Disq have created a stir in Madison and on the blogs, especially with their “Communication” single. They played their LA debut at the Bootleg on January 23 and we chatted afterward. The Saddle Creek band will be at SXSW this March.
For more details on Bruce’s show “Go Deep with Bruce Rave”, check here.
The Record Company is one of the LA music scene’s top recent success stories. They recently headlined the Wiltern Theater at the end of their national tour. Lead singer Chris Vos talks about all the work that went into their rise, about their music, and he also has some sage advise for up and coming musicians.
For more details on Bruce’s show “Go Deep with Bruce Rave”, check here.
Chatted with Dave Newington who played all instruments on the critically-acclaimed “1, 2, King Fu” album. That is, except for his dad adding some violin. This was their first LA show and we hung out at The Echo before the set. Lots happened for them this year in their native UK and they’ll return to the US in March for SXSW along with a more extensive tour.
Micky James arrived in LA, to open for The Struts, do some promotion, and do some writing. After shooting a video for BalconyTV on my rooftop, he and I sat down for a chat. Check out his “Give It to Me Straight” track. No surprise his influences include 70’s glam like T. Rex in addition to newer garage rock bands.
Hear Bruce Rave’s weekly new indie jams on three stations, with show announcements on his Go Deep With Bruce Rave facebook page. Archived shows available on the KX 93.5 site, where you can also subscribe to receiving the weekly two-hour version as an iTunes podcast at no charge.
Stream the best new songs in emerging music with our Top 12 of the Week playlist
Things are starting to break for Melbourne’s Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever (think The Strokes and Parquet Courts). Sub Pop has signed them for the US and they just completed their successful run on the Laneway Festival tour that hit major cities in and around Australia. They’re Coachella-bound in April and will hit other US cities before heading to Europe for a trek that will include the Primavera Festival in Barcelona. Here was our chat prior to their successful hometown set at Laneway Melbourne.
Hear Bruce Rave’s weekly new indie jams on three stations, with show announcements on his Go Deep With Bruce Rave facebook page. Archived shows available on the KX 93.5 site, where you can also subscribe to receiving the weekly two-hour version as an iTunes podcast at no charge.
Stream the best new songs in emerging music with our Top 12 of the Week playlist
My SXSW intention this year was no interviews and to just focus on seeing bands. When I was invited to interview Albert Hammond Jr, well you don’t turn down a Stroke. Besides, he’s been turning out wicked solo stuff. For those of us who loved the Strokes’ early sounds, Albert has preserved much of that feel on his albums and shows how he’s influenced countless bands over the past fifteen years. He’s a down to earth, upbeat guy and his live show was a top SXSW highlight this year.
Hear Bruce Rave’s weekly new indie jams on three stations, with show announcements on his Go Deep With Bruce Rave facebook page. Archived shows available on the KX 93.5 site, where you can also subscribe to receiving the weekly two-hour version as an iTunes podcast at no charge.
Stream the best new songs in emerging music with our Top 12 of the Week playlist
We chatted with rising Liverpool band Her’s in the rain after their successful Great Escape set in front of a smiling capacity crowd. We talk about their animated live shows, the influences behind their inventive sounds, bands they’d love to tour with, and more.
Ten Fe were one of the top live bands at The Great Escape 2017 and are on the verge of their first US shows including Bonnaroo, NY, LA, SF, and Philadelphia. Hear them talk about their music, their UK busking to raise funds, their thoughts on the US, and more.
Great hang with Cloud Nothings band leader Dylan prior to their Teragram Ballroom show in LA March 3. His music. some politics, thoughts on the state of guitar rock, and his love for his native-Cleveland (B3’s hometown too!). He was a pretty chill dude, more so than his music would indicate.
Dark and sultry artist Jamie Isaac is coming to the US to tour for the first time since releasing his stunning debut album Couch Baby via Marathon Artists. His lush new sound of hauntingly mesmerizing and romantic electronic ballads, tinged with jazz and hip hop throughout makes this brilliant debut one of our favorite new albums. The South East London native got a chance to re-visit the album for a re-release of Couch Baby which features covers, remixes and collaborations with Allan Kingdom, Denzel Curry, Salomon Faye, and Wiki and Sporting Life (formerly of RATKING). Before heading out on tour this Thursday, Jamie Isaac spoke to us about creating the album, his early influences shaping his sound, and what he’s looking forward to most with his upcoming US tour.
How has it been since releasing your debut Couch Baby?
It’s been great, a fully refreshing and relaxing time, when you spend so much time writing and recording an album like I did sometimes it’s hard to see the bigger picture in terms of where you would like the music to go, but as soon as it was sealed and in a physical form in my hands you can start experimenting again with genres and styles.
When do you know a song is finished? Do you still ever look back and have new ideas for old songs?
Sometimes you never really know, there are points where I listen back to the album now and think ‘I could have done this there’ but you have to have the confidence in yourself to say that sometimes less is more, you can add and add to a song forever if you wanted to but sometimes there is beauty in the simplicity.
On a related note, how was it being able to revisit the album/ add new remixes, songs and covers with the new re-release via Marathon Artists?
It was again very relaxing, it was a pleasure finding and asking so many other artists like Allan Kingdom, Wiki, Denzel Curry etc- artists I respect and have wanted to work with for some time now. hearing their take on the music was a great feeling and the additions of all the features on this album have lifted the tracks.
What helped you find and form your sound when creating Couch Baby? Has it changed since then with any new music you are creating?
I was listening to a lot more recent music, a lot of early 2000s R&B and kind of wanted to make an album that had all the emotion and style of a Chet Baker record but updated and maybe sometimes more aggressve. I wanted to make an album that could be performed live well, and have an impact when people first heard it.
How has it been performing these songs live? Are you excited to bring the live show to the US? What are you looking forward to most about the tour?
It’s been a lot of fun, it’s been different from the other records I brought out- mostly because people can actually move to it, it’s great seeing people dance to it, and that’s why I’m excited to go to the U.S. just seeing more people move to it and being around that excitement.
Were you always involved with music growing up? What made you decide to pursue it as a career?
Yeah I was always around music, my parents are big music lovers and it was always played loud and for long periods. I sang in a choir when I was a kid and that helped shape some of my music for sure, there are definite classical influences in the sound. It was never a conscious decision to make a career out of it, it came very naturally and I just kind of fell into this. Not like it hasn’t been a struggle sometimes but it’s been fun so far.
What are you working on now? Are you just focusing on tour or are you still writing for any future releases?
I’m doing both really, I’m writing for my second album, got some demos together and going to take them into a studio soon, I’m recording when I’m in the U.S in a couple cities so no time to rest too much, but thats how i like it.
What do you listen to while on tour?
Well, we listen to a lot of my music, [it] helps us get in the mood and gives the band ideas on how to recreate it, the set is always changing and I’m sure two shows won’t be the same while were out there. Other than that well be listening to a lot of jazz and whatever we find out there we will listen to.
Are you going to get the chance to explore any cities you tour in?
We hope so but we have a tight schedule, if we are able to explore it might have to be at like 3 in the morning but I’m sure the band is up for that.
What cities are you most looking forward to playing?
All of them, it’s such a dream of mine to come to America and perform and tour my music, so I’m coming wth an open mind and can’t wait to experience everything you have to offer.
The Regrettes are one of LA’s hottest new bands, and they’re starting to gain national attention. Three girls and a guy, they energetically blend strong 50’s and 60’s influences with a modern sound. We chatted about strong female identities, current politics, of course their music, and more…
Manchester, UK’s excellent guitar-driven Spring King gained notoriety as having the first song played on Apple’s Beats 1 radio station. We hung out prior to their first LA show the night before the election, talking about the worldwide response to that spin, their music, their take on UK and US politics, who in the band is most like the dad, and much more.
You can listen to Bruce’s interview with Spring King live on his Indie 103 show on December 9th at 11AM Pacific with further airings in the following days.
