Kyle Meredith With...

Spandau Ballet’s Gary Kemp jumps on the line with Kyle Meredith to talk about his new solo album, INSOLO. The musician/actor tells us how playing in Pink Floyd drummer Nick Mason’s new band was the impetus for doing a new album and finding himself looking back at his coming-of-age years for inspiration in both the music and lyrics. In fact, Kemp namechecks David Bowie, 10CC, and Paul McCartney’s Wings as definite touchpoints, and goes on to discuss his thoughts on 70s songwriters and why we keep coming back to those songs.

David Crosby catches up with Kyle Meredith to tell us about For Free, his 5th album in 7 years. The legendary voice talks about the importance of songwriting and music in his life and the optimistic outlook he’s found after living through some very difficult and dark personal times.

We also get to hear a lot about his friends and collaborators, including Michael McDonald (“my favorite voice”), Steely Dan (“my favorite band”), Joni Mitchell (“the best singer songwriter”), and Joan Baez, who’s portrait of Crosby graces the cover of the album. The CSNY member also tells the story of a soldier he met in an airport and the conversation that lead to the song “Shot At Me,” as well his thoughts on if he’ll play live ever again, and the next two albums that are already planned.

Kevin Smith sits down with Kyle Meredith to talk about Netflix’s Masters of the Universe: Revelation. The Dogma writer/director dishes on what it was like to create the continuation of He-Man and the Eternia crew, meeting fan expectations, and working with people’s nostalgia. Smith draws on his own experiences from seeing Raiders of the Lost Ark with his dad to his own Marvel superfandom. Packed with a huge cast of voice actors, Smith also discusses what it was like to have Henry Rollins on board, as well as Lena Heady, and drawing comparison between Game of Thrones and Masters of the Universe. We also get a small glimpse of the second half of the series, especially from Bear McCreary’s epic score.

Stone Temple Pilot’s Robert DeLeo sits down with Kyle Meredith to take us through the 25th anniversary of Tiny Music…Songs From the Vatican Gift Shop. The bassist and lead songwriter recalls the environment that led the band to exploring new sounds, including bossa nova, jazz, and glam, and the musical conversation that happens between him and brother Dean.

DeLeo also remembers the MTV Spring Break show that is included in the deluxe edition of the album package and how he got food poisoning after the show. We also hear about the late Scott Weiland’s talent as a singer, poet, and the direction he was coming from on this set, and how the band have continued their sonic exploration on last year’s acoustic Perdida LP, and his thoughts on the band’s upcoming Aug 9th show at Sturgis.

Pearl Jam's Jeff Ament catches up with Kyle Meredith to dig into his new solo album, I Should Be Outside, a pandemic record that finds him mirroring the world’s news and the loss in his own life. The bassist/guitarist tells us about the art series that coincides with the record, as well as his art for some of Pearl Jam’s most iconic LPs, including No Code, which is celebrating twenty five years. Ament takes us back to the writing and recording of that pivotal album and how his side project Three Fish brought influence into the recording sessions. The clocks are then turned back to 1991 for the 30th anniversary of Ten and the feelings and environment that went into the iconic album, as well as taking some inspiration from Cheap Trick when he wrote the music to Jeremy and Why Go. Jeff also gives us a hint on the next Vault release, which sounds like it’ll be an early 90s show, and an update on what happens next with Pearl Jam, as he tells us they’ve been jamming together (maybe a record could happen???) and hope to be back on the road by later next year.

Carla Gugino catches up with Kyle Meredith to talk about her new Netflix film, Gunpowder Milkshake. We hear all about making a visually fantastic film, incorporating famous authors into the story, and having Janis Joplin’s version of Piece of My Heart soundtracking one of her fight scenes. The Haunting of Hill House actress goes on to tell us about the music that influenced her early years, which includes The Cure, Oingo Boingo, Liz Phair, and her recent favorites like Lana Del Rey and Coutney Barnett. Gugino also discusses the brilliance of David Bowie, the new Sparks documentary, and her friendship with Jenny Lewis, who she starred with in 1989’s Troop Beverly Hills.

Barenaked Ladies lead singer Ed Robertson sits down with Kyle Meredith to dish on Detour de Force, the Canadian band’s 16th album. The BNL co-founder takes us through the political moments of the record that includes writing about the questioning of facts, the fracturing of humanity, and watching people fall into the conspiracy trap. Robertson also discusses one of the song’s commentary on the band’s career ups and downs, a different life where he may have been an Americana artist, and if the group is now part of the Marvel Comic Universe.

AJR sit down with Kyle Meredith to tell us about OK Orchestra, their new album that finds the brothers looking back to their formative years in 8th grade and drawing the parallels to the present day obstacles. Jack & Ryan Met then take us through the political moments of the LP and performing in an era where it’s less taboo for an artist to take a stance and speak out, and then give us insight on their penchant for writing songs that sound like samples from the 30s & 40s. They also talk about working with Rivers Cuomo and the comparisons of this record and Weezer’s OK Human, and what it was like to wake up to see Will Smith freestyling over their hit “Bang.”

Margaret Cho catches up with Kyle Meredith to talk about her latest Netflix movie, Good On Paper. The comedian/actor/musician gets into movies that reflect the movie and tv industry, as well as the music world, and the differences between them all, and then takes us through some of the more cringe moments in Good on Paper and her own dating horror stories from the early chatroom days of Y2K. Cho also discusses some of her current favorite songwriters such as Soccer Mommy, Beach Bunny, and Phoebe Bridgers, and lets us know she has a new piano/synth record on the way.

Rise Against’s Tim McIlrath sits down with Kyle Meredith to discuss Nowhere Generation, the Chicago punk band’s ninth album. The frontman talks about who the Nowhere Generation is and who these songs are directed at, how the American Dream and what it means and stands for has changed, and what the older generations have done to the Earth and society. McIlrath also takes us back to their mainstream breakthrough, Swing Life Away, and how it gave the band permission to write softer songs, like this LP’s Forfeit, their eventual plans for Ghost Note Symphonies Vol. 2, and the hope that ultimately grows from their song’s dark places.