Dealing The Mobile Sound

Symone French Found Her Flow in Mobile

On this episode of Dealing  The Mobile Sound, host Eric Erdman sits down with singer Symone French, whose musical story begins early and comes back around in its own time. She won a fourth-grade talent show singing a Destiny’s Child song with her best friend, formed a tiny band called Charmed, and played one birthday party before stepping away from music for nearly 15 years. While working at Mellow Mushroom, she was encouraged by Phil and Foster, who had regular gigs there, to step back onstage.
Raised on Bonnie Raitt, Van Morrison, Santana, Lauryn Hill, Tina Marie, Prince — along with country, jazz, gospel, and rap — all of it shaped her sound. In her early 30s, Symone went through major life changes and began writing songs to reflect them, finally finding a place where she could go with the flow. 
She also shares the unforgettable moment she opened for Macy Gray and was invited backstage to play her hero’s biggest hit. In the episode, Symone performs “Flow” and “Love’s Still a Losing Game.”
 
 

Abe Partridge: Being on This Side of the Curtain

In the first episode of “Dealing The Mobile Sound,” Abe Partridge talks about starting songwriting in his mid-twenties while pastoring a church, creating music for himself as a way through hard seasons. He shares why mystery matters in art and how painting and songwriting helped him navigate loss of faith and community. Abe performs “I aint sacred no more” and reflects on recording with Steve Shelley of Sonic Youth.

Dealing The Mobile Sound Trailer

Dealing The Mobile Sound is a podcast about the songs and stories behind Mobile music. Hosted by Eric Erdman and recorded around a poker table in the back room at Callaghan’s Irish Social Club, the show brings together local musicians to talk about the music that shaped them — and the city that shaped the music. New episodes drop starting January 19.