Features
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Tiny Telephone Studios founder John Vanderslice starts anew in L.A.
John Vanderslice, Courtesy. John Vanderslice is feeling good. Calling from his kitchen of his Los Angeles home—the artist and producer relocated from San Francisco after shuttering Tiny Telephone in the City earlier this year—he’s just finished up recording a podcast for his Patreon account. It’s a new venture he’s embarked…
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Stockton poet and America’s Got Talent hopeful Brandon Leake: ‘The poem changes as the years go on’
Brandon Leake performs in season 15 of ‘America’s Got Talent’ in Los Angeles on Sept. 1, 2020. Courtesy: Trae Patton/NBC. By the time Stockton poet Brandon Leake blew the “America’s Got Talent” judges and audience away on Sept. 1 with “Pookie”—about his mother’s fear every time he left their…
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INTERVIEW: Julie Budet on the more mature YELLE, ‘The Age of Aquarius’
YELLE, Courtesy: Jerome Lobato. Julie Budet, one-half of French dance pop duo YELLE, points to the penultimate track on new album L’Ère du Verseau as one of numerous examples at the group’s more serious and mature direction. L’Ère du Verseau (The Age of Aquarius) YELLE Recreation Center, Sept. 4 “Peine…
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INTERVIEW: Jonathan Higgs of Everything Everything on rising from the literal ashes
Courtesy: Everything Everything. When the COVID-19 lockdowns first began, the sudden isolation and uncertainty caused a lot of stress for everyone. But for the members of English band Everything Everything there was an added stressor even on top of all that. Re-Animator Everything Everything AWAL, Sept. 11 “It happened literally…
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Rexx Life Raj on his family history of activism, systemic racism, how to help
Rexx Life Raj photographed at the Berkeley Marina on Aug. 18, 2020. Matt Pang/STAFF. Additional photos by Pang and Karen Goldman/STAFF. Singer and rapper Rexx Life Raj has seen the world from quite a few angles in his life. From growing up in Berkeley and Vallejo, to playing offensive line…
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Q&A: Biffy Clyro calls for action to avoid ultimate ‘endings’
Biffy Clyro, Courtesy: Ash Roberts. A Celebration of Endings, the new album from Scottish rockers Biffy Clyro ends with a screamo-prog-metal-funk journey “Cop Syrup,” on which singer-guitarist Simon Neil feverishly and repeatedly declares, “Fuck everyone! Whoo!” It may sound like the retort of someone who’s given up all hope,…
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Q&A: All We Are find an eternal summer in ‘Providence’
All We Are, Courtesy: Rebecca Hawley. From the Liverpool band’s home inside a 160-year-old decommissioned school near the center of the city, the three members of All We Are—all immigrants to England—have been watching how the last four years have seemed to turn the world from its axis. In…
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Q&A: VINCINT out to prove ‘what I am is enough’
VINCINT, Courtesy photo. Vincint Cannady was already a rising vocalist and didn’t want or need to compete on Fox’s “The Four” reality singing competition. The Philadelphia native, who blends his powerful pipes with soulful falsettos and huge dance hooks as VINCINT, twice rejected the show’s producers to try out.…
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Dayglow: From the bedroom studio to the ‘sold-out tour that never existed’
Dayglow, Courtesy: Nick Wong. Austin artist Sloan Struble, who writes and performs as Dayglow, isn’t one to let conventions forge his direction. WIN a Dayglow vinyl & T-shirt! We’re giving away Fuzzybrain. To win: Like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram. Share this story. Take a…
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Q&A: Colombian Loyal Lobos on ‘Everlasting,’ her strong-willed mom and the pandemic
Loyal Lobos, Courtesy: Diego Trenas. Colombian singer-songwriter Andrea Silva, who writes and performs as Loyal Lobos, is proud, inspired and terrified of her mother, who took on numerous ventures as Silva grew up to protect her family and ensure its well-being. Everlasting Loyal Lobos AWAL, Aug. 7 Silva, who…
