MATISYAHU - November 25, 2015

Since first emerging on the international stage in 2005, MATISYAHU has established a reputation for following his muse — from the stripped-down roots reggae of the gold-certified Live at Stubb’s (2006) to the trippy ministrations of Shake Off the Dust…Arise (2004) + Youth (2006) to the polished eclecticism of Light (2009) . He then incorporated heavier beats + beautiful Mediterranean instrumentations with Spark Seeker (2012) + his personal + emotional evolution with another studio album called, Akeda (2014) which is around the time of my interview with Matisyahu.

As of 2024, The discography of Matisyahu consists of five studio albums, four live albums, one compilation album, two remix albums, three extended plays + twenty singles.

As for the series of live releases, in 2010, the lyrical beat-boxing poet + rapper returned to the venerable Austin venue that introduced him for Live at Stubb’s II, demonstrating that all those travels had somehow only strengthened his connection to his musical bedrock. It was a whirlwind half-decade journey, one that earned Matisyahu a place in pop culture at large.

Outer garments, of course, long defined Matisyahu in the eyes of many.

“I was the Hasidic reggae superstar,” he says with a knowing laugh. “We live in a world where people tend to think in extremes and categorize with ultimate statements,” Matisyahu says. 

“While it’s true that at one point it would’ve been pretty accurate to describe me as Hasidic reggae, for most of my career my music has been a blend, a mixture.”

LISTEN to my 2015 interview with MATISYAHU as we chat about life, music + the future HERE.

Enjoy some of MATISYAHU's live music videos below:

Running Away

Warrior

So High So Low

Lord Raise Me Up

King Without a Crown

To keep up to date with MATISYAHU , visit his socials below:

Website

Facebook  

X  

Instagram

MARGARET CHO - June 3, 2015

Margaret Cho is a stand-up comedian, actress, musician + activist. She is known for her stand-up routines, through which she critiques social + political problems, especially regarding race + sexuality. She rose to prominence after starring in the ABC sitcom All-American Girl (1994–95) + became an established stand-up comic in the subsequent years.

She has acted in such roles as Charlene Lee in It's My Party + John Travolta's FBI colleague in the action film Face/Off. Cho was part of the cast of the TV series Drop Dead Diva on Lifetime Television, in which she appeared as Teri Lee, a paralegal assistant. For her portrayal of Kim Jong-il on 30 Rock, she was nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series in 2012.

In 2022, Cho co-starred in the Bowen Yang starred film Fire Island, a portrayal of the LGBT Asian American experience in the eponymous gay village off the South Shore of Long Island.

She has also had endeavors in fashion + music + has her own clothing line. Cho has also frequently supported LGBT rights + has won awards for her humanitarian efforts on behalf of women, Asian Americans + the LGBT community.

Margaret has been developing brand new material over the last several months and said:

“I’m so thrilled to announce that I will be back out on the road. This show is about insanity, and about the anger I feel about everything happening in the world right now, from police brutality to racism to the rising tide of violence against women. It makes me all so crazy – hence the title: “The psyCHO Tour” – there is no “I” in team but there is a “CHO” in psycho”.

When men go off on something – they are “passionate” and “driven” and when women go off on something we are “hysterical” and “crazy”. I’m trying to bring some joy to the hysteria and insanity.”

From singlehood to Boko Haram to Bruce Jenner’s transition to female empowerment, Margaret tackles difficult subjects with sensitivity and razor sharp insight. A pioneer amongst women in comedy, Margaret doesn’t take anything for granted.

“It’s a wonderful thing to be known as a ‘safe haven’ for people who feel disenfranchised. The audience at my shows don’t necessarily consider themselves traditional comedy fans. I seem to be a secure alternative for people who don’t think they’re being represented in society. They come because my point of view satisfies a lot of what needs to be said out there, and that makes me really proud.”

Margaret Cho‘s powerful new music video “I Wanna Kill My Rapist”, which you can watch here.

Margaret says about the song + it’s content:

“I do not condone violence but cathartic rage has its place in art. I believe if you have been sexually abused, you must ‘murder’ your rapist in your mind. Abuse leads to self abuse, drug addiction, depression, eating disorders, suicide. I want to kill it before it kills me. I’m grateful to all the incredible artists who went into the creation of this song and video, especially the young people who lent their fierce fighting talents. I can see already that kids are building a better world than the one we are currently in.”

Margaret Cho is very much linked into the music world as well. For her debut album, she  collaborated with many talented musicians such as Fiona Apple, Andrew Bird, Jon Brion, Tegan and Sara, Grant Lee Phillips, Ani DiFranco + Brendan Benson to name a few. Cho has more music plans on the way, including her appearance in Peaches new video, "Dick In The Air" which you can check out here.

All Access Music writer, Nicole DeRosa had a chance to catch up with three time Grammy + Emmy nominee, comedian Margaret Cho who is currently on a national U.S. run in support of  The psyCHO Tour.

Margaret between video shoots and gigs. Read or LISTEN to their chat here or below!

 

Hi Margaret! How are you? Where does this interview find you today? What else is on the agenda today besides our interview?

I’ve been working on a music video with Peaches, so I’m going to go back to the set to continue shooting the video today. She’s wonderful. She’s one of my favorite recording artists and a really good friend. We’re having a really good time!

That is fantastic! Peaches is great! So can you tell us a bit more about the premise of the video or is it to remain a surprise?

I don’t think I’m allowed to talk too much about it…but I will say, it’s pretty spectacular! It’s for a song off her new record which should be coming out soon! We’ve been laughing the whole time during the shoot! She’s a tremendous visual artist and always has such a striking appearance. She’s really inspiring and beautiful.

On the topic of visual artists and amazing costumes, let’s go from Peaches to Gwar shall we? (laughs) What is your connection to the band, Gwar?

I love them. I love Gwar. They are the best. I did Bonnaroo with them! I also got to make a video with them and hang out with them. They are so sweet! When you see them in their dressing room and they have these big costumes on…they are just SO SWEET! They kind of remind me of muppets…like heavy metal muppets! (laughs) They are so cute!

Speaking of music festivals, do you have any plans to do Bonnaroo again or maybe even Coachella? Actually, I don’t think Coachella has a comedy stage, but I’m thinking that would be a great addition!

Yeah! I would love it! I mean, I would love to just be able to go and hang out. I love music festivals! Yeah, Bonnaroo had a comedy stage…but your right, I don’t think Coachella has one though. I think they should…that would be really cool.

You are such a Renaissance lady! You perform at music festivals like Bonnaroo, you’re a fashion designer, an actress, director, author, singer-songwriter, AND of course a comedian. You released your first studio album, CHO DEPENDENT (which is your sixth album including your stand-up comedy releases). That album featured notable songs like, “Intervention,” “I’m Sorry,” “Eat Shit and Die” (laughs) and earned you a nomination for a 2011 Grammy award for Best Comedy Album. Any plans to release another music inspired album in the near future?

Yeah, I have two records that are finished and I have to figure out how to put them out. I don’t have a specific plan that I do in comedy that I do with music. So, I’m just gonna be working on stuff over the summer.

The new record will come out sometime in the Fall and it’s called, American Myth. It’s a really fun collection. I did it all with Garrison Starr, who is an artist I really love. She and I did a lot of stuff together on CHO DEPENDENT and she’s really great!

You’re currently in the midst of your PSYCHO tour. How has that been going?

It’s fun! It’s just a show about rage..the whole theme is there’s no I in team, but there is an Cho in PSYCHO. That is my whole title. (laughs)

I love that! (laughs) You cover so much in your comedy and it’s so relatable and it helps to laugh about things that we can all relate to and go through. You have such wonderful fun commentary about the human condition and being able to laugh at life and ourselves is such a great release and outlet.

Comedy is a great connection tool.

For your debut album, you collaborated with many talented musicians such as Fiona Apple, Andrew Bird, Jon Brion, Tegan and Sara, Grant Lee Phillips, Ani DiFranco and Brendon Benson to name a few. What was that experience like for you?

I’m so lucky. It was so exciting and great…I’m so in love with music and all these different artists and it’s a dream. I mean, to go into the studio with people like Tegan and Sara and get into this really intense music space…it’s such a different world from comedy. There’s similarities where you both tour and you’re always on the go but other than that, it’s a very different art form.

Who is in your current playlist? Who are you listening to right now and inspired by?

I always mix it up. I always go back to like a solid New Wave sound like, 1981-84 with bands like Berlin or Missing Persons. That’s the sort of sound I’m always looking for…I would LOVE sonically, to get that Chrissie Hynde vocal down.  I’m close, but I’m not exactly there. There’s so much more warmth to her voice and I’m trying to get close to that.

When I do my comedy show though, it’s very much a comedy show and I always like to put a little music in there for what I think would be good for the show but it’s always something different.

Thank you so much for your time, Margaret. I love that you are constantly doing super fun projects and I love that I get to merge what I do working in music with what you do as well with comedy and music. I can’t wait to see you when the show come to The Wiltern in Los Angeles on November 14th!

Awe, thank you so much!

Say hi to Peaches for me!

I will! 

To keep up with all things MARGARET CHO, including her upcoming tour dates, visit her website HERE  + check out her YouTube as well!

This interview was in partnership with All Access Music Group, Malibu, CA.

JACK ANTONOFF - March 23, 2015

Jack Antonoff grew up in Bergenfield, New Jersey. His older sister is fashion designer Rachel Antonoff. His younger sister, Sarah, died of brain cancer at the age of 13 when Antonoff was a senior in high school. The event had a profound effect on Jack who said

"... my whole career has been revisiting that through a different lens."

Prior to Jack forming his indie pop band, Bleachers in New York City he was previously in the Steel Train & Fun.

Fun.'s debut album, Aim and Ignite, was released in 2009. Fun's second album, Some Nights (2012), produced the band's first number-one hit single, "We Are Young" (featuring Janelle Monae). The song was co-written by Antonoff with Nate Ruess, Dost & Jeff Bhasker.

While on the road with his band, Fun., Antonoff began working on a new project during his time in different cities. For about a year he kept the project a secret until 2014 where the first single “I Wanna Get Better” was released.

Antonoff stated in June 2014 that the project had been a consideration for around 10 years & the name was inspired by the "disconnected, darker side" of suburban youth & John Hughes movies, which were "tied to a time when big songs were great songs."

About making the album, Antonoff said,

“I spent the past year working on the music but not talking about it & eventually it became this psychotic alter-ego situation, where it was second nature to have this part of me that no one knew about. Except for a small group of people, most of which happened to be members of my immediate family, no one was aware that this music, or this album even existed … even though it existed so deeply to me.”

Antonoff also cited that Bleachers was never meant to be a departure from his position in Fun. & that he will remain in the band. Bleachers’ full-length album Strange Desire was released July 15, 2014, from RCA Records. Variance Magazine called the single “Rollercoaster” a “brilliant summer anthem.”

Aside from his work with Bleachers & Fun, Antonoff has worked as a songwriter & record producer with various artists, including Taylor Swift, Lorde, St. Vincent, Lana Del Rey, Kevin Abstract, Carly Rae Jepsen, The Chicks & Troye Sivan.

Antonoff has been nominated for a Golden Globe Award & won five Grammy Awards: two for his work with Fun, 2 for production on Taylor Swift's albums 1989 & Folklore & one with St. Vincent for writing the title track on Masseduction.

Taylor Swift took home her third Album of the Year award at the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles, this time for the surprise July LP “Folklore.” Again, Antonoff, 36, co-wrote & co-produced several songs on the best-selling album of 2020. Antonoff was also nominated for Producer of the Year.

All Access Music writer, Nicole DeRosa got to catch up with Jack 60,000 feet in the air as he answers a few questions about how it all started, his love of R&B & his New Jersey pride. Enjoy their chat below....

My Interview with JACK ANTONOFF

Hi Jack! Where does this interview find you? What’s on the agenda today besides our interview?

I’m on a plane at the moment heading to Vancouver. Bleachers has never been to Vancouver. It's always incredible to go somewhere the first time. You really can’t ever duplicate that energy.

For those not as familiar with you and your music, how did you get your start in music? Who or what was the catalyst for you?

The New Jersey punk scene is really how I got started. I was always in love with the Beatles & then everything from the early 90s when I was growing up.

But, the moment I actually became a part of music was when I started playing in fire halls of NJ when I was 15. Those were amazing days! I learned how to play live, how to function in a scene, how to write song...it was everything. I carry those feelings from that time with me always.

You released Bleachers full length album, Strange Desire last July. What did you learn between Fun. albums that you felt you wanted to infuse into Strange Desire?

Everything I do makes me rethink how I will make records in the future. A lot of the time, particularly with Strange Desire coming off of Some Nights, I made the album in the exact opposite way as the one before.

I like to constantly put myself in new & uncomfortable places when making albums to test what can happen. Some Nights was quick, that’s what was new about that. Strange Desire was made all over the world…on planes, in hotel rooms, buses etc.

Can you share with me what your inspiration was for your single, “I Wanna Get Better”?

It’s basically my life story in 3 verses or rather all the horrible things that have happened in my life leading up to moment of saying that within all that, you can still want to get better.

“It's about stories of loss, depression & anxiety & figuring out how to move on with the complicated person you’ve become. Really it’s about going as deep & low as possible & then still wanting to get better. To me, that’s the top… wanting, not actually getting better, but wanting to get better. That’s a beautiful thing.”

The Huffington Post published a positive review of Bleachers' first single, "I Wanna Get Better"—released on February 18—calling it the "catchiest song of 2014," while Time proclaimed, "[Bleachers] is more fun than Fun." Antonoff revealed the intent behind the debut single in a Rolling Stone interview:

"I wanted to bridge the gap between Disclosure & Arcade Fire—something both streamlined & organic ... The production & songwriting is extremely over-the-top, extremely epic & unapologetic. The record is all about finding a world where you can be kind to yourself in."

Jack, who are your musical influences?

New Jersey is my biggest influence. New Jersey & people. People who overcome the challenges in their lives.

Do you remember the first album you bought for yourself?

Monster by REM. I got it at the mall. Remember that place? So loooong gone.

What was the first song you fell in love with and why?

“Under Pressure” by Queen. I couldn’t believe how cool the melody & production was. It had this quality that made me want to run 1,000 miles an hour while simultaneously cry & think about my life. It’s got everything. It’s a perfect song… deep, anthemic, personal...all of it. It still feels like I’m discovering music every time I hear it.

Who would your dream collaboration be with, living or dead?

Tom Waits.

Who is in your current playlist? Any artists, musicians or genres we might be surprised to find in there?

I’ve really fallen back in love with 90s R&B. That was such an amazing moment. The song writing was perfection & the production feels new & hip even today. A lot of things that seems cheesy now we’re actually fucking brilliant. I like Boyz II Men & Toni Braxton.

What’s on tap next for you, Jack? What are you most excited about in 2015?

I kind of like to just think a few days ahead & this week as I start the tour. Thank god for that! Playing these songs makes me feel alive!

“I’m most excited about the audience & Bleachers. We’re really starting to feel like a weird cult & I’m fully into it! “

Jack Antonoff's MUSIC COLLABORATIONS

"Sweeter than Fiction", a song Antonoff co-wrote & co-produced with Taylor Swift for the film One Chance was released. The song was written in Antonoff's New York City apartment after he & Swift shared a love of a particular snare drum sound from a Fine Young Cannibals song. They brainstormed ideas by email before starting the songwriting process.

Swift & Antonoff co-wrote & co-produced three songs on Swift's 1989, including the single, "Out of the Woods", "I Wish You Would", and the bonus track "You Are In Love".

1989 was released in October 2014 & became the biggest-selling album in the U.S. in 2014. On the deluxe version of the album, Swift explains in a voice memo that the song "I Wish You Would" originated from a guitar track that Antonoff had recorded on his smartphone. After Swift first heard the track, she asked Antonoff if she could develop the idea further & it eventually became an album track after both songwriters were satisfied with Swift's work.

In 2016, Swift, Antonoff & Sam Dew co-wrote Swift & Zayn’s song "I Don't Wanna Live Forever", the song produced by Antonoff, for the film Fifty Shades Darker was released, the song is from Fifty Shades Darker: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack.

Swift & Antonoff co-wrote & co-produced Swift's number one single "Look What You Made Me Do", which was released on August 25, 2017. He was a key contributor to her sixth album Reputation. Aside from "Look What You Made Me Do", Swift & Antonoff also co-wrote & co-produced five other songs in Reputation—"Getaway Car", "Dress", "This Is Why We Can't Have Nice Things", "Call It What You Want" & "New Year's Day".

"Taylor's the first person who let me produce a song. Before Taylor, everyone said: 'You're not a producer'. It took Taylor Swift to say: 'I like the way this sounds.'

— Antonoff, "Jack Antonoff Is Only Making Music With Friends", The New York Times

In 2019, Swift & Antonoff co-wrote eight songs & co-produced eleven songs for Swift's seventh studio album Lover, including the promotional single "The Archer", & the title track, which served as the album's third single.

In 2020, Swift & Antonoff worked together on Swift's eighth studio album, Folklore. Along with Aaron Dessner & Swift, Antonoff serves as a co-writer & co-producer for the album, with Antonoff helping to co-produce six songs & co-write four songs on the album, including the third single "Betty". He continued to collaborate with her on Folklore's "sister record" & Swift's ninth studio album, Evermore.

In 2017, Antonoff co-wrote & produced Lorde's Melodrama which was released in June. USA Today described it as "the best pop album of 2017 so far". Rolling Stone's praises Jack's production specifically, noting that he uses "empty space to spectacular effect, [as] the arrangements veer from stark clarity to delirium."

In support of the album, Antonoff appeared in the music video for its lead single, "Green Light". He then performed "Liability" alongside Lorde on Saturday Night Live. The album also received a nomination for the 2018 Grammy Award for Album of the Year.

In 2018, Antonoff produced the soundtrack for the 20th Century Fox romantic comedy-drama film Love, Simon. Bleachers also contributed four songs.

On working on the ground-breaking film, the first major studio picture to focus on a gay teenager, Antonoff said "I believe Love, Simon is pivotal, a major step for a new generation" & added that he was "honored" that "genius" director Greg Berlanti asked him to work on the soundtrack. He also said he was "very lucky to be a part of [Love, Simon]" & "loved every moment of making this soundtrack" after stating he was "beyond blown away" by the response to the film & soundtrack.

Jack co-produced Lana Del Rey's sixth studio album Norman Fucking Rockwell!, which was released on August 30, 2019. He also co-wrote a majority of the songs on the album including the singles "Mariners Apartment Complex" and "Venice Bitch".

The album received critical praise with NME's Rhian Daly noting that the "bohemian folk" sound of the record was a departure from Antonoff's "brand of crystalline euphoria." Other critics noted the album's 60s inspired, psychedelic rock sound.

The album was nominated for Grammy Album of the Year & won NME Album of the Year in 2020. He also produced her studio album Chemtrails Over the Country Club, released in 2021.

Antonoff co-wrote the 2013 song "Brave" with Sara Bareilles after the two were introduced by Sara Quin of the band Tegan and Sara. Bareilles said to Billboard:

"We met for breakfast one day & I was just so enamored with him & his personality ... The first day we sat down together was the day we wrote 'Brave.'"

Antonoff wrote the song about a friend's struggle to speak openly about his sexuality. The quickly written song was released on April 23 & by the end of June, "Brave" had sold 160,000 digital copies & peaked at number 61 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The music video for the song was viewed 1.1 million times on YouTube within a month of its release in May 2013 & by the start of 2015, had received nearly 39 million views. "Brave" was used by Microsoft to advertise its Windows tablet technology device.

In 2015, he created a Google Play docu-series titled Thank You and Sorry, which combined scripted scenes & footage from Bleachers shows. It was released in six 15-minute episodes & included cameos from Lena Dunham, Rosie Perez, Olivia Wilde, Colin Quinn & Jason Mantzoukas.

In 2018, he also contributed to the production of Pink's seventh studio album, Beautiful Trauma & produced St. Vincent's fifth studio album, Masseduction.

In early 2019, he handled production on Brockhampton front man Kevin Abstract's solo album, Arizona Baby.

Mental HEALTH

Antonoff has spoken publicly about his struggles with depression, anxiety & obsessive–compulsive disorder. He claims that hearing of others' battles with depression made him feel "not better, but not alone" & "way less scared." As of June 2014, Antonoff was seeing both a therapist & a psychopharmacologist, while also taking anti-anxiety medications.

He has germophobia which was exacerbated by a bout of pneumonia that he suffered in 2011 while recording a studio album for his band Fun. His pulmonologist prescribed a daily run, but he explained that he hates it "more than anything" because it is "one of the most truly boring experiences on Earth."

Music is central to Antonoff's life & he explained in June 2014:

"I need a hobby & I don't want it to be basketball ... I want it to be music. So to get away from music, I do other music. If I'm producing someone's song or writing with someone else, then doing a Bleachers song or a Fun song is an escape & it keeps me creative & it keeps me locked into what I want to do. If something's making me crazy, I need to go somewhere else & I don't want that thing to be yoga."

Nicole DeRosa for All Access Music, March 23, 2015 https://music.allaccess.com/qa-with-jack-antonoff-of-bleachers/

Photo credit: Daniel Silbert