Twin Cities live music venues will stay closed until at least April
March 23, 2020
As industries across the globe take hits due to the COVID-19 outbreak, the live music industry is feeling the heat as well. After Gov. Tim Walz declared a peacetime state of emergency, discouraging gatherings of more than 250 people and encouraging “social distancing,” music venues across the Twin ...
Skemp & Weather album debut provides solace, comfort in time of crisis
Ksenia Gorinshteyn
March 19, 2020
Minneapolis band Skemp & Weather is almost like an embodiment of the Twin Cities arts community. Its blend of poetry, tunes, natural imagery and visual art feels familiar as individual aspects, but together, they make something new. Skemp & Weather planted its roots around 2015, when lead vocali...
Q&A: Mod Sun talks music, sobriety and positivity
February 27, 2020
Mod Sun has had a hell of a year. He’s been in and out of the public eye, gotten sober and returned to his musical roots. The Bloomington, Minnesota native sat down with A&E to talk about this new chapter in his life, and finding the best version of himself. Is there a full length project on t...
Finding identity, Dua Saleh morphs poetry into lyricism
Ksenia Gorinshteyn
February 3, 2020
The first time Dua Saleh performed at an open mic, they were terrified. Saleh stood shaking on stage, having finally summoned up the courage to participate rather than just observe. It was their senior year of high school, and they had been writing poetry since the age of four. It had always just been...
A&E’s top 5 albums of 2019
January 19, 2020
5. Denzel Curry: ZUU Denzel Curry has made great strides as an artist since his days in Raider Klan. His newest project “ZUU” is a testament to just how far the Florida MC has come. "ZUU" is his fourth studio album and arguably his most complete project to date. On “ZUU,” Curry gets reflecti...
The Arias blend genres for a nostalgic debut album
Ksenia Gorinshteyn
December 9, 2019
When Tony Arias played a new song in front of his family, they sat in his basement and were absolutely moved. Arias had only been working on the song for about a day. He'd been at work programming the new track when his dad first came down to listen. “I turned it up on the speakers and playe...
Coldplay releases thought-provoking eighth studio album, “Everyday Life”
December 2, 2019
After a four year hiatus, Coldplay has reminded the world that they are indeed still here. The acclaimed British rock band, which built a name for itself with tracks like “Viva La Vida," ”The Scientist” and “Fix You,” released an ambitious double album on Nov. 22. The return to the sp...
Inside the world of EDM: The rise of Sound in Motion
November 18, 2019
When you walk into an electronic dance music show, don’t expect a traditional concert experience. LED screens display other-worldly scenes or patterns, lasers and lighting frame the stage and the bass can be felt in your bones. But many don’t think about who is behind the curtain facilitat...
Student music collective theMARAJ raps for representation of identity, culture
Ksenia Gorinshteyn
October 24, 2019
About four years ago, Juan Mantilla and Josh Cachon sat in Cachon’s high school bedroom discussing the difficulties of making music. They were self-described “high school rejects” and had no resources to produce their own work. But, they had big plans. “We just came to the conclusion that in o...
Q&A: Lead singer Zach Grace of Flor on their sophomore album, ‘Ley Lines,’ tour life
September 29, 2019
Where did you draw inspiration for your latest album, ‘Ley Lines?’ We actually mostly drew inspiration from myself, and I know that sounds kind of silly, but it's true. After touring on 'Come Out. You’re Hiding.' for as long as we had, we had a really clear idea of where we wanted to go n...
