Neon Jazz Interviews

Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz Interview Series featuring Billboard-charting artist, author, musician, and podcaster Miist.

On this episode, we discuss the launch of her inspiring 2026 initiative, The Love Project, including the new single and video Love Will Show Us Our Way, along with her remarkable journey through music, writing, and personal transformation.

Miist's story is one of resilience, hope, and reinvention. Abandoned at the age of five, later facing a life-threatening health crisis in her late twenties, she discovered songwriting in her thirties despite having no formal musical training. That discovery became a turning point that transformed her life and inspired a creative mission centered on connection, compassion, and healing.

Within just a few years, Miist wrote more than 100 songs and became the first native Chinese artist to chart on Billboard's Pop/AC chart. Her work continues to inspire audiences worldwide through music, storytelling, and messages of hope.

We also discuss her new book, Make Me Smile with Miist, a unique short-form, music-integrated experience that explores how simple daily actions can positively impact mindset, deepen human connection, and create meaningful change.

From her home base in San Francisco, we dive into her music career, songwriting process, creative inspiration, personal challenges, new projects, and her mission to spread love and positivity through art.

This is an uplifting conversation about perseverance, creativity, healing, and the power of human connection.

Enjoy.

Learn more about Miist:
Miist Official Website

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Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz Interview Series featuring South Korea-based jazz bassist, composer, educator, and bandleader Sean Pentland.

On this episode, we discuss the powerful 2026 release Windward, recorded by The Pentland/Bergonzi Quartet, featuring legendary saxophonist Jerry Bergonzi, Sean Pentland, pianist Julian Shore, and drummer Jongkuk Kim.

More than just a recording project, Windward was born from profound loss. The album was inspired by the tragic and unexpected passing of friend and colleague Sebastian Nay, with whom Jerry and Sean had planned to reunite on a German tour. Dedicated to his memory, the music serves as both tribute and reflection, seeking to give voice to his spirit and the emotions that continue to resonate through those he touched.

Sean's musical journey spans multiple continents. Having lived and performed throughout Great Britain, Germany, and South Korea, he has developed a unique international perspective that informs both his bass playing and compositions. His career has led him to perform alongside some of the most respected names in modern jazz, including Don Braden, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Jim Snidero, and Jerry Bergonzi.

In this conversation, we discuss Windward, jazz composition, international touring, collaboration, mentorship, loss, creativity, and the universal language of music that connects artists and audiences across cultures and generations.

We cover the whole story.

Enjoy.

Get the album and learn more:
Sean Pentland Official Website

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Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz Interview Series featuring Ukraine-based jazz saxophonist, composer, and bandleader Carlo Muscat.

This marks Carlo's third appearance on Neon Jazz, and it is always a privilege to document another chapter in the evolution of one of contemporary European jazz's most compelling voices. On this episode, we discuss his powerful 2026 release, That's About It, his eighth album as a leader and one of his most significant artistic statements to date.

A veteran of the Paris and Mediterranean jazz scenes, Carlo has consistently demonstrated a distinctive compositional voice. However, That's About It represents a profound shift in artistic direction. Recorded in Kyiv during the ongoing war in Ukraine, the album features a collaboration with an exceptional ensemble of Ukrainian musicians and stands as a testament to resilience, creativity, and artistic persistence.

The music embraces melodic economy, harmonic depth, subtle interaction, and what Carlo describes as a form of compositional stillness—a thoughtful and restrained approach created amidst extraordinary circumstances. The result is a deeply moving and reflective work that captures both tension and beauty.

In this conversation, we discuss the making of the album, recording in Kyiv, the realities facing artists during wartime, the contemporary European jazz scene, live performance, composition, collaboration, and the role of music in an increasingly complex world.

This is an insightful discussion about jazz, creativity, perseverance, and the enduring power of artistic expression.

Enjoy this installment.

Get the album:
Carlo Muscat Bandcamp Page

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Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz Interview Series featuring Orlando-based rock and blues guitarist, singer, and songwriter Alex Kilroy.

On this episode, we dive deep into Alex's powerful debut 2026 album, Break My Chains, a project rooted in freedom, persistence, self-discovery, and finding his own authentic voice.

Alex's story is as compelling as his music. Growing up in the Transylvanian town of Bistrița, he hung an American flag above his bed and told his mother that he was only visiting Romania. Decades later, after years of pursuing the music that inspired him, he fulfilled that dream and built a life in America centered around his passion for rock, blues, and guitar-driven music.

Born into a musical family, Alex was surrounded by music from an early age. His father was a guitarist before moving into management, and his aunt became a nationally recognized singer who competed in Romania's Eurovision selection process. These influences helped shape the artist he is today.

We discuss the making of Break My Chains, his immigration journey, artistic development, songwriting process, blues and rock influences, and the experiences that fueled this remarkable debut release.

The album was produced by Tres Sasser, recorded in Florida with a handpicked band, mixed in Nashville by Joe Costa, and mastered by Ted Jensen at Sterling Sound.

This is a story of perseverance, dreams, music, and the pursuit of freedom through art.

Enjoy the interview.

Listen to Break My Chains:
Break My Chains on Apple Music

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Welcome to a new edition of the Neon Jazz interview series featuring San Francisco-based independent jazz artist, vocalist, composer, and recording artist Eki Shola.

In this episode, we discuss her captivating 2024 album Kaeru and the remarkable life experiences that have shaped her music and artistic vision.

Recorded primarily in Japan with an exceptional group of local musicians, Kaeru represents Eki's fifth album and continues her unique blend of jazz, global influences, storytelling, and deeply personal expression. The project reflects both her musical curiosity and her ability to transform life's challenges into meaningful art.

Born in London to Jamaican parents and raised in a musical family, Eki later emigrated to the United States in 1987. Her path as a recording artist gained momentum in 2016 when personal grief inspired the release of her debut album, Final Beginning. The following year, after surviving the devastating 2017 Sonoma County wildfires, she found an even deeper commitment to creating music that speaks to healing, resilience, and transformation.

We discuss Kaeru, recording in Japan, creativity, overcoming adversity, artistic evolution, independent music, jazz influences, and the experiences that continue to shape her journey.

This is a fascinating conversation with a truly original voice in contemporary independent jazz.

Get the album:
Kaeru on Bandcamp

For More Neon Jazz: Shows via MixCloud: https://www.mixcloud.com/neonjazzkc/

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