2016 BONUS ARTIST SURVEYS
For Under the Radar’s 14th annual Artist Survey we emailed some of our favorite artists a few questions relating to 2016. Here are some answers and surveys that didn’t fit in the print magazine. Visit www.undertheradarmag.com/artists/artist_surveys_2016 for even more surveys.
“Voters on both sides were victims to separate media echo chambers.”
LUCY DACUS
Top 10 Albums of 2016
I had too many on my list, so I’m just going to list my most listened to of the year. Major omissions include Beyoncé, Frank Ocean, Angel Olsen, Mitski, Chance the Rapper, and Solange.
1. Big Thief: Masterpiece
2. Andy Shauf : The Party
3. Car Seat Headrest: Teens of Denial
4. Thao & the Get Down Stay Down: A Man Alive
5. Pinegrove: Cardinal
6. Julia Jacklin: Don’t Let the Kids Win
7. Y La Bamba: Ojos del Sol
8. Kendrick Lamar: untitled unmastered.
9. The Lemon Twigs: Do Hollywood
10. Blood Orange: Freetown Sound
Let’s discuss Donald Trump. What does the rise of Trump tell you about America in 2016? What concerns you most about a Trump presidency? How do you think his presidency might personally change your life? What message do you have for those who voted for Trump? What actions will you take over the course of the next four years to either protest a Trump presidency or support it?
Voters on both sides were victims to separate media echo chambers. Technology offers an opportunity for everyone to create and disseminate propaganda and opinions, but algorithms and targeted advertising streamline the single viewpoint that you either already believed or tell you what your demographic is expected to believe. More than ever, I’m aware of how population density affects political stances (urban v. rural). My greatest immediate concern is the deportation of Muslims and my greatest long-term concern is how children are going to be taught about race relations. POC friends of mine and friends of friends have told me that their children are scared. They understand that they are in danger and believe that they are unwanted. Meanwhile, I fear that white children will grow into their entitlement comfortably and we’ll have a whole new generation of people prioritizing “economic prosperity” over equality like in this election.
What reality TV star would you have rather been elected President?
I don’t watch TV but maybe Ellen DeGeneres?
What are your thoughts on Brexit and the future of the European Union? To what extent do you think the Brexit vote and the election of Donald Trump were motivated by the same factors?
I recently learned an interesting fact that Glastonbury was the same weekend as the vote. That’s a traditionally liberal-leaning group of 200,000 British people who didn’t get to the polls. Though people were so certain that it wouldn’t pass that they didn’t think they needed to. That sounds like a familiar sentiment to many non-voters in the U.S. There are similarities, but remember that Brexit happened first. We had time to learn from that.
We lost three highly influential music icons in 2016. What are your thoughts on the passing of David Bowie, Prince, and Leonard Cohen? And what are your favorite albums by each artist?
It’s an odd sensation to grieve the loss of people you’ve never met. But the relationship between maker and taker is strong despite its lack of body and form. I feel lucky to exist after these musicians and not before so that I’m able to learn from their confidence, their innovation, their commitment to remaining honest to their intuitions and their art. Ziggy Stardust from Bowie, Purple Rain from Prince, and maybe Songs of Love and Hate from Cohen.
What do you think Prince and Bowie’s afterlife project sounds like?
This question is supposed to be lighthearted, but I’m no fun and can’t make up an answer. But I think the albums they made now exist in the afterlife in relation to each of them and those of us remaining are the ghosts they’ve left to listen to them.
Are you ready for self-driving cars and a more automated future?
Ready for self-driving cars because I already don’t trust human drivers, but I don’t know if I can sign up for a fully automated existence yet.
Under the Radar has been around for 15 years now, since December 2001. How do you feel the music industry has most changed in that time, both for the better and the worst?
I’ve only been involved in the music industry for about a year, so I don’t feel super qualified to speak authoritatively on this, but I imagine one of the biggest changes is streaming and dissemination of content through the Internet. I know it raises challenges in terms of fair payment, but I think it’s great that music is more accessible than ever.
If you have kids or plan to have kids one day, will you encourage them to be a musician or artist or would you prefer they get a more stable job?
I would encourage them to be satisfied taking bad jobs while they figure out what fulfills them and go for it because no job is stable.
What band, besides your own, has the best name?
Venus Guytrap, a dope band from Richmond, VA.
What VHS tape or DVD did you wear out growing up?
My family’s VHS copy of The Brave Little Toaster .
“The emails stuff is bullshit, that’s not why people didn’t trust [Hillary]—it was because they aren’t used to having a woman come out and say what she wants.”
NZCA LINES
Michael Lovett
2016 was regarded by many as a fairly tough and negative year. Was it also a hard year for you personally? If so, how? And also what were the high points for you?
It was actually a pretty good year for me, in terms of my music. In January we released , a difficult second album that was at times quite painful to finish. , and played live with Christine and rhe Queens in the U.S. this October. I played synths and guitar on the album, so it was great to be involved again now that she’s huge! Those shows were fun.
