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Music News and Interviews

Hopscotch Interview: Lapalux

Electronic music has been on a swift rise throughout the past few years. While some folks may write it off due to the bro-step phenomenon, that discredits all of the fantastic sounds that are coming out of this still burgeoning scene. When one looks into electronic music, the beacon of light–at least for me–comes from Flying Lotus’ Brainfeeder label based out of L.A. Flying Lotus, grandnephew of the legendary Alice Coltrane, rose to prominence with his jazzy, psychedelic take on electronic music. Since his rise to fame, he’s used his label Brainfeeder to put the spotlight on equally talented acts from across the globe.

One of the label’s most recent standouts is Essex’s Lapalux. The U.K producer crafts a mesmerizing blend of soulful R&B with contemporary beat music to create a hazy, yet infectious brand of electronic music. Lapalux’s music strikes both the mind and the body. He’s capable of both slow-brooding, pensive beats and outright bangers.  Throughout the past few years he’s been honing his craft, releasing four EPs since 2008. But his full-length debut on Brainfeeder, Nostalchic, displays a full realization of these aforementioned themes. Heady beats are embellished by smooth vocal samples and shuffling percussion, making for an entrancing listening experience.

Lapalux sat down with me for an interview on the first day of Hopscotch, hours before his stellar set at The Pour House. Lapalux was embarking on his first U.S. tour, so we spoke a bit about the difference between stateside shows and those in other areas of the globe, how his style came about, and some of his major influences when he first began making music.

Listen here.
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Music News and Interviews

Giveaways for the week of 9/30 – 10/6

Keep it tuned to WKNC all week long for your chance to win tickets to any of these great shows below! Just be the correct caller when the DJ asks for it, and you and a friend could be hitting up some of the coolest local acts around.

Tuesday, October 1 – Surfer Blood with Team Spirit and Andy Boay @ Cat’s

Wednesday, October 2 – The Dodos with Dustin Wong and First Person Plural @ Kings

Thursday, October 3 – Colossus with The Beggars @ Kings

Thursday, October 3 – The Koolest with Floco Torres @ Pinhook

Friday, October 4 – Kooley High with Kourvioisier and Oxymoron @ Kings

Saturday, October 5 – Heads On Sticks album release with Body Games and Matt Northrup @ Kings

Saturday, October 5 – Elf Power with Organos and The Wigg Report @ Pinhook

Saturday, October 5 – Black Rebel Motorcycle Club with Restavrant @ Cat’s

Sunday, October 6 – Saint Rich with Wool @ Pinhook

Sunday, October 6 – Unknown Mortal Orchestra with Jackson Scott @ Cat’s*

 
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Music News and Interviews

Crystal Stilts Interview

Crystal Stilts stopped by the WKNC studio before their show with Deerhunter to speak to Walter-Ego and Prism about their new album Nature Noir, non-existent rooms, the inherent dangers of doing 90’s covers, and Snoop Dogg.

Listen here.

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Music News and Interviews

Krill Interview

Krill is a Boston trio comprised of three friends Jonah Furman (bass/vocals), Luke Pyenson (drums), and Aaron Ratoff (guitar). They just recently released their second full-length Lucky Leaves in June of this year.

The trio was born out of the same DIY scene that spawned bands such as Speedy Ortiz and Pile. Like their counterparts, they have an innovative take on the world of indie music that has begun to garner national attention from the likes of Pitchfork and Consequence of Sound. Their frenetic brand of emotive experimental indie rock brings to mind the early days of Modest Mouse and Clap Your Hands Say Yeah. The heavy weight of the dark music paired with the emotional, self-deprecating lyrics are carried across by Luke’s spastic drums, Jonah’s flooring bass, and Aaron’s driving, piercing guitar. The play between musicians coupled with the interesting time signatures and syncopated rhythms set this band apart from the rest.

Krill just recently set out on their month long east coast tour and hit up The Mattress Fort here in Raleigh for a Post Hopscotch Show. I caught up with Krill the next morning and you can check out their interview below as well as on iTunes on our podcast.

http://wheretheresakrilltheresaway.bandcamp.com
https://www.facebook.com/krillforever
https://twitter.com/krilliamhmacy

Listen here.

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Music News and Interviews

Ticket Giveaways for Sigur Rós and Nine Inch Nails!

 

This week, WKNC will be giving away a number of tickets for two upcoming Raleigh concerts presented by Live Nation: Sigur Rós at the Red Hat Amphitheater on September 21 and Nine Inch Nails with special guest Godspeed You! Black Emperor at the PNC Arena is a month later on October 21.  All you have to do is listen attentively to WKNC, be the correct caller when the DJ on-air asks for calls, and you can win a pair of tickets for yourself and a friend to have some sweet fun at an awesome concert!  The more you listen, the more likely you’ll hear a DJ ask for calls!

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Music News and Interviews

Giveaways for the week of 9/9 – 9/15

Keep it tuned to WKNC all week long for your chance to win tickets to any of these great shows below! Just be the correct caller when the DJ asks for it, and you and a friend could be hitting up some of the coolest local acts around.

Tuesday, September 10 – Black Joe Lewis with Dex Romweber Duo @ Cat’s Cradle

Thursday, September 12 – Borgore @ Lincoln Theatre

Thursday, September 12 – Paleface with Eric Scott-Guthrie and Rob Nance @ Pinhook

Friday, September 13 – The Old Ceremony with Shark Quest and Curtis Eller @ Cat’s Cradle

Saturday, September 14 – Acoustic Syndicate record release @ Cat’s Cradle

 

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Music News and Interviews

Post-Scotch: Interview with High Highs

Whenever I was told that I was going to interview High Highs I had to admit that I was not terribly familiar with their music. However,I was quick to change that whenever I started listening to their songs and immediately became addicted to their smooth and dreamy vocals. Their lead singer, Jack Milas was kind enough to give us a call just a couple of hours before their show started on Friday Night at the Memorial Auditorium. Now I would be lying if I said I was not a bit nervous for this interview, because I definitely was. With the popularity that High Highs received with their song “Open Season” I was afraid that their fame would get the best of me; but boy was I proven wrong as soon as the conversation took hold.

Once the phone was answered, Jack’s Australian accent was quick to erase any possibly tension that could have been formed prior to. Being very laid back and respectful to all the questions, Jack was able to make the interview seem like a conversation that I could have had with one of my closest friends.

The question from this interview that stood out the most was the one that we asked most the artists we interviewed at Hopscotch which is “If you could describe your sound as a room, what would that room look like/have in it.” Instead of one of the very obscure rooms that I heard in previous interviews, Jack simply put that his room would be a cathedral. It was in this instance that I gained a whole new respect for Jack and the band as a whole, because they were completely correct in the answer. Not just for its wonderful acoustics, but also religious setting, the room seemed a perfect fit for their echoing and powerful lyrics. Jack was able to represent his band beautifully in the all too short interview that he provided myself and the station with on Friday afternoon. You better bet that I didn’t pass up their set that night either.

Listen here.

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Music News and Interviews

Post-Scotch: Interview with Jamaican Queens

Where do I start with these guys? I knew from the beginning that the interview was going to a little out of the norm just by the way these guys sound and perform their music. With that being said, that is the exact reason I looked forward to the interview so much (and trust me, my expectations were definitely met).

Pretty much exactly on time, the entire three piece band consisting of Ryan Clancy, Ryan Spencer, and Adam Pressley walked right up to our 88.1 WKNC table at Wristband City and formerly introduced themselves. Once the interview was on its way, the band seemed to be having a little fun with it while also pointing out that their music is definitely different than most of the indie rock scene today. When asked how they were different, they did not hesitate to explain that it is because of their live foam party shows and mixture of unique sounds and lyrics. The band went on to say that if they could describe their sound as a room, then it would be the live portion of an Applebee’s restaurant; which you can take whichever way you possibly want.

Throughout the whole interview and even through the end of it, I was having a hard time letting the thought out of my mind that this band could be the next big thing; because it is definitely possible. Being a fairly young band and on the rise with extremely infectious music, how can one not think that? I was just glad Jamaican Queens decided to drop by WKNC on their quick and inevitable ride to the top.

Listen here.

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Local Music Music News and Interviews

September’s Local Artist of the Month: Loamlands

While Loamlands may be a name that is new to us, Kym Register and Will Hackney are seasoned veterans of the Triangle music scene. Kym and Will were half of Midtown Dickens, the post-folk quartet that stole the hearts of everyone in the Triangle and had even begun garnering national attention from the likes of NPR. Midtown Dickens began as a DIY duo between Kym and Catherine Edgerton. Soon it began to grow into much more as Will and Jonathan Henderson joined the line-up. Midtown Dickens released three full-lengths that spanned an impressive eight year career. But as 2012 came to a close, the quartet began to see themselves going in different directions. In February, Midtown Dickens announced their indefinite hiatus and Loamlands was born.

The new duo immediately set to work constructing their debut EP Some Kind of Light due out September 24th on Trekky Records. In July, the duo set to work to record the EP with Brad Cook from Megafaun on the bass and Kyle Keegan from Lost in the Trees behind the drums. These five songs pull from a lot of the great talent surrounding them in this musical hotspot, but when put together create something entirely new. This EP is a promising glimpse at what is in store for this experienced duo. Be sure to tune into The Local Beat on September 20th for our exclusive Local Artist of the Month interview and live performance from Loamlands.

Check out their upcoming tour dates:
September 7th, The Pour House Music Hall, Trekky Records & Team Clermont present DAY-DREAM: Hopscotch Day Party
September 20th, The Pinhook, Loamlands EP Release with Hiss Golden Messenger and Miles Cooper Seaton

Listen to our Loamlands interview.

Categories
Music News and Interviews

Giveaways for the week of 8/12 – 8/18

Keep it tuned to WKNC all week long for your chance to win tickets to any of these great shows below! Just be the correct caller when the DJ asks for it, and you and a friend could be hitting up some of the coolest local acts around.

Monday, August 12 – Royal Bangs @ Kings

Wednesday, August 14 – Wild Cub with Natalie Prass @ Kings

Wednesday, August 14 – Daughn Gibson @ Local 506

Wednesday, August 14 – Chain and the Gang with WAUMISS @ Pinhook

Thursday, August 15 – Heaven with Midnight Plus One @ Pinhook

Friday, August 16 – Rapper Big Pooh with Supastition @ Kings

Saturday, August 17 – Tift Merritt @ NCMA

Sunday, August 18 – Julia Weldon with Willower and Counting Station @ Pinhook