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INTERVIEW: Mercy Bell Finds Herself in Chicago's "Leather Daddies"

INTERVIEW: Mercy Bell Finds Herself in Chicago's "Leather Daddies"

Mercy Bell’s got a big voice and a talent for writing arresting ballads. It’s been a while since we heard from her, but she’s certainly been busy — working on a musical about the Chicago leather daddy scene of the 1950s and 1960s, as one does. Bell released

INTERVIEW: In Mylo Choy's Graphic Memoir, Middle Distance, Process is Destination

INTERVIEW: In Mylo Choy's Graphic Memoir, Middle Distance, Process is Destination

Mylo Choy finds comfort in the spaces between things. As a mixed-race and nonbinary person, moving between worlds feels like home to them. Born and raised in Wisconsin, they also developed a strong connection to Hawaii, where their mother was born and raised. For over 10 years, they were employed

INTERVIEW: Lila Blue's Songs Burst Forth From Their Dreams

INTERVIEW: Lila Blue's Songs Burst Forth From Their Dreams

Lila Blue’s strangely dreamy writing makes a lot of sense when you learn that some of them are written in their sleep — literally. Raised on an artists’ commune in upstate New York, Blue has been writing songs and expressing themselves since they were a child. Their upcoming album, Sweet

INTERVIEW: TOMI Vents Her Pent-Up Rage on the Campy "NUN"

INTERVIEW: TOMI Vents Her Pent-Up Rage on the Campy "NUN"

Pam Autouri, who writes and records as TOMI, grew up in the Catholic Church, attending every Sunday and going to Catholic School during the week. When she came out as a lesbian she carried a lot of shame and guilt. She was living in New York at the time and

INTERVIEW: Sarah Rudy of Hello June Defies Conformity

INTERVIEW: Sarah Rudy of Hello June Defies Conformity

Sarah Rudy of Hello June has lived a lifetime of loss in the five years since the band’s previous album, Spruce. The band’s latest, Artifacts, is the post-COVID album for those of us who spent lockdown doing more than bake bread. These songs are world-weary and resolved, clear-eyed

INTERVIEW: Jolie Holland Reveres Her "Haunted Mountain"

INTERVIEW: Jolie Holland Reveres Her "Haunted Mountain"

Haunted Mountain, the latest from Jolie Holland, (released 10/6) brims with poignant metaphors, alongside vivid, lyrical imagery meant to expand the collective imagination. Her words, delivered in her haunting, smokey lilt, stir the soul and shine a focused, unapologetic light on the tragedies of our time. She reckons with

Two Weeks Later, Silence From Americanafest

Two Weeks Later, Silence From Americanafest

To be fair, I’m writing this at 8 AM before I head out for the long weekend. It’s entirely possible that the Americana Music Association (AMA) will release something potentially embarrassing on the cusp of a long weekend when people are traveling and not paying much attention. Of