Counter-Melodies

Faouzia is here! Join Anthony and Jonathan as they sit down with the extraordinary Moroccan-Canadian artist Faouzia — a powerhouse vocalist, multi-instrumentalist, and songwriter whose journey spans from posting covers on YouTube as a teenager to collaborating with global stars like David Guetta and John Legend. Faouzia opens up about growing up in rural Manitoba, learning piano, violin, and guitar, and channeling her multicultural identity into her music, which blends pop, R&B, and cinematic intensity. She walks us through the breakthrough moments of her career — from getting signed to her first record deal and crafting emotive anthems like “Minefields” to working with Kelly Clarkson, competing on Singer and her putting out her ambitious debut album FILM NOIR — and shares the joys, challenges, and lessons of carving out a space that’s 100% her own in the industry. 

Episode Breakdown:

00:00 - Intro and catch-up time
06:45  - Theme song and the best intro ever
08:30- Embarrassing singing stories
10:30 - Faouzia’s early days
16:30 - Career beginnings
20:00 - Vocal training and influences
23:30 - Songs/projects that changed her life
26:00 - Working with Kelly Clarkson
31:30 - Competing on Singer in China
38:00 - Writing and creating FILM NOIR
48:50 - Signing off!

Stream Faouzia's new album, "FILM NOIR", now!

Socials: Follow the hosts and stay connected!
@AnthonyGargiula
@JonathanTILKIN
@Faouzia

Listen and Watch: https://tinyurl.com/CounterMelodiesPod⁠

The Team:
Exectuive Producer/Showrunner/Editor: Louis Gargiula
Consulting Producer: Renee Colvert

In this episode, Anthony and Jonathan sit down with the unbelievably talented Halle Bailey—one half of the five-time GRAMMY-nominated duo Chloe x Halle, a Disney princess, and now a solo artist in her own right. Halle walks us through everything from being discovered by Beyoncé and growing up making music with her sister, to taking on the role of Ariel in Disney’s live-action adaptation of The Little Mermaid, and pouring her heart into her debut album, Love?... Or Something Like It. She opens up about the pressure, the joy, the unexpected lessons along the way, and what it feels like to put something that’s 100% her own out into the world. It’s honest, inspiring, and full of those “wait—how is she this grounded??” moments.

Episode Breakdown:

00:00 - Intro and catch-up time
06:30  - Theme song and the best intro ever
08:00 - Jodi Benson and Halle’s relationship The Little Mermaid
10:00 - Advice to young artists
11:00 - YouTube origins
12:15 - Beyoncé’s mentorship and advice
14:00 - Halle’s relationship with social media
16:30 - Disney + The Little Mermaid chat
19:30 - Debut album! (Love? … Or Something like It)
20:30 - Collaborating with Chloe
22:00 - Album title meaning
23:00 - “Bite Your Lip”
24:00 - Inspiration behind the album
25:00 - Nerves around putting out “Alone”
25:45 - Halle’s relationship with H.E.R.
28:00 - Halle’s involvement with writing/producing
29:30 - Signing off!

Stream Halle’s new album, “Love? … Or Something Like It”, now!
Follow her @hallebailey

Socials: Follow the hosts and stay connected! 
@AnthonyGargiula
@JonathanTilkin
@CounterMelodiesPod

Listen and Watch: https://tinyurl.com/CounterMelodiesPod

The Team: 
Executive Producer/Showrunner/Editor: Louis Gargiula
Consulting Producer: Renee Colvert

Jodi Benson (aka the voice of Ariel from The Little Mermaid) joins us in the kitchen today to celebrate Disney’s World Princess Week! From her early days on Broadway in Smile and Crazy For You to her iconic voice work in Disney’s The Little Mermaid and the Toy Story franchise - that’s right, she voiced the one-and-only Barbie - Jodi takes on a journey under the sea to explore all her favorite Disney memories. Stick around for an exciting conversation on her legacy, the importance of Disney Princesses, Broadway, and even some heart-wrenching stories of the late Howard Ashman and how Jodi is determined to keep his memory alive.
Episode Breakdown:
0:00 – Introduction 
1:45 - Jodi Benson is here
3:00 - Performing origins
8:30 - Early broadway days
12:00 - Auditioning for “The Little Mermaid”
16:30 - Finding Ariel’s voice
17:30 – Being coached by Howard Ashman
18:30 - “Part of Your World” controversy
21:30 - Creating Ariel and The Little Mermaid
23:30 - Working with Howard Ashman and Alan Menken 
25:00 - Howard Ashman’s passing and legacy
31:30 - ”The Little Mermaid” live-action
33:30 - Jodi and Hallee’s relationship
35:00 – Jodi at the live-action premiere
36:00 - How “The Little Mermaid” continues to live on
41:00 - Favorite “Part of Your World” performances
45:00 - Performing with her daughter
47:00 – Voicing “Barbie” and other iconic voices
49:00 - World Princess Week
52:00 - Game time!
56:00 - Final thoughts and goodbyes

Follow Jodi Benson:
Instagram: @jodibenson
TikTok: @jodi.benson

Follow the hosts:
@AnthonyGargiula
@Jonathantilkin
@CounterMelodiesShow

Listen and Watch:
https://pods.to/countermelodies
Credits:
Executive Producer / Showrunner / Editor: Louis Gargiula
Consulting Producer: Renée Colvert

Kyle Gordon has arrived! From viral alter egos like DJ Crazy Times to his genre-bending comedy albums Kyle Gordon Is Great and Kyle Gordon Is Wonderful, Kyle takes us behind the wigs, accents, and absolute chaos to reveal the real artistry behind parody. We dive into the wild ride of going viral, crafting characters that stick, and what it really takes to write music that’s both hilarious and genuinely good. It’s a laugh-out-loud, unexpectedly heartfelt journey through comedy, creativity, and the beautiful absurdity of the internet.

Episode Breakdown:
0:00 - Intro & Catch Up
4:20 - Welcome Kody Redwing!
8:00 - Kody’s Childhood and family
10:30 - Kody’s American Idol Experience
13:00 - Comparisons to other “millennial” bands
15:00 - Career Choices and their impact on family
17:00 - Favorite versions of “Hallelujah”
18:30 - What’s Next for Kyle
20:00 - “Married in a Year in The Suburbs” collab
22:10 - Welcome Kyle Gordon!
23:00 - A Cappella Roots
25:00 - Wardrobe Malfunction
26:30 - Transitioning into Musical-Comedy
27:45 - Music Background
29:00 - Tiktok Beginnings
33:00 - Kid Who’s No Fun
36:00 - Brendan Abernathy Collab
38:30 - Patterns of “Hate” on the Internet
43:30 - DJ Crazy Times Controversy
46:30 - Performing with the Jonas Brothers
50:45 - Running into Joe Jonas in NYC
53:00 - Jonathan and Paul McCartney
54:30 - Kyle’s new album!
1:00:20 - Game time!

Follow Kyle Gordon:
Listen to Kyle Gordon is Wonderful everywhere.
Follow @kylegordonisgreat on social for all the sparkle.

Follow the Hosts:
@AnthonyGargiula
@ JonathanTilkin
@CounterMelodiesPod
 Listen and Watch:
⁠https://pods.to/countermelodies⁠

Credits:
Executive Producer / Showrunner / Editor: Louis Gargiula
Consulting Producer: Renée Colvert

Everybody welcome Dara Reneé! From her breakout role on High School Musical: The Musical: The Series to Descendants: The Rise of Red, Dara opens up about growing up on set, navigating mental health, and the journey to owning her power. It’s a hilarious, emotional, inspiring ride through Broadway dreams, Disney magic, and the deep inner work it takes to truly love yourself.

Episode Breakdown:
00:00 – Intro and catch up!
04:00- Dara’s here!
05:00 – Being homeschooled, raised by a single mom, and growing up backstage. Dara shares her early years of performing (and Beyoncé karaoke)
8:30 - Early Broadway auditions
10:15 – Auditioning for HSMTMTS with no agent, no reel, and no clue she was about to book her breakout role
19:30 - One year later: Freaky Friday reboot and still no HSMTMTS
20:45 - Working on “Black-ish”
25:00 – Origins of HSMTMTS and auditioning for every role except Courtney
27:45 - Callbacks with Olivia Rodrigo, Joshua Bassett, and Sofia Wylie and booking the show!
31:30 - Dara’s relationship with Olivia Rodrigo
32:30 - Kylie Cantrall and wanting to be the best big sister in the business
34:00 - OG High School musical lore
36:30 - Overcoming anxiety both in real life and on-screen
39:00 - Dara’s actual mom playing her mom on TV
40:30 - How HSMTMTS evolved over the 4 seasons
43:30 -  Working on Descendants: The Rise of Red
45:00 - The infamous Josh Colley fire alarm story
48:30 - Favorite moments from Descendants
52:00 - Dara’s acting process
53:00 - Upcoming Descendants/Zombies tour!
58:00 - Game time: blind ranking disney channel theme songs!

Follow Dara Reneé:
Watch Descendants: The Rise of Red and stream her music everywhere.
Follow @dararenee on social for all the sparkle.

Follow the Hosts:
@AnthonyGargiula
@ JonathanTilkin
@CounterMelodiesPod
 Listen and Watch:
https://pods.to/countermelodies

Credits:
Executive Producer / Showrunner / Editor: Louis Gargiula
Consulting Producer: Renée Colvert