Feature / Music / Year End 2018
Pass The Mic: Artists and labels on 2018

It's the end of the year, but before we tell you what we think the best albums and musical moments of 2018 were, we've handed over the pen (cursor?) to the people who make our scene what it is—the artists and labels—to tell us how they found the year in music, their upcoming releases, and their take on the perennial issue of digital versus physical media. Here's a few choice excerpts:

Tobias Jeg (Red Scare Industries)

Brendan Kelly just told me that he has a covers EP coming, and I don’t think I’m supposed to talk about that, but it’s such a goddamn squirrelly idea, I’m not sure how to handle it.

Terence (The Holy Circle/Axebreaker/Locrian)

I think the future is going to be boring and artists will never make enough money to sustain their practice. I hope I'm wrong, but it will be an endless line of people taking credit and money and being cooler than the people who create it.

Josh/Donna (Homosuperior)

I didn't discover any new bands, but I did finally get my passport and got to travel out of the country. I plan on doing that a lot more often as everything in the US goes to shit. 

Read on for more!

(The Hussy/No Coast Records/Cave Curse/Fire Heads/On-And-Off Member of Nobunny (Bobby Hussy)

1. What are your top five albums that were released in 2018? (Preferably in order 1-5)

1. Spiritualized - And Nothing Hurt (Fat Possum)
2. Donkey Bugs - Ancient Chinese Secrets (Fish Records)
3. Digital Leather - Pink Thunder (FDH Records)
4. Lavender Flu - Mow The Glass (In The Red)
5. Mind Spiders - Furies (Dirtnap)

2. What band did you discover in 2018 (can be a brand new band or an older band) that had an impact on your life? What made them significant?

Spiritualized. I had always been a Spacemen 3 fan but always sorta sided with Sonic Boom for whatever reason. I sorta dug his songs on Spacemen 3 records the most I guess. But I've really come to love J Spacemen and what he has done solo. The record that came out this year is absolutely stunning and honestly a true masterpiece. I dug into his entire catalog this year which was rough on my wallet, but definitely worthwhile. A lot of earworms to get through in his prolific catalogue.

3. How will you remember 2018? (In terms of music)

I think this year was really cool in terms of new bands and new records happening in Madison, a lot of stuff I recorded and am really proud to help translate to vinyl: Proud Parents did an LP on Dirtnap that is absolutely fantastic Midwestern great jangle-pop. Dumb Vision and Wood Chickens released stellar records on Big Neck. No Hoax finally got their recordings done...just in time for their breakup show with Agent Orange. Solid Freex put out a great debut and have a follow-up recorded! BUT the best new band in Madison right now is WASH. Very impressive pseudo-grunge shoegaze band with ethereal yet piercing vocals. Definitely the band to watch from Madison this year!

4. What can we look forward to from you in 2019?

Well! The Hussy is back baby! We are making a new LP as we speak. We'll be touring a bit and have some big show announcements coming up soon. STAY TUNED! My other projects are also releasing records in 2019. Cave Curse has a brand new 7" coming out on Goodbye Boozy that features the new 4-piece lineup and it boosts the first recordings as the quartet! Fire Heads are releasing a split 12" with Milwaukee's fantastic Sex Scenes. Big Neck will be putting that out. I changed things up this year and put Kind Turkey in the ground. I started over with a new label called No Coast. We've done a few releases this year that have been great: Blaha, Digital Leather, No Hoax, Woodman/Earhart....and I have a bunch of irons in the fire: The debut Wash EP will be coming out on my label as a limited edition cassette. A two-fer tape release with Mood Altar and BIGPIG is after that...Those are both projects from Black Panties' frontman Luc Michaelski. I'm doing the final Midwest Beat album, "Incantations"; they were one of Wisconsin's finest pop bands and broke up in 2018. I'm also currently in the process of releasing a Red Mass LP via No Coast. This is the first LP I've pressed and released on my label. It's a Montreal post-punk garage outfit that has been around a decade. My girlfriend and I will be driving up to Montreal for the release show in March.

5. What records are you looking forward to most in 2019?

Hmmm. I'm not sure just yet what's coming out or being recorded right now. I know Wash plans to record a full-length as a companion to their EP. I'm sure Wood Chickens will pull another great record out of their hats just like they did this year with "Well Done!". Other than that I'm always checking out what Crash Symbols, In The Red, Total Punk, Drunken Sailor and a few other choice labels are doing. I guess the most anticipated record for me of 2019 is the Red Mass LP I'm releasing. I truly believe in the record and the band. It's fantastic stuff!

6. Right now there are two primary types of digital services: subscription streaming and the bandcamp approach that's more individualized. Do you have a preference and what direction do you think future streaming/download services will move toward?

I think Spotify is definitely the future. With No Coast I've worked out a distribution deal where all of my releases are on Spotify, Itunes, etc. I upload them all to Bandcamp and I use it for all physical online sales as of right now. I also have distribution in the US via Revolver but if someone is buying direct from the label they are getting it through Bandcamp. It's is a great tool for bands and small labels, but I think most people are using Spotify to discover new music these days.

86'd Records/Rations Noise (Wells)

1. What are your top five albums that were released in 2018? (Preferably in order 1-5)

1. Dark Thoughts - At Work
2. Tony Molina - Kill the Lights
3. Iron Chic / Toys That Kill - Split LP
4. Vacation ‎– Mouth Sounds #2699
5. Suppression - Placebo Reality

2. What band did you discover in 2018 (can be a brand new band or an older band) that had an impact on your life? What made them significant?

I don’t think there is one specifically, but in general I hear a lot of new local stuff on WUSB Stony Brook 90.1 - my local community run station. So, for me, getting into my car and hearing an actual local person interview and play stuff from local bands is a more impactful or significant than other discovery methods like curated playlists, algorithmic shuffles, posts from friends, etc -- even if the music isn’t always totally up my alley. Honestly, I’ve been listening to music almost exclusively through terrestrial radio in the car for the past year or so. I’m sure I’ve missed tons of stuff.

3. How will you remember 2018? (In terms of music)

I started 2018 recovering from Carpal Tunnel surgery and writing guitar parts for new songs in my head and ended the year recording some of those songs. So that’s pretty awesome about 2018.

Most of my creative effort this year went into working on the RATIONS NOISE Dronestruck EP. There was lots of research, writing, pixel pushing, and generally wallowing in the upsetting subject matter of the project as I worked on the layout, information, permissions, etc. I tried to channel bands whose political intensity was equal to their audio output. So I listened to a lot of AK-47, NOTHING TO LOSE, KRUPTED PEASANT FARMERZ, UTTER FAILURE, STRUGGLE, and not whole lot else.

4. What can we look forward to from you in 2019?

The results! RATIONS NOISE / UNKNOWN RIVER DRIVER split 12” LP/CS will be out on 86’d (and a bunch of other labels) in January. Also, RATIONS (the band) recorded 4 songs which should come out next year. One track will be on a 2xLP compilation to be announced. Not sure about the rest.

Also, I’m staring down some free time next year, so I’ll be offering layout/design services to bands/labels.

5. What records are you looking forward to most in 2019?

There should be a new AMYGDALA full-length coming called Our Voices will Soar Forever next year that I’m definitely looking forward to. There’s a preview track on their bandcamp page.

6. Right now there are two primary types of digital services: subscription streaming and the bandcamp approach that's more individualized. Do you have a preference and what direction do you think future streaming/download services will move toward?

I’ve never used subscription streaming, but it seems as ubiquitous as it is reviled. I’d like to see more punk-run infrastructure alternatives to Facebook, Spotify, etc. take hold in 2019… or just nuke it all.

Adam Gnade

1. What are your top five albums that were released in 2018? (Preferably in order 1-5)

1. Planet B - self-titled
2. Phosphorescent - C'est La Vie
3. Hop Along - Bark Your Head Off, Dog
4. Daughters - You Won't Get What You Want
5. IDLES - Joy as an Act of Resistance

2. What band did you discover in 2018 (can be a brand new band or an older band) that had an impact on your life? What made them significant?

Big Thief. Holy shit. The lyrics are outstanding. Each record is like reading a Ray Carver story collection. Adrianne Lenker is a damn good writer. I have a hard time staying inspired as far as lyric writing goes, but Lenker does the trick. She could be the new Springsteen. She's got what it takes. Thank you, Adrianne! You are great. Please stay alive and make good things, okay?

3. How will you remember 2018? (In terms of music)

Probably because of the shit state of our government, 2018 has been the gothiest year I can remember since I was obsessed with Robert Smith in 9th grade. I don't like why we're here, but the music is fucking killer.

4. What can we look forward to from you in 2019?

I've got a book that I've been putting everything I have into these past few years. It's called This is the End of Something but it's Not the End of You. It's a short novel with ideas in the same spirit as my only nonfiction book, the Do-It-Yourself Guide to Fighting the Big Motherfuckin' Sad. I plan to finish it on Valentine's Day. I also have a new record written called CampfiresFightSongs that's connected to the book. Played the songs live on a UK tour in the spring, but nothing's recorded besides acoustic demos. It's dark. Maybe too dark. I might not put it out.

5. What records are you looking forward to most in 2019?

I have no idea what's coming next year. Been slugging it out in the moment lately. Life is scary. Would love a new Blanck Mass, Fuck Buttons, Hudson Scott, Lower Dens, Chad Valley, or something from our boy Andrew Mears.

6. Right now there are two primary types of digital services: subscription streaming and the bandcamp approach that's more individualized. Do you have a preference and what direction do you think future streaming/download services will move toward?

As a human being who doesn't have the internet at my house, I don't give a fuck about music's place or future online. As an artist, I like Bandcamp because it's customizable, especially the fact that it allows you to have a merch page. Really hope it sticks around. As a listener, I like vinyl and buying music at record stores and shows, and I'm going to keep doing that no matter how the digital world turns. I have one of those giant console furniture record players from the '70s. It's a big, old, courageous monster -- and it sounds like one. It also has an 8-track player, so everybody tell your grandparents to send me their 8-track tapes. I only have five of them so far, but I like the format.

AJJ/Anxiety Machine (Mark Glick)

1. What are your top five albums that were released in 2018? (Preferably in order 1-5)

1. Jeff Rosenstock - POST-
2. The Sidekicks - Happiness Hours
3. The Body - I Have Fought Against It, But I Can't Any Longer
4. Advance Base - Animal Companionship
5. Vein - Errorzone

2. What band did you discover in 2018 (can be a brand new band or an older band) that had an impact on your life? What made them significant?

I heard Thee More Shallows for the first time this year. The urgency of their record The Book of Bad Breaks really struck a chord. On the other end of the spectrum, Hiroshi Yoshimura's Music For Nine Postcards was a near constant when I just wanted to relax and focus.

3. How will you remember 2018? (In terms of music)

I'll remember 2018 as a really inspiring year, having toured with and seen bands & musicians I love confidently do whatever they want. Spending a week with Emperor X was incredibly motivating, he could capture an entire room with just an iPad.

4. What can we look forward to from you in 2019?

We're putting together a festival/party/art show called Desert Trash in Phoenix this February, which is going to be a lot of fun. More touring, more music, more more.

5. What records are you looking forward to most in 2019?

Xiu Xiu & Katie Dey. There's probably a bunch of stuff that I'm unaware of being in the works. I like being surprised.

6. Right now there are two primary types of digital services: subscription streaming and the bandcamp approach that's more individualized. Do you have a preference and what direction do you think future streaming/download services will move toward?

I prefer the subscription service style. I'm constantly finding new and old music that I fall in love with, and I believe it's because the bar to entry is so low. I pay the monthly fee, and then all it costs is time to find things that resonate with me. It's not perfect, and people have made some really good points against it, but it's better than not paying anyone anything and just having piracy be the biggest platform.

I have no idea what direction things will move. I've seen the stream to own model gaining some traction, which would be an interesting spin on things. Hopefully it just gets better for everyone, however iterative or incremental it needs to be.

BLAHA/The Blind Shake (Mike Blaha)

1. What are your top five albums that were released in 2018? (Preferably in order 1-5)

1. Thee Oh Sees - Smote Reverser
2. Darto — fundamental slime
3. Warm Drag - s/t
4. Benni - I & II
5. Part Chimp - Cheap Thrillers

2. What band did you discover in 2018 (can be a brand new band or an older band) that had an impact on your life? What made them significant?

My friend/BLAHA bass player Allison Gunderson got me into Darto. They’re super creative and interesting, yet take no prisoners. They do everything I was going to think of, but never did! It’s actually frustrating.

3. How will you remember 2018? (In terms of music)

I had a rough year. Definitely in my top 40 for worst years of my life. Music kept me going. Specifically, my British personal friend, Siri, who lives in my phone. She always knows what song I need when I’m out of ideas and admit I am powerless over selecting the appropriate song for the situation. I just tell her “Hey Siri, play some music”, and she’s on it. It’s never what I want, but always what I need. I don’t want to rely on her as much in 2019, but it’s good to know there’s those friends who’ll never give up on you.

4. What can we look forward to from you in 2019?

The Blind Shake will be playing the X-Games this year, so that’ll be a new experience. Without skating and Thrasher Magazines, our band would have never existed. Jim always found cool music through his skate buddies and it was a huge influence on the stuff we listened to. Thrasher was our gateway drug into underground music. So we’ll be “giving back” by playing on ESPN for money somehow. Maybe we can be someone’s musical gateway drug into actual drugs. I don’t know. Or maybe somewhere, a jock kid buys an X-games ticket because he thought it was a peep show. Then he sees a skateboarder, our band, and has a tasty snack at the concessions and realizes there’s more awesome ways to get hurt than playing “two for flinching” with your concussion bros. Call me a hopeless romantic.

BLAHA has an album coming out this spring on Godunknown. Hopefully something else too, followed by another thing. Because one thing is basically no thing. More things has a better chance at being some thing.

5. What records are you looking forward to most in 2019?

Jim Blaha’s solo deal, Jim & the French Vanilla, will have a new record out in 2019 hopefully. I heard the latest mixes and it’s super fun and sonically messed up in all the right places! It might be under a different band name. I’ll keep my ear to the wall and let the people know.

6. Right now there are two primary types of digital services: subscription streaming and the bandcamp approach that's more individualized. Do you have a preference and what direction do you think future streaming/download services will move toward?

I personally like the bandcamp version better for checking out local bands, but I definitely don’t want to go to bandcamp to get the back catalog of great bands throughout the ages. That’s when streaming is the best. When you know a song and you just need to hear it quickly for your own mental health. You are not trying to support a scene or any thing like that. You are simply pulling a song out of the air to supplement the situation.

Body Stuff (Curran Reynolds)

1. What are your top five albums that were released in 2018? (Preferably in order 1-5)

1. Lingua Ignota - All Bitches Die reissue
2. Mutilation Rites - Chasm
3. Jesus Piece - Only Self
4. Jorge Elbrecht - Here Lies
5. Ghost - Prequelle

2. What band did you discover in 2018 (can be a brand new band or an older band) that had an impact on your life? What made them significant?

The Shangri-Las' version of "He Cried" really rocked me. Also, the Rolling Stones. I always took the Stones for granted, but a few weeks ago I saw Hal Ashby's 1983 concert film, Let's Spend the Night Together, and I came to love them overnight.

3. How will you remember 2018? (In terms of music)

I finished writing and recording my third solo EP, Body Stuff 3.

4. What can we look forward to from you in 2019?

Body Stuff 3.

5. What records are you looking forward to most in 2019?

I look forward to new music by Bhad Bhabie, Collapsing Scenery, and all the bands I'll be repping as a publicist. For my PR work, see here: http://thechainworld.com

6. Right now there are two primary types of digital services: subscription streaming and the bandcamp approach that's more individualized. Do you have a preference and what direction do you think future streaming/download services will move toward?

As an artist, I like the control that artists have over their own Bandcamp pages.

Cattle Decapitation (Travis Ryan)

1. What are your top five albums that were released in 2018? (Preferably in order 1-5)

1. Shannon and the Clams - Onion
2. Shannon Shaw - Shannon In Nashville
3. Softkill - Savior
4. Soreption - Monument Of The End
5. Choir Boy - Part Time Punks Sessions

2. What band did you discover in 2018 (can be a brand new band or an older band) that had an impact on your life? What made them significant?

It would probably have to be the bands Human Leather and Choir Boy. The vocalist has this beautiful falsetto and the band is a bunch of young dudes that sound exactly like they grew up during the '80s and were frozen in time. Except they're a bunch of really young dudes in their 20s. Its mind-blowing.

3. How will you remember 2018? (In terms of music)

Well, being in a touring band that releases albums helps muddy that all up. The last few years has had a lot of exciting stuff going on in the goth side of things and metal is starting to get inseminated by goth, electronica and even rap so things are looking pretty interesting as of late. Doesn't mean its all good but its something.

4. What can we look forward to from you in 2019?

Cattle Decapitation will be hitting the studio in the spring and a new album coming sometime in the 3rd or 4th quarter and a whole lot of touring.

5. What records are you looking forward to most in 2019?

Not too sure of what's coming but one I do know of is Riciin's new album. A project featuring the gorgeous voice of Laure Le Prunec from the Igorrr camp in France. That country has been KILLING IT in recent years. So much good stuff coming out of there. Speaking of which, hopefully there will be a new Magma. I'm always waiting for anything from them. That's my favorite band of all time. 

6. Right now there are two primary types of digital services: subscription streaming and the bandcamp approach that's more individualized. Do you have a preference and what direction do you think future streaming/download services will move toward?

Honestly, I fucking LOVE Bandcamp. But really it looks like stuff like Spotify is what everyone wants. I'm sure Amazon will figure out some way to own everything at some point anyways. 

CoinToss Records (Indy)

1. What are your top five albums that were released in 2018? (Preferably in order 1-5)

I don't really have an order but here are my favorite of 2018:

• Sunstroke - Second Floor/Seven LP
• Nowhere Roads- Toil Every Second 7"
• MindForce - Excaliber LP
• Circles  - 2017 Demos
• Final Expressions - s/t

There are a lot more records I spin all the time (of course all my releases), but these were the last 5 I played.

2. What band did you discover in 2018 (can be a brand new band or an older band) that had an impact on your life? What made them significant?

To be honest all the bands I have put records out for, I of course love the music and the bands. But I would have to say other bands would be Circles (France) and Final Expressions (NC) because they have the Revolution Summer and Turning Point sound that love. 

3. How will you remember 2018? (In terms of music)

Lot of music came out, record collectors nightmare (Hahahah)

4. What can we look forward to from you in 2019?

Working on some things. I don’t really have a full plan, but I'm looking forward to working with great people and great bands.

5. What records are you looking forward to most in 2019?

Sunstroke, Circles, PointBreak and anything /everything else.

I love hearing new music/bands and if I don't like it there will be people who do. Just want the hunger of new bands and music to stay where it is or grow.

6. Right now there are two primary types of digital services: subscription streaming and the bandcamp approach that's more individualized. Do you have a preference and what direction do you think future streaming/download services will move toward?

It doesn't matter to me, just what option works for you personally. It would be great if they paid artist and labels more, but everyone had expenses and more money is always great right.

Color TV (Phil - guitar)

1. What are your top five albums that were released in 2018? (Preferably in order 1-5)

LPs:

• Mutant Dance Beat - s/t boxset (Rush Hour Music)
• Hot Snakes - Jericho Silence (Sub Pop Records)
• Vector Command - System 3 LP (HoZac Records)
• Robyn - Honey (Konichiwa Records)
• Tragedy - Fury 12” (Tragedy Records)

7”s:

• Tarantula - The Very Best of Sex and Violence 7” (Deranged Records)
• Deadlock - s/t” 7” (Painkiller Records)
• Fetish - s/t 7” (Beach Impediment Records)
• The Number Ones - Another Side of the Numbers Ones 7” (Sorry State Records)
• Warthog - s/t (Toxic State Records)

2. What band did you discover in 2018 (can be a brand new band or an older band) that had an impact on your life? What made them significant?

I was initially going to say nothing affected me in 2018, but thinking more about it, every time I see an update from Sonny Vincent of the Testors on the status of his family after they were involved in a terrible accident in 2016, I am moved by his dedication to his family and the trials and tribulations they face in their daily lives. Please read about them and consider donating to them:

https://www.journalnow.com/relishnow/music/veteran-rocker-takes-on-new-role-to-help-his-family/article_901f0511-5b3c-518c-a512-aee7d71b59b6.html

https://www.gofundme.com/xnvynbcc

3. How will you remember 2018? (In terms of music)

I suppose I will remember this year being marred by the local scene here in the Twin Cities DIY/legit venues closing and leaving even fewer options than before and infighting among groups of people who should otherwise be working together. Otherwise, the West Coast tour was great and reaffirmed why I enjoy the DIY grind.

4. What can we look forward to from you in 2019?

Writing new songs, more shows, and hopefully an East Coast tour at some point if our lives allow for it.

5. What records are you looking forward to most in 2019?

Nothing is on my radar at the moment.

6. Right now there are two primary types of digital services: subscription streaming and the bandcamp approach that's more individualized. Do you have a preference and what direction do you think future streaming/download services will move toward?

I don’t utilize much digital services in my repertoire of listening habits as it feels disposable and takes away my ability to critically listen to music I’d otherwise might enjoy. But If I had to choose, I guess bandcamp as its a better option for bands to receive direct support from people who appreciate their music.

Dirt Cult Records (Chris Mason)

1. What are your top five albums that were released in 2018? (Preferably in order 1-5)

1. Screaming Females - All at Once
2. Culture Abuse - Bay Dream
3. Bad Sports - Constant Stimulation
4. Superchunk - What a Time to be Alive
5. S.B.F. - S/T

2. What band did you discover in 2018 (can be a brand new band or an older band) that had an impact on your life? What made them significant?

I'd probably define this year in terms of rediscovery than anything else. I spent a significant portion of the year falling in love with the 7" format again and rediscovering my love for early KBD punk and hardcore. 

3. How will you remember 2018? (In terms of music)

In terms of the label, this was definitely the busiest year yet. In 2017 Dirt Cult released 4 records and I was super proud of my restraint. In 2018 Dirt Cult released just under 20 records and tapes because I was getting offers to do so much cool stuff that I didn't feel like I could say no to. It was also my first full year partnering with Green Noise Records who now handles our direct mailorder. I think it's been a really mutually beneficial relationship that has ultimately helped the label grow.

4. What can we look forward to from you in 2019?

I have a Pandemix LP coming out in early 2019. I've also go a Fleshies LP, Kira Jari 7", Suspect Parts 7", and Weird Numbers 7" on deck. I'm anticipating that a few bands who have released records on Dirt Cult previously are going to have some new stuff to share with the world as well. Oh, I'm also doing a limited color vinyl (and screen printed covers) repress of the Maniac - Dead Dance Club LP as well as a repress of the Neighborhood Brats - Claw Marks LP since both of those records are almost gone.

5. What records are you looking forward to most in 2019?

Honestly, I've been so focused on the label (and digging in to early punk stuff) that I don't feel like I'm as in the loop as I normally am about upcoming releases in 2019. But I'm sure there's plenty of stuff to be excited about...

6. Right now there are two primary types of digital services: subscription streaming and the bandcamp approach that's more individualized. Do you have a preference and what direction do you think future streaming/download services will move toward?

First, let me say that I prefer physical records to streaming and other digital services. If I like a record, I'm more than likely going to buy it in a physical format. I like supporting artists and labels directly and this is the best way to do that. That said, I can't play a record in my car, and when I'm on a road trip, it's nice to have access to an endless well of songs at the tap of a button via Spotify. I totally understand why it's so popular. The Bandcamp model, on the other hand, is far more equitable, grassroots, and concerned with promoting independent artists. So as far as content providers go, I much prefer them over streaming services like Spotify.

Frank Turner

1. What are your top five albums that were released in 2018? (Preferably in order 1-5)

• Gaz Coombes - World's Strongest Man
• Arkells - Rally Cry
• Lucero - Among The Ghosts
• Sean MacGowan - Son Of The Smith
• Beans On Toast - A Bird In The Hand

2. What band did you discover in 2018 (can be a brand new band or an older band) that had an impact on your life? What made them significant?

War On Women. They have completely reinvigorated my hope for hardcore punk.

3. How will you remember 2018? (In terms of music)

Releasing and touring Be More Kind has taken up most of my year. And losing Scott Hutchison has been a real tragedy.

4. What can we look forward to from you in 2019?

I have a new book coming out in March, I'm making a new album pretty soon, and I have a couple of side projects about to pop as well. Keeping myself busy.

5. What records are you looking forward to most in 2019?

I actually managed to snag an advance copy of the new Pedro The Lion record, out in January. It's an absolute masterpiece.

6. Right now there are two primary types of digital services: subscription streaming and the bandcamp approach that's more individualized. Do you have a preference and what direction do you think future streaming/download services will move toward?

I don't really have a preference, but I'd say that the streaming model, for the mainstream industry, is fundamentally unworkable in the long run, and I think a big crash of some kind is in the pipeline there (though I wouldn't guess as to when).

Halo of Flies (Cory von Bohlen)

1. What are your top five albums that were released in 2018? (Preferably in order 1-5)

1. Dodsrit
2. Vile Creature
3. Closet Witch
4. Frozen Crown
5. Svalbard 

2. What band did you discover in 2018 (can be a brand new band or an older band) that had an impact on your life? What made them significant?

Frozen Crown - amazing power metal band. They make me happy.

3. How will you remember 2018? (In terms of music)

I shut down the label. Bands were called out for being fuck faces. Etc.

4. What can we look forward to from you in 2019?

Irreverent internet babbling 

5. What records are you looking forward to most in 2019?

New venom prison maybe

6. Right now there are two primary types of digital services: subscription streaming and the bandcamp approach that's more individualized. Do you have a preference and what direction do you think future streaming/download services will move toward?

Streaming will move in both directions. 

I prefer bandcamp.

Homosuperior

1. What are your top five albums that were released in 2018? (Preferably in order 1-5)

KC: Wume – Towards the Shadow

KC: The Vicious Queen single by Donna Slash

KC & Farrah: Gauge Away – Brown Sugar 

Josh/Donna: The only new thing I listened to this year was trans icon Kim Petras.

Kit: Bad Moves – Tell No One

2. What band did you discover in 2018 (can be a brand new band or an older band) that had an impact on your life? What made them significant?

Kit: I’ll say the Gits are a band I got into this year, to learn some of their songs for the Halloween cover show. The songs were really fun to learn and play, and it had a huge positive impact on how much time I was spending drumming, which in turn has noticeable mental health benefits for me.

F: Soul Glo. I could see that band once a week and never get bored. I first saw them at Break Free Fest in Philadelphia, and I don't think I closed my mouth or stopped moving once during their set. I have never seen an entire room move like this in my life.

KC: I was super into Control Top and Wipeout and Hexgirlfriends when I saw all of them this year. Younger freeks making different types of music are the best thing, to me.

J/D: I didn't discover any new bands, but I did finally get my passport and got to travel out of the country. I plan on doing that a lot more often as everything in the US goes to shit. 

3. How will you remember 2018? (In terms of music)

F: I don't remember the last time I saw people so excited for demos and EPs to drop. Perhaps it's the desire for distraction, but 2018 felt like everyone was openly expressing their enthusiasm rather than playing it cool.

KC: I didn’t keep super close tabs on music in 2018, to be honest I was more concerned with film. See Minding the Gap if you haven’t already – definitely my pick for film of the year. Also Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat was fantastic.

J/D: Drunk, sad, and lonely. Thank you, next!

K: Well haha, full disclosure, bad moves is not only a band whose music I absolutely love, but whose members are also very dear to me. Getting to hear and witness firsthand almost the entire writing process for a lot of the songs on tell no one, and to see the incredible amount of time and energy they put into making that album was really awesome and inspiring. In 2018, bad moves has been stuck in my head constantly, and honestly in heavy rotation on my headphones and speakers.

4. What can we look forward to from you in 2019?

K: For 2019, I’m hoping we (Homosuperior) get to spend more time together than our schedules have allowed in 2018, to hopefully write some new stuff.  I dunno what shows 2019 has in store for us, but I’m excited for whatever’s coming.  I personally have another new band in the works that’s still probably a few months from starting to play shows, but that I’m excited about and having fun with.

F: Echoing Kit's excitement for new Homosuperior songs. More L7 covers. Starting a two person band with my brother and eliminating either guitar or bass. Who knows! I don't!

KC: Same. Writing would be tight, and I plan to jam with a drummer and good friend in Baltimore soon. Personally, I’m trying to finalize my plans to go overseas and work on a new indy doc: Calasag. Working with some amazing local Filipino cooks on this – it’s a dive into diasporic and hybrid identity, food and food politics, etc.. Stoked to get overseas and shoot.

J/D: More self-loathing synth tracks and maybe some new Homosuperior stuff.

5. What records are you looking forward to most in 2019?

F: Control Top and Truth Cult.

KC: Control Top!!! New tracks from Jail Solidarity, Hexgirlfriends… I’d love it if Rakta toured the U.S. again.

J/D: Haven’t thought that far, but I’ll try to pay more attention.

6. Right now there are two primary types of digital services: subscription streaming and the bandcamp approach that's more individualized. Do you have a preference and what direction do you think future streaming/download services will move toward?

F: I'd prefer to see more individuals support Bandcamp musicians. What do we need to do to get Cardi B on Bandcamp? The democratization of music can be seen as stupid by more mainstream artists -- having music on Spotify is more brag-worthy than other platforms, right? How do we get everyone in one place without a move that's perceived as a demotion by some? I don't have the answer, but it's something to think about moving forward. 

KC: I’m a pessimist so I think everything will succumb to capitalist greed eventually. Monetization will reign supreme. If we want to maintain independent art that doesn’t siphon money away from artists, we have to keep it grassroots. Maybe demo tapes will come back in style.

J/D: Cassette tapes are huge right now. Where do people even get cassette players?

Iron Lung Records (Jensen Ward)

1. What are your top five albums that were released in 2018? (Preferably in order 1-5)

1. EXEK - Ahead Of Two Thoughts LP (W. 25th)
2. VILE GASH - Nightmare In A Damaged Brain LP (Youth Attack)
3. HIDE - Castration Anxiety LP (Dais)
4. MORTUOUS - Through Wilderness LP (Carbonized/Tankcrimes)
5. JÓHANN JÓHANNSSON - Mandy OST LP (Lakeshore)

2. What band did you discover in 2018 (can be a brand new band or an older band) that had an impact on your life? What made them significant?

The most recent one that comes to mind is Vashti Bunyan, a one woman snapshot of melancholic psych folk perfection from the late '60s UK scene. The lilt in her angelic voice could put the sun down for a week in the middle of a summer. It's very delicate and dark, so much atmosphere. Her story is interesting too, she put out a couple singles, "Train Song" being the absolute best, and an LP that didn't sell too well then vanished from music altogether. I think it was something like 30 years before anyone even saw her. I love a recluse story.

3. How will you remember 2018? (In terms of music)

The year I couldn't play all that well. I had a myriad of physical limitations that kept me from playing drums for most of the year. The big 3 were bilateral carpal tunnel, trigger finger and De Quervain's. I ended up getting a couple surgeries on my hands just so I would be able to play again. I am currently in a healing limbo and the anticipation is killing me. Will I be able to keep doing this? I will do everything I can to make it happen.

4. What can we look forward to from you in 2019?

Wiping my ass without having to think about hand positions that send searing hot pain shooting up my arms. Also, a new Iron Lung album, new Innumerable Forms album, new Nasti album and a slew of other secret shit I'll never talk about publicly. Mostly ass wiping though.

5. What records are you looking forward to most in 2019?

Since none of the albums I was looking forward to in 2018 actually materialized, I assume I jinxed all of them. For 2019, I'm really looking forward to anything with autotune vocals...

6. Right now there are two primary types of digital services: subscription streaming and the bandcamp approach that's more individualized. Do you have a preference and what direction do you think future streaming/download services will move toward?

I use both styles all the time. Bandcamp is by far the best way to hear new bands and directly support those bands so I'd say that is better. You have to do a little more legwork on your own but its totally worth it to me. I like to dig. The streaming stuff is super convenient and has a lot of things to hear and is great for older stuff. I'd imagine that will win out over time though since the general public are fucking lazy, passive listeners who don't look too far past the "recommended for you" playlists their personalized algorithms fart out at them. It's sad really that physical media is becoming obsolete. Everything becomes more and more temporary as time goes by. Sooner or later we will forget everything. Maybe we will accidentally start another Cold War but actually follow through. Problems solved eh?

La Escalera Records/Western Settings (Will Castro)

1. What are your top five albums that were released in 2018? (Preferably in order 1-5)

1. Mercy Music - Until The End Of Your World
2. Squarecrow - Before The Sun Catches Us All
3. The Shell Corporation - Fucked

2. What band did you discover in 2018 (can be a brand new band or an older band) that had an impact on your life? What made them significant?

I discovered Kali Masi from Chicago. I had the privilege to tour with these gentlemen with Western Settings and seeing them play live every night was a treat and they're some of the most genuine and kind people I've met and their music is not that bad. Good things coming from these folks in 2019.

3. How will you remember 2018? (In terms of music)

More of the same just like every year. Nothing really stood out.

4. What can we look forward to from you in 2019?

La Escalera will be putting the brakes on for a little bit but we have a few things coming in 2019. Regan Ashton (problem daughter) will be putting out an EP with us. I really wanna get my hands on the new DFMK record, but we will see about that. We're releasing a vinyl version of Hey Chels (ricky from Western Settings' other band). We have some cool re-issues for Problem Daughter and Western Settings coming out and a few others I'm sure. We look forward to hosting more bands and making La Escalera Fest 8 a little bigger this year. Western Settings is headed to Europe for some festivals in May 2019.

5. What records are you looking forward to most in 2019?

Western Settings is putting out their new one. Problem Daughter has one coming up. DFMK has a new full-length coming. But I'd really like to finally get my hands on the new Dead To Me record.

6. Right now there are two primary types of digital services: subscription streaming and the bandcamp approach that's more individualized. Do you have a preference and what direction do you think future streaming/download services will move toward?

I think more of these streaming platforms are in the works, I just want the most exposure and access for smaller bands that also take care of the artist with fair dividends from plays, streams and such.

Red Scare Industries (Tobias Jeg)

1. What are your top five albums that were released in 2018? (Preferably in order 1-5)

Not sure about albums, but how about… 5 good songs!

1. “Would It Kill You?” – Dead To Me
2. “Fun” – Vince Staples
3. “Out Of It” – Tightwire
4. “Pale Blue Island” – Alkaline Trio
5. “Led Zeppelin III” – The Brokedowns

2. What band did you discover in 2018 (can be a brand new band or an older band) that had an impact on your life? What made them significant?

I heard demos from a Minneapolis band called Tightwire and wanted to work with them right away. We put out their debut called, “Six Feet Deep” and I call it “Doom Pop” because it thematically reminds me of bands like Crusades and Dear Landlord. And of course they’re the nicest guys, which is the main requirement for a Red Scare band.

3. How will you remember 2018? (In terms of music)

Kids sure are dressing funny, eh? It’s like, “Let’s see what Punky Brewster donated to Goodwill and top it off with some tie-dye!” I thought the '90s skatepunk look was bad with the JNCOs and chain wallets, but this latest hobo garb… OH WAIT, you said “in terms of music”! I dunno, music journalists pay ZERO attention to our bands, but the shows and tours are great and the royalties we pay are only getting better, so this year belongs to the listeners. They’re more supportive than ever, even if the gatekeepers are not.

4. What can we look forward to from you in 2019?

Lotsa stuff! We’ve already announced the addition of Philly’s Ramona. They’re recording their debut album in February. MakeWar is also recording stuff. The Lillingtons' Death By Television is turning 20 next year, and we plan to do something special for that.  Brendan Kelly just told me that he has a covers EP coming, and I don’t think I’m supposed to talk about that, but it’s such a goddamn squirrelly idea, I’m not sure how to handle it. New bands and records are definitely in the works, and we will announce all that jazz in due time. Check the FB and Twitter and website, OKAY?!

5. What records are you looking forward to most in 2019?

I am looking forward to the first Red Scare release that goes Multi-Platinum. Any day now. 

6. Right now there are two primary types of digital services: subscription streaming and the bandcamp approach that's more individualized. Do you have a preference and what direction do you think future streaming/download services will move toward?

People can consume music any way they want, and the more options the better it is for the art. I love the digital platforms because they’re so much cheaper for the listener, more profitable for the bands, and easier on the planet. My “preference” would be for DLs like iTunes and Bandcamp, but I also don’t discourage the use of streaming services, because some compensation is better than none. And also: no one gives a flying, flaming fuck what labels and bands prefer. People will consume how they want.

Riverboat Gamblers/Drakulas (Mike Wiebe)

1. What are your top five albums that were released in 2018? (Preferably in order 1-5)

• Pusha T - Daytona
• Vince Staples - Fun
• Surfbort - Friendship Music
• Czarface/MF Doom - Czarface Meets Metalface
• Fucked Up - Dose Your Dreams

2. What band did you discover in 2018 (can be a brand new band or an older band) that had an impact on your life? What made them significant?

The Index. It's from the late '60s-early '70s...Just a really cool vibe they threw out they put my brain on some cool pathways.

3. How will you remember 2018? (In terms of music)

The year that I embraced synth.

4. What can we look forward to from you in 2019?

Drakulas have a new record called Terminal Amusements coming out at some point. We plan on showing it to the world.

5. What records are you looking forward to most in 2019?

I hope the Hives do something new. I never know who's doing what these days...

6. Right now there are two primary types of digital services: subscription streaming and the bandcamp approach that's more individualized. Do you have a preference and what direction do you think future streaming/download services will move toward?

I only predict that Drakulas will dominate both.

Salinas Records (Marco Reosti)

1. What are your top five albums that were released in 2018? (Preferably in order 1-5)

1. Bonny Doon - Long Wave
2. Carb on Carb - For Ages
3. Dark Thoughts - LP II
4. Heavy Pockets - Pure Evil
5. Night Shop - In The Break

2. What band did you discover in 2018 (can be a brand new band or an older band) that had an impact on your life? What made them significant?

I went to see my friend who was touring with Night Shop. It was really fantastic to see Justin Sullivan, who I had seen almost 15 years earlier playing in The Insurgent, still making really thoughtful music that sounded totally different but that was still sincere and reflective.

3. How will you remember 2018? (In terms of music)

2018 was the year that Salinas moved into its own space. After 15 years in my basement, I packed up all the record and moved them across the country and into my friend Jeff's warehouse.

4. What can we look forward to from you in 2019?

• Big Nothing LP
• Freezing Cold LP
• Radiator Hospital LP
• Vacation EP

5. What records are you looking forward to most in 2019?

I dunno. Hopefully Dark Thoughts will put out another LP.

6. Right now there are two primary types of digital services: subscription streaming and the bandcamp approach that's more individualized. Do you have a preference and what direction do you think future streaming/download services will move toward?

I don't really care much, I'm still mostly interested in records, but I guess I think people get a little more directly involved with people making music through bandcamp. That's something I value in music, and therefore, I guess I prefer bandcamp.

The Holy Circle/Axebreaker/Locrian (Terence)

1. What are your top five albums that were released in 2018? (Preferably in order 1-5)

1. Low - Double Negative
2. Straight Panic - Cycle
3. Mandy OST - Johann Johannson
4. Hissing - Permanent Destitution
5. Neil Young - Hitchhiker

2. What band did you discover in 2018 (can be a brand new band or an older band) that had an impact on your life? What made them significant?

Blitz "Second Empire Justice" - Really enjoy this post-punk masterpiece. As much as I like early Blitz, this is great dark pop with some really good ideas in it.

3. How will you remember 2018? (In terms of music)

Slow and full of echoes.

4. What can we look forward to from you in 2019?

My anti-fascist power-electronics project AXEBREAKER will have a CD Brutality in Stone out on Phage Tapes. My black-metal project BRUTALISM will release a full-length The Charged Void on Cassette/CD with Cloister and Annihilvs. My dream-pop trio THE HOLY CIRCLE just recorded a demo which should arrive in 2019, and LOCRIAN will be in the studio at some point in the year.

5. What records are you looking forward to most in 2019?

My own. Just getting them out there. I never know what is coming out in the future. Literally I have no idea.

6. Right now there are two primary types of digital services: subscription streaming and the bandcamp approach that's more individualized. Do you have a preference and what direction do you think future streaming/download services will move toward?

Well, privately as a musician I enjoy private streaming to share ideas with people for things I am working on or collaborating on. However, Bandcamp is a great site and a good way to engage with people who like what you do and discover new bands and as a musician you do get compensated more directly with it that say the penny-slicing at Spotify. I think the future is going to be boring and artists will never make enough money to sustain their practice. I hope I'm wrong, but it will be an endless line of people taking credit and money and being cooler than the people who create it.

The Last Gang

1. What are your top five albums that were released in 2018? (Preferably in order 1-5)

1. Swingin' Utters - Peace And Love
2. The Interrupters - Fight The Good Fight
3. The Street Dogs - Stand For Something Die For Nothing
4. Frank Turner - Be More Kind
5. Nothing - Dancing On The Blacktop

2. What band did you discover in 2018 (can be a brand new band or an older band) that had an impact on your life? What made them significant?

Nothing. I’ve always been a fan of shoegaze music and echo/reverb guitars. I discovered them while on the recent Swingin' Utters tour. It was the longest tour I’ve done since my daughter being born so there were days I just wanted to not think of anything and I remember I was looking out the window of the van while driving through some empty ness in Montana and “Zero Day” came on and for some reason it just hypnotized me.

3. How will you remember 2018? (In terms of music)

I feel like most of my favorite punk bands all put out a record this year. But I will be biased as I will remember it as the year we put out our debut record on FAT Wreck.

4. What can we look forward to from you in 2019?

A LOT of touring! We really want to play places we have never played meet new people. 

5. What records are you looking forward to most in 2019?

There are a couple I can’t say that are in the works, haha! 

6. Right now there are two primary types of digital services: subscription streaming and the bandcamp approach that's more individualized. Do you have a preference and what direction do you think future streaming/download services will move toward?

I have always enjoyed spotify as a listener, but I do hear that as a musician bandcamp is a bit more useful. As far as the future of it who knows? One thing I’ve noticed with myself is when I would buy a tape or a CD when I was younger I would listen to it from beginning to end for weeks on end. Now a new record comes out and I will enjoy it for a few days but then a new record comes out and I got listen to that. Sometimes it’s too much at your finger tips, haha.

THEOLOGIAN/ANNIHILVS POWER ELECTRONIX (Lee M. Bartow)

1. What are your top five albums that were released in 2018? (Preferably in order 1-5)

I think this is what I listened to most often this year:

1. Jóhann Jóhannsson - MANDY soundtrack
2. Jed Palmer - UPGRADE soundtrack
3. Bonedust - FRUIT OF THE ASH
4. Them are Us Too - AMENDS
5. SRSQ - UNREALITY

2. What band did you discover in 2018 (can be a brand new band or an older band) that had an impact on your life? What made them significant?

Although I'm friends with Ryan Martin of DAIS RECORDS, I'd never listened to THEM ARE US TOO, until their final release earlier this year. I found it to be an incredibly moving tribute to band member Cash Askew, whose life was lost in the Ghost Ship fire. The album was completed after this tragedy with input by Cash's friends and family. Singer Kennedy Ashlyn went on to release the debut of her solo project SRSQ on DAIS more recently, which is also beautiful. I can't claim that these albums had a *significant impact on my life per se, but they definitely made an impact.

3. How will you remember 2018? (In terms of music)

As with last year, unbelievably frustrating, but also pretty rewarding. As a label owner, my lack of resources were glaring this year, although I managed to release several albums by artists I admire. As THEOLOGIAN, I completed work on two Lovecraft vinyl projects for CADABRA RECORDS, headlined the DARKNESS DESCENDS festival in Cleveland in June, we performed in Denver with BRIGHTER DEATH NOW in September, and in October I produced a festival at a local arts center, for the second year in a row. I made some new music for my friend Nikki's project TELLADICTORIAN and we played our first show together a couple of weeks ago, which was well-received.

I'd had a hard time thinking about music that I bought or discovered this year, but it turns out that I actually have a nice little list of albums that I listened to on heavy rotation, on top of stuff that I released myself.

4. What can we look forward to from you in 2019?

THEOLOGIAN will be spending the winter months working on a massive triptych album that has been in progress for almost four years now, along with an accompanying short film, which my girlfriend and I shot together with friends in Iceland in August. We're talking about some potential tourdates later in the new year as well. ANNIHILVS has a pretty full slate of releases, some stuff that is still left unpublished from the past few years, as well as a couple of brand new things. I'm pretty excited to put out this full-length from Terence Hannum's BRUTALISM project.

5. What records are you looking forward to most in 2019?

Aside from things that I'm putting out myself, I can't really think of anything that I'm looking forward to. My music buying habits have become a shadow of what they once were, and my enthusiasm in general is at an all-time low. It's a hard balancing act these days.

6. Right now there are two primary types of digital services: subscription streaming and the bandcamp approach that's more individualized. Do you have a preference and what direction do you think future streaming/download services will move toward?

I'm not a fan of digital versus physical media. It's a problem I face constantly as I try to keep motivated with everything I do, and I feel like a dinosaur most of the time. The devaluation of art and music can be directly traced to the rise and ubiquity of streaming services and digital media. Bandcamp is definitely the superior model, with artists and labels having direct control of how their material is distributed. A lot of my own work is on Spotify and all the others, but I never put it there or given my express permission for it to be there, nor do I receive any financial compensation for any sales via those outlets. I mourn for the days when I would sit down with a record in my hands and become completely absorbed in the experience. I know a lot of people feel the same. Obviously this is still an option, but I'm not happy with the way I engage with music, and how it has changed so drastically from when I was younger.

To Live A Lie Records/Tired Of Everything (Will Butler)

1. What are your top five albums that were released in 2018? (Preferably in order 1-5)

1. Blood Pressure - Surrounded
2. Public Acid - Easy Weapon
3. S.H.I.T. - What Do You Stand For?
4. No Statik - Mysterious To Ourselves 
5. Waste Management - Tried And True

2. What band did you discover in 2018 (can be a brand new band or an older band) that had an impact on your life? What made them significant?

I think I'm late to the party here but like every year I discovered some non-punk, but got really into John Maus right before he toured here. It's just a nice change of pace with the same energy punk has. Looks like I'll be seeing him again in a few months. Music is great when it doesn't quite fit anywhere and I think that is what this is.

3. How will you remember 2018? (In terms of music)

2018 is the year I started singing in a band for the first time and I gained a lot of respect for singers. Having released +100 records on my label and played in many bands, I didn't realize how exhausting it is.

4. What can we look forward to from you in 2019?

There will be a long awaited Sidetracked LP finally after me bothering the band for years to put together something. I'm putting out a split between Neckbeard Deathcamp and Terminal Nation. And I started up a newish industrial project called Christ Violence which I have a demo coming out super soon that I recorded in a day so I hope to spend more effort on songs going forwards. Lots of Tired Of Everything live shows, playing with Rashamon, Ghouli, Soul Glo, and Musket Hawk in January/Feb.

5. What records are you looking forward to most in 2019?

2018 was busy, I'm hoping 2019 is focused... musically and otherwise.

6. Right now there are two primary types of digital services: subscription streaming and the bandcamp approach that's more individualized. Do you have a preference and what direction do you think future streaming/download services will move toward?

Being on the go a lot means I like paid streaming for me personally. I have an Alexa and its great to ask for songs to be played and to make playlists and shuffle them. Bandcamp is great but requires you to really have a media server together to do something similar. There is no harm as a label, musician, music lover, etc to make sure to post up songs on all digital mediums. For my personal projects I still am pro file sharing, I almost put more items up there because if you really want live audio of my bands playing...you got em! Also post them to Archive.org. Keep music out there and accessible. 

Toxic Pop Records/Pulling Teeth (Mike Riley)

1. What are your top five albums that were released in 2018? (Preferably in order 1-5)

1. Superchunk - What a Time To Be Alive
2. Night Birds - Roll Credits
3. Culture Abuse - Bay Dreams
4. Dark Thoughts - At Work
5. Former Member - Old Youth

2. What band did you discover in 2018 (can be a brand new band or an older band) that had an impact on your life? What made them significant?

State Drugs - Chris from Pulling Teeth's new band based out of Denver. Great indie-pop along the lines of Gin Blossoms, Gameface, Liars Academy, the Jealous Sound, etc.

3. How will you remember 2018? (In terms of music)

First year in a long time that I did not make or release any music. (If you're in northern Colorado, hit me up.)

4. What can we look forward to from you in 2019?

Would love to find some people in the Denver/Boulder/Ft. Collins area to make some music with.

5. What records are you looking forward to most in 2019?

The Conmen LP, State Drugs LP

6. Right now there are two primary types of digital services: subscription streaming and the bandcamp approach that's more individualized. Do you have a preference and what direction do you think future streaming/download services will move toward?

Spotify/Apple Music/etc. are just too convenient for the listener and aren't going anywhere any time soon. It would rule if they would pay artists more, but I'm not holding my breath. Bandcamp is great for artists and pretty darn easy for listeners/consumers. It's about the only digital space where artists can make any decent money. If you're in a band or run a label and your music isn't on Bandcamp, you're blowing it.

William Fowler Collins

1. What are your top five albums that were released in 2018? (Preferably in order 1-5)

I am not into these kinds of lists, but here are some albums that I enjoyed in 2018:

1. Eliane Radigue Jetsun Mila
2. Catherine Christer Hennix Central Palace Music from 100 Model Subjects For Hegikan Roku
3. ZM Dagar Raga Yaman (Rudra Veena // Seattle // 15 March 1986)
4. Dadawah Peace and Love
5. Nadah El Shazly Ahwar

Soundtracks: Abigail Mead Full Metal Jacket, Bernard Herrmann Taxi Driver, Nick Cave and Warren Ellis The Road, Angelo Badalamenti Blue Velvet, music from the motion picture Zodiac (various artists), Neil Young Dead Man

2. What band did you discover in 2018 (can be a brand new band or an older band) that had an impact on your life? What made them significant?

Catherine Christer Hennix. I'd known of her work, but had not investigated until recently for some reason. Amazing, long form drone and just intonation pieces. Selected Early Keyboard Works and Central Palace Music from 100 Model Subjects For Hegikan Roku are both on heavy rotation these days.

3. How will you remember 2018? (In terms of music)

The seeds of new collaborative projects were sown. Getting to perform in Berlin with friend/collaborator Raven Chacon in our duo Mesa Ritual and then getting into Berghain where we saw Elysia Crampton play. Performing in New Mexico with local friends and with friends who were touring here.

4. What can we look forward to from you in 2019?

Live performances based on my new Field Music record. West coast USA (San Francisco, Seattle, Los Angeles) in February. Canada later in the year.

5. What records are you looking forward to most in 2019?

I don't know yet.

6. Right now there are two primary types of digital services: subscription streaming and the bandcamp approach that's more individualized. Do you have a preference and what direction do you think future streaming/download services will move toward?

I prefer Bandcamp as artists are paid more fairly through that service.

Nato Coles (Nato Coles & the Blue Diamond Band)

1. What are your top five albums that were released in 2018? (Preferably in order 1-5)

1. Dusk - s/t 

...everything else is tied for #5 and not listed in order of preference...

• Citric Dummies - The Kids Are Alt-Right
• John Prine - The Tree Of Forgiveness
• Bud Bronson and the Good Timers - From The Outfield To Outer Space
• Lucero - Among the Ghosts 

I'm sure I've forgotten a few others tied for fifth place as well. My apologies.

2. What band did you discover in 2018 (can be a brand new band or an older band) that had an impact on your life? What made them significant?

I'd always known about Dwight Yoakam's music, and always sorta admired it from afar - you know, I'd hear one of his songs and think "hey that's pretty allright". This past year, however, I finally saw him play and was blown away by the energy and intensity of the live show. I did some research and all the rumors about how he was part of a larger "cowpunk" scene in the LA area back in the late 70s/early 80s perfectly dovetailed with the vibe I got. He's not just a different sort of country artist in a Steve Earle or for that matter Jason Isbell vein. It's something that's often less country-rock, purer, older, but clearly brought to the world through what was happening with bands like X and the Blasters, while at the same time definitely country music and specificaly not punk rock. I hope I'm making sense! So, yeah, 2018, I did a deep dive into Dwight Yoakam's music and had a blast. Still am.

3. How will you remember 2018? (In terms of music)

As the first year with no Triple Rock, and the end of Memory Lanes Punk Bowling Mondays. Or at least, that's what I'm feeling right now. And a lot of bands seemed to stop playing as much, doing as much. Kinda depressing. I could be wrong. But on the other hand, the rise of Mortimer's is heartening! Oh, wait... as far as what music I've been listening to, rocking out to? I think questions one and two answer that, perhaps? 

4. What can we look forward to from you in 2019?

A new full length, finally! FINALLY.

5. What records are you looking forward to most in 2019?

I want to be floored by something unexpected. Something in my punk/power pop wheelhouse that is noticeably lacking in my Top 5 of 2018. Currently I've got nothing on the radar...

6. Right now there are two primary types of digital services: subscription streaming and the bandcamp approach that's more individualized. Do you have a preference and what direction do you think future streaming/download services will move toward?

I have absolutely no preference or opinion, but I know one thing: the amount that most bands make from subscription streaming is a fucking joke. Don't ask me how to change that. The RIAA doesn't give a shit about it unless it affects Rihanna or Dierks Bentley. Or more accurately, the people who write their songs and market them. Pass the bourbon.

Faith Coloccia (Mamiffer, Mára, Barnett Coloccia and SIGE records)

1. What are your top five albums that were released in 2018? (Preferably in order 1-5)

• "Plain Light" by Eyvind Kang
• Alvin Lucier box set
• "Sea" by Ryo Murakami
• "Self Titled" by Oren Ambarchi, Crys Cole and Leif Elggren 
• Flying Saucer Attack
• "Love in Shadow" by SUMAC
• "Beloved`" by Randall Dunn
• "Hull" by Daniel Menche
• all 2018 releases by SIGE artists: Black Spirituals: "Black Spirituals "Black Access/Black Axes", Nordra "Pylon ll", William Fowler Collins "Field Music" 

2. What band did you discover in 2018 (can be a brand new band or an older band) that had an impact on your life? What made them significant?

• Betty Davis
• Betty Harris
• Judas Priest "Sin after Sin"
• Miles Davis "Up With It"

3. How will you remember 2018? (In terms of music)

Busy 
and powerful.

4. What can we look forward to from you in 2019?

• Mamiffer full length called The Brilliant Tabernacle (Sept or October 2019)
• Mára EP "Here Behold Your Own" (Summer 2019)
• Barnett + Coloccia "VLF" Spring 2019
• Mamiffer "Metapatterning For Constellation" Performed by Polish Orchestra LP (2020)
• Collab with Jon Mueller and Aidan Baker (Spring 2019)
• Summer of 17 (Summer 2019)
• a collab with a new friend!
• New SIGE releases by Daniel Menche "Melting Gravituy" LP,  Jon Mueller "Canto" , Nordra "Pylon 3", Aaron Turner and Tashi Dori" Live CS

5. What records are you looking forward to most in 2019?