Interviews

This area includes a running list of all the interviews we have published. We interview bands, venues, studios, business owners, producers, engineers, and any one else who spends a significant amount of time supporting independent music.

Interview with Phil Matthews aka The Village – Ghosts In The Static

by Joshua (J.Smo) Smotherman September 1, 2022 9:00 am Tagged With: Pop, pop rock, Rock, singer, songwriter, United Kingdom

In this interview spotlight, I chat with Phil Matthews aka The Village about the music, the memories, dream collaborations and more. Full Q&A along with links and music below. Ghosts In The Static by Phil Matthews a.k.a.the Village What’s something you’d like readers to know about your latest project? My latest project is to be […]

Interview with Redgrave Jones – Luckiest Girl In The World

by Joshua (J.Smo) Smotherman August 19, 2022 12:02 pm Tagged With: Alternative, California, indie, Los Angeles, Psychedelic, singer, songwriter, United States

Redgrave Jones is a Los Angeles based songwriter and performer. Her sound is insanely unique drawing influence from early 90’s alternative and trip hop like PJ Harvey, Portishead and Nine Inch Nails as well as artists such as Billie Holiday, Etta James, Bach and Biggie Smalls. You never quite know what you are going to get with […]

Interview with Xondra – Tedious & Brief

by Joshua (J.Smo) Smotherman August 17, 2022 10:34 am Tagged With: indie, New York, New York City, Pop, R&B, Rock, singer, songwriter, United States

Coming off her multiple film festival nominations for “I Wrote This Instead of Calling You,” an official selection of the Aphrodite Film Awards, The London Music Video Festival, andthe We Make Movies International Film Festival, Xondra is looking to take a larger exploration into creating visual storytelling to go along with her music through her […]

Interview with BODENBENDER – Black Sea

by Joshua (J.Smo) Smotherman August 15, 2022 9:21 am Tagged With: Folk, folk rock, indie, indie rock, Rock, singer, songwriter, United States, Vermont

Matt Viscido (vox, guitar, drums) shares the story behind his project BODENBENDER. Hans Bodenbender is a man who chose to make my life hell while serving in the Navy. He used his rank and power to inflict as much damage to me as he could. During my Naval stint, I played a lot of guitar […]

Interview with Chloey Rose – Golden Sun

by Joshua (J.Smo) Smotherman August 15, 2022 9:10 am Tagged With: acoustic pop, folk pop, indie pop, Pop, singer, songwriter, United Kingdom

Chloey Rose is an act on the rise. Drawing inspiration from Kate Bush and Taylor Swift, Chloey recently released a brand new single, ‘Golden Sun’. ‘Golden Sun’ is a spellbinding acoustic-pop summer ballad that is both soothing and uplifting in equal measure. Co-written by Chloey Rose and Harry David, the track has a classic epic […]

Interview with Joy on Fire – States of America

by Joshua (J.Smo) Smotherman August 9, 2022 1:47 pm Tagged With: alternative rock, indie rock, jazz, jazz fusion, New Jersey, Punk, Rock, United States

“The best live band working in New Jersey right now”, Joy On Fire, play an eclectic but immediately gripping style of jazz punk fusion. Their new album, States Of America, includes “Thunderdome” which was originally premiered on Bob Boilen’s NPR All Songs Considered. The band features the talents of bassist / guitarist John Paul Carillo, sardonically funny spoken word lyrics from frontman Dan […]

Interview with Jaimin – Cutting Loose

by Joshua (J.Smo) Smotherman August 8, 2022 4:33 pm Tagged With: composer, Folk, folk pop, India, indie, Pop, singer, songwriter

In this interview spotlight, I chat with Jaimin about the debut album (Cutting Loose), motivations, musical memories and more. Full Q&A along with links and music below. What’s something you’d like readers to know about your latest project? These songs have been written over a span of 6 years, and the project took about 18 […]

Interview with daddi ru – My Parasite

by Joshua (J.Smo) Smotherman August 5, 2022 1:44 pm Tagged With: indie pop, New York, New York City, Pop, singer, songwriter, United States

Filmmaker and rising indie-pop artist, daddi ru, has released their debut single “My Parasite” featuring legendary hip-hop purveyor Grandmaster Caz. The dark, electro-pop track, reminiscent of 2019 Billie Eilish, centers around a toxic relationship that finds Ru feeling used by their partner and at their wit’s end. “My Parasite” serves as an introduction to a […]

Interview with Juan Carrizo – El Inmortal

by Joshua (J.Smo) Smotherman August 3, 2022 10:04 am Tagged With: Central America, guitar, guitarist, Instrumental, Mexico, multi-instrumentalist, Rock

Juan Carrizo is a musician in constant motion. Guitarist, multi instrumentalist and live looping artist. Composer, arranger, producer and mastering engineer, he records and produces his own music and other colleagues’. His work has no boundaries regarding musical genres or geographical limits. His credentials include, besides music, filmmaking and sound postproduction degrees. He has taken […]

Interview with Leezy – Cocaine Kisses

by Joshua (J.Smo) Smotherman August 3, 2022 9:37 am Tagged With: Chicago, dream pop, Illinois, Pop, shoegaze, singer, songwriter, United States

Dream pop artist Leezy has released her newest single, “Cocaine Kisses.” Combining soft, breathy vocals and hauntingly beautiful harmonies with a melancholy bassline, the track narrates a relationship romanticized by drug use. “Cocaine Kisses” follows themes of drug-induced vulnerability found in Leezy’s previously-released singles. The track, however, focuses more on the high of the moment […]