13th Floor MusicTalk

Will Stratton  has been called a “self professed disciple of  Nick Drake “. The American singer/songwriter has just released  Points Of Origin,  “ a heartbreaking and expansive album of songs set in the freeway wilds of California.” Marty Duda  spoke to Will about the themes of this semi-concept album, such as climate change, wildfires and mudslides.

Bonnie “Prince” Billy  goes to Nashville!  The Purple Bird  is the new album and it just may be the highpoint of an already illustrious career. Marty Duda  spoke to  Bonnie “Prince” Billy  (aka  Will Oldham ) who was home in Louisville, Kentucky, ready to talk about making his first country album and working with producer  David “Ferg” Ferguson  along w...

Kiwi alt-indie artist  Mim Jensen  has just released her second EP, a six-track affair titled  Shadow Of The Gift. The 13th Floor’s Marty Duda  spoke to Mim, who was in Christchurch, to find out the EP came together and what she has in store for us next.

Bluegrass sensation Billy Strings is heading down under for his first shows in New Zealand and Australia this coming July. 13th Floor's Marty Duda spoke to Billy about how he prepares for a new territory, about his recent move to a major label and how he and producer Jon Brion sampled his vintage car for a track on his latest album, Highway Prayers .

Here is Kayleb Duckett , direct from New Plymouth to tell us about his new album, Speechless Housefire . Marty Duda spoke to Kayleb, who is flying high after the release of his latest collection of "catchy little pop ditties" inspired by the likes of Elvis, Tame Impala and Sione's Wedding. 

With the debut album from the  Miki Berenyi Trio  just days away, here is the former  Lush  vocalist to tell how this new band and album came together. Marty Duda  talked to Miki about making  Tripla , with new bandmates  Oliver Cherer  (guitar) and  K.J. “Moose” McKillop  (bass) and how  The Shangri-las  inspired one of the great 4AD voi...

Anglebox  is a new band from Christchurch made up of seasoned veterans and led by  Ian Cartwright . Their debut EP is titled  Dark Days In The Sun. Marty Duda  spoke to Ian about his musical past, his songwriting, how the band came together and what they have planned for the future.

Aloe Blacc has just released Stand Together ...12 songs that he hopes will encourage open engagement with others. Marty Duda spoke to Aloe and talked to him about the reasons why he has paired each track on Stand Together with a non-profit organisation. Aloe also talks about being mentored by Harry Belafonte and why he needed to cover Marvin Gaye's What's Going On . It's all about positive vibes i...

Following the death of Chills leader Martin Phillipps and the release of Springboard: The Early Unrecorded Songs , Chills drummer Callum Hampton and bass player Todd Knudson talk about making this very moving new record and the legacy Martin Phillipps left behind. Marty Duda spoke to Callum and Todd about making this last Chills record, one that, fortunately, Martin Phillipps got to hear before pa...

Alison Krauss & Union Station  are about to release their first new album in over a decade. It’s called  Arcadia   and its the first to feature new member  Russell Moore. Alison took time out from her busy schedule to talk to  Marty Duda  about making  Arcadia   and how she, Union Station and Nashville have changed over time. So we begin our conversation...

Art d'Ecco has just released his new album, Serene Demon, a feisty mix of funk, rock, disco, soul and, dare we say...glam? Marty Duda spoke to Art at length about making Serene Demon, a record that started out on the mean streets on New York and ended up in British Columbia where he was " determined to prove I can do something different" .

My Morning Jacket  has released their 10th studio album titles,  is.  Produced by  Brendan O’Brien  ( Pearl Jam/Soundgarden ), it marks the first time in their 27 year career that the band has agreed to “give over control” to an outsider. Marty Duda  spoke to MMJ guitarist  Carl Broemel  about how and why the band worked with O’Brien and what they learned fr...

Matthew Bannister , he of Sneaking Feelings and Dribbling Darts , has just released The Dark Backward , a collection of songs that he calls, "a musical journey back and forth across decades". Matthew Bannister , he of Sneaking Feelings and Dribbling Darts , has just released The Dark Backward , a collection of songs that he calls, "a musical journey back and forth across decades".

London-based Welsh rockers  The Tubs  have followed up their highly-acclaimed debut album,  Dead Meat , with another beauty titled  Cotton Crown.  Marty Duda  spoke to chief singer/songwriter  Owen Williams  about the pressure of following up such a highly-regarded debut. Tellingly, most of Owen’s answers involve a pint of beer with his mates at the pub.

Throwing Muses have just released Moonlight Concessions, meanwhile bandleader Kristin Hersh is on tour, solo-style, Down Under. Marty Duda found Kristin in Australia just ahead of her NZ dates and the release of Moonlight Concessions . Watch and listen as Kristin discusses the "river of music" that runs through her, resulting in hundreds of songs, only a fraction of which are ever released. With t...

They say two out of three ain't bad...here are two members of sibling trio Womb to tell you about their new album, One Is Always Heading Somewhere , released on Flying Nun. Marty Duda spoke to Georgette and Cello about making the new album along with their brother Haz. This third record finds them looking for a more refined sound and finding it thanks, in part, to a mixing session at Roundhead Stu...

Sola Rosa  has just released a new EP titled  New Tomorrows  and  Andrew Spraggon  is already thinking about what will come next. Marty Duda  spoke to Andrew just ahead of  New Tomorrows’  release and found him ready to celebrate the 25th anniversary of  Sola Rosa  with this new set of songs and then a solo album later this year.

Marty Duda  spoke to Reb Fountain the day before her new album, How Love Bends was to be released. They spoke about Reb’s musical journey and the role her collaborator  Dave Khan  plays on that journey. Along the way we go deep into this very special collection of songs.

Fust  have just released their new album titled  Big Ugly   and bandleader  Aaron Dowdy  is with us to tell us how he is making sense of The South. Marty Duda  found Aaron in Durham, North Carolina and spoke to him about how a trip to West Virginia inspired him to write the 11 songs that make up this lyrical, thoughtful meditation on what it meads to be from The South...

Indie rocker Annie DiRusso is on the verge of releasing her debut album. Super Pedestrian has been a long to coming, but the New York native is beaming with the knowledge that she's made something that is at times loud, crunchy and raw and has helped her become "more present". Marty Duda spoke to Annie, who was in Chinatown, a week or so before Super Pedestrian was about to "drop". Annie had alrea...

Kestrels are a Canadian-based shoegaze band helmed by Chad Peck who lives in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Marty Duda found Chad at home getting ready to take to the road now that Better Wonder , Kestrels' fifth album is now out and about. During our conversation Chad reveals his admiration for Brian Wilson and explains how a High School English teacher can make such a big noise.

Noah Lennox  is  Panda Bear …he’s also the drummer for  Animal Collective .  Sinister Grift  is the new  Panda Bear  album, the first in five years. Here is Noah to fill us in on how it happened. Marty Duda  spoke to Noah, who we found on the road, in Nashville, touring just ahead of release day. Noah now lives in Lisbon, Portugal…so he invited his longtine...

The Delines have just released their new album, Mr. Luck and Ms. Doom and here is songwriter/guitarist/novelist Willy Vlautin to tell us all about characters like Lorraine, Nancy, Maureen and The Pensacola Pimp. Marty Duda spoke to Willy who was calling from just outside Portland, Oregon, a town that inspired many of Willy's songs and stories that you'll hear through these 11 new tracks and sung b...

Cash & Skye are Henri Cash and Sophia Skye . Henri plays with hard rocking LA band Starcrawler and Skye's dad is the bass player in Rilo Kiley. Together they make music uniquely their own...featuring close harmonies, catchy melodies and some good old fashioned twang. Marty Duda spoke to Henri and Sophia just before release day. The duo were in their studio in Pasadena preparing for a night out...

More than 50 years after her debut album and  Joan Armatrading  shows no sign of slowing down. She’s just released a new album,  How Did This Happen And What Does It Now Mean,  this past November after writing her first classical piece. And as you’ll hear in this revealing interview, Joan is constantly thinking forward…