Recently I was able to connect with singer-songwriter Adam Lytle to discuss everything that went his new single and video for the track “Heaven.” The song comes from Lytle’s sophomore album, Altars, that hits streaming services on May 2nd. If you’re enjoying the video for “Heaven”, please consider pre-saving Altars here.
Read More “Adam Lytle”
Today I’m so excited to introduce everyone to pop-punk band, West Friends, who are releasing their latest single called “You’ll Hate It Here.” On this track that takes it roots from classic pop-punk bands like Sum 41, New Found Glory and Blink-182, West Friends make a memorable single with plenty of substance behind it. West Friends is the duo of songwriters and friends, Jordan Renshaw and Isaiah Dominguez, and they have a great style for the pop-punk 30/40-somethings crowd. The band shared, “‘You’ll Hate It Here’ is a tongue-in-cheek take on the cities we call home (Seattle and San Francisco), which, let’s face it, are some of the news cycle’s favorite punching bags. For locals, the negativity can get overbearing enough to warrant a snarky, ‘Grab a souvenir on your way out.” West Friends collaborated with Tom Iannello (Transit, Driveways) to make an anthem that says, despite their flaws, we wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.” If you’re enjoying the early listen, you can pre-save West Friends new single here.
Read More “West Friends – “You’ll Hate It Here” (Song Premiere)”
If your life was a movie, what songs would make the soundtrack?
Earlier this year, I found myself trying to answer that question, all because I was looking for a project to get me excited about music writing again. A decade ago, I couldn’t wait to write up reviews of every new album I liked. Now, the thought of going through that process feels exhausting, and maybe meaningless. Does anyone care about album reviews in 2025? And if not, where does that leave those of us who love trying to articulate what it is about a certain piece of music that makes us think, or makes us weep, or gets our hearts racing a little faster?
I came up with the life soundtrack idea almost on a lark. It would be a fun challenge, I told myself, especially if there were limits and rules by which I had to abide. The first rule I gave myself was to theme this project around my forthcoming 35th birthday. In honor of that milestone, I decided, I’d have the space of just 35 songs to tell my life story.
I didn’t know how maddening this game would prove to be – or, ultimately, how emotionally fulfilling. I’m an old veteran when it comes to making lists, but this version of the music list was so much harder than anything else I’d ever attempted. Picking your all-time favorite albums is easy. Picking your favorite songs is harder, but still somewhat intuitive. Trying to boil down your entire life’s journey into what is essentially a two-CD compilation is an exercise guaranteed to result in constant hand-wringing, excessive second-guessing, and endless revising. There are currently 47,145 songs in my iTunes library. How was I supposed to be satisfied picking such a tiny percentage of that?
Read More “My Life In 35 Songs, Track 1: “One Headlight” by The Wallflowers”
Recently I was able to connect with psychedelic indie composer, guitarist, and record producer Romi Peles, as he gears up for the release of his third studio album, Break Up Album, that hits streaming services on June 13th. Today, Romi Peles is releasing his new single and lyric video for “Demons Back In Town.” If you’re enjoying the new single, please consider supporting this talented artist here.
Read More “Romi Peles”
Recently I was able to catch up with the lead vocalist of Anxious, Grady Allen, on the road to discuss everything that went into the band’s excellent sophomore LP, Bambi. I asked Grady about how the headlining shows have been going for Anxious, if he felt any pressure during the writing process between Little Green House and Bambi, and much more. If you’re looking to support Anxious on the road, check out a show, or visit their merch store here.
Read More “Grady Allen of Anxious”
I got older. The pop-punk universe blessed me. This week’s supporter Q&A post can be found here.
If you’d like this newsletter delivered to your inbox each week (it’s free and available to everyone), you can sign up here.
Read More “Liner Notes (March 23rd, 2025)”
For the last decade, Radiator King has been the moniker of NYC-via-Boston solo artist Adam Silvestri. But since he moved to L.A. in 2021 at the urging of longtime collaborator / drummer / Dresden Dolls co-founder Brian Viglione, the two have teamed up with keyboardist Alexander Burke to form a proper band with each member contributing to the writing process. Today, Radiator King has released the video for “The Second Coming,” their garage rock-heavy single that is a crowd-pleasing anthem. I was able to connect with Silvestri for an interview about the new single and how the band responded to working with veteran producer Ted Hutt. If you’re enjoying the music video, please consider supporting Radiator King here.
Read More “Radiator King”
A couple of days ago, I was able to schedule a Zoom call with Brittany Luna (vocals) and Tim Hildebrand (guitar), of Philadelphia ska band Catbite, to discuss their newly announced EP, Doom Garden. In this interview, I asked the band members about where the EP title came from, the direction they took on Doom Garden, their recent performance doing the Operation Ivy cover set with Laura Jane Grace, and how they were able to get Patrick Stump to sing on one of the songs on the new record. Catbite will be supporting Doom Garden with a headlining tour, and the dates are below.
Read More “Catbite”
I’d like to introduce everyone to ambient rock artist, Katerina Nicole, whose debut EP, Serene In Violent Oceans, is a solid mix of heavy styles similar to Spiritbox, paired with the songwriting sensibilities of Charlotte Sands, all with a style all of her own. I asked Katerina about her great new single called “Emotionally,” the meaning behind the EP title, and what she hopes fans will take away from listening to her dynamic music. If you’re enjoying the new single, please consider streaming her EP here.
Read More “Katerina Nicole”
Back in January, I got the opportunity to speak with Will Wiesenfeld – the artist behind Baths – about his new album Gut. It’s been nearly seven years since Wiesenfeld released his last Baths’ project, Romaplasm, and Gut is his most thorough and fully realized Baths release yet – a brutally honest look at exploring his sexuality and the impulsivity and bleakness that comes from that. Gut is also pushes Wiesenfeld’s blend of electronic music into new styles and experimentation – a thrilling 11-track journey resulting in one of 2025’s most essential records. You can catch him on tour now. Below, Will and I discuss how the record came together, how he approached the songwriting, Heyshiro Matsuoka, and getting weirder and hotter with each release.
Read More “Baths”
Recently I was able to connect with Florida punk band, Debt Neglector, about their newly announced LP called Kinda Rips that will be released everywhere music is sold on April 4th via Smartpunk Records. In this interview with bassist/vocalist/ band founder Alex Goldfarb, I asked him about the themes present on Kinda Rips, the band’s music upbringing, and why they feel their music should connect with those upset with the political status quo. You can pre-save Kinda Rips here.
Read More “Debt Neglector”
I am not prepared to “spring forward” this weekend, so I am trying to focus on the return of the sun instead. This week’s supporter Q&A post can be found here.
If you’d like this newsletter delivered to your inbox each week (it’s free and available to everyone), you can sign up here.
Read More “Liner Notes (March 8th, 2025)”
Darker Lighter is the alias of the talented musician, Salar Rajabnik, who has spent countless years on the road perfecting his songwriting craft and musicianship. Along the way, Rajabnik caught the eye of artists like Foo Fighters, Queens Of The Stone Age, and Kim Gordon, who entrusted him as their guitar tech and associate. In this interview, I asked Darker Lighter about his great new single called “Nice To Meet You,” his upcoming self-titled album, and much more.
Read More “Darker Lighter”
Recently I was able to connect with TVOD (short for Television Overdose), to ask the band about their electric-charged new single, “Uniform.” The track comes from the Brooklyn, NY punk band’s debut LP, Party Time, that releases on May 9th. In this interview, I asked the band about the new single and music video, plus I had TVOD describe their live shows. If you’re enjoying the new single, please consider pre-ordering Party Time here.
Read More “TVOD”
This week’s newsletter has early thoughts on the new Underoath album, some music recs of things I’ve been really enjoying over the past few weeks, and some website updates. This week’s supporter Q&A post can be found here.
If you’d like this newsletter delivered to your inbox each week (it’s free and available to everyone), you can sign up here.
Read More “Liner Notes (February 22nd, 2025)”