On Beat: Recent Episodes
Newsweek
Newsweek’s new on-site reporting show is debuting with a trip to Coachella 2022. Follow along as a variety of Newsweek podcast hosts take you through everything that goes into making Coachella happen.
At music festivals, people want to dance and be moved — physically, sure, but emotionally, too.
For the final episode of Season 2 of On Beat, we spoke with two different artists in the dance genre. First up, R3HAB — a Dutch-Morrocan DJ who's worked with stars from Taylor Swift to Doja Cat to Madonna. Then we hear from UK up-and-comer Becky Hill right after her set — in an introspective mood and the hugest, most iridescent platform stilettos.
Keep up with R3HAB and Becky:
https://twitter.com/R3HAB
https://twitter.com/beckyhill
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These indie powerhouses are gaining traction — they’ve toured together, they both played life is beautiful, and they’re winning the kind of acclaim and attention that you only get in the indie space when you’ve got something really, consistently good.
On Beat spoke with COIN's Chase Lawrence, Ryan Winnen, Joe Memmel, and Matt Martin — and Valley's Rob Laska, Karah James, Mickey Brandolino, and Alex Dimaro — at Life is Beautiful.
Keep up with both bands:
https://twitter.com/COIN
https://twitter.com/ThisIsValley
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Neil Frances is not:
- Neal Francis.
Neil Frances is:
- A lot of other stuff.
The pair known variously as "Neil Frances" and "Jordan Feller and Marc Gilfrey" joined us before their Life Is Beautiful set to discuss how they approach different flavors of live performance, as well as the hilarious and poignant concept for their latest album.
Keep up with Neil Frances:
https://twitter.com/Neil_Frances_
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Lily Lizotte, better known by her stage name, The BLSSM, defies categorization. Lily uses she/they pronouns, depending on the day. Like her peers and collaborators, the recently mostly-but-not-entirely-broken-up Brockhampton — Lily is blending so many different genres, vibes, subject matters, it’s near impossible to fit the BLSSM into a particular box.
Connect with The BLSSM:
https://twitter.com/theblssm
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In spite of his wrenchingly personal lyrics, Irish singer-songwriter Dermot Kennedy is very private — a challenge in today's music industry. How do you bare your soul, and also leave things open enough for listeners to do the same?
Keep up with Dermot — whose album "Sonder" is out Nov. 4:
https://twitter.com/DermotKennedy
https://www.instagram.com/dermotkennedy/
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Nick and Amelia of Sylvan Esso joined On Beat ahead of their performance at Life is Beautiful — to hash out how they assemble a festival set, how to write an album in three weeks, and how creative collaboration is actually peak romance.
And gourds. We talk about gourds.
Keep up with Sylvan Esso: https://twitter.com/SylvanEsso
Keep up with Maura: https://twitter.com/maurafcurrie
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Pussy Riot is not a band, despite what you might have heard to the contrary. While it’s true that Pussy Riot releases music — and plays festivals, as they are at Life Is Beautiful in Las Vegas — frontwoman Nadya Tolokonnikova is quick to clarify that the mission is bigger than that.
Pussy Riot is a feminist protest collective; the group raises money for Ukrainian creatives, participates in NFT and Web 3.0 projects, and staged a protest for reproductive rights at the Texas state capitol earlier this summer.
Tolokonnikova, who served nearly two years in prison over an anti-Putin performance in 2012, is as vocal as ever in the face of escalating censorship — as well as her status as a registered foreign agent against Vladimir Putin’s government.
Read highlights of Nadya's chat with Newsweek:
https://www.newsweek.com/anti-putin-pussy-riot-singer-activist-talks-abortion-ukraine-nfts-1743982
Connect with Nadya and Pussy Riot:
https://www.instagram.com/nadyariot
https://twitter.com/nadyariot
https://www.instagram.com/pussyriot
https://twitter.com/pussyrrriot
Keep up with Maura: https://twitter.com/maurafcurrie
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Claire Rosinkranz, the 18-year-old singer and songwriter behind “Backyard Boy,” didn’t actually know her track was trending on TikTok until several friends let her know.
From there, it’s a story happening for a growing cohort of artists — TikTok leads to topping the Spotify charts and racking up half a million streams. Streams lead to record deals, and record deals lead to questions: how do you follow up, let alone top, a viral sensation? Is it even worth trying to catch lightning in a bottle twice?
For Claire Rosinkranz, the answer is a resounding “no”. She's fine with making her music, on her terms — with the help of a trusted creative partner, her dad — and the rest can come as it may.
Keep up with Maura:
https://twitter.com/maurafcurrie
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Tai Verdes says he's a tastemaker. It’s a bold way for an artist so fresh on the music festival scene to carry himself — and it defies any vision one might have of the Tiktok star turned best new artist contender. It’s bold, but for Tai? It’s working.
Newsweek caught up with the "A-O-K" and "Stuck in the Middle" singer ahead of his Life is Beautiful set.
Keep up with Maura: https://twitter.com/maurafcurrie
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On Beat is back. This time, we're on location at Life Is Beautiful, which has taken over the streets of Downtown Las Vegas since 2013.
Maura interviews David Oehm, CEO of LiB, ahead of the festival's 2022 opening — about what sets this festival apart, its local DNA, and how that squares with a recent corporate buyout.
Follow along with Maura:
https://twitter.com/maurafcurrie
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In their final Coachella 2022 episode. Tommy shares conversations with Emo Nite (@emoniteLA) and Still Woozy (@still_woozy)
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Tommy sits down with Chelsea Cutler, the 25 year old singer songwriter from Westport CT., ahead of her Coachella Weekend 1 set.
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The Parting Shot podcast's H. Alan Scott sits down with Paul Clemente, Coachella's long time art director, to discuss how they decide what art installations are displayed, how they are built, and what happens to the pieces after the festival ends.
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In this episode, Tommy sits down with Jean Dawson, makes really cool music that blends the lines between hip hop and indie rock. The two discuss Dawson's start in making music, what its like attending Coachella for the first time, and where he got his sound from.
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Tommy sits down with singer/songwriter Holly Humberstone to discuss what life on tour has been like (plus what she's looking forward to when touring with Olivia Rodrigo, how she creates music, and her latest song Sleep Tight.
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Maura brings her final two Coachella interviews to the table: Jessie Reyez discusses dating manchildren and sexism in music, and Role Model discusses love, Mac Miller, and diabetes.
The gang are all on Twitter:
https://twitter.com/Jessiereyez
https://twitter.com/rolemodel
https://twitter.com/maurafcurrie
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Buzzy indie groups The Regrettes and Yard Act join Newsweek to talk politics, music, joy, frustration, and the art of accidentally making an album.
Find the Regrettes and Yard Act on Twitter:
https://twitter.com/regrettesband
https://twitter.com/YardActBand
And read Yard Act's thread on "Bodies" by Ian Winwood here:
https://twitter.com/YardActBand/status/1510911953719410689?s=20&t=9PO-tSF1Ud7F2m5VCXk8mA
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In this episode, Tommy sits down with 22-year old Rich Brian after his weekend 1 performance at Coachella. The two talk about how Brian's show got to be where it is, his maturing as an artist, and what it'll be like returning to Indonesia for the first time since the pandemic.
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Tommy sits down with LA alternative rock band Wallows before their Weekend 1 set to talk about playing Coachella and what went into their new album "Tell Me That It's Over"
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We spoke to Caroline Polachek and Michelle Zauner ahead of and just after their respective sets at Coachella weekend 1 — discussing viral videos, writing, and the art of a good hook.
Connect with Caroline and Michelle:
https://twitter.com/carolineplz
https://twitter.com/Jbrekkie
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Tommy sits down with 21 year old singer songwriter Beabadobee ahead of her Weekend 2 Coachella performance. The two talk about Bea's Coachella experience, how she feels about so many people listening to her music, and what the creation of her latest album Beatopia was like
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This episode features two interviews conducted on the grounds at Coachella 2022. First, Maura talks with two-piece electronic music group Louis The Child. Then, Tommy talks with members of the German techno marching band MEUTE.
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Days before their weekend 1 performance, Tommy caught up with Nick and Jacob of Surf Curse to see how they were feeling ahead of their set. The three talk about Surf Curse's last Coachella experience, what it was like crafting their new album, and the surprises that they have in store for us (which would've been a fun scoop for Newsweek).
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American drag enthusiasts might be shocked to learn that the most-followed drag queen on social media worldwide isn’t RuPaul. It’s Brazilian drag superstar Pabllo Vittar.
Newsweek's H. Alan Scott sat down with Pabllo Vittar ahead of her historic set at Weekend 1 of Coachella 2022. She’ll take the stage once again this coming Saturday, April 23.
Find Pabllo on social media:
https://twitter.com/pabllovittar
https://www.instagram.com/pabllovittar/
And find the Newsweek voices who brought you this episode:
https://twitter.com/HAlanScott
https://twitter.com/maurafcurrie
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Tommy and Maura break down the weekend they just experienced by playing a game called "the good, the bad, and the third category." Including the best (and worst) acts they saw, how they handled the heat, and the weird placement of the bathrooms. On Beat will continue releasing episodes as we now approach weekend 2. We have interviews and plenty to talk about so be sure to subscribe wherever podcasts are available.
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Tommy O'Connor talks with Stefan Babcock of Pup to talk about the band's new album "The Unraveling of PUPTHEBAND". The two talk about how this album was made, how they develop their music videos, and what it's like to be back on the road.
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Singer Bishop Briggs joins On Beat ahead of her Coachella sets to talk about her pregnancy, her sister's passing, and the lyrics she wondered if people would notice.
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Celeste Headlee, co-host of Newsweek's The Debate, chats with acclaimed composer Danny Elfman about his wide-ranging music career, his upcoming Coachella set, and Oingo Boingo's brief feud with the future creator of "The Simpsons."
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Tommy and Maura introduce themselves and give a preview of what to expect from Newsweek's coverage of Coachella 2022. Plus: thoughts on the last-minute headliner swap, and mixed signals on Tommy's height.
Keep up with the Koverage on Twitter:
https://twitter.com/newsweek
https://twitter.com/maurafcurrie
And you'll find plenty more on Newsweek.com.
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