Jan 08, 2016 By Matt Fink Julia Holter

Julia Holter hasn’t owned a piano in her adult life, something that might come as a surprise given how prominently the instrument is featured on her third full-length release, Have You in My Wilderness. That’s all changing today, as the Los Angeles singer/songwriter has located a slightly decrepit one at the hardware store near her apartment, on sale for the princely sum of $160.

Jan 07, 2016 By Mark Redfern Web Exclusive

For Under the Radar’s 13th annual Artist Survey we emailed some of our favorite artists a few questions relating to 2015. We asked them about their favorite albums of the year and their thoughts on various notable 2015 news stories involving either the music industry or world events, as well as some quirkier personal questions. Here are some answers from Hutch Harris of The Thermals.

Jan 07, 2016 By John Everhart Here We Go Magic

Despite being an avowed favorite of acts ranging from Thom Yorke to Death Cab for Cutie to Grizzly Bear, mainstream success has thus far eluded Here We Go Magic. Sadly, most of the world overlooked 2012’s phenomenal Ships, despite its high profile production credit from Radiohead producer Nigel Godrich.

Jan 06, 2016 By Mike Hilleary Issue #55 - November/December 2015 - EL VY

The passage of time has a particular habit of finding its way into the music of Martin Courtney. Across the three albums he has released thus far with his band Real Estate—starting with the group’s 2009 self-titled debut, to 2011’s Days, and last year’sAtlas—the New Jersey-raised frontman regularly expounds on the memories of the beautifully mundane.

Jan 05, 2016 By Laura Studarus Issue #55 - November/December 2015 - EL VY

Murray Lightburn is feeling philosophical. The Dears frontman apologies profusely for his conversational rabbit trails, crediting his meandering deep thoughts to the exhaustion of balancing album promotion and daily life as the father of two. But he’s also the first to acknowledge that his mental processes onstage and off mirror each other.

Dec 29, 2015 By Kyle Mullin Issue #55 - November/December 2015 - EL VY

Chris Baio‘s smoothly grooving rhythms, seductively soothing vocals, and effortlessly catchy hooks make the synth-inclined indie rocker—and Vampire Weekend bassist—seem like he was born to be onstage. But, in fact, he was born in a marathon.

Dec 18, 2015 By Cody Ray Shafer The Flaming Lips

For a certain segment of Flaming Lips fans, the purest hallmark of nostalgia isn’t Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots or The Soft Bulletin, but the band’s less experimental, but undeniably solid, mid-career ‘90s output, including 1996’s Clouds Taste Metallic. Now celebrating its 20th anniversary, The Flaming Lips have released a three-disc reissue via Warner Bros.

Dec 17, 2015 By Matt Fink Issue #55 - November/December 2015 - EL VY

When Trevor Powers was coming up with the title of Youth Lagoon‘s third album, Savage Hills Ballroom, a vision was stuck in his mind. He imagined an ornate dancehall with elaborate inlay settings and gold trim—the kind of place you might see in old movies or on postcards from the early part of the 20th century.

Dec 16, 2015 By Kyle Mullin Issue #55 - November/December 2015 - EL VY

Euan Hinshelwood isn’t a strutting, narcissistic, ego-fuelled frontman. In fact, the London-bred founder of Younghusband is self-deprecatingly frank to a fault.