Thao Nguyen of Thao & The Get Down Stay Down has put in her fair share of time and energy working from the ground up. Her career is a shining example of focus, hard work, and a bit of good fortune. She maintains a similarly delicate balance in her music. Her songs can have a celebratory lightness to them while also paying tribute to the strength it takes to rise out of hardship and darkness.

In this episode of the Interview Series, we have the pleasure of seeing Thao and host, Portia Sabin (The Future of What podcast/Kill Rock Stars) reconnect as old friends. Thao shares her initial inspiration and the synchronicities surrounding her landing her first U.S. tour. She also recounts some excellent advice that Slim Moon, founder of Kill Rock Stars, gave her and her band members when they were particularly down and out. Eggs on the sidewalk-style advice.

The Interview Series is hosted by Portia Sabin from The Future of What podcast. It is directed and curated by Chris Young of Vortex Magazine in Portland, and Nicole Vaughn, editor of Bend’s The Source Weekly. This session was filmed at the beautiful Pendarvis Farm on Sunday, August 7, 2016.

Portraits by Todd Cooper