Interviews

Breaking the Spell: Aya Interviewed

Aya Sinclair talks to John Doran about giving up drink & drugs; reckoning with her emo, metal & IDM past and finds time to pass on some tips for those wanting to fill their mouths with live earthworms. Main portrait by Dee Iskrzynska

The Gold Standard: Imperial Triumphant Interviewed

Imperial Triumphant’s sixth album sharpens up their avant metal sound and polishes it to a burnished sheen. Cooking up a storm that mixes Stanley Kubrick, Art Deco and jazz, with a huge dollop of New York City, Dan Franklin speaks to Zachary Ezrin about how self-imposed restrictions expanded their modernist vision. All portraits by Shannon Void

Perc Life: Rattle Interviewed

Claire Biddles speaks to Katharine Eira Brown and Theresa Wrigley ahead of the release of their hypnotic new album, Encircle. Portraits by Julie R. Kane

Unfortunately, it’s the Perfect Moment: Prostitute Interviewed

Bernie Brooks talks to hometown heroes Moe and Andrew, the incendiary songwriting duo behind Dearborn, Michigan's up-and-coming noise rock quintet, Prostitute

All tQ Interviews

Baker's Dozen

Artists discuss the 13 records that shaped their lives

Baker's Dozen

All For The Songs: Edwyn Collins’ Favourite Music

On the verge of a new album and his final ever tour, Edwyn Collins takes Jude Rogers through 13 records that have defined his life, from indie, soul and country classics to his encounters with Sparks and The Cribs

Baker's Dozen

Stick with the Weirdos: Marie Davidson’s Favourite Books

Marie Davidson takes us through 13 of her favourite books, taking in sci-fi, economics, meditation, Miles Davis, and the major inspirations on her new LP City Of Clowns

Baker's Dozen

The Modern Saints: Shackleton’s Favourite Albums

In a self-penned Baker’s Dozen, Shackleton takes us through the music that shaped his life, taking in metal, folk, classical, qawwali, dub, Dylan, and the underrated combo of drones and biblical readings

Baker's Dozen

Slow Burners: Sean Johnston on the 13 Songs that Shaped A Love From Outer Space

As much-loved club night A Love From Outer Space reaches its 15th anniversary, Sean Johnston – its co-founder alongside the much-missed Andrew Weatherall – picks 13 tracks that have soundtracked its journey from a Stoke Newington basement to an international community

All Baker's Dozens

All For The Songs: Edwyn Collins’ Favourite Music

On the verge of a new album and his final ever tour, Edwyn Collins takes Jude Rogers through 13 records that have defined his life, from indie, soul and country classics to his encounters with Sparks and The Cribs

Stick with the Weirdos: Marie Davidson’s Favourite Books

Marie Davidson takes us through 13 of her favourite books, taking in sci-fi, economics, meditation, Miles Davis, and the major inspirations on her new LP City Of Clowns

The Modern Saints: Shackleton’s Favourite Albums

In a self-penned Baker’s Dozen, Shackleton takes us through the music that shaped his life, taking in metal, folk, classical, qawwali, dub, Dylan, and the underrated combo of drones and biblical readings

Slow Burners: Sean Johnston on the 13 Songs that Shaped A Love From Outer Space

As much-loved club night A Love From Outer Space reaches its 15th anniversary, Sean Johnston – its co-founder alongside the much-missed Andrew Weatherall – picks 13 tracks that have soundtracked its journey from a Stoke Newington basement to an international community

All Baker's Dozens

In Conversation

Artists go head-to-head

In Conversation

Peer Review: Gazelle Twin Interviews Gary Numan… And Vice Versa

We left two of our favourite musicians, Gazelle Twin and Gary Numan, alone to answer the kind of questions they wish they were always asked, talking ghost encounters, weirdness in pop music, parenthood, the end of humanity and more

In Conversation

Peer Review: Robert Macfarlane Interviews Hayden Thorpe… And Vice Versa

We left musician Hayden Thorpe and the writer Robert Macfarlane alone to answer the kind of questions they wish they were always asked

In Conversation

Peer Review: Stephen Pastel Interviews David Keenan… And Vice Versa

Ahead of the release of the This Is Memorial Device album, based on the play, which was in turn based on the novel, musician Stephen Pastel and writer David Keenan interview one another, without any interference from us

In Conversation

Peer Review: Jonathan Meades Interviews Saint Leonard. And Vice Versa

We left musician Saint Leonard and the polymath Jonathan Meades alone to answer the kind of questions they wish they were always asked

All In Conversation

Peer Review: Gazelle Twin Interviews Gary Numan… And Vice Versa

We left two of our favourite musicians, Gazelle Twin and Gary Numan, alone to answer the kind of questions they wish they were always asked, talking ghost encounters, weirdness in pop music, parenthood, the end of humanity and more

Peer Review: Robert Macfarlane Interviews Hayden Thorpe… And Vice Versa

We left musician Hayden Thorpe and the writer Robert Macfarlane alone to answer the kind of questions they wish they were always asked

Peer Review: Stephen Pastel Interviews David Keenan… And Vice Versa

Ahead of the release of the This Is Memorial Device album, based on the play, which was in turn based on the novel, musician Stephen Pastel and writer David Keenan interview one another, without any interference from us

Peer Review: Jonathan Meades Interviews Saint Leonard. And Vice Versa

We left musician Saint Leonard and the polymath Jonathan Meades alone to answer the kind of questions they wish they were always asked

All In Conversation

Things I Have Learned

Artists illuminate their non-musical passions

Things I Have Learned

Circuit des Yeux on the Poop Jokes of Scott Walker

A decade ago CdY couldn't understand why people compared her music to that made by a man in his seventies, but after listening to the work of Scott Walker she found much she approved of, including scatological humour. Main portrait by Dana Trippe, all other pictures by Haley Fohr

Things I Have Learned

Richard Foster on the Art of Punk Rock Birdwatching

Writer/ idler/ photocopyist Richard Foster is about to publish his second auto fiction – The Punk Rock Birdwatching Club – this month. Here he outlines the credo of this pastime. Portraits by Nina Dörner

Things I Have Learned

Wardruna’s Einar Selvik on his Love of Ancient Instruments

Wardruna main man Einar Selvik tells Dan Franklin about how his passion for ancient instruments fuels his music, and the ways in which nature creates culture

Things I Have Learned

Ashtray Time: Michael on the Joy of Throwing Pots

On the release of their crushing, darkly psychedelic new album, London quintet Michael give Alastair Shuttleworth a lesson in pottery – and explain why making ceramics is a lot like making music

All Things I Have Learned

Circuit des Yeux on the Poop Jokes of Scott Walker

A decade ago CdY couldn't understand why people compared her music to that made by a man in his seventies, but after listening to the work of Scott Walker she found much she approved of, including scatological humour. Main portrait by Dana Trippe, all other pictures by Haley Fohr

Richard Foster on the Art of Punk Rock Birdwatching

Writer/ idler/ photocopyist Richard Foster is about to publish his second auto fiction – The Punk Rock Birdwatching Club – this month. Here he outlines the credo of this pastime. Portraits by Nina Dörner

Wardruna’s Einar Selvik on his Love of Ancient Instruments

Wardruna main man Einar Selvik tells Dan Franklin about how his passion for ancient instruments fuels his music, and the ways in which nature creates culture

Ashtray Time: Michael on the Joy of Throwing Pots

On the release of their crushing, darkly psychedelic new album, London quintet Michael give Alastair Shuttleworth a lesson in pottery – and explain why making ceramics is a lot like making music

All Things I Have Learned

Rock's Backpages

Archive music journalism from our friends at RBP

Rock's Backpages

When Mark Met Nick and Shane: Three Horsemen of the Apocalypse

From Rock's Backpages this month, an infamous NME pop summit from 1989. James Brown and Sean O'Hagan took Mark E Smith, Nick Cave & Shane MacGowan to the Montague Arms (RIP) in New Cross. Great merriment ensued... (republished 24th January 2018)

Rock's Backpages

Rock’s Backpages: Paul Morley’s 1997 Review Of Radiohead’s OK Computer

Fifteen years after the release of Radiohead's phenomenal OK Computer, we visit the Rock's Backpages archive for Paul Morley's Uncut magazine review

Rock's Backpages

Tortoise: Shell On Earth, By Simon Reynolds

The Quietus are proud to be hosting the Village Mentality stage, headlined by Tortoise, at Field Day this Saturday. Writing for the Melody Maker in February 1996, Simon Reynolds heralded their album Millions Now Living Will Never Die as the future...

Rock's Backpages

From Rock’s Backpages: Donna Summer & The Story Of ‘Love To Love You Baby’

The Quietus and Rock's Backpages remembering Donna Summer with an extract from Jim Esposito's 1976 feature on the sexing up of AM radio

All Rock's Backpages

When Mark Met Nick and Shane: Three Horsemen of the Apocalypse

From Rock's Backpages this month, an infamous NME pop summit from 1989. James Brown and Sean O'Hagan took Mark E Smith, Nick Cave & Shane MacGowan to the Montague Arms (RIP) in New Cross. Great merriment ensued... (republished 24th January 2018)

Rock’s Backpages: Paul Morley’s 1997 Review Of Radiohead’s OK Computer

Fifteen years after the release of Radiohead's phenomenal OK Computer, we visit the Rock's Backpages archive for Paul Morley's Uncut magazine review

Tortoise: Shell On Earth, By Simon Reynolds

The Quietus are proud to be hosting the Village Mentality stage, headlined by Tortoise, at Field Day this Saturday. Writing for the Melody Maker in February 1996, Simon Reynolds heralded their album Millions Now Living Will Never Die as the future...