Interview: Peter James of Manic Kat Records

Manic Kat Records
Adam Grundy

Recently I was able to schedule a Zoom call with Peter James, the owner of indie label Manic Kat Records, to discuss his label’s upcoming 10th anniversary. I also asked Peter about what qualities he looks for when signing bands/artists to his label, the best practices he’s learned in the music business, as well as how he sees the state of vinyl production today. Manic Kat Records has a roster that includes Ryan Cabrera, The Anchor, Along Came A Spider, and Todd Morse.

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Japandroids Detail the End of the Band

Japandroids
Jason Tate

An excellent feature on everything surrounding the final Japandroids’ album is up over at Stereogum:

These are standard talking points for a 41-year-old who has spent nearly half his life in a rock band. I imagine a glimpse into King’s personal life would endear fans who might otherwise be skeptical about a Japandroids album with a song called “Upon Sober Reflection.” But early sobriety and new fatherhood are special, fragile things of which anyone would be protective. Especially for someone like King, who is described by anyone who truly knows him with some variation of “intensely private.” If alcohol and lust were the lifeblood of Japandroids, it only stands to reason that serenity would be the death of them. But if anyone cops a resentment over King’s healthier, happier life, just know: You’ve been grieving a version of Japandroids that hasn’t existed for over a decade. Fate & Alcohol is the stage of acceptance

Review: Taylor Acorn – Survival In Motion

Adam Grundy

Every now and then in our lives we will discover an artist that checks all of the boxes of our music interests. This happened to me this past Friday when I hit play on Survival In Motion, the debut album from Taylor Acorn. The powerhouse vocals, crisp songwriting, and the overall feeling of good vibes coming through the speakers washed over me from the opening notes all the way to the dramatic conclusion of the album. Taylor Acorn shared, “I feel like I’ve been waiting a lifetime to be able to say ‘I’m putting out a debut album’, but in all honesty I’m so glad I waited for as long as I have, I feel like I’ve finally found my sound — I’ve fallen in love with every single song in it’s own right, the writing process was truly something I’ll never forget — and to top it off I got to share the experience with my best friends and some of the most amazing and talented people I know. I’m not sure what will come next, but this chapter is something that I am so unbelievably proud of and I can’t wait to share it with everyone. I hope you love it and I hope you find peace in knowing that no matter what we go through, we are all walking representation of survival in motion and life is a gift no matter how crazy it can be.” Taylor Acorn has a voice that fits somewhere between the emotive vocals of Hayley Williams, the range of Kelly Clarkson, and the punk brashness of Charlotte Sands, while her warm delivery still feels refreshing and new.

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