The Jeremiah Show: Pop Culture, Music Icons Food Gods

The Hollywood Film Composers Series 

Presented by The Jeremiah Show and Executive Producer Carol Connors 

 

Composer Zain Effendi’s résumé sounds unreal when read aloud—GRAMMY®-nominated for Best Instrumental Composition for his piece “Opening,” a Hollywood Music in Media Awards standout, and the composer behind music now playing perpetually inside Walt Disney theme parks worldwide.

 

What stands out most, however, is how grounded Zain is in his work. 

His musical path traces back to childhood, when he became obsessed with the film scores of Hans Zimmer. He recounts a true “drop everything” moment: a sudden job opportunity with Hans Zimmer that led him to leave college, board a red-eye to Los Angeles the same day, and begin working at Hans Zimmer’s Remote Control Productions. The years that followed were defined by intense pressure and exacting standards—where perfection wasn’t optional, but formative.

 

From there, Zain describes the leap from studio life to conquering the fear of going solo. He reflects on the sacrifices required to accept large-scale theme park commissions and the obsessive creative process that shaped his Epcot Test Track symphonic suite—music he approached as a ’90s blockbuster, not “theme park music.”

 

The interview also reveals the human side of Zain: the family voices that pull him back from perfectionism when he needs it, his lifelong love of Disney, and his growing commitment to animal rescue and welfare. The episode closes with the full performance of “Opening,” a sweeping orchestral work infused with modern energy.

 

It’s easy to understand why Zain Effendi’s music has found its way so deeply into people’s lives.

 

Zain Effendi’s Website: https://www.zaineffendi.com/about/

 

Zain on Instagram

 

Le Cirque de la Nuit Presents: The Village Stage Opening Ceremony at Shambhala 2022  featuring Zain https://youtu.be/n8XmAcz89Hk?si=rTPI369UfdUsYbNJ

 

Listen More. Evolve

 

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THE JEREMIAH SHOW

Voices Carry - These Are Your Stories 

 

POP CULTURE, MUSIC ICONS, & FOOD GODS 

The Jeremiah Show - Please Subscribe & Rate - CLICK HERE

 

Check Out The Back Catalogs of Special Guests - CLICK HERE

To Become a Sponsor of The Jeremiah Show CLICK HERE for Media Deck and Rates

THE JEREMIAH SHOW BROUGHT TO YOU BY

evolve entertainment network - www.thejeremiahshow.com

 

Host | Executive Producer - Jeremiah D. Higgins

Senior Sound Designer | Producer - Graham Palmer | Surprise Studio

Be sure to check out these evolve entertainment network shows 

The Arwen Lewis Show, The Kimi Kato Show with Jeremiah, and The Mike Gormley Show

 

THE JEREMIAH SHOW PROUDLY FEATURES 

Music Connection Magazine - https://www.musicconnection.com/

MusiCares - MusiCares provides a safety net of critical health and welfare services to the music community - https://musicares.org/

Cuzen Matcha - https://cuzenmatcha.com/

Golda Zahra - https://www.goldazahra.com/

 

 

The Jeremiah Show Radio Broadcast is heard in London, Somerset, U.K., New York City, Philadelphia, Boston, Ontario, Santa Barbara, Paris, and Los Angeles by Radio Candy Media, Radio Evolve, and Belter Radio, My Indie Radio Paris

 

JEREMIAH D. HIGGINS SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS

GRAHAM PALMER’S WEBSITE Surprise Studio , On Instagram: Surprise Studio

 

Did you like the music in this episode? You can find the Original Music Soundtrack - CLICK HERE:  TJS Spotify Playlists

 

TJS Opening Theme Music 

By DAVE MATTHEWS BAND "The Ocean and the Butterfly" RCA Records

 

TJS REWIND - Classic Shows Drop Wednesday

NEW SHOWS - Every Friday

 

Loop In With Us!  PLEASE SUBSCRIBE to The Jeremiah Show Podcast to be alerted to new artist interviews: CLICK HERE

 

The Jeremiah Show airs on Radio Evolve Santa Barbara on Monday - Friday, 10 am - 12 pm - #TuneIn! -  https://radio-evolve.rocks/

Singer and songwriter Kendra Erika opens up about the long game behind her chart success—and why her bold new chapter feels like a return home.

 

With five Billboard Top 10 dance hits to her name, including a No. 1 debut for her modern reimagining of Laura Branigan’s Self Control, Erika could have easily stayed in the comfort of club charts and EDM dominance. Instead, she chose reinvention. Central to her journey was an early agreement with her parents: That she earn a four-year college degree outside music before fully pursuing a performance career. That decision, she says, grounded her in discipline, informed her strategy, and shaped her perspective—tools that later proved essential in navigating the music industry.

 

Erika speaks candidly about early challenges, including being born without the ability to hear pitch and undergoing years of vocal retraining under German opera coach Gisbert Hoyer. What began as a limitation became a foundation, shaping a vocalist known today for precision and emotional command.

 

The interview traces her artistic evolution from dance-floor anthems to her upcoming album, License to Thrill: The James Bond Songbook, a cinematic collection drawing on her love for jazz, the orchestra, and the classic American songbook. Inspired by childhood Bond screenings with her father, the project spans multiple Bond eras and reflects Erika’s belief that audiences are craving depth and human connection in an increasingly automated music landscape.

 

Erika reflects on mental discipline and long-term perseverance, and what works for her to quiet overthinking in favor of forward motion. Her philosophy is simple: preparation meets instinct when you stop hesitating and start moving.

 

Set for release February 13, followed by a one-night live showcase in Las Vegas, License to Thrill marks a defining arrival for an artist who has spent years building the tools for this moment. As Erika makes clear in conversation, this isn’t a reinvention—it’s the sound of an artist operating in full alignment with her heart. 

Pre-Save Kendra Erika's License To Thrill Here: https://sym.ffm.to/license_to_thrill

KENDRA ERIKA’S WEBSITE - https://kendraerika.com/

 

Listen More. Evolve

 

- - -

 

THE JEREMIAH SHOW

Voices Carry - These Are Your Stories 

 

POP CULTURE, MUSIC ICONS, & FOOD GODS 

The Jeremiah Show - Please Subscribe & Rate - CLICK HERE

 

Check Out The Back Catalogs of Special Guests - CLICK HERE

To Become a Sponsor of The Jeremiah Show CLICK HERE for Media Deck and Rates

THE JEREMIAH SHOW BROUGHT TO YOU BY

evolve entertainment network - www.thejeremiahshow.com

 

Host | Executive Producer - Jeremiah D. Higgins

Senior Sound Designer | Producer - Graham Palmer | Surprise Studio

Be sure to check out these evolve entertainment network shows 

The Arwen Lewis Show, The Kimi Kato Show with Jeremiah, and The Mike Gormley Show

 

THE JEREMIAH SHOW PROUDLY FEATURES 

Music Connection Magazine - https://www.musicconnection.com/

MusiCares - MusiCares provides a safety net of critical health and welfare services to the music community - https://musicares.org/

Cuzen Matcha - https://cuzenmatcha.com/

Golda Zahra - https://www.goldazahra.com/

 

 

The Jeremiah Show Radio Broadcast is heard in London, Somerset, U.K., New York City, Philadelphia, Boston, Ontario, Santa Barbara, Paris, and Los Angeles by Radio Candy Media, Radio Evolve, and Belter Radio, My Indie Radio Paris

 

JEREMIAH D. HIGGINS SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS

GRAHAM PALMER’S WEBSITE Surprise Studio , On Instagram: Surprise Studio

 

Did you like the music in this episode? You can find the Original Music Soundtrack - CLICK HERE:  TJS Spotify Playlists

 

TJS Opening Theme Music 

By DAVE MATTHEWS BAND "The Ocean and the Butterfly" RCA Records

 

TJS REWIND - Classic Shows Drop Wednesday

NEW SHOWS - Every Friday

 

Loop In With Us!  PLEASE SUBSCRIBE to The Jeremiah Show Podcast to be alerted to new artist interviews: CLICK HERE

 

The Jeremiah Show airs on Radio Evolve Santa Barbara on Monday - Friday, 10 am - 12 pm - #TuneIn! -  https://radio-evolve.rocks/

Owen Llewelyn

 

Owen Llewelyn is a British actor who is currently making waves in the horror and indie film industry. His serial-killer villain, The R.I.P Man, joins the short list of iconic horror characters, which includes Michael Myers from Halloween (played by Nick Castle), Leatherface from The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (played by Gunnar Hansen), and Freddy Krueger from A Nightmare on Elm Street (played by Robert Englund).

 

The R.I.P Man (Rest In Pain) follows the story of a serial killer with a rare oral condition called Anodontia (no teeth), who begins to target young adults and removes a single tooth from each victim. Can a family's kept secret unfold the truth and help prevent the murders from continuing?

 

Llewelyn has been professionally acting for the past 17 years on stage and screen.  His screen work includes credits in films and series such as The R.I.P. Man (2025), Ghoul Squad (2025), and Can’t Go Home Again (2021), as well as earlier roles in projects such as Hot Chicks (a 2020 web series) and Stabbed Souls (a feature film). 

 

His portrayal of the menacing lead, Alden Pick, in the critically acclaimed 2025 horror-thriller, The R.I.P. Man, has garnered substantial attention. He won Best Actor at the 2025 Haunted House FearFest for his performance.

 

He will reprise his role as Alden Pick in the upcoming film R.I.P Man 2, which is currently in production. 

 

The R.I.P Man is directed by Jamie Langlands and written and produced by Rhys Thompson. 

The R.I.P Man Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_r.i.p_man/

Owen Llewelyn Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/owenllewelyn/

 

Rhys Thompson Instagram link

https://www.instagram.com/rtompo1984/]

 

Jamie Langlands instagram link

https://www.instagram.com/jdlanglands/]

 

The R.I.P Man Insta Link

https://www.instagram.com/the_r.i.p_man/

 

 

Photo Credit: Alan Howard

 

FILM CREDITS

 

The R.I.P Man (Rest In Pain)

 

A serial killer with a rare oral condition begins to target young adults and removes a single tooth from each victim. Can a family's kept secret unfold the truth and help prevent the murders from continuing?

 

Director: Jamie Langlands

Cast: Starring Owen Llewelyn, August Porter, Jasmine Kheen, Maximus Polling, Bruno Cryan, Mia Bowd, Callum Chapman, Matt Weyland, Martin Portlock, Paul Coster, and Charlotte Marshall

Producer: Jamie Langlands

Rating: R

Writer: Rhys William Thompson
Producers: Rhys William Thompson, Jamie Langlands, Craig Munro, John Norris Ray, Paul Hughbanks

 

GMP DREAD PRODUCTIONS | DOUBLE-TAKE PICTURES IN ASSOCIATION WITH MORGAN FILMS | HYPERICUM FILMS |  CRYSTAL DOME PRODUCTIONS | JQS FILMS AND JNR PRODUCTIONS LLC

AWARDS

 

Cinema Scares Film Festival - American Premiere - Official Selection 

Shockfest Adventure - Nominee 

Haunted House Fearfest - Nominee 

Hollywhut! Horror Film Festival - Best Feature

You can stream The R.I.P Man on Apple TV and Amazon Video

 

Find out more on https://ripmanfeaturemovie.com/

 

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Owen Llewellyn and 'The R.I.P. Man'
02:10 The Psychology of Horror Films
09:09 The Surge in Horror Film Popularity
15:43 Creating Alden Pick: A New Horror Icon
20:08 The Unique Premise of 'The R.I.P. Man'
24:40 Exploring the Character's Obsession
32:05 The Challenges of Portraying a Horror Villain
37:24 The Allure of Horror Films
40:03 The Psychology of Fear
42:05 Cultural Reflections in Horror
45:28 Childhood Fears and Their Impact
51:00 Behind the Scenes of RIP Man
01:00:06 The Creative Team: Reese Thompson and Jamie Langlands
01:02:32 Final Thoughts and Future Projects

 

Listen More. Evolve

 

- - -

 

THE JEREMIAH SHOW

Voices Carry - These Are Your Stories 

 

POP CULTURE, MUSIC ICONS, & FOOD GODS 

The Jeremiah Show - Please Subscribe & Rate - CLICK HERE

 

Check Out The Back Catalogs of Special Guests - CLICK HERE

To Become a Sponsor of The Jeremiah Show CLICK HERE for Media Deck and Rates

THE JEREMIAH SHOW BROUGHT TO YOU BY

evolve entertainment network - www.thejeremiahshow.com

 

Host | Executive Producer - Jeremiah D. Higgins

Senior Sound Designer | Producer - Graham Palmer | Surprise Studio

Be sure to check out these evolve entertainment network shows 

The Arwen Lewis Show, The Kimi Kato Show with Jeremiah, and The Mike Gormley Show

 

THE JEREMIAH SHOW PROUDLY FEATURES 

Music Connection Magazine - https://www.musicconnection.com/

MusiCares - MusiCares provides a safety net of critical health and welfare services to the music community - https://musicares.org/

Cuzen Matcha - https://cuzenmatcha.com/

Golda Zahra - https://www.goldazahra.com/

 

 

The Jeremiah Show Radio Broadcast is heard in London, Somerset, U.K., New York City, Philadelphia, Boston, Ontario, Santa Barbara, Paris, and Los Angeles by Radio Candy Media, Radio Evolve, and Belter Radio, My Indie Radio Paris

 

JEREMIAH D. HIGGINS SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS

GRAHAM PALMER’S WEBSITE Surprise Studio , On Instagram: Surprise Studio

 

Did you like the music in this episode? You can find the Original Music Soundtrack - CLICK HERE:  TJS Spotify Playlists

 

TJS Opening Theme Music 

By DAVE MATTHEWS BAND "The Ocean and the Butterfly" RCA Records

 

TJS REWIND - Classic Shows Drop Wednesday

NEW SHOWS - Every Friday

 

Loop In With Us!  PLEASE SUBSCRIBE to The Jeremiah Show Podcast to be alerted to new artist interviews: CLICK HERE

 

The Jeremiah Show airs on Radio Evolve Santa Barbara on Monday - Friday, 10 am - 12 pm - #TuneIn! -  https://radio-evolve.rocks/

Recording artist and entrepreneur Irene Michaels joins The Jeremiah Show for a captivating conversation tracing her unconventional career across music, modeling, acting, and publishing. 

 

Irene’s artistic journey began as a singer, dancer, and model in Chicago. 

 

She founded the successful modeling agency SHOWTIME, her flagship platform, “I On,” a luxury lifestyle brand, and “I On The Scene,” which celebrates entertainment, beauty, and the luxury lifestyle, now approaching its 20th anniversary. 

 

As a House Music Diva, she achieved critical acclaim with her single “I Like Rain,” which won a Josie Music Award for Best Pop Song of the Year. 

 

Her sold-out solo shows in Chicago, Los Angeles, Nashville, and New York have captivated audiences with her blend of music, personal stories, and life inspiration. 

 

In 2025, her song My Heart (Hip Hop Mix) — feat. Twizm Whyte Piece won the 2025 Josie Music Awards — Song of the Year. 

 

Irene Michaels, whose autobiography is in the works, is releasing a new EP IN 2026 featuring her greatest hits. 

 

Irene Michaels emphasizes adaptability, sustained curiosity, and the value of remaining professionally engaged across decades of creative work.

 

 

IRENE MICHAEL’S OFFICIAL WEBSITES & LINKS

 

I On The Scene — Brand Flagship Platform
https://ionthescene.com

 

IreneMichaels.com — Artist Site
https://irenemichaels.com

 

Linktree (Irene Michaels Music)
https://linktr.ee/irenemichaelsmusic

 

Photo Credit: Emily-Gualdoni-Photography

 

Chapters

 

00:00 Introduction to Irene Michaels

10:11 Irene's Artistic Journey Begins

18:04 From Modeling to Acting: Building Confidence

25:30 Life in Hollywood vs. Chicago

30:19 Launching ION and Inspiring Others

33:17 Beauty and Health Tips for Women Over 50

39:01 Reflections on Life and Future Plans

39:28 Finding Relevance in Nature and Listening

40:50 Confronting Ageism and the Fear of Irrelevance

43:00 Health Challenges and the Reality of Aging

46:00 A Journey into Music: Starting at Seventy

51:54 Exploring House Music and New Genres

01:02:04 The Connection Between Horses and Personal Growth

01:06:05 Performing Live: A Sense of Accomplishment

01:07:03 Looking Ahead: Future Projects and Reinventions

 

Listen More. Evolve

 

- - -

 

THE JEREMIAH SHOW

Voices Carry - These Are Your Stories 

 

POP CULTURE, MUSIC ICONS, & FOOD GODS 

The Jeremiah Show - Please Subscribe & Rate - CLICK HERE

 

Check Out The Back Catalogs of Special Guests - CLICK HERE

To Become a Sponsor of The Jeremiah Show CLICK HERE for Media Deck and Rates

THE JEREMIAH SHOW BROUGHT TO YOU BY

evolve entertainment network - www.thejeremiahshow.com

 

Host | Executive Producer - Jeremiah D. Higgins

Senior Sound Designer | Producer - Graham Palmer | Surprise Studio

Be sure to check out these evolve entertainment network shows 

The Arwen Lewis Show, The Kimi Kato Show with Jeremiah, and The Mike Gormley Show

 

THE JEREMIAH SHOW PROUDLY FEATURES 

Music Connection Magazine - https://www.musicconnection.com/

MusiCares - MusiCares provides a safety net of critical health and welfare services to the music community - https://musicares.org/

Cuzen Matcha - https://cuzenmatcha.com/

Golda Zahra - https://www.goldazahra.com/

 

 

The Jeremiah Show Radio Broadcast is heard in London, Somerset, U.K., New York City, Philadelphia, Boston, Ontario, Santa Barbara, Paris, and Los Angeles by Radio Candy Media, Radio Evolve, and Belter Radio, My Indie Radio Paris

 

JEREMIAH D. HIGGINS SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS

GRAHAM PALMER’S WEBSITE Surprise Studio , On Instagram: Surprise Studio

 

Did you like the music in this episode? You can find the Original Music Soundtrack - CLICK HERE:  TJS Spotify Playlists

 

TJS Opening Theme Music 

By DAVE MATTHEWS BAND "The Ocean and the Butterfly" RCA Records

 

TJS REWIND - Classic Shows Drop Wednesday

NEW SHOWS - Every Friday

 

Loop In With Us!  PLEASE SUBSCRIBE to The Jeremiah Show Podcast to be alerted to new artist interviews: CLICK HERE

 

The Jeremiah Show airs on Radio Evolve Santa Barbara on Monday - Friday, 10 am - 12 pm - #TuneIn! -  https://radio-evolve.rocks/

Joining me is composer Brian Tyler, whose original score for Nuremberg has earned Oscar shortlist recognition and a place on the BAFTA longlist. He joins us as part of our Hollywood Film Composers Series, presented by The Jeremiah Show with Executive Producer Carol Connors.

 

Brian is an award-winning composer, multi-instrumentalist, and conductor with a career spanning more than 100 films and music that has grossed over $17 billion worldwide. In this conversation, we focus on Nuremberg—directed by James Vanderbilt—and the weight of scoring a film that confronts the Holocaust and the trials that followed.

 

Brian explains why he had to start decades earlier, musically tracing the film's history back to the 1930s before writing a single frame. That process became a six-hour symphonic backstory, shaping themes of memory, justice, and empathy, including difficult choices like incorporating bell tones associated with the camps.

 

The discussion then turns deeply personal, as Brian shares how completing Nuremberg coincided with surviving a life-threatening double brain hemorrhage—an experience that reshaped how he thinks about time, purpose, and responsibility. It’s a conversation about music as moral witness, and how a score can carry history into the present tense.

 

CHAPTERS

 

00:00 The Weight of History and Music

 

08:53 Brian Tyler: The Composer Behind Nuremberg

 

 

23:54 The Responsibility of Scoring History

31:59 Facing Mortality and the Power of Music

38:09 The Emotional Resonance of Music in Historical Contexts

40:05 Crafting Nostalgia: The Role of Melodies in Storytelling

42:16 Empathy Through Music: Connecting with Humanity's Struggles

45:35 Exploring the Concept of Time and Existence

48:01 The Ambitious Vision of 'Are We Dreaming?'

52:57 Creative Reset: Reflections on Life and Purpose

56:36 The Power of Music in Shaping Historical Narratives

 

 - - -

 

Keep up with Brian Tyler online at: https://www.briantyler.com/

 

On Instagram at:  https://www.instagram.com/briantylermusic/

 

Are We Dreaming: https://www.arewedreaming.com/

 

Are We Dreaming VIMEO Video: https://vimeo.com/618269365?fl=pl&fe=sh

 

Listen More. Evolve

 

- - -

 

THE JEREMIAH SHOW

Voices Carry - These Are Your Stories 

 

POP CULTURE, MUSIC ICONS, & FOOD GODS 

The Jeremiah Show - Please Subscribe & Rate - CLICK HERE

 

Check Out The Back Catalogs of Special Guests - CLICK HERE

To Become a Sponsor of The Jeremiah Show CLICK HERE for Media Deck and Rates

THE JEREMIAH SHOW BROUGHT TO YOU BY

evolve entertainment network - www.thejeremiahshow.com

 

Host | Executive Producer - Jeremiah D. Higgins

Senior Sound Designer | Producer - Graham Palmer | Surprise Studio

Be sure to check out these evolve entertainment network shows 

The Arwen Lewis Show, The Kimi Kato Show with Jeremiah, and The Mike Gormley Show

 

THE JEREMIAH SHOW PROUDLY FEATURES 

Music Connection Magazine - https://www.musicconnection.com/

MusiCares - MusiCares provides a safety net of critical health and welfare services to the music community - https://musicares.org/

Cuzen Matcha - https://cuzenmatcha.com/

Golda Zahra - https://www.goldazahra.com/

 

TJS ON RADIO

The Jeremiah Show Radio Broadcast is heard in London, Somerset, U.K., New York City, Philadelphia, Boston, Ontario, Santa Barbara, Paris, and Los Angeles by Radio Candy Media, Radio Evolve, and Belter Radio, My Indie Radio Paris

 

JEREMIAH D. HIGGINS SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS

GRAHAM PALMER’S WEBSITE Surprise Studio, On Instagram: Surprise Studio

 

Did you like the music in this episode? You can find the Original Music Soundtrack - CLICK HERE:  TJS Spotify Playlists

 

TJS Opening Theme Music 

By DAVE MATTHEWS BAND "The Ocean and the Butterfly" RCA Records

 

TJS REWIND - Classic Shows Drop Wednesday

NEW SHOWS - Every Friday

 

Loop In With Us!  PLEASE SUBSCRIBE to The Jeremiah Show Podcast to be alerted to new artist interviews: CLICK HERE

 

The Jeremiah Show airs on Radio Evolve Santa Barbara on Monday - Friday, 10 am - 12 pm - #TuneIn! -  https://radio-evolve.rocks/