A Conversation with R.E.M.’s Mike Mills – HuffPost 3.8.11

Mike Ragogna: Hello, Mike. Mike Mills: How are you? MR: I’m pretty good. How are you doing? MM: Good, thanks. MR: What went into the production of R.E.M.’s new album, Collapse Into Now? MM: Well, it’s sort of a long process, as many of them are. The main overall thing after having made Accelerate was to make a […]

R.E.M.’s Mike Mills – HuffPost 3.8.11

Mike Ragogna: Well, you’ve been around for a while in terms of studio albums and the amount of music you’ve contributed to the culture, so do you have any advice for new artists? Mike Mills: (laughs) Not that might really be of any use. The most important thing, to me, in terms of being in […]

A Conversation with Lucinda Williams – HuffPost 3.7.11

Mike Ragogna: Hello there, Lucinda. How are you? Lucinda Williams: Good. MR: So, your new album is titled Blessed, and you brought in Don Was on production. LW: Yeah, he was co-producing with Tom (Overby) and Eric (Liljestrand). MR: Nice. The mix, of course, is the usual–a beautiful combination of country, blues, folk… LW: Thank you. […]

Lucinda Williams – HuffPost 3.7.11

Mike Ragogna: What advice do you have for new artists? Lucinda Williams: Get out there and play in front of an audience and work out your songs in front of an audience while at the same time building up a fan base even if it’s small at first.

The Crystals’ La La Brooks – HuffPost 3.4.11

Mike Ragogna: Do you have any advice for new artists? La La Brooks: For new artists and young artists? I was 13 when I joined The Crystals, and I was fortunate because I had a guardian. I went to private schools, I went to school with Patty Duke, Duncan Quinn, Bernadette Peters. So, I would […]

A Conversation with The Crystals’ La La Brooks – HuffPost 3.4.11

Mike Ragogna: La La, let’s first get an official recap of The Crystals’ history. La La Brooks: I came on board when I was 13, I was going to school at PS73 in Brooklyn, and after school, I would have to go back into the building because my mom didn’t like us being on the […]

– Mike Ragogna’s 2.0 – 20110303 – Lucinda Williams

A Conversation with Steve Vai – HuffPost 3.3.11

Mike Ragogna: Steve, you and Berklee are trying to set a record in Guinness by attempting to teach as many guitarists online as possible within a single lesson. How’re you going to pull that off? Steve Vai: Well, believe it or not, I don’t do drugs. (laughs) I don’t know how it came about, it’s […]