After recent conversations with Dark Tranquillity and At the Gates (soon to be published), I had the pleasure of speaking with the other band comprising Gothenburg, Sweden’s “Big Three”: In Flames. Guitarist Björn Gelotte — who joined the band in 1995, shortly after its inception — talked at length about the recently released Foregone (In Flames LP #14). Check out the piece on New Noise; a full transcript of our conversation is forthcoming.
Archive for the Interviews Category
In Flames Guitarist Talks About Band’s Apocalyptic New LP, Foregone
Posted in Interviews with tags In Flames on 02/14/2023 by Kurt OrzeckAll Souls Frontman Reflects on New LP, Tool Tour, LAPD Run-Ins
Posted in Interviews with tags Alain Johannes, All Souls, Fatso Jetson, the Jesus Lizard, Tool, Totimoshi on 02/12/2023 by Kurt OrzeckIf you’re a fan of Totimoshi, desert rock, Tool, alt-rock, Queens of the Stone Age, Fatso Jetson, Alain Johannes, the Jesus Lizard or indie rock in general, you need to familiarize yourself with All Souls. My wide-ranging conversation with frontman and all-around-good-guy Antonio Aguilar is up on New Noise‘s website. Don’t miss it.
Black Anvil’s Most Definitive Interview Ever?
Posted in Interviews with tags Black Anvil on 02/11/2023 by Kurt OrzeckMake the determination yourself by checking out my epic, sprawling conversation with the New York black-metal band’s frontman. Published earlier this week on New Noise‘s website, Paul Delaney reveals why he almost had to step away from making music altogether, the most important person in his life and why he still enjoys living it — even if “the prognosis is quite negative” on Black Anvil’s latest album.
Yuvees to Exhibit Their ‘Quixotic’ Art-Rock at First Boise Gig Tonight
Posted in Interviews with tags Quasi, Yuvees on 02/10/2023 by Kurt Orzeck
Yuvees frontman Brendon Broome began developing a taste for great music before he was even born.
By way of explanation, his mom attended one of Nirvana’s final shows while she was pregnant with him.
“I was in utero for the In Utero tour,” he cracked to the Bad Penny earlier this week.
Continue readingBurt Bacharach’s Secret to Writing Timeless Music: ‘Don’t Overwhelm’
Posted in Interview Transcripts, Interviews with tags Burt Bacharach, Isley Brothers, Ron Isley on 02/09/2023 by Kurt Orzeck
One of the greatest American composers of all time, Burt Bacharach passed away earlier today at at 94. In celebration of him — and his long, unparalleled life — I unearthed my previously unpublished full interview with the beloved Bacharach on November 14, 2003.
Our conversation took place eight days after my mother and I saw him and Ron Isley perform their collaborative album, Here I Am, with a full orchestra at the Wilshire Theatre in Beverly Hills, California. Tears gushed copiously onstage and in the crowd as Isley and Bacharach delivered one of the most touching concert performances of that — or any other — year.
Continue readingAn Epic Conversation With Mikael Stanne of the Halo Effect, Dark Tranquillity
Posted in Interviews on 02/08/2023 by Kurt Orzeck
Did someone say they wanted a 4,536-word feature on Dark Tranquillity and Halo Effect frontman Mikael Stanne? Check out my very long conversation with one of the very best metal frontmen:
Human Potential Tells Story Behind New Single, ‘Hoosi, No!’
Posted in Interviews with tags Human Potential on 02/07/2023 by Kurt Orzeck
Charles Bukowski famously said: “Potential doesn’t mean a thing. You’ve got to do it. Almost every baby in a crib has more potential than I have.”
Whether or not Andrew Becker knows Bukowski’s axiom, he might’ve had tongue in cheek when naming his solo project “Human Potential.” But, sarcasm or not, Becker is continuing to raise the bar — or pushing his potential even further, as it were.
The former drummer for Dischord Records’ Medications, Los Angeles-based Becker formed Human Potential about a decade ago so he could do his own thing. Each Human Potential release demonstrates Becker’s ever-expanding tool kit of musicianship. His latest single and video, “Hoosi, No!” dropped today, and they’re no exception.
Continue readingBonnie Raitt Talks About ‘Favorite Track I’ve Ever Cut’
Posted in Interviews with tags Bonnie Raitt, Grammy Awards on 02/06/2023 by Kurt Orzeck
Big props this morning to Bonnie Raitt, whose tune “Just Like That” won Song of the Year at the Grammy Awards last night. The music legend now owns 15 Grammy statuettes, including her wins for Album of the Year, Best Pop Vocal album and many more. But this was the Rock & Roll Hall of Famer’s first victory in the Song of the Year category.
In honor of her win, here is an interview I conducted with her for ICE magazine in 2002.
Continue readingMantar: ‘We’re Not Super-Good Musicians’
Posted in Interviews with tags Mantar on 01/30/2023 by Kurt OrzeckJanuary is winding down. That means February is almost here. Then it won’t be long till spring arrives. Spring, you say? How about some early spring cleaning? Ain’t that a killer segue?
Here is my still-kinda-recent New Noise interview with Germany-based two-piece Mantar, who revel in sludge, black metal and melodic doom. Better yet, go here and buy the magazine’s issue in which the interview appears. It’s only six bucks, which is the best value you’ll find among the top music publications in the U.S.
Chase Matthew: Nashville’s Top ‘Unicorn’
Posted in Interviews with tags Chase Matthew on 01/29/2023 by Kurt Orzeck
Pick up the latest issue of Music Connection — or check out the magazine’s website — for my feature article on country-music newcomer Chase Matthew.
