Music
The Utah Symphony and the Godfather of Metal
There are quite a few similarities in the performance and music of classical pieces and heavy metal: the drama, complex songwriting, wide range of instrument use and epic subject matter, to name a few. Surprisingly, even the live classical scene itself has, at times, resembled the familiar passion of a metal show.
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.
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.
Hex Cabs: Heavy Metal
The duo of Tyler Smith and Gentry Densley are known for bone-shaking performances, melding deafening doom metal with improvisation, brutality with artistry. When you’ve seen, heard and felt Eagle Twin, you’ve probably also seen, heard and felt the unique guitar cabinets flanking Densley and Smith onstage.
Ned Clayton: Creative Music Electronics with Hex Amps
Initially, before Densley and Smith started Hex Cabs, Clayton says he worked at modifying old amps they’d find. “Gentry was always bringing me crazy, junked amps to try and make something cool out of,” he says. “We would take old Peaveys and weird amps, and gut them and rewire them for his own use. Eventually, we were like, ‘Let’s make our own amps!’”
Monument Cabs: Small Beginnings, Big Sounds
Dave Jones and Max Johnson, bandmates in Oldtimer and owners of Monument Cabs, have been friends for over 15 years. They officially started their company just five years ago, but their experience with DIY craftsmanship goes further back than even their friendship.
