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.’
Tropical Fuck Storm’s Gaz Liddiard discusses the Australian band’s latest covers EP, checking out free jazz cassettes from the library, and bassist Fiona Kitschin’s recent breast cancer diagnosis.
There’s a whirlwind of rock and roll activity in Los Angeles these days and Billy Tibbals is among a handful of talented young musicians at the heart of the action.
With their sophomore album – written and recorded before Covid lockdown – finally released to the world, Kelley Deal and Mike Montgomery discuss the advantages of delaying the album by a few years and the creative packaging that makes the album special and unique.
During the pandemic, John Schmersal took stock of all the Brainiac demos and unreleased tracks he had been collecting since the band’s untimely end in 1997. The latest, and perhaps last, batch of songs have recently been released as The Predator Nominate EP. Schmersal discuss the release and the impetus behind upcoming Brainiac live shows.
Ville Valo, former H.I.M. frontman, discusses his newly-released debut solo album, Neon Noir
A silver lining to lockdown was the ability to have access to a studio. We Are Scientists took advantage by recording songs for two albums, 2021’s Huffy and the brand new release, Lobes. Singer/guitarist Keith Murray shares how the downtime gave the band a chance to experiment.
Bill Berry (ex-*R.E.M.* drummer) and Mike Mantione (Five Eight frontman) discuss their new band, The Bad Ends
In September of 2022, Preoccupations’ Monty Munro spoke with me over Zoom, where we dove deep into the mania behind their latest recording process, the bad luck streak of their 2018 tour, and most importantly: tons and tons of gear.
As a child, Blur drummer Dave Rowntree would spin the dial on his longwave radio and listen to exotic music from all corners of the world. On his debut solo album, Rowntree envisioned his songs as the type that someone might find while exploring the radio.
Shiner frontman, and Third Gear Scratch podcast host, Allen Epley discusses his first solo album, Everything, released 30 years into his career as well as the role the pandemic had on his creativity.
Having made a more permanent home for himself in France and with a Magnum Opus in the works, it seemed the perfect time to sit down with Paris Westburn and discuss the musical journey that brought him to where he is today, his recent musical creations and what the future holds.
After releasing 10 albums since 2004, Micah P. Hinson found himself at a critical juncture where stepping away from music seemed to be a viable option. With a new champion in his corner, a budding new relationship providing inspiration, and a move from Texas to Spain, Hinson’s now excited for the next chapter in his musical career.
Steve Conte discusses his remarkable career as a guitarist for New York Dolls and many others, as well as his thriving solo career
The Speedways frontman discusses the evolution of the band on their excellent new album ‘Talk Of The Town.’
