Go Mental With The Pop Group (Interview)
Hailing from Bristol, The Pop Group had a brief, but important musical career, forming in 1977, at the height of the punk movement and splitting up just three years later. During that time the band released two albums and became one of the pioneering post-punk band by incorporating dub, reggae, funk and Krautrock into their […]
Purity Ring’s Next Adventure (Interview)
Canadian electro-pop duo Purity Ring are about to release their second album, Another Eternity, this week. Hailing from Edmonton, Megan Jones (vocals) and Corin Riddick (instruments) began working together as Purity Ring in 2011 and were snapped up by 4AD records a year later. Their first album, 2012’s Shrines, produced five singles. Now, the twosome […]
The New Sounds Of Kitty, Daisy & Lewis (Interview)
Kitty, Daisy & Lewis have returned with their new album, appropriately titled, The Third. It’s been nearly four years since they released their previous album, Smoking In Heaven. In the interim, the three siblings have been busy touring, writing and building a new studio. The tracks found on The Third are the first results from […]
Faith No More Grows Up: Interview
Faith No More is back! The band is set to release their first album since they split up in 1998. And…they will be in New Zealand in March appearing on the Westfest bill along with Judas Priest and Soundgarden. The 13th Floor’s Marty Duda spoke with Faith No More keyboard player Roddy Bottum about Sol […]
A Few Minutes With Perfume Genius (Interview)
Mike Hadreas, aka Perfume Genius, has been causing quite a stir with his third album, Too Bright. Influential indie music site Pitchfork.com refers to Hardeas’ music, “less like songs and more like treasures, ones that fill you with power and wisdom”. Perfume Genius has been touring Australia and will be in New Zealand for two […]
A Conversation With Ludovico Einaudi (Interview)
Renowned Italian pianist and composer, Ludovico Einaudi is in New Zealand for the first time to perform tonight, the 18th of February at the Aotea Centre in Auckland. The 13th Floor’s Dominic da Souza had the honour of sitting down with him the day before to hear his thoughts of music and other matters: […]
Watch Kim Richey’s 13th Floor Video Session
Kim Richey is a Nashville-based songwriter and recording artist who has had her songs covered by the likes of Trisha Yearwood, The Dixie Chicks, Jim Lauderdale and Patty Loveless. Her songs have been featured in many films and TV series including Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Alias and Nashville and she’s been recording her own albums […]
Soundgarden’s Matt Cameron: Looking Forward (Interview)
Matt Cameron will be in Auckland in March drumming for Soundgarden when they perform at Westfest. The last time Cameron was here, he was holding down drumming duties for Pearl Jam at 2014’s Big Day Out. He’s a busy guy, so when The 13th Floor’s Marty Duda got the chance to speak to Cameron, he […]
Watch Ruth Moody’s 13th Floor Video Session
Canadian singer-songwriter Ruth Moody is in Auckland to perform at The Tuning Fork tonight. Yesterday she stopped by The 13th Floor studio to have a chat with Marty Duda and to play a couple of songs. Ruth has been a busy musician recently, having just toured France, the UK, Switzerland and The Netherlands, before coming […]
Clearing The Clutter With Sharon Van Etten (Interview)
Brooklyn-based singer-songwriter Sharon Van Etten has become one of the most critically acclaimed indie artists around thanks to albums such as Epic, Tramp and her latest, Are We There? Since moving to Brooklyn she has assimilated into the local music scene making friends and collaborating with the likes of TV On The Radio, The National […]
Judas Priest: Redeemers Of Rock (Interview)
Heavy metal legends Judas Priest are due to make their very first New Zealand appearance when they play at Auckland’s Westfest show on March 3rd at Mt Smart Stadium. The band was formed way back in 1969, with the one constant member being bass player Ian Hill. The 13th Floor’s Marty Duda spoke to Ian […]
Punch Brothers: Basking In The Glow (Interview)
The Punch Brothers have been described as a “progressive bluegrass band. Armed with banjos, fiddles, mandolins and guitars and led by Nickel Creek’s Chris Thile, the quintet blends elements of country, folk, mondern classical, jazz and bluegrass into a sound that is truly unique. The band recently headed into the studio with producer T Bone […]
Peter Davison and the Dr Who Symphonic Spectacular (Interview)
The 13th Floor has hooked up Professor Matthew R.X. Dentith, author of the book The Philosophy Of Conspiracy Theories with former Dr Who, Peter Davison. The two recently spoke ahead of Davison’s appearance at the upcoming Symphonic Spectacular, which he will be the MC. Here is Prof. Dentith’s report: Surely you’ve heard of Peter Davison? […]
The Waterboys: Still Flying Their Freak Flag High (Interview)
The Waterboys are about to release their new album, Modern Blues, tomorrow. Many fans of the Celtic rockers will remember their sizzling show at Auckland’s Civic Theatre in January of 2013 when Mike Scott and the boys made their first-ever stop in New Zealand. Modern Blues is being hailed as The Waterboys’ best album since […]
Watch Jessica Pratt At The 13th Floor
With write-ups in Pitchfork, Uncut and Stereogum and a recording contract with the ultra-cool Drag City label, Jessica Pratt has quickly become one of the most talked about musicians of the new year. The Los Angeles-based singer-songwriter is due to release her new album, On Your Own Love Again at the end of January. Her […]
Shovels & Rope: Americana Darlings (Interview)
Cary Ann Hearst and Michael Trent are Shovels And Rope, the husband and wife team who, after releasing their third album, Swimmin’ Time, in August of 2014, have decided to make their way down to this part of the world to perform at Auckland’s Tuning Fork on March 11. Although the couple now resides in […]
Courtney Barnett: Ready To Rock (Interview)
Australian musician and songwriter Courtney Barnett looks to be one of the highlights of this month’s Laneway Festival. Already the Melbourne-based rocker has started her own label, Milk! Records, had her song Avant Gardener named best track of 2013 by Pitchfork and been named Best Guitarist this past December during the first annual AU Awards […]
Introducing: Shakey Graves (Interview)
It seems Austin, Texas is teeming with musical talent. The latest to emerge from the self-proclaimed “Live Music Capital Of The World” is a gentleman named Alejandro Rose-Garcia…or as he’s known on record…Shakey Graves. Shakey, or “Al”, as his friends call him, stirred up a little buzz when he released his debut album in 2011. […]
Charles Bradley: The Soul Of A Man (Interview)
Charles Bradley, the veteran soul man who forms part of the Daptone roster along with Sharon Jones and Lee Fields, is scheduled to perform in Auckland this coming March. The 66-year-old New York-based singer has had a bust few years…his latest album, Victim Of Love, was released in 2013, a documentary about him, called Soul […]
Jesus Jones: Right Here, Again (Interview)
Jesus Jones will return to Auckland after more than 20 years to perform their chart-topping album, Doubt, in its entirety. The band, led by front man Mike Edwards, is still made up of the same five musicians who recorded the album back in 1991. That record featured the hit single Right Here, Right Now, a […]