Welcome to Episode 17 of Roots Music Rambler! Join us – hosts Francesca Folinazzo (Frank) and Jason Falls (Falls) as we explore the real roots of the music we love.This week, New Jersey-based singer songwriter Renee Maskin joins the show to talk about her transition from progressive rock and punk to folk and Americana. She’s now on her third album, an imaginative gem called Shimmer, and has even been named songwriter of the year and artist of the year by New Jersey Stage. Maskin spent several years in a progressive / punk band before a fateful trip to Texas and a recommendation to listen to Tom Waits turned her musical interests to folk and Americana. Since the switch, she’s been honored as a songwriter with awards and recorded three albums, all fueled by the inspiration surrounding the music scene in her hometown of Asbury Park, N.J. She sat in with Falls to talk about the Bruce Springsteen-vibe of Asbury Park, her evolution as a songwriter, touring with her former band which included touring with The Pretenders and more. Maskin started her professional pursuits in college as a visual artist, but quickly moved to music full-time. She’s been writing since she first took a guitar lesson as a teenager.Frank and Falls also talk about Falls’s recent invitation to fill-in on WFPK’s Roots ‘n’ Boots, a weekly roots music show on terrestrial radio in Louisville, music documentaries worth watching and, of course, both share their regular pickin’ the grinnin’ recommendations for new music. Don’t forget you can now show your support of the show with Roots Music Rambler’s new merch, now available at rootsmusicrambler.com/store. Authentic t-shirts, hats and stickers are now available. Buckle up for The Hoe-Down and the Throw-Down! It’s a new episode of Roots Music Rambler.Notes and links:

Roots and Boots on WFPK

WFPK online

Renee Maskin online

Renee Maskin on Spotify

Renee Maskin’s Shimmer on Spotify

The Short Film on Shimmer

The Stone Pony

New Jersey Stage article on award winners

June on Paramount Plus 

Willie Nelson and Family on Paramount Plus

Thriller at 40 on Paramount Plus

The Greatest Night in Pop on Netflix

The Roots Music Rambler Store

Roots Music Rambler on Instagram

Roots Music Rambler on TikTok 

Roots Music Rambler on Facebook

Jason Falls on Instagram

Francesca Folinazzo on Instagram

Pickin’ the Grinnin’ Recommendations

Neil Young’s Greatest Hits on Spotify

Teddy Swims on Spotify

The Beastie Boys on Spotify

And be sure to get your MuskOx premium flannel shirts just in time for fall. Use the code RAMBLER on checkout for a discount! - https://gomuskox.com/ramblerSubscribe to Roots Music Rambler on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, GoodPods or wherever you get your podcasts.Theme Music: Sheepskin & Beeswax by Genticorum

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