Best Mercury Studios Podcasts (2025)

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'Not My Father's Son' from Kinky Boots with Billy Porter 48:53

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7h ago48:53

48:53

Queer The Music this week celebrates the multi-award winning actor, singer and activist Billy Porter. Billy is the first gay Black man to win an Emmy Award in any lead acting category and in 2020 Time magazine included him in their list of 100 most influential people in the world He wowed Broadway with his lead performance as drag queen Lola in Kin…

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'Statue In The Square' by Kae Tempest 45:48

7d ago45:48

45:48

Kae Tempest joins Jake Shears to talk about his song 'Statue In The Square'. With two Mercury nominations and the Ted Hughes Poetry Prize under his belt, Kae Tempest is a celebrated and prolific artist. His new album, Self Titled is his most personal work yet telling his story of finding love, community and comfort. In this episode he opens up to J…

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Rob Halford of Judas Priest - Part 2 31:24

14d ago31:24

31:24

This is the second part of Jake's revealing conversation with The Metal God himself, Rob Halford - frontman of legendary rock band Judas Priest Last time we learnt about the pressures on Rob to keep his sexuality secret, the risk he took writing a song about Fire Island and how Tom of Finland influenced Judas Priest’s look. And now we’re about to g…

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'Raw Deal' by Judas Priest 31:05

21d ago31:05

31:05

Welcome to Series 3 of Queer The Music! We're kicking off with an absolute icon from the world of rock - Rob Halford. Rob has spent half a century fronting one of heavy metal's biggest and most influential bands, Judas Priest. The first openly gay metal singer, it’s hard to underestimate the impact Rob Halford’s coming out must have had for other q…

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[INTERVIEW] Finding Your Voice Over a Decade of Creating with Lostboycrow 1:14:07

2M ago1:14:07

1:14:07

We sat down with Lostboycrow, also known as Chris Blair, to explore his creative journey over the past decade. Chris shares how personal growth and life experiences have shaped his music. We deep dive into his experiences with the ever-changing music platforms, how getting into acting changed his perspective on his music, and so much more. Learn mo…

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[INTERVIEW] Toxic Masculinity in Dating and Self Discovery with Duckwrth 55:18

2M ago55:18

55:18

In this episode, we dive deep into the transformative power of vulnerability and authenticity in music with Duckwrth. We explore how Duckwrth's latest album, "All American F*ckboy," serves as a raw and introspective journey, challenging societal norms and personal boundaries. We unpack how toxic masculinity deeply effected Duckwrth's dating life an…

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[INTERVIEW] The Pressures of Being a "Girl Group" with Trousdale 1:05:08

3M ago1:05:08

1:05:08

We love when we get to sit down and have a conversation with smart, thoughtful women, and that’s exactly what this interview with Trousdale is. The girls of Trousdale, Quinn, Georgia, and Lauren, met while in a competitive music program in college. They started making music together and something really special with each other blending pop and coun…

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[INTERVIEW] The Pros & Cons of the Internet with Late Night Drive Home 1:05:06

3M ago1:05:06

1:05:06

This week we’re starting our interview series with El Paso, Texas indie-rock band Late Night Drive Home who just put out their debut record, as i watch my life online, a concept record about, you guessed it, growing up in the first real era where using the internet wasn’t an option.Our discussion takes us through the band’s journey growing up as th…

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What Is Selling Out? A History of Sell Outs, How Turnstile is Expanding Hardcore, and Why Community Matters 1:08:38

3M ago1:08:38

1:08:38

Bands throughout history have been labeled as “sellouts,” from Bob Dylan and Metallica to Black Flag and Nirvana. We’re taking a closer look at what selling out even is. “Selling out” has meant different things to different eras of music – adopting a new audience, going outside the bounds of your genre, giving up your artistic voice for a paycheck,…

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Feminism in the Media from Spice Girls to Barbie: Interview with Sophie Gilbert, author of 'GIRL ON GIRL: How Pop Culture Turned a Generation of Women Against Themselves' 1:17:11

3M ago1:17:11

1:17:11

This week on Name 3 Songs Fangirl Nonsense is taking us to Glastonbury festival, looking at The 1975's incredible headline set, Paul Mescal making out with Gracie Abrams, Louis Tomlinson allegedly liking a Larry Stylinson Reel, and multiple acts speaking out for the people of Palestine. We're also having a brief discussion on Benson Boone's surpris…

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Sabrina Carpenter Challenges Sexist Stereotypes + Fletcher and JoJo Siwa Redefine Their Sexualities 51:31

4M ago51:31

51:31

This week on Name 3 Songs… ⚡WE’RE BACK BABY! We’re filling you in on everything that’s been happening and all the ways we’ll be back in your podcast feels and socials once again. ⚡Sabrina Carpenter announced her new album Man’s Best Friend to be released just 359 days after Short and Sweet, but the bigger issue is the artwork itself for Man’s Best …

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We Saw What The Grammy’s Can Be When DEI Is Prioritized 1:11:54

8M ago1:11:54

1:11:54

This week on Name 3 Songs… ⚡ Each year when the Grammy Awards roll around, we typically have an episode that critiques the award ceremony for being vastly out of touch with popular culture: Beyonce is snubbed for Album of the Year, BTS is used as a bait tool for viewership, Best New Artist doesn’t represent the talent at the present moment. The lis…

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[INTERVIEW] Getting Candid with bby 48:39

9M ago48:39

48:39

We’re getting candid in our interview with bby. The members of bby found each other on the internet after cultivating their individual musical abilities playing for revered underground London acts. Post-covid, they upgraded to “real life” meet-ups to develop their own gritty alternative sound. Their HQ in East London quickly became a hot spot for p…

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'The Power of Love' by Frankie Goes To Hollywood 48:56

10M ago48:56

48:56

In this festive edition of Queer the Music Jake sits down with the iconic Holly Johnson, the front man of Frankie Goes To Hollywood, to discuss the 1984 UK number one single and enduring Christmas song, ‘The Power of Love’. The Power of Love came out during a time of social and political turmoil in the UK. Between Thatcherism, the miner strike and …

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[INTERVIEW] Getting Candid with mercury 44:21

10M ago44:21

44:21

We’re getting candid in our interview with mercury. Mercury is an alternative rock band and project led by Nashville-based Maddie Kerr. Now 22, Kerr grew up playing music since she was a kid, and honed in her sound while playing with various friends through her teen years. We talk to Maddie about having an emotional breakthrough in writing her late…

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'It's a Sin' by Pet Shop Boys - with Neil Tennant 59:18

10M ago59:18

59:18

It's the Season Finale of Queer The Music and we have a big one for you! It's none other than Neil Tennant to talk about Pet Shop Boys' 1987 smash hit 'It's A Sin'. Neil joined Jake on his sofa to talk about making the song, the meaning behind the lyrics & his brilliant music career. We cover a lot of ground in this episode and learn so much about …

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[INTERVIEW] Getting Candid with Isabel Dumaa 40:13

10M ago40:13

40:13

We’re getting candid in our interview with Isabel Dumaa. The rising LA-based artist just released her new EP Just My Nature featuring breakout single “Quarter Life Crisis.” Now 21, Dumaa began singing and songwriting at age 10. At age 12, her moms booked her first ever studio session to record songs she had been filling journals with. We talked to …

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'Take Your Mama' by Scissor Sisters 48:35

11M ago48:35

48:35

Have you heard the news?? Scissors Sisters are reforming and going on tour next May so for this special edition of Queer The Music, recorded in front of an audience at The Phoenix Arts club in London, we celebrate one of the songs that started it all, a song that is instantly recognizable from the first chord and one that the LGBTQ+ community have …

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[INTERVIEW] Getting Candid with Angélica Garcia 52:19

11M ago52:19

52:19

We’re getting candid in our interview with Angélica Garcia. Angélica Garcia is a pop experimentalist who pulls from her Mexican and Salvadoran heritage to make art that speaks to the experience of growing up between cultures as a Hispanic-American. Her latest album Gemelo, meaning “twin” in English, represents the two selves, the spirit and body, a…

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[INTERVIEW] Getting Candid With Emei 1:00:28

11M ago1:00:28

1:00:28

We’re getting candid in our interview with Emei. Emei built her career from the ground up, performing since she was a child in music theater and even as a star on Chinese reality TV. After receiving notoriety on TikTok for her 2022 single “Late to the Party,” Emei has built a world around her subsequent music, and has already performed at venues as…

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'Midnight Radio' with John Cameron Mitchell 48:57

11M ago48:57

48:57

This episode celebrates the song 'Midnight Radio', by Stephen Trask, the epic finale song from the ground-breaking film and stage musical Hedwig and the Angry Inch. Jake is joined at his home in New Orleans by the creator, director and star of this cult classic, John Cameron Mitchell, to talk about where the ideas for the musical came from, it's re…

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'Free Yourself' by Jessie Ware 44:26

11M ago44:26

44:26

Queer The Music not only shines a light on songs by queer artists but also those that have been adopted by the LGBTQ+ community and in this episode we’re celebrating an absolute banger and one that has well and truly been claimed by the queer community - it’s the unbelievably uplifting call to arms ‘Free Yourself’ by Jessie Ware. Tune in to hear Ja…

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Chappell Roan’s Overnight Fame, Burnout, and Backlash + Election Exhaustion 1:49:37

11M ago1:49:37

1:49:37

This week on Name 3 Songs… ⚡ Fangirl Nonsense: Shawn Mendes speaks about his sexuality for the first time. Damiano David of Maneskin releases his debut album, and it’s giving… Harry Styles. ⚡ We’re taking a deep dive on the arc of Chappell Roan’s career this year – from the explosive moments at Coachella and Gov Ball to Chappell’s public burnout on…

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'Explode' by Big Freedia 40:42

11M ago40:42

40:42

In this episode of Queer The Music we’re shining a light on an incredible artist as we celebrate ‘Explode’ by the rapper and ‘Queen of Bounce’ Big Freedia. Big Freedia, “The Queen Diva,” not only brought bounce music to the mainstream but has become a cultural icon, an advocate for the LGBTQ+ community and an ambassador for New Orleans. Big Freedia…

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The Loss of Liam Payne + Replay of Grieving As a Fangirl: From Death to Disbandment 1:38:27

11M ago1:38:27

1:38:27

We thought it would be helpful, after the tragic loss of Liam Payne, to have a brief discussion about how we're feeling in regards to this loss and also give y'all a replay of our 2022 episode about grieving as a fangirl. We will be discussing the heinous way the press handled the loss of Liam in an episode soon. "Grief is a complex state of being,…

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'Glacier' by John Grant 52:28

11M ago52:28

52:28

This week on Queer The Music we welcome the great singer songwriter John Grant to talk about his epic song Glacier. Glacier is the standout track from John's 2013 album 'Pale Green Ghosts' and is about the pain of growing up gay in a hostile environment, which for John was his conservative Methodist upbringing. It’s an emotional tour de force with …

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[INTERVIEW] Getting Candid with Jonah Marais 55:08

12M ago55:08

55:08

We’re getting candid in our interview with Jonah Marais. Jonah Marais is a pop singer who got his start in the boy band Why Don’t We in 2016. The band reached massive career milestones over six years before announcing their hiatus in 2022. Now, Jonah is setting out on his own path as a solo artist, with a debut EP and a solo tour already under his …

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'Tutti Frutti' by Little Richard 44:40

12M ago44:40

44:40

This week on Queer The Music we celebrate the phenomenal artist Little Richard and his groundbreaking song 'Tutti Frutti'. We can’t underplay the impact that this one song had on popular music at the time, Little Richard is an artist that sent shockwaves through popular music in the 1950s and his influence is still apparent to this day. To find out…

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'Standing In The Way of Control' by Gossip with Beth Ditto 45:30

12M ago45:30

45:30

We're back with Season 2 of 'Queer The Music' and what better way to kick off this series with the brilliant Beth Ditto to talk about the anthem that is Gossip’s ‘Standing In The Way of Control’. The powerful and absolute banger of a track is known for being a response to George W Bush’s 2004 Federal Marriage Amendment which attempted to outlaw sam…

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[INTERVIEW] Getting Candid with Cosmo's Midnight 49:20

12M ago49:20

49:20

We’re getting candid in our interview with Cosmo’s Midnight. Cosmo’s Midnight is the Australian twin duo Cosmo and Patrick Liney who bring grooves and electronic music together. Their third studio album Stop Thinking and Start Feeling was written between Sydney, London, and LA, featuring collaborators like Franc Moody, spill tab, Tkay Maidza and mo…

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[INTERVIEW] Getting Candid with meija 53:32

1y ago53:32

53:32

We’re getting candid in our interview with meija. meija, aka Jamie Sierota, grew up performing in the family band Echosmith. He left the band at 20 years old to start a family and be a songwriter and producer. After some time away from the spotlight, he started his own artist project – meija. His sophomore album There’s Always Something comes out O…

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[INTERVIEW] Getting Candid with Teen Jesus and the Jean Teasers 52:05

1y ago52:05

52:05

We’re getting candid in our interview with Teen Jesus and the Jean Teasers. Teen Jesus are a 4-piece punk band from Australia, who recently signed to Mom + Pop Records. The band just released an extended version of their album, titled I Love You, Too, and features collabs from The Linda Lindas and Softcult. We talk with singer Anna Ryan about how t…

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[INTERVIEW] Getting Candid with Master Peace 50:13

1y ago50:13

50:13

We’re getting candid in our interview with Master Peace. Master Peace is the artist moniker for London-based Peace Okezie who makes self-proclaimed “electroclash” music for dancing. Earlier this year Master Peace released his debut album and won an award for Ivor Novello’s Rising Star. With huge support slots for the likes of The Streets and Genesi…

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[INTERVIEW] Getting Candid with Friko 50:22

1y ago50:22

50:22

We’re getting candid in our interview with Friko. Friko is the duo Nike Kapetan and Bailey Minzenberger hailing from Chicago’s long lineage of DIY and indie rock music. Their debut album Where We’ve Been, Where We Go From Here came out earlier this year and sees the band merging elements of post-punk and chamber-pop and experimental rock. The band …

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How Charli xcx’s Brat Became a Cultural Phenomenon 1:10:48

1y ago1:10:48

1:10:48

This week on Name 3 Songs… ⚡ Fangirl Nonsense: Pop music is SO back. Both Sabrina Carpenter and Addison Rae have release the most perfect pop songs. Sabrina is giving us sugar coated mellow drama while Addison is channeling Lana Del Rey and Britney Spears on “Diet Pepsi.” ⚡ We’re exploring how Charli XCX’s latest album brat became a cultural phenom…

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[INTERVIEW] Getting Candid with Bay Faction 52:07

1y ago52:07

52:07

We’re getting candid in our interview with Bay Faction. Born out of an online message board, Bay Faction emerged in the Boston DIY scene in 2015 with the debut of their self-titled record and quickly garnered a cult following. Following the band’s hiatus from 2020-2024, Bay Faction is now marking their highly anticipated return with new single, “Dr…

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[INTERVIEW] Getting Candid with Paris Paloma 50:12

1y ago50:12

50:12

We’re getting candid in our interview with Paris Paloma. Paris Paloma is an English artist who made a name for herself with her 2023 song “Labour.” The song became a rallying cry for women, through its journal-like lyricism and dark folk-pop melodies detailing the women’s emotional labour under a patriarchal society. Now, Paris Paloma’s debut album…

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[INTERVIEW] Getting Candid with Middle Part 36:01

1y ago36:01

36:01

We’re getting candid in our interview with Middle Part. We talk to Middle Part about the choice to open up about his depression in songwriting, knowing that someone out there is going through the same thing and how he utilized the image of a glass box as a metaphor for the extreme pressures and expectations of the music industry. Middle Part is the…

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[INTERVIEW] Getting Candid with The Wldlfe 39:44

1+ y ago39:44

39:44

We’re getting candid in our interview with The Wldlfe. The Wldlfe is a Nashville-based pop band composed of Jansen Hogan, Carson Hogan, & Jack Crane who have been creating since the band’s start in 2016. The Wldlfe is releasing their upcoming album Heaven is a place, 2024 on August 16 and touring across America this fall. We talk with Jansen Hogan,…

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[INTERVIEW] Getting Candid with Georgia Webster 40:28

1+ y ago40:28

40:28

We’re getting candid in our interview with Georgia Webster. Georgia Webster is a singer-songwriter, who’s song “Tell Your Mom” became an instant hit on TikTok in July 2020. Since then, she moved to Nashville to hone her songwriting and storytelling skills. Her 3rd EP SIGNS dropped at the end of May and details the complexities of today’s situations…

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[INTERVIEW] Getting Candid with Forest Claudette 42:06

1+ y ago42:06

42:06

We’re getting candid in our interview with Forest Claudette! We talk to Forest about the decision to open up about their non-binary gender identity in their music, being able to develop their artistry without the pressure to go viral, and how they use visuals as a world-building tool to enhance the stories in their music. Forest Claudette is an Aus…

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[INTERVIEW] Getting Candid with Bathe Alone 43:14

1+ y ago43:14

43:14

We’re getting candid in our interview with Bathe Alone. Bathe Alone is the dream-pop moniker of multi-instrumentalist Bailey Crone based in Atlanta, Georgia Working closely with collaborator and producer Damon Moon, the two push to new emotional depths utilizing sound design as a lens for exploration. Their new record I Don’t Do Humidity is out now…

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[INTERVIEW] Getting Candid with renforshort 35:44

1+ y ago35:44

35:44

We’re getting candid in our interview with renforshort. We talk to Lauren aka renforshort about how her recent songwriting reflects her emotional growth, fighting to be heard as a young woman in the music industry, and connecting with fans at an intimate EP release show. Renforshort is an indie pop singer/songwriter who started releasing music as a…

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[INTERVIEW] Getting Candid with Collin Walsh of Grayscale 41:11

1+ y ago41:11

41:11

We're getting candid in our interview with Grayscale's Collin Walsh. We discussed his journey with mental health, allowing himself to be more vulnerable in his songwriting, allowing Grayscale to grow musically and so much more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesBy W!ZARD Studios

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Are Arena Tours Good for Artists or Fans? 40:19

1+ y ago40:19

40:19

This week on Name 3 Songs… ⚡ Fangirl Nonsense: Wallows are just silly goofy boys with Zach Sang! ⚡ The Black Keys recently canceled an arena tour in exchange for smaller venues. Fans are anxious the same thing could happen to Wallows. Meanwhile Charli XCX and Troye Sivan’s arena tour is sold out in NYC but slow to move tickets in other markets. We …

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[INTERVIEW] Getting Candid with Hannah Grae 38:34

1+ y ago38:34

38:34

We’re getting candid in our interview with Hannah Grae! Hannah Grae talks about how she’s grown as an artists since posting covers on Youtube as a teenager to releasing her mini album Nothing Lasts Forever, what she’s learned from female rock stars like Avril Lavigne and Alanis Morriset, and finding her own community of female musicians supporting …

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Maya Henry's Fiction Novel + Harrison Butker’s Commencement Speech 47:01

1+ y ago47:01

47:01

This week on Name 3 Songs… ⚡ Fangirl Nonsense: Wallows covers Sabrina Carpenter’s “Espresso” and gives us absolutely nothing. Chet Hanks explains the Drake-Kendrick Lamar beef to his father Tom Hanks over text. And… a giant conscious baby? ⚡ Maya Henry is releasing a fiction novel based on her relationship with Liam Payne that details abuse, aborti…

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[INTERVIEW] Getting Candid with Chanel Loren 36:11

1+ y ago36:11

36:11

We’re getting candid in our interview with Chanel Loren. We talk with Chanel Loren about finding her identity between two different home countries, learning to trust herself and use music as a tool to be more honest and vulnerable in expressing her emotions, and how her background in dance and theater influences her live performances. Chanel Loren …

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Drake/Kendrick Lamar Beef + Fan Safety at Shows 48:42

1+ y ago48:42

48:42

This week on Name 3 Songs… ⚡ Fangirl Nonsense: We saw Royel Otis live! Sabrina Carpenter turned 25 and someone gave her a cake with Leonardo Decaprio’s face. Nicholas Galitzine reveals he’s a spoon carver, but Jenna already knew this. Charli XCX is claiming her throne as an A-lister. ⚡ TRIGGER WARNING: At a recent Trophy Eyes concert in New York, a…

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[INTERVIEW] Getting Candid with poptropicaslutz! 41:10

1+ y ago41:10

41:10

We’re getting candid in our interview with poptropicaslutz! Christian and Nick from poptropicaslutz! talk about being 2007 music historians, how the two found their writing style during lockdown, and why they incorporate tongue and cheek lyrics. We also talk about how they prioritized the fan-band relationship from the start of their music career t…