It takes light 4.2 years from Proxima Centauri, the nearest non-sun star, to reach Earth. It took the songs of 2025’s Stargazer EP nearly five times that to see the light of day.

That’s nothing in cosmic terms, of course. But as musicians go, the 20+ years that have elapsed since the songs were written in preparation for KT Tunstall’s debut, Eye to the Telescope, amounts to several lifetimes. The Edinburgh-born singer-songwriter has showcased remarkable staying power, navigating the landmines of life, health, and the music business. At 50, Tunstall resides in the American Southwest and radiates the contentment and wit of a life lived to its fullest.

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How often do we truly afford ourselves a fresh start? Sean Mason went all after his first record.

The Southern Suite put the pianist on the map, there was a disconnect. Mason left New York, stopped drinking, and cut off most communication with the outside world.

A Breath of Fresh Air is, as the name suggests, a portrait of where the celebrated Grammy nominee lives now.

It’s clear in speaking with him, however, that the journey of self-discovery will prove a lifelong pursuit.

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At 17, Michael Hampton blasted off from Earth in the Mothership. More than half a century later, the Funkadelic guitarist has never looked back.

He does, however, make the occasional pitstop home for interviews, chatting poolside in between shows during a Southern California stint.

Hampton’s latest EP, Into the Public Domain, does what it says on the box. The blistering guitar instrumentals now belong to the world.

They can be accessed by way of physical trading cards acquired at one of the guitarist’s live shows. Even royalty-free musicians need a way to feed their anime habits.

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Happiness wasn’t too far from home. After stints in larger cities, following more traditional music routes, Morgxn settled just outside of Nashville – it doesn’t hurt, of course, when home is Music City USA. When not on tour or in the in the studio, you can generally find him at Fruity Farm, a plot of land he and his husband share.

The joy is contagious, and something the songwriter is happy to spread, along with whatever produce made it through the growing season. It’s a message of inclusion, regardless of gender, orientation, or any of the other myriad categories society uses to divide us. Above all, it’s about defiantly being yourself.

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They didn’t go into the forest to create a record. One evening of music and words surrounded by nature was plenty enough reason to gather.

Still, Saul Williams meets Carlos Niño & Friends at TreePeople emerged, as the first official document of the two long-time friends collaborating.

More than 30 years into his career, Williams doesn’t have anything in particular to prove. The mid-90s saw him quickly rise the ranks of New York’s slam poetry community, and he’s since proved himself as a musician, book author, science fiction writer, actor, and more.

But in a world forever teetering on the  edge, there’s still plenty left to be said.

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Note: The interview was cut short and kind of sputters out at the end for weather related reasons I won’t go into here. We’ll have to get the band back on for a followup.

Periscope at Midnight finds doubleVee plumbing familiar depths, as Barbara and Allan Vest revisit the latter’s previous band, The Starlight Mints, to put a spin on a pair of old tracks. Notes of the earlier baroque indie-pop act can be heard throughout, but the duo has forged its own oblique path to the genre after more than a decade of playing music together.

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Earlier songs were political, but never as overtly so. There isn’t much value left to wring from subtlety these days.

Battlewear is, fittingly, angry. It’s the product of navigating an unpredictable – and increasingly bleak – landscape. An hour before we hop on the call, a right wing reactionary is murdered in broad daylight.

Kadhja Bonet believes in the power of art and community. And while they’ve never been particularly fond of performing live, busking holds a certain appeal, in its immediate and unfiltered connection between artist and audience.

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