Making each other laugh is the driving force behind The Dirty Nil’s music, though the mix of punk rock and power metal is no joke from the Canadian trio. Singer Luke Bentham discusses the band’s songwriting process, what he likes about playing festivals, and how he was able to scam his way into a front row Buddy Guy ticket.

Sparks vocalist Russell Mael discusses his band’s legendary career, including their latest album, The Girl Is Crying in Her Latte

After a self-imposed hiatus, Skaters front man Michael Ian Cummings has reemerged with a solo EP proving to himself and others that the passion is still there. Cummings shares some insight into the songs and discusses how the whole process has been cathartic.

FRIDAY channels her creativity in each moment and brings a sense of nostalgic fun to each track. She’s recently released her first two singles: the grunged-out rock ballad “Dear God” and “I Do It For You,” a 60’s-bubblegum-pop-inspired earworm – showcasing Daddona’s chameleon-like range in music and beyond.

The Ironsides have created a ’60s sounding, cinematic soundtrack to a film that doesn’t exist on their debut full-length for Colemine Records. Taking inspiration from a variety of sources, from soul to jazz to classical scores, The Ironsides discuss how the band formed, how their sound has evolved, and play a game with their song titles in this conversation.

Pony’s sophomore release, Velveteen, is one of the brightest, most sugary albums of the year. Sam Bielanski and Matty Morand discuss the freedom of writing songs that aren’t personal, how a Sopranos episode influenced lyrics, and gush over ’90s alt-rock artists like That Dog and Letters to Cleo.

Based in Chicago, The Bellwether Syndicate is William Faith (vox, guitars), Sarah Rose Faith (vox, guitars), Philly Peroxide (keyboards, percussion), Stevyn Grey (drums) and Corey Gorey (guitars). Formerly of seminal goth acts Christian Death, Mephisto Waltz and Shadow Project and co-founder of Faith & The Muse, William Faith moved from his native LA to Chicago in 2010, forming The Bellwether Syndicate with Sarah Rose Faith a.k.a. Scary Lady Sarah, one of the scene’s most eminent DJs and club promoters and host of Nocturna, the longest-running goth event in North America.

FREE WHENEVER explore the outskirts of their minds on The Movement EP

A revolving collective, Gramercy Arms is inspired by the artistic heyday of ‘70-80s New York. Their addictive indie pop features exquisite hook-laden melodies that are lyrically driven and rich on vocal-harmony, interspersed with elements of 60s sunshine pop and folk-rock. Deleted Scenes follows The Seasons of Love (2012) and Gramercy Arms (2008).

Emily Rose Epstein and her band The Rounders serve up country music in the tradition of George Jones, Patsy Cline, Waylon Jennings and Webb Pierce without looking too far into the past for inspiration. Their new singles “The Drifter” / “Nowhere To Go Part 1” introduce a new era.

The Big Takeover recently had the pleasure of interviewing Gandhur Savur, frontman of NJ rock band Scoville Unit. Scoville Unit recently released the music video for “Reasons” from their upcoming album See What Can Be.

Savannah Conley’s debut album is an accurate portrayal of the trials and tribulations of a woman in her early 20s and all the emotions that are part of being that age. The Nashville born-and-raised songwriter discusses the album’s themes, working with collaborators, and musical friendships she’s made along the way.

A culmination of worldly music experiences, from going to his first rock shows as a teenager in Chicago to jamming with Motorhead’s Lemmy in L.A., have led Jonny Polonsky to his eighth album, Rise of the Rebel Angels, released on Loosegrooves Records, founded by Pearl Jam’s Stone Gossard.

Rachael Blanche is a London-based artist, actress and entrepreneur who splits time between England, Australia and the United States. “Translator” marks the first of six songs Blanche is readying for release over the next year with live shows in the works in the U.S., U.K. and Australia

With their new EP, _Live At Sugarshack Sessions – Volume 2, just released, it was the perfect time to sit down with Bumpin’ Uglies singer, Brandon Hardesty.

With a background primarily, but not exclusively, entrenched in the hardcore metal world, Vadim Taver’s solo album allows the singer/guitarist to expand his horizons into a blissful neo-psychedelia wonderworld. Taver discusses the album’s recording, the artists he’s toured with, and explains what the “California Hustle” is all about.

Since 2019, FUTURE SOMEONE, the musical alias of NYC songwriter Kyle Walters, has been quietly releasing songs destined to be heard by a wider audience. Equal parts Arcade Fire, The 1975 and something else entirely, his music straddles feelings of heartbreak, nostalgia and hope, with a kind of swagger you can’t help moving in for a closer listen.

The tenth album by The Declining Winter finds Richard Adams continuing to explore a meditative soundscape through a folktronica sound. Adams discusses his music-making process, the importance of settings in his songs, and how his day job inspires how he thinks about music.

Toronto-London experimental pop/space rock collective The Flowers of Hell will soon release the first vinyl pressing of their cult classic Odes album via Space Age Recordings (whose tightly curated roster includes Spacemen 3, Spectrum, The Telescopes, and Acid Mothers Temple). Timed to occur on April 22nd for Record Store Day UK, this record will be available roughly two weeks later in North America and elsewhere. They’ve also released a video for their cover of Joy Division’s “Atmosphere” featuring vocalist Lisa Conway.

Composer, lyricist, engineer, producer, instrumentalist: Mychael Gabriel has cosmic versatility and an entire ecosystem of talent. The Big Takeover had the pleasure of interviewing him about his recent music video release, “Sunday Afternoon”.

Hayden is back with his first new album in eight years, his ninth album overall, Are We Good, featuring collaborations with Feist and members of The National and Big Thief. We chat with the Canadian singer-songwriter about the making of the album, the collaborations, and a charity event he started that is very personal to his family.

Ruston Kelly says the impetuous for his third full-length album, The Weakness, was to channel the energy of a live show and put it on record. Working for the first-time with an outside collaborator (Nate Mercereau), Kelly’s accomplished his goals as he pushes closer and closer to the mainstream spotlight.

Tom Maroon’s high-energy music combines rock, punk, and musical theater influences into a uniquely cinematic and lyric-focused style. He has produced and self-released two solo albums, playing every instrument on both records.

Black Market Karma are a London based band formed by Stan Belton. Mixing a bed of 60’s pop Guitars with broader flavours of Psychedelia and Fuzzed out tones, their sound has also incorporated touches of Folk, Blues, Traditional Indian Music, Hip Hop influenced Grooves and Electronica. With their 11th album, Friends in Noise, now out, I sat down with the main man to talk collaboration, the importance of lyrics and keeping the (alternative) sixties sonic dream alive.

The last two years have been fruitful for Michigander’s Jason Singer, from moving to Nashville to getting married to releasing a new EP. Singer fills us in on his move, what it was like working with outside collaborators for the first time, and his dreams for his upcoming tour.

The latest release from The Dears front man Murray A. Lightburn is Bacharach-ian in nature, the lush instrumentation providing the cushion for Lightburn’s crooner-like vocals. In this conversation, Lightburn discusses the songwriting process, shares his touring philosophy, and offers insight into the stunning album cover.

As she’s honored with a She Rocks “Icon” award, legendary performer Judy Collins discusses her seven-decade career

Formed in 2018 by Matthew McIntosh (guitar and vocals) and Beth Narducci (bass guitar), the Brooklyn -based duo emerged on the burgeoning dark music scene with a series of self-released offerings that garnered attention that led to their 2021 album Another Kind of Midnight. Now with a new album out and tour dates with some exciting names, it felt like the perfect time to sit down and talk to the duo.

If Greta Van Fleet is this generation’s Led Zeppelin, then Crown Lands is this generation’s Rush. Kevin Comeau shares how classic and prog rock from the ’70s inspired the band, from the way they write songs to how they arrange albums.

While never dreaming of being a rock star as a kid, Somebody’s Child’s Cian Godfrey discovered the art of songwriting when he started college and has written an album full of alt-rock radio bangers. In this conversation, Godfrey discusses his past, what he gets from performing live, and the things that inspire him.

With NYC punks UNSANE about to head out on a massive tour, I caught up with Chris Spenser to find out all about their journey from th earliest days to where they are today, and more importantly, what keeps the band moving forward after all these years.

After an 8-year hiatus, NYC rock mainstay Hooray For Earth is on the path to resurfacing with a brand new single, a cover of electronic duo Autechre’s “jatevee C.”

After a six-year recording hiatus, Frankie Rose has returned with Love As Projection, an album full of ’80s post-punk, new wave pop bangers. The singer discusses the songwriting process, covering The Cure’s Seventeen Seconds album, and hustling on social media to promote music.

Forty years after the first release by The Church, founding member Steve Kilbey says, when talking about the band’s 26th album, The Hypnogogue, “Just when you thought you could write these guys off, we’re not going gently into the night. We’re going down screaming.”

With their parents’ CD collections serving as inspirations, the NYC trio Hello Mary, featuring two college students, has released one of the best ’90s-sounding alternative rock records of the year.

“I will likely keep doing this as long as I’m still breathing and discovering music that I enjoy and provided I continue to have the finances to do it.”

With a sound based in bluegrass music, Rose’s Pawn Shop incorporates different elements (Americana, Country, Folk, Rock) to stand out among peers. Singer Paul Givant shares how his band is unique, why it took 8 years to release new music, where he draws lyrical inspiration, and which famous actor he’s been compared to in this conversation.

Three young siblings from Minneapolis who deliver an energetic mix of indie rock and punk on their debut album ‘Sisu.’

Presented with careful intimacy, poolblood’s full-length debut, mole, succeeds on the strength of Maryam Said’s gripping delivery and aided by the help and support of producers Louie Short and Shamir as well as a number of Toronto indie rock musicians.

Pop-rock artist, Elite model, and the host of Popdust’s podcast, Demi Ramos made plenty of waves with her single, “Killer 4U,” a song about an imaginary romance in NYC, replete with sex, drugs, and rock and roll. She now releases “Just a Phase” featuring Garzi.

A former member of Set Sail, High Morale, and Casual Vice, Brandon Hoogenboom discusses his debt solo album and how the Beach Boys served as an influence on his sunny, sandy soft rock sound.

It’s no surprise that Los Angeles rock band Palms Station has a spiritual quality to their music: multi-instrumentalist and songwriter Hillel Tigay is also a cantor and musical director at IKAR, one of the largest and most influential progressive synagogues in Southern California.

Greg Hoy tells us what he and the boys leanred through making the “Everyboy Wants to be Somebody” video.

Ryan Miera of Yellow Pills sits down with Big Takeover to discuss Elvis, recording, sobriety and his latest music.

While Hamish Hawk is known first and foremost as a musician, this discussion about topics ranging from favorite coffee cups to listening to CDs in the car positions Hawk as a great conversationalist as well.

Paint Fumes frontman Elijah von Cramon talks about the pronounced new power pop direction on his band’s latest album, ‘Real Romancer.’