Q&A with Johnny Reed

Johnny Reed describes his music as "pop rock alternative" with a nod to the classic harmonies of artists like The Beatles and Crosby, Stills & Nash.  Reed says he's been told that his drumming is reminiscent of Ginger Baker of Cream and his guitar playing of Keith Richards or Eric Clapton.  Reed says that his creative process is free flowing.  "When I play, I jam," says Reed.  "Whatever goes is okay.  I might start with piano, guitar or drums. I might start with a chorus or a bridge or verse and then not use that original idea or phrase at all.  I just use the thing I came up with along the way." Reed is a longtime resident of Redondo Beach, one of the three Beach Cities located in Los Angeles County, California.  Reed says he has a great connection with the ocean.  "There's no other place I want to live."

1. Favorite band?  The Beatles, Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix, Taylor Swift, Katy Perry, Eric Clapton…
2. Favorite genre of music?  Rock!
3. Favorite song?  “Such a Beautiful Bird” by Johnny Reed and “Good Day Sunshine” by The Beatles.
4. What is your earliest music memory?  Seeing a surf band playing in a garage and thinking it was so cool.  Not really the music, but the idea of doing of it!
5. What was the first LP or CD you bought?  Cream's Disraeli Gears and Jimi Hendrix's Experience
6. What was the first band you saw in concert?  Black Sabbath
7. What hobbies and interests do you have?  I love snorkeling.  I love wandering through tide pools, deserts and rivers, and collecting natural treasures in nature.  I also like creating art with wood, paint and other natural objects.  I enjoy making something great out of something that most people wouldn’t bother with.  Not just throwing away things that still have another life just ahead.
8. Do you have a nickname?  Sometimes “Rawk Dawg” from my previous hard rock band, Rawk Dawg.
9. Favorite destination?  Paradise Island, The Bahamas
10. If you could hang out with anyone who would you pick and why?  Jimi Hendrix.  His music was so emotional and shocking for the time.  So interesting, loose, spiritual, guttural and emotional sounding that it’s still revered today.
11. If you were an animal, what animal would you be and why?  I’d like to fly like an eagle.
12. Favorite food?  BBQ.  And please cook it with the sauce on it.  Don’t paint it on later!
13. Favorite book?  Any science fiction by Carlos Castaneda.
14. Favorite movie?  Raiders of the Lost Ark
15. Favorite holiday and why?  Christmas!  Just to see children have the dreamy thoughts of the season, Not getting presents, but the imagination process of there being a whimsical guy named Santa Claus; where might he be, and what's it all about!
16. If you could have any super power, what would it be?  Seeing the future.  It could sure help the present!
17. If you could visit any place in the world, where would it be?  The Pyramids
18. What three words would best describe you? DO IT YOURSELF!
19. What three words would your friends use to describe you?  Johnny’s a dreamer.
20. Any special talents?  I can juggle.
21. Who has inspired you?  Albert Einstein, Paul McCartney, George Lucas & Steven Spielberg
22. What makes you laugh?  Austin Powers
23. What did you plan to be when you grew up?  I went to Junior College and only took music & electronics.  I never planned on graduating,  I just wanted the knowledge.
24. Are there any issues you feel passionate about?  The Native Americans.  Having the treaties they signed giving their lands away.  Now the only part of the treaties that is respected is that they gave their land away.  The rest of the promises and rights in the treaties to the Native Americans are passed over, forgotten.
25. Do you have pets?  Yes, Paul the Bird is a cockatiel shared with my daughter, Kelly and son, Johnny.
26. Is there anything else you would like listeners/readers to know?  I always try to express in my songs the power of YOU.  That you can do so many things if you open yourself to it and work for it. Don’t wait for some magical person to come along and make you life better,  DIY,  Do It Yourself.  I also stress live in the moment in my songs because life spins by so quickly, and everything can change in an instant.  I know this well because my daughter was in a car accident.  She was in a coma for four months, a hospital for a year and can’t walk to this day.  So enjoy life and get the most out of it every day because you never know what's next,  That’s my message to the world!

Check out Johnny's website.
Check out Johnny on Facebook.

Check out his music on itunes.

The Knix Mix Top 20 Electronic Albums of 2014

In the world of electronic music, 2014 was a banner year for the ladies.  Kitten, Kimbra, Kiesza, Lindsey Stirling, Dev, Lana Del Rey and La Roux all released new music.  There were new releases by electronica/EDM staples like Tycho, David Guetta, Tiësto, Example, Skrillex and Deadmau5. House fans saw new releases by Simian Mobile Disco and Booka Shade.  Pioneers of the genre came out in force with Brian Eno & Karl Hyde, Bryan Ferry, Morrissey, Echo & the Bunnymen and Midge Ure releasing albums.  The LCD Soundsystem and Röyksopp said their goodbyes - at least in their current incarnations - in the form of farewell albums.  And I've discovered a few unsung treasures like Voxmirage, Faded Paper Figures, Flight Facilities and White Hex.
My Top 20 list includes a few albums that have achieved critical success.  You will surely recognize those picks if you're keeping up with these kinds of things.  Quite a few of the albums speak to my personal fondness for post punk, electro pop and disembodied robotic voices without consideration for acclaim.  Check it out!

Aphex Twin Syro
This album can be found on many a "Best of 2014" chart and with good reason.  This is UK based Richard D James' 6th studio album under the pseudonym Aphex Twin, and the first in 13 years.  It's contemporary and on point.

Arca Xen
Xen is the debut album of Venezuelan born producer Alejandro Ghersi who is best known for working with Björk and FKA Twigs.  All futuristic and stylistically interesting, this album is a critical darling.

Audit Division Audit Division EP
Maybe it's because they vaguely remind me of The Juan MacLean by featuring a male and a female vocalist with a retro synthpop sound that I like this little sleeper EP no one has heard of.

Banks Goddess
American Jillian Banks has pop appeal, but the soul laid bare lyrics and synthpop sound on her debut album garnered some positive attention among electronic music fans.

Broods Evergreen
This is New Zealand brother and sister duo Broods debut album, which is a follow up to their self titled EP.  They have a broader pop appeal that will eventually get them some Top 40 airplay.

Caribou Our Love
Another album that has made it's way onto many "Best of 2014" charts, Our Love by Canadian musician Caribou is a feelings album. There are moments of real loveliness on this album.

Diamond Version CI
Neil Tennant of Pet Shop Boys makes a vocal appearance on this album, but I am most taken with the deconstructed Orwellian vocal samples like on "Science for a Better Life."

Röyksopp & Robyn Do It Again EP
Norwegian duo Röyksopp and Swedish songstress Robyn can do no wrong in my eyes.  I especially like the cheeky "Sayit."

Gazelle Twin Unflesh
British producer Elizabeth Bernholz brings us her dark and chilling second album.  She was influenced by heavy subject matter like feral children and euthanasia, and the results sound a bit like the soundtrack to a nightmare.

Hundred Waters The Moon Rang Like a Bell
Hundred Waters hails from Florida and some of the members have been making music since middle school.  This album has an emotive electro folk sound,  Check out the single "Cavity."

The Juan MacLean In a Dream
There is a certain something that just works in the collaborative efforts of American house master Juan MacLean and former LCD Soundsystem member Nancy Whang. This album has been on repeat play for me since its release.

Liars Mess
Known for being experimental, Mess is the seventh studio album for the US band.  It's quirky and provocative and a bit of a style change from their previous albums.

Mr Little Jeans Pocketknife
Norwegian Monica Birkenes is Mr Little Jeans.  "Mercy" is the essential song on the album, although she does a cover of Arcade Fire's "The Suburbs."

Museum of Love Museum of Love
Like The Juan MacLean, this is another offering from the DFA label. Pat Mahoney of LCD Soundsystem pairs Dennis McNany for a retro synthpop sound.

Phantogram Voices
In another male and female pairing with some shared vocal duties, American duo Phantogram has pop appeal.

Starwalker Losers Can Win EP
French Jean-Benoit Dunckel and Icelandic Bardi Johannsson collaborate on this stylistically spare but intriguing EP.

St. Vincent St. Vincent
The eponymous 4th album by American St. Vincent has that irreverent and wry art rock style that she does so well.

Trust Joyland
Toronto based Robert Alfons was on his own for the second Trust album with Maya Postepski having returned to her duties with Austra. Alfons vocals are incredible and throwback influences like Kate Bush, Cocteau Twins and bygone video game soundtracks give it that synthpop flavor that I love.

Tying Tiffany Drop
Italian Tying Tiffany seems to fly under the radar in the US, but she has that art school dropout DIY style that deserves a listen.

Wild Beasts Present Tense
This is the 4th studio album for Wild Beasts.  Honestly, there is no other band who sounds quite like them, so it's best to just listen for yourself.

Uncle Tan

The Knix Mix is privileged to be the first English interview ever for Finnish electronic pop artist Uncle Tan.  Uncle Tan hails from Tampere, Finland, a large inland city located in Southern Finland. Uncle Tan describes Finland as a "beautiful and inspiring" country.  I know I'd love to visit! Musically, Uncle Tan draws inspiration from artists like Moby, M83, Röyksopp and "countless" others.  "Positivity, good hooks and innovativeness are my trademarks," says Uncle Tan.  He has been working as a solo artist since 2011 and previously worked as an composer for dancehall reggae artist Lord Est.  Uncle Tan says he's working on a full album with the working title Honest and Real. He has had airplay on the Kellari Demo Show on Finnish national radio YleX and on the DLX Demo Show on Radio Helsinki.  Recently, Australian music blogger Yes Ma'Am described Uncle Tan's single "It's Too Late For Us" as a "feel good foray into retro land."  Agreed!

1. Favorite band?  Hot Chip. They are innovative, catchy and influential.
2. Favorite genre of music?  I listen to almost any kind of music.  The main genres I enjoy are synth pop, electro pop, classic rock, reggae and soul.
3. Favorite song?  At the moment it would have to be Fleetwood Mac's "Everywhere."  It has everything - nice 80s synths, groovy guitar and a catchy hook!
4. First music memory?  When I was 2 days old at the hospital my mother gave me a pillow radio because I was crying.  When I got the radio next to my ear, I stopped crying immediately and just listened the music silently.  I can’t remember it, of course, but it just shows how deeply music has always affected me.  Now and still today.
5. First CD or LP you bought?  I was kid of the 90's, so my first albums were cassettes.  I can’t really remember the first cassette, but it was probably some cheesy dance compilation of the time.  I still have my old Walkman, and it works!
6. First band you saw in concert?  When I was around 16 years old I saw Finnish metal band Stratovarius.  As many of you might know, Finland has the reputation of being the #1 metal country in the world, so I heard my fair share of metal as a teenager. Fortunately, I've been over it for quite some time.
7. What hobbies and interests do you have?   I like soccer and played for many years.  I still follow English Premier League and Champions League.  I also love to read artist biographies, science magazines and fiction books.  And I love new technology. 
8. Do you have a nickname?  The nickname "Uncle Tan" is just an abbreviation of my first name - Taneli.  My niece gave the nickname to me about 10 years ago. 
9. Where have you traveled?  I love to travel a lot when ever I have a chance.  I’ve been to Sweden, Denmark, Germany, Italy, France, Belgium, Spain, Netherlands, Norway, Morocco, San Marino, Monaco, Greece, Yugoslavia...My favourite places are Lapland, Garda Lake in Italy and Nice in France.  Extra mention goes to Nerja Neanderthal caves in Spain.  Amazing place!
10. If I could hang out with anyone who would it be?  I would be interested to have a word with Salvador Dali, Kate Bush and John Lennon.  They are people I respect and have all created wonderful art that stands the test of time.
11. What animal would you be?  I love sea turtles.  They have been for 100 million years and it shows.  They aren't rushing to anywhere.  I think they have a quiet wisdom. 
12. Favorite food?  Indian food.  The whole process of making it from the scratch and adding loads of different spices and then cooking it for hours.  It’s heavenly food at its absolute best! 
13. Favorite book?  Hermann Hesse's Knulp.
14. Favorite movie?  The Back To The Future trilogy.  I can’t get enough of this movie trilogy.  I could watch it again and again and again!
15. Favorite holiday and why?  Summer holiday!  It’s the only time of the year in Finland when you don’t have to wear jacket.
16. If you could have any super power, what would it be?  Invisibility or flying skills.  I can’t decide.  Maybe combination of the two? 
17. If you could visit any place in the world, where would it be?  I would love to go to Uncle Tan Wildlife Camp in Malaysia.  I heard about it couple years ago and have wanted to go there ever since.  I would also love to go to New York, San Francisco and Tokyo.
18. What would people be surprised to know about you?  I think people would be surprised to know that I burn before I get tan. I’m that pale.
19. What three words best describe you?  Self-driven, modest and kind.
20. What three words would your friends use to describe you?  Honest, trustworthy and funny.
21. Any special talents?  I can make tunes that stick in your head.
22. Best compliment ever received?  That’s a hard one.  I guess when people send me a message that they liked my tune.  It’s always a good feeling.
23. Who has inspired you?  A lot of people!  Musically speaking, John Lennon, Simon & Garfunkel, Fleet Foxes, Bon Iver, Arcade Fire, Kate Bush, Morrissey, The Doors, Hot Chip, Air, OTT and Rauli Somerjoki (a Finnish artist).
24. What makes you laugh?  The British comedies The Office and Fast Show are always funny. And TV series like Flight of The Concords.  I like stand up comedy shows as well.  And comic books like Dilbert.  He’s really funny.  Hugleikur Dagsson is really funny comic writer as well.  
25. Favorite funny story about you?  Once I tried to Google pictures of Uncle Tan and there were just plenty of lizards, ants, apes, frogs and then my photo in the middle of the screen.  At that moment I felt I’m in excellent company.
26. What did you want to be when you grew up?  A soccer player or musician.
27. Are there any issues you feel passionate about?  Human rights are close to my heart, and I support vegetarianism.  I’m also supporting World Wildlife Fund (WWF).  I love animals!
28. Do you have pets?  Unfortunately not at the moment.  I would like to have a cat in the future.  I also thought about getting a turtle, but I don’t know if the city is good habitat for turtles.  Maybe I'll just go to see them in Australia!

Be sure to check out Uncle Tan on the following links:
Contact Uncle Tan,  find him on Facebook or Twitter and listen to him on Soundcloud!

What I've been playing lately on The Knix Mix!

The 2 Bears - The Night is Young

Those cheeky Brits are at it again, albeit without the bear suits this time.  The Night is Young is the sophomore album of The 2 Bears duo of Joe Goddard and Raf Rundell.  Goddard is, of course, also part of the electronic staple, Hot Chip, and Rundell is a UK DJ and producer.  This album has the nod to 90's house with pop hooks from The 2 Bears' first album Be Strong but with a bit of an Afrikaans influence from their travels to South Africa.  Check out the tracks "See You," "Run Run" and "My Queen."

Banks - Goddess

American Jillian Banks' debut album Goddess has been out since September, and the track "Waiting Game" grabbed me in the fall. Recently I've taken a liking to another single from the album, "Beggin for Thread."  Something about the plaintive lyrics against the hum of a synth driven beat is compelling.  Banks' soul laid bare songwriting is a friend to those who have experienced a broken heart and most of us can certainly relate!

Ben Wash - Snob Rock

Snob Rock is the debut album by Ben Wash and the first full length LP that his collective, King's Head Records, has released.  It's like a dance party with an attitude!  Bridget Barkan, the former vocalist for Scissor Sisters, contributes vocals to three tracks. Some of the tracks on the album are brand new and some are previously recorded.  "Give Me" is the single I've been playing a ton, and it handily gives you a sense of the edginess you can expect from the album.

Röyksopp - The Inevitable End

The Norwegian duo Röyksopp have released The Inevitable End as a declaration of their inevitable end.  Making full length studio albums, that is.  If you've ever listened to The Knix Mix, you know that Röyksopp's brand of Scandinavian electro pop is my thing, so I have to pay homage.  And anything they do in collaboration with Robyn is going to make my playlist.  "Monument (The Inevitable End Version)" has been splitting time on my show with "SayIt" from the Do It Again EP.

The Presets - No Fun (Remixes)

The Presets' No Fun (Remixes) is actually pretty fun!  I've been playing the original mix (the radio friendly edit) since I discovered it tucked away in singles section of the music library at the station. The Aussie electronic duo is known for their dance friendly tracks, and "No Fun" is no exception. House party anyone?

Anna Lunoe - All Out EP

Anna Lunoe is another Aussie who reestablished herself in Los Angeles a couple of years ago.  Her Bass Drum Dealer EP and All Out EP go all out!  I read that she said she wants to write lyrics that are raw, honest and come from a real place, but she really just wants to dance.  I feel you sister!  Check out the remixes of the tracks "B.D.D." and "All Out" too.

Oh Land - Earth Sick

Former Danish ballet dancer gone pop singer-songwriter Oh Land's new album Earth Sick is meant to conjure up what it might feel like to be an astronaut longing for home.  Oh Land's given name is Nanna Oland Frabricius.  Now based in Brooklyn, she explored the idea by looking at her own world and thinking of what she might change were she far away and dreaming of home.  "Head Up High" is a stand out track from the album.

Mansions on the Moon - Mansions on the Moon

Mansions on the Moon is a Los Angeles quartet with roots in Virginia Beach.  Their eponymous album features a blend of styles for a sound uniquely their own - synthpop and dreamy vocal harmony.  They're the kind of band that finds fans across genres.  Check out the track "Somewhere Else Tonight."

New Electronic Releases You Shouldn't Miss - Fall 2014

There's so much music out there, how does one find their way to the good stuff?  I've culled a few new releases from the multitude for your listening consideration.

Aphex Twin - Syro

There hasn't been an Aphex Twin (also known as England-based Richard David James) studio album since 2001.  This one is pronounced "Sigh ro" which is apparently a word his kid made up.

Example - Live Life Living

Englishman Elliot John Gleave's 5th studio album.  He's calling out some old school gods as influences (Chemical Brothers, The Prodigy, Underworld, Faithless), so you know I'm into it.

Busy P - Rainbow Man 2014 EP

French DJ Pedro Winter brings back the track Rainbow Man for 2014. Did you know he used to manage Daft Punk?

Faded Paper Figures - Relics

Fourth album from these indie electronic Californians.  Synthpop sound.  What's not to love?

The Juan MacLean - In a Dream

Namesake John MacLean and former LCD Soundsystem member Nancy Whang. "A Place Called Space" is long for radio play, but I played it anyway.

Audit Division - Audit Division EP

They're American, but they sound like Brits in the mid 80's New Order realm.  Especially on songs like "Tear Me Apart."

Diamond Version - CI

An collaborative effort by Germans Byetone and Alva Noto.  Neil Tennant of Pet Shop Boys supplied vocals for "Were You There?"  CI stands for "Corporate Identity" for those in the know.

Fenech-Soler - Rituals

The second album for this UK duo.  A special version with 4 tracks from their first album hit the US this summer.

Starwalker - Losers Can Win EP

French Jean-Benoit Dunckel of Air and Icelandic Bardi Johannsson of Bang Gang collaborate on this strangely pleasing EP.  Check out the Bloodgroup Remix of "Bad Weather" should you get the chance.

Röyksopp & Robyn - Do It Again EP

Norwegian duo Röyksopp partner up again with Sweden's Robyn.  You remember "The Girl and the Robot" on Junior.  One of my favorite albums in life.

The Sexbots Do Japan

In December of last year I had the pleasure of interviewing The Sexbots' Ilima Considine on The Knix Mix.  (Check out the December 15, 2013 blog post here.)  Big things have been happening in her life since we last spoke, including a tour in Japan, a break up and a new album inspired by the breakup.  The new album drops soon, and Ilima has plans underway for a supporting tour in the Northeast.  
Ilima says that the new album was meant to be a concept album of light and life, and some songs were already written.  That changed three week after her return from Japan, when she broke up with the person she describes as "the love of her life."  She found herself grieving and unable to work. After a couple of months, she dusted herself off, dyed her hair red and turned her sorrow into an EP of songs about the relationship.  The working title for the album has been "Songs for Jamil," but she says that it's not a diss album.  She maintains that, while they didn't always bring out the best in each other, this man still remains the love of her life.
Our chat covers such varied topics as what does a person with severe food allergies find to eat in Japan, the difficulty of navigating your hometown when you could run into your ex anywhere you go, going on the road when you're a single mom of two and planning a tour on the other side of the country.  You know you want to know the answers to these and many other questions!

Listen to The Knix Mix Interview Here
The Sexbots Website
Support The Sexbots on Patreon
The Sexbots on YouTube

Volunteer Profile Kristie Billings

Kristie Billings could be the girl the Heads were singing about in "Punk Lolita."  She is free spirited, unedited and unapologetically herself.  Not to mention her distinctly punk aesthetic.  As Kristie tells it, she marched to a different beat early on.  On Saturdays at 6PM, you can hear her on WERU as one of the hosts of Daydream Nation.  Kristie plays an eclectic mix of everything:  punk, blues, rock 'n' roll, reggae, Motown, 1980's.  "Whatever," she says, "I feel like busting out that night!"
You might not guess it when meeting her, but Kristie grew up in a fishing family in the small coastal village of Deer Isle.  She describes a time when there weren't many kids who had dyed hair or shaved heads or rocked the goth look.  She says people could be judgemental about the way she looked.  "Why?  Who knows?  I didn't look like anyone else.  That scared some people."  Kristie says that her early love for music, especially punk rock, gave her an important outlet to express herself and shaped her into the person she is today.
Kristie asserts that she is a Mainer through and through.  Her childhood in coastal Maine gave her a deep love for the ocean.  She affectionately describes lobstering with her dad, who sadly passed away last year, and her frequent swims in the crisp coastal waters of the Atlantic.  "I like to make things interesting," says Kristie. "Still do."

1. Favorite genre of music?  I would have to say punk/rock/post punk.  The first LP I ever purchased was a Beach Boys' record.  They were my first favorite band.
2. First music memory?  I was a little girl.  Maybe 3?  For some reason, I believe that Donnie Osmond was coming to Stonington to play at the Legion Hall.  Who knows how I came up with this?  I went and got myself all dressed up and waited and waited for one of my parents to take me to see "Donnie Marie."  My mother did not know what to make of it.  She told me to wait until my father came home from lobstering.  Typically, when my father returned home from after a long day of fishing, the last thing he wanted to do was go see a concert.  But he was a good sport.  He played along with his youngest daughter's funny ideas.  He told me to go ahead and get in the truck, and we'd find Donnie Marie.  We drove to the Legion Hall, and he proceeded to drive me all over Deer Isle looking for the elusive Donnie Osmond.  I was a bit disappointed to have missed him, but I was happy to have had a reason to get dressed up and cruise around the island, listening to the radio, with my dad.
3. If I could hang out with anyone who would it be?  Oh boy.  Jeez.  This is a tough question.  I am such a geek.  I would have to say Henry Rollins.  I have been a huge fan of his and his music since high school.  I would love to spend a day with him; record shopping, book shopping, drinking coffee, anything.  I have great respect for him.
4. What animal would you be?  If I could be any animal I would be a seal.  I used to think I would want to be a cat.  I am a crazy cat lady.  However, I love to swim.  I think seals are gorgeous, graceful, and playful.  Just amazing.  I would like to spend my days sunning myself on the rocks, slipping gracefully into the ocean and being a seal.  Sounds perfect!
5. What would people be surprised to know about you?  I think people would be surprised to learn that I am shy.  
6. What three words best describe you?  Goofy, loving and funny.
7. Who has inspired you?  My family, Henry Rollins, Ian MacKaye, Nick Cave, Sylvia Plath, Michael Gira, Boy George and many others!
8. What is your favorite color?  It's a tie:  black and purple.
9. What makes you laugh?  Nearly everything!  I laugh every day.  I laugh all the time.  I can't pinpoint what I find funny.  Silly, nonsensical, the everyday blah...all of it!
10. What did you want to be when you grew up?  Here's a list of things I have wanted to be since I was a child:  A nun, a race car driver, a fashion designer, a fashion merchandiser, a writer.  Now I believe I would be a great cat sitter.  Or a vinyl sitter.  Let me come and sit with your vinyl records!