On this episode of Bringin’ It Backwards, Adam and Tera Lisicky sit down with fast-rising singer-songwriter Avery Lynch for an open and honest conversation about her remarkable journey from a small town in Pennsylvania to the heart of LA’s music scene. Avery opens up about how her musical gift was discovered at just five years old, when she could play songs by ear on her childhood keyboard, and how those early talents eventually led her to the Berklee College of Music—and some unconventional ways of making the most out of her college experience.

Avery reveals how hitting “post” on a TikTok clip changed everything, inviting her first brush with virality, a fiercely loyal fanbase, and the wild ride of refreshing the page as followers and views skyrocketed. She explains the inspiration behind her beloved "as Written" projects, sharing why stripping back her songs to their rawest, original form is a gift back to her fans and a return to her creative roots.

The interview takes us behind the scenes of Avery’s creative process, how she built an intensely dedicated fan community using Instagram’s Close Friends feature, the realities of navigating an unpredictable music industry, and the importance of sticking with your craft even when the algorithms—and the odds—shift against you.

If you’re an aspiring artist, this episode is packed with the kind of heartfelt, hard-won advice that only comes from someone who’s lived through the highs and lows of finding your voice in today’s unpredictable digital music landscape. Hit play, and don’t forget to subscribe to Bringin’ It Backwards for more interviews where musicians share the stories behind their success.

What does it take to grow up loving music in a non-musical household—and still carve your way onto one of heavy music’s most respected labels? On this episode of Bringin’ It Backwards, Adam and Tera Lisicky sit down with Joe from Lightworker for a no-holds-barred conversation about humble roots in Redwood City, navigating sketchy Bay Area venues as a teenager, and learning to channel creative urges through violin and guitar—even if it meant skipping lunch to buy new CDs.

Joe opens up about his evolution from writing songs alone to forming Lightworker, grinding through DIY releases, and the pivotal moment when Solid State Records offered them a deal just as they were wrapping up their debut album. We talk about the pressure and privilege of working with heavy-hitting producers like Daniel Gailey (Fit For A King, Phinehas) and Beau Burchell (Saosin) for two albums in a row, and how the creative process—marked by pandemic writer’s block and late-night artistic breakthroughs—helped shape Lightworker’s heavier, most personal record to date, How the Beautiful Decay.

Whether you’re an aspiring artist or just love a good behind-the-scenes story, this episode offers real talk about perseverance, DIY hustle, and what it means to “do the work” in an ever-changing music industry. Hit play to hear Joe’s journey from classical music as a kid to fronting one of the Bay Area’s fiercest heavy bands—and don’t forget to subscribe, follow, and join the Bringin’ It Backwards community for more conversations you won’t hear anywhere else.

What happens when an artist steps away from their craft, finds themselves again, and returns with a renewed sense of joy and creative purpose? On this episode of Bringin’ It Backwards, host Adam Lisicky reconnects with the incomparable Gavin Turek, just weeks after the release of her brand-new album, Diva of the People.

It’s been three years since Gavin first joined the show to talk about her debut album, Madam Gold—a time shaped by struggle, transformation, and the challenges of releasing music during the pandemic. In this candid conversation, Gavin shares how that era left her exhausted and questioning her path, leading her to take a much-needed break, travel abroad, and rediscover her passion for music on her own terms.

We dig into her journey growing up in LA surrounded by art, the all-in hustle of commuting to an arts high school, and how early MySpace connections shaped her career. Gavin opens up about fully trusting her vision, the power of working with new collaborators, and why Diva of the People marks both a return to her dance-focused roots and a reclaiming of the joy that first drew her to music.

If you’ve ever wondered how to keep your creative fire burning—especially through burnout, setbacks, and the pressure to conform—this episode is for you. Don’t miss Gavin’s inspiring advice for aspiring artists, her behind-the-scenes look at the indie album process, and her honest reflections on what it takes to sound exactly the way you hear yourself in your mind.

Listen now, subscribe, and be sure to follow us at @BringinBackPOD for more stories that bring you closer to the artists and music you love.