INTERVIEWS
The Lemon Twigs on Their Brotherly Balance, Unorthodox Love Songs, Elton John Praise
Brian D’Addario, 23, and his brother Michael, 21, were still teenagers when they signed with legendary indie label 4AD and released their debut album as The Lemon Twigs, co-produced by Foxygen’s Jonathan Rado. The Long Island siblings are both singer-songwriters and multi-instrumentalists who expertly evoke the sound and spirit of ‘60s and ‘70s rock at its most melodic — and they’ve already impressed heroes like Todd Rundgren and Elton John. But their recently issued third album, Songs for the General Public, is the kind of confident step into a brighter spotlight that its title implies — the sound of former teen prodigies now in the prime of their talents. Brian D’Addario spoke to SPIN about how their new album contrasts with their last effort, the whimsical 2018 rock opera Go To School, ...
The Late Toots Hibbert on His New Album, Telling the Truth
The world lost reggae legend Toots Hibbert on Sept. 11 (though no cause of death has been listed, he had been hospitalized with COVID symptoms prior to his death). One of the more unfortunate things, though, is that the 77-year-old Hibbert was celebrating the release of Got To Be Tough, his first album in a decade, released Aug. 28, which showed that he wasn’t slowing down creatively. Ahead of the new album, Hibbert did a select few American interviews. I was one of those fortunate ones; we spoke on Zoom on Aug. 4, a few weeks before his hospitalization. Seated at the mixing board at his studio in Jamaica, Mr. Hibbert — as his handler who brought him to his mixing board desk where Mr. Hibbert sat for the duration of the 30-minute Zoom call, addressed him — showcased his trademark spirit an...
![Tycho Finds Silver Lining Through Pandemic, California Wildfires [Interview]](https://www.wazupnaija.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/tycho-finds-silver-lining-through-pandemic-california-wildfires-interview-1050x600.jpg)
![Tycho Finds Silver Lining Through Pandemic, California Wildfires [Interview]](https://www.wazupnaija.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/tycho-finds-silver-lining-through-pandemic-california-wildfires-interview-80x80.jpg)
Tycho Finds Silver Lining Through Pandemic, California Wildfires [Interview]
2020 has hardly provided an aura for meditation, yet the ever-reflective music producer Tycho insists this year offers creatives a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to grow. In a chat with EDM.com, he discussed how he’s managed to find a silver lining through the pandemic, tour cancellations, and even his home state being ravaged by wildfires. Tycho is a San Francisco-based producer, composer, and songwriter. Known globally for his instrumental production style, his music features downtempo guitar, analogue synths, and a variety of sounds pulled from everyday life. He first appeared onto the scene in 2006 with Past Is Prologue, an album that featured him performing mostly solo in a studio. Nowadays, the two-time Grammy Award-nominee varies his Tycho performances as both a solo DJ ac...
![Ben Böhmer on 3,000-Foot High Hot Air Balloon Performance: “I’m a Bit Afraid of Heights” [Interview]](https://www.wazupnaija.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/ben-bohmer-on-3000-foot-high-hot-air-balloon-performance-im-a-bit-afraid-of-heights-interview-1050x600.jpg)
![Ben Böhmer on 3,000-Foot High Hot Air Balloon Performance: “I’m a Bit Afraid of Heights” [Interview]](https://www.wazupnaija.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/ben-bohmer-on-3000-foot-high-hot-air-balloon-performance-im-a-bit-afraid-of-heights-interview-80x80.jpg)
Ben Böhmer on 3,000-Foot High Hot Air Balloon Performance: “I’m a Bit Afraid of Heights” [Interview]
“Melodic, dramatic, melancholic but happy; between deep house and melodic techno,” replied German super-producer Ben Böhmer when asked to describe his sound in conversation with EDM.com. Catapulting him from everyday piano teacher to renowned electronic musician, his sound propelled a trajectory that eventually culminated in a jaw-dropping livestreamed performance in a hot-air balloon over Cappadocia’s honeycombed hills (a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Turkey) two weeks ago. “In the beginning, I didn’t realize what was happening,” Böhmer gleefully recounts of the milestone hot-air balloon performance. “Actually, I still don’t realize what happened! An unbelievable feeling, definitely the most beautiful experience of my life.” With live eve...
FLETCHER on How Quaranting With Her Ex Led To Her Most Honest Music Yet
FLETCHER is quite impulsive. Her new The S(ex) Tapes EP was originally set for a Sept. 18 release, but she couldn’t wait any longer and surprise-dropped it over a week early. “I just felt like it was pretty on-brand for me to leak my own sex tape,” the pop singer/songwriter tells SPIN on Sept. 9 — the afternoon of the new release — with a cheeky laugh. “I wanted to be able to just share it with people as soon as possible.” There aren’t any rules when it comes to FLETCHER’s music (born Cari Elise Fletcher), whose career kicked off with 2015’s viral hit “War Paint.” The artist attributes it to giving “way less fucks” in every aspect of her life. “I used to give way too many and it messes with your mental health,” she says. “I’ve taken on this new attitude, especially over the last couple of ...
Lamb of God’s Willie Adler Talks Coffee, Bill & Ted, and Livestream Shows
Lamb of God’s Willie Adler, photo by Antonio Marino Jr. During a pandemic that’s drastically altered the day-to-day operations of the music industry, Lamb of God have forged ahead. The metal veterans released their new self-titled studio album in June, despite not being able to tour in support of the LP. And the decision brought much-needed joy to metal fans everywhere, as the album ranks among Lamb of God’s finest works. Upon completing the album, the band was then commissioned to write a song for Bill & Ted Face the Music. The film’s music supervisor handpicked the Lamb of God, who delivered “The Death of Us”, a crushing anthem to friendship that cemented 2020 as a veritably productive year artistically for the band. With one full-length and a major soundtrack appearance in the...
South of Eden Cover Audioslave’s ‘Show Me How to Live’ for Quarantine Era
Ehab Omran of Columbus’ South of Eden has long admired Soundgarden and Rage Against the Machine. However, the Jordan-born, Ohio-raised singer only learned about “this crazy band called Audioslave” in 2012. He recalls hearing the group’s song “Show Me How to Live” for the first time while in high school and being flabbergasted by their spirited chemistry. “I fell in love with it instantly,” he recalls. “It’s a very heavy riff, but it grooves at the same time, and that’s why I think Tom Morello is a god for doing all the things he does on the electric guitar. And obviously Chris Cornell is nothing to pass over at all, may he rest in peace.” So when he and South of Eden were looking for a song to cover, the decision was easy. The video for their version of “Show Me How to Love” premieres toda...
![TheFatRat On YouTube Copyright, Forthcoming Album, and Collaborating with K-Pop Star AleXa [Interview]](https://www.wazupnaija.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/thefatrat-on-youtube-copyright-forthcoming-album-and-collaborating-with-k-pop-star-alexa-interview-1050x600.jpg)
![TheFatRat On YouTube Copyright, Forthcoming Album, and Collaborating with K-Pop Star AleXa [Interview]](https://www.wazupnaija.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/thefatrat-on-youtube-copyright-forthcoming-album-and-collaborating-with-k-pop-star-alexa-interview-80x80.jpg)
TheFatRat On YouTube Copyright, Forthcoming Album, and Collaborating with K-Pop Star AleXa [Interview]
After initially writing and producing his latest single “Rule The World,” TheFatRat was actively searching for a vocalist for half a year. He wanted to recruit a person who could not only sing the song he envisioned in his mind, but also fit artistically. During his search, he found AleXa, the winner of the “Next Artist Award” at the Soridaba Best K-Music Awards, one of the biggest musical award shows in Korea. AleXa is considered to be one of K-Pop’s most exciting breakout artists. When TheFatRat discovered her, he noticed their similar creative visions with how they immerse fans into futuristic, sci-fi worlds. He reached out to her to collaborate, and the rest was history. While this collaboration is a fresh pairing, TheFatRat is no stranger to K-Pop. Although he ...
Uniform Give a Track by Track Breakdown of New Album Shame: Stream
In our Track by Track feature, artists guide listeners through each song on their latest album. Here, Uniform let us in on the inner musings of Shame. New York City trio Uniform have just released their new album, Shame, a brutal work of heavy music that’s as crushing as it is personal. What’s more, to coincide with today’s release, the band has unveiled a music video for the latest single, “Life in Remission”. It’s a telling track, following a string of lyrically intense songs such as “Delco” that combine singer Michael Berdan’s passionate, cathartic vocal delivery with a musical blend that veers from dark metal to industrial to harsh noise. Uniform defy any easy pegging, but their focus is honed. Live instrumentation, effects, and synths are woven into cohesive blasts of carefully chosen...
Doves’ Jimi Goodwin on the Trio’s 10-Year Absence, Comeback Album and Avoidance of Social Justice
Manchester, UK is established as one of the leading cities for legendary musical talent: Joy Division, The Smiths, New Order, Stone Roses, Oasis. They’re known for their iconic songs as much as their acrimonious inner-band relationships. Then there are Doves. Much like the name implies, the cooing trio of Jimi Goodwin (vocals/bass) and twins Andy (drummer) and Jez Williams (guitar) go against the grain of what’s generally been experienced with contentious Manchester area artists. The three have been making music together since the early ‘90s, first as the dance act, Sub Sub, which around the turn of the century morphed into its indie counterpart as Doves. Doves took a break after their fourth album, 2009’s Kingdom of Rust, but did so with no internal conflicts that have marred their Mancun...
Marilyn Manson on WE ARE CHAOS, Pandemic Life, New Wave Influences, and Favorite David Bowie Album
Marilyn Manson is set to unveil his 11th studio album, WE ARE CHAOS, this Friday (September 11th). In advance of its release, the rocker checked in with Heavy Consequence to discuss the new LP, and more. Following up his critically acclaimed 2017 album, Heaven Upside Down, Manson recruited Shooter Jennings to produce WE ARE CHAOS. While the recently released title track is an infectious mid-tempo, glam-rock number, the rest of the album explores the heavy and melodic extremes of Manson’s canon. Manson was set to support Ozzy Osbourne on tour this year, but those dates were canceled in order for the latter to seek medical treatments for various health issues. As it turned out, the tour would have been nixed anyway due to the pandemic. During our conversation with the Manson, he spoke of his...
Aloe Blacc Writes Soul-Saving Anthems for Troubled Times on All Love Everything
Aloe Blacc could’ve never predicted the rough new world his album, All Love Everything, would be born into when it drops Oct. 2. The prescient themes that are reflected throughout the album were recorded prior to 2020’s chaotic twists and turns. In the troubled times of COVID-19 and racial violence and unrest, Blacc’s soulful songs about togetherness and family feel like a sorely needed life raft helping us keep a grip on the things that matter most. Blacc, who is best known for both 2010’s “I Need a Dollar” and for his vocals on Avicii’s 2013 international EDM anthem “Wake Me Up!” is back with his first proper solo album of new material in seven years. Recently, we spoke with Blacc about the art of writing timelessly heartfelt anthems, embracing fatherhood as a songwriter and his dedicati...
