TRAAMS: ‘We missed each other and the benefits of the creative process’
Chichester’s indie-rock band TRAAMS have got a new album out next week and it’s really rather good. In fact, it might just be their personal best and is titled as such.
Indie
Courtney Barnett: ‘Songs grow just as much as people do’
“It’s been really nice to get back into the world and play again,” reflects Courtney Barnett from her portal cabin backstage at BST Hyde Park. The 34-year-old is about to wrap up her first clutch of European dates since 2019 with a prestigious supporting slot on The Rolling Stones bill and she’s in a relaxed mood.
Max Pope: ‘The music business wants you to hurry and make your mind up’
The story of Max Pope – who ditched his management, dropped out of the music biz, exchanged musical equipment for gardening tools before coming back stronger – is one of wiping the slate clean, tearing up the masterplan, and doing things on his own terms.
Violet Skies: ‘You can’t win music – once you realise that, it doesn’t feel so scary’
Violet Skies’ debut album is here. She talks about writing for other artists, establishing her voice, and personal growth to this point.
Brian Wilson and his creative destruction
The idea of genius is a somewhat ridiculed notion these days – spoiled by its overuse and association with delusional thoughts of grandeur. We explore the life and creative output of Brian Wilson, however – a musical figure who’s heralded as one. Although this often weighed heavy on him.
DC Gore: ‘I’m quite preoccupied with the idea of failure’
Ahead of his new album, DC Gore talks about understanding what it means to be British, and the difficult way he learned to write songs.
A Yard Act to Follow | Yard Act are most-booked new act in Europe this summer
The lads from Leeds – Sam, Ryan, Jay and James, aka Yard Act – have been ranked as the most-booked new act across European festivals this summer.
Metric: ‘You have to have a sense of humour, otherwise it’s all so terrifying’
When Canada entered lockdown, synth rockers Metric fled Toronto and built a studio in a rural church. There they sought psychological escapes in Monty Python, fantasising about Spanish holidays, and making new album Formentera, as singer Emily Haines and guitarist James Shaw discuss.
Martin Courtney Interview: Real Estate Frontman on New Solo Project
Martin Courtney, frontman of Real Estate, is releasing his second solo album later this month. We spoke to him about the project, now seven years on from his first individual effort.
Down the Boozer with The Amazons
Fresh off their tour supporting Royal Blood and with a new album out later this year, we went for a tipple or three with The Amazons’ lead singer Matt and bassist Elliot. Their latest track ‘Ready For Something’ is out now.
Everything Everything: ‘There was a thought process – it just sounds completely insane.’
Manchester’s art rockers used an AI called Kevin to co-write lyrics for their sixth album. However, beneath the gimmick, Raw Data Feel is the antidote to Covid-19 blues, as guitarist Alex Robertshaw reveals.
Alex Izenberg I’m Not Here Review: Endearing, Emotive New Record
★★★☆☆
Alex Izenberg’s latest project, I’m Not Here, is a delicately crafted offering. Never spectacular, its charm creeps up steadily, a result of its originality and honesty.
Alfie Templeman: ‘I was indoors for a year – it took me a while to get up to scratch again’
Alfie Templeman’s debut album, Mellow Moon, is finally set to drop next week. I say ‘finally’ – he’s only 19. Yet the experience Alfie already has makes his debut feel like a long-time-coming.
Everything Everything Raw Data Feel Review: AI Co-Composes Seductive Silliness
★★★★☆
The party piece of Everything Everything’s sixth album is that it was co-written by an AI called Kevin. However, beneath the gimmicks, the Manchester art rockers have created an hour of endearing summertime silliness.
Sophie May: ‘I was really hungover when I woke up to Billie Eilish’s comment on my video’
With a new EP out now, Sophie May is cementing herself as a singer beyond TikTok – where she’s already garnered over 200,000 followers, around 3.7 million likes, and defied the often-distant online world to create a cosy connection with her fanbase.
Sound City 2022: The Festival That Gives Plenty of Reasons to be Cheerful
★★★★☆
Sound City is the festival that gives you plenty of reasons to cheer about the current state of music – and the brilliant new acts that are coming through.
ADMT: ‘Busking has taught me there’s loads of love, but you will get negative people’
Doncaster-based ADMT knows what hard work is. From working on market stalls and various jobs, he’s showed a tenacity to get his music out – even in the depths of lockdown, by busking in his neighboring towns of Manchester, Sheffield and Leeds.
Ride’s Loz Colbert: ‘Shoegaze visually would be the kind of art Rothko might make’
With reissues of their first four EP’s, as well as their first two studio albums, Nowhere (1990) and Going Blank Again (1992), we speak to the drummer of Ride, Laurence “Loz” Colbert.
Blind Melon: ‘The career was five years and then gone in the blink of an eye’
With a new film out now in the UK, which intimately details the heady rise and tragedy that the band Blind Melon experienced, we speak to guitarist and original member Christopher Thorn.
