Artist: Thompson the Fox Hometown: Tokyo, Japan Latest Album: The Fox In Tiger’s Clothing, vol.1: FOX Which artist has influenced you the most – and how? Takero Sekijima. I first encountered his music about 15 years ago, back when I was playing marimba and aiming to become a classical performer. At the time, I was unsure…

Artist: Blue Cactus Hometown: Chapel Hill, North Carolina Latest Album: Believer Personal Nicknames: Steph and Mar If you had to write a mission statement for your career, what would it be? "Slow and steady, always be on the rise." I used to think I wanted to “make it” and I worked so hard at that,…

“If the world is my oyster I’ve been poking at it with a plastic fork,” sings Olive Klug on “Taking Punches from the Breeze,” the first track off their second album, Lost Dog, which released April 25. Klug writes with a mesmerizing combination of levity and intensity about a slightly off-kilter world. Through closeups on…

Do you remember the human being you were in 2017? When the "first" North American total solar eclipse of the 2000s criss-crossed the United States, stunning millions of sky-gazers? Do you remember how dissimilar life felt then? When you look back, do your memories contain the same person you are now, or is there a…

Artist: Southern Avenue Hometown: Memphis, Tennessee Latest Album: Family Personal Nicknames (or rejected band names): We don't remember any rejected band names, but being from Memphis we definitely call everybody "mane." Answers have been provided by Tierinii Jackson, Southern Avenue lead vocalist and songwriter. What was the first moment that you knew you wanted to…