VIDEO FEATURE & WEB-EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW Musician:  BONNIE BISHOP Video: “Poor Man’s Melody” Songwriters: Bonnie Bishop & Jimmy Wallace BONNIE BISHOP Web-Exclusive Interview with M Music & Musicians magazine publisher, Merlin David Photo credit: Jeff Fasano “Dreams are lifetime visions,” says Grammy-winning songwriter Bonnie Bishop. “And life is valleys and mountains. And if you can accept that, you’ll be fine.” Bishop... 

Album Trailer Premiere: CURTIS STIGERS – One More for the Road    Read More →

VIDEO FEATURE & WEB-EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW Musician:  PETER WHITE Music Video: “Groovin’” Songwriters: Felix Cavaliere & Eddie Brigati PETER WHITE Web-Exclusive Interview with M Music & Musicians magazine publisher, Merlin David For his fifteenth recording as a leader, Peter White, the former Al Stewart sideman (who co-wrote the 1978 hit “Time Passages”) returns to some of his favorite tracks from the 60s and 70s, including... 

VIDEO FEATURE & WEB-EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW FRANCIS JAMES RALLS featuring AUBREY LOGAN-and TAKE 6’s ALVIN CHEA & KHRISTIAN DENTLEY  Music Video: “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” Creative Collaborations To Capture A Capella Sound For A New Generation When asked about the innovative and ground-breaking approach of producing this Christmas classic, Francis James Ralls said, “I enjoy collaboration—especially when the collaboration involves... 

Savannah Lynne Photo Gallery Read Our Exclusive Interview with Savannah Lynne >>         Read Our Exclusive Interview with Savannah Lynne >>         Read Our Exclusive Interview with Savannah Lynne >>  Read More →

VIDEO FEATURE & WEB-EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW Musician: ALISON BROWN featuring Keb’ Mo’ Video: “What’s Going On” Songwriters: Marvin Gaye, Al Cleveland, Renaldo “Obie” Benson ALISON BROWN Web-Exclusive Interview with M Music & Musicians magazine publisher, Merlin David   Alison Brown has taken an unlikely path in establishing herself as one of the most critically acclaimed banjoists in the world. A former investment banker... 

VIDEO FEATURE & WEB-EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW Musician:  RACHAEL SAGE Music Video: “Home (Where I Am Now)” Songwriters: Rachael Sage & Fiona Harte Video Directed by Rachael Sage & Meredith Tarr Shot & Edited by Meredith Tarr Performers: Rachael Sage, Kelly Halloran and Zaharry Zaharryeff Location: Camden Lock, London, UK Track Produced by Rachael Sage & Andy Zulla RACHAEL SAGE Web-Exclusive Interview with M Music & Musicians magazine... 

VIDEO FEATURE & WEB-EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW Musician:  BILLY CROCKETT Music Video: “Rabbit Hole”     BILLY CROCKETT Web-Exclusive Interview with M Music & Musicians magazine publisher, Merlin David Tell us about the song “Rabbit Hole” coming to you in a dream. When I started writing again last year, my dream life began to stir—as though it was saying “Oh, well if you’re paying attention, finally, dig this.” I’d... 

VIDEO FEATURE & WEB-EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW Musician:  JONATHA BROOKE Song: “Midnight Hallelujah” Songwriters: Jonatha Brooke & Mark Batson Video: Directed & Produced by Nigel Dick Jonatha Brooke is an incredibly talented singer, songwriter, guitarist and musician whose songs have so much tuneful melody, rhythm, color and character. When you hear her sing, you immediately know her songs should be in heavy rotation on every major radio... 

VIDEO FEATURE & WEB-EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW Musician:  SAVANNAH LYNNE Music Video: “Melted Candle” Songwriters: Savannah Lynne (SESAC) and Jackson Nance (BMI) Video Producer: Ryan Clo and Tennille Melcher Savannah Lynne is a bright new 17 year old singer-songwriter from Nashville who has been Indie Music Channel’s “Female Country Teen Artist of the Year” for three consecutive years (2012-2015). Her new video, “Melted Candle,” was released... 

VIDEO FEATURE & WEB-EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW   Musician:  BILLY RAY CYRUS Video: “Thin Line” featuring Shelby Lynne Songwriter: Billy Ray Cyrus Billy Ray Cyrus is a singer-songwriter, actor and philanthropist—helping many charities, including veterans and military families. We talked with Cyrus about his new album two days after his performance of the 1992 hit “Some Gave All” at the Tennessee Titans’ opener on Sunday, 9/11/16. Before... 

VIDEO FEATURE & WEB-EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW Band: THE FRINGE Musician: NICK D’VIRGILIO Song: “A Second or Two” Songwriters: Jonas Reingold, Randy McStine, Nick D’Virgilio Video by: Nigel Dick The Fringe is a power prog rock trio, a supergroup if you will, consisting of prog veterans Nick D’Virgilio (Spock’s Beard, Big Big Train) on drums, Jonas Reingold (Karmakanic, The Flower Kings) on bass, and Randy McStine (Lo-Fi Resistance) on... 

SONG FEATURE & WEB-EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW Songwriter:  GREG FRIIA Song Video: BONNIE TYLER Song: “You Try” Songwriters: Greg Friia, Mary Danna, Anthony Little, Andrew Lane GREG FRIIA Web-Exclusive Interview with M Music & Musicians magazine publisher, Merlin David   How did the idea of “You Try” come to you? I wrote this song with Mary Danna, Anthony Little and Los Angeles producer Andrew Lane. At the time, Andrew was producing... 

JOE BONAMASSA – “Blues of Desperation” music video Joe Bonamassa has again joined forces with longtime producer Kevin Shirley to deliver Blues of Desperation, an adventurous 12th studio album by a phenomenal American blues rock guitarist. The black and white cover art of this 2016 album punctuates the deep sentiment of the 11 original tracks that continues Bonamassa’s journey deeper into blues rock by adding new dimensions to his trademark... 

VIDEO FEATURE & WEB-EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW Artist:  WEBB WILDER Song:  “Yard Dog” from Mississippi Moderne Songwriter: L. Miller   WEBB WILDER Web-Exclusive Interview with M Music & Musicians magazine publisher, Merlin David Webb Wilder (born John Webb McMurry over 60 years ago) has forged a path to his own brand of music. He’s a blues/rock ’n roll singer, guitarist and actor, with that amazing radio voice. When you talk... 

VIDEO PREMIERE & WEB-EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW Performers:  DR. JOHN / RYAN BINGHAM Video: “Back by the River” Songwriter: Bill Quateman From: The Musical Mojo of Dr. John: A Celebration of Mac & His Music The doctor is in. New Orleans music legend Dr. John gets a timely all-star tribute on the new live CD + Blu-ray/DVD set The Musical Mojo of Dr. John: A Celebration of Mac & His Music, produced by Blackbird Presents, and released via... 

Song Premiere: JONATHA BROOKE “PUT THE GUN DOWN” Jonatha Brooke premieres “Put the Gun Down”—the first song from her first studio album in eight years: Midnight. Hallelujah. Out October 21 In the 11 new tracks of this new album, Jonatha Brooke brilliantly balances the soulfulness of her songs with rock, pop and jazz inflections, while maintaining though-provoking lyrics. Midnight. Hallelujah. was primarily recorded at Sweetwater Studios in... 

VIDEO FEATURE & WEB-EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW Artist:  BRENT MOYER Song: “Tennessee Tears”   Songwriters: Brent Moyer & Bernie Nelson Video Editor: Jim Jensen Videographer: David Swift Grip: Cindy Nicholson Recording features: Ottar Johansen, Tore Andersen, Joe Sun   BRENT MOYER Web-Exclusive Interview with M Music & Musicians magazine publisher, Merlin David Known as the Global Cowboy, Brent Moyer loves exploring the broad... 

VIDEO FEATURE & WEB-EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW Musician:  CRAIG CAMPBELL Music Video: “Outskirts of Heaven” CRAIG CAMPBELL Web-Exclusive Interview with M Music & Musicians magazine publisher, Merlin David Craig Campbell has had five consecutive charting hits and has sold a million downloads. “Keep Them Kisses Comin’” (written by Dallas Davidson and Ben Hayslip) is his biggest hit so far—reaching No. 7 on the Mediabase Country chart... 

VIDEO FEATURE & WEB-EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW Musician:  RYAN SHUPE Video: “We Rode On”   RYAN SHUPE Web-Exclusive Interview with M Music & Musicians magazine publisher, Merlin David   Ryan Shupe will be touring the country to promote his eighth album, the independently released We Rode On—a fusion of rock themes with an acoustic bluegrass influence. A Utah-based, fifth generation fiddler, as well as an accomplished mandolin... 

MUSIC & SPORTS—OLYMPICS WEB-EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW Olympic Gold Medalist:  STEVE LEWIS Video: “400 Meters—1988 Olympics Gold”     STEVE LEWIS Web-Exclusive Interview with M Music & Musicians magazine publisher, Merlin David   Music and sports have always been connected. The Olympics is the world stage spotlight for athletes, and music continues to be a driving force for an athlete’s preparation—and for their final... 

VIDEO FEATURE & WEB-EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW   Musician:  JANET ROBIN Music Video: “View From Above” JANET ROBIN Web-Exclusive Interview with M Music & Musicians magazine publisher, Merlin David   How did the idea of “View from Above” come to you? I was feeling a little depressed at the time I wrote it, and instead of doing something negative—I put it into a song, trying to lift myself up and look at things from a positive... 

VIDEO FEATURE & WEB-EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW Artist:  ROBBY HECHT Song: “Soon I Was Sleeping” Duet with Rose Cousins Directed by Ryan Newman ROBBY HECHT Web-Exclusive Interview with M Music & Musicians magazine publisher, Merlin David How did the idea of “Soon I Was Sleeping” come to you? I actually wrote this song over the course of about six years. I had the “put that bottle of whiskey right where she used to kiss me” hook for... 

VIDEO FEATURE & WEB-EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW Featured Artist:  JACK TEMPCHIN Song:  “NOTHING WITH YOU” Jack Tempchin Live / Photo by Chuck Philyaw Writers:  Jack Tempchin, Kim Richey, Joel Piper, Robert Stein Video:  Josh Knoff   JACK TEMPCHIN Web-Exclusive Interview with M Music & Musicians magazine publisher, Merlin David   How did the idea of “Nothing with You” come to you?  I wrote this song at Michele Clark’s Songwriter... 

VIDEO FEATURE & WEB-EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW Songwriter:  MARK CAWLEY Song: “My Angel is Here” Songwriters: Mark Cawley, Billy Lawrie, Lulu (Marie Lawrie)   MARK CAWLEY Web-Exclusive Interview with M Music & Musicians magazine publisher, Merlin David How did the idea of “My Angel is Here” come to you? This song is so unusual in so many ways. I wrote it with Lulu (yep, that “To Sir with Love” Lulu) and her brother Billy Lawrie.... 

GRACE POTTER On her solo set, the rocker is happy her pop roots are showing  Taking a sharp musical detour, Grace Potter—frontwoman for Grace Potter and the Nocturnals for more than a decade—has swapped her trademark jam-band sound for pop on her new solo album, Midnight. The change may seem drastic to fans of the Nocturnals’ rootsy rock, but understandable when you discover the pop classics that were among the staples Potter was raised on.... 

INDIGO GIRLS Decades after their first hit, they’re still close—and even closer to fine Although it’s been 26 years since the Indigo Girls scored with their 1989 folk-rock hit “Closer to Fine,” the Georgia-based duo—Amy Ray and Emily Saliers—has never stopped making music. In fact, their longest hiatus between studio albums—four years—ended with the release of their latest, One Lost Day. “At this point we know what will work for... 

JOE SATRIANI                         One of guitar’s greatest instrumentalists unleashes his inner extrovert Playing guitar with his teeth during the final performance of his previous tour, Joe Satriani had an epiphany. “I thought, ‘What am I doing? What part of me rears its head and starts doing stuff like this?’” he recalls. “Normally I’m a shy, retiring type of musician, but when I get onstage, I find myself feeling like... 

NATE RUESS His latest project proves that going solo is fun, too  After nearly three years of supporting Some Nights—the platinum-selling, 2012 breakthrough album by his Grammy-winning band fun.—Nate Ruess was feeling good. So good, in fact, he opted to temporarily step away from the trio and go solo. It was a bold move for the singer-songwriter, but it’s paying off. His album, Grand Romantic—a fittingly titled set of massive-sounding earworms... 

SUPERTRAMP’S CARL VERHEYEN – MUSIC DOCUMENTARY FEATURE Musician:  CARL VERHEYEN Music Documentary:  Grand Designs http://www.sweetwater.com/events/2016/grand-designs-album/ Carl Verheyen is known for his work as the guitarist of the English rock band Supertramp. With over a dozen solo albums, he continues to be a strong session musician. His credits include Christina Aguilera, the Bee Gees, Cher, Kilauea, Tiffany, Rick Braun, Richard Elliott,... 

VIDEO FEATURE & INTERVIEW Artist:  MONICA LIONHEART Song:  “Sure Fire”   MONICA LIONHEART Web-Exclusive Interview with M Music & Musicians magazine publisher, Merlin David     How did the idea of “Sure Fire” come to you?   “Sure Fire” is a story about hindsight. In this case, it’s highlighted regrets inside the mind of a person arguing with him/herself. When writing it, a particularly close friend of mine was... 

VIDEO FEATURE & INTERVIEW Artist:  ERIC TINGSTAD Song:  “MISSISSIPPI” ERIC TINGSTAD Web-Exclusive Interview with M Music & Musicians magazine publisher, Merlin David Eric Tingstad is a songwriter, composer, record producer and phenomenal fingerstyle guitarist. His 1985 debut, The Gift, with woodwinds player Nancy Rumbel has gone on to sell over half a million copies. A multi-album contract with independent new-age music label Narada... 

VIDEO FEATURE OF THE DAY Artist:  LAUREN DAIGLE Song:  “How Can It Be” Lauren Daigle is the fastest selling new artist in Contemporary Christian music in the past decade. Her debut album reached #1 on the iTunes Christian Gospel Top Albums Chart with more than 270,000 album sales and 730,000 track sales. She has almost 50 million YouTube and Vevo views, with about 200,000 subscribers. “How Can It Be” alone has had more than 14 million... 

  EXCLUSIVE SONG FEATURE Artist: RACHAEL SAGE Song: “Loreena” (Acoustic)   Web-Exclusive Interview with M Music & Musicians magazine publisher, Merlin David How did the idea of “Loreena” come to you? I actually wrote this song in a dream! That’s only happened to me a handful of times, and not recently. I woke up, or probably a New York City siren woke me up, which is the only reason I may have remembered my dream—with the... 

VIDEO FEATURE OF THE DAY Artist: BILLY CROCKETT Song: “21 Times” Website: BillyCrockett.com Web-Exclusive Interview with M Music & Musicians magazine publisher, Merlin David How did the idea of “21 Times” come to you? Awareness of our finiteness dawns on us eventually. I had read Paul Bowles’ novel, The Sheltering Sky, in which two travelers begin to understand that opportunities for experience, and for reconciliation, are numbered.... 

©Noah Schutz EMMETT SKYY Song: “Love Leads to Nothing” Website: EmmettSkyy.com Web-Exclusive Interview with M Music & Musicians magazine publisher, Merlin David   How did the idea of “Love Leads to Nothing” come to you? It came from feeling you’ve invested so much love and energy into a relationship, and it falls by the wayside. But even though that relationship ended, you still feel something. It’s coming to terms with yourself—and... 

MAGIC MAN Mixing genres and producers, chart-topper Jason Derulo conjures up his own brand of pop By Russell Hall Jason Derulo’s songs are fixtures on the pop charts, but he’s hesitant to label his music as simply pop. He’s proud of his many influences, and his latest album, Everything Is 4, features an array of musical styles. For some artists, that could spell a lack of cohesion, but Derulo’s collection gels through the sheer force of his... 

VIDEO FEATURE OF THE DAY Artist: TOM PRASADA-RAO Song: “Sleeping Beauty” Website: TomPrasadaRao.com How did the idea of “Sleeping Beauty” come to you? I wrote this song for my ex mother-in-law. She found the love of her life later in life, and she transformed from someone who stayed in her bathrobe all day, to someone who closed down the VFW hall every night. It was a beautiful sight to see. But soon after they got married, they got the call... 

PHOTOGRAPHER NORMAN SEEFF CHOSE “A FUNKY little hotel” in downtown L.A. to shoot this session for Merle Haggard’s 1981 album Big City. “With wry humor, Merle said, ‘This is what you learn in jail’ as he peeled the apple in one cut,” recalls Seeff. “He didn’t try to hide his past.” As the session progressed, a different facet of the country legend emerged. “He had a kind of duality,” explains Seeff. “One part was rough and... 

MERLE HAGGARD Okie From Muskogee Anniversary Edition Anniversaries. The 20th anniversary of the notorious Nancy Kerrigan/Tonya Harding relationship, as celebrated by two specials coinciding with last month’s Winter Olympics, caught me by surprise. So I had my own celebration by reposting Loudon Wainwright III’s transcendent tribute to the bygone days of women’s figure skating and sportsmanship, “Tonya’s Twirls,” which eventually surfaced... 

MERLE HAGGARD After beating lung cancer, “The Hag” still is who he is Merle Haggard’s new album is called I Am What I Am, but that title could have been affixed to almost anything he’s recorded during his nearly half-century as one of America’s most stubbornly self-possessed singers and songwriters. He has built a body of work unequaled in the country genre, one created on clear-eyed slice-of-life classics like “Okie From Muskogee,”... 

RICK HALL The creator of the Muscle Shoals sound reveals the secrets to his success By Michael Gallant Muscle Shoals was ground zero in the ’60 and ’70s for a wide range of artists—Aretha Franklin, Wilson Pickett, Etta James and many more—who recorded some of their biggest hits in this tiny town in northeastern Alabama. The potent, soulful vibe that emerged had such an impact that it became known as the Muscle Shoals sound. And the man at... 

ETHAN JOHNS A second-generation production wiz moves to the other side of the glass By Michael Gallant For Ethan Johns, producing rock stars means carrying on the family business. After all, his father is famed producer Glyn Johns, whose credits include Led Zeppelin, Eric Clapton, the Rolling Stones, Linda Ronstadt, Bob Dylan and the Who. “It wasn’t a big deal for me to have any of those people show up at the house,” says Johns, who grew up... 

ERIC JOHNSON & MIKE STERN Two guitar wizards on one album mean twice the musical magic By Jeff Tamarkin By any measure, Eric Johnson and Mike Stern are two of the most accomplished guitarists in recent history, but it’s doubtful anyone ever considered they’d make an album together. Stern, after all, is a renowned jazz artist, having had his initial breakthrough in the ’80s as a member of Miles Davis’ band. Johnson, on the other hand,... 

SCOTT WEILAND                         The former STP frontman returns to rock ’n’ roll on his latest solo set Blaster is Scott Weiland’s third solo album and his first under the moniker Scott Weiland and the Wildabouts. But whatever the name, any music Weiland releases lines up with the unforgettable output of his former bands: ’90s alt-rock greats Stone Temple Pilots, and supergroup Velvet Revolver, with Slash and Duff McKagan.... 

DONNY OSMOND His latest celebrates the former teen idol’s biggest musical influences  In the 50 years since Donny Osmond made his debut alongside his brothers on The Andy Williams Show, he’s recorded 60 albums, including his latest, The Soundtrack of My Life. The album features songs that were significant in the 57-year-old performer’s life, from the Beatles’ “The Long and Winding Road” to the Supremes’ “Baby Love.” Stevie Wonder... 

JONI MITCHELL One of music’s greatest singer-songwriters creates an inspired box set Joni Mitchell is an eight-time Grammy winner and Rock and Roll Hall of Famer who’s influenced everyone from Courtney Love to Taylor Swift. So it’s only fitting that her new box set has been crafted with care. It isn’t her first retrospective, but Love Has Many Faces: A Quartet, a Ballet, Waiting to Be Danced is something special. The 53 tracks on these four... 

THE DECEMBERISTS The indie folk favorites take their time to create a compelling new album It’s been four years since the Decemberists’ sixth studio album, The King Is Dead, shot to the top of the Billboard 200 chart. Finally, the Portland, Oregon-based folk-rock band—frontman Colin Meloy, guitarist Chris Funk, keyboardist Jenny Conlee, bassist Nate Query and drummer John Moen—follows up with What a Terrible World, What a Beautiful World.... 

ALLISON MOORER On a new studio set, the acclaimed roots artist mines pain for poetry  Five years ago, as Allison Moorer released her seventh studio album, Crows, she was married to singer-songwriter Steve Earle and pregnant with their son. Now, as she releases her latest, Down to Believing, much has changed. Her near-decade-long marriage to Earle has ended, and their son, John Henry, has been diagnosed with autism. But Moorer has never been shy... 

AIRBORNE TOXIC EVENT The critical favorites rewrite the rock rulebook on a Dope new album It’s official: The Airborne Toxic Event is no longer a “proper rock band.” The California quintet’s new album, Dope Machines, pairs loud guitars with glitzy synths and canned beats with live drums, and although leader Mikel Jollett struggles to define the sound, he knows it’s not what people were expecting. “There’s a set of rules you’re supposed...