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Articles by Jeremiah Lee McVay
Ambient Thoughts w/ theJLM... After Trump: The Elon Problem
Hello friends and followers. Since the closure of <REDACTED> 5 years ago, where I produced and hosted a podcast that focused heavily on politics and current events (as well as culture, but for now I'm talking about the current events and politics track), I've toyed with and even done a few different versions of concepts to kind of pick that back up in some fashion.
theJLM /// WKLY /// 10 + 11
I'm trying to put out a 1-3 minute piece of music/video each week. The goal is to start with nothing and quickly come up with something interesting. You can hear them on Soundcloud and watch them as Shorts on YouTube or Reels on Instagram. Here are the last two...
September Film Notes
Some quick thoughts on movies I watched last month, followed by lists of my current favorite films and performances of the year so far. an asterisk (*) indicates a first time viewing And here's a playlist featuring music from the movies listed below for you to enjoy while you read... Terminator 2: Judgement Day (1991) AMC was playing this for it's 35th anniversary and it was my first time getting to see it on the big screen.
theJLM /// WKLY /// 09
I'm trying to put out a 1-3 minute piece of music/video each week. The goal is to start with nothing and quickly come up with something interesting. You can hear them on Soundcloud and watch them as Shorts on YouTube or Reels on Instagram.
SAM018: 'The Accumulation of Things" by Libel
Stereoactive Media presents the 18th official entry in its music catalog – a full length album called The Accumulation of Things by Libel.
theJLM /// WKLY /// 08
I'm trying to put out a 1-3 minute piece of music/video each week. The goal is to start with nothing and quickly come up with something interesting. You can hear them on Soundcloud and watch them as Shorts on YouTube or Reels on Instagram. This one includes: one synth voice part five other synth parts four drum and percussion tracks a couple of piano loops a pipa loop and a chopped vocal loop run through guitar amps five synth loops gong
"Burn It All Down" by theJLM [Preview Clip]
Because of the holiday earlier in the week, I didn't have a chance to work on my usual weekly music/video piece, so here's a clip, instead, from a video I'm working on for a new/upcoming track called "Burn It All Down." And while it's not explicitly about September 11th, it is tangentially related to it, so I thought it might be an appropriate summation of my general feelings on the post 9/11 world we're still very much in, 25 years down the line. LYRICS: The future of war is the war of now.
theJLM /// WKLY /// 07
I'm trying to put out a 1-3 minute piece of music/video each week. The goal is to start with nothing and quickly come up with something interesting. You can hear them on Soundcloud and watch them as Shorts on YouTube or Reels on Instagram. This one includes: seven overlapping synth tracks a piano track an organ track a drum machine six percussion tracks VIDEO Subscribe to be notified of new content and support Stereoactive Media, help keep this site independent.
August Film Notes
Some quick thoughts on movies I watched last month, followed by lists of my current favorite films and performances of the year so far. an asterisk (*) indicates a first time viewing And here's a playlist featuring music from the movies listed below for you to enjoy while you read... Harlan County U.S.A. (1976) Capitalism is a losing proposition. They say in Harlan County There are no neutrals there You'll either be a union man Or a thug for J. H. Blair Which side are you on? Which side are you on?
When We See Each Other Ep 2.12 – AVATAREDEN
Find the episode on your favorite podcatcher! In early Spring, Nikkiesha spoke with Eden Quintero, the amazing multi-instrumentalist and band leader of the genre-bending band AVATAREDEN. They talked about how losing hope is also finding hope through community, especially now as the rise of anti-immigrant and anti-trans rhetorical hate is growing. Eden also talked about how music/art has inspired them to create a world outside of this cis-heteronormative/white supremacist landscape.
theJLM /// WKLY /// 06
I'm trying to put out a 1-3 minute piece of music/video each week. The goal is to start with nothing and quickly come up with something interesting. You can hear them on Soundcloud and watch them as Shorts on YouTube or Reels on Instagram. This one includes: two overlapping drum tracks a few different synth bass tracks various synth and key tracks eight layers guitar tracks a very effected banjo track various moments of percussion and risers
theJLM /// WKLY /// 05
I'm trying to put out a 1-3 minute piece of music/video each week. The goal is to start with nothing and quickly come up with something interesting. You can hear them on Soundcloud and watch them as Shorts on YouTube or Reels on Instagram. This one includes: three overlapping synth tracks a track of brass swells three overlapping harp tracks three other string tracks run through FX four simple percussion tracks a brief moment of record scratches
theJLM /// WKLY /// 04
I'm trying to put out a 1-3 minute piece of music/video each week. The goal is to start with nothing and quickly come up with something interesting. You can hear them on Soundcloud and watch them as Shorts on YouTube or Reels on Instagram.
theJLM /// WKLY /// 03
I'm trying to put out a 1-3 minute piece of music/video each week. The goal is to start with nothing and quickly come up with something interesting. You can hear them on Soundcloud and watch them as Shorts on YouTube or Reels on Instagram.
July Film Notes
Some quick thoughts on movies I watched last month, followed by lists of my current favorite films and performances of the year so far. an asterisk (*) indicates a first time viewing And here's a playlist featuring music from the movies listed below for you to enjoy while you read... Eno (2026)* I'm not sure a documentary filmmaker's style and approach has ever been better suited to a subject.
theJLM /// WKLY /// 02
I'm trying to put out a 1-3 minute piece of music/video each week. The goal is to start with nothing and quickly come up with something interesting. You can hear them on Soundcloud and watch them as Shorts on YouTube or Reels on Instagram.
theJLM /// WKLY /// 01
I'm going to try and put out a 1-3 minute piece of music/video each week. The goal is to start with nothing and quickly come up with something interesting. It's about trying to build a discipline as much as anything else, but I hope you'll enjoy them and follow along. You'll be able to hear them on Soundcloud and watch them as Shorts on YouTube or Reels on Instagram. Here's the first entry: VIDEO Subscribe to be notified of new content and support Stereoactive Media, help keep this site independent.
June Film Notes
Some quick thoughts on movies I watched last month, followed by lists of my current favorite films and performances of the year so far. an asterisk (*) indicates a first time viewing And here's a playlist featuring music from the movies listed below for you to enjoy while you read... Dead Man's Wire (2026)* A pretty good little movie that feels like it could have been a pretty great little movie if they'd sorta fleshed out the middle of it a bit more.
SAM017: 'Bicentennial: Original Score' by theJLM
Stereoactive Media presents the 17th official entry in its music catalog – a three part original score for Bicentennial, a short film by theJLM. Through a stream of evocative images and an original ambient score, Bicentennial is a 23 minute experimental short film that takes inspiration from 3 of the best films ever made, which all happen to have been released in 1976.
When We See Each Other Ep 2.11 – Billy Dean Thomas
Find the episode on your favorite podcatcher! About the Guest Billy Dean Thomas, AKA “The Queer B.I.G.,” is a Hip-hop recording artist and producer born and raised in Harlem, but currently residing in Boston. Billy Dean challenges the music industry with quick witted punchlines that highlight intersectional feminism, social justice. and growing up in a gentrified city.
May Film Notes
Some quick thoughts on movies I watched last month, followed by lists of my current favorite films and performances of the year so far... an asterisk (*) indicates a first time viewing Wicked (2024)* When it hits, it really hits. But yeah, despite it's long run time, it feels like half a movie in a way that doesn't leave me excited for the next installment in the way that the first Dune or Across the Spider-Verse did.
SAM016: 'Nobody Asked For This' (Single) by Libel
Stereoactive Media presents the 16th official entry in its music catalog – a single called Nobody Asked For This by Libel, which also features a remix by theJLM. Here's a message from Libel mastermind, Gavin Dunaway: As you likely guessed, “Nobody Asked For This” is more commentary on the current chaotic milieu. This one came together pretty quickly and felt very relevant.
SAM015: 'Guillotine / Time Doesn't Exist' (Single) by theJLM
Stereoactive Media presents the 15th official entry in its music catalog, co-released with Totally Real Records – a single called Guillotine / Time Doesn't Exist by theJLM. Written and produced in recent months, the A-side track, "Guillotine," takes aim at the hyper-elite, oligarchical class that is industrially intent on wrecking the world around us in realtime.
April Film Notes
Some quick thoughts on movies I watched last month, followed by lists of my current favorite films and performances of the year so far... an asterisk (*) indicates a first time viewing The Lego Movie (2014)* Good fun, for sure. I'm fairly certain the last 10-15 minutes or so broke my 4 year old's brain. The Lego Movie (2014) An ordinary Lego mini-figure, mistakenly thought to be the extraordinary MasterBuilder, is recruited to join a quest to stop an evil Lego tyrant from conquering the universe.
March Film Notes
Some quick thoughts on movies I watched last month, followed by lists of my current favorite films and performances of the year so far... an asterisk (*) indicates a first time viewing It Was Just an Accident (2025) On second viewing, I think this is a nearly perfect object of art and storytelling – and my favorite movie of 2025.
A Spring and Summer Movie Preview
Spring has begun and Summer is on the way, so here's a look at a mix of blockbusters and smaller films that might be worth your attention in the coming months. The Drama dir. Kristoffer Borgli; starring Zendaya, Robert Pattinson, Mamoudou Athie, Alana Haim, Hailey Gates, and Zoë Winters; distributed by A24 Synopsis: A happily engaged couple is put to the test when an unexpected turn sends their wedding week off the rails. My thoughts: Zendaya and Pattinson tend to make interesting work.
When We See Each Other Ep 2.10 – Axel Kacoutié
Find the episode on your favorite podcatcher! About the Guest Axel Kacoutié is an audio artist and poet. For over ten years Axel has been working with sound, music, and words to conjure new thought-forms and perspectives on the familiar. Reviving a magic in the mundane. Axel's work has been featured in productions for the BBC, Spotify, Wondery, and The Guardian, among many others.
2025 Oscar Predictions & Alternatives
The 98th Academy Awards are this coming Sunday, so I thought I'd share my predictions and, when applicable, my alternative picks...
February Film Notes
I had COVID for about a week in the middle of February, and ended up watching quite a few more movies than usual as I quarantined and recuperated. With that in mind, some quick thoughts on movies I watched last month, followed by lists of my current favorite films and performances of the year so far... an asterisk (*) indicates a first time viewing Death Proof (2007)* This was the only Quentin Tarantino feature I'd never seen.
When We See Each Other Ep 2.9 - Tiffadelic
Find the episode on your favorite podcatcher! About the Guest Tiffadelic is a Detroit-based, Black Goth artist operating within post-punk, darkwave, minimal wave, and synth-driven soundscapes. Drawing vocal inspiration from icons such as Alan Vega, Annie Lennox, Ian Curtis, Jim Morrison, and Grace Slick, she crafts music that is dark, minimal, and emotionally immersive.
January Film Notes
Some quick thoughts on movies I watched last month, followed by lists of my current favorite films and performances of the year so far... an asterisk (*) indicates a first time viewing Megadoc (2025)* When the "making of" doc about your movie makes Shia LaBeouf seem like the relatively reasonable one, you know the movie production at the heart of the doc (2024's Megalopolis, directed by Francis Ford Coppola) was off the rails. A Better Tomorrow (1986)* Every action scene is dope as hell.
2025 Best Picture Nominees
The Academy Award Nominations for 2025 films were announced last week and since I happen to have seen all the nominees for Best Picture this year, I thought I'd share my thoughts on each film. And by the way, one of the nominees was my least favorite film of 2025, so there's that, I guess... Leonardo DiCaprio in 'One Battle After Another' One Battle After Another Secret societies vested with untold power and underground revolutionaries running on empty...
Overlooked & Underrated Films of the 21st Century
Some movies never get the attention they may fully deserve, while others fade somewhat from the conversation over time. Whatever the reasons, there are plenty of movies every year that deserve fresh eyes and second looks. With that in mind, here is a list of one movie from every year of the century so far that I think may have gone overlooked or underrated. 2025 - The Assessment Would you pass? In a climate change-ravaged world, a utopian society optimizes life, including parenthood assessments.
December Film Notes
Some quick thoughts on movies I watched last month, followed by lists of my current favorite films and performances of the year so far... Dredd (2012) Dug this a lot more this time around, and after listening to the recent Blank Check Special Features episode. Sentimental Value (2025) I appreciate when a film makes you think you've got it all figured out, then it pushes past that in a way that deepens every moment that came before with a well of genuine emotion and meaningfulness. Simply stunning.
We're Never Bored Anymore // Kind of a Lot with Matt Ruby [MICROSODE]
Comedian Matt Ruby delivers an exactly 150 word mini-essay on how we've replaced all boredom in our lives with endless smartphone-fueled scrolling and slop has left us collectively more anxious, depressed, and lonely. Watch on YouTube or Instagram; or listen wherever you get podcasts. Written and presented by Matt Ruby Produced and edited by Jeremiah Lee McVay For more information on this podcast, including where it's available, please visit the show's homepage.
Ep 2.8 – Richard Parris Scott // When We See Each Other
Find the episode on your favorite podcatcher! About the Guest Born and raised in Springfield, Massachusetts, Richard Parris Scott has used their artistic practice to build the foundation which their brand stands on.
SAM014/TRR060: 'Attempted Cultural Figure' (Maxi-Single) by theJLM
Stereoactive Media presents the 14th official entry in its music catalog, co-released with Totally Real Records – a maxi-single called Attempted Cultural Figure by theJLM. Written and produced in just the last few months, the title track tells the story of someone trying to build themselves into a successful online personality by following a path of least resistance: a right-wing grift.
November Film Notes
Some quick thoughts on movies I watched last month, followed by lists of my current favorite films and performances of the year so far... Bugonia (2025) Look, Sean Penn is obviously great in One Battle After Another, but now I kinda wish PTA had zagged hard and gender-swapped it to cast Emma Stone in that role instead. Then between that, this, and Eddington, 3 big auteurs of the moment would have her in their "society's kinda fucked, huh?" movies this year.
When We See Each Other Ep 2.7 - T R U V O N N E
Find the episode on your favorite podcatcher! About the Guest Featured on shows like 'Good Trouble,' 'Queen Sugar' and 'NAOMI,' TRUVONNE's cinematic themes and use of synths, subs, and undertones are used to tell stories and create an ambient atmosphere for whoever is listening... and watching.
SAM013: "Abide" (Remix of Old Man of the Woods) by theJLM
Stereoactive Media presents the 13th official entry in its music catalog – a remix of Old Man of the Woods' single, "Abide," by theJLM. Old Man of the Woods' original recording – itself an atmospheric piece of hypnotic complexity – is adapted in this remix into a danceable epic jam meant to feel like a 10" vinyl single.
SAM012: "Magazine" (Remix of Alyse Dreamhouse) by theJLM
Stereoactive Media presents the 12th official entry in its music catalog – a remix of Alyse Dreamhouse's single, "Magazine," by theJLM. Alyse's original recording – itself a slow burn, post-punk/bedroom-pop banger – is adapted in this remix into a frenetically bouncy 8 minute track with hints of IDM, glitch, and more than a few electronic dance vibes.
Announcement: "Magazine" (Remix of Alyse Dreamhouse) by theJLM
I met Alyse when she was still relatively new to NYC (I think?) and fronting a band called EULA – a post-punk/indie power trio that I immediately liked. This must've been around 2009-2010, I suppose. And I think it was at Bar Matchless (RIP) in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. Over the next few years I became friendly with the band, booking them on various bills I put together, including at Fort Useless, the DIY venue I ran in Bushwick from 2009-2014.
When We See Each Other Book Club, Vol. 3: ‘Here in the (Middle) of Nowhere’ by Anastacia-Reneé
Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and anywhere else you listen to podcasts. Nikkiesha McLeod is joined by Iman Carter and Christopher Silverberg to discuss author Anastacia-Reneé’s ‘Here in the (Middle) of Nowhere,’ a bold hybrid collection of poetry, flash fiction, and Afrofuturism sci-fi. Iman and Christopher are participants, along with Nikkie, in writing workshops organized by Cave Canem, a nonprofit organization committed to cultivating the artistic and professional growth of Black poets.
"Human Behaviour" by Björk (1993) // theJLM context
As you may or may not know, I have in the past made music under the name "theJLM." Most of it wasn't made for public consumption, though. And until the last few years, it pretty much entirely consisted of cover songs produced as birthday gifts for friends and loved ones.
When We See Each Other Ep 2.6 - Vahn Black
Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and anywhere else you listen to podcasts. Host Nikkiesha McLeod dives into an enlightening discussion with Vahn Black, a multifaceted vocalist, producer, and memory worker whose artistic journey reflects a rich tapestry of musical influences and personal identity. The conversation covers everything from the current sociopolitical climate to the intricate process of musical creation.
Stereoactive Presents: Harris vs. Trump - The Final Stretch // a politics discussion
Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and anywhere else you listen to podcasts. J. McVay and Joe Virgillito discuss the final days of the campaign between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump, including the following events that have happened since they spoke last month… Senator JD Vance and Governor Tim Walz, the Republican and Democratic nominees for Vice President, debated in New York, hosted by CBS.
When We See Each Other Ep 2.1 - SuperKnova
A quick producer's note: We're proud to finally officially relaunch When We See Each Other with the first new episode of the podcast in over three years! This has been in the works for months and we recorded this episode with SuperKnova back in mid-September. Obviously, though, the week preceding this release brought about major news that really shook us up.
When We See Each Other Ep 2.2 - Najla Said
Available on Goodpods, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and anywhere else you listen to podcasts. Nikkiesha speaks with Najla Said, a multifaceted Palestinian-Lebanese-Arab-American actress, playwright, author, and activist, known for her poignant memoir ‘Looking for Palestine.’ Najla describes the intricate and painful realities faced by the Palestinian people, especially in light of the ongoing suffering and the recent escalation of violence in Gaza.
USELESS/USEFUL, Vol. 3: When the Clock Broke / Unclear & Present Danger / Mahashmashana / Abortion, Every Day
Available on Goodpods, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and anywhere else you listen to podcasts. Welcome to the third installment of USELESS/USEFUL, in which we discuss topics of interest, broken into two categories. USELESS covers topics that have to do with pop culture, music, film, etc. – and the term “useless” is used lovingly, hearkening back to the DIY Brooklyn venue Fort Useless and the community around that.
"Lynchian" - and a call for sharing thoughts on David Lynch (RIP)
I rarely get emotional about a famous person's passing, but man this one hit me. David Lynch is one of those artistic lights that has burned so bright in his time and in my consciousness, and in the consciousnesses of so many people I know. There are very few filmmakers whose names have become adverbs like his did. "Lynchian" had to be invented because there was no other way to describe what he did.
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