Syd's Music Desk

Alan Palomo has been a force in the world of electronic music for over a decade, releasing three critically acclaimed LPs as the frontman of Neon Indian. Now, Alan Palomo has gone solo, with his first album in nearly a decade, World of Hassle, releasing September 15th on Mom + Pop. With a star-studded cast of guest features including Mac Demarco on “Nudista Mundial ‘89” and Flore Benguigui of L’Impératrice on “Meutrière,” World of Hassle is shaping up to be one of the best releases of 2023. Departing from the usual sonic stylings of Neon Indian, World of Hassle features fresh production that puts an analog-yet-modern twist on the classic Neon Indian sound. I recently had the chance to chat with Alan Palomo and we discussed his name change, the art that inspires his work, the genre of boogie and his future plans in the world of music and beyond.

PHOTO CREDIT: DANIEL EVERETT PATRICK

Mr. Hoosteen is the next big thing in French Touch. The “Definitive Disco Edition” of No Time 2 Lose is the best French Touch album I have heard in years, with an aural aesthetic reminiscent of Cassius 1999, Daft Punk’s Homework and Paul Johnson’s work on the Crydamoure label. Recently, on my WSUM show The Prescription, I had the wonderful opportunity to meet with the up and coming French Touch producer on the precipice of the reissue and reimagination of their 2020 album No Time 2 Lose. Throughout our interview, we chatted about the intersection of music and visual art, our shared profound love of French Touch and the art of seamless album transitions.

Mandy, Indiana is probably my favorite band to come out of this decade so far. With only one EP under their belt and their debut album coming out on May 19th of this year, they’re on their way to be the next big thing out of Manchester. The band makes harsh, industrial dance music. Their lyrics are all in French. Back in March, I had the chance to speak to Mandy, Indiana while they were in the US for South By Southwest. They’re elusive and undeniably talented. I met them at a famous taco chain in Austin called Torchy’s Tacos, and we sat down for food and drinks to talk about their debut album. Tune in to hear about their creative process, why they’re okay with being misunderstood by most people and how their live performances help them communicate with their listeners.

Syd’s Music Desk is a monthly music podcast at WSUM Madison Student Radio. One Thursday night in late December, WSUM’s Music Director Amany found herself in a bit of a scuffle with Perfume Genius on Twitter. It was over Nick Jonas’s hit song “Jealous.” One thing led to another and they became best friends over Zoom. In this episode, Amany chats with Perfume Genius about how Alicia Keys might have subconsciously inspired his music, the importance of dance in his creative expression and how Diet Coke relapses are okay.

Photo Credit: Camille Vivier

Syd’s Music Desk is a monthly music podcast at WSUM Madison Student Radio. In this episode, Music Director Amany chatted with Elizabeth Stokes from The Beths about their North American tour in support of their latest release, Expert In A Dying Field. 

The Beths kicked off their tour on Feb. 16 in Portland, Oregon. The New Zealand band will be making their way to Minneapolis on the 22nd and playing two shows in Chicago on the 24th and the 25th. Sidney Gish will be supporting The Beths on the North American leg of their tour. 

Expert In A Dying Field received praise from Pitchfork, Rolling Stone, NME and fans alike. It’s the band’s third full-length album. The LP is filled with guitar-heavy, power pop tracks and phenomenal songwriting.

Listen to this episode of Syd’s Music Desk to hear about The Beths’ tour traditions, Elizabeth Stokes’ love for cheese and the kinship between Madison and Auckland.

Photo Credit: The Beths photographed by Frances Carter.