News
Vote Next Tuesday, November 6
Nov 02, 2018
By Brian Chase
To help motivate our American readers to get out to the voting booth next week, we’ve asked some musicians to share words of encouragement. In this piece, Brian Chase of Yeah Yeah Yeahs writes impassionedly about why you need to vote next week. More
Interviews
The Power to Enact Change
Dec 28, 2021
By Jennifer Irving
Raised in London, 20-year-old Arlo Parks, aka Anaïs Oluwatoyin Estelle Marinho, leads a new generation of poets and songwriters. With her recent debut album, Collapsed in Sunbeams, Parks has quickly—and deservedly—grabbed the attention of the music world. Now, with a larger platform, she is determined to use it in a positive way, aiming to be active in her desire to create change. More
Still Active with the Activists
Dec 22, 2021
By Andy Von Pip
The global pandemic may have stopped live music in its tracks but Billy Bragg has been spending his lockdown time productively. With all scheduled gigs cancelled for the foreseeable future, the English singer/songwriter and left-wing activist decided to transfer 2021’s plan to write and record a new album into 2020’s diary. He also informs us that he hasn’t set foot in a barbershop for six months and thus currently resembles the late hirsute country legend Kenny Rodgers. “I’ve stopped wearing a wristwatch too which I found strangely liberating,” he laughs. More
Dec 20, 2021
By Candace McDuffie
Tegan and Sara have always been deliberate in using their platform for social good. In 2012, the Canadian duo appeared on the cover of that year’s Protest Issue wielding a sign that said: “The rights of the minority should never be subject to the whim of the majority.” Sara Quin, who has been making music alongside her identical twin sister, Tegan Quin, for over two decades, fondly remembers how those words strongly resonated with her. More
Dec 09, 2021
By Jake Uitti
Colin Meloy, front person and principle songwriter for the Pacific Northwest-based indie band The Decemberists, says he grew up admiring artists who were vocal about their politics. Now, as an adult, Meloy says he intentionally uses his platform to speak his mind on issues important to him. Today, that means speaking out about neuro diversity. More
Dec 08, 2021
By Mark Moody
Where most may find it ironic that songwriter Valerie June made masks for Memphis police officers in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is as natural to her as the way her songs come to her. Or how she subtly weaves her compassion for Mother Earth in with racial justice issues. June is no doubt a gentle and caring soul, but like her songs’ impact on the listener she can get your head spinning with a patchwork of thoughts and ideas before you realize where you have ended up. To her, it’s all part of the same package. More
Tomorrow’s History Lesson
Nov 23, 2021
By Mark Moody
If the last year has taught us anything, one of the most eye opening lessons was the need to never stop educating ourselves. Solo artist and boygenius member, Lucy Dacus, has always been an avid reader and promoter of books—from literature to life lessons. Most recently her efforts have focused on finding ways to help the most marginalized in a society stacked against them. More
"We just need to continually readjust and recalibrate in a much more fair, inclusive direction. I think what happened in Pennsylvania is pretty important and remarkable."
Jan 11, 2019
By Steve King
Three of the most important things in politics are timing, having a good story, and personality. And money. Money’s super important! But money can’t buy It. I don’t know where It comes from but I’ve covered the Fettermans for a few years and whatever It is, they have It. More
The Personal is Political
Nov 05, 2018
By Bekki Bemrose
In 2018 Black Belt Eagle Scout, aka Katherine Paul, issued one of the debut records of the year. Mother of My Children is a deeply personal rumination on love and loss, but it’s also an indie-rock album that is charged with Paul’s identity as an indigenous, queer woman.
Vying to Make Every Vote Count
Nov 01, 2018
By Kyle Mullin
Some singer/songwriters are content to write protest songs during times of political turmoil, if they write protest songs at all. But not Jim James. More
Rocking Against Mansplaining
Dec 01, 2017
By Kyle Mullin
A volunteer for a transgender help hotline. A young black woman struggling with the facets of race in America. Patrons at an Orlando, Florida venue with a proud rainbow logo on the door. More
Sep 01, 2017
By Erika M. Anderson
Protest is our recurring feature where a musician writes about a political or social issue that interests them and then submits a photo of them holding a self-made protest sign relating to that issue. This issue’s participant, EMA (aka Erika M. Anderson), is no stranger to political songwriting. More
Jun 15, 2017
By Matt Conner
“How about we don’t go to Walmart anymore, even ironically? Let’s just not go to Walmart, period. Let’s not think it’s funny. Let’s get mad instead.” More
