Q&A
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Q&A: Colin Dieden of the Mowgli’s sets out on his own as Little Hurt
Little Hurt, Courtesy: KayKay Blaisdell. Colin Dieden became friends with Cameron Walker-Wright and brothers John and Stephen Gomez (pop trio TWIN XL), when he was still the lead vocalist of The Mowgli’s. It began as a common songwriting session—one of many—where Walker-Wright co-wrote the Mowgli’s “I Feel Good About This.” Later, while TWIN…
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Introducing Ayane Yamazaki: Japanese artist finds release in layers of pop
Ayane Yamazaki, Courtesy. Ayane Yamazaki was 11 when she discovered Haruki Murakami’s novel Kafka on the Shore. The themes within Murakami’s story, especially concerning the power of music, played a huge part in sparking Yamazaki’s urge to create. The book features a song that’s key to the story. “I was…
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INTERVIEW: Jewel on her new album, book, film and 25 years of ‘Pieces of You’
Jewel Kilcher. Courtesy: Brendan Walter. Having lived out of her car and on the street when she was a teen, it’s understandable why Jewel carries the issue of homelessness—particularly homeless children—close to her heart. The singer-songwriter, born Jewel Kilcher, started a nonprofit in Las Vegas working with at-risk youth…
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Q&A: MisterWives ‘bloom’ again with new music and more on the way
MisterWives, Courtesy: Shervin Lainez. The Denver studio where MisterWives spent the morning working didn’t appreciate bassist William Hehir trying to light up indoors, which is why he’s found himself outside, joining the band’s vocalist and primary songwriter, Mandy Lee, in a phone interview Wednesday. MisterWives Foreign Air 8 p.m.,…
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Q&A: Aurora builds her army of love on follow-up to ‘A Different Kind of Human’
Aurora photographed at Golden Gate Park in San Francisco during the Outside Lands Music Festival on Aug. 9, 2019. Photos: Holly Horn. SAN FRANCISCO — Aurora may have played her last American shows for the year, but if the Norwegian pop singer-songwriter realizes her artistic vision, fans won’t have to wait…
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Mxmtoon on making ‘the masquerade,’ looking down from a Times Square billboard
mxmtoon. Photo courtesy Nicole Busch. Oakland’s mxmtoon has been writing songs since she was a child, but in the three years since the now-19-year-old began posting her songs, as well as personal vlogs, she’s amassed millions of fans around the world. mxmtoon Alexander23 8 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 31 Great American…
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Q&A: Suzannah Powell fuses her two personalities as rapper Boyfriend
Suzannah Powell of Boyfriend. Courtesy: Sophie Berard. In a world where musicians are constantly having to one-up what they’ve done in the past, the job becomes even harder for smaller independent artists; those who not only make music but distribute it and arrange their tours and production. Big Freedia,…
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Q&A: Macy Gray grounds herself by looking to the present
Macy Gray, Photo courtesy Giuliano Bekor. It wasn’t an accident that Macy Gray released the video for “Buddha” in the days leading up to a week dedicated to mental health awareness late last summer. The song, which featured Gary Clark, Jr., as well as the video, depicts the hitmaker’s…
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Q&A: The incomparable Brian Wilson on the Beach Boys’ ‘Friends’
Brian Wilson. Photo courtesy of the artist. Brian Wilson is a legend. The Beach Boys cofounder, Rock and Roll Hall of Famer, Kennedy Center Honors recipient and Grammy winner is responsible for some of the best songs ever written not only by an American but by rock and pop artists…
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Q&A: Rainbow Girls talk cover inspirations, forthcoming album and dinner with ghosts
Rainbow Girls photographed at Golden Gate Park in San Francisco during the Outside Lands Music Festival on Aug. 9, 2019. Photo: Holly Horn. Americana and folk rockers Rainbow Girls are a quartet now and prefer to keep their live arrangements as straightforward as possible, but just a few years ago,…
