For SpinTunes 25, we have a terrific judging panel made of thoughtful musicians with diverse backgrounds and tastes, all of whom are excited to hear your new songs and offer thoughtful feedback. Read on to meet all our judges, as well as our behind-the-scenes support:
Judges:
Ben
(he/him)
Hi! I’m Ben.
I started taking guitar lessons in 3rd grade and haven't looked back since. In High School, I formed the band BMMS with my best friend. What started as a bedroom recording project morphed into playing pizza joints, graduation parties, coffee shops, and a non-hostile hostel around the Flathead Valley before moving to Missoula, MT and embracing performance art-punk.
Once BMMS had run its course, I started another band called the Victory Smokes and played something like 1,000 shows in a couple years sharing the stage with almost every touring band who came through town. Once, I loaned a bass amp to GTRBOT666 from Captured! By Robots. They were very gracious and thanked me profusely during the show. Another time, I loaned my guitar to Ezra Koenig from Vampire Weekend who proceeded to callously drop it on stage when he was done with it. That was less cool.
During that time I also DJed 6 hours every Sunday night at the Palace Lounge. Much to everyone’s surprise, I managed to play every song ever written at least once during that time.
I then moved to the Midwest with my amazing wife, started a family, and didn’t really play music for the better part of a decade. I did listen to a lot of Silkworm and Brian Eno during those late nights and early mornings.
Then, from the ashes of a small town bowling league, I once again returned to playing with a band and handle the low end for Future Ghost Club. Practice is every Monday night and shows are few and far between, but we have been lucky enough to play the last two PRFBBQs in Chicago. Currently we are planning a full day music festival featuring nine bands called Ghost Fest on August 23 near Sauk City, WI. You should come, it's going to be rad.
Joy Sitler
(they/she)
Joy Sitler has been a spintunes regular since ST18, and a twice finalist. In ST18, Joy was invited to judge the competition. At the time, they felt grossly under-qualified and weren't sure they were even capable of competing, so she signed up as a competitor to find out. She made it to the finals and rekindled a love of songwriting and composing that they had previously lost in grad school, and she is now finally ready to step into the judging role.
In the time since, she went on to write and perform with multiple bands and go on a few short tours. They have also been Songfighting off and on for a couple years, and she has an approximately 50% win rate at the time of writing this bio. They have previously been a part of Brain Weasels and My Broken Demo Tape. She currently performs as a solo artist, as well as the lead guitarist of My Own Desert Island. When not working on music, Joy enjoys cooking, spending time with their cat, Mox, and going on day hikes.
Instagram | Bandcamp | Patreon | Songfight
Mike of The Dutch Widows
This would have been my ninth SpinTunes entry in a row, and though I wanted to keep my streak up, the opportunity to be on the other side of judging fence was too hard to resist!
I’ve played guitar and written songs since I was 14, been in bands since 18, and although that was a really, really long time ago, I still find myself leaning towards an instinctive approach to music rather than a theoretical or an informed/educated one; it’s like I’ve learnt nothing in the last 40 years. I love playing live more than almost anything else in the world, but the Dutch Widows have never stepped outside of a studio. One day, maybe.
I have no idea how I’ll approach judging. I love the Two Jerks One Vote podcast, but I doubt I could pull off something of that quality. A long monologue to camera, maybe? Or some interpretative dance? Perhaps a PowerPoint presentation? Maybe I’ll just write down some words.
As well as SpinTunes, I’ve dabbled with Nur Ein, done a few FAWMs, and love recording with 4-track tape machines. I don’t know the difference between bitter and bitters.
I enjoyed judging SpinTunes 19 and am back for another season! I've been active in FAWM (completed 20 times and counting!) and 50/90, as well as local songwriting groups in Madison, Wisconsin. I'm a piano teacher in private practice and a band coach and instrument instructor at Girls Rock Camp. Primarily a singer-songwriter these days, I love a wide variety of genres and have played in many of them with countless collaborators. Before my musical career, I was a writer; I tend to listen closely to song lyrics.
Vehicles of Beware - SpinTunes 24 Champion
VoB is the writing name for Phil, a musician/producer from Melbourne Australia. Long time studio tinkerer for others, he has finally written some songs of his own and accidentally won Spintunes 24.
VoB was raised on 60s and 70s rock, folk, soul, and funk in a house where band rehearsal was a regular feature (multiple drummers in the family).
Since then he's worked with jazz trios, string quartets, prog-rock dodecahedrons, and everything in between. He also plays keyboards in Mount Kujo, an instrumental groove-and-horns jazz fusion collective.
When not noodling around with too many instruments, he works in Acoustic Engineering, trying to make the world sound a little nicer by making noise go away.
He doesn't think a photo of him is really needed so here's a picture of his cat Lucy.
Support Staff:
Tommy G - Listening Party Host
(he/him)
I play the Tunes that keep on Spinnin'. (TM)
Olden days I did radio announcing, video hosting, and was part of the BYD comedy troupe in the 80's and 90's. Now I run a PEG Access Station in Salem NH and have fun covering YT friend videos and promoting folks over the interwebs as I can.
I also have been hosting internet Listening parties for the last 15 + years. Most of the files are on long dead websites, but you can catch up on a bunch (Last check end to end they'd play back over a month without repeats) at my YT channel.
I'm excited for ST25 and looking forward to playing some outrageous songs for everyone to gush over. Yes, made by you.
Matt "Shoobs" Schubbe - Graphic Designer / Spintunes 3 Champion
Matt is a freelance illustrator and graphic designer based in Minneapolis who for years has created a brand-new album cover for each round of SpinTunes. He's also a talented musician who took the SpinTunes 3 title as half of Matt and Donna.
Micah Sommersmith - Contest Administrator / SpinTunes 14 Champion
(they/he)
This is my ninth time running the SpinTunes contest, having received the keys from Dave Leigh of Dr. Lindyke, who in turn took over from Travis a.k.a. Spin. Before running things, I competed in two SpinTunes tournaments and then judged two more. I'm really glad for the opportunity to help keep this weird little corner of the musical internet going.
In adjacent corners of the musical internet, I've also submitted my share of entries to Song Fight (where my win ratio sits at what I feel is a respectable 10%) and Nur Ein (where I dream of someday advancing to Round 6). I also create crossword puzzles, both for my personal crossword blog and for any publications that will have them. For me, there's a satisfying connection between songwriting and puzzle construction that I'd be happy to discuss in depth somewhere else.
I've played the accordion since high school, which has exposed me to a wide range of folk and popular styles from around the world. I've also sung in, directed, and written for choirs since college. I enjoy pleasant music and I appreciate weird music; if your music manages to be both pleasant and weird, you've got me in the palm of your hand.
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