Girls, Girls, Girls!

Keep your eyes peeled for my interviews with Kazu Makino (Blonde Redhead) and Jenny Lindberg and Stella Mozgawa (Warpaint) in the next issue of VenusZine and on VenusZine.com. More details to come!

C'est Magnifique!

Take a peek at a great interview with Christina Hendricks in this weekend's L.A. Times Magazine. She also stars in the new Broken Bells video for 'The Ghost Inside,' playing an android instead of an office diva. Different setting same sass - you better believe it.

In Stitches

Few partnerships require the cooperation and selflessness needed to form a successful comedy duo. It's the ultimate yin and yang; a stage set to showcase malleability, and an ability to play off of each other. David Mitchell and Robert Webb have it down pat. Sketch comedy classic That Mitchell & Webb Look, and first person camera series Peep Show are finally making their way back to BBC America tonight, and I couldn't be happier. Apparently I'm not the only one, as New York Magazine interviewed one half of the "crass and clever duo" today in anticipation of the premieres. And let the British invasion continue...

Deus Ex Machina

As my obsession with redheads deepens, I would be remiss if I ignored the lovely Florence Welch of Florence And The Machine. There's just something about the way she belts out her dark lyrics from under that flaming tousled mane, that makes me want to bounce around my apartment in my skivvies and shout along. It's hard to pinpoint exactly where her music fits - is it rock, pop, soul, electro? Who cares! It has the ability to turn even the dreariest of days into glorious ones. Tomorrow I'll be meeting with her to talk about her love of fashion, her unique sense of style, and of course her chart topping record 'Lungs.' I can't wait to find out what makes this lioness roar! Look for the interview in the next issue of VenusZine, but in the meantime check out her latest video for 'Dog Days Are Over'.

Have You Heard?

I can't believe it's taken me this long to blog about my dear college friend Benoit Pioulard. Sure, when his first record came out I made the bold move of approaching a senior editor at SPIN (where I was a lowly intern) to pitch a story to him, but that was years ago. Now with two full length records under his belt and another hopefully on the way, Mr. Meluch aka Benoit Pioulard has been making waves in the underground music scene on all his own. Both Précis and Temper are beautiful examples of his meticulous song writing, and haunting melodies. I just hope he decides to test out new material on my ears, like he did in college. I'll be waiting patiently. Below is the video for "Ragged Tint" off of his sophomore release, Temper. Give it a listen and discover the perfect soundtrack for a cold winter morning.

Of Monsters And Men

Collaborative efforts have always been an important part of popular music, from Hip Hop to Rock 'n Roll. The most exciting collaborations are often birthed when each individual member is a star in their own right. The perfect example of this is the newest indie super group, Monsters of Folk. Made up of Conor Oberst (Bright Eyes, Desaparecidos), Jim James (My Morning Jacket), M.Ward (M.Ward, She & Him) and Mike Mogis (Bright Eyes, Saddle Creek Records) this powerful foursome has crafted a beautiful record that's sure to cross many genres. Check out my interview with Monsters of Folk for VenusZine here, and make sure to pick up the record when it's released September 22nd.

The Next Big Thing

I first met Aziz Ansari in 2007, when I interviewed him for Heeb magazine's 'Honorary Heeb' feature. At the time he was a regular in the NYC stand up circuit, and after seeing him flaunt his comedy chops at least a half dozen times I was determined to interview him. His career was on an upward trajectory: he was on the cusp of a major MTV show (Human Giant) and with that his fan base grew exponentially.

Let me be the first to tell you, that when Judd Apatow's Funny People comes out this Friday, Aziz Ansari will become a household name. The character he created for Funny People, a crass-dancing-womanizing comic named Raaaaaaaandy (with eight As) is about to steal the show. Literally. Funny People isn't even out yet, and Apatow is already thinking about giving Raaaaaaaandy his own feature film. I guess having your own hype man/DJ really pays off.

Below is a sample of some of Raaaaaaaandy's magic. Also to give you an idea of Ansari's other work I've included my favorite sketch from Human Giant. As Raaaaaaaandy would say, get ready to 'laugh your dick off'!





Check out Raaaaaaaandy's website here. Check out my interview with Aziz Ansari for Heeb magazine here.

When Worlds Collide

Sometimes when you're a writer/interviewer, meeting celebrities you really admire can be an amazing experience or one that will haunt you. Thankfully all of my experiences thus far have been overwhelmingly positive. When it comes down to it I think it really has to do with timing - hopefully your subject is having a good day, and you're not too anxious. I was tested today when I met my favorite comedians of all time, Julian Barratt and Noel Fielding of The Mighty Boosh. I was nervous pre-interview, and that's never good. But alas, I took a few deep breaths, thought about Mr. Susan and all was well with the world. They even ended up 'crimping' for me. Me and my crew below:

FIERCE!