Browsing: Interview

From playing alongside legends like Charlie Musselwhite to shaping the sound of artists like Diunna Greenleaf, Kid Andersen has built a career rooted in passion, precision, and musical understanding.

As the driving force behind Greaseland Studios, Kid blends technical expertise with deep emotional connection to the blues, treating the studio as an instrument in its own right. At 45, his journey from Norway to the U.S. has shaped him into a sought-after producer and guitarist whose sound is as soulful as the legends he admires.

From heartbreak to victory, Josh Hoyer and his band Soul Colossal win top honors at the 2025 International Blues Challenge in Memphis, highlighting their unique soul-blues sound and original music. Hoyer reflects on the band’s journey, the late Benjamin Kushner’s lasting impact, and how the experience has shaped his views on success and music’s healing power. The win represents a milestone in their musical journey, but for Hoyer, it’s about more than just trophies—it’s about spreading joy through music, wherever it may lead.

Corky Siegel reflects on his 60-year journey of merging blues with symphony, from his early days playing with blues legends in Chicago to pioneering symphonic blues collaborations with the Chicago Symphony. In this interview, he also shares the creative process behind his latest work, ‘Symphonic Blues No. 6,’ and how his music continues to evolve while staying true to his roots.

At 87, Buck’s music is shaped by a deep connection to the city’s storied blues scene, which he entered in 1953. His album ‘Willie Buck and The Delmark All-Stars Live at Buddy Guy’s Legends’ reflects his lifelong dedication to the genre, with both original tracks and classic covers.

ICYMI: The Owsley Stanley Foundation of Grateful Dead fame released ‘You’re Doin’ Fine,’ a sumptuous three-CD set capturing John Hammond at two 1973 concerts at the Boarding House, a small club in San Francisco. The sound man was Owsley Stanley who invented the Grateful Dead’s wall of sound technology.

“I didn’t know that Owsley was recording that show. I was told he was the sound man, but I didn’t understand the significance of it. I mean the sound is great.”

“He was my hero, man. I remember watching him on ‘Soul Train’ and ‘Hee Haw.’ I was so proud that this was my father. I was looking at the TV saying, ‘I love you, man.'”

Ronnie Baker Brooks reflects on his father Lonnie’s legacy, blending family, blues, and life lessons in his new Alligator Records album ‘Blues in My DNA.’ From a strict upbringing that taught him the value of hard work to the bittersweet farewell to his mentor, Ronnie carries on the tradition of authenticity and soul in every note.

“This book wrote itself,” says Cary Baker about ‘Down On The Corner: Adventures in Busking and Street Music.’ Reflecting on life’s transitions — from closing his PR firm to moving to the desert — he delves into the colorful, often untold stories of buskers, from icons like Elvis Costello to street performers like Grandpa Elliott.

He discusses his deep love for the written word, recounts a remarkable tale of Mick Jagger thanking Ramblin’ Jack Elliott for playing in a subway station during a school field trip, and more. It’s these serendipitous moments that make both Baker’s book and his career truly unique.

The video for “Things They Tellin’ You” from Robert Connely Farr’s ‘Pandora Sessions’ captures the universal weight of suffering and the blurred lines between truth and deception. Directed by longtime collaborator Jay Bundy Johnson, the visual pairs Farr’s melancholic, minimalist blues with haunting footage from the Prelinger Archive.

The Old Ceremony’s new album ‘Earthbound,’ forged through two decades of collaboration and a vast collection of songs born from the pandemic, is out now!

Frontman Django Haskins reflects on the band’s growth, the ongoing joy of making music together, and his Big Star tribute work. “Getting to know and play with so many people who had previously existed only on my turntables has been a thrill. Mike Mills played and sang on our last record… None of this would’ve happened without the Big Star thing, and — to give credit where it belongs — without the quixotic genius of Chris Stamey, who put the whole thing together, along with Big Star’s Jody Stephens.”

New York folkie Lucy Kaplansky reflects on her unexpected journey from clinical psychologist to celebrated singer-songwriter. In this candid interview, she shares insights on her creative process, the value of co-writing with her husband, and her unique approach to independently producing and marketing her music. With a new album on the horizon, Lucy discusses the evolution of her career, her enduring passion for songwriting, and the balance between artistry and business in today’s music world.