Kiran Gandhi is quite possibly the smartest person I’ve ever met. In addition to having been a live drummer for M.I.A. and establishing her own name as a solo artist and producer (she goes by Madame Gandhi), she also has an MBA from Harvard, which is proof enough of her genius. But what I learned hearing her speak on a panel at Seattle’s Pop Conference is that her intellect goes far, far beyond academic learning. Gandhi was so insightful, so passionately logical and sharp and observant about the ways that our culture dismisses and denigrates femininity, that I knew I had to talk to her one-on-one to learn anything else I could from her.
New Music Alert: Ottawa
Ottawa is a new band that’s quickly gaining tractions thanks to their edgy sound that brings you back to The Killers and Neon Trees. We talked to the band about what’s been inspiring them lately.
Hangout Fest 2018 Highlights
First of all, I want to shout out Chelsea for the great additional coverage at this year’s Hangout Festival. We were both able to cover multiple acts every day while still finding time to see our personal choices as well. Here is my brief overview and recap.
Nova Miller Is In A State Of Yellow
Nova Miller is a Swedish teen indie-pop singer/songwriter who’s bound to create some color in your life. Her debut EP, “Yellow” is already taking over the charts and Miller’s here to prove she’s going to stick around for quite a while. Aside from opening for acts Jacob Sartorius and Jack and Jack, she’s also performed in the studios for Ryan Seacrest. If that isn’t impressive enough, she’s got a five-octave vocal range and plays piano, guitar and many other instruments. I can’t wait for you to get to know this talented young woman.
Reuben And The Dark Gets Inspired By Dreams
Reuben And The Dark has this dreamy sound that I can’t shake. It’s looming and moody but also inspirational. We chatted about taking inspiration from dreams and getting personal with songs.
All Of Our Favorites From Hangout Fest 2018
Hangout Fest was hands down the best music festival I’ve been to thus far: the lineup, the hangs, the hospitality, THE BEACH! Everything down to the last detail was perfect and added up to a fun experience that I would never trade for anything. Driving eight hours from Houston to Gulf Shores on an incredibly tight budget was worth it.
New Music Alert: Alex Stern’s Think About You
Singer/songwriter Alex Stern started as a new twitter follower but she’s now turned into a friend and favorite artist. We’ve talked about music, life and recently, crushes. Her latest single, “Think About You” is about that feeling when you can’t get a certain someone out of your head. Alex is so open with everything to me and I couldn’t wait to hear the inspiration behind the single.
You Need To Being Paying Attention To Dear Rouge
Dear Rouge is comprised of Drew and Danielle McTaggart who are partners in music and life. After quitting their day jobs and focusing on music full time their sound started taking off.
New Music Alert: Caroline Grace’s Lotto
We love the new Caroline Grace song “Lotto” but we love the stripped down version even more. Her sultry vocals take center stage and the smooth backing instruments are a vibe that we can’t stop listening to.
Ripe’s Energy Is Contagious
Bands like Ripe are few and far between. The band is famous for their infectious energy and insane live performance. I chatted with Robbie about their live show and how they developed their signature sound.