A Night With Malevolence (Interview)
Malevolence have been a part of the Auckland and New Zealand underground Metal scene for over 20 years now. Playing a style which incorporates Death Metal, Grindcore and crusty punk, they have remained a strong and consistent throughout their existence. Chris Rigby interviews Daryl Tapsell, the man who has been around since the beginning.
Xavier Rudd (Interview)
After performing in New Zealand earlier this year, Australian roots musician, activist and surfer Xavier Rudd is returning to New Zealand for a series of shows at the end of the year. The 13th Floor spoke to the laconic singer-songwriter and asked him about his seemingly unending touring schedule and the possibility of new music […]
Peter Murphy: Bringing Mr Moonlight To NZ (Interview)
Former Bauhaus front man Peter Murphy will be in New Zealand for two shows in December. Murphy is bringing his Mr. Moonlight Tour to these shores, a show where he performs all Bauhaus material. But that doesn’t mean that Murphy’s solo career is on hold. In fact, when The 13th Floor spoke to Peter, he […]
Metric: On Working With Lou Reed (Interview)
Canadian synth-pop band Metric will be in Auckland on December 14th for their first-ever New Zealand show at The Powerstation. The band, featuring vocalist Emily Haines and guitarist James Shaw, will be wrapping up a year-long tour in support of their 2012 album, Synthetica. The 13th Floor spoke to James Shaw just before he was […]
Guitar Wolf’s Top Influences (Interview)
Japanese Greatest Jet Rock And Roll group Guitar Wolf return to New Zealand in support of their new Beast Vibrator album. Guitar Wolf himself, Seiji, took time to tell The 13th Floor about his top influences …. We caught him at a Tokyo planetarium: Can you see that? There is a nebula studded in the night sky […]
Greg Johnson: From LA To NZ (Interview)
Kiwi singer-songwriter Greg Johnson makes his home in Los Angeles these days. But he is about to return to New Zealand for flurry of activity including a nation-wide tour, a live TV broadcast and the release of a career-spanning anthology. With all of this going on it seemed only right to give Greg a call […]
The National’s Bryce Dessner’s Classical Gas (Interview)
In addition to his duties as guitarist for The National, Bryce Dessner is an accomplished classical composer. Armed with a Master’s Degree in Music from Yale University, Dessner has composed four pieces for the Kronos Quartet. Those four pieces make up the album titled, Aheym, which has been released by the Anti- label today. The […]
Robert Been of BRMC Talks To The 13th Floor (Interview)
On July 23rd, 2010, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club performed a stunning show at Auckland’s Powerstation. Less than a month later the band was shaken by the sudden death of Michael Been, father of the band’s Robert Been and former leader of The Call. He had been on the road with BRMC acting as their sound […]
Making Wassaic Way With Johnny Irion (Interview)
Johnny Irion and Sarah Lee Guthrie have been making music together for over a decade. Sarah Lee is the daughter of Arlo and granddaughter of Woody Guthrie, while Johnny Irion can claim a few notables in his family tree including author John Steinbeck. For their latest album, Wassaic Way, the couple has recruited a couple […]
Jimmy Rip: From Mick Jagger To Television (Interview)
Before Jimmy Rip replaced Richard Lloyd as Television’s second guitarist in 2007, he had carved out a career for himself as a session player based in New York City. Over the years Rip recorded and toured with a hundred of artists including Mick Jagger, Deborah Harry and Jerry Lee Lewis. He has also been recording […]
Filmmaker Allan George: Sounds Perfect (Interview)
Chances are, as you are reading this, Allan George is winging his way to North America…and you helped send him there. Allan is an up-and-coming young filmmaker whose short film, Sounds Perfect, is being shown in Toronto and Austin. Thanks to being granted “short film travel funding” from the New Zealand Film Commission, Allan George […]
Willis Earl Beal: Talking To Nobody (Interview)
Willis Earl Beal has made one of the most stunning albums of the year with Nobody Knows (check out the 13th Floor review here). The 13th Floor had the opportunity to speak to Willis Earl Beal and discover that the man himself seems to be just as extraordinary (and outspoken) as his music. Click here […]
Cody ChesnuTT: The Final Frontier (Interview)
In 2002 Cody ChesnuTT was being hailed as the latest saviour of classic soul with his impressive double-disc debut album, The Headphone Masterpiece. He seemed well on his way to becoming one of the biggest acts of the new millennium with a collaboration with The Roots soon after, and even a trip to New Zealand […]
Here Come The Drones (Interview)
Australian band The Drones will be in New Zealand for their first tour this month. The 13th Floor tracked down lead singer and guitarist Gareth Liddiard (aka Gaz) for a chat. He talked about touring with Neil Young, recording their new album, I See Seaweed and his hero, Johnny Thunders. You can listen to the […]
Beach Fossils: From The Bedroom To The Studio (Interview)
Direct from Brooklyn, New York, Beach Fossils will perform two show in New Zealand next week. Just before the band embarked for their journey Down Under, The 13th Floor emailed a few questions about the making of the band’s second album, Clash The Truth, to bandleader Dustin Payseur. The results of that exchange can be […]
Emma Wall Is Crossing The Ditch (Interview)
Australian folk singer Emma Wall is touring New Zealand for the first time in support of her new album Shiny New Toy. Emma Will be joined in Auckland with her band The Urban Folk when they play at The Wine Cellar. The 13th Floor spoke to Emma Wall just before she departed for her trip […]
Ry Cooder: "I didn’t even know we were recording the damn thing!" (Interview)
Ry Cooder has just released a new, live album. It’s only his second in a career that spans over 40 years. Like it’s predecessor, 1976’s Show Time, Live In San Francisco was recorded at The Great American Music Hall. The 13th Floor spoke to Ry Cooder about the recording of the new album and how […]
Neko Case: On Depression and Bathroom Grouting (Interview)
Neko Case releases her new album tomorrow. With the rather unwieldy title of , The Worse Things Get, The Harder I Fight, The More I Love You, its the follow-up to her very successful 2009 album, Middle Cyclone.
Bernard Fanning: Out On His Own (Interview)
Former Powderfinger front man Bernard Fanning is about to perform at Auckland’s Powerstation in support of his solo album, Departures. As the voice of Powderfinger, Fanning was one of Australia’s most respected musicians. Now he’s out on his own and The 13th Floor tracked him down just as he was wrapping up his Australian tour. […]
Thomas Oliver Gets Beneath The Weissenborn (Interview)
This Friday, August 23rd, Thomas Oliver will release his solo album, Beneath The Weissenborn. As he states in the liner notes, “I wanted to explore the sonic possibilities of the instrument in the same way that I wanted to explore its harmonic possibilities. I wanted to tell a Weissenborn story”. The 13th Floor rang up […]