Mar 31, 2011 By Laura Studarus Niki & the Dove

Malin Dahlström (vocals) and Gustaf Karlöf (multi-instrumentalist) jokingly call themselves “melancholy and sad people.” However, one would be hard pressed to come to that conclusion listening to their music. The duo, who performs as Niki and The Dove, weave ambitious pop themes through ethereal, wide-screen soundscapes, creating a sound that’s as dark and mysterious as it is joyful. Since its formation in February of 2010, the band has already caught international ears, and recently signed to Sub Pop. The charming pair recently chatted with Under the Radar, filling us in on their belief in the power of the pop song, David Lynch look-alikes, and why we may never know the true identity of Niki or the Dove.

Mar 14, 2011 By Hays Davis Web Exclusive

“The Dawn of Your Happiness is Rising,” the lead-off track from Violens’ debut full-length album, sets up their aesthetic perfectly.

Mar 12, 2011 By Stephen Humphries Web Exclusive

Late last year, Elbow’s Guy Garvey narrated a BBC radio documentary about his hometown titled The Rainy City. As Garvey explains, it’s “about Manchester’s weather and the influence it may have had on the culture, industry, and the art that’s come out of this city.”

Mar 09, 2011 By Frank Valish Web Exclusive

Vivian Girls’ Katy Goodman sits down with Under the Radar to discuss her auspicious solo debut as La Sera and the challenges of getting onstage for the first time to perform your own songs.

Mar 08, 2011 By Kenny S. McGuane Men

JD Samson’s been a gender-bender for a long time. The androgynous and mustached indie icon/sex symbol is best known as one third of the well-respected feminist dance-punks Le Tigre. Here we talk to her about her current project, MEN.

Mar 07, 2011 By Jeremy Nisen Web Exclusive

Winston Rowntree, the pseudonymous creator of webcomic Subnormality, has really captured something that is more than the sum of the comic’s wholly enjoyable parts. The art is vibrant and busy and pretty tightly rendered, which really emphasizes the goofiness, scariness, attractiveness, or awkwardness of the various characters and situations. The characters are tempered in personality and originality, both artwise and wordwise. Perhaps some of the humor —and philosophy —can be gleaned from the home page’s tag phrase of “Comix with too many words since 2007.”

Mar 04, 2011 By Chris Tinkham Web Exclusive

If you’re an 18-year old nascent film actress, and your first speaking part is in a low-budget Australian indie directed by a 19-year-old who gathered the financing by knocking on neighborhood doors, you wouldn’t expect the gig to take you to Cannes a year later or lead to Hollywood auditions. With no delusions of grandeur, Adelaide native Teresa Palmer couldn’t have dreamed of such an outcome for her film debut. But that’s what happened.

Feb 24, 2011 By Frank Valish Mark Gardener

This month Rhino Records reissued Ride’s seminal debut LP, Nowhere, in celebration of the 20th anniversary of the album’s release. To commemorate, guitarist/vocalist Mark Gardener took some time from his current studio and soundtrack work to speak with Under the Radar about his band’s milestone.

Feb 21, 2011 By Frank Valish Erland & The Carnival

Upon the release of his band’s Stateside debut album, Erland Cooper, the Scotland-born singer of Erland & The Carnival, takes some time to speak with Under the Radar about the new album, his own personal inspirations, and what Erland & The Carnival is really about.