Music Features

Q&As: Get to know musicians | Five Essentials: Artists on other artists | FUV Essentials: Our all-time fave people and themes

 

Obongjayar's Steven Umoh (photo by Bolade Banjo, PR)

Obongjayar

June 20, 2022|Kara Manning
"Anything that brings our people together in joy is a beautiful thing."
Brandi Thompson of Brandi and the Alexanders (portrait photo by Ry Marie Images, PR)

Brandi Thompson of Brandi and the Alexanders

June 20, 2022|Kara Manning
Brandi Thompson on Juneteenth and songwriting.
Sudan Archives' Brittney Parks (photo by Edwig Henson, PR)

Sudan Archives

June 20, 2022|Kara Manning
“Music has always been my first voice in expressing what I feel and struggle to speak up on.”
Artist photos courtesy of Thirty Tigers, Merge, Epitaph, Matador, Rounder, Fantasy, Memory Music, Atlantic.

What I'm Grateful For ...

December 09, 2021|Kara Manning
Artists weigh in on three questions about thankfulness.
FUV Live 24 artists

FUV Live 24: Artists on Songwriting

November 09, 2021|Kara Manning
Musicians on 'FUV Live 24' tell us the backstory of their song.
Nicole Atkins

Nicole Atkins: FUV Artist-in-Residence

April 16, 2021|Kara Manning
There's an inspired intersection between visual art and music: We ask Nicole about her path as a visual artist.
Liz Phair (photo by eszter+david, PR)

Liz Phair: Q&A

April 14, 2021|Kara Manning
On livestreaming, Lou and Laurie, unconditional love, and puppets.
Devon Gilfillian (photo by Jacqueline Day, PR)

Devon Gilfillian: Q&A

March 23, 2021|Kara Manning
On Marvin Gaye, and his own activism
Marshall Crenshaw (photo by Jeff Fasano, PR)

Marshall Crenshaw

November 11, 2020|Eric Holland
I realized I had his number in my phone. Why not give him a call?
The Go-Go's photo by Emily Assiran/Getty Images, courtesy of Universal Music, PR)

The Go-Go's Charlotte Caffey

September 14, 2020|Eric Holland
Interview, 2020
Josh Ritter (photo by David McClister, PR)

Josh Ritter

August 31, 2020|Eric Holland
On 'See Here, I Have Built You A Mansion,' how music relates to art, and writing songs on pizza boxes.
The Pretenders (photo by Matt Holyoak, PR)

The Pretenders' Chrissie Hynde: Q&A

July 27, 2020|Eric Holland
A freewheeling conversation that covers an impressive amount of ground.
J Mascis (photo by Cara Totman, PR)

J Mascis: Five Essential Jimi Hendrix Songs

October 08, 2018|Kara Manning
One guitar god salutes another
Marlon Williams (photo by Steve Gullick, PR)

Marlon Williams: Five Essential John Prine Songs

September 28, 2018|Kara Manning
The New Zealander's canny understanding of the legacy of his forebears gives him an eclectic range.
(Photo by Richard Gilligan/PR)

Villagers: Five Essential Paul Simon Songs

September 17, 2018|Kara Manning
Notes from a songwriting admirer
Graham Nash (photo by Amy Grantham, PR)

Graham Nash: Five Essential CSNY Songs

August 15, 2018|Kara Manning
From his 'Sunday Supper' interview
River Whyless (photo by Shervin Lainez, PR)

River Whyless: Five Essential CSNY Songs

August 13, 2018|Kara Manning
In a true bridging of multigenerational spirits.
Caroline Rose (photo by CJ Harvey / PR)

Caroline Rose: Five Essential Radiohead Songs

July 10, 2018|Kara Manning
From one outsider to another.
Halo Maud's Maud Nadal (photo by Lola Pertsowsky, PR)

Halo Maud: Five Essential Phoenix Songs

July 05, 2018|Kara Manning
Artists who share the audacious magic of contradictions.
Martha Plimpton (photo courtesy of the artist)

Martha Plimpton: Five Essential Aimee Mann Songs

June 21, 2018|Kara Manning
The actress, activist, and singer picks favorites from an artist she's covered extensively.
Phoebe Bridgers (photo by Frank Ockenfels, PR)

Phoebe Bridgers: Five Essential Morrissey Songs

May 22, 2018|Kara Manning
On how his songwriting was an early influence
Middle Kids' Harry Day, Hannah Joy, and Tim Fitz (photo courtesy of Domino Records, PR)

Middle Kids: Five Essential Damon Albarn Songs

April 29, 2018|Kara Manning
Drummer Harry Day cites Damon Albarn as one of his "favorite musicans in life" and outlines his top songs.
JD McPherson (photo by Alysse Gafkjen, PR)

JD McPherson: Five Essential Willie Nelson Songs

April 27, 2018|Kara Manning

JD McPherson is a massive fan of the "Trigger Master," so when we asked him if he wanted to come up with his "Five Essential...

Erika Wennerstrom (photo by Linda Beecroft)

Erika Wennerstrom: Five Essential Led Zeppelin Songs

March 07, 2018|Kara Manning
"For the last 20 years they have been absolutely, without a doubt, my favorite band."
Jack White (photo by Kris Krüg)

Jack White

March 26, 2018|Darren DeVivo
The essential history and playlist for a rock and roll renaissance man.
The Decemberists (photo by Autumn DeWilde, PR)

The Decemberists

March 19, 2018|Kara Manning
Essential milestones (and a playlist) for a band of poets and rock revolutionaries.
Erika Wennerstrom (photo by Linda Beecroft)

Erika Wennerstrom: Five Essential Led Zeppelin Songs

March 07, 2018|Kara Manning
"For the last 20 years they have been absolutely, without a doubt, my favorite band."
Sylvan Esso (photo courtesy of Loma Vista, PR)

Sylvan Esso: Five Essential David Bowie Songs

March 02, 2018|Kara Manning
Deep in the heart of "Radio" lurks a clue to one of Meath's favorite Bowie songs.
Johnny Cash (1969 Look Magazine photo by Joel Baldwin, public domain)

Johnny Cash

February 26, 2018|Kara Manning
A champion of the voiceless, the underdogs and the downtrodden. And something of a holy terror. [Playlist]
Lucinda Williams (photo courtesy of Thirty Tigers, PR)

Lucinda Williams: Five Essential Johnny Cash Songs

February 26, 2018|Kara Manning
Williams considers Johnny Cash to be a touchstone in her own songwriting.
Jade Bird (photo by Francesca Allen, PR)

Jade Bird: Five Essential Johnny Cash Songs

February 26, 2018|Kara Manning
Her own boisterous attack of Cash's "I've Been Everywhere" is a joy.
Brittany Howard (photo by Eric Ryan Anderson, PR)

Brittany Howard: Five Essential Nina Simone Songs

February 21, 2018|Kara Manning
Howard finds solace in the music of a beloved influence.
Nina Simone (1969 photo by Gerrit de Bruin, photo illustration by Laura Fedele)

Nina Simone

February 21, 2018|Kara Manning
Nina Simone made us weep, articulated our rage, and turned a mirror to our hate and prejudice. [Playlist]
Left to right, Django Django's Vincent Neff, Tommy Grace, Dave Maclean and Jimmy Dixon (photo by Fiona Garden, PR)

Django Django's Dave Maclean: Five Essential Dance Songs

February 13, 2018|Kara Manning
A DJ's perspective on what works in a set, and his love of dance music.
Photo courtesy of Pixabay

FUV Dance Floor Essentials

February 12, 2018|Kara Manning
WFUV DJs answer: What gets them on the dance floor? [Playlist]
Valerie June (photo by Jacob Blickenstaff, PR)

Valerie June: Five Essential Bob Marley Songs

February 06, 2018|Kara Manning
June's lyrics reflect the impact of musicians like Marley.