JAKE UITTI

When Leslie Feist was five-years-old, there was a rule at the dinner table. Her mom laid down the law. No singing during meals! Otherwise, the future four-time Grammy nominee wouldn’t stop humming around the house, so her mom had to institute the dinnertime directive.

Feist’s singing got to be so common that her brother would hide little cassette recorders around their home because she would sing stream-of-consciousness melodies so often. Then he would “torture” her by playing it all back. But her ambition paid off. She started choir when she was six, even going to an elementary school that focused on it. That prepared her for perhaps the most serendipitous moment of her early career. Feist, whose newest album, Multitudes, arrives Friday (April 14), says she began going to punk shows and one day in high school a few girls approached her about it. They’d seen her at the gigs. So, they offered her the chance to sing in their band. 

Spencer Haywood was standing in the Cincinnati snow, freezing his butt off. The stylish green and gold bellbottom Seattle SuperSonics warmups he wore did little for the cold wind, which would blow up the thighs thanks to the wide ankle hem. The short-sleeve top didn’t help much, either. The 1970s had just begun but Haywood’s career, remarkable as it was, as a former ABA Rookie of the Year and MVP, had stalled again. But for the future multi-time All-Star, who later dealt with substance abuse issues while in the NBA with the Los Angeles Lakers, he wasn’t standing in the sub-freezing night because of any personal or professional infraction. No, he was in the process of changing the league forever. As such, he wasn’t even allowed to stand on the Cincinnati Royals court, opposite Tiny Archibald and Norm Van Lier, or go back into the locker room and get his street clothes. He was an “illegal player” and banned from the game before it started because, simply, he was in court fighting a bigger battle.

For anyone who became a fan of the National Basketball Association in the 90s, the name Ahmad Rashad is closer to Holy than a mere entertainer. Rashad was the host of NBA Inside Stuff for the entire decade and into the 2000s, captivating fans with his joy and chemistry with seemingly every NBA star, from Michael Jordan to Muggsy Bogues. But before he was a mainstay on Saturday morning television, Rashad was an NFL star.

Born and raised in the Pacific Northwest, Rashad went to the University of Oregon and was drafted fourth overall in 1972. He later became a four-time Pro Bowl selection with the Minnesota Vikings. He was also married to the dazzling actress Phylicia Rashad. Rashad, who is known for his close relationships with the likes of Jordan, Charles Barkley, Patrick Ewing and others, has recently jumped back into the NBA television scene with the new show, NBA Rewind, available on the league’s app. We caught up with the iconic broadcaster to ask him about this new endeavor and to take a stroll down memory lane.

Kenneth Faried is around 7,200 feet above sea level. At times, though, the former Team USA starter and Denver Nugget, he has felt much lower. His G League season with the Mexico City Capitanes concluded in late March, the team narrowly missing the playoffs. But Faried played well, averaging 11.3 points, 9.7 rebounds and 1.4 assists on the year. Still, he remains far from his ultimate goal. Many NBA fans probably remember the “Manimal” and his ferocious blocks and dunks. From his rookie year in 2011, Faried defied expectations. At 6ft 8in, he rebounded in traffic like an 8-footer. But now, he’s working to get back to the league after the game changed under his feet. For a player known for his hustle, the question remains, can he chase down another chance? And can he do so ahead of 9 April, the last game of the NBA regular season and the final day to amend rosters? He’s trying. But the road can be unrelenting.

It’s funny; sometimes the closer you are to something, the harder it is to remember how special it can be. It’s the root of the phrase, Absence makes the heart grow fonder. For the Swedish-born folk duo, First Aid Kit, they know this maxim well. Comprised of sisters Johanna and Klara Söderberg, the group is known for its precise lyrical songwriting and blissful, angelic harmonies. But growing up, as the two sang together around the house, they didn’t think much of their vocal blend. It wasn’t until audiences raved and offered standing ovations that they knew they had something unique and lovely.

It’s impossible to take your eyes off Ashlie Amber.

The rising country star with the magnetic smile and the “’fro-hawk” hairstyle was recently on the debut episode of the new Apple TV+ television series, My Kind of Country. The show, which is produced by Reese Witherspoon and Kacey Musgraves, features hosts Mickey Guyton, Jimmie Allen and Orville Peck in search of the best country artists from around the globe. On it, Amber was quickly complemented for her signature look by Guyton, who also underscored what Amber brings to a song, vocally.

Crossover star Toosii knows his way around a recording booth.

Whether offering slick lyrics, a country twang, a smooth singing voice, or tight rap bars, the burgeoning music star can hang with the likes of Summer Walker or kick out a song solo with ease. A fan of Tim McGraw, R&B, and more, Toosii has a new music video out this week for the track, “Favorite Song.”

American Songwriter caught up with Toosii and discussed his origins as an artist, how he survived homelessness, what it was like growing up in the South and upstate New York, and much more.

On Friday, March 17, 33-year-old Irish-born rock musician Hozier is releasing his latest record, an EP titled, Eat Your Young. As with all of the Grammy-nominated artist’s projects, it’s both stunning and powerful. With a knack for writing songs with skill and oompf, Hozier (born Andrew John Hozier-Byrne) has given fans more to love him for.

Hozier, who also announced a forthcoming tour, has a new LP coming later this year. The artist, who has brought the world songs like “Take Me To Church” and “Angel Of Small Death & The Codeine Scene,” is ready to turn up the volume and unleash more music into the world.

American Songwriter caught up with the artist to ask him about his entrance into the world of songwriting, his work as a custodian, how he values history, and much more.

In the world of stringed instruments, it’s a common question. After all, at first glance, a fiddle and a violin look alike. They seem to sound the same, too, when it comes to tone and range. But there must be a clear distinction, right?

Actually, no. In fact, there is no significant physical difference between the instruments. Rather, what demarcates the two is mostly the music being played and the musical approach being taken. When playing folk, country or bluegrass, for example, the instrument is understood to be a fiddle, but when playing classical music, it’s a violin. Want to know more? Keep reading …

There are few professions in which your career will almost certainly be over by the time you’re in your late 30s. Yet, in professional basketball this is the case. The game is just too fast, too physical for someone who has lost a step. It’s tough to swap the excitement and money for a more humdrum life. Some in professional sports, including Hall of Fame quarterback Steve Young, have even likened retirement to “death”.

So, how do NBA players decide when it’s time to go? It’s helpful to look to the man who played the most games in league history (1,611 in the regular season and 184 more in the playoffs), Boston Celtic great and four-time NBA champion, Robert Parish. If anyone knows, it’s him.

Every day, Macklemore (the Seattle-born rapper and businessman Ben Haggerty) wakes up knowing he will grapple with the realities of addiction. But he wouldn’t trade that for anything in the world, he says. Addiction is a disease. It’s the only one, Macklemore notes, that you can pretend you don’t have. Even those who work hard on curtailing their addictive personalities—giving up alcohol or some other mind-altering vice, let’s say—can weaken, forget how just one beer or one cigarette (or worse) can tip the scales toward demise. This is what Macklemore grapples with daily, like millions of others around the globe. It’s his cross. But it’s also his salvation. For Macklemore, his compulsive tendencies made him who he is, for better or worse, and, in that way, they create the lens that allows him to see and discover who he is acutely. To view himself clearly—not by over-indulging in any drug (not anymore, at least), but by providing an unflinching truth and way to know himself. This and much more comprise the subject matter of Macklemore’s new album, Ben, which is out March 3. 

Former Los Angeles Lakers point guard Smush Parker says he was “born with a basketball.” Both of his parents were ardent players, so Parker has been around the game since he was an infant. Now, though, he’s more likely to have a whistle in his hand. Yes, the 41-year-old is looking to become just the fourth former NBA player to referee in the league. But he says it’s no easy task to master the ropes.

In the world of music, there are certain places and instruments that people tend to gravitate to. Many want to be the lead singer, up there on the microphone, belting out their lyrics. Others want to be the lead guitarist, shredding skillful solos. Drums are also a popular option, wild people on the kits. 

It’s not often, though, people want to grow up to be bass players. What does a bass do? Why not just play guitar? Can you solo with the bass? Indeed, the instrument is a bit mysterious. But in another way, it’s also the most important instrument in a band. It’s the cornerstone, says bassist Darryl Jones, that touches aspects of melody, harmony, and rhythm. It’s the linchpin that bridges all three. For Jones, who has long toured with The Rolling Stones and played with everyone from Madonna to Sting to Miles Davis, the bass is creative bliss. This is the subject matter of the new documentary, Darryl Jones: In The Blood, which is set to release this fall (October 7).

Bay Area-born percussionist, songwriter, and performer Sheila Escovedo, known better by her stage name Sheila E., is living proof of the value of diversity when it comes to one’s upbringing and creative output. The versatile, prolific artist has collaborated with just about every big name under the sun, from Prince and Tito Puente to Hans Zimmer, Carlos Santana, and Beyoncé and she says, she owes this fact to growing up with every style of music being played in her home from a young age. Indeed, Sheila says, music was swirling around her even before she left her mother’s womb. She learned Latin Jazz at a young age before even studying classical violin. Later, she became more than proficient in rock music. She has salsa and gospel albums in the works, set to drop later this year, and she’s a legendary icon amongst just about everyone who’s held a beat or hummed a melody. But what this amounts to most, is that Sheila understands how to fit in with any song. It’s all about space, she says, and figuring out what not to play as much as choosing which notes or beats to strike.  

Johanna and Klara Söderberg, the Swedish sister duo better known as First Aid Kit, have been making musical waves since the early 2000s. Ever since they released a cover of “Tiger Mountain Peasant Song” by the harmony-driven band Fleet Foxes, they’ve been on the map for many a rabid fan. Since then, they’ve released beloved albums, including the 2012 LP, The Lion’s Roar. But just as the duo is modern and impactful today, you could easily convince someone who has never heard them that they are from a past time—the 1960s or maybe even as far back as the 15th century. The duo returned in 2022 with another addition to their ethereal discography, releasing Palomino in November.