After many years of collaborating with Anticon buddy Adam “Doseone” Drucker, Yoni Wolf turned his solo project, WHY?, into a full-fledged band in 2005. While the band employs an appealing concoction of hip-hop, folk, and indie rock, it’s normally the lyrics that get the most attention. Last year’s Alopecia — which found Wolf describing darker situations — was the band’s breakthrough, garnering near-universal praise from critics for its unconventional imagery and a new legion of increasingly devoted fans.
Now, WHY? are back with Eskimo Snow, a more melodic and contemplative album recorded at the same time as Alopecia. We had the chance to catch up with Wolf before his current tour to talk about Eskimo Snow, poetry, and the trouble with trying to describe his music. Read More »
With the release of his debut album, 2007’s Chromophobia, São Paulo native Gui Boratto popped up out of nowhere, becoming a techno titan almost overnight. Showcasing a glut of techno and house subgenres, album stand-0ut “Beautiful Life” garnered the most attention; bolstered by vocals from Luciana Villanova, Boratto’s wife, the track is a bona fide club anthem.
Released earlier this year, Boratto’s follow-up, Take My Breath Away, continues to build on the themes of his first album. After the jump, Boratto talks about landscape’s role in his music, how family impacts his creative life, and what NOT to eat in São Paulo.
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While many people know John Vanderslice from his solo work and his time with ’90s alt-rock act MK Ultra, it’s been 10 years since the indie stalwart opened his Tiny Telephone studio in San Francisco’s Mission District. The former warehouse has since birthed indie landmarks such as Beulah’s Yoko, and more recently, records by the likes of Spoon, Okkervil River, the Mountain Goats, and Death Cab For Cutie.
After the jump, we chat with Vanderslice about the merits of home recording, the disasters of a flooding studio, and the way to keep your business viable in an ever-shrinking industry.
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Photo: Kaitlin McGowan
Before becoming indie superstars, drum-and-keyboard duo Matt and Kim were just another pair of students at Brooklyn’s Pratt Institute. They met while attending classes at the prestigious art school, with Matt Johnson (Class of ’04) majoring in film and Kim Schifino (Class of ’02) focused on illustration. Shortly after graduating from Pratt, Matt and Kim started learning their instruments, and were quickly pushed into their first show by fellow Pratt alumni Japanther.
On a cold Sunday afternoon, we met Matt and Kim in the Pratt cafeteria for a trip down memory lane. After the jump, the band takes us on a tour, poses for pics, drops some art-school tips, and shares their favorite college memories.
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With the release of last year’s Saturdays = Youth, Anthony Gonzalez’s M83 project reached new heights of both critical acclaim and popularity. The electro-shoegazer act’s album of poppy, John Hughes-inspired music not only made several year-end “best of” lists, but also found its way to radio airwaves and MTV2. Now, with a performance this evening on Late Night with Conan O’Brien and an opening slot on the Killers’ national tour, Gonzalez is poised to reach a new, mainstream audience.
Taking a break from Brandon Flowers & Co., Anthony and the band performed a special solo show at New York’s Fillmore at Irving Plaza this past Saturday night. We got the chance to talk to Antony about Conan O’Brien, the Killers, John Hughes, and more.
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