Released in January, Yasmin Williams’ mesmerising album Urban Driftwood respected the old traditions of folk music but simultaneously made fresh currency out of them. Stephen Deusner meets Williams in Nashville to map the course of her incredible year since – and her plans for 2022. “I’m pretty optimistic about the future,” she says. “At least, way more than I was a year ago…”
Bruce Springsteen contains multitudes: activist, balladeer, bandleader, rock star and more. Many of these different Bruces align in his landmark No Nukes concert performance – which is finally given a full release this month, 40 years on. With help from some of Springsteen’s closest allies, Stephen Deusner examines how in 2021 the Boss is still searching for ways to reconcile these different sides of himself.
With the death of Don Everly, time has finally been called on The Everly Brothers. We reflect on the pioneering music made by Don and his brother Phil, while Ray and Dave Davies recall the impact the Everlys had on a generation of musicians.
By confronting Nashville conservatism, she became the outspoken queen of “galactic country” – but how will magic mushrooms and a rose-strewn bed that resembles “some Brian Wilson shit” help Kacey Musgraves sort out her next “Big Bang explosion of ideas”?
