Gumshoe is a record about connections in a world where being alone is increasingly becoming the default. It’s the latest from Oklahoma-based singer songwriter, Samantha Crain. For 15 years, the Choctaw musician has shared stages with some of indie music’s biggest names. More recently, she’s found herself scoring films, including 2023’s Fancy Dance,…

With Ginseng Roots, Craig Thompson returns to his childhood -- subject matter that already proved a rich vein for his beloved 2003 book, Blankets. While his latest once again explores the family dynamics of a religious upbringing, the work casts a much wider net. His family's economic dependence on ginseng is a starting point for exploring the root…

About 40 minutes into the conversation, Nickelodeon calls. They need her in the studio post haste. It’s a fitting spot to end things for an artist as in demand as Grey Delisle. While she’s known as voice artist with hundreds of credits – including The Simpsons and Scooby-Doo – we’re here for something else altogether. Delisle also has a vintage cou…

We had the pleasure of interviewing Christian Hayes over Zoom video! Capitol Records recording artist Christian Hayes has poetically drawn on his life experiences growing up in the foothills of Appalachia since his grandfather gifted him his first journal at seven years old. While his debut EP Last I Love You, released in September, followed Hayes’…

When Willie Nelson suggests you record an album of his songs, you do it. Amy Irving and the country legend met on the set of 1980’s Honeysuckle Rose and remained close ever since. Irving features on the album’s soundtrack, despite a latter turn as Jessica Rabbit’s singing voice, a music career was never on her radar. Her solo debut, Born In a Trunk…

Tate is on a roll as we edge closer to the big 2-0-0, and this week’s episode brings a breezy, story-filled conversation with Andrew from the band The Wisconaut. Fresh off a surf trip with his buddies, Andrew joins the show in peak post-sesh energy to chat about everything from catching waves to catching ears with his music. The convo kicks off wit…

We had the pleasure of interviewing Highly Suspect over Zoom video! Never content to follow, Highly Suspect push rock music forward by trusting their instincts and raising a middle finger to everything else. The multi-GRAMMY® Award-nominated and gold-certified band - Johnny Stevens [vocals, guitar], Ryan Meyer [drums, vocals], Rich Meyer [bass, voc…

This week, Tate sits down with Jake Beital of Prize Horse for an unforgettable convo that kicks off with an instant Minnesota connection. From the Twin Cities to deep dives into the local music scene, Jake paints a vivid picture of home — and yes, he comes prepared with a stacked list of his favorite hometown restaurants. After a quick warm-up, the…

Abyss is a dark, heavy album for a dark, heavy time. A journalist in a former life, Anika never shies away from the bleakness. The Berlin-based singer made a point of recording her third solo record with minimal overdubs, in a bid to capture the immediacy these the songs require. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.…

We had the pleasure of interviewing Bo Staloch over Zoom video! Capitol Records will release Bo Staloch’s The Garden, a stunning six-song showcase of visceral alt-folk and Americana. Family means everything to the Austin-born, Nashville-based singer-songwriter – it was their unconditional love and support that encouraged him to pour his soul into m…

At age 11, his fate was sealed when Benmont Tench met Tom Petty at a Gainesville music store. Fueled by the recent British invasion, the pair made music together for the first time at The Sundowners. A decade later, Petty recruited the keyboardist for Mudcrutch, the Southern rock band that soon evolved into the Heartbreakers. For the past six decad…

We had the pleasure of interviewing Fastball over Zoom video! Formed in 1994 in Austin, Texas, Fastball combined a fondness for melodic, Beatles-inspired pop with the alternative aesthetic of late-'90s mainstream rock. Guitarist/vocalist Miles Zuniga, bassist/vocalist Tony Scalzo, and drummer Joey Shuffield — all veterans of Austin's underground ro…

n this episode, we sit down with Anthony, the creative force behind the music project "Rosevile Sucks." The name originated during his time living in Roseville, and even today, driving through the area serves as a humorous reminder of those experiences. Anthony is also part of the popular YouTube channel "Hivemind," which has broadened his horizons…

We had the pleasure of interviewing Cali Tucker over Zoom video! Daughter of renowned recording artist LaCosta Tucker and niece of the famed Tanya Tucker, Cali Tucker hails from Nashville, Tennessee and has been hitting full throttle throughout her career. She gained national recognition on Season 6 of The Voice after joining Team Blake and becomin…

We had the pleasure of interviewing joan over Zoom video! Beloved alt-pop duo joan, who have garnered over 200 million global streams and more than one million monthly listeners across streaming platforms, have unveiled their latest single "face" via Photo Finish Records. Co-written with Cris Stayton and co-written/produced by joan—Alan Benjamin Th…

Vladimir Nabokov's 1951 memoir, Speak, Memory, opens with a quote describing life as the content between two dark eternities -- the before and the after. Though teaming with potential existential dread, the quote is a hopeful one for Luke Lalonde. The sentiment inspired "Mean Time," the first single from Born Ruffians' forthcoming LP, Beauty's Prid…

We had the pleasure of interviewing Sofía Valdés over Zoom video! Acclaimed Panamanian singer-songwriter Sofía Valdés unveils her anxiously awaited self-titled debut album, Sofía Valdés, out now via Warner Records. In bringing the 10-track album to life, Sofía worked extensively with producers Michael Uzowuru (known for his work on groundbreaking a…

We had the pleasure of interviewing sym fera over Zoom video! Los Angeles-based sym fera are a duo that make atmospheric electronic rock music (reminiscent of early Nine Inch Nails) with an interesting twist - nobody knew who was in the band. This mysterious nature and captivating melodies had intrigued listeners, with their single 11/8 amassing ov…

We had the pleasure of interviewing Hudson Thames over Zoom video! Prolific songwriter, performer, and actor Hudson Thames has shared his soul-soothing debut album BAMBINO, available to stream now on all DSPs worldwide via Loaded Dice Entertainment. The album is laced with moody pop anthems, deeply emotional ballads, and genuinely timeless songwrit…

We had the pleasure of interviewing Ziggy Alberts over Zoom video! Ziggy Alberts is no stranger to success, having built a dedicated global following through a combination of steadfast touring, captivating songwriting, and an independent ethos that has seen him thrive without the backing of a major label. An artist who has mastered the acoustic cha…

Polar is as much an exercise in world building as it is a classical album. Icelandic pianist Gabríel Ólafs describes a lifelong desire to score films. In the meantime, he’s making his own. The new record combines worlds defined by his compositions, narrated by work from science-fiction author, Rebecca Roanhorse. It’s fascinating latest chapter from…

Since its debut at last year’s Toronto International Film Festival, Paying For It has garnered rave reviews from critics, drawing comparisons to fellow comic adaptation, Ghost World. Based on Chester Brown’s beloved 2011 work of the same name, the film centers around Brown and a fictionalized version of Sook-Yin Lee, the director who also happens t…

One thing you should know about Lloyd Kaufman is that he isn’t dead. The introduction to Mathew Klickstein’s new interview collection is very adamant about this. The Troma founder was certainly well enough to engage in an hour-long conversation about the early days of indie filmmaking, Michael Bay and making transgressive art amid a second Trump ad…

At 17, Duke Amayo moved from Nigeria to U.S. for a football scholarship at Howard University. Despite his study, a career in medical illustration wasn’t in the cards. After making his way to Brooklyn, he landed a role as the frontman of beloved Afrobeat band, Antibalas. Amayo set out on his own, after nearly a quarter-century with the band. The mus…

Recorded over the course of two years, Anything At All is, fittingly, about slowing down. Denison Witmer finds beauty in domesticity. It’s a meditation on mindfulness, fatherhood and even banal. Witmer’s 11th album is also a collaboration, birthed from a songwriting session with long-time friend, Sufjan Stevens, who also came on as producer. Hosted…

Seventy years since kicking off his music career in his hometown of Nashville, Charles “Wigg” Walker is still madly in love with music. This Love is Gonna Last is the soul singer’s first album in more than a decade, and a testament to surviving all that life throws at you. Dedicated to his late-wife, who passed in 2024, the album is a joyful celebr…

In this episode, we had the absolute pleasure of sitting down with Steph Jerkova of Punitive Damage back in November. What a fantastic conversation it was! Not only is Punitive Damage an incredible band, but Steph herself is one of the most down-to-earth and engaging people you’ll meet. We dove deep into the band’s journey, exploring their sound, a…

After 35 years, Tsunami returned with a bang. The Virginia-based band capped off 2024 by reuniting to deliver a massive, career-spanning boxset, Loud As. During their time away from the band, however, Jenny Toomey and Kristin Thomson were never too far apart. The roommates, turned bandmates, turned cofounders of indie label, Simple Machines never s…

“I am edging away from apathy,” Chuck Ragan bellows, “I am drifting away from the dark. The rain has got my mind in motion.” The stanzas that open Love & Lore, the latest from the Hot Water Music frontman, feel strangely appropriate as we speak. Ragan is a few days out from dealing with a flooded basement, courtesy of torrential rains. It’s a conse…

Music is, at once, a vector for connection and escape. Chuck Prophet found both, as at a bar in San Francisco’s Mission District. Cumbia, a popular dance genre born in Columbia, pulsates through Wake the Dead. Forty years into his professional and on the other side of a battle with stage four lymphoma, the album finds the Bay Area musician with a n…

We had the pleasure of interviewing Liang Lawrence over Zoom video! London-based singer-songwriter Liang Lawrence shares her new single “Kiss My Apocalypse” via The Other Songs. Featuring fuzzy, serotonin-boosting electric guitars, the new song is an unabashed declaration of love and commitment. Lawrence said of the song: “‘Kiss My Apocalypse’ is p…

We had the pleasure of interviewing BØRNS over Zoom video! Chart-topping, platinum recording artist BØRNS has shared his timeless new EP Honeybee, available to stream now on all DSPs worldwide. The release puts BØRNS’ full spectrum of songwriting on display, paying homage to 60s and 70s icons like Elton John, The Beach Boys, and ELO. Honeybee serve…

Following the release of Tank and the Bangas' Grammy nominated The Heart, The Mind, The Soul, singer Tarriona “Tank” Ball returns to the show. The three-part collection presents a new side of Ball for those only familiar with the Bangas' joyful New Orleans funk. Prior to her time as a music star, Ball sharpened her lyrics as a rising star in the wo…

We had the pleasure of interviewing Slow Joy over Zoom video! Slow Joy, the solo project of Dallas based, New Mexican born Chicano artist Esteban Flores, is thrilled to announce his first official US headline tour. The February 2025 run has Flores out supporting his Mi Amigo Slow Joy EP, which was released June 7th, 2024 via Mick Music. Produced by…

We had the pleasure of interviewing Hinder over Zoom video! Lately, Hinder are feeling the intensity of a new energy. Nearly two decades into their career, the multiplatinum band hasn’t just endured as a fixture of modern rock—it’s evolved. The versatile Oklahoma City-based quartet creates emotionally compelling rock, from hard-hitting anthems to s…

It’s taken me a little while to dive back into some of the interviews I did last year, but today we’re releasing something I’m really proud of — our interview with Chat Pile. There were times over the past few months when I seriously considered walking away from this project. I was burnt out, and setting up interviews felt like a chore. But in the …

Fe finds Rafael Cohen returning to his roots on multiple fronts. The latest from the !!! multi-instrumentalist's Las Palabras finds the musician returning to his native Spanish, while pulling the thread of his family's Jewish faith. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What does “maturity” mean for a rock band? The answer is, perhaps, a bit easier to answer when you’ve been together since age 18. For Naked Giants, it means grown up things – getting jobs, starting families. It’s not necessarily fodder for a band’s young punk days, depth of subject is in an important part of growing up as a band – and having a fanb…

Last month, Mileage scored Sun Records’ first-ever Grammy nomination. It’s hard to believe for a 72-year-old label that was once home to Elvis Presley, Roy Orbison and Johnny Cash. The album, Ruthie Foster’s latest, finds the musician reflecting on the ups and downs of a long career. It’s a journey that found Foster serving in the Navy, moving to N…

Mighty Vertebrate hits different. In a world of sound a likes and slow burns, Anna Butterss' latest solo record makes itself known from immediately out of the gate. The album is as eclectic as it is fresh -- unsurprising, given the musician varied career, performing as the bassist for Jason Isbell's group, performing along side Phoebe Bridgers and …

We had the pleasure of interviewing Grace Davies over Zoom video! Grace Davies unveils her latest single 'Another Night,' a masterfully crafted, feel-good pop anthem which showcases her remarkable vocals and creative talent within songwriting & music production. The track's infectious energy immediately captivates listeners, creating an irresistibl…

We had the pleasure of interviewing Haven Madison over Zoom video! American Idol star, praised as the “next big Pop star” by one of the best-selling music artists in history, Katy Perry, Haven Madison recently released her latest single ‘Obsessed’ via 19 Recordings/BBR Music Group. The song follows the release of Madison’s label-debut EP, Turn Off …

During our conversation, FIDLAR frontman Zac Carper reminds me of band’s acronym, Fuck It Dawg, Life's a Risk. Spontaneity has been a driving force throughout the band’s 15-year existence, but time comes experience and – hopefully – a bit of reflection. Surviving The Dream -- the band’s first record in five years – offers up that introspection, int…

We had the pleasure of interviewing Atlas Genius over Zoom video! Australian-based brothers, Atlas Genius are thrilled to release their new album End of the Tunnel. The band has put together a special recipe for the new collection of songs. Album ingredients: Lost love, guilt, passion, a dash of social commentary, existential crises, reckless aband…

Released in September, Dirt On My Diamonds Vol.2 finds Kenny Wayne Shepherd doing what he was put on Earth to do. With eight tracks spanning a collective hour, it's a tight set that packs a punch, while expanding the songwriting depth that has been a fixture at this stage of his career. Thirty-four years after signing to a major label at age 13, th…

We had the pleasure of interviewing Ira Dean over Zoom video! Ira Dean, is a multifaceted musician and acclaimed songwriter. Dean’s musical talent became widely recognized when he joined the dynamic country music trio Trick Pony in the late 1990s. Serving as the bassist and contributing vocalist for the group, Dean played a pivotal role in shaping …

Few who have walked the Earth can write a pop song like John Davis. That prowess catapulted his group, Superdrag to massive success on the back of its 1996 single, "Sucked Out." The group's trajectory from there isn't wholly dissimilar from other groups who released a hit during the decade. The music business took an aggressive turn, culminating in…

We had the pleasure of interviewing Lindsay Ell over Zoom video! Platinum-selling singer, songwriter and musician Lindsay Ell releases her most personal and inspired music to date with her eagerly awaited EP, love myself, out now via Universal Music Canada, the country’s leading music company. The first project that Lindsay Ell has co-produced, lov…

Plenty of musicians talk about 'leaving it all on the stage,' but few have offered as demonstrable an example as Samuel Herring. His live performance is a conduit for unbridled emotion, capturing mainstream attention as the frontman for Future Islands. As Hemlock Ernst, Herring's lyrics offer insight into life experiences, no better exemplified tha…

In this episode, we sit down with Mat Kerekes, the multifaceted frontman of Citizen, to dive deep into his solo work, his ever-evolving approach to music, and his unique balance of passion projects. Whether it’s fronting an iconic band like Citizen, writing his own songs as a solo artist, or stepping into the role of a producer, Mat seems to do it …