Artist Friendly with Joel Madden

On this week's episode of Artist Friendly, Joel Madden is joined by Alec Benjamin. Releasing his third studio album, 12 Notes, earlier this month, Benjamin takes us through a vulnerable journey, as each song is meant to mirror a journal entry and represent a different section of his life. Naturally, that includes taking different turns across the whole album, including rapping (“I Sent My Therapis...

On this week's episode of Artist Friendly, Joel Madden is joined by Jake Duzsik of HEALTH. Last year’s RAT WARS, their sixth studio album and one of their best, is loaded with menacing bite, noisy gloom, and crushing danceability that points to an apocalyptic future, balancing a bold, ambitious vision with despair. Now, the neo-industrial trio are taking that record out on the road, including an a...

On this week's episode of Artist Friendly, Joel Madden is joined by Dylan Schneider. After spending the first part of the year on the road with Nate Smith, Schneider continues to look forward. He recently shared the Bad Decisions EP, which reveals fearless vulnerability in songs like “Daddy Drinks Whiskey” and the title track. Plus, throughout the summer, Schneider has various tour dates with coun...

On this week's episode of Artist Friendly, Joel Madden is joined by Reyna Roberts. For the unfamiliar, Roberts is a fast-rising country artist. Last year was huge for the “princess of outlaw country,” as she shared her debut album, Bad Girl Bible, Vol. 1, toured with Reba McEntire, and was featured in the Grammy Museum. The Alabama-bred artist also recently snagged two features on Beyonce’s heel-t...

On this week's episode of Artist Friendly, Joel Madden is joined by Bea Miller. Since her emergence in 2014, Miller has created frank pop-rock songs that sound massive. It makes total sense when you consider her influences, as she grew up exposed to hundreds of records from her mother, a former vinyl DJ, including the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, and Alanis Morissette. Then when she was 12, she ex...

On this week's episode of Artist Friendly, Joel Madden is joined by Matt Pryor of The Get Up Kids. The Get Up Kids and the New Amsterdams vocalist recently shared a memoir called Red Letter Days, which features backstage stories culled from journal entries between 1990-2000 and rare photographs from the era. Across more than 200 pages, the story follows Pryor coming of age, pursuing dreams of beco...

On this week's episode of Artist Friendly, Joel Madden is joined by Tori Kelly. After posting videos on YouTube throughout her teens, Kelly made a proper entrance on the ninth season of American Idol in 2010. Since then, she’s released five studio albums featuring her powerhouse vocals and bagged two Grammys. Her latest,TORI., acts as a successor to her 2023 EP of the same name and taps into 2000s...

On this week's episode of Artist Friendly, Joel Madden is joined by Matthew Koma of Winnetka Bowling League. Winnetka Bowling League — a rising indie trio comprising Koma, drummer Kris Mazzarisi, and keyboardist Sam Beresford — are readying the arrival of their long-awaited debut album, Sha La La (out May 31). They’ve already shared the hugely catchy title track, which yearns for days that are lon...

On this week's episode of Artist Friendly, Joel Madden is joined by Pete Loeffler of Chevelle. Chevelle, the hard-rock duo of brothers Pete and Sam Loeffler, have nine records to their name but still strive to challenge themselves. Having released their most recent album, the conceptual and sci-fi-inspired NIRATIAS in 2021, the band have largely been on the road for the last few years. They’re pre...

On this week's episode of Artist Friendly, Joel Madden is joined by Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson. What’s left to be said about Johnson that hasn’t already? He became a formidable name in the WWE throughout the late ’90s and early 2000s before transitioning into the world of film. Since then, he’s seen intense success that’s led to a slew of memorable movies (The Other Guys, Moana). Most recently, he...

On this week's episode of Artist Friendly, Joel Madden is joined by LA rapper Lefty Gunplay. Lefty Gunplay is a rising rapper out of Baldwin Park who uses raw, witty wordplay to dig into his time in prison, hopes for the future, and pride for his city. He recently shared the single “Cleaner” featuring Rowdy Racks last week, which features both rappers firing off killer flows, exuding unwavering co...

On this week's episode of Artist Friendly, Joel Madden is joined by country singer-songwriter Alexandra Kay. Kay is a viral country star who’s shared stages with Tim McGraw, Clay Walker, and Tracy Lawrence, all before releasing her debut album. That project, All I’ve Ever Known, was shared last October, chronicling her divorce in tender detail. “This album is the most raw, vulnerable, and wide ope...

On this week's episode of Artist Friendly, Joel Madden is joined by Aric Improta. Improta is a Grammy-nominated drummer who plays for the prog-metal band Night Verses and formerly FEVER 333. Beyond his blistering showmanship, Improta often incorporates technology into his playing to push the boundaries of the instrument and reimagine a different future. “The goal is always to feel as possessed by...

On this week's episode of Artist Friendly, Joel Madden is joined by Griff. Griff is a U.K. singer-songwriter who cites Jack Antonoff, Imogen Heap, and James Blake as influences. She played only one show supporting her 2019 EP, Mirror Talk, then created the 2021 LP One Foot In Front of The Other in her bedroom during pandemic lockdowns, which shot her to fame. Now, she’s readying the release of her...

On this week's episode of Artist Friendly, Joel Madden is joined by Mike Einziger of Incubus. This past fall, vocalist Brandon Boyd stopped by to discuss the anniversary of their fourth studio album, Morning View, and now Einziger takes a seat across from Madden as the band prepare to release Morning View XXIII — rerecorded songs of the original album — in May. The two also go in-depth about skinc...

On this week's episode of Artist Friendly, Joel Madden is joined by Southside. Southside is an Atlanta beatmaker and producer who has worked with Drake, Future, and Meek Mill, among others. He co-founded the music production collective 808 Mafia with Lex Luger in 2010, which helped to popularize trap and bring the hip-hop subgenre to new heights. Though he hasn’t released a proper project since 20...

On this week's episode of Artist Friendly, Joel Madden is joined by Kyle Ng. Ng is the co-founder and creative director behind Brain Dead. Founded in 2014, Brain Dead taps into varying subcultures — punk, skateboarding, streetwear — that are reflected in its vivid, one-of-a-kind pieces. The brand also sponsors the hardcore festival Sound and Fury and frequently collaborates with musicians, from ve...

On this week's episode of Artist Friendly, Joel Madden is joined by Petey. You’ve likely seen Petey on TikTok, who’s made his mark creating comedic, surreal videos featuring a rotating cast of characters that he plays himself. He also makes music — his most recent album, USA, came out in the fall — which juxtaposes his viral clips by employing a more serious, introspective headspace and is indebte...

On this week's episode of Artist Friendly, Joel Madden is joined by Doug Robb of Hoobastank. Having celebrated two decades of their third studio album, The Reason, last year, Hoobastank shared a 20th anniversary version this week. The LP includes a cover of Rod Stewart’s disco hit “Da Ya Think I’m Sexy?,” which the band started recording during the making of the record but never finished. Hoobasta...

On this week's episode of Artist Friendly, Joel Madden is joined by Jacoby Shaddix of Papa Roach. More than 20 years since their inception, Papa Roach continue to thrive. Their 2000 album Infest seems to grow bigger every year as new people discover songs like “Last Resort” and “Blood Brothers.” They also remain on the road in support of their 2022 LP Ego Trip, including wrapping the second leg of...

On this week's episode of Artist Friendly, Joel Madden is joined by R&B singer Mario. Mario is a legend of 2000s R&B. After adapting Biz Markie’s “Just a Friend” when he was only 15 — which opened his 2002 self-titled album — he soon entered global stardom. Ever since, he’s delved into different lanes, including acting, writing, and independently launching his New Citizen label, and cemented his l...

Celebrate 50 episodes of Artist Friendly as Joel Madden is joined by multi-GRAMMY award-winning rapper Lil Wayne. Wayne, who joined Good Charlotte onstage for “Lifestyles of the Rich & Famous” at When We Were Young back in October, has shifted from an off-the-wall rapper — always packing a punchline — to an elder statesman who can still spin woozy bars. After releasing his platinum debut album, Th...

This week on Artist Friendly, Joel Madden is joined by Gavin Magnus. Magnus has created his own celebrity by uploading absurd videos, from staying in haunted hotels to marrying his crush for 24 hours, across his YouTube and TikTok channels. He’s also shared a slew of captivating covers, which makes the release of his debut EP, BLURRY EYES, all the more special. Produced by John Feldmann, the proje...

This week on Artist Friendly, Joel Madden is joined by John O'Callaghan of The Maine. The Maine are celebrating a big year. After another unmissable year of Sad Summer, where they headlined (and performed a pretty great cover of Taylor Swift’s “cruel summer”), the band released their ninth studio album, and first self-titled project, in August. They’re also in the midst of touring their Sweet 16,...

This week on Artist Friendly, Joel Madden is joined by Patrick Miranda of Movements. Movements are wrapping up a busy year. Following their appearance at this year’s When We Were Young, Movements embarked on an overseas headlining tour with Softcult and Webbed Wing in support of their third studio album, RUCKUS! Through its 10 tracks, the album sees the Southern California post-hardcore crew expan...