Ep533: Exploring the Pusciverse with Carina Round

Ep533: Exploring the Pusciverse with Carina Round

Author: The Vinyl Guide January 26, 2026 Duration: 59:19

Carina Round discusses the new Puscifer album "Normal Isn't", their creative partnership, how motherhood transformed her songwriting, the emotional experience of revisiting The Disconnection and much more.

Topics Include:

  • New Puscifer album "Normal Isn't" and concert film drop February 6th
  • Puscifer described as dark multimedia project with interconnecting 20-year storyline
  • New characters introduced: Belendia Black, Fanny Gray, the Synth Whisperer
  • Writing began post-Existential Reckoning; Mat keeps a magical idea folder
  • Maynard learned Logic software, contributed more initial musical sketches this time
  • Carina waits for lyrics—word rhythms shape her vocal approach entirely
  • Mat masters specific gear per album: Fairlight, Synclavier, custom guitars
  • Carina sang through Eventide effects unit, letting it shape melodies
  • Mat designs all stage plots, lighting, and visual concepts himself
  • Carina recently started improv classes—facing her worst nightmare on purpose
  • Mat discovered her at LA show; V is for Vagina hooked her
  • Maynard conveys mood clearly while leaving lyrics open to interpretation
  • Humbling River audition taught her: no preciousness about ideas here
  • Maynard's response—"as long as it doesn't interfere with me"—was freeing
  • Having an eight-year-old son completely changed her creative process
  • Revisiting The Disconnection live revealed surprising wisdom in her youth
  • Music became her way to connect rather than dissociate emotionally
  • She bootlegged her own Interscope album just to have it on vinyl
  • Kids today skip songs constantly—no commitment to full album journeys
  • Rare Ocean Blue pressing was a happy accident—only 13 copies exist

High resolution version of this podcast is available at: www.Patreon.com/VinylGuide


There's a particular kind of conversation that happens when two people who are deeply passionate about music get together, surrounded by shelves of records. The Vinyl Guide-Artist Interviews for Record Collectors and Music Nerds captures that feeling perfectly. Hosted by Nate, a dedicated collector and enthusiast, this podcast feels less like a formal interview and more like you're overhearing a great chat in the back of a record store. The discussions naturally weave through artists' creative processes, the stories behind iconic albums, and the tangible magic of the format itself. You'll hear from musicians, producers, and other insiders who live and breathe vinyl, offering perspectives that go far beyond the liner notes. But it's not just about the artists; it's for the collectors, too. Episodes often delve into the practical, nerdy details that make this hobby so compelling-like distinguishing between a common pressing and a rare, valuable find, or learning how to properly care for your collection so it lasts for decades. It’s that blend of artistic insight and collector-focused knowledge that gives this podcast its unique character. Whether you're a seasoned cratedigger or just appreciate the warmth of an analog recording, these conversations offer a rich, human connection to the music you love, all centered around the grooves of a vinyl record.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

The Vinyl Guide - Artist Interviews for Record Collectors and Music Nerds
Podcast Episodes
Ep488: Mike Kennerty - Record Collector - All American Rejects [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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Ep487: Martin Rev - The Early Days of Suicide & beyond [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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Ep484: John and Robby of The Goo Goo Dolls [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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Ep483: Eddie Spaghetti of Supersuckers [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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Ep482: Dez Cadena - Flag, Black Flag, Misfits and more [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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Ep481: Stephen Malkmus - Pavement, The Hard Quartet [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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Stephen Malkmus of Pavement and The Hard Quartet supergroup discusses his record collecting history and hobby, the curation and rarities of his collection and more. Topics Include: Discussion of California fires affectin…
Ep480: 45 Years of Adolescents with Tony Reflex [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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Tony Reflex of The Adolescents discusses the band's 45-year journey, from the early days, the Blue Album, the legacy of "Amoeba", working with Frontier Records to current day releases, rarities and more. Topics Include:…