The Popdust Podcast with Demi Ramos

Send us Fan Mail Although he found early success as a rapper, Travis Mills always liked the idea of being in a band. He grew up admiring blink-182, MxPx, and The Used. Early groups didn't work out for various reasons, and he found solo success with tracks like "Diemonds" and "Young & Stupid." In drummer Nick Gross, Mills found a musical partner with the drive to make t...

Send us Fan Mail You may know Asher Angel for his roles in the Shazam! movies and the Disney Channel comedy Andi Mack. But he's also a talented musician. The 21-year-old plays guitar and piano, and his smooth pop R&B vocals recall vintage Justin Timberlake and Usher. Although he released several singles in the wake of Andi Mack, he hasn't spent much time on music since 2020. That&apo...

Send us Fan Mail For the final It's Real episode of 2023, Jordan Edwards and Demi Ramos talk to a couple of artists who have had great years. Sadie Dupuis, known for fronting Speedy Ortiz, was recently named one of the 250 Greatest Guitarists of All Time by Rolling Stone. In September, the band released Rabbit Rabbit. Their first album since 2018's Twerp Verse, it was a hit with both fan...

Send us Fan Mail With more than five million followers on social media, Gabi Sklar is on the rise. However, the singer-songwriter is more concerned about the quality of her music than the number of likes she receives. She's quick to point out that all those followers are people who are there for her voice,  creative percussion , and impeccable taste in cover songs. Although she gained notorie...

Send us Fan Mail After more than two decades, NEEDTOBREATHE frontman Bear Rinehart stills gets a thrill out of performing for fans. Songs like "Who Am I" and "Multiplied" have helped build a huge following, allowing the band to play arenas across the country. Labeled a Christian band by many, NEEDTOBREATHE's music has a much larger scope. While embraced by the Christian mu...

Send us Fan Mail On November 17, Plain White T's will release their self-titled ninth studio album. While the songwriting feels familiar, the band's sound has shifted. The acoustic guitar is still there, but the production is more atmospheric. "Happy," for example, features layered vocals and percussion ready for top 40 radio. Although best known for hits like "Hey There D...

Send us Fan Mail In a world of dark, cynical pop songs, UMI loves love. Whether through her music, social media posts, or YouTube videos, she radiates positivity. Her latest single "happy im" is a lush acoustic R&B song about giving in to love and joy. It's the kind of song that makes you feel like holding hands with someone on a rooftop at sunset. Born to a Japanese mother and...

Send us Fan Mail This past summer, Yellowcard reunited and performed dozens of shows at large venues across the country. They also released their first new music since 2016. The EP Childhood Eyes returns to the sound that made them popular, but the songwriting reflects their maturity and sense of nostalgia. It includes collaborations with Dashboard Confessional and Pierce The Veil, as well as the...

Send us Fan Mail The last month has been one that Chappell Roan won't forget. She released her debut album, began a nearly sold out headlining tour, and announced that she will support Olivia Rodrigo in the spring. She even made an appearance on Elton John's Rocket Hour show, where the music legend expressed that he thinks her records are "amazing." It may seem like a quick ris...

Send us Fan Mail After 30 years together, MxPx remains one of the best and hardest working bands out there. They recently released their 11th studio album Find A Way Home. Anchored by "Not Today," and "Stay Up All Night," it's full of the catchy rock songs that fans love. Watch lead vocalist/bassist Mike Herrera and lead guitarist Tom Wisniewski talk about how they make mu...

Send us Fan Mail Jordan and Demi welcome Echosmith back to the show! The band has evolved since their breakout hit “Cool Kids” a decade ago. While they still produce atmospheric, catchy pop songs, they take more risks. Their self titled new album is their most experimental release yet. It may also be the trio's best. Sydney Sierota and Noah Sierota about recording the new album, their sibling...

Send us Fan Mail In an era of trending sounds and singles, Kota the Friend makes albums. His latest, Protea, is a kaleidoscope of clever wordplay, smooth hooks, and beats you can dance to. Dedicated to his wife, the 16 tracks feel like a celebration. It features guest spots from Aloe Blacc, Braxton Cook, and Samm Henshaw. Listen to Jordan Edwards and Demi Ramos interview Kota about the evolution o...

Send us Fan Mail On this episode of It's Real, Jordan and Demi interview two multitalented performers who first appeared on screen when they were young. Katelyn Tarver was a contestant on American Juniors, where she made the final round. She then acted in shows like Big Time Rush, The Secret Life of the American Teenager, and HBO's Ballers. Olivia Olson made her debut in Love Actually as...

Send us Fan Mail For the first time, an episode of It's Real with Jordan and Demi features two unrelated guests. Madilyn Bailey and Rachel Grae are both singer-songwriters, but that's where the similarities end. Bailey's debut album Hollywood Dead drops on August 23, and she's expecting her first child after that. Although she's excited for motherhood, she doesn't pla...

Send us Fan Mail While Cannons been releasing music for nearly a decade, their popularity has exploded in the last couple of years thanks to the success of "Fire for You" and their last album, Fever Dream. That means their next album will be their most anticipated. The lead single, "Loving You," came out in April, but the band hasn't given up many details about the rest of...

Send us Fan Mail On June 30, Gabi DeMartino released her latest single "Heaven." More than a year in the the making, the track is perhaps her most confessional. Using lyrics from the 1957 film An Affair to Remember, the song reveals the truth behind her broken engagement to ex-fiancé Collin Vogt. Along with her sister Niki, Gabi DeMartino has spent her entire adult life in the public eye...

Send us Fan Mail ​On July 14, Lauren Spencer Smith will release her debut album, Mirror. It's the culmination of three years of hard work and growing as a songwriter and performer. Appearing on American Idol in 2020, the 19-year-old used the momentum from the show to create a career that's earned her hit songs, a huge social media following, and an appearance on The Tonight Show. Many kn...

Send us Fan Mail Earlier this month, Emily Kinney released "Walkin' Round Your Dreams," a warm, retro pop song that recalls '60s girl groups and Rilo Kiley. The track is off of her upcoming album Swim Team, due out in September. Fans of Kinney may know her from roles like Beth Greene on the The Walking Dead and Anna in the Broadway musical Spring Awakening. For more than a deca...

Send us Fan Mail The last time we talked to GAYLE, her megahit "abcdefu" was just entering the top 10. Since then, she's carved out a place as one of pop music's most distinctive and versatile young stars. In addition to a GRAMMY nomination for "abcdefu," she's continued to pump out catchy singles like "ur just horny" and "everybody hates me."...

Send us Fan Mail Laura Marano has a lot going on. She released her latest single "Boundaries" on April 14, and she's been busy filming movies for Netflix. Last year, she starred in The Royal Treatment, and soon fans can see her in  Choose Love , the streaming service's first interactive romantic comedy. Known for her role as Ally on Disney Channel's Austin & Ally, she&...

Send us Fan Mail On June 9, Milky Chance will drop their new album Living In A Haze. They've released a couple tracks from it, including the latest single "Golden." The album strikes a nice balance between the alt rock of their debut Sadnecessary and the more experimental Trip Tapes project. Known for their epic live shows, Clemens Rehbein and Philipp Dausch broke out with the globa...

Send us Fan Mail ​Last week, Mudhoney released their 11th studio album Plastic Eternity. Fans of the legendary Seattle rock band get what they've come to expect: messy and melodic guitars, booming drums, and Mark Arm's passionate vocals. As the title suggests, the album is a warning about the climate crisis and the impact of ignoring it. It's been a few years since their last releas...

Send us Fan Mail Andrew McMahon's new album Tilt At The Wind No More is his first since 2018. The Southern California native has been a fixture of alternative radio for more than 20 years. From his early hits with Something Corporate, to Jack's Mannequin to in the Wilderness, his music has always found an audience. He's one of the rare musicians who found solo success to rival the b...

Send us Fan Mail In late January, Charlotte Sands released the single "Alright." It's a moving ballad about trying to find hope in dark times. With its vulnerable lyrics and slow-building crescendo, it will surely become a centerpiece of her live show. The song is a departure from the rock and dance floor anthems she's best known for. However, she's consistently shown the...

Send us Fan Mail With their warm guitars and intimate storytelling, Peach Pit feels like a band that you're friends with. Their music is drenched in nostalgia, reminding the listener of cool fall sunsets and BYOB house parties. Songs like "Alrighty Aphrodite" and "Shampoo Bottles" have earned the Canadian band a devout following and hundreds of millions of streams. They&ap...