Interviews

WE TALK AT LENGTH WITH RECORD-MAKERS ABOUT HOW THEY MAKE RECORDS.

Clarissa Connelly

Interviews | No. 172

Clarissa Connelly : Creating a Spacious Depth in Sound

By Meredith Hobbs Coons and Amy Gwatkin

Clarissa Connelly, the Scotland-born, Copenhagen-based composer, first captured audiences’ attention with her 2018 release, Tech Duinn, and has been creating medieval-tinged multidimensional soundscapes ever since. Informed by her masters' level composition studies at the Rhythmic...

Mikko Gordon
Apr 11, 2026 NO. 157 Interview

Mikko Gordon: Defining Sonic Identity

Mikko Gordon, operating out of London, England, is a vanguard engineer. He has an interesting list of credits, including ISLAND, Colouring, Pete Townshend, and Arcade Fire (WE). His work engineering The Smile's musically complex A Light for Attracting Attention (alongside Nigel...

SASAMI
Apr 11, 2026 NO. 157 Interview

SASAMI: Conjuring the Space

SASAMI, born Sasami Ashworth, has been a sought-after "jack of all trades" in the indie music world since returning to her hometown of Los Angeles following graduation from classical conservatory at Eastman School of Music. From playing in Cherry Glazerr, to touring with...

Arooj Aftab
Apr 11, 2026 NO. 157 Interview

Arooj Aftab: Making Music for Everybody

A compelling Brooklyn-based Pakistani composer, vocalist, and producer, Arooj Aftab's 2021 album, Vulture Prince, brought her voice and music a lot of attention, as well as a Grammy for Best Global Music Performance. Her recent collaboration, Love in Exile, with Shahzad Ismaily...

Transferring Early Bebop 78 rpm Records
Apr 11, 2026 NO. 157 Interview

Transferring Early Bebop 78 rpm Records

In the mid-'40s, a new generation of musicians heralded the arrival of bebop. Here's why some of the most exciting jazz performances ever recorded still don't sound good, and how we might be able to fix it.

In the long and vast history of jazz, Charlie Parker stands as one...

John Cale
Apr 11, 2026 NO. 156 Interview

John Cale: Abstract Realism in the Studio

In his 80s, John Cale is still (thankfully) releasing interesting music. He is a founding member of The Velvet Underground and a pioneer in drone music, as well as a producer for legends like The Stooges, Patti Smith, The Modern Lovers, Happy Mondays, Squeeze, and Sham 69. His recently...

Jason Livermore
Apr 11, 2026 NO. 156 Interview

Jason Livermore: The 30 Year Plan

The Blasting Room, a studio in Fort Collins, Colorado, has been in operation for 30 years. What began as a home base/practice room/band studio for the groups Descendents and All quickly became a busy recording spot, luring musicians from across the globe. Jason Livermore was there from...

Yuka Honda
Apr 11, 2026 NO. 156 Interview

Yuka Honda: "Tripping in My Own Dream World"

Yuka Honda has been a figure in the New York City avant-garde and indie-rock scenes for decades. Releasing her first album in 1989, she has amassed over 268 recording credits as an artist, producer, remixer, and/or accompanist (with her primary instrument being keyboards). The...

Brad Cook
Apr 11, 2026 NO. 156 Interview

Brad Cook: No Gatekeeping

Brad Cook has been making and recording music since he was a kid growing up in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. Throughout his 20-plus year career, he's toured with people like Sharon Van Etten and produced records by Bon Iver, Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats, Hiss Golden...

Jon Markson
Apr 11, 2026 NO. 156 Interview

Jon Markson: It's a Livin' Thing

If you've been keeping up with the explosion of popularity around hardcore and heavy alternative music, chances are you've heard the name Jon Markson. After a decade in the trenches as a producer and performer in Brooklyn's punk and indie scene, he has returned to his...