“There have been other instances in the past where I was trying to get a bigger distribution deal for the label because I thought that there would be a wider audience. I never really thought I would partner with anybody, but it wasn’t until Jeff came along and suggested this, and I realized that he shared a lot of the same perspectives in terms of the music and the heart. That’s the same thing with The Big Takeover and Jack Rabid and what he’s always done, looking for music with heart.” – Bruce Licher
“Bruce does have a very eclectic and broad taste, and I think I do too. There’s a Venn diagram where our tastes connect for sure! It’s a big place where they’re very similar and part of that also is I think we both listen. There are also new artists we’re interested in and trying to keep that balance between old and new. I guess the challenge is how to do that in a coherent and smart way.” – Jeff Clark
Richard O’Brien, who wrote The Rocky Horror Picture Show (and starred as Riff Raff in it) discusses a new coffee table book about the film featuring photos by Mick Rock
Ready to try something new deep into his career, Daniel Ash (Bauhaus, Tones on Tail, Love on Rockets) teamed up with Bruce Smith (Public Image Ltd, The Pop Group) and Paul Spencer Denman (Sade, Sweetback) to form Ashes and Diamonds. While the recording process took much longer than anyone expected, Ash is like a proud father when discussing the trio’s debut album – from inception to release.
“The way we went into this, not knowing what we were doing or creating, it meant we were very free to create anything. Making it in our bedrooms gave us freedom to write, record and mix without pressure or questions about where it’s going, which gives the music a rawer and imperfect sound, something we admire about bands like Duster and The Velvet Underground.” – Charlie Holton
After a country detour with Bootcuts (2023), Bahamas returns to the sun-dappled, easygoing guitar pop that’s long been his calling card on his seventh album, My Second Last Album. The title, Afie Jurvanen admits, is tongue-in-cheek, though he does imagine a time, maybe not far off, when music takes a back seat to fatherhood and other pursuits.
“Everyone who we recorded with had an influence shaping the band, so to get to be with them and in these special spaces results in a special record. Even before we recorded with them, they were such inspirations to us. This release is a full circle moment. “ – Cynthia Rittenbach
“Heavenly was one of the first real indie pop bands that I loved. I found out about them through stuff my older sister was playing. Their tunes are some of the strongest of the whole Sarah Records roster, which is just my musical blueprint.” – Stephen Stec
Joyer brothers Shane and Nick Sullivan have just released their fourth album, On the Other Side of the Line, a pleasantly produced record that flirts with the ’90s slacker indie sound of MJ Lenderman. In this conversation, we talk about the challenges of pigeonholing their sound, how social media has helped them forge connections, and use song titles as inspiration for questions unrelated to the songs’ lyrics.
“I’m not one for big narratives. I always feel like the music should be open to interpretation a little bit and for people to hear what they want to hear in the song, instead of dictating it. Some songs I want to know exactly what it’s about. Other songs I don’t really want to know, and so I feel like if I leave it vague enough that it could be anything to anyone.” – Jasamine White-Gluz
With a new album, Hit Music now out, I caught up with Greg Hoy to find out about his amazing journey through music making, doing things his way, overcoming adversity and what the future holds.
“Like any good album it should be a musical journey and should take the listener to places they weren’t expecting.” – John Cep
“Our emotional connection with our audience is everything to us being able to keep on doing this on a level outside of our home studio. This means everything to us right now.” – Kim Field
With a new album sonder out soon, I caught up with Danielle, aka Your Friend Juniper, to find out what we can expect from the record, her journey to where she is today, and what the future holds in store for her.
“The most pronounced emotion for me is gratitude. It didn’t have to happen and the world might be done with me and my music by tomorrow. But just having the experience of putting something so true and personal out in the world and watching it percolate in listeners’ lives is an experience that I don’t feel a lot of artists get to have.” – Jens Kuross
“… taking these songs that were created here in that sort of calm space and then actually finalizing them in the city maybe gives it a certain dichotomy.” – Jeff Moore
Black Label Society guitarist Dario Lorina doesn’t see Dark Chapel as a side gig, it’s a band he’s fully invested in. Their debut, Spirit in the Glass, just got a deluxe reissue with three new songs, and the group’s about to hit the road opening for Zakk Sabbath. Before the tour kicks off, Lorina checked in to chat about the album, his time with Jani Lane and Lizzy Borden, and how he decides which songs make the cut as singles.
With not only the arrival of a new album, One Million Suburban Sunsets but also the first release on the band’s own record label, Karma Cool Records, I caught up with front man Jim Styring to find out what has been going on in the It’s Karma It’s Cool world since we last spoke.
“ I think the best lyrics are ones that can mean different things to different people. The lyrical meanings can be interpreted by the listener based on their own life experiences.” – Laura Watling
“There was just a smattering of kindred labels at the time. The biggest being Clairecords. By far the biggest active shoegaze label of the time, early 2000s. I think we were even surprised when they picked us up to release ‘Your Everything.’ But we were a bit different. They saw that, liked that, and understood it. And labels didn’t really want _Lego_-headed bands. They wanted some diversity in their rosters.” – EJ Hagen
“Marketing your band’s style and music as an independent artist was/is really tough. It was also a challenge getting the word out to listeners if you had a show, and dealing with ‘gatekeepers’ and ‘tastemakers’ for lack of better terms. Also, differentiating yourself from other bands trying to do something similar.” – Alex White
Blues rock superstar Kenny Wayne Shepherd discusses the 30th anniversary of his debut album, Ledbetter Heights
“We discovered a shared love for lots of other music, like pop music. We talked about how we’ve never explored writing that kind of music before, and that’s what led to crushed taking form.” – Bre Morrell
“I’m not singing triumphant love songs, you know? I’m singing about things that are really personal to me, things that I’m struggling with; addiction, depression, all these things. Those subjects just sort of inspire a certain delivery, and like that, paired with the limitations really of my own voice.” – Shaun Durkan
Despite the personal and political turmoil that inspired its lyrics and title, Sonia Sturino and Annie Hoffman call Feels Like Hell the strongest Weakened Friends album yet – “no skips.” In this conversation, the married duo talk about the record, their unexpected collaboration with Buckethead, and their decision to cover Natalie Imbruglia’s “Torn.”
The Hill is an Americana project founded by Jon Kowit, a singer-songwriter/indie label partner/former record store employee. The debut album Get In Line was recorded after he reconnected with indie music steel guitar/ multi-instrumentalist Mike Slo Mo Brenner (Jason Molina, Wild Pink, Marah, Susan Werner), who agreed to collaborate on one song. The sessions lead to the debut 12-song LP, released in April 2024 and they continued to create the forthcoming Noble Station LP, to be released on FORTY4.
Tel Aviv’s own Eyal Erlich is a singer-songwriter whose music blends prog rock, jazz, blues, and heartfelt melodies into a dreamy and soulful sound. With a series of singles already reaching hundreds of thousands of listeners worldwide, his authentic voice and imaginative style are winning fans across the globe.
After losing a rhythm section and a major label, White Reaper returns, stronger than ever. With ten songs clocking in just shy of 30 minutes, Only Slightly Empty is the most focused White Reaper album and a fresh start for the Louisville, Kentucky band. Singer/guitarist Tony Esposito discusses why this album is the band’s best, the origin of the songs, running into fans and more.
Spending time with Thomas Dollbaum is a lot like listening to his songs: personal, conversational, and full of little details that stay with you. His new EP, Drive All Night, marks his debut on Dear Life Records, and he talks about that relationship, his ties to the Wednesday/MJ Lenderman Asheville scene, and where his lyrical inspirations take root.
Three years after his critically acclaimed self-titled LP—which earned multiple “Album of the Year” accolades and saw Billboard christen him The Dreampop Troubadour—*Kramies* pens a new chapter: a collection of songs steeped in wonder, drifting deeper into the otherworldly realms he’s come to inhabit. From that record, a new genre quietly emerged: Folklore Dreampop—a blend of dreamy textures, poetic myth, and spectral beauty.
Following Goon’s 2022 album, Hour of Green Evening, singer Kenny Becker’s marriage ended. With his world turned upside down, the excitement of making new music was overshadowed by grief. As he struggled through those dark days, the songs he was writing took on new meaning, and those feelings shaped Goon’s resulting album, Dream 3.
The Cult singer Ian Astbury discusses the band’s upcoming North American tour, album reissues, and his empathetic approach to the tumultuous state of the world
Marc Teamaker is an American singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer. Born and raised in the Bronx, New York City, Marc is now based in Stamford, Connecticut, USA. A prolific artist with a rich pedigree, Marc has just released his latest solo album, Teas n Seas.
After decades of playing in bands in Chicago, such as Starball and The Countdown, and later in Portland with Paradise and The Pynnacles, Tamar Berk launched a new chapter in her musical journey. Since moving to San Diego in the late 2010s and beginning her solo career, the indie-pop artist has released five albums since 2021, including her latest, OCD. In this conversation, Berk shares the path to solo freedom and how the songs came together for this release.
“We write and record in a very secluded way, and exiting this experience sometimes feels like “don’t look at us, we’re sensitive, are shells are thin.” However we are recording with the intention to share, so it’s energetically going to get out in the open air, and when it surfaces, we hear things that are both close and far.” – Tan Cologne
Liquid Mike vocalist/guitarist/namesake Mike Maple discusses the song “99,” third single from the Michigan band’s new album, Hell is an Airport.
Ahead of Two True Loves, the new album from Jim Patton & Sherry Brokus, I sat down with Jim to find out how the past year has been for them, what we can expect from the new release, and delved into Jim’s literary and musical inspirations.
After a brief break from his Americana-pop band The Berries, Matt Berry explored a few side projects and joined Hotline TNT as a touring guitarist. Now, he’s back with a renewed sense of energy and considers the latest Berries album a new beginning. With the help of friends who lent their talents to the record, he’s making the best music of his career.
“As a band we’re constantly evolving. That’s something that I think can be heard in all of our albums. There is a progression while maintaining a typical slipperous tone, I’d say. But I think just in the amount of times we’ve played and in our travels to play live, there’s always a learning process involved.” – Isa Holliday
The keys to Moviola’s longevity lie in friendships and brotherhood, not in endless tour cycles and hit albums. Thirty years and eleven albums into their career, Moviola continues to release albums that reflect the people and places that influence and inspire each of the band’s five songwriters. Jerry Dannemiller and Ted Hattemer reminiscence about the past, discuss the magic of the contributions of each member, and share their dreams of being invited to do a run of dates with another old-timer artist.
GWAR frontman Blöthar the Berserker discusses the legendary shock rock group’s latest album, The Return of Gor Gor
Ever wonder about the people thanked by a band in the liner notes? Hotline TNT’s Will Anderson shares why he thanked friends and his favorite breakfast spot on the band’s fourth full-length, Raspberry Moon. Anderson also reveals why the album is the best in the band’s catalog and makes a plea to be invited to his 20-year high school reunion in a few years.
“… as a songwriter, I go through these phases of being really prolific and then just empty. At the time, I think I was just so excited about the band that I just got kind of lucky. The songwriting was really easy during that period of time, and the recording sessions were really easy (too).” – Yea-Ming Chen
“By and large we found that we just like what each other does and what everybody adds to it. So, even if you can’t tell where it’s going at first, I think we have the trust that we’re going to come together over something at some point.” – Rob Good
Meg Elsier’s 2024 debut, spittake, plays like a well-curated mixtape—shifting from ‘90s-style grunge to Olivia Rodrigo-esque pop without losing the thread. Believing it didn’t reach as many ears as it could’ve, Elsier has re-released the album with six bonus tracks and a series of live performance videos aimed at catching the attention of new fans.
“(Get Better Records is) super supportive of me so that is a big draw for me to the label but, I want people to know where we stand, and we align with the politics of that label and the queer community. That is like the most exciting thing about being a part of that label to me. It is a signal to people that are listening to our band that that’s what we’re about.” – Sonia Weber
Deluxe Edition, the debut solo album from Narrow Head singer Jacob Duarte, has been decades in the making. Inspired by the pop-punk, emo rock, and intimate bedroom recordings he grew up on, Duarte took a mix tape approach where the influences vary from track to track. Duarte discusses his own experience with mix CDs, where the band name (Nihilistic Easyrider) originated, and his expectations for the album.
Wang Chung co-frontmen Jack Hues and Nick Feldman discuss their long and successful career, current North American tour, and upcoming projects
Between Stone Temple Pilots albums and tours, guitarist Dean DeLeo found time to start a new project with British singer/guitarist Pete Shoulder. One More Satellite, named after a Failure lyric, delivers an album rooted in the past while sounding like a modern day classic. From ’70s style guitars (Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd) to ’90s alterna-grunge vocals, One More Satellite is poised to be a rock fan’s dream.
Paul Young discusses his current tour, his massive hits (“Every Time You Go Away,” “Come Back and Stay,” etc.) and his career overall
The Cle Elum’s Ian Lee and Sarah Sargent lead a double life – the couple are the owners and operators of a full-service tour bus company that drives and sells merch for artists like Andrew Bird and Nada Surf while also writing, recording and performing music that would fit on CMJ Magazine compilation CDs circa 1998. The duo discusses all aspects of their lives and shares musical memories in this conversation.
Fastball vocalist/bassist Tony Scalzo discusses their latest album and tour, and the band’s career overall
Anastasiya Bazhenova is a classical pianist originally from Russia, now based in Norway. She trained in one of the top Russian music schools and later graduated with a Master’s degree from the Norwegian Academy of Music. Her artistic focus is one of creating concept-based concert programs — each performance is built as a narrative, not just a set of works. She has a very personal visual and emotional style on stage — minimalist, serious, and elegant.
With a sound anchored in ’90s alt-rock, Smut’s newest album, Tomorrow Never Comes, aims to be your favorite album of 2025. Working with producer Aron Koybayashi Ritch, the Chicago-by-way-of-Cincinnati band was able to polish their sound while recalling their early punk rock roots. Both figuratively and literally, Smut has discovered their voice and should wind up on many end-of-year lists.
With a new album out and just back from a successful trip spreading bluegrass music to the most interesting and far-flung destinations, I caught up with Henhouse Prowler’s founding member/banjo player/co-vocalist Ben Wright to find out more.
To date, the Hensouse Prowlers have toured 29 countries on 5 continents working with the U.S. State Department and their own nonprofit, Bluegrass Ambassadors. The group’s experiences with people and musicians across the globe have shaped their worldview and bolstered the bridges they establish between cultures. For this troupe, the work doesn’t end at their musical craftsmanship – they are actively striving toward a kinder, interconnected world.
The Awakening frontman Ashton Nyte discusses the band’s latest album, upcoming tour dates, and his fascinating career overall
