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Have you heard “Here” yet? Go ahead, we’ll wait. It’s been a while since an introvert’s anthem became a genuine hit, and this one’s author, Alessia Cara, couldn’t be more perfect for the role. She’s deeply talented and yet to her, fame is “the coolest fluke ever.” Photo by Meredith Jenks.
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To interview alt-pop riser Halsey is to stand in the eye of a tornado and watch as the words fly by. She’s a fast-talker, yes, and a thorough one. In our hour and change together, I probably got off about four questions. But one of those stopped her in her tracks. Photo by Lucy Hewett.
Back to blow more public radio eardrums with glorious noise (HEALTH’s Death Magic) and, well, really chill indie rock (Mac DeMarco’s Another One). Listen at NPR affiliate KPCC, or below.
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Some folks have so much going on that a Day in the Life simply isn’t enough. I sat down with L.A. producer-on-the-rise Ricky Reed (Jason Derulo, Lunchmoney Lewis, Robin Thicke, Icona Pop) to trace an entire week’s worth of studio sessions, release parties, and — yep — grade-school plays.
Honor though it may be, it’s hard to call a phone interview with Built to Spill’s Doug Martsch a “pleasure.” The man is as unassuming as they come. Words like “icon” and “elder statesman” roll off of the Idahoan without causing so much as a ripple, and one gets the feeling he can’t figure out why what he does for a living is any more fascinating than whatever the next man does. In fact, the dude is so chill, he took a piss while we were talking. Really. It’s in the story.
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I also spoke with Meghan Trainor in honor of the 2015 Billboard Music Awards. She passes on advice from Ariana Grande, and recalls her first brush with Bey. Photo by Smallz + Raskind.
I went big for this, taking on 30 of the 300 albums. Click through this hulking document for my posts on (in alphabetical order, no spoilers): Arcade Fire, At the Drive-In, Beastie Boys, Beck, Belle & Sebastian, Björk, Bright Eyes, Broken Social Scene, Clipse, Cloud Nothings, Dirty Projectors, the Flaming Lips, the Fugees, Frank Ocean, GZA, Interpol, Jimmy Eat World, Justin Timberlake, the Microphones, My Bloody Valentine, Neutral Milk Hotel, Pixies, Portishead, the Postal Service, Radiohead, TV on the Radio, the Unicorns, Vampire Weekend, the xx, and Wilco. So many of my all-time favorites in here, and so many I’d never had the chance to write about.
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Not a euphemism. Not in the least. The Fall Out Boy bassist shared a few awards show memories (shout out Wavves and Kanye) ahead of the BBMAs. Photo by Brigitte Sire.
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That dude that sings in a grizzled old voice about “Budapest” is actually a baby-faced youth only just old enough to drink in America. Good thing he’s from England. Photo by Amanda Friedman.
Never enough Coachella. Here are a few pieces I did for StubHub. They’re made for their music news app (peep it here), hence the minimal site. FKA twigs live photo by Wilson Lee for SPIN.
Chris Writes Things 