Kevin Devine is one of those people whose company you can never quite get enough of. A prolific New York-based singer-songwriter, he's spent over two decades crafting songs that hit you squarely in the chest, with a gift for reminding us of how personal everyday life can be. Rather than discussing a new record or the usual goings-on of an artist's career, this is largely the two of us catching up, while also stopping the other from yelling at the clouds. That last part is because we talk about feeling disillusioned with the music world, where social media feels like a perpetual clusterf**k, and the importance of not allowing all that doom and gloom to get the better of you and your friends.

Because if there's one thing this conversation reminded me of, it's that there's still plenty of hope to be found in each other, and Kevin is a pretty wonderful reminder of that.

There are some albums that make you feel like you’re discovering a band for the first time, and others that somehow feel like reconnecting with an old friend; Tokyo Tea Room’s Feel Forever is both. Hailing from Margate, England, Tokyo Tea Room make dream-pop music that’s intricate without ever feeling overworked, the kind of music you can get lost in when you need to escape your own head for a little while. Their debut, No Rush, did that beautifully, but Feel Forever adds a desire to get you moving.

Naturally, I wanted to know more about the band and the people behind the music. So, I’m joined by guitarist/songwriter/producer Dan Elliott for a conversation about building Tokyo Tea Room, the emotional pull of Feel Forever, and what the band learned from making it.

Trying to describe Mykki Blanco’s music feels like a bit of a fool’s errand. The singer-songwriter, academic, and performance artist has spent their career pushing boundaries, and their latest album, Cafe Paradiso, finds them leaning further into their craft as a songwriter. Sure, there are song titles like “Butt S#x” and “F&%k as Friends,” so if you’re unfamiliar with Mykki, you might be wondering what the hell is going on. But trust me, you’re going to love their music, and Mykki themselves.

Mykki is the kind of artist who makes music for the freaks, the misfits, and anyone who’s ever felt a little out of place. They’re quick-witted, allergic to pretension, and have a knack for making you laugh one moment, and feel emotional the next.