Issues | Under the Radar | Music Blog for the Indie Music Magazine
Monday, December 9th, 2024  

Issue #73

Issue #73 - Maya Hawke and Nilüfer Yanya

Sep 06, 2024

Under the Radar is excited to announce the full details of our new print issue, Issue 73, which features Maya Hawke and Nilüfer Yanya on the two covers.

The issue has shipped out to subscribers and stores and can now be bought from us directly here. The issue will also be available to purchase nationwide (on newsstands, in such stores as Barnes & Noble and Books-A-Million, and elsewhere).

Issue 73 also features interviews with Fontaines D.C., Cassandra Jenkins, DIIV, Sparks, Camera Obscura, Alan Sparhawk, The Decemberists, Jessica Pratt, Glass Animals, Charly Bliss, Yard Act, English Teacher, Goat Girl, Hana Vu, and others.

Maya Hawke Cover (Photo by Shervin Lainez)
Maya Hawke Cover (Photo by Shervin Lainez)
Nilüfer Yanya Cover (Photo by Derrick Santini)
Nilüfer Yanya Cover (Photo by Derrick Santini)

COVER STORIES

Maya Hawke

Mike Hilleary spoke to singer/actress Maya Hawke about her third full-length album, Chaos Angel (released on Mom + Pop) and the challenges of balancing her dual careers, including her role on the hit Netflix show Stranger Things. Shervin Lainez photographed Hawke exclusively for Under the Radar in New York City.

“People often do like to put others in a place and keep them there. It makes people really uncomfortable when those others don’t do that and stay in that place.” – Maya Hawke

“[My dad and I have] been engaged in the act of making art together my entire life.” – Maya Hawke

“I felt that the Eye of Sauron had come to look at me once I started doing Stranger Things.” – Maya Hawke

“The weight of Stranger Things, in combination with the weight of my parents, I was getting looked at more than I had deserved or earned.” – Maya Hawke

“I knew that the girl on Stranger Things with famous parents would get reviewed by people that had no business reviewing a first album on an indie label of a young girl figuring it out. I was scared of being reviewed badly. I understood why people would criticize it.” – Maya Hawke

“I kind of reached a point where I didn’t know if I liked the way that I existed in the world.” – Maya Hawke

“Run towards kindness. Accept the love you have in your life. Give love and be loved and kind of resign yourself to who you are.” – Maya Hawke

“I’m a multitasker. Making art makes me want to make more art. Not making art dries my well.” – Maya Hawke

Maya Hawke (by Shervin Lainez)
Maya Hawke (Photo by Shervin Lainez)
Maya Hawke (Photo by Shervin Lainez)
Maya Hawke (Photo by Shervin Lainez)
Maya Hawke (Photo by Shervin Lainez)
Maya Hawke (Photo by Shervin Lainez)

Nilüfer Yanya

For our other cover story, Jasper Willems spoke to Nilüfer Yanya about her third album, My Method Actor. It is the London-based singer/songwriter/guitarist’s first album for Ninja Tune. Derrick Santini photographed Yanya exclusively for Under the Radar at her home in London.

“I was always surrounded by art, and it was always there for me.” – Nilüfer Yanya

“Music always felt a lot less tangible to me; I think it’s because you can’t really grasp it.” – Nilüfer Yanya

“When I go on stage I don’t become some different person, I’m just being myself. And sometimes that’s really uncomfortable, because there is nowhere to hide.” – Nilüfer Yanya

“In my music I’m bringing my shadow self to the center.” – Nilüfer Yanya

Nilüfer Yanya (Photo by Derrick Santini)
Nilüfer Yanya (Photo by Derrick Santini)
Nilüfer Yanya (Photo by Derrick Santini)
Nilüfer Yanya (Photo by Derrick Santini)
Nilüfer Yanya (Photo by Derrick Santini)
Nilüfer Yanya (Photo by Derrick Santini)

DETECTION


The front-of-book Detection section features interviews with the following about their latest albums: Camera Obscura (exclusive photos by Derrick Santini), Charly Bliss, DIIV, Glass Animals, Goat Girl (exclusive photos by James Loveday), Alan Sparhawk, Hana Vu (exclusive photos by Koury Angelo), and Yard Act (exclusive photos by Shervin Lainez). We also spoke to Sparks about the 30th anniversary of Kimono My House. Plus we launch our new Record Stories series, where we profile an independent record store in each issue.

“I wasn’t sure what my identity was. I was a mom, and I was at home, and I lived in Glasgow and was having a nice life but wasn’t sure whether I was relevant as a songwriter anymore.” – Tracyanne Campbell of Camera Obscura

“[Tracyanne’s] dealing with some very personal things but a lot of what she’s singing about really resonated with all of us.” – Kenny McKeeve of Camera Obscura

“[On previous albums] there was always at least one big fight between me and Sam. I mean, he’s my brother; we have to fight, right?” – Eva Hendricks of Charly Bliss

“I feel there’s nostalgia for a pre-internet world, but also optimism for a post-internet world.” – Zachary Cole Smith of DIIV

“There are definitely parts of the album that I’m still working out what they mean.” – Dave Bayley of Glass Animals

“Throughout the album you have nature amongst glitchiness.” – Lottie Pendlebury of Goat Girl

“If you’re an artist, how are you gonna outrun AI? Are you doing something that the AI is not going to be able to duplicate or is gonna have a hard time chasing you on? Okay, then you’re probably on the right path.” – Alan Sparhawk

Top of the Pops was viewed each week by a quarter of the country [in England], and so, if you were on that show and they’re showing close-ups and everything, it can have an enormous effect. It certainly did for Sparks.” – Ron Mael of Sparks

“It was kind of insane, with people leaping onto the stage and being able to cause chaos like that, which doesn’t happen as much now because there’s better security. And maybe more mild manners, unfortunately.” – Russell Mael of Sparks

“It’s hard to experience life as it’s happening. Only when you look back—or when you reflect or when you process those feelings—those actions and those experiences become concrete.” – Hana Vu

“Basically, the older I get, the less energy and time I have to be angry at other people who I know are suffering and struggling just as much as everyone else.” – James Smith of Yard Act

Camera Obscura (Photo by Derrick Santini)
Camera Obscura (Photo by Derrick Santini)
Goat Girl (Photo by James Loveday)
Goat Girl (Photo by James Loveday)
Sparks in 2003 (Photo by Wendy Lynch Redfern)
Sparks in 2003 (Photo by Wendy Lynch Redfern)
Hana Vu (Photo by Koury Angelo)
Hana Vu (Photo by Koury Angelo)
Yard Act (Photo by Shervin Lainez)
Yard Act (Photo by Shervin Lainez)

PLEASED TO MEET YOU


Our Pleased to Meet You section features interviews with these exciting new artists: Chinese American Bear, English Teacher (who just won the Mercury Prize), Good Looks (exclusive photos by Christa Joyner Moody), and Sunday (1994) (exclusive photos by Koury Angelo).

“I thought it would be really fun to throw stuff into the audience. So in between songs, I’ll throw plushies into the audience, and people love that.” – Anne Tong of Chinese American Bear

“When we were writing and recording the album we spent so much time both mentally and physically stuck trying to make decisions and then worrying about those decisions as a band.” – Lily Fontaine of English Teacher

“Anytime my parents reach out it’s framed that I’m living in sin, I’m doing evil. And it’s the opposite. This is the truth.” – Tyler Jordan of Good Looks

“We know each other so well, have been dating for 10 years, and we’ve always been involved in music in one form or another.” – Lee Newell of Sunday (1994)

Good Looks (Photo by Christa Joyner Moody)
Good Looks (Photo by Christa Joyner Moody)
Sunday (1994) (Photo by Koury Angelo)
Sunday (1994) (Photo by Koury Angelo)

MAIN FEATURES


Our Main Features section has in-depth interviews with Fontaines D.C., Cassandra Jenkins, and Jessica Pratt, all accompanied by exclusive photo-shoots done by Shervin Lainez in New York City. It also includes the debut of our new Labeled series, where we profile a different record label in each issue. For Issue 73 we examine the history of the British label Domino and for the article spoke to members of Arctic Monkeys, Franz Ferdinand, and The Kills, as well as to people who help run the label.

“I do a lot, as does everybody, to maybe suppress and deny a sense of dread about the world.” – Grian Chatten of Fontaines D.C.

“I’m nervous to be on tour again. Because it’s very draining for all my senses. I wish there were ways to make it less draining.” – Cassandra Jenkins

“I’m trying to tell a story, but I think the parts of stories that are left unsaid are very interesting.” – Jessica Pratt

“Throughout our 23-year career, it’s been incredible being with Domino. They’ve never tried to turn us into something that we’re not.” – Alison Mosshart of The Kills

“When we won the Mercury [Prize], got on a plane, played the Roseland Ballroom in New York, and Bowie came backstage to meet us after that gig. Which was mad—but the abnormal kind of became normal.” – Alex Kapranos of Franz Ferdinand

“And the next thing we know, we’re headlining Glastonbury. The first time we were like, ‘There’s no way we’re allowed to do this, are we?’ It was a huge celebration with Domino, who were there with us. A feeling of ‘we’re all in this together, and we’ve achieved this incredible thing.’” – Matt Helders of Arctic Monkeys

Cassandra Jenkins (Photo by Shervin Lainez)
Cassandra Jenkins (Photo by Shervin Lainez)
Fontaines D.C. (Photo by Shervin Lainez)
Fontaines D.C. (Photo by Shervin Lainez)
Jessica Pratt (Photo by Shervin Lainez)
Jessica Pratt (Photo by Shervin Lainez)

THE END


For our regular last page feature, The End, we ask a different artist the same set of questions about endings and death. Colin Meloy of The Decemberists is this issue’s participant.

“I don’t particularly feel like hanging on into my 90s. Sounds gross.” – Colin Meloy of The Decemberists

REVIEWS


Issue 73 has a selection of album reviews, including of the latest albums by the following:

Marina Allen
Kate Bollinger
Broadcast
The Bug Club
John Cale
Charli XCX
Charly Bliss
Chrystabell & David Lynch
Chris Cohen
Cola
Crack Cloud
Cursive
Ed Schrader’s Music Beat
fantasy of a broken heart
Fat Dog
Fontaines D.C.
The Get Up Kids
Beth Gibbons
GIFT
Ginger Root
Girl and Girl
Peggy Gou
Maya Hawke
Hinds
Jon Hopkins
illuminati hotties
Cassandra Jenkins
The Jesus Lizard
King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard
Kishi Bashi
Kneecap
La Luz
MJ Lenderman
Loma
Rosie Lowe
Magdalena Bay
Maximo Park
Oceanator
ORB
Quivers
Sour Widows
Alan Sparhawk
Storefront Church
Strand of Oaks
This Is Lorelei
Velocity Girl
Wand
Washed Out
Kamasi Washington
Why Bonnie
Wishy
Nilüfer Yanya

DIGITAL SAMPLER


Each issue comes with a digital sampler that is a free download and includes up to 39 complimentary MP3s. This issue’s digital sampler includes tracks by:

Camera Obscura
Charly Bliss
Cola
DIIV
Fat Dog
GIFT
Girl Scout
Good Looks
John Grant
Hamish Hawk
Hinds
illuminati hotties
Cassandra Jenkins
Katie Knipp
Linn Koch-Emmery
La Luz
Loma
Los Bitchos
Magdalena Bay
Joey Maltese
MEMORIALS
Mercury Rev
Nada Surf
Oceanator
Peel Dream Magazine
Personal Trainer
Jessica Pratt
Sour Widows
Alan Sparhawk
Storefront Church
Sunday (1994)
This Is Lorelei
Hayden Thorpe
Tindersticks
Hana Vu
The WAEVE
Wishy
Tony Xenos
Xiu Xiu

DIGITAL MAGAZINE


The digital version of the issue (for iPads, iPhones and other smartphones, Macs, and PCs) also features extra interviews not found in the print magazine, as well as additional full-page photos from our photo shoots for the issue.

The digital magazine features additional interviews with the following artists: Cheekface, Hinds (an additional The End feature), Julia Holter, Nada Surf (a Self-Portrait interview), and Oceanator (a My Firsts interview).

“The album has a conceptual thread about belonging in society and the faces we put on to belong or distinguish ourselves as unique.” – Greg Katz of Cheekface

“I still haven’t decided if I wanna become a ghost. Probably because I’m not very sure of where I’d haunt.” – Carlotta Cosials of Hinds

“It gives me goosebumps when younger girls come to us after the shows and tell us they’ve started a band with their best friends because of us.” – Ana Perrote of Hinds

“I wasn’t trying to make a record intentionally about being pregnant or being a mom. It’s just that these things come through.” – Julia Holter

“I have a half-baked idea of making a website that’s a repository for half-baked ideas. I’ve had so many.” – Matthew Caws of Nada Surf

“I spilled all my popcorn and when Ursula came out I got too scared and my mom had to take me home. Disney movies used to be quite frightening.” – Oceanator

Click here to buy the print version of the issue.

Click here to buy the digital version of the issue.

Click here to subscribe to the print version of Under the Radar.

Click here to support us on Patreon.

Interviews
Chinese American Bear on “Wah!!!”
Self-Portrait: Matthew Caws of Nada Surf

 

Reviews
Devourer
Feats of Engineering
My Method Actor
RITUAL
Rack
SHINBANGUMI
WOOF.
White Roses, My God