Mike
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Mike
September 14, 2009
An Interview with Bruce Hornsby – HuffPost 9.14.09
Beyond calling Bruce Hornsby “a remarkable pianist,” the New York Times added, “The America in his music is one of countless connections and intersections…that’s still wide open and welcoming.” That’s a pretty good introduction to Hornsby’s latest album, Levitate, his Verve Forecast debut and first “solo” (kind of) project since 2004’s Halcyon Days. His two more recent, critically acclaimed […]
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September 14, 2009
Interview with Big Star’s Jody Stephens and Rock Journalist Rob Kemp, Plus Comments by The Posies’ Jon Auer & Ken Stringfellow – HuffPost 9.14.09
At the time of its release, Big Star’s album #1 Record was supposed to fulfill the prophecy of its title, it being cleverly dubbed so for marketing purposes while revealing a tad of the foursome’s humor. But Big Star’s debut — starring former Box Top member Alex Chilton, Chris Bell, Jody Stephens, and Andy Hummel — never […]
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September 14, 2009
Big Star’s Jody Stephens – HuffPost 9.14.09
Mike Ragogna: Do you have any advice for new bands as they try to have a life in music? Jody Stephens: I’d say play the music that strikes your fancy. Play stuff that comes out of you without a whole lot of thought about it…that just comes naturally. And have a good time with it, […]
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September 8, 2009
- in Entertainment Interviews , John Leckie by Mike
An Interview with Producer John Leckie on The Stone Roses – HuffPost 9.8.09
In the U.S., The Stone Roses is remembered as one of those critically acclaimed U.K. rock acts that almost achieved superstardom in the States but mysteriously never did. In England, the Manchester lads rose from the late ’80s pub scene to become critics’ picks, pop chart conquerors, and heroes of the “Baggy” movement; but the […]
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September 8, 2009
- in Advice for New Artists , John Leckie by Mike
John Leckie – HuffPost 9.8.09
[Note: This is taken from my interview with producer John Leckie who worked with The Stone Roses among others, and it offers some insight into the recording process he used.] Mike Ragogna: How did you separate The Stone Roses’ sound from all the other acts you were producing? John Leckie: For the time, it wasn’t […]
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August 23, 2009
- in Entertainment Interviews , Janis Ian by Mike
An Interview with Janis Ian – HuffPost 8.23.09
Mike Ragogna: What is the story behind your writing “Society’s Child”? Janis Ian: As best as I remember, I was on a bus headed to school, and I saw a black and white couple necking, totally oblivious to everyone else on the bus. They were very happy, but nobody else on the bus was, and […]
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August 23, 2009
- in Advice for New Artists , Janis Ian by Mike
Janis Ian – HuffPost 8.23.09
[Note: This was taken from my interview with Janis Ian and might be inspirational for new artists.] Mike Ragogna: You were so young when you had that hit, and apparently, your teachers at New York’s High School of Music & Art were belligerent towards you because of it. What was it like having to endure […]
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August 20, 2009
- in Advice for New Artists , Jonah Smith by Mike
Jonah Smith – HuffPost 8.20.09
[Note: This is taken from my 2009 interview with Jonah Smith and contains some useful information new artists.] Mike Ragogna: Sometimes people think, because you’re using Pro Tools, it costs almost nothing to record an album. Jonah Smith: Yeah, well, I had a producer on board plus strings and horns and a lot of musicians, […]
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