponsor Link:
WWW.ECOTRIC.COM
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Backstage Pass Radio Social Media Handles:
Facebook - @backstagepassradiopodcast @randyhulseymusic
Instagram - @Backstagepassradio @randyhulseymusic
Twitter - @backstagepassPC @rhulseymusic
Website - backstagepassradio.com and randyhulsey.com

Artist(s) Web Page

www.annikacatharina.com

Call to action
We ask our listeners to like, share, and subscribe to the show and the artist's social media pages. This enables us to continue pushing great content to the consumer.

Thank you for being a part of Backstage Pass Radio

Your Host,
Randy Hulsey

Let Us Know What You Think of the Show!

Date: October 18, 2025
Name of podcast: Backstage Pass Radio
S9: E8: Jim Odom (LeRoux) - The Presonus Matermind


SHOW SUMMARY:
Ever wonder how a touring guitarist becomes a tech founder, sells to Fender, then jumps right back into producing records? That’s the arc we trace with Jim Odom—guitarist for Louisiana’s LeRoux and co‑founder of Presonus—who opens up about the craft of recording, the grit of the Gulf Coast scene, and the magic that only happens when players share a room and a downbeat.

We dig into the making of a new album with blues powerhouse Jonathan “Boogie” Long, why Jim still chases the sound of a real console, and how a smart session band can lift a song in a single take. Jim pulls back the curtain on Studio One’s origins, the rocket ride of a NAMM breakthrough, and the decision to sell Presonus to Fender after years of global growth. The stories stretch from pine‑lined Studio in the Country, where Kansas and Dirty Dancing cuts took shape, to present‑day plans with Miracle Media, his label focused on honest performances and songs built to last.

LeRoux fans get a feast: memories of Jeff Pollard’s soaring voice, Fergie Frederiksen’s effortless high notes, and the late Tony Haselden’s razor-sharp lyrics. Jim teases a vintage live release from the late 70s, and shares why the band is refreshing its show toward the rock energy of Up and So Fired Up with current singer Jeff McCarty. We also wade into AI’s impact on music—training on copyrighted catalogs, the uncanny feel of generated tracks, and why listeners will keep seeking the human touch in phrasing, tone, and time.

If you love the crossroads where songwriting, recording, and innovation meet, you’ll feel right at home. Tap play, follow LeRoux on Facebook and www.leroux.band, and if the conversation hits a chord, share it with a friend and leave a quick review—what LeRoux era do you want to hear live next?

Sponsor Link:
WWW.ECOTRIC.COM
WWW.SIGNAD.COM
WWW.RUNWAYAUDIO.COM

Backstage Pass Radio Social Media Handles:
Facebook - @backstagepassradiopodcast @randyhulseymusic
Instagram - @Backstagepassradio @randyhulseymusic
Twitter - @backstagepassPC @rhulseymusic
Website - backstagepassradio.com and randyhulsey.com

Artist(s) Web Page

www.leroux.band

Call to action
We ask our listeners to like, share, and subscribe to the show and the artist's social media pages. This enables us to continue pushing great content to the consumer.

Thank you for being a part of Backstage Pass Radio

Your Host,
Randy Hulsey

Let Us Know What You Think of the Show!

Date: October 3, 2025
Name of podcast: Backstage Pass Radio
S9: E7 - Russ DeLeon - Sticks & Kicks


SHOW SUMMARY:
The visual timekeeper sits back on his throne, reflecting on a life measured in beats, fills, and grooves. "Every show I ask myself what am I doing?" confesses Russ DeLeon, drummer for tribute bands Double Vision and Miracles. "I should be at home, but after we play—oh yeah, it was great."

This profound duality defines Russ' musical journey, which began in Houston's Northside neighborhoods, where his siblings brought home Led Zeppelin and Kiss albums that sparked his percussion passion. From witnessing Metallica's Kill 'Em All tour at legendary Cardi's to joining metal band Hellstar and touring Europe where they "treated us like rock stars," Russ' story traverses four decades of Houston's vibrant music scene.

With refreshing candor, Russ discusses the physical demands of drumming at 56, the surprising joy of performing drum solos he once dismissed, and the technological evolution that's transformed how musicians learn. "Kids these days have it made," he observes. "You can see a 10-year-old that is so awesome." Yet there's wisdom in his approach to balancing music with family life—returning home from tours to take out garbage and walking the dogs with his supportive wife Shelly, who surprises him with personalized drumsticks and understands his need to perform.

Now splitting his time between Double Vision (Foreigner tribute) and the newer Miracles (Jefferson Starship tribute), Russ finds renewed purpose in each performance. "We're getting older, let's keep jamming as much as we can," his bandmate reminds him—words that resonate with musicians everywhere who refuse to set down their instruments despite life's mounting responsibilities. Because when that final cymbal crash fades and the crowd roars, the answer to "why keep doing this?" becomes crystal clear.

Tune in for an intimate conversation about perseverance, passion, and finding balance between the spotlight and everyday life. The beat goes on—and so does Russ De Leon.

Sponsor Link:
WWW.ECOTRIC.COM
WWW.SIGNAD.COM
WWW.RUNWAYAUDIO.COM

Backstage Pass Radio Social Media Handles:
Facebook - @backstagepassradiopodcast @randyhulseymusic
Instagram - @Backstagepassradio @randyhulseymusic
Twitter - @backstagepassPC @rhulseymusic
Website - backstagepassradio.com and randyhulsey.com

Artist(s) Web Page
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/russell.shelley.deleon
Miracles - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61557569377448
Double Vision HTX - https://www.facebook.com/doublevisionhtx

Call to action
We ask our listeners to like, share, and subscribe to the show and the artist's social media pages. This enables us to continue pushing great content to the consumer.

Thank you for being a part of Backstage Pass Radio

Your Host,
Randy Hulsey