Matthew Shipp

Pianist and composer Matthew Shipp has developed a musical language of his own, one that can be dense and forceful, spare and questioning, and sometimes all of those things within the same performance. Widely known through his work in saxophonist David S. Ware’s quartet, one of the defining groups in the New York free-jazz scene of the 1990s where, alongside bassist William Parker, he helped give that group both its foundation and much of its restless movement. His own recordings, whether for… READ MORE

Nigel Godrich

While not necessarily a household name for those outside of certain music circles, there’s a good chance you know what Nigel Godrich’s work sounds like. As a producer and recording engineer, he’s helped make some of the most distinctive records of the past three decades—often with musicians interested in moving beyond whatever worked the last time. His relationship with Radiohead began as an engineer on their second album, The Bends. He went on to co-produce OK Computer, beginning a… READ MORE

Joe Westerlund

Although a drummer by trade and training, Joe Westerlund’s creative output isn’t limited to just that instrument, with a more accurate description being "Percussionist/Improviser/Composer." Initially a member of DeYarmond Edison with Justin Vernon and brothers Brad and Phil Cook, followed by Megafaun after that, Westerlund has since gone on to release multiple solo records, co-founded Setting, a trio with Nathan Bowles and Jaime Fennelly, and record a forthcoming record with Nicole Mitchell… READ MORE

Phil Elverum

Through his work in Mount Eerie and The Microphones, Phil Elverum’s deeply personal, human, and intimate songwriting has left a deep imprint on American underground music over the last 20-plus years. Over 30-odd releases, he has established a literary voice that is both nakedly honest but approachable and that draws the listener in even whilr covering emotionally difficult terrain. Hear how songs by The Ronettes, Julie Doiron, and Popol Vuh shaped his sensibilities. His most recent work, Night Palace, was released under the Mount Eerie imprimatur in November of 2024.

Brian Harnetty

Columbus, OH-based composer Brian Harnetty describes himself as an “interdisciplinary artist using sound and listening to foster social change.” While the meaning of such a description may not be immediately apparent, Harnetty’s approach becomes clearer when reading through his CV: he frequently uses archival material such as field and historic recordings to create sound collages, capturing the essence of a subject from the fragments of it he’s collected. Some specific examples of his work in… READ MORE

Maria Chavez

Although turntablist Maria Chavez’s work is often performed in contemporary art museums and other rarefied locations, she herself doesn’t come from a place of abstraction or the aloofness that’s sometimes associated with such venues. On paper a deeply experimental artist, her work comes from a place of pure emotion rather than an ideological stance, and embraces the possibilities of the creative accident. A native of Lima, Peru, but raised in the United States, Chavez’s use of broken vinyl and… READ MORE

Sir Richard Bishop

Over a career spanning almost five full decades, Sir Richard Bishop has carved out a lasting legacy for himself as a singular, prolific voice. In the early 1980’s he founded Sun City Girls with his brother, Alan, and subsequently released 50 full length albums, 20 hour-long cassettes and 12 7” records. He’s also a co-founder of the far-reaching Sublime Frequencies label. Hear how songs by Hoyt Curtin, Farid Al-Atrash, and Sandy Bull guided him creatively. His newest record, Hillbilly Ragas, was released by Drag City in 2025.

Tom Skinner

In his work with Sons of Kemet, and then in The Smile with Thom Yorke and Jonny Greenwood, and as a sought after jazz and session drummer, Tom Skinner is very much a known quantity in music circles in the UK and internationally. Also a solo artist, his newest album, Kaleidoscopic Visions, was released by International Anthem in September 2025. Hear how songs by Ornette Coleman, Federico Mompou, and Sam Gendel shaped him. We spoke to him live at the Big Ears Festival in Knoxville, TN in March of 2026.

Shahzad Ismaily

To try to list all the projects, both solo and group, that Shahzad Ismaily has been a part of would take much more time than we have available, even in this notoriously long-winded medium. Instead, it might be better to offer a small sampling of those with whom he’s collaborated (Sam Smith, Mike Doughty; Arooj Aftab, Vijay Iyer, and Marc Ribot), and then offer the description of him as a bass player and multi-instrumentalist who’s equally comfortable in the jazz, pop, and experimental idioms… READ MORE

Kramer

For most of his career, Bonner Kramer has been known in underground music circles by only his surname, as his imprint has been deep and wide enough that only that sobriquet has been necessary. Starting in New York City in the late 70’s and into the 80’s, he was a member of several seminal bands of the era including New York Gong and Bongwater, and played in the Butthole Surfers, Ween, Half Japanese, The Fugs, and with John Zorn. As a producer, he has worked with Galaxie 500 (whose entire… READ MORE

Mary Lattimore

A harpist since childhood–as well as the daughter of one–Mary Lattimore’s choice of instrument reveals the simple beauty it contains, transcending the stereotype of it being strictly for use in classical music or as flourishes in movie soundtracks. Her ability to cut straight to the heart in her compositions works the same trick, not relying on the standard glissandos often employed by traditional players, but simply reducing the instrument to its essence. Her most recent release is a duet with… READ MORE

Joe Boyd

Listing Joe Boyd’s most significant accomplishments as a producer, label owner, and music historian is a tall order. A short list of artists he’s worked with includes Nick Drake (heard here), Pink Floyd, Fairport Convention, Sandy Denny, Richard Thompson, The Incredible String Band, R.E.M., Vashti Bunyan, Billy Bragg, and 10,000 Maniacs. Additionally, he was the founder of Hannibal Records, the label responsible for bringing the term “world music” into the lexicon, as well as serving as a music… READ MORE