Hello all, how's this week been treating you? It's that time of year where it feels like the music industry is powering through these final few weeks before the big switch off for the Christmas holidays. Not that I'll be switching off much, but my inbox will be delightfully quiet at least.
KT Tunstall was my latest interview for the Good Vibrations podcast, what a lively, interesting chat that was. She was in town celebrating the 20th anniversary of her debut album, Eye to the Telescope (no, I can't believe it was that long ago either), so she dropped by the studio for a natter. Also this week, I wrote up my interview with Jon Bon Jovi for this Sunday's cover feature - the full conversation will also be out on Good Vibrations next Friday. AND I spent a lot of time in raptures over Rosalía's new album, Lux, which is jaws-on-the-floor levels of extraordinary. Review here, if you fancy a read. We also have a fab interview with The Smiths' drummer Mike Joyce by Jude Rogers - they spoke about his new memoir, The Drums and much more besides. He doesn't think he's on Morrissey's Christmas card list but I have to wonder, these days, who is?!
There are a bunch of fun gigs happening this weekend and beyond, including country-rock band The Red Clay Strays who land in London for two gigs (St John at Hackney on Saturday, then the Roundhouse. Apparently there's also an album in the works for next year, which is exciting. Radiohead have already kicked off their first tour in over seven years - Craig McLean was at the opening night in Madrid, reviewing for us. Next week we've got The Independent's sold-out show for The Great Escape First Fifty, with Ashaine White, Madra Salach and James Emmanuel on our lineup, woohoo! If you're in town but didn't manage to get tickets, there are several other great gigs happening with tickets still available, fyi.
Looking further ahead, I'm excited to share that The Independent is teaming up once again with Latitude Festival for its 2026 edition: "Rooted in a shared commitment to curiosity, integrity, and authentic storytelling, The Independent and Latitude will collaborate on a series of conversations that bring audiences closer to the artists, thinkers, and performers that have shaped contemporary culture over the past 20 years." Keep your eyes peeled for more on that, and other festival partnerships, in the new year.
Now for the new music: Rosalía, obviously, but also Kehlani's new single "Out the Window" and "Home", from Rachel Chinouriri and Boyish. I love rapper JT on the bonkers "Girls Gone Wild", and Demae's new EP Deep Dive. There's a new alt-pop band on the scene, AFTERDRIVE, whose single "Necklace" is a bit Artemas-meets-Bring Me the Horizon. Completely different, and lovely, is "Already Taken" from Sunflower Thieves. I'm enchanted by the new mixtape Time Flies from Dexter in the Newsagent (Charmaine Ayoku), a 12-track project about loss and healing. A sizzling return from Marmozets with "A Kiss From a Mother", and another from British producer Mssingno, "Think of Me", ft a very good sample of Brandy's 2002 bop "All in Me".
I think that's all we've got time for, folks (the Grammy nominations are being announced today, eep) so I'll bid you a brilliant weekend and see you very soon x
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