Music
Combat Rock: Dengue Fever and a Resurgence of Repressed Rock...
Dengue Fever’s sound is a sonic masala of influences including surf, Afrobeat, hip-hop, punk, and, the Rosetta Stone to their sound, Cambodian pop. On their latest, self-released album, The Deepest Lake, Dengue Fever were in total control of the entire experience, from the music to the packaging.
The Quest for Water: A Conversation with YOB’s Mike Scheidt
Seven records into their career, YOB are becoming elder statesmen in the republic of doom. Their stature derives from their output of consistently wrought-iron albums, but also from discernable wisdom and humility.
Localized: RS2090
Shrouded in layers of intricate mystery, Sean Ivins (RS2090) is unquestionably an enigma. I had the pleasure of sitting down with him one evening, but the more I focused on him, the harder he deflected my questioning and turned everything back to focus on the music. … read more
Localized: Mooninite
This month’s Localized is going to be an auditory treat. Starting off the night, Blade will open with some killer ambient improv soundscapes. Expect to get groovy with the chiptune, foot-working sounds of RS2090. The night will end in a crescendo of intricate loops and craftily selected samples by master of sound Mooninite. Stop by Urban Lounge March 13 at 10 p.m. for just $5, sponsored by Uinta Brewing Co., KRCL 90.9FM and Spilt Ink SLC.
Hel Audio: an Interview with Label Founder Karl Jørgensen
Karl Jørgensen, a local electronic artist who has performed under the moniker OK Ikumi for over a decade, wanted to create a platform for electronic producers both locally and around the world to share a brand within a similar niche aesthetic. Thus, his record label Hel Audio was born as a way to connect with other local talents and compile those with a similar sound into one, shared artistic vision.
Electric Wizard: Weird Tales from the Wizard in Black
Rising from resin-black pools of acid-tinged darkness, Electric Wizard are the royalty of filth and debauchery. As if peering through a cloud of audible weed smoke, their riffs crunch and fizzle with an irrepressible groove, creating an unstoppable impulse to bang your head, gyrate your hips or just take another hit.
An Observation of Earth: Interview with THEESatisfaction
Seattle is fostering a new wave of progressive music, built on jazz, soul and hip-hop, led by THEESatisfaction and Shabazz Palaces. THEESatisfaction got their break when Sub Pop signed the duo after hearing their contributions to Shabazz Palace’s 2011 album, Black Up. … read more
Nothing Is Too Big: An Interview With Grieves
Grieves is pale, skinny and unapologetic. He is aware that he draws comparisons to Macklemore. He pays no attention to what assumptions Pitchfork makes about the originality of his rap or how many stars they slap on his album. This could come across as cockiness, but the truth is that his rhymes are rooted in soil too deep to be bothered by shallow judgments—hip-hop is as much about letting go as it is pushing forward
There’s No Substitute for Knowing Me: An Interview with Ariel...
Pink’s off-kilter brand of pop, which mixes influences as familiar as Brian Wilson and as strange as Frank Zappa, reveals something about his personality that’s entirely appealing and even slightly addicting. It’s in Pink’s music that we’re given a glimpse into his true nature.
Mason Guitars and the Physics of Music
“If there’s one thing I’m gifted with, it’s working with my hands,” says Mike Mason, local craftsman and guitarist of Cult Leader. Mason comes from a family of builders and mechanics and learned the value of understanding the way things work.