Humans of Musi‪c‬ A Jaxsta Podcast with Rod Yates

The Avalanches' latest album, 'We Will Always Love You', is the follow-up to 2016’s 'Wildflower', an LP that almost defined the notion of a troubled second record.

It arrived 16 years after the band’s classic debut, 'Since I Left You', a period characterised by false starts, illness, the departure of band members, and co-founder Robbie Chater's relapse into the alcoholism that almost killed him in his early 20s.

Robbie talks about it all – and the band's new LP – in this interview.

Frank Iero was born into a family of drummers.

He opted for guitar, though, and found fame as a member of New Jersey outfit My Chemical Romance. Also known for his solo projects such as frnkiero and the cellabration, Frank Iero and The Patience and Frank Iero and The Future Violents, in this interview we talk about it all, from his upbringing to the rise of My Chemical Romance, his solo work, and much more.

Musician, author and activist Laura Jane Grace is a trailblazer. Since 1997 she’s guided Against Me! from the Gainesville punk scene to the world's biggest stages, releasing a slew of critically acclaimed albums. 

In 2012 Laura came out as transgender, and has been a tireless advocate for trans rights ever since. 

In late-2020 she released her first solo LP, 'Stay Alive', which she recorded with Steve Albini. 

We talk about that record and Laura's incredible life and career in this interview.

Fleet Foxes broke out with their 2008 self-titled debut LP, a runaway success that frontman Robin Pecknold says he found “hugely shocking”. After their follow-up record 'Helplessness Blues' he retreated from the spotlight for a number of years before the band returned with 2017’s 'Crack-Up' and, most recently, 2020's 'Shore'. We talk about all that in this interview, as well as Robin’s upbringing in Seattle, how he struggled to cope with the sudden success of Fleet Foxes’ debut, and more.

Richard James Burgess is often credited with creating the terms New Romantic and EDM. He also invented the world’s first electronic drum kit in the Simmons SDS-V; produced the first two LPs by Spandau Ballet, amongst others; worked with artists such as Kate Bush; and forged his own successful career as a musician.

Now Richard is helping promote growth and awareness of independent music in his role as President & CEO of A2IM, the American Association of Independent Music. 

He talks about it all here

Since forming in 2012, Nothing But Thieves have become one of England's biggest musical exports.  

But it’s not all been smooth sailing. Frontman Conor Mason suffered a breakdown during an early tour of the US, unsettled by the divorce of his parents, the rigours of the road and a mind that he says would not slow down.

Here he talks about how he learned to tame those impulses, as well as the early days of the band, why they struggled to be accepted, and his formative years singing at school.