Posts in Q&A
BENDELACREME SOUNDS OFF ON JOE BIDEN, CHER, AND HERSELF
BENDELACREME SOUNDS OFF ON JOE BIDEN, CHER, AND HERSELF

For fans of drag, the name BenDeLaCreme is likely a household one. “DeLa,” as she’s often known, was a standout on season six of RuPaul’s Drag Race and appeared famously on the show’s All-Stars season, shockingly eliminating herself in one of the rounds when she was a favorite to win the competition. Nevertheless, the Seattle-based drag queen has toured the world several times over, bringing her unique sense of goofy physicality, rubbery facial expressions, and heart-warming charm to audiences. This winter, BenDeLaCreme (born Benjamin Putnam) is on tour with fellow Emerald City drag celebrity, Jinkx Monsoon, a former Drag Race champion, bringing their latest project “All I Want For Christmas Is Attention” around the country. We caught up with DeLa to ask her for her thoughts on myriad topics, from Frosty the Snowman to butt implants, and everything in between.

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Q&AJake UittiInterview Magazine
JOHN WATERS WEIGHS IN ON LIZZO, TINDER, AND SANTA CLAUS
JOHN WATERS WEIGHS IN ON LIZZO, TINDER, AND SANTA CLAUS

John Waters, the mastermind filmmaker behind classics like Hairspray and Pink Flamingos, is known for his remarkable balance between the snooty and the trashy. He is dichotomous in his creative works, keeping a well-groomed thin mustache while filming his star, Divine, eating literal dog poop off the street. Walking a tightrope between well-kempt and tawdry, Waters has risen to fame and notoriety for his stories and unique sense of charm. Of late, the artist received a Grammy nomination for the spoken word album adapted from his book, Mr. Know-It-All, and recorded a vinyl single, “Make Trouble,” with Jack White’s label, Third Man Records. In December, Waters will tour his annual Yuletide show, “A John Waters Christmas,” which is always profane and never not entertaining. We caught up with the infamous raconteur to ask his thoughts on a myriad display of semi-random topics, from Donald Trump to Disney+.

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Q&AJake UittiInterview Magazine
Hip-Hop Legend Kurtis Blow: The Interview
Hip-Hop Legend Kurtis Blow: The Interview

Kurtis Blow was there at the beginning of hip-hop. Without him, the genre may never have become the worldwide phenomenon that it is today. To list off, Blow was the first rapper to sign to a major label, receive a gold record for rap, tour the US and Europe, record a national commercial, create a rap music video, and the first rap millionaire. Today, he is on tour with the production of the Hip-Hop Nutcracker as the show's - what else - emcee.

Blow, known for his songs, "The Breaks", "Basketball", and "If I Ruled the World", is generous in conversation. A man of faith, he speaks freely about his history at the birth of hip-hop as well as his time working as a minister, spreading religion. We caught up with the emcee-orator to talk about his origins in hip-hop, how the genre grew, and what he might have become hadn't it been for the truly American invention.

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Q&AJake UittiPopMatters
BRITTANY HOWARD IS LISTENING TO RICO NASTY, NINA SIMONE, AND BLADE RUNNER
BRITTANY HOWARD IS LISTENING TO RICO NASTY, NINA SIMONE, AND BLADE RUNNER

This is “Add to Queue,” our attempt to sort through the cacophony of music floating in the algorithmic atmosphere by consulting the experts themselves. Our favorite musicians tell us about their favorite music—the sad, the happy, the dinner party-y, the songs they want played at their funeral. In this edition, we speak with Brittany Howard, the powerfully piped singer who rose to fame with her Grammy-winning band, Alabama Shakes. After releasing her debut solo album, Jaime, recorded during an extended hiatus from the Shakes, she spoke with Interview about growing up with Elvis, getting married to Dylan, and (one day) collaborating with Björk.

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Q&AJake UittiInterview Magazine
J. PINDER ON WORKING WITH DR. DRE IN L.A. AND PAYING IT FORWARD IN SEATTLE
J. PINDER ON WORKING WITH DR. DRE IN L.A. AND PAYING IT FORWARD IN SEATTLE

J Pinder speaks smoothly. If his voice were a person walking down the street, that person would be gliding, as if perfectly calibrated for steady movement against all possible pitfalls. J Pinder is also a rapper who grew up in Seattle and later found himself in the throws of Los Angeles working for none other than the legend, Dr. Dre. In the studio, he helped with recording, writing and A&R. Now, the man is back in the Emerald City to bring some of that L.A. knowhow to Seattle, to bolster its infrastructure and to help up-and-coming artists know what it takes on the next level. We caught up with J Pinder to ask him about his early inspirations, how he landed in L.A. and much more. 

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Q&AJake UittiArtist Home
Interview// Play for Mortal Stakes: A Conversation with Richard Kenney
Interview// Play for Mortal Stakes: A Conversation with Richard Kenney

At a glance, the award-winning poet, Richard Kenney, can seem like a book hard to crack. His prowess with language, his oratory muscles, his years nose-buried in highfalutin tomes—all of these might suggest a question-and-answer interview would prove more mind-boggling than equal-footed back-and-forth. However, in reality, Kenney is a warm chap, as willing to explain an idea at length as he is to sit quietly over a cup of tea and ponder whatever words linger in the grey area between the conscious and unconscious. A world-class writer, Kenney is, perhaps above all else, a teacher, a guide. In this way, he embodies the literature that he’s fallen in love with. At its best, he’ll tell you, literature is a way to learn how to be. And in Kenney’s presence, that road map is laid out on the table, compass beside it.

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Q&AJake UittiPoetry Northwest
DAVID SEDARIS TALKS PRETTY ON HOTEL ROOMS, FLEABAG, AND HELL
DAVID SEDARIS TALKS PRETTY ON HOTEL ROOMS, FLEABAG, AND HELL

The author David Sedaris is known, perhaps above all else, for two things: his thoughtful sense of humor and his eye for surprising details. A bestselling author for books of personal essays like Me Talk Pretty One Day and Let’s Explore Diabetes With Owls, Sedaris was famously discovered by radio host Ira Glass, who saw the author reading from his diary one evening and later invited him to read his essay, “Santaland Diaries,” on the air. The piece helped rocket Sedaris to fame.

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Q&AJake UittiInterview Magazine
HALL OF FAME DJ MARCO COLLINS ON LIFE AFTER CANCER
HALL OF FAME DJ MARCO COLLINS ON LIFE AFTER CANCER

Everyone in the Seattle music community knows Marco Collins. To some, he’s a hero, an idol. To others, he’s a friend and confidant. To even more, he’s a story, perhaps a cautionary tale to not let a life or career in music overtake you. But, above all else, Collins, who is one of the few radio DJs in the Rock ‘N’ Roll Hall of Fame, is a kind-hearted soul who has experience many of life’s highest highs and lowest lows.

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Q&AJake UittiArtist Home
ESPN’s Kenny Mayne On RunFreely.org, Playing Quarterback and Colin Kaepernick
ESPN’s Kenny Mayne On RunFreely.org, Playing Quarterback and Colin Kaepernick

For any sports fan or ESPN aficionado, the name Kenny Mayne is more than familiar. Mayne, of course, is the sardonic, sarcastic personality who often hosts the station’s flagship program, SportsCenter. Mayne, who has also hosted shows like ESPN’s Widler World of Sports, grew up an athlete and played quarterback at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, where he broke his leg in 1980. Ever since the break, Mayne has suffered ankle pains – so much so that he once considered amputation. More recently, however, he found relief with intricate rehab and special braces. This relief has translated into a foundation he co-founded with his wife, RunFreely.org, which helps wounded veterans walk again. We caught up with Mayne to ask him about the project, how he got into sports and what’s next. 

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Q&AJake UittiThe Monarch Review
Chef and Restaurateur Edouardo Jordan Shares His Favorite Dishes and Destinations
Chef and Restaurateur Edouardo Jordan Shares His Favorite Dishes and Destinations

James Beard Award-winning chef Edouardo Jordan operates three prestigious eateries in Seattle’s sleepy Ravenna neighborhood: JuneBaby, Salare and Lucinda Grain Bar. While many might consider the chef to be a man of the city, the classically trained restaurant owner also has a true passion for nature. Indeed, Jordan says it was one of the reasons he first moved to the Emerald City from his native Florida in 2006.

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Q&AJake UittiAAA Journey
Nurse Mady Howard Advances To American Ninja Warrior Finals
Nurse Mady Howard Advances To American Ninja Warrior Finals

As a nurse, it can often feel like you’re climbing never-ending staircases, running down the halls as if the last few seconds of a clock is ticking out, or that you’re climbing walls and swinging from problem to problem. The job can be that tough, draining and demanding. But for ICU nurse, Madyson Howard, those hurdles and gauntlets are a part of her life outside the hospital, too. The nurse is also a finalist on the nationally televised program, American Ninja Warrior.

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Q&AJake UittiNurse.org
Steve Earle Talks Death, The Wire, Guitars And Leaving Home
Steve Earle Talks Death, The Wire, Guitars And Leaving Home

American singer-songwriter, Steve Earle, is a living legend. Between his decades touring the country, playing his jangly-heavy guitar for audiences thirsty for stories of the road and dust kicked up, and his years acting on hit television shows like HBO’s The Wire and Treme, Earle is known for his folk wisdom and sharp tongue. He’s a veteran of the Texas, New Orleans and Nashville music circuits and he’s a staple for those combing through the decades of Americana music greatness. I caught up with Earle to ask him about the first time he picked up a guitar, what it was like leaving his parents at an early age to pursue songwriting and what he’d like to experience just before he died.

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Q&AJake UittiThe Monarch Review
Valerie June On Brad Pitt, Banana Candy, Etherial Portals And Time
Valerie June On Brad Pitt, Banana Candy, Etherial Portals And Time

Valerie June finally has free time. After a life working odd jobs and steeling moments to write songs, the lilting, butterfly-voiced Americana singer has room to make her art, unfettered by traditional responsibilities. And, she says, this is the best thing she could have hoped for. June talked about this newfound resource and the freedom it offers her ever-evolving creativity. She also talked about the time she met Brad Pitt (and nearly passed out), what her favorite candy was as a kid and how she grew up singing gospel music with family and friends all around her.

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Q&AJake UittiThe Monarch Review
H.R. Of Bad Brains On Headaches, Human Rights And Speeding Up Songs
H.R. Of Bad Brains On Headaches, Human Rights And Speeding Up Songs

Paul “H.R.” Hudson is the longtime front man for Bad Brains, a group founded in 1979 and often credited with creating the original hardcore sound. Through fast, energetic songs and snarling, high-pitched vocals, Bad Brains raced through shows as their fans moshed all around them. Bad Brains also often played reggae between the punk rock. And after decades in the scene, the band only plays reggae at shows today. This fall, H.R. (short for Human Rights) is releasing a new solo record, Give Thanks, a reggae-inspired album filled with the uplifting music he’s made his signature. I caught up with the front man to talk with him about the origins of Bad Brains, what they talked about as they were creating a new sound and what it was like for H.R. to get brain surgery later in life after enduring a series of terrible headaches.

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Q&AJake UittiThe Monarch Review
DAVID MARCHESE OF THE NEW YORK TIMES MAGAZINE ON DEATH, DIET COKE, AND WAYNE GRETZKY
DAVID MARCHESE OF THE NEW YORK TIMES MAGAZINE ON DEATH, DIET COKE, AND WAYNE GRETZKY

If you’re a fan of celebrity, chances are you’ve encountered the work of David Marchese. His interviews, whether published by his former employer, New York Magazine, or his current one, The New York Times Magazine, regularly unearth some of the more revelatory details about our most mystifying stars. The most famous example is probably Marchese’s 2018 conversation with Quincy Jones, during which he revealed, among other things, that he used to date Ivanka Trump. But there are countless examples of other eyebrow-raisers in Marchese’s ouvre; in his interview with Eminem, the rapper said he frequented strip clubs and Tinder to find dates post-divorce. Or, there’s his recent interview with Whoopi Goldberg, where she admitted that hosting The View is not “enough.” 

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Q&AJake UittiInterview Magazine