May 25, 2012 By Kyle Lemmon James Robinson

DC Comics’ much-anticipated Earth 2 landed in stores this month as part of the Second Wave of the New 52. Earth 2 writer James Robinson spoke with Under the Radar about the his big plans for Earth 2’s metaphysical environment, the historical allusions in his latest work, the day-to-day struggles of being a comic book writer, The Shade, and his thoughts on friends Geoff Johns and Sterling Gates.

May 23, 2012 By John Everhart Web Exclusive

Under the Radar caught up with Caribou frontman Dan Snaith on break from his band’s tour with Radiohead to discuss what he’s been up to since Swim, his plans for his next album, his formative influences growing up in suburban Canada, and why a PhD in mathematics doesn’t necessarily translate to an enhanced musical acumen.

May 22, 2012 By Laura Studarus Echo & the Bunnymen

When historians record his contributions to society, Will Sergeant is well aware that his role as a member of Echo & The Bunnymen will probably always be part of the headline. Now 54, the musician/artist finds himself eager to speak about his new endeavor: life as a mixed-media visual artist.

May 21, 2012 By Stephen Humphries Shearwater

Like the migratory seabirds they’re named after, the band Shearwater will spend much of the year traversing the globe. The band, led by singer/songwriter Jonathan Meiburg, has just finished the first of three European tours scheduled in 2012 and is on the second leg of an American tour as the support act for St. Vincent.

May 11, 2012 By Chris Tinkham Tara Lynne Barr

Actress Tara Lynne Barr doesn’t want writer/director Bobcat Goldthwait to know this, but contrary to her character in his dark comedy, God Bless America, she likes the movie Juno. In Goldthwait’s film, Barr plays Roxy, a spitfire who abandons high school to band with a suicidal middle-aged divorcé, Frank (Joel Murray), on a killing spree. Roxy precociously opines on myriad topics, and when Frank sarcastically calls her Juno, it sparks another of her zealous, foul-mouthed rants. “That’s who we should kill next,” Roxy says, referring to Juno writer Diablo Cody. “Fuck her for writing that movie. She’s the only stripper who suffers from too much self-esteem.”

May 02, 2012 By Laura Studarus Coachella 2012

Keep Shelly in Athens actually hail from Athens, Greece. This much we do know. But very little else has been said about the enigmatic duo, who seemingly snuck onto the music scene with last year’s debut EP Our Own Dream.

May 01, 2012 By Laura Studarus White Sea

You have Morgan Kibby to thank for the can’t-get-‘em-out-of-your-head lyrics of “Midnight City.” A vital part of M83 since 2008’s Saturdays=Youth, Kibby has been responsible for her fair share of “lighters aloft” moments in the French/Los Angeleno collective, writing lyrics and providing vocals for the electonic/ambient/shoegaze/dance group. Currently touring M83’s 201l album, Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming, she has also been hard at work on her solo project, White Sea.

Apr 27, 2012 By Laura Studarus TR/ST

Singer/keyboardist Robert Alfons and drummer Maya Postepski don’t own up to the term “Goth” (who would?)—but as Trust they do make moody dance music, filled with buoyant beats, and dark lyrics about love, loss, and grinding it out. Under the Radar caught up with Alfons via e-mail to talk about music as the message, Ace of Base, and the deliciousness of Plan B.

Apr 07, 2012 By Chris Tinkham Web Exclusive

Writer/director Whit Stillman lets out a chuckle when he’s asked how Violet Wister, the college student played by Greta Gerwig in his latest film, Damsels in Distress, arrived at the idea that the 1920s dance, the Charleston, was named after a man, not the South Carolina city. Violet, the ringleader of a small group of coeds who run a campus suicide prevention center, is an unreliable protagonist prone to authoritatively stating untruths as if they were facts. Her ambition is to start an international dance craze, but in the meantime, she finds reassurance in dating boys whom she thinks are inferior to her and attempts to help her fellow students combat depression with tap dance and a particular brand of soap. Like Stillman’s other social satires—Metropolitan (1990), Barcelona (1994), The Last Days of Disco (1998)—Damsels in Distress revolves around young, well-spoken, upper-middle-class types who oftentimes are lovably ridiculous and might not be whom they appear to be.