13th Floor MusicTalk

Amy Rigby has just release a new studio album. Its titled Hang In There With Me and it was made with her husband Wreckless Eric. The 13th Floor's Marty Duda spoke to Amy about making music post-covid, aging, Dylan, bangs and baseball. All the pressing topics of the day!

At age 75, Jerry Phillips has just released his debut album. Jerry is the son of Sun Records founder Sam Phillips and his album, For The Universe , captures the feel of rock & roll as it was born, because Jerry was there at the beginning. The 13th Floor's Marty Duda spoke to Jerry Phillip s about making his album with the help of his daughter Holley and the inspiration from his father, Sam and...

The Brant Bjork Trio have just released their debut album titled Once Upon A Time In The Desert . Here is Brant, direct from California, to tell us how he and his new bandmates...who are also old friends...made this thing happen. The 13th Floor's Marty Duda spoke to Brant about making this new music with bass player Mario Lalli and drummer Ryan Güt. Brant also ruminates on his time spent touring i...

Steve Forbert has just released Daylight Savings Time an album that touches on the changing of the seasons. "It's all about time" Steve tells us. The 13th Floor's Marty Duda spoke to Steve Forbert just ahead of the release of Daylight Savings Time. We found Steve on the Jersey Shore where he was happy to share his insights into the songs that make up this latest in a long line of beautifully-craft...

Blues-rocker Colin James has just released his new album, Chasing The Sun , for Stoney Plain Records. We caught up with Colin last month just as he was about to celebrate a birthday and a release day. The 13th Floor's Marty Duda found Colin James at home in Vancouver, British Columbia, having just finished a string of live dates before releasing Chasing The Sun which was recorded in Nashville a fe...

The Dip is a six-piece neo-soul/funk band based in Seattle, Washington. They've just released their 4 album, titled Love Direction, and here is horn man Levi Gillis to give us the inside scoop. Marty Duda spoke to Levi a couple of months after Love Direction was released and wanted to know, among other things, how the response has been to their unique brand of Soul/Funk/Jazz.

The Crash Test Dummies are coming to New Zealand, finally. The Canadian band top the NZ album charts back in 1993 but its taken until now for them to book a show in Auckland. The 13th Floor's Marty Duda spoke to lead singer Brad Roberts about the reason that led to their 30+ year delay. Along the way we find out the truth about Talking Head Jerry Harrison's role as producer of God Shuffled His Fee...

The Jesus Lizard  surprised everyone, including themselves, by releasing a new album 23 years after their previous record. Here is front man  David Yow  to try and explain just how this happened. Marty Duda  spoke to  David Yow  just days before  Rack , The Jesus Lizard’s 7th studio album, was released. David explains why it took 23 years to make the record and l...

Tony Levin is one of the most recorded musicians in recent history having played on over 500 albums for the likes of John Lennon, King Crimson, Paul Simon, David Bowie, Lou Reed and Peter Gabriel . Tony has found time in his busy schedule to release a new album of his own, titled Bringing It Down To The Bass. The 13th Floor's Marty Duda was lucky to manage to share some time with Tony to talk abou...

Ruthie Foster has just released her new album titled Mileage . Its her 10th studio album and her first for Sun Records, the Memphis-based label that put Elvis on the map. The 13th Floor's Marty Duda spoke to Ruthie, who happened to be in Memphis and had just recorded at the legendary Sun Studio. Here she is to tell us how this collection of 10 songs came to be. 

The Deslondes have just released Roll It Out, an album that captures the crackling energy of the band’s early days but also reflects the new perspective of age and maturity and a new drummer. The 13th Floor's Marty Duda spoke to founding member Riley Downing about making Roll It Out, breaking in a new drummer and his favourite 50s rockabilly label...hint, it's not Sun.

The Georgia Thunderbolts  have released their new album,  Rise Above It All,  and here is lead singer  TJ Lyle  to tell you all about it. The 13th Floor’s Marty Duda  spoke to TJ, who we found in Taylorsville, Georgia (pop. 252). TJ tells us about making the new record, playing for European audiences and his love of  Frankie Miller .

You may know Wellington-based musician Rob Joass from his work with Hobnail or Shotband or Too Many Chiefs . Rob has just released his 4th solo album titled Faultlines and here he is to tell you all about it. The 13th Floor's Marty Duda spoke to Rob about working with producer Wayne Bell, covering The Go-Betweens and singing with the Mitchell Sisters.

Zed  is back! After a 21-year “hiatus” they have just released their third album,  Future Memory , and we have all four members on hand to tell you about it. The 13th Floor’s Marty Duda  caught up with Nathan, Ben, Adrian and Andy who were in Akaroa on release day. Find out why its taken so long to get a third album out and what they’ve got planned for the next 21 years.

Elles Bailey has just released her fourth studio album, Beneath The Neon Glow , 10 tracks of glistening rock and soul all powered by her distinctive voice. The 13th Floor's Marty Duda spoke to Elles, who was home in Bristol, about making the record, play at Glastonbury and why 1972 hold a special place in her heart. 

Steve Wynn has been fronting The Dream Syndicate on  and off since they formed in 1981. Steve also has a thriving solo career and now he's an author with new book and album just released. The 13th Floor's Marty Duda spoke to Steve who was home in Queens, NY, about writing his memoir, Titled I Wouldn't Say It If It Wasn't True and his new solo album, Make It Right. 

Veteran Christchurch musician Al Park has just released his new album, titled One For The Dog, One For The Cat and One For The People With A Monkey On Their Back . Its a mouthful, so you can call it Monkey for short The 13th Floor's Marty Duda found Al at home in Lyttelton, keen to talk about making this new album with Adam Hattaway and Elmore Jones . Al's been making music for donkey's years so h...

Andrew Combs is a Nashville-based singer/songwriter who has just released his 6th album, titled Dream Pictures. The 13th Floor's Marty Duda found Andrew at home in Nashville and found out why he made a "record about contentment". 

Auckland musician and Pluto bass player Mike Hall has just released his debut solo album titled Nothing Stands Still. The 13th Floor's Marty Duda spoke to Mike about his decision to step up front, one that came from a hard drive disaster. Here is mike now to take us through the making of Nothing Stands Still with his good friend Jol Mulholland. Along the way we talk about his work with the Come To...

Rock & Roll Hall Of Famer Steve Cropper has just released a new album called Friendlytown . At age 82, the guitarist, producer and songwriter is still going strong with friends like Billy Gibbons and Brian May lending a helping hand. The 13th Floor's Marty Duda was thrilled to be speaking to the legend that is Steve Cropper . Guitarist for Booker T & The MGs , Cropper played, wrote and pro...

Loves Ugly Children split up in 1998 after a blistering run of singles, EPs and Albums and live shows throughout the Nineties. Against all the odds, they are back. The 13th Floor's Marty Duda invited Simon, Floss and Jason around to talk about their first show since 1998 in Christchurch and their last show, happening tonight at The Mothership in Auckland. Along the way we get tales of rock & r...

Malice K  is a New York-based project helmed by visual artist and songwriter  Alex Konschuh , who was born and raised in Olympia, Washington. We found Malice in Brooklyn and got the lowdown on how and why he made his new album, Avanti. The 13th Floor's Marty Duda spoke to Alex, or Malice, about his move from Olympia to New York and about his experience attending a performing arts hi...

The Softies are back with their first new album in 24 years titled The Bed I Made.  The 13th Floor's Marty Duda spoke to Rose Melberg and Jen Sbragia about touring with Elliott Smith , being part of the Riot Grrrl movement and why you shouldn't call them "Twee Pop"

Devon Allman has just released his new solo album, Miami Moon, recorded at the legendary Criteria Studio in Miami where his uncle Duane laid down Layla years earlier. Devon recruits Ivan Neville and George Porter to update the Allman legacy. The 13th Floor's Marty Duda spoke to Devon who was home in St. Louis, Missouri with his dog Franklin, keen to discuss the new record, an album that takes the...

Scottish musician Hamish Hawk has just released his new album titled A Firmer Hand featuring a collection of original songs that he considers "a step forward". The 13th Floor's Marty Duda spoke to Hamish on the eve of the album's release and found him in his nephew's bedroom in West Yorkshire as he and his band are on tour. It turns out Hamish is a Kiwi of sorts, so we get that business out of the...