With a sound inspired by free-jazz, post-modern experimentalism, ’90s indie rock, and traditional folk music, The Slaps’ latest album, the brilliant Mudglimmer, embraces the band’s sense of adventure and weirdness. Drummer Josh Resing discusses the importance of the Chicago music scene, the challenges of touring, and making uncomplicatedly complicated music.

From a lengthy list of ’70s songwriting influences, Johnny Delaware emerges with a soul-stirring, evocative album of Laurel Canyon meets Southwest America flavored folk-rock songs. The nomadic singer/songwriter shares stories of wanderlust, defying genre classification, and side hustles that help his music career move forward.

UK post-punk band Crows have returned with their most accessible album to date. Frontman James Cox discusses why Reason Enough is the band’s best yet, how his on-stage persona aligns more closely with his off-stage self, and how the influence of Idles has shaped their recent evolution.

After 25 years, The The returns with a powerful collection of songs exploring technology, love, war, and grief through Matt Johnson’s keen lens. The alternative rock veteran reflects on songwriting, the benefits of a quieter life away from the spotlight, and how writing about personal loss has been a healing process.

After two decades (‘90s/‘00s) writing power-pop rock songs with the Meices and Alien Crime Syndicate, Joe Reineke added “producer” and “studio owner” to his resume. Reineke and his wife, Karyn Gold-Reineke, own and operate Orbit Audio in Seattle and have been busy working on their own music as Society of the Silver Cross, creating haunting, spiritual, moody, droning hymns with non-traditional rock instruments.

Jana Mila’s Disney-like story involves being discovered via YouTube as a teenager by a major Dutch recording artist and being whisked away to Nashville to meet like-minded musicians in order to craft a wonderfully mature debut album that blends the rural spin of Americana music with the sunny melodies so often associated with Laurel Canyon circa the 1970s. Taking a quick breather before the real work starts, the young singer/songwriter shares her origin story, discusses her love of her home away from home, and the importance of self acceptance.

Canadian folk artist Donovan Woods, known for his Juno Award-winning work and songwriting for Tim McGraw, continues to captivate with his latest album, Things Were Never Good If They’re Not Good Now. This album offers an earnest look at everyday life, exploring the highs and lows of relationships and the bittersweet return to one’s hometown. In this interview, Woods delves into his songwriting process, sources of inspiration, and how Nashville has become his second home.

Punk rock pirate Charlie Overbey goes full-on country songwriter, with the help of guests from Blackberry Smoke, Foo Fighters, the E-Street Band and more, on his latest album, the aptly titled In Good Company. Overbey discusses his past, what led him from punk to country, pulling together talent, and what’s in store in this conversation.

Stuart McLamb of The Love Language found his songwriting muse in Charles Crossingham just as the pandemic caused the world to isolate. The two, fueled by ’90s alt-rock radio and classic country radio, created something entirely new – and arena ready – with Fancy Gap, named after the town where Crossingham’s cabin served as a songwriting retreat.

Like a mixtape of obscure ’60s and ’70s songs ranging from Southern Rock to trippy psych-rock, Color Green’s new album, Fool’s Parade, is a timeless classic that sounds as modern as it does dated. Noah Kohll and Corey Madden discuss the evolution from a two-man project to a four-person band, adopting a classic rock aesthetic, and the journey the album takes the listener on.

Two decades into their career, Blitzen Trapper’s written some of their best material on their new album, _100’s of 1000’s, Millions of Billions*. Lead singer – and founding member – Eric Earley discusses the freedom he feels these days to tap into early influences and revisit ideas from his earliest days of songwriting as well as how he manages his music career with the work that he does with Oregon’s homeless.

After a ten-year hiatus, Sebastian Bach returns with Child Within the Man, an album the enigmatic singer considers to be the best album of his solo career. Bach discusses the time and care put into the album, how he organizes his massive vinyl collection, the inspiration behind “Hard Darkness,” and why he won’t keep a consistent lineup of musicians to play on his albums and tour.

For three decades, Hot Water Music’s sound has defined punk. Bassist Jason Black chats about the band’s enduring lineup across 10 albums, and why their star-studded new release, Vows, might be their magnum opus.

90s emo/post-hardcore icon Jonah Matranga (Far, onelinedrawing) delves into his current musical ventures, including lending his distinctive vocals to UK band Sons of Alpha Centauri who recruited Matranga for their 2021 album, Push, and their new release, Pull.

As close as an overnight sensation as there is in 2024, Sydney, Australia’s Royel Otis is enamoring audiences around the globe with their brand of indie-pop guitar-rock. With a steady release of EPs that started in late 2021, and a full-length earlier this year, the duo’s built a following through airplay on satellite radio, additions to Spotify playlists, and videos on YouTube that have been viewed millions of times. Royel Maddell and Otis Pavlovic are in the midst of a sold-out club tour that will find them back in the U.S. later this year at venues double and triple the size of where they’re playing now.

Katie Pruitt confronts self-doubt on Mantras, her confident sophomore album. Following the acclaimed Expectations, Pruitt embraces a fuller sound and a more honest lyrical style. This time around, with a full promotional push, she’s poised for a breakout.

With two albums under their belt, Hello Emerson’s third release, To Keep Him Here, is the most personal to date. The entire album is about the nine days Sam Emerson Bodary’s dad, David, spent in the hospital following an accident in 2017 and the many different emotions the Bodary family went through while wait to see if David would recover.

With the pandemic as a backdrop, O Zorn!’s Bill Kielty crafted the band’s most accessible release to date. The singer/guitarist sheds light on tracking the album while dodging Covid, replacing band members, and leveraging AI to create a video for the sludgy single, “Never Saw It Coming.”

Marcus King declares his new album, Mood Swings, a sonic rebirth. “It’s really all about what the music wants,” he says. Produced by Rick Rubin, the album weaves pop, R&B, and hip-hop elements into King’s signature bluesy guitar rock, reflecting not just a musical shift but also a personal one. Mood Swings is King’s journey of confronting his mental health battles and emerging stronger.

A return appearance by Lo Moon’s Matt Lowell, this time to discuss the band’s new release, I Wish You Way More Than Luck, which got it’s start when Lowell returned to the location where he performed for the first time in front of an audience – a chapel used by the high school in Connecticut he attended in the early 2000s.

Indie rock vets Michael “Jaws” Jaworski (The Cops) and Sohrab Habibion (Edsel, Obits) have been making music as the Brooklyn post-punk band Savak since 2015. In this conversation, Jaworski and Habibion discuss the band’s formation, dive into the songs, share the inspiration behind the Flavors of Paradise album title, and reveal why they’re touring in France.

Louisville, Kentucky’s Bendigo Fletcher has built a career around weaving intimate stories with timeless harmonies and blending timeless influences with indie flair. The band’s new album, Two Things at Once, demonstrates the band’s intimate charm throughout it’s 11 tracks. Lead singer Ryan Anderson discusses working with Ken Coomer and Tchad Blake on the album, the state of the Louisville music scene, and the classic TV series that inspired the song “Ought Not.”

Montreal’s psych-rock veterans Elephant Stone are back with their sixth album, Back Into the Dream. This time, they weave their signature cosmic sounds with catchy pop hooks and jazzy flourishes. Lead singer Rishi Dhir discusses the album’s creation in his home studio, the inspiration behind the title (a tribute to a music journalist), and Elephant Stone’s place in the musical landscape.

San Fermin gets personal on their new album, Arms. Songwriter and composer Ellis Ludwig-Leone utilizes the band’s dynamic vocalists, Allen Tate and Claire Wellin, to craft a shifting narrative rich with raw emotion. While the orchestration is scaled back, Arms is far from simple, channeling Ludwig-Leone’s post-breakup experiences into a potent and theatrical listen.

With a sound that blends dreamlike shoegaze textures with relatable lyrics about the ups and downs of living in your early 20s, Ireland’s NewDad has already achieved career highlights that most bands will never get to experience – from recording at a world-famous studio to signing a major label deal to playing a string of sold-out headline dates. Singer/guitarist Julie Dawson discusses the band’s rapid accension, what’s still on the checklist, the influences that shaped NewDad’s sound and the strategy of releasing singles to build excitement.

While Devon Ross is primarily recognized for her achievements in modeling and acting, her roots lie in music as her father has been Lenny Kravitz’s guitarist since the early ’90s. On her debut EP, released on Thurston Moore’s label, Ross skillfully captures the essence of cool, underground indie rock from previous eras, delivering a refreshingly exciting sound.

With a number of projects under his belt, Real Estate co-founder and bassist Alex Bleeker offers up some recommendations from the list of things he’s worked on that people should check out as they prepare to listen to the new Real Estate album, Daniel.

Danielle Durack gracefully traverses a range of emotions, bravely tackling difficult truths on her fourth album, Escape Artist. Exploring themes of love, loss, and significant life changes, Escape Artist offers Durack a stage for deep introspection into her personal journey and the beginning of resolution.

One of the best-sounding debut albums I’ve heard, Friko’s Where we’ve been, Where we go from here showcases the young Chicago trio’s versatile sound which will undoubtedly remind listeners of stuff they’ve heard without ever sounding like an imitation of any of those artists. Niko Kapetan and Bailey Minzenberger share where they’ve been in terms of how they met and developed the Friko sound as well as where they go from here, which includes touring to support their jaw-dropping debut.

Rooted in folk and Americana traditions, Tyler Ramsey’s introspective style of songwriting provides warmth and intimacy on his latest album, the Phil Ek*-produced New Lost Ages. As humble and gentle in person as he is on record, Ramsey discusses the new album, the world he hopes to leave behind for his kids, and how *Neal Casal’s passing inspired the song “Flare”.

Shiny and shimmering jangle pop helps offset the darker subject matter of Ducks Ltd.’s sophomore album, Harm’s Way. Singer/guitarist Tom McGreevy discusses what led to recording in Chicago, how his R.E.M. knowledge didn’t run deep at the start of the band’s career, and how Archers of Loaf provided valuable touring lessons.

A member of the influential ’80s new wave punk band Pylon returns, paying homage to the band she lead decades ago with the help of fellow Athens, Georgia musicians from bands like Supercluster and Casper & The Cookies. But, make no mistake, while Pylon Reenactment Society does pay homage to Pylon, singer Vanessa Briscoe Hay is ready to explore new and fresh sounds. Hay and guitarist Jason NeSmith share stories about Athens, discuss the influence Pylon has had, and recall a funny story about meeting Sleater-Kinney.

With an ever evolving sound, the latest release by TORRES, What an enormous room on Merge Records find singer Mackenzie Scott addressing often dark and complex thoughts and feelings with music grounded in fantasy and experimentation. Scott discusses where this album fits in among their past efforts, talks about the importance of physical and mental fitness, and dives into some of the lyrics.

Delving fearlessly into themes of mental health and sexuality, Sprints debut album, and first notable album of the year, Letter to Self, serves as a raw and unapologetic exploration of singer Karla Chubb’s difficult life. Bassist Sam McCann and drummer Jack Callan discuss the album’s release, Chubb’s honest songwriting, connecting with fans, and the feeling of playing their first sold-out show.

Teaming up with friends, and musicians who had backed him during his solo career, Kane Strang’s passion was reignited with the formation of the indie guitar-rock trio Office Dog. Free from expectations, the New Zealand-based band provides the energy that Strang was missing as a solo artist and caught the attention of two highly-respected indie labels who are now sharing Office Dog’s music with the world.

The UK’s Folly Group enters 2024 on a strong note with the release of their post-punk debut, Down There!. While the band’s music is anxious, paranoid, and even angry at times, the guys in the band are the complete opposite. In this conversation, they discuss their common love of Gorillaz, where the confidence comes from, the realities of touring, and the band names they’d use if they started a hardcore band.

Marika Hackman opens up about the profound impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on her music creation process, providing a glimpse into the challenges and revelations she faced during these unprecedented times. Marika shares the highs, lows, and unexpected inspirations that shaped her latest album, Big Sigh and discusses her introspective lyrics, the thematic choices in her music videos, and the evolving philosophy behind her pursuit of artistic growth.

Rome Ramirez discusses his reasons for leaving Sublime with Rome and what he’s got planned for his future. He also talks about how Sublime with Rome’s music isn’t that far removed from the jam band scene, his move to Nashville, when being on the road turns into a job, and what dream he still has for his career.

Stewart Copeland opens up about the influx of Police-related projects in 2023 — including two albums and a book — which he sees as an opportunity to create space for pursuing his other passions in the upcoming year. In this interview with the legendary Rock and Roll Hall of Fame drummer, Copeland delves into his deep affection for composing orchestral pieces, shares the emotions evoked when encountering The Police’s music unexpectedly, and discloses his keen interest in keeping tabs on the current endeavors of both Sting and Andy Summers.

Jack Osborn is an indie-pop virtuoso whose music is a kaleidoscope of smart lyricism and infectious melodies. Crafting witty tunes with irresistible hooks, Sad Songs in C Major, the full-length debut by JACK, is like Vampire Weekend without the Ivy League degree. In this conversation, Osborn discusses the advantages of living in Nebraska, why he create massive amounts of social media content, and the decision behind recording some unexpected covers.

After co-writing hundreds of songs for other artists, Vinnie Paolizzi has finally released his own full-length album that he says is neither a country nor a folk record but, rather, a Vinnie record. In this conversation, Paolizzi discusses his influences, the draw of Nashville, his admiration of Chris Cornell and more.

Growing up a fan of Neil Young and The Black Crowes, Mitch Rowland’s musical career was diverted when he joined Harry Styles band as both a co-writer and touring guitarist. Inspired by the downtime the pandemic offered, Rowland wrote and recorded his debut solo album, Come June, which is a minimalistic, ’70s-inspired singer/songwriter collection of Americana-flavored songs. Rowland discusses those songs and more in this conversation.

Best known as TV’s Ted Mosby (How I Met Your Mother), Josh Radnor was a latecomer to the songwriting game. But, a chance meeting with singer/songwriter Ben Lee opened new doors for the actor who’s gift for telling stories through song shines brightly on his debut album, Eulogy: Volume 1.

Recording under the name Our Man in the Field, UK actor-turned-musician Alex Ellis is able to tell stories as an observer rather than delivering a first-person narrative although the songwriter admits many of the songs on his sophomore release, Gold on the Horizon, are, in fact, based on his personal experiences.

With their first album of original material in a decade, The Polyphonic Spree returns with Salvage Enterprise, an album meant to take listeners back to the old way of listening to music – finding the right environment to play the album from start to finish and let the music wash over you. Tim DeLaughter shares why this album is so important to him and how it’s origins came as a way to battle depression.

Dylan LeBlanc’s journey through life, from the gritty streets of Shreveport, Louisiana to the creative haven of Muscle Shoals, Alabama, has been a defining influence on his music. With a passionate commitment to storytelling through his songs, he has crafted a series of critically-acclaimed albums, including his latest work, Coyote, which represents a culmination of his artistic evolution.

Coming out of the gate fast and furious, modern classic rock torchbearers Dirty Honey have returned with their aptly-titled sophomore album, Can’t Find the Brakes. With a new drummer in tow, Dirty Honey’s stretching their songwriting skills to include some mid-tempo ballads though the rockers still soar with arena-ready vocals and guitar hero riffs. Guitarist John Notto and drummer Jaydon Bean discuss the making of the album, recording in Australia, and what a dream stadium tour lineup would look like.

With an illustrious five-decade, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame career as one half of the Hall and Oates duo coming to an end, John Oates discusses how writing and recording his own material has made music fun again. Oates has a handful of sold-out tour dates to end the year and he shares what fans should expect from these shows, from how he’ll tell stories behind the songs to what might be on the setlist.

Artifacts is a memorable collection of Americana songs conceived in rural parts of West Virginia by a songwriter who has city smarts. Sarah Rudy discusses the making of Hello June’s sophomore album, the reason she covered John Denver’s “Take Me Home, Country Roads”, and the artists she finds comfort in including some heavier stuff that might surprise you.

The Vancouver-based Meltt uses lifelong relationships among band members to create a rich and complex collection of tracks that are truly brought to life when listening on a good set of headphones. James Porter and Jamie Turner discuss the luxury of time provided by Covid lockdowns to dedicate to songwriting, the importance of album sequencing, and how the band name reflects how they want listeners to interpret the music they make.