Artist x Artist
Artist x Artist: Taylor Momsen x Kim Thayil and Matt Cameron of Soundgarden
When the most recent Pretty Reckless album was released in 2021, we went deep with singer/bandleader Taylor Momsen. In the interview, she told us influential Soundgarden was on her and how being on tour with the band in 2017 and opening for them the night of Chris Cornell deeply impacted her. In fact, Soundgarden guitarist Kim Thayil and Matt Cameron both appeared on “Only Love Can Save Me Now.” In 2019. Momsen sang “Rusty Cage,” “Drawing Flies” and “Loud Love” with the surviving Soundgarden members at the Cornell tribute show I Am the Highway at the Forum in Los Angeles. Recently, put Momsen, Thayil, and Cameron together, all before the release of the duo’s new project, 3rd Secret, released its debut album. And of course, before Momsen and Cameron went out on tour with The Pretty Reckless...
Artist x Artist: Steve Aoki and Taking Back Sunday in Conversation
On the list of collaborations that we certainly didn’t expect, Steve Aoki and Taking Back Sunday teamed up to release “Just Us Two” today. But the new track isn’t the only thing they did together. Aoki and all four current members of Taking Back Sunday (Adam Lazzara, John Nolan, Mark O’Connell and Shaun Cooper) sat down for an Artist x Artist conversation to discuss the new track and much more. The conversation covers a range of points including the production and recording of the song, the meaning behind it, and some of their unexpected shared experiences and connections from their decades in the music world. Check out the full video below. On our previous episode of Artist x Artist, the first ever Artist x Artist x Artist featured The Band Camino, flors, and Hastings. Together, they disc...
Artist x Artist x Artist: The Band Camino, flor and Hastings
The Band Camino, flor and Hastings spent some time on the road together earlier this year, and boy did they get to know each other. The first leg of the tour might be over, but the friendships formed between the bands will continue for a lifetime. Thus, for the latest edition of Artist x Artist, we had the rare opportunity to feature not two bands, but all three of the artists for our first ever Artist x Artist x Artist. Sitting at various locations around the venue before one of the shows on the tour, the bands professed their love for each other, shared stories from the road, discussed their own music (and that of each other) and generally had a grand ol’ time. They even came up with some possibilities for future ideas for each artist, all in a conversation hosted by SPIN Deputy Editor, ...
Artist x Artist: Alec Benjamin and Sara Kays
Alec Benjamin and Sara Kays know each well — make that very well. Right now, the duo are currently on tour together, which wraps on May 15. Thus, for the latest edition of Artist x Artist, we had the rare opportunity to put the pair together in person, which is the first time its happened so far. Sitting in a dressing room before a recent show, the singer-songwriters shared stories about inspiration, what it’s like to watch each other performing on stage and seeing the crowd’s reception to their performance. Kays also hinted that she may have a new project on the way later this year, and Benjamin was excited that this was the first time he was able to chat with a fellow artist in such a manner while on tour together. On our previous episode of Artist x Artist, Pom Pom Squad’s Mia Berrin sa...
Artist x Artist: Pom Pom Squad x Nada Surf
During the pandemic, Mia Berrin of Pom Pom Squad jokingly put out a tweet (or at least it seemed like a joke) that she wanted to cover Nada Surf’s 1996 hit “Popular.” Well, she did exactly that. Pom Pom Squad released a version that remained true to the original, including filming the video with Berrin playing all of the characters (and even filmed at the same place) that replicated the original. Since Pom Pom Squad are one of our favorite rising artists [they performed at our SXSW showcase in March and were one of the night’s highlights] and the cover rules. That said, we figured we’d ask Berrin and Nada Surf’s Matthew Caws to hop on a chat for our Artist x Artist series. And they agreed! In their conversation, Berrin and Caws discussed learning new approaches to songwritin...
Artist x Artist: Kathleen Hanna x The Linda Lindas
Every so often a band comes around that captures your heart, but not your mind. In the case of Los Angeles-based teenage sensation The Linda Lindas, it’s both. Last year, the quartet went viral for the right reasons. Their song, “Racist, Sexist Boy” was a big hit with the music world and librarians as well. One of those famous fans, Bikini Kill/Le Tigre frontwoman Kathleen Hanna, has been a supporter of the band for a long time. In fact, The Linda Lindas opened for Bikini Kill in 2019. So, with the group’s debut album, Growing Up, out on Epitaph on April 8, we thought it would be a good idea to get the band and Hanna together for a chat. The result? The two parties went deep. In their conversation, they exchanged questions about their origins, how they discovered each other and described w...
Artist x Artist: Ben Gibbard and Japanese Breakfast Discuss Their Appreciation of Yoko Ono
For the past year and change, Ben Gibbard has been busy working on his passion project: a Yoko Ono tribute album. Paying respect to one of the most misunderstood artists of the past half-century, Gibbard enlisted high-profile artists like David Byrne, Yo La Tengo, his bandmates in Death Cab for Cutie and Japanese Breakfast to record Ono covers. Japanese Breakfast’s tender piano-driven take on Ono’s “Nobody Sees Me Like You Do” showcases a depth of knowledge for her catalog. Ahead of that album’s release, Gibbard and Michelle Zauner of Japanese Breakfast sat down to chat about all things Yoko Ono. The duo discussed the project’s formation, their mutual respect for Ono and digging in to her vast catalog. They spoke about their takeaways of Ono as an artist and what they appreciate about her ...
Artist x Artist: Yola and Natalie Hemby in Conversation
For most of the 2010s, singer-songwriters Yola and Natalie Hemby worked in relative obscurity, mostly known by country-music enthusiasts and insiders. But in the last two years, all of that has changed. Yola’s 2019 country-soul debut Walk Through Fire was a surprise hit, earning the British newcomer four Grammy nominations in 2020. Since then, her career has taken off. Her follow-up, Stand For Myself — one of SPIN’s best albums of 2021 — is in the running for Best Americana Album at this year’s Grammy Awards. One of the best cuts on Yola’s album, “Diamond Studded Shoes,” is nominated for Best American Roots Song. The song was co-written by Natalie Hemby, a prolific songwriter who has written hits for country stars like Kacey Musgraves and Miranda Lambert. More recently, Hemby has been writ...
Artist x Artist: Frankie Cosmos and Lomelda in Conversation
Double Double Whammy is one of the more influential indie labels. The label is responsible for releasing the early-career music from artists like Mitski, Hovvdy, Florist, Hatchie, Kril and Great Grandpa. In honor of its 10th anniversary, Double Double Whammy is releasing a compilation where its artists cover one another. This feeling of community and mutual respect is what inspired Frankie Cosmos to cover Lomelda, and Lomelda to cover Frankie Cosmos. Lomelda (the moniker of Hannah Read) covered “Sad 2” and Cosmos (Greta Kline) took on “Slide.” Sitting together ahead of the release of 10 Years of Double Double Whammy, Cosmos and Lomelda sat down and chatted over Zoom. In their conversation, which may or may not include some cute dogs (and a discussion about loving dogs), they chatted about ...
Artist x Artist: All Time Low’s Alex Gaskarth and Meet Me @ the Altar in Conversation
In the latest installment of our Artist x Artist series, we’re bringing together two of the better-known voices in pop-punk. All Time Low’s legacy in the genre is firmly established, and with their years of experience, they’ve started to check out and endorse who’s next. In this case, vocalist/guitarist Alex Gaskarth was an early champion of the outstanding Meet Me @ the Altar, who have proved their prowess with killer songs and a live show that absolutely rips. Gaskarth was an early champion of the band and even encouraged Fueled by Ramen to sign the band, which they wisely did. In their conversation, Gaskarth and Meet Me @ the Altar chat about the recent resurgence of pop-punk, staying creative during quarantine, and reaching new career highs during these strange times. Meet Me @ the Alt...
Artist x Artist: Paris Jackson and Manchester Orchestra’s Andy Hull in Conversation
In the latest installment of our Artist x Artist series, Paris Jackson and Manchester Orchestra’s Andy Hull, who co-wrote and co-produced Jackson’s recent album, wilted, reunite for a candid conversation. Checking in from their respective hideouts, the duo talk about a wide number of topics, including Radiohead, how they met, their favorite songs/artists, inspiration, and songwriting. Jackson also delivered some wild stories about her singing back when she was in school. The two friends reflected on the making of wilted as well. <!– // Brid Player Singles. var _bp = _bp||[]; _bp.push({ “div”: “Brid_10143537”, “obj”: {“id”:”25115″,”width”:”480″,”height”:”270R...
Artist x Artist: Sting and Shirazee in Conversation
In the latest installment of our Artist x Artist series, Sting and Shirazee, who share a mutual respect for one another, meet for the first time in this video conversation. Calling from their hideouts in Paris and New York City, respectively, Sting complimented Shirazee’s latest video, “African in New York,” which remade Sting’s “Englishman in New York.” The veteran musician said the new version made him “smile in his heart” and he touted “its lovely message.” The ex-Police singer also mused that it could be “his most popular song” or is “in the top three.” They also talk about travel, being stuck due to COVID and much more. Our previous episode saw longtime pals Jonah Ray and “Weird Al” Yankovic talk about the latter’s lengthy career in music and Hollywood. View the Shirazee x Sting video...
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