Mar 15, 2012 By John Everhart Dirty Projectors

Dirty Projectors frontman Dave Longstreth is slumped on a couch at a Lower Manhattan loft, having just completed a lengthy photo shoot for this magazine’s cover story along with Ed Droste of Grizzly Bear and George Lewis Jr. of Twin Shadow. It’s late, and he seems emotionally spent. He’s game to answer questions but is reticent when it comes to revealing firm details of his band’s as-yet-untitled new album, slated for release in June. More

Mar 13, 2012 By John Everhart Issue #40 - In the Studio 2012 - Grizzly Bear, Dirty Projectors, and Twin Shadow

“After five years, I think we deserved a little break. And to be completely honest, the last show was only a year and two months ago. It’s really not that long. It was in October of 2010, the Neil Young Bridge School benefit,” says Grizzly Bear frontman Ed Droste, a tad defensive at the notion that his band has disappeared from the indie map for too long of a stretch. More

Mar 12, 2012 By Austin Trunick Tegan and Sara

“I think this is going to be a very door-opening record,” says Tegan Quin, one-half of the Canadian rock duo Tegan and Sara. “I feel like we’ve hit on something that’s going to allow people to connect to it and get into it.” She adds, laughing: “Just like Ace of Base.” More

Feb 10, 2012 By Laura Studarus Zola Jesus

Nika Roza Danilova—who writes and performs as Zola Jesus—first appeared to the music world with her 2009 debut full-length, The Spoils. Under the Radar caught up with the musician in a park near her West Hollywood home to talk about her new album Conatus, friendly neighborhood critics, and why calling her Zola instead of Nika might not be such a leap in logic. More

Feb 07, 2012 By Laura Studarus My Brightest Diamond

Ever since Shara Worden (who performs as My Brightest Diamond) donned a cheerleader uniform to tour with Sufjan Stevens, there’s been an approachable, yet otherworldly presence about her. Since her time with the Illinoisemakers, Worden has produced three albums of material—wrapping big ideas about life and death in a chamber-pop beauty. Her new album, All Things Will Unwind, follows suit. Under the Radar caught up with the songstress via e-mail to get her take on collaborations, going out on a limb, and what current artist is making the next generation dance. More

Feb 02, 2012 By Under the Radar Staff Artist Surveys 2011

For Under the Radar‘s 9th annual Artist Survey we emailed some of our favorite artists a few questions relating to 2011. Here’s a survey from RACES. More

Feb 01, 2012 By Under the Radar Staff Web Exclusive

For Under the Radar‘s 9th annual Artist Survey we emailed some of our favorite artists a few questions relating to 2011. Here’s a survey from Radiation City. More

Jan 31, 2012 By John Everhart Issue #39 - Best of 2011

While Hooray for Earth’s superb debut LP True Loves has frequently been hailed as the synth-pop record MGMT’s oft-maligned sophomore effort Congratulations should have been, Hooray for Earth’s Brooklyn-via-Boston frontman, Noel Heroux, is befuddled by the connection. More

Jan 30, 2012 By Laura Studarus Porcelain Raft

Under the guise of Porcelain Raft, Mauro Remiddi makes gauzy bedroom pop—constructing dream-laden choruses from loops of gently strummed guitars, drum machines, and tape hiss. Impressed with the several EPs he already has to his name (including last year’s excellent Gone Blind), Under the Radar spoke with the Italian troubadour on the eve of the release of his first full-length Strange Weekend (out via Secretly Canadian). Remiddi told us about simplifying the process, the marriage of image and sound, and what he really wanted to do with his life. More