Scion Magazine 15 is out now, which includes an interview with promoter “Disco” Donnie Estopinal that’s essential watching for all my rave massive. Anyone whose ever been to one of Donnie’s parties (either in New Orleans, Columbus, or anywhere in SoCal) can attest to his legendary status as a true visionary of the scene. Time to kick back for the rave alarm.
When you sit down for a conversation with BT, any topic is fair game: Boston Terriers, coffee, mathematic, iPhone applications, kids, nature, martial arts. Music, too. Always music. His friends have lovingly referred to him as “the Justin Timberlake of academic electronica,” and have described his living situation as “a cross between Henry David Thoreau and the Unabomber.” One thing’s for certain. The man is always plotting, trying to find new ways to maximize his creative output and mobilize his legions of Twitter followers to do the same.
These days he’s got a lot to talk about. His latest full-length, the double-disc opus These Hopeful Machines, was released yesterday, and is steadily steaming up the charts. Back in the fall, BT and I met up for breakfast in Hollywood and rapped about his new album, his new studio set-up, and how both helped him reconnect with dance music again. FYI: In an act of cosmic solidarity, this post was written with my Boston chilling on my lap. Read on after the jump to find out more.
Whether you’re measuring her against the eight years she spent fronting Lamb or the four years in which she’s matured and manifested her talents as a solo artist, Lou Rhodes is one of the most beautiful and instantly recognizable voices of the last 15 years. Since 2006’s Beloved One, which was shortlisted for a Mercury Music Prize that same year, I’ve been fortunate enough to write biographies for all three of Lou’s albums. The interview below represents a little cross-section of our conversation about her latest full-length, One Good Thing, which is set to be released through Motion Audio on April 20.
MP3: Lou Rhodes - There For The Taking (3:46)
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Just before the holidays I was having lunch with good friend and publicist Jo Murray, who is not only one of the coolest people on the planet, but knows where it’s at when it comes to good music. When I asked her what she was working on, she floated me a copy of Mad Things by Des Roar. The group released the album independently in 2009, but should have no problem finding a label partner to bring it to the masses in 2010. Their style has a lot of swing, and the storyteller lyrics give you a lot to chew on. Drummer Lyla Vander also sings all over the record, which makes it all the more luscious.
Guitarist and vocalist Ryan Spoto was nice enough to sit for an interview and let me drop a track on ya’ll.
MP3: Des Roar - Ted Bundy Was A Lady’s Man (3:39)
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Yo 2008! I’m really happy for you and I’ma let you finish, but 2009 had some of the best songs of all time!
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