Austin Plaine is a singer/songwriter who decided that playing the guitar and writing heart-on-your-sleeve lyrics was more rewarding than trying to be a lawyer. Plaine passed up the LSATs and began writing music. He finished his self-titled album last year and I spoke with him at Bonnaroo this year about all of this and more. You can find the full video interview below.
Aparna Nancherla thinks depression is funny, or at least her goal is to make listeners laugh when she talks about the topic. The DC native has received the attention of Conan O’Brien, Amy Schumer, Wyatt Cenac, Adam Devine, and many other prestigious comedians. Nancherla fit right in on the comedy stage at the Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival and you can find a video of our talk about her new album below.
Fans have been waiting with bated breath for a new album from Pierce the Veil. I recently talked with Jaime Preciado (bass) and Tony Perry (lead guitar) about what led to the the delay of their recently released album, Misadventures. The guys also talk about how fans might deal with the violence that occurred at the Bataclan Night Club last year (a venue they once played), as well as the violence at Pulse Night Club, and the murder of Christina Grimmie in Orlando, Florida. We also discuss the band meeting with fans that have terminal illnesses through the Living the Dream Foundation. You can find the entire interview below.
Lead singer JJ Julius Son talks about Kaleo’s American debut A/B, what it’s like to see your music reach a worldwide audience, and how anyone can embrace the blues.
Frontman Nathan Henry discusses the return of Sherwood and their first record in seven years Some Things Never Leave You, along with the hard work of doing music on your own, the self-doubt and toughness of getting older, and how the experience of being in a band never fully goes away.
It’s hard to put into words the effect of Mitski’s music. Her voice is as clear and sharp as a knife, and the instruments wrap around you with the warmth of a blanket on a cold day. Even though the name of her new album, Puberty 2, sounds like a cheesy American teen movie a la American Pie, Mitski reminds us that life is messy, the question of where you belong is complex, and we can’t always have the things we want. I had the pleasure of talking with Mitski during the lead up to this new album about everything from the music to the in-between.
Royal Teeth are a six-piece indie pop band from Louisiana that have been pushing their way into the scene since around 2010. Today I’m excited to bring you a video interview with the band that discusses life on the road while supporting their first album, Glow, and the band’s current work on recording a EP after signing with Elektra Records.
Bassist Joseph Karnes talks about feeling more confident and at ease on Fitz and the Tantrums’ self-titled third album, always keeping the live show in the back of the mind, and building success inch-by-inch.
A few weeks back, I was lucky enough to attend the Shaky Knees Festival in Atlanta, Georgia. It was a high-energy weekend filled with great bands (both up-and-coming and established). One of the best bands I saw was Polyenso, who played an early Saturday set on the Buford Highway stage. Afterward, I got to sit down for a bit and chat with the band about their new record The Pure In The Plastic, what they’re anticipating most from their upcoming tour with PVRIS, and how their songs change in a live setting.
A few weekends ago I was lucky enough to attend Shaky Knees Festival in Atlanta, Georgia. While there, I got a chance to catch The Front Bottoms on Friday afternoon. Their set was one of the best I saw all weekend, and after, we got a chance to sit down and chat with them about a variety of topics (including a possible The Front Bottoms craft beer).
Drummer Riley Breckenridge breaks down Thrice’s first album in five years, To Be Everywhere Is to Be Nowhere, and how being present in the moment has reinvigorated the band to come back as strong as ever.
Frank Turner is about to return to the United States for another leg of the Positive Songs for Negative People tour. I got a chance to chat with Frank about how he feels about the album now that it’s been out for a little while, why his next record will be more “radical” and “experimental” than anything he’s ever done before, how Butch Walker ended up producing the album, why playing shows with Jason Isbell is a realization of a years-old dream, and how recording the mournful “Song for Josh” in a live setting almost made Turner, a “profoundly, sternly atheist man,” glimpse a higher power.
Goo Goo Dolls’ bassist, Robby Takac, talks about keeping things fresh on the band’s 11th album Boxes, the slow progressions they’ve undergone over their now 30-year career, and never taking success for granted.
Bassist Chris Sorenson looks at the past, present and future of Saosin, including the long road behind the band’s comeback album Along the Shadow and welcoming original singer Anthony Green back into the fold.
Lonnie Angle and Thomas Dutton discuss the beginnings of Cardiknox, making their debut album Portrait, managing new transitions, and exploring personal avenues through music.