Welcome back to Bonus Track: my “letter from the editor” column that looks back at the month in music and life. Thanks for stopping by.
Here’s what I’ve got this month:
- Reflecting on the journey of grief and musical cross-pollination
- Thoughts on new LPs from Great Grandpa and Bon Iver
- A spotlight on Perpetual Stu
The Magic of Musical Cross-pollination
Last month, I mentioned that the leaves had just started to bud. Little did I know that would be the harbinger of this year’s Pollening and its allergy-inducing yellow haze. It has caught me off guard every year since moving to the South. You’d think I would have adapted by now, but no.
Beyond spring allergies, April has been an emotionally heavy month since my sister died 11 years ago. Some years, like the pollen, it sneaks up when I’m not paying attention. Others have advanced warnings but end up more difficult than expected. Whether I like it or not, it’s a milestone in the never-ending grief journey.
This year was unique. It’s the first anniversary of my sister’s death since hitting my 30s and (finally) getting back into music journalism. Reconnecting with that passion has been vital for my mental health and personal sanity these last several months. Dan Ozzi said it best: “The world is crumbling around me. I have no control over it, but if nothing else, I can sit down on my computer and write words.”
I can’t help but reflect on the musicians that my sister got me into, especially as I create more for myself than ever before. She’s responsible for my exposure to bands like Nirvana, Weezer, and the White Stripes. At first, it was through her CD and MTV preferences. But as I got older, others like Ben Folds and Korn came about solely because I would make ringtones in Audacity. You could easily argue that her getting me into Ben Folds was responsible for starting my Spotify account in 2011. I needed to hear “House” from The Best Imitation of Myself: A Retrospective, which was Spotify-exclusive then.
I don’t know how she would navigate the world if alive today. So many “if only” statements are required for that to be true and for her to be healthy and thriving. There’s no telling where we might have diverged politically, especially given that she died before Trump’s rise.
It’s a fruitless experiment, but one I can’t help but put myself through when I hear a new album she would’ve loved. “Imagine listening to Chat Pile or the new Deafheaven together,” I think. She comes to mind whenever I hear something that sends shivers down my spine. Sometimes, I’m confident she would’ve been a fan. Then there are others I’m more curious about, but I will never know. It’s the lingering effect of her musical cross-pollination from my childhood. Who knows if it will ever go away, let alone if I want it to.
In Case You Missed It…
It was another busy month here at Blank Tapes. So many new pieces can make it hard to keep up, so here’s a convenient summary of what’s new if you’d like to dive in:
- New Music NC: March 2025 — Featuring Between Two Trees, Fust, Slow Teeth, and 30 new releases from North Carolina artists
- Interview: Chase Davenport (Red October) — Picking up an instrument in your late 20s, expanding from a solo act to three-piece band, and the need for music as protest
- Interview: Jose Gonzalez & Anunt Singh (Owners of SpiceHouse) — Becoming an audio engineer, balancing full-time work with bands, and the role of a recording studio in the local music scene
- Interview: Rosary — Rediscovering an early musical love, opening yourself up to big collaborations, and self-producing their debut record
- Interview: Raw Ryan (Owner of Ingrown Records) — Letting your passions take the lead, the ins and outs of running a cassette tape label, and rejecting genre gatekeeping
- 20 Years of Juturna — Looking back on an ambitiously psychedelic debut record from a band who changed my life
- Interview: Khalil Nasim — How journaling helps process bigger feelings, growing beyond lost and corrupted audio files, and living by example
- Interview: Stephen Judge (Owner of Schoolkids Records) — Staying current with the newest albums, why CDs and DVDs are making a resurgence, and Record Store Day’s explosive growth
Things might slow down a bit in May, but there will still be new interviews with local artists to enjoy every week!
This Month in Music
Great Grandpa — Patience, Moonbeam [Run for Cover]
I regretfully missed the boat on Great Grandpa’s amazing music until a fantastic writer put them on my radar. It’s a rare and rewarding listen to my ears, charting its path with mesmerizing alt-country and chamber folk vibes. At times, they shift between the ambition of Black Country, New Road (even the sister project Jockstrap at one point) and Big Thief. Others, like the catchy “Junior” and “Ladybug”, tap into Kurt Vile’s creative well with expert precision.
Patience, Moonbeam is a well-crafted listen to accompany you on a road trip, from its twangy side A highs to the side B experiments in “Doom” and “Kid”. It’s one of those listens that impresses on the first play and keeps you coming back.
Top Tracks: “Never Rest”, “Ladybug”, “Doom”
Bon Iver — Sable, Fable [Jagjaguwar]
I never considered myself a fan of Bon Iver until late 2019, when I saw them perform a legendary arena show in Raleigh. I enjoyed some songs but was drawn in by their reputation for dazzling stage design. It was the first time I uncontrollably wept at a concert. Since then, I’ve been a convert. My partner and I saw them again in Wilmington a couple of years later, and I’ve encouraged many friends to catch them if tickets are reasonably priced.
That said, I initially didn’t love the rollout of this record. I thought it was leaning on the trending gimmick of breaking up a release into multiple EPs. But once the complete LP dropped, it was clear how vital the break was for the material. They are two distinct halves that work together in concert and reference one another.
Sonically, this results in the most cohesive record since the band’s self-titled effort. It synthesizes nearly 20 years of musical experiences: the delicate folk of From Emma, Forever Ago; Justin Vernon’s side projects like Volcano Choir and features like Hadestown; and electronic exploration in 22, A Million, and i,i. The songs feel complete in a way that the last two records haven’t, making it an accessible listen for new and long-time fans.
Top Tracks: “THINGS BEHIND THINGS BEHIND THINGS”, “Day One” (feat. Dijon & Flock of Dimes), “There’s A Rhythmn”
Overall, here are my top records from the month so far:
And here’s a convenient playlist of my favorite new songs in 2025:
Follow me on Apple Music and/or Last.fm if you feel so inclined.
Artist Spotlight: Perpetual Stu
I have a soft spot for anyone who creates in our chaotic world. And an even softer spot for those who turn that creativity into positive momentum for others. That’s what made Perpetual Stu’s new song, “You Gotta Stay Alive” stand out: it’s all about persisting in the face of utter shit. And its chorus of “You gotta stay alive / even if it kills you” has been simmering in the back of my head all month long.
For the uninitiated, Roger Feeley-Lussier is the man behind the project. He routinely makes me laugh or nod sagely on Bluesky. When he isn’t making music to benefit trans folks, he encourages joy via the delightfully silly “He does this every Friday” account.
Roger wrote up a thoughtful essay about the song, which includes thoughts on “passive suicidal ideation” that profoundly resonated with me. It’s been a weird thing to duck around for most of my life, mainly because I’m not fond of the idea of dying. But I can’t stop my brain from dancing around the “I don’t want to be dead, but I don’t want to be alive” thoughts. The only reliable antidote has been keeping busy, which isn’t the healthiest solution but is one nonetheless.
I’m grateful for folks like Rog, who impact people with their actions, not their expectations. I strive to achieve this here, and he’s one of many great role models to follow.
That’s all for this month’s column. Thanks for reading! I’m off to enjoy my birthday with my loved ones. Stay safe (and sane), support local music, and play Blue Prince. 🤘
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