INTERVIEWS
Jim Ward Doesn’t Care If You Only Like Him in At the Drive-In or Sparta, He’ll Keep Rocking For Himself
It’s hard to form a band that’s going to stand the test of time. Having a big hit is one thing, but launching an act that’s going to remain influential and draw crowds of devoted fans for decades is generally a once-in-a-lifetime kind of experience. Unless that lifetime belongs to Jim Ward. Ward (the revered guitarist, not the voice actor of the same name who apparently has better SEO) co-founded a little band called At the Drive-In before his 18th birthday, and then when that stopped being a thing (the first time around), he spun off into Sparta. And that’s not even including the success he’s seen with the country-tinged Sleepercar and acoustic solo work. Long story short, the 44-year-old El Paso native knows a thing or two about writing, singing, and strumming some of rock’s most influen...
Wire Look Back With Fondness at Post-Millennial Work
Wire is your favorite band’s favorite band. Guided By Voices’ Robert Pollard professes reverence. My Bloody Valentine covered a song on a Wire tribute record. Henry Rollins characteristically enthuses about them. And Robert Smith has pointed to them as a direct inspiration. If you haven’t heard of them, they’ve lived up to their cult status and you’ll soon be initiated. It’s almost like a music-listening rite of passage: Once you discover Wire, you achieve a certain milestone in your palette — a failsafe to rely on in case people find out you like something sonically abhorrent. But really, what better way to find music you’d potentially like than by seeking the favorites of your favorite? The experimental quartet emerged with their influential first LP, 1977’s Pink Flag, now th...
“Trashion”: This Woman Picks Up Your Trash at Music Festivals—Then Makes Art With It
Music festivals are some of the most magical, exciting, and glamorous spaces in the world. For a few days, music fans can come together for an indelible experience. They can dance to their favorite music, make new friends, fall in love, and live their lives to the fullest. But what happens when the festival ends? After festival-goers pack up their stuff, head out, and move on with their lives, people like Sophia Nielson are left to clean up the mess. At just 26 years of age, Nielsen operates her own company, WEgenerative, with the aim to educate people about waste. She promotes sustainability at music festivals by designing and implementing waste infrastructure, contracting with events, managing volunteers who pick up trash (usually the largest crew on the festival grou...
Danny Elfman Is a Big Mess
Within seconds of joining a Zoom interview, Danny Elfman is already running at speeds that would make the White Rabbit feel like the calmest being in Wonderland. “That’s where my name came from, I’m pretty sure,” the composer hurriedly explains. “Elfman means ‘11th man’ in German, and in the Jewish religion, all ceremonies start with 10. The 10th man into the ceremony is called the minyan, and when the 10th man arrives, everything begins. My ancestor was always late. He was always the 11th man. The one who comes in and says ‘I’m here! I’m here!’ and they’re already going, like ‘Yeah, yeah, sit down. You’re late.’ Well, this is my own personal theory at least. I have absolutely nothing to back it up with, but it just makes sense. Where else does ‘11th man’ come from? Especially with the sig...
Dead History Is the Oldest New Post-Hardcore Band Around — And They’re Perfectly Fine With That
Dead History is still a pretty new band — almost as much as they very much aren’t. In a similar manner, Dead History could easily be considered a “supergroup” of sorts — except that at least half of the band would laugh at that title. Despite only releasing their self-titled debut album this Friday (June 11 via Landland Colportage), the Minnesotans come by their classic post-hardcore sound in the most earnest way possible. Comprised of vocalist Brad Senne, Matthew Rezac and Brock Specht on guitar, and a rhythm section made of drummer David Jarnstrom and bassist John McEwen, pretty much everyone in the band has deep roots in the northern edge of the ‘90s Midwestern punk, hardcore, and emo scenes. But while their paths may have crossed on occasion before, they didn’t join forces until recent...
DJ Marley Marl’s New Podcast Legendize Sets the Record Straight
Producer and hip-hop legend DJ Marley Marl has changed the rap game as we know it. From pioneering the practice of sampling drum sounds to starting the Juice Crew—and subsequently, Cold Chillin’ Records—he has been cited as a critical influence for artists ranging from The Notorious B.I.G. to RZA. DJ Marley Marl has had a hand in production for a slew of classic albums including Eric B. & Rakim’s Paid in Full to LL Cool J’s Mama Said Knock You Out. With how integral Marl has been to music history, a foray into the podcast space was inevitable. Legendize, which premiered on June 1, features the esteemed personality interviewing artists like MC Shan, Big Daddy Kane and Naughty by Nature alongside co-host DJ Callie Ban. He spoke with SPIN to discuss his new venture and some of the most no...
Moore Kismet on Pride and Inclusivity: “You Should Have the Space to Surround Yourself With Love and Positivity”
Since appearing in the bass music scene when they were just 15 years old, electronic music wunderkind Moore Kismet has quickly progressed from an artist to watch to an industry staple. Known for their sound design prowess and storytelling through synths, their music is unique and ever-evolving, often candidly inspired by the artist’s experiences with love, mental health and personal growth. The young producer and vocalist’s most recent example of this vulnerability was a massive “Pride 2021” DJ mix for Apple Music. Following its June 1st release, Kismet caught up with EDM.com to share their thoughts on Pride Month and industry inclusivity, as well as to reflect on the journey that has led them to the upcoming release of their debut album. ...
Twitter pushes back on ban by Nigerian government
Micro blogging social platform, Twitter, has pushed back on ban by the Federal Government. It described it as brazen affront on citizens fundamental human rights and advised its users and other social media platforms in the country to download virtual private networks (VPNs) to enable them continue to use the platforms for their economic survival and social and political engagements while the “push back on this draconian order by the Nigerian government.” In a statement, Twitter said: “Today, the 4th of June 2021, the Federal Government of Nigeria announced its suspension of Twitter operations, that the application can be used as a platform for activities capable of undermining Nigeria’s corporate existence. “Many Nigerians read the announcement of the ban on Twitter as a reflection of the...
Meet Fuckin Whatever: The Unlikely New Psych Supergroup With Members of Circa Survive, Taking Back Sunday and Grouplove
If the guys in Fuckin Whatever were to announce a tour together with each of their respective bands right now, it would probably be considered one of the top tours of the year — particularly if you’ve been into the whole emo and alternative scene for the last 20 years. Taking Back Sunday, Circa Survive, and Grouplove all on the same bill? Hell, you could even add in Saosin and maybe a special appearance by someone like Bad Books. For a band that contains John Nolan, Anthony Green, Adam Lazzara, and drummer Benjamin Homola, the possibilities are pretty much endless. But while the four friends were all on tour with their own bands for Taste of Chaos in 2016 (Homola was drumming for Dashboard Confessional at the time), they spent a lot of time goofing around in green rooms and parking lots. T...
Belly on ‘Zero-Love,’ Taking a Stand and Teaming With Moneybagg Yo
Belly’s brand of social activism has always been delivered through his music. The Palestinian-Canadian rapper has used his bars to candidly address everything from racial profiling and police brutality to depression and his own mental health struggles. 2018’s Immigrant, depicted a journey saturated by hardship and heartache. Its title track, which features Meek Mill and M.I.A, expressed disdain for America’s broken political and socioeconomic systems. In addition to rapping, Belly has written hits for The Weeknd and Beyoncé, proving just how multifaceted his artistry is. He co-wrote “Blinding Lights,” the biggest song of 2020 and believes his close relationship with The Weeknd is to thank. “What we have is more than just the music we make…it’s much bigger than all of that,” he says. “...
How Wolf Alice Pulled Back to Surge Forward
As Ellie Rowsell unpacks “The Beach,” one of several climactic, holy-shit moments off her band’s new album Blue Weekend, she describes the song as “classic Wolf Alice, kind of.” What does that mean, “classic … kind of,” especially for an outfit known to never write the same song twice? It means whatever the hell you want it to, as Wolf Alice — perhaps the most acclaimed U.K. rock group of the last decade — have built their reputation on “kind of.” The foursome is kind of incendiary garage punk, kind of dreamy shoegaze, kind of crunchy grunge revival. Yet the product is exact in its singularity; no one kind of sounds like Wolf Alice (a rare feat for any guitar-forward act in 2021). The band’s last record, 2017’s Mercury Prize-winning Visions of a Life, was a master class in shifting dynamic...
Nancy Wilson Puts Her Heart Into You and I
Nancy Wilson’s moment as a cute blond in a convertible wearing a mohair pink and lavender sweater and a sweet smile in the 1982 classic, Fast Times at Ridgemont High was brief but memorable. Almost 40 years later, Wilson—best known as the guitar-slinging sister in the chart-topping and multi-million-selling band Heart—looks even cuter with a post-yoga glow and her hair in pigtails, that same smile in place. Wilson should be smiling. Her first official solo album, the recently released You and Me (1999’s low-key album of covers, Live at McCabe’s Guitar Shop, notwithstanding), debuted at Number 1 on Billboard’s Top New Artist chart, and in the Top 10 of other notable charts. With a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction, a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and four Grammy nominati...
