Acoustic Conversations TruStory FM

“Leave Oregon. It’s the first song I play when I hit the stage in Nashville … but it really is OH-re-gon,” Tyler Stenson tells us, noting with pride that even though he’s moved to Nashville, he remembers his roots. He’s in Portland for a CD release tour, giving us the honor of a drive-by catch-up session with five new songs and a raft of new experiences to share..

"When I was a kid, I think it was when I was in high school ... I made this decision that I wanted to start focusing on really doing things, instead of just watching," says Matthew Price. So he learned to juggle. And play the guitar. And to write music. We caught up with Matt on the heels of the release of his first EP, "Stranded." We hope you enjoy the show, and drop by our Facebook Fan page at facebook.com/acousticconversations.

If there's a gimmick to Jake Oken-Berg, it's the run for Mayor. That's what gets you to ask, what's up with this guy? But that's where the gimmick ends. Because it turns out, he's as stone serious about politics as he is about his music. And when you close your eyes and Jake starts to play, you hear clearly why any loss to politics is a big win for music. He is hard on the keys, but he's not a Ben Folds-pounder. He's deliberate in his playing and laser-focused in his songwriting, pressing against the boundaries of piano pop.

"For me, the musicians that I like are the ones that are somehow tapping into the universe," says James Jeffrey-West. And he says it with total and complete authenticity. He says it, too, while talking about Buddy Guy and Jimmy Hendrix, among other musical influences. We hope you enjoy the show this week with Portland's James Jeffrey-West.

"I've gotten really into Dollhouse," says Lisa Forkish. "My whole family is obsessed with Joss Whedon." And yet, somehow, her music stands in stark contrast this geek cred. Forkish exists deeply. Her songs are calculated and considerate, showing off her broad talent at the piano. Enjoy the show, and the six live tracks we recorded with Lisa, all free to subscribers in iTunes or our newsletter.

"I think a lot of my earlier songs were all about relationships. Mostly that went wrong," says Justin Jude of his early songwriting. Much is going right for Jude, whose tone and tenor has taken on a rich storytelling vibe that makes his music varied and entertaining across his catalog. Enjoy the show, and the six live tracks we recorded with Justin, all free to subscribers in iTunes, or our newsletter.