INTERVIEWS
Vanessa Briscoe Hay Looks Back at 40 Years of Pylon
Vanessa Briscoe Hay remembers the evening of Aug. 25, 1980, like it was yesterday. Her fledgling post-punk combo Pylon opened for its fellow Athens, Georgia trailblazers The B-52’s at no less a daunting location than Central Park for a Dr. Pepper Summer Festival. And talk about innocents abroad, she laughs. “I had to quit my job to do that concert,” the 64-year-old recalls. “We all got in a van and drove straight there, and when we got to the gates in Central Park and said we were playing with the B-52’s, they pointed us vaguely in one direction and said, ‘It’s over there, past the carousel.’ So there we were, tromping over the grass in Central Park until we finally found backstage. It was the biggest show we’d ever played, and at that point in time nobody was the least bit interested in u...
Sadie Dupuis Chases Down Ghosts on New Solo LP
Whether she’s fronting her longtime indie-rock band Speedy Ortiz or going solo under the more pop-leaning Sad13, singer-songwriter Sadie Dupuis has always been fascinated by ghouls, haunted houses and the unknown. “Even from the earliest Speedy stuff, there’s a lot of Tarot and ghosts and the occult,” she tells SPIN. On her new Sad13 album, Haunted Painting (out Sept. 25 via her label Wax Nine), she chases ghosts of her own. For many years, Dupuis worked a prolific clip, constantly touring and releasing a record every year. Her father passed away prior to Speedy Ortiz’s second LP, 2015’s Foil Deer, and several friends died from overdoses. And she admits that working hard for so long provided an excuse for her to avoid processing grief. “At some point, it was sor...
The Lemon Twigs on Their Brotherly Balance, Unorthodox Love Songs, Elton John Praise
Brian D’Addario, 23, and his brother Michael, 21, were still teenagers when they signed with legendary indie label 4AD and released their debut album as The Lemon Twigs, co-produced by Foxygen’s Jonathan Rado. The Long Island siblings are both singer-songwriters and multi-instrumentalists who expertly evoke the sound and spirit of ‘60s and ‘70s rock at its most melodic — and they’ve already impressed heroes like Todd Rundgren and Elton John. But their recently issued third album, Songs for the General Public, is the kind of confident step into a brighter spotlight that its title implies — the sound of former teen prodigies now in the prime of their talents. Brian D’Addario spoke to SPIN about how their new album contrasts with their last effort, the whimsical 2018 rock opera Go To School, ...
The Late Toots Hibbert on His New Album, Telling the Truth
The world lost reggae legend Toots Hibbert on Sept. 11 (though no cause of death has been listed, he had been hospitalized with COVID symptoms prior to his death). One of the more unfortunate things, though, is that the 77-year-old Hibbert was celebrating the release of Got To Be Tough, his first album in a decade, released Aug. 28, which showed that he wasn’t slowing down creatively. Ahead of the new album, Hibbert did a select few American interviews. I was one of those fortunate ones; we spoke on Zoom on Aug. 4, a few weeks before his hospitalization. Seated at the mixing board at his studio in Jamaica, Mr. Hibbert — as his handler who brought him to his mixing board desk where Mr. Hibbert sat for the duration of the 30-minute Zoom call, addressed him — showcased his trademark spirit an...
![Tycho Finds Silver Lining Through Pandemic, California Wildfires [Interview]](https://www.wazupnaija.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/tycho-finds-silver-lining-through-pandemic-california-wildfires-interview-1050x600.jpg)
![Tycho Finds Silver Lining Through Pandemic, California Wildfires [Interview]](https://www.wazupnaija.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/tycho-finds-silver-lining-through-pandemic-california-wildfires-interview-80x80.jpg)
Tycho Finds Silver Lining Through Pandemic, California Wildfires [Interview]
2020 has hardly provided an aura for meditation, yet the ever-reflective music producer Tycho insists this year offers creatives a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to grow. In a chat with EDM.com, he discussed how he’s managed to find a silver lining through the pandemic, tour cancellations, and even his home state being ravaged by wildfires. Tycho is a San Francisco-based producer, composer, and songwriter. Known globally for his instrumental production style, his music features downtempo guitar, analogue synths, and a variety of sounds pulled from everyday life. He first appeared onto the scene in 2006 with Past Is Prologue, an album that featured him performing mostly solo in a studio. Nowadays, the two-time Grammy Award-nominee varies his Tycho performances as both a solo DJ ac...
![Ben Böhmer on 3,000-Foot High Hot Air Balloon Performance: “I’m a Bit Afraid of Heights” [Interview]](https://www.wazupnaija.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/ben-bohmer-on-3000-foot-high-hot-air-balloon-performance-im-a-bit-afraid-of-heights-interview-1050x600.jpg)
![Ben Böhmer on 3,000-Foot High Hot Air Balloon Performance: “I’m a Bit Afraid of Heights” [Interview]](https://www.wazupnaija.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/ben-bohmer-on-3000-foot-high-hot-air-balloon-performance-im-a-bit-afraid-of-heights-interview-80x80.jpg)
Ben Böhmer on 3,000-Foot High Hot Air Balloon Performance: “I’m a Bit Afraid of Heights” [Interview]
“Melodic, dramatic, melancholic but happy; between deep house and melodic techno,” replied German super-producer Ben Böhmer when asked to describe his sound in conversation with EDM.com. Catapulting him from everyday piano teacher to renowned electronic musician, his sound propelled a trajectory that eventually culminated in a jaw-dropping livestreamed performance in a hot-air balloon over Cappadocia’s honeycombed hills (a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Turkey) two weeks ago. “In the beginning, I didn’t realize what was happening,” Böhmer gleefully recounts of the milestone hot-air balloon performance. “Actually, I still don’t realize what happened! An unbelievable feeling, definitely the most beautiful experience of my life.” With live eve...
FLETCHER on How Quaranting With Her Ex Led To Her Most Honest Music Yet
FLETCHER is quite impulsive. Her new The S(ex) Tapes EP was originally set for a Sept. 18 release, but she couldn’t wait any longer and surprise-dropped it over a week early. “I just felt like it was pretty on-brand for me to leak my own sex tape,” the pop singer/songwriter tells SPIN on Sept. 9 — the afternoon of the new release — with a cheeky laugh. “I wanted to be able to just share it with people as soon as possible.” There aren’t any rules when it comes to FLETCHER’s music (born Cari Elise Fletcher), whose career kicked off with 2015’s viral hit “War Paint.” The artist attributes it to giving “way less fucks” in every aspect of her life. “I used to give way too many and it messes with your mental health,” she says. “I’ve taken on this new attitude, especially over the last couple of ...
Lamb of God’s Willie Adler Talks Coffee, Bill & Ted, and Livestream Shows
Lamb of God’s Willie Adler, photo by Antonio Marino Jr. During a pandemic that’s drastically altered the day-to-day operations of the music industry, Lamb of God have forged ahead. The metal veterans released their new self-titled studio album in June, despite not being able to tour in support of the LP. And the decision brought much-needed joy to metal fans everywhere, as the album ranks among Lamb of God’s finest works. Upon completing the album, the band was then commissioned to write a song for Bill & Ted Face the Music. The film’s music supervisor handpicked the Lamb of God, who delivered “The Death of Us”, a crushing anthem to friendship that cemented 2020 as a veritably productive year artistically for the band. With one full-length and a major soundtrack appearance in the...
South of Eden Cover Audioslave’s ‘Show Me How to Live’ for Quarantine Era
Ehab Omran of Columbus’ South of Eden has long admired Soundgarden and Rage Against the Machine. However, the Jordan-born, Ohio-raised singer only learned about “this crazy band called Audioslave” in 2012. He recalls hearing the group’s song “Show Me How to Live” for the first time while in high school and being flabbergasted by their spirited chemistry. “I fell in love with it instantly,” he recalls. “It’s a very heavy riff, but it grooves at the same time, and that’s why I think Tom Morello is a god for doing all the things he does on the electric guitar. And obviously Chris Cornell is nothing to pass over at all, may he rest in peace.” So when he and South of Eden were looking for a song to cover, the decision was easy. The video for their version of “Show Me How to Love” premieres toda...
![TheFatRat On YouTube Copyright, Forthcoming Album, and Collaborating with K-Pop Star AleXa [Interview]](https://www.wazupnaija.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/thefatrat-on-youtube-copyright-forthcoming-album-and-collaborating-with-k-pop-star-alexa-interview-1050x600.jpg)
![TheFatRat On YouTube Copyright, Forthcoming Album, and Collaborating with K-Pop Star AleXa [Interview]](https://www.wazupnaija.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/thefatrat-on-youtube-copyright-forthcoming-album-and-collaborating-with-k-pop-star-alexa-interview-80x80.jpg)
TheFatRat On YouTube Copyright, Forthcoming Album, and Collaborating with K-Pop Star AleXa [Interview]
After initially writing and producing his latest single “Rule The World,” TheFatRat was actively searching for a vocalist for half a year. He wanted to recruit a person who could not only sing the song he envisioned in his mind, but also fit artistically. During his search, he found AleXa, the winner of the “Next Artist Award” at the Soridaba Best K-Music Awards, one of the biggest musical award shows in Korea. AleXa is considered to be one of K-Pop’s most exciting breakout artists. When TheFatRat discovered her, he noticed their similar creative visions with how they immerse fans into futuristic, sci-fi worlds. He reached out to her to collaborate, and the rest was history. While this collaboration is a fresh pairing, TheFatRat is no stranger to K-Pop. Although he ...
Uniform Give a Track by Track Breakdown of New Album Shame: Stream
In our Track by Track feature, artists guide listeners through each song on their latest album. Here, Uniform let us in on the inner musings of Shame. New York City trio Uniform have just released their new album, Shame, a brutal work of heavy music that’s as crushing as it is personal. What’s more, to coincide with today’s release, the band has unveiled a music video for the latest single, “Life in Remission”. It’s a telling track, following a string of lyrically intense songs such as “Delco” that combine singer Michael Berdan’s passionate, cathartic vocal delivery with a musical blend that veers from dark metal to industrial to harsh noise. Uniform defy any easy pegging, but their focus is honed. Live instrumentation, effects, and synths are woven into cohesive blasts of carefully chosen...
Doves’ Jimi Goodwin on the Trio’s 10-Year Absence, Comeback Album and Avoidance of Social Justice
Manchester, UK is established as one of the leading cities for legendary musical talent: Joy Division, The Smiths, New Order, Stone Roses, Oasis. They’re known for their iconic songs as much as their acrimonious inner-band relationships. Then there are Doves. Much like the name implies, the cooing trio of Jimi Goodwin (vocals/bass) and twins Andy (drummer) and Jez Williams (guitar) go against the grain of what’s generally been experienced with contentious Manchester area artists. The three have been making music together since the early ‘90s, first as the dance act, Sub Sub, which around the turn of the century morphed into its indie counterpart as Doves. Doves took a break after their fourth album, 2009’s Kingdom of Rust, but did so with no internal conflicts that have marred their Mancun...
