Category: Interviews
-
by Michael McCarthy I’ve been fortunate enough to travel to Paris four times. My first visit was in 1999, when I spent the entire month of September there after arriving during the last week of August. I’d specifically chosen September 1999 so I could attend all four of Mylène Farmer’s sold-out concerts at Bercy, Paris’s…
-
by Michael McCarthy I’m totally hooked on Heavens Edge’s new album, Philadelphia, which will be released on November 13th via Frontiers Music. In fact, I’ve been streaming it every single day since the band’s publicist first sent me an advance listening link over a month ago, and I’m still not remotely tired of it. I…
-
by Michael McCarthy Israeli singer-songwriter, composer, and multimedia artist Jasmin Stone has spent years creating music that defies easy categorization. In addition to releasing her own albums, she’s composed music for films, television, and theater, written songs for other performers, published poetry, and created imaginative music videos. Her influences range from Portishead and Saint Etienne…
-
interview and photos by Michael McCarthy On Tuesday, November 3rd, Massachusetts voters will decide the future of recreational marijuana sales in the state. Question 8, if approved, would repeal the laws allowing the retail sale of recreational cannabis, effectively shutting down the state’s legal adult-use marijuana industry. Medical marijuana would remain legal, as would possession…
-
by Michael McCarthy I’ve been a fan of Nicotine Dolls since their debut album, An Attempt at Romantic, which I enjoyed quite a bit. But after listening to their new self-titled album, I have to agree with something frontman Sam Cieri said during our recent interview: This feels like the first true Nicotine Dolls record.…
-
by Michael McCarthy Dan Reed has never been an artist who’s content to stay in one musical lane. From the infectious blend of funk, rock, and soul that made the Dan Reed Network such a distinctive band to his more introspective solo material, he’s spent decades exploring different sounds and following his creative instincts wherever…
-
by Michael McCarthy It’s been nearly a decade since Tyketto released their previous studio album, but the wait for Closer to the Sun has certainly paid off. The band’s sixth studio album reached number one on the UK Rock & Metal Albums Chart, and frontman Danny Vaughn says the band is enjoying one of its…
-
by Michael McCarthy Photos by Christian Zajicek, courtesy of Trend PR I’ve always thought of singer/songwriter Catie Turner’s music as intellectual pop. Her songs can be irresistibly catchy, but the hooks are never there to disguise empty lyrics. Turner writes about identity, insecurity, control, relationships and the complicated question of what it actually means to…
-
by Michael McCarthy Montréal-based singer, songwriter, and producer SUUNCAAT makes some of the most intriguing and unconventional pop music I’ve heard lately. Her songs tend to be electronic, experimental, and filled with unexpected sounds, but they’re also catchy enough to get stuck in your head for days. While her music has been described as hyperpop,…
-
by Mike McCarthy The following article was originally published in Cinezine in 1997 under the title Frank Discussion with Ben Affleck. Actor Ben Affleck recently held court (press day, that is) in Boston to promote Kevin Smith’s new film Chasing Amy, in which he stars as Holden, the guy who falls for a lesbian. You…
-
by Michael McCarthy There are plenty of tribute shows that attempt to recreate legendary artists right down to their clothes, mannerisms and stage movements. The Carpenters Songbook: A Live Celebration is taking a different approach. When vocalist Christina Hélène Braa takes to the stage this fall to sing classics like “(They Long to Be) Close…
-
interview by Michael McCarthy I first interviewed Rorie Kelly for Love is Pop back in 2016 after their significant other invited me to a house concert they were performing. To this day, that remains the only house concert I’ve ever been to, but I remember it like it was yesterday. I can still picture the…
-
by Michael McCarthy MM: First of all, congrats on being inducted into the Illinois Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. That was last Sunday night, right? CZN: That’s correct. MM: Cool, cool. And when did you find out you were being inducted? CZN: Well, we actually were told a few months ago through the Rock…
-
Interview by Michael McCarthy New England artist QUIBX explores the complicated realities of existence through bold, mixed media work that’s dark, layered, and instantly recognizable. He often begins by sketching with pencil and ink — a nod to his comic book roots — before scanning and coloring digitally. The results are striking: pieces that feel…
-
interview and photos by Michael McCarthy I recently met with Adam O’Donnell, the owner of A Damn Shame Records, located at Mill No. 5 in Lowell, Massachusetts, to do an in person interview. The interview went well, Adam proving to be a terrific and insightful person to interview. There was just one problem. My trusty…
