For local musician Lyndsey Battle — who you may also know as a radio DJ or square dance caller — the forced hiatus from performing has not only provided an opportunity for her to pursue her other creative interests, but also to learn to be OK with doing a little bit less.
“This sabbatical of sorts has really given me some time to examine how much I affiliate productivity and output with self-worth,” Battle told the Outpost. “I think I’ve gotten to a better place with that and feeling a little bit kinder to myself.”
On this week’s episode of LoCO‘s Zoom-quality podcast Humboldt Holding Up, Battle stops by to discuss how much music she has not been playing during the last year, how she’s feeling about getting back to performing in public and what other things she’s been pursuing during her year-long break from live music. Topics discussed with Battle include:
- What makes each of Humboldt’s live music venues great (we give her a list and make her tell us why people should go there)
- Why Battle does not dig performing over Zoom
- Her latest business venture in making her own mustard
- Square dancing!
- The passing of beloved local musician, recording engineer, composer and sound designer Tim Gray and Gray’s project “Footfall” — a soundscape meant to accompany a walk through Arcata’s Creamery District (you can check it out at this link)
As a bonus, Battle’s 12-year-old daughter, Vela also joins the podcast to talk about entering the sixth grade during the pandemic, what learning over Zoom has been like and how she’s coped with being isolated from her friends.
Listen to Battle’s chat with LoCO’s Andrew Goff and Stephanie McGeary by clicking the audio player above, or listen in in your podcast app. You can also scroll through past guests below.
PREVIOUS HUMBOLDT HOLDING UP GUESTS:
- Mad River Brewing CEO Linda Cooley
- LoCO Editor Hank Sims
- Humboldt Republic’s Jason Brandi
- Table Bluff Farmer Hannah Eisloeffel
- Logger Bar Owner Kate Martin
- Teacher/Rapper Zach “Zigzilla” Lehner
- Madaket Captain “Zippo” Libby Tonning
- Event Planner Alegria Sita
- Food For People’s Anne Holcomb
- AHHA President Nezzie Wade
- Performance Artist Noël August/Tucker Noir
- Eureka Mayor Susan Seaman
- Eagle House Owner Jennifer Metz
- Absynth Quartet Drummer Mike “Tofu” Schwartz
- HACHR Executive Director Lasara Firefox Allen
- Alchemy Distiller Owner Amy Bohner
- Eureka City Councilmember Kati Moulton
- Eureka City Councilmember Scott Bauer
- Ungraceful Ager Barry Evans
- Arcata City Councilmember Sofia Pereira
- HumBrews Music Booker Laurel Weston
- Eureka City Councilmember Kim Bergel
- Film Commission’s Cassandra Hesseltine and Nate Adams
- Marble Maker Topher Reynolds
- Arcata Playhouse Director Jacqueline Dandeneau
- Humboldt Political Junkie Eric Kirk
- Rio Dell Mayor Debra Garnes
- Second District Supervisor Estelle Fennell
- Arcata Food Aficionado Jada Calypso Brotman
- Body Piercer Jackie Silva
- Dick Taylor Chocolate’s Adam Dick
- FUHS Teachers Mark Thom and Inma Thompson
- Eureka City Manager Miles Slattery
- Savage Henry Co-Founder Chris Durant
- Eureka Street Art Festival Organizer Jenna Catsos
- SCRAP Humboldt Founder Tibora Bea
- Gym Owner Tyler Parr
- Six Rivers Brewery Co-Owner Meredith Maier
- Multicultural Skincare Therapist Levia Love
- Annie’s Cambodian Server and Social Worker Joshua Coppock
- Eureka City Councilmember Austin Allison
- HSU Professor Deidre Pike
- Pastor Bethany Cseh
- Singer/Songwriter Chris Parreira
- Eureka City Councilmember Leslie Castellano
- Arcata City Councilmember Paul Pitino