Mutlu talks playing live, Musicians On Call, and more with Helen Leicht on XPN Local

Philly singer-songwriter Mutlu was the latest guest on the XPN Local Show with Helen Leicht. Joining her live on the air for an acoustic performance last night, he shared new songs, talked about collaborating with his heroes, and reflected on the hope we can all find in music.

The chat began with a bit about the Carl Landry Record Club, the podcast Mutlu launched with Spike Eskin and friends over the pandemic. This led to other ways artists coped with lockdown, and Mutlu reflected on going from watching his friend Amos Lee’s weekly performances on Instagram Live to opening for Amos this Friday, July 23rd at Freeman Arts Pavilion in Selbyville, DE (tickets and information here), and going on tour with him in September.

Mutlu also played a few songs live and acoustic — “Fountain,” a tune he wrote with his partner Delia Amendola inspired by the film The Life Ahead, as well as “Gone Forever,” a tune dedicated to his late friend Dante Bucci, and a rendition of Bob Marley’s “Three Little Birds,” one of his go-to selections when he performs at patient bedsides for the Musicians on Call program.

Mutlu reflected on volunteering for MOC, saying that it’s very much about “uplifting patients and bringing positive energy to patents and family, but also you get something out of it, playing the song and making that connection.” He also talked about the gradual return of live music, and how that feels from the musician’s perspective. “When you have it taken away, you appreciate it even more.”

Helen also plays album selections from Mutlu’s latest, Good Trouble, and more — hear it all in the player below, and tune in next Tuesday, July 27th, when Helen’s guest is Andrew Lipke.