interviews

My Favorite Album: Jimmi Simpson on The Smiths’ “The Queen Is Dead”

"Music kind of runs my life. I'm never not soundtracking my own experience."

Jan 22, 2020 By Kyle Mullin Issue #66 - My Favorite Album - Angel Olsen and Sleater-Kinney

For an actor who relies on music as much as Jimmi Simpson—he carefully crafts playlists while prepping characters for Westworld (for which he was nominated for an Emmy), House of Cards, Black Mirror, the recent critical darling Perpetual Grace, LTD, and more—picking a favorite album can be a very tricky proposition. More

My Favorite Album: Alan Sparhawk of Low on David Bowie’s “The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust…”

"Bowie was always cool. He was cool in the '60s. He was cool in the '70s. He was cool in the '80s."

Jan 21, 2020 By Matt Fink (As Told To) Issue #66 - My Favorite Album - Angel Olsen and Sleater-Kinney

I here was this book that my father had called Making Music by George Martin, The Beatles' producer. My dad was a drummer in a country band and was also an aspiring singer and songwriter. More

The End: William Doyle

Where Nothing Ever Happens

Jan 17, 2020 By Mark Redfern Web Exclusive

To end out the week, we ask British musician William Doyle (formerly known as East India Youth) some questions about endings and death. More

The Hold Steady - Craig Finn and Franz Nicolay on “Thrashing Thru the Passion”

A Late Peak

Jan 10, 2020 By Kyle Mullin Web Exclusive

Aside from being a return to form for The Hold Steady after a couple of lackluster LPs, 2019's Thrashing Thru the Passion also marked the return on wax of keyboardist Franz Nicolay. More

The Orielles on “Disco Volador”

Always Evolving

Jan 09, 2020 By Dom Gourlay Web Exclusive

The Orielles are one of the most innovative bands on the UK music scene right now. Under the Radar caught up with the band recently and found carefully planned, rather than difficult, second albums are the way forward. More

Tegan and Sara on “Hey, I’m Just Like You” and “High School”

Origin Story

Jan 07, 2020 By Frank Valish

In January of 2018, when Tegan and Sara finished the tour and promotion for the band's eighth album, Love You to Death, the Quin sisters were confronted with the question of what to do next. More

Keeping Score – Bryce Dessner Discusses Film Composing for The Revenant and The Two Popes

The Guitarist and Composer for The National Finds His Full Range in the Scoring for Great Filmmakers

Jan 05, 2020 By Charles Steinberg Web Exclusive

Thinking of Bryce Dessner as an indie rocker, gracefully turned film composer is a fun but inaccurate framing. More

2020 Election: Mayor Ted Terry on Running for Senate in Georgia

Connecting on a Human Level

Dec 19, 2019 By Steve King Web Exclusive

He's been called the "Millennial/Hipster Mayor," but the citizens of his town just know him as Mayor Ted. Since being elected in 2013 at 30 years old, with 53% of the vote and then winning reelection with 59%, Clarkston, Georgia Mayor Ted Terry has a hell of a track record. More

Wilco on “Ode to Joy”

Simple and Brutal

Dec 18, 2019 By Chris Davidson Issue #66 - My Favorite Album - Angel Olsen and Sleater-Kinney

Eleven albums into their career, Chicago's Wilco has been labeled everything from "alt-country heroes'' to "the American Radiohead" to "sellouts" for licensing songs to VW commercials. More

Vagabon On Her Self-Titled Sophomore Album

Pressing Forward

Dec 17, 2019 By Mark Moody Web Exclusive

Vagabon (aka Lætitia Tamko) has just recently passed the mark of having lived in the U.S. as long as in her native Cameroon. In the brief 13 years that have passed since her immigration to America, Tamko has taught herself guitar, graduated college, and in 2017 released her first album, the critically acclaimed Infinite Worlds. More

Interviews