Rez Abbasi's Acoustic Meditation on Loss and Impermanence
Three decades into his career, Abbasi returns to acoustic guitar for 'Sound Remains,' processing personal loss while questioning what it means to let go in both music and life.
Guitarists
Heavy Tonal — Lingyuan Yang's Harmonic Friction
On 'Cursed Month,' the young composer uses microtonal intervals to create intensity without relying on volume or overdrive. As Yang explains, "Heaviness comes from the playing itself, not just the sound."
Stephan Thelen Warms Up to Musical Mathematics
On the album Worlds in Collision, the mathematician-turned-musician fragments voices and field recordings according to the same geometric principles that govern his guitar compositions.
Principle of Moments — Kim Perlak's Intuitive Guitar
From solo classical performances to improvisational duets with Francisco Mela, the guitarist explains how 'Spaces' became a study in musical presence and why being in the moment has become both her greatest challenge and her greatest gift.
From Soundribbons to Shoreline Symphonies — Knox Chandler's Creative Transformation
After four decades as a collaborator for artists like R.E.M. and Cyndi Lauper, the guitarist has retreated to rural Connecticut to create his first solo work and discover what he calls "my truth."
Disappearing Act — Tal Yahalom's Generous Guitar Moves
The composer behind 'Mirror Image' talks about challenging guitar-hero expectations, finding inspiration in Argentine rhythms, and why the best band leaders sometimes disappear into the music.
Scott Metzger Gets in the Telepathic Groove with LaMP
From his life-changing encounter with the Ramones to creating accessible instrumental music with longtime collaborators Ray Paczkowski and Russ Lawton, Metzger discusses how their new album 'One of Us' channels the raw, intuitive energy of three musicians.
Rolling Bones — Sylvie Courvoisier, Mary Halvorson, and the Art of Risk
Courvoisier and Halvorson unveil 'Bone Bells,' their acclaimed third album, and demonstrate how musical risk yields remarkable rewards. Eight new compositions showcase technical prowess while revealing a partnership where composed frameworks serve as springboards rather than constraints.
Six Strings to Software — The Reinvention of Greg Lisher
After decades as guitarist with Camper Van Beethoven and Monks of Doom, Lisher embraced "the beginner's mind" through piano lessons and software manuals. His latest album 'Underwater Detection Method' documents this creative rebirth.
At the Edge with Dave Brown and Adam Gołębiewski
The Australian guitarist and Polish percussionist reveal how their shared obsession with minimal sources and maximum sound led to 'Dog's Light,' an unorthodox album that erases the lines between composition and improvisation.
Ruthie Foster Finds New Roads on 'Mileage'
On her tenth album and first for Sun Records, the GRAMMY-nominated artist finds inspiration in exhaustion, wisdom in collaboration, and a powerful new voice in the spaces between touring and home.
Dancing About Architecture with Jay Sanders
After decades backing others in Acoustic Syndicate and beyond, Jay Sanders steps forward with his solo debut, 'Evanescent.'