Interviews
By Nocte
Sunday May 14, 2023
So it’s been *checks notes* a hot minute since we’ve done this but in case it’s your first day here or the first sober moment since those mushrooms turned on you this is where we vaguely cover “how to review an album”. That is to say in this segment we’ll be cross checking different staffers’ approaches to putting words together. Maybe you’re a budding reviewer, on the cusp of greatness, searching for that piece of the puzzle lost on the floor or maybe your mum just logged you on to the household’s singular trusty laptop and you don’t know what to do with your fifteen minute screen allowance before the older sibling demands the computer for…research? Either way, you’ve come to the right place.
First off. Who are you and how did you get here?
Hey, I’m Alex, AKA robertsona, and I’ve been using Sputnikmusic for about 14 years, with about a decade under my belt as Staff. I think I found Sputnikmusic in trying to supplement Pitchfork with other sources of music news and reviews, and evidently the idea of writing my own reviews and putting them out there for consumption was appealing: from May 2009, when I was 13 years old, to August 2013, when I turned 18, I wrote well over 100 reviews for the site. I currently live with fellow Sputnikmusic user ArsMoriendi in Manhattan, and I teach high school English around New York City.
Wait. You’re not Robert? I feel betrayed right now!
To integrate…
By Nocte
Thursday May 4, 2023
You guys probably get the gist of this by now, right? But just in case you haven’t or you’re new or GetLow this is where we vaguely cover “how to review an album”. That is to say in this segment we’ll be cross checking different staffers’ approaches to putting words together. Maybe you’re a budding reviewer, on the cusp of greatness, searching for that piece of the puzzle lost on the floor or maybe your mum just logged you on to the household’s singular trusty laptop and you don’t know what to do with your fifteen-minute screen allowance before the older sibling demands the computer for…research? Either way, you’ve come to the right place!
I want to chat with the guy who inspired a nutritious breakfast drink (we will take sponsorship if you’re out there Nestle). No? Rude. Anyways… Mr. M. Ruggles. The one and only ladies, man, ladies-man, jellybeans, lo-fi aficionados…
First off. Who are you and how did you get here?
Some bloke shook me awake and said, “This is the last stop.” I wasn’t entirely sure where I was, but once I alighted the bus, I grabbed the nearest man with lapels by his lapels and started screaming about how blackgaze was coming along just fine until Numenorean showed up, and then I thought I was being restrained but everybody was cheering, and they crowd surfed me to wherever this is.
Here’s another version of the truth. Picture a bright-eyed and bushy-tailed lad from a quaint wee…
By Nocte
Saturday April 29, 2023
Hopefully by now you’ve figured out what’s going on here. In this segment we’ll be cross checking different staffers’ approaches to putting words together. Maybe you’re a budding reviewer, on the cusp of greatness, searching for that piece of the puzzle lost on the floor or maybe your mum just logged you on to the household’s singular trusty laptop and you don’t know what to do with your fifteen minute screen allowance before the older sibling demands the computer for…research? Either way, close that incognito tab and let’s deep dive into “how to write a review.” More seriously though, I was out hiking the other day and we found a guy stuck down a well. No, not the Batman kid. His name is Johnny and he sweeps legs. We told him we’d help get him out or toss down a roast chicken (just one of these, not both) if he answered a couple silly questions first.
First off. Who are you and how did you get here? If this does not conform; what are you?
 I am a tall body in the back of a black van and I am asking many questions with my hands right now.
Is there anyone on this site you share high percentage tastes with? Well, enough to have a signature handshake with?
Are you trying to infiltrate my harem?
Ah, no. Call it a professional curiosity.
Well then, this being a bona fide *music site*, there are loads of people I have enough overlap…
By Nocte
Tuesday April 25, 2023
Good morning and thank you for um…setting aside your schedule of busy Sputnikmusic debauchery and endless page refreshes to get to the nitty gritty of “how to review music”, hacks, roms and workarounds. In this segment we’ll be cross checking different staffers’ approaches to putting um… words together. Maybe you’re a budding reviewer, on the cusp of greatness, searching for that piece of the puzzle lost on the floor or maybe your mum just logged you on to the household’s singular trusty laptop and you don’t know what to do with your fifteen-minute screen allowance before the older sibling demands the computer for…research? Either way, you’ve come to the right place!
We hopped on a ship (it might be called Spunik #1) to visit a kid from Mars, the one and only Zapruder defender Mitch Worden. Let’s ambush him with the questions we maybe need some answers to.
First off. Who are you and how did you get here?
landscape on planet Mars, scenic desert scene on the red planet
I ask myself this question staring into the mirror every morning. Still don’t have an answer. Send help.
OK anyways, hello! I am MarsKid, otherwise known as Mitch or the single remaining Persefone fan on this godforsaken corner of the web. I write a lot, much of it pertaining to metal of varying degrees of quality, and I am a proud member of Sputnik’s core-fam.
How many reviews do you have on this site? No, disregard that. How…
By Nocte
Tuesday April 18, 2023
Oh. Hi, and welcome back to yet another installment of “Staffers’ gone Wild!” or um…vague instructions on how to review music. In setting aside your schedule of busy Sputnikmusic comment posting and left click debauchery to get to the nitty gritty of “how to review music”, hacks, roms and workarounds we hope you still enjoy this little left-hand turn from visiting Tool threads. In this segment we’ll be cross checking different staffers’ approaches to putting words together. Maybe you’re a budding reviewer, on the cusp of greatness, searching for that piece of the puzzle lost on the floor or maybe your mum just logged you on to the household’s singular trusty laptop and you don’t know what to do with your fifteen-minute screen allowance before the older sibling demands the computer for…research? Either way, you’ve come to the right place!
I’ll do away with the small talk (or will I?) but you guys all know the power puff diddle of Sputnikmusic. The site’s Mr. Nice Guy. The El Primo himself, pimp-daddy Dewinged!
First off. Who are you and how did you get here?
That depends. In this version of the multiverse I’m the worldwide famous reviewer Dewingus Magnificus, well known for writing embarrassing 5/5 reviews for several hair metal albums, but what really brought me here was the scent of blood in the air. Also Mongi’s review of Cult of Luna & Julie Christmas’ “Mariner”.
Are you really a pimp?
I’ll admit I’ve pimped a couple of dwarves in the past…
By Nocte
Tuesday April 11, 2023
Good morning and thank you for um…setting aside your schedule of busy Sputnikmusic comment posting (we all know you’re just wasting time on your loo break) and left click debauchery to get to the nitty gritty of “how to review music”, hacks, roms and workarounds. In this segment we’ll be cross checking different staffers’ approaches to putting words together. Maybe you’re a budding reviewer, on the cusp of greatness, searching for that piece of the puzzle lost on the floor or maybe your mum just logged you on to the household’s singular trusty laptop and you don’t know what to do with your fifteen minute screen allowance before the older sibling demands the computer for…research? In short, thank you for coming to the right place!
Today (or sometime this week more likely) Ben stumbled into the wrong room. The door locked behind him (oh no!) and now he’s stuck to a chair until a rescuer appears at an undisclosed time. You guys can tell creative writing isn’t a strength of mine right? Um…
First off. Who are you and how did you get here? Are you asleep?
Zzz.
In your own words, how does one review a piece of music?
Tl;dr: No idea lol.
Engaging brain … erm … ig there are two uncircumventable goals: (a) engage reader and (b) express self.
Importantly, (a) > (b): the audience must, necessarily, come first. Everything else is secondary. If, as a result of your words, you have convinced someone to listen to…
By Nocte
Tuesday April 4, 2023
You’re here! No, I mean you actually came. Someone please lock the door so you guys can’t get out. In this segment we’ll be cross checking different staffers’ approaches to putting words together. Maybe you’re a budding reviewer, on the cusp of greatness, searching for that piece of the puzzle lost on the floor or maybe your mum just logged you on to the household’s singular trusty laptop and you don’t know what to do with your fifteen-minute screen allowance before the older sibling demands the computer for…research? Either way, you’ve come to the right place!
Welcome to Part. 2 of an undisclosed number of mini interviews in this segment.
Today (or sometime this week more likely) we have Tyler White a.k.a. Tyman128. I lack basic witty comments here and enough back-story to dangle lazy liners and joyful familiarity. I shall fix that this year – consider that a late New Year’s resolution.
First off. Who are you and how did you get here?
Yo, what’s up! I am Tyler, better known on this God forsaken website as tyman420 (I don’t know, some people sorta started adding that to my name and I have zero clue why). I showed up – lemme check, hold up – well… my join date now says January 1970, but I’m pretty sure it was early March 2018 and my first review was June 2018. I still don’t fully know why I even joined this site, pretty sure I just found a random review…
Hello and welcome to the future of Sputnik’s recently rebooted, charm offending, hernia cleansing, fool hunting, wokeshopping mania avenue for the brave and brainless. Staff Wars is back! This is where we stick members of the Staff team against the wall and interview them within an inch of their lives. Steel yourself as impossible questions are posed and the Staffers you’d never had the courage to approach before surpass your wildest expectations.
Today’s subject is an adorable young bean of Good Sput Stock, so fresh-faced that I originally misremembered the number of years he has been on Staff by a factor of 0.5 (this has been edited and I have been shamed). His penmanship is pointy, his reverence is zany and his charm is a gosh darned weapon. Please welcome: AsleepintheBack!
AsleepintheBack hi. What day/time is it and how is your day?
I am somewhere in France on a Wednesday evening after a most adequate day thanking you I hope you are swell.
What are you jamming at this moment?
The Kilimanjaro Darkjazz Ensemble – Here Be Dragons (thank you MoM).
Hmm. Let’s break some ice: what can humans learn from birds?
How to fall with style (penguins exempted).
Love penguins. Which problematic historical figure do you find most attractive?
I’d bang Stalin tbh (he can Soviet my Union, wink wink etc.).
Yikes hot, great! Now, the question on everyone’s lips: why are you named after an Elbow album?
God knows lol. My dad likes Elbow. I like my dad. There was probably some further reasoning between those two…
By Nocte
Thursday March 30, 2023
Is it evening yet? Or is the morning? Um…setting aside your schedule of busy Sputnikmusic comment posting and left click debauchery to get to the nitty gritty of “how to review music”, hacks, roms and workarounds. In this segment we’ll be cross checking different staffers’ approaches to putting words together. Maybe you’re a budding reviewer, on the cusp of greatness (how ’bout that?), searching for that piece of the puzzle lost on the floor or maybe your mum just logged you on to the household’s singular trusty laptop and you don’t know what to do with your fifteen-minute screen allowance before the older sibling demands the computer for…research? Either way, you’ve come to the right place!
Welcome to Part. 1! Today (or sometime this week more likely) we have…Jesper!!
First off. Who are you and how did you get here?
Hi! I’m Jesper and I probably got here in like 2015 while trying to find a review for Knuckle Puck or Brand New or something. Pop punk being part of your origin story is rarely a good sign.
How many reviews do you have on this site? No, disregard that. How many reviews are you truly proud of? Now you can circle back. How many reviews do you have?
Eh, out of my 155 reviews I might be truly proud of a few of them. I honestly don’t know because I never/rarely reread my own reviews after they’re up (mostly because I’ll have proofread them like 24 times…
Hello and welcome to the future of Sputnik’s recently rebooted, charm offending, hernia cleansing, fool hunting, wokeshopping mania avenue for the brave and brainless. Staff Wars is back! This is where we stick members of the Staff team against the wall and interview them within an inch of their lives. Steel yourself as impossible questions are posed and the Staffers you’d never had the courage to approach before surpass your wildest expectations.
Today is dedex. No fancy introductions, for you know him, for he is Sputnik. What is Sputnik, this Sputnik, this Sputnik you speak of? It is dedex (you fool)! dedex is the still-in-his-prime mentor figure they put in the tutorial level so you have an idea of the character the game narrative wants you to level up to. The game is Sputnik (and you, uh, win or you die); he is the mascot and you can talk to him and learn from him, but can you be him? Hell no! And now he is Staff! Let’s go:
dedex HELLO! Welcome to SputStaff 2023! How do you feel?
First of all HELLO!!
Well I feel good because I’m staff lol. In all seriousness, life is hectic but in a good way, which is basically the best way to live, right?? Or not, I’m tired.
Is there anything I can do for you before this interview starts?
Please be a good boi!
Okay – psych?!!? – I’m just nervous full of giggles because this is both the first Staff Wars in a year and the first nu-Staffer interview I’ve…
Hello and welcome to the future of Sputnik’s recently rebooted, charm offending, hernia cleansing, fool hunting, wokeshopping mania avenue for the brave and brainless. Staff Wars is back! This is where we stick members of the Staff team against the wall and interview them within an inch of their lives. Steel yourself as impossible questions are posed and the Staffers you’d never had the courage to approach before surpass your wildest expectations.
Today we catch up with a Staffer who should have long since been on here! Both uninterested in all things rock and metal, and in near-invariable alignment with the powers of logic and common sense, it bears no overstatement to call granitenotebook one of Sputnik’s most valuable, talented and frequently overlooked writers. No more of that! No time to waste! In we delve:
granitenotebook, hello! How are you?
i’m doing good! just finished some homework so now I’m on to more important tasks like watching The X-Files
What day of the week are you responding from, and what bearing does this have on your overall state of being?
it’s saturday afternoon, so i’m relaxing and trying my best not to worry about all of the things i know i would benefit from just getting done already.
I’ve always thought your username was a great image! Could you explain the inspiration behind it?
thanks! ultimately I’ll have to keep that a secret, but it’s definitely not a random series of words that i put together becauseiI thought they sounded cool when i needed a new social media username, i…
Hello and welcome to the future of Sputnik’s recently rebooted, charm offending, hernia cleansing, fool hunting, wokeshopping mania avenue for the brave and brainless. Staff Wars is back! This is where we stick members of the Staff team against the wall and interview them within an inch of their lives. Steel yourself as impossible questions are posed and the Staffers you’d never had the courage to approach before surpass your wildest expectations.
For this interview, we turn to Olympus new blood and bring you an exclusive tell-all from none other than MarsKid. Who is MarsKid? Where did he come from (MARS, idiot!)? What does he bring? How much does he owe you and how much is he owed? What happens if you make it to the final line of any of his reviews? What the sour octopus is post-metalcore? YIKES let’s grill the boy!
Hi Mars! Of all our new crop of staffers, I think you’re the one whose taste and coverage can most easily be summed up as a concrete Niche (although it’s probably inevitable that I’d draw that conclusion after all the intensive profiling I threw at your ratings and reactions for last year’s Build-an-Album competition) – so go on! Sum it up. Preferences and proclivities here please, both practised and conceptual:
So there’s this thing called post-metalcore, not sure if you’ve heard of it but it’s kinda a big deal, y’know. Basically, it asks the all-important question of “What if metalcore could FEEL” although not in the Counterparts “lol I’m gonna die” manner of…
Upon being asked how they would like to be introduced, Victor Pakour and Wyatt Ininns admitted they were not quite sure how to do that themselves – and perhaps that is the best introduction to Ruby Haunt. While the dream pop duo have been putting out albums at a rapid pace since the mid-2010’s, their presence in the reverbed-out DIY Bandcamp scene can only be described as reminiscent of the very music they release: rather subdued and introverted.
Thankfully, their music speaks for itself. This year’s Cures For Opposites is a gorgeous collection of ethereal songs blending synths and gaze in a way few other bands are capable of. While they may be in a state of constant creation with seven full lengths under their belt, the duo found some spare time to chat with Sunnyvale and JesperL (the proud co-founders of Sputnikmusic’s Ruby Haunt fanclub).
This sheer size of the Ruby Haunt discography, some seven years in, might actually be the best place to start: could you describe what your process is like? How have you gotten to a point where you can release so much music without it detracting from the overall quality of the music?
Victor: We don’t overthink the process or set unrealistic goals. We both love working hard and are very passionate about writing / making music. The feeling we get from making and subsequently sharing demos is so special and I don’t think that feeling will ever change. I think that’s why we…
ajcollins15: The Third Side of the Coin
Welcome to The Morning Show
The Sputnik Music Morning Show are delighted to have been joined live by renowned music critic ajcollins15, nominee for the 2022 Nobel Laureate of Literature and purveyor of pertinent pop. Listen in for our exclusive interview!
・・・・・・・・・・・・・・
ajcollins15, hello! It’s a delight to have you on the Morning Show today. Listeners all across the country are tuning in as we speak – would you introduce yourself for them?
I have listened to a lot of explorative metal music out there.
Awesome, and how’ve you been doing lately?
With Covid-19 being the dominant threat of 2020, millions and millions of people have been affected by it in one way or another.
For real. It’s brought the whole world together!
The biggest downside is that the cohesiveness in everything is a bit static.
Yuh-huh.
However, there is a much deeper understanding here that I feel many will miss; life is short and time moves fast.
Too true. Does this have much of an impact on your writing? How do you aim to write?
With a lot of class and a ton of self-reflection that we all kind of need in this transition period out of pandemic season.
Great to hear from someone…
Band photo by Charley Shillabeer
From left to right: Chris Fielding, Jon Davis, Johnny King
One of the heaviest doom/sludge metal acts out there at the moment, Conan have gradually ascended to the top tier of the respective scene with a number of strong records over the past decade. Blending slow, crushing riffs with fast, scorching ones, the US loans-cash.net trio goes all in on their latest LP, Evidence of Immortality. Perhaps their most consistent release so far, this collection of songs displays fine samples of all their sonic strengths, with a touch of dark humor as well. I reached out to the group to find out more about it and thankfully, founding member Jon Davis (vocals/guitar) shared more insight into Evidence of Immortality, the gear he’s been using lately and how important is the image to a band today, among other topics.
Hi! You are back this year with your 5th studio album. How was Evidence of Immortality born? Did the last couple of years affect the creative process in any way?
Hey yeah, the last couple of years were weird as fuck weren’t they? For us it kinda helped, because it helped us slow down the process and take our time more during the writing phase. It was pretty difficult to not be able to rehearse in the same room, but it worked out in the end.
Your previous album, Existential Void Guardian focused on shorter, immediate tracks, whereas Evidence of Immortality…
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