Posts in Q&A
Left at London Shares What Went Into “Do You See Us” and “As Blue As A Bruise”
Left at London Shares What Went Into “Do You See Us” and “As Blue As A Bruise”

Seattle musician, Nat Puff (aka Left at London), creates music that sounds like it was poured from the pitcher of her heart. Blood, sweat and tears saturate the artist’s songs, which have raised eyebrows and earned the attention from the prominent Emerald City radio station, KEXP 90.3, and fans around the world. Puff, who has a loyal and passionate fan base, burst into public consciousness in 2018 with her Transgender Street Legend Vol. 1 EP, which included the hit, “Revolution Lover.” Left at London also released The Purple Heart EP in 2018, which boasted the earworm, “Felt Like I Had Died.” We caught up with the songwriter to talk about her most recent singles, “Do You See Us (feat. NOBI)” and “As Blue As A Bruise,” which we are also happy to premiere here today.

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Q&AJake UittiAmerican Songwriter Magazine
My Favorite Album: Heidi Gardner of “Saturday Night Live” on Tenacious D’s Self-Titled Album
My Favorite Album: Heidi Gardner of “Saturday Night Live” on Tenacious D’s Self-Titled Album

Comedian and actor, Heidi Gardner, who is known for her many roles on Saturday Night Live and for her voice work on the animated show, SuperMansion, pursued her career in comedy a little later in life than some. While laughter had always been part of her world, for a while she never knew she could find a job that paid within the ranks. In the meantime, before earning a role on the most prestigious sketch show in the world, Gardner appreciated the work of the talented musical and comedic duo, Tenacious D. In fact, the band’s eponymous debut LP (from 2001) is Garnder’s all-time favorite record. And though, as you’ll see below, she struggled a bit to admit that to the world, Gardner stands by the record in full, both for its creative prowess and for how it helped strengthen the relationship she had with her older brother. We caught up with the Bailey Gismert creator to talk about all things Tenacious D.

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Q&AJake UittiUnder The Radar
Interview // Serious Books: A Conversation with John Martin
Interview // Serious Books: A Conversation with John Martin

Looking back on it, it seems like an incredible risk in 1965. At the time, Los Angeles-native John Martin, a manager of a large office supply store, decided he would dedicate one-quarter of his monthly income in perpetuity to a relatively obscure writer with a penchant for drinking. But Martin, as it would turn out, bet on the right horse. His deal with L.A. poet, novelist and short story writer, Charles Bukowski, would end up making history—and the both of them hundreds of thousands of dollars, too. Bukowski, known as the poet of skid row, wrote poetry books like Love is a Dog From Hell and novels like Ham On Rye and Women. Together, he and Martin helped to change modern American writing, bringing poetry and prose to a street level where they could be read and enjoyed by the “common reader.”

Martin, born in 1930, is now retired from the publishing house he founded, Black Sparrow. He has sold the rights to Bukowski’s work and the work of a few other authors to ECCO, a subsidiary of Harper Collins. Black Sparrow, in its modern form, continues to exist, publishing work, though it’s stewarded by new publishers and editors. We caught up with Martin to talk with him about his early love of literature, his $100 deal with Bukowski, “insiders” versus “outsiders,” his other favorite authors and much more.

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Q&AJake UittiPoetry Northwest
NYC Nurse Creates Handmade Blankets For Her Patients & Their Families With Love
NYC Nurse Creates Handmade Blankets For Her Patients & Their Families With Love

When Nurse Ally Marcello sees a problem, she covers it with love.

The Long Island Jewish Medical Center ICU nurse has recently begun an effort to make personalized blankets for her patients and their family members. She started making the blankets right before COVID-19 hit. What started as a simple act has grown to where Marcello is receiving donations of both time and money to help buoy the effort. And, in the midst of a pandemic, she is able to provide a small memory and keepsake to those who lost loved ones.

The simple act of offering a handmade, personal blanket to a sick patient or their worried loved one creates a goodwill well beyond the labor it takes to stitch it together. As a result, Marcello has become an inspiration both in person at her hospital and online amongst fellow nurses.

We caught up with Marcello to ask her about the origins of the blankets, what they’ve meant to her patients and how she might see her program grow.

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Q&AJake UittiNurse.org
Original Lady A Responds To New Lady A Lawsuit, Explains Whirlwind Timeline
Original Lady A Responds To New Lady A Lawsuit, Explains Whirlwind Timeline

The word Antebellum refers to the time period before the American Civil War. It marks a prosperous time in the American Southland when the region made money hand-over-fist on the back of slaves. In 2006, Hillary Scott, Charles Kelley and Dave Haywood, formed a country group in Nashville and called the group, Lady Antebellum. The trio kept the name until about an hour ago when, after pressure from outside forces, they agreed their name was inappropriate. The band then tried to assume the name Lady A, instead. But there was a problem. The prominent Seattle blues singer, Anita White, has been going by the name Lady A since 1987.

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Q&AJake UittiAmerican Songwriter Magazine
BIG FREEDIA BRINGS PEOPLE TOGETHER THROUGH THE POWER OF ASS
BIG FREEDIA BRINGS PEOPLE TOGETHER THROUGH THE POWER OF ASS

New Orleans bounce rapper Big Freedia (born Freddie Ross) has a gripping voice that belongs in a museum. Whether she’s adding a booming bit of spice to Beyoncé’s “Formation” or dueting with Lizzo on “Karaoke,” Big Freedia is prominent and powerful, and rose the ranks of New Orleans rowdy bounce scene performing her signature hypnotic, repetitious style of rap. That sound can be heard on her latest EP, Louder, which was released just before much of the country ground to a halt. The sudden stasis left Freedia in a weird limbo, unable to perform songs that were designed specifically to make crowds turn up. But when we caught up with her on Juneteenth, Big Freedia’s unshakeable spirit showed no signs of damage.

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Q&AJake UittiInterview Magazine
Anti-Racism Activist Jane Elliott: "Things Are Worse Now Than They Were Then"
Anti-Racism Activist Jane Elliott: "Things Are Worse Now Than They Were Then"

For over 52 years, educator Jane Elliott has been talking about the problem of racism in America. Ever since the morning after Martin Luther King Jr. was shot and killed in Memphis, Tennessee, Elliott has conducted her “Brown-eye/Blue-eye” exercise, in which she separates a room of people based on their eye color, treating the brown-eyed people better than the others. Elliott’s exercise, which began in her third-grade classroom on April 5 1968, has been praised by many, including Oprah, who had her on her show in 1992, and the rapper, Killer Mike, who recently said Elliott’s work was required homework for all of white America.

On June 13th, one day after “Loving Day,” or the day commemorating the U.S. Supreme Court decision that officially dubbed interracial marriage legal, my fiancée, Eva Walker, and I talked with Elliott over the phone. I’d been slated to speak with Elliott for a week, or so, but once our conversation was nearing its conclusion, it seemed best to ask if Eva would join the call. Eva, who is Black (I am white) and born in Seattle, Washington, has known of Elliott’s work for over a decade and considers her a hero.

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Q&AJake UittiThe Stranger
“Building People Power”: Nikkita Oliver on Seattle’s Extraordinary Protests and What Comes Next
“Building People Power”: Nikkita Oliver on Seattle’s Extraordinary Protests and What Comes Next

In Seattle, as in nearly every major city in America, protesters clashed with police for over a week in early June, demanding justice for George Floyd and other victims of racial violence and police brutality. But what happened next, and is still happening, was completely different. On Monday the police effectively abandoned the area surrounding the East Precinct police station, allowing protesters to establish a seven-block area they are calling the Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone (CHAZ).

Within that space protests are ongoing, but so are history lectures, art exhibits, movie nights (Ava DuVernay’s 13thscreened Tuesday), concerts, town hall meetings, and street art. There is no formal leadership of the Seattle protests, but among the most prominent figures is Nikkita Oliver, who ran for mayor in 2017 and was the first candidate of the independent Seattle Peoples Party. Also the codirector of the Creative Justice Northwest program, Oliver has been busy organizing protests, facilitating communication among the various groups, and getting down to the autonomous zone when she can—which sometimes means at 3 a.m.

The CHAZ has drawn the attention of none other than Donald Trump, who tweeted threats late Wednesday to “take back” Seattle, and was swiftly rebuked by Washington governor Jay Inslee as well as Mayor Jenny Durkan, who has faced calls to resign after the police used flash bangs and tear gas against protesters.

Not long after the president’s tweet, Oliver got on the phone to talk about not only Trump’s attempt to “incite violence,” but also the historical precedent for movements like this one, the beauty of a movement without a figurehead at the front of it, and how the protests have even bolstered the reputation of another controversial Seattle group: cyclists.

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Q&AJake UittiVanity Fair
Behind the Song: Hall & Oates, “Maneater”
Behind the Song: Hall & Oates, “Maneater”

Released on the duo’s 1982 record, H2O, “Maneater” is certainly one of the most well-known Hall & Oates songs of all time. To date, the track has more than 130 million views on YouTube. While the concept of the song on paper is dark and bleak, the song itself reads as more playful than film noir. The idea of a “maneater” is, in the end, cartoonish, of course. Nevertheless, the idea of danger runs throughout the track’s lyrics.

“Maneater” begins with a bouncy bass line that immediately offers energy and joy. It’s a bit of an odd introduction but soft keyboards, a bright guitar and a crooning saxophone melody quickly follow the bass. Next, Daryl Hall’s voice sparks up, beginning the first verse. Hall describes a character worth steering clear of — the maneater. “Watch out boy, she’ll chew you up,” he tells us. But what, exactly, does he mean? What is a maneater?

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Q&AJake UittiAmerican Songwriter Magazine
COMEDIAN ERIC ANDRE TELLS US WHY WE NEED TO “POP THE ZIT” OF POLICE BRUTALITY
COMEDIAN ERIC ANDRE TELLS US WHY WE NEED TO “POP THE ZIT” OF POLICE BRUTALITY

Eric Andre, the renegade prankster and Ranch dressing enthusiast, is not afraid of touching any subject—including his own genitalia. In his upcoming Netflix special, Legalize Everything, out June 23, the comedian behind Adult Swim’s The Eric Andre Show discusses drugs, Burning Man, racism, and any number of topics his wild yet pinpoint-sharp mind decides to tackle. (Then, predictably, he drops his pants.) Andre, who was born in Boca Raton, Florida to a Jewish mother and Haitian father, has a unique perspective on just about everything. He’s usually either yelling or gyrating, generating laughs and wonder with a seemingly limitless supply of energy. But when we spoke with him on June 3, in the midst of national upheaval, Andre seemed more fatigued than usual. In this conversation, he still makes us laugh—about tanning beds and his stint as the GEICO caveman—but he also talks about his encounters with the police, protesting in L.A., and why this country looks like “an apartheid state.” In his words, “What an uplifting article!” 

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Q&AJake UittiInterview Magazine
Star Football Player Turned Nurse: This Is Why I Chose Masters in Nursing as My 2nd Degree
Star Football Player Turned Nurse: This Is Why I Chose Masters in Nursing as My 2nd Degree

Roosevelt Davis, MSN, RN knows the value of working hard. After a successful college football career and a bachelor's degree in Political Science, Roosevelt decided to pursue his passion and complete a second degree - a master’s degree in nursing (MSN). Today, Roosevelt works as a Pediatric Cardiovascular ICU (CVICU) nurse who helps sick kids at the Children’s Hospital of Orange County.

Roosevelt comes from a big family of medical professionals. And, while they played a large role in guiding him towards the nursing field. Ultimately, it was his life experiences and passion for helping others that drove his decision to become a nurse.

With roots that go back to childhood, Roosevelt, a world-class athlete who could have played professional football after college, talked to us about his transition from sports to nursing, what it was like to earn a second degree in nursing and what drives him to be so selfless in the workforce.

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Q&AJake UittiNurse.org
Behind the Song: The Beach Boys, “Good Vibrations”
Behind the Song: The Beach Boys, “Good Vibrations”

Released in 1966 on a 7” single, the song, “Good Vibrations,” has a long and rather complicated story. In some ways, it’s emblematic of The Beach Boys’ fascinating and at times-tumultuous history. But we won’t distract with tawdry tabloid fodder here – no latter day lawsuits need complicate things. Instead, we’ll focus on the musical aspects of the illustrious, significant, influential and inspiring composition.

Written by Brian Wilson with lyrics by Mike Love, the music for “Good Vibrations” was stitched together from bits sonic movements Wilson had previously created. Putting them together, Wilson masterminded a complex sound like no other popular song. This was balanced by the pop, hippie girl-focused lyrics from Love (who is, incidentally, Wilson’s first-cousin).

At first, “Good Vibrations” was not well received by critics who expected more sunshine pop from the band, but those opinions quickly changed. Since then, outlets like Rolling Stone have gone on to say that “Good Vibrations” is one of the best and most significant rock ‘n’ roll songs of the 20the century. Here, we talked with Love, co-writer of “Good Vibrations.” We asked him about the track’s origins, what he thought of the song at the time of its creation and more.

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Q&AJake UittiAmerican Songwriter Magazine
Charity Offers Millions in Grants To Families of Healthcare Workers Who Died of COVID-19
Charity Offers Millions in Grants To Families of Healthcare Workers Who Died of COVID-19

E4E Relief, a North Carolina-based charity founded in response to the tragic 9/11 attacks, has set up a new program - the Brave of Heart Fund - in conjunction with New York Life Foundation and the Cigna Foundation to help offset the financial burden on families who’ve lost loved ones in the healthcare field from COVID-19 coronavirus.

Families of those working on the healthcare frontlines during the COVID-19 pandemic may be eligible to apply for support from the Brave of Heart Fund and receive grant support for medical care, counseling, food, transportation, education, and other needs as they manage the impact of the COVID-19 crisis and begin to move forward.

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Q&AJake UittiNurse.org
Ketch Secor Talks Old Crow Medicine Show, Songwriting, Launching an Elementary School
Ketch Secor Talks Old Crow Medicine Show, Songwriting, Launching an Elementary School

Ketch Secor, front man and principle songwriter for the famed Americana band, Old Crow Medicine Show, has been keeping himself busy during his time sheltering in place in Nashville, Tennessee. Secor, a bundle of energy, has been releasing regular episodes of his “Hootenanny” digital series and today the songwriter also released a new video for his latest song, “Quarantine.”

Secor, whose presence runs the gamut between artist, historian and philanthropist, has his fingers in many proverbial pies, including chartering a new elementary school in his hometown (more on this later).

We caught up with the golden-throated, rubbery-voiced singer to ask him how he first came to play and love music, how he maintains his high energy levels, how busking changed his life and much more.

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Q&AJake UittiAmerican Songwriter Magazine
YVONNE ORJI TELLS HER STORY, FROM SYRUP SANDWICHES TO INSECURE
YVONNE ORJI TELLS HER STORY, FROM SYRUP SANDWICHES TO INSECURE

Yvonne Orji, co-star of the acclaimed HBO series Insecure,is one of those actors who, upon first glance, leaves an impression that will likely last forever. Ever since the show’s first episode in 2016, Orji’s popularity has grown steadily among super-fans and critics alike. As Insecurewraps up its fourth season in June, Orji will release her first ever comedy special, an HBO-produced showcase called Momma, I Made It! that follows the actor-comedian from onstage in D.C. to her native Nigeria, where viewers meet Orji’s loving—if not overly doting—parents.

Born in Port Harcourt, Nigeria, Orji moved to the U.S. with her family at six-years-old, eventually graduating from George Washington University with a Master’s Degree in Public Health. Much to her parents’ chagrin, Orji followed her love of comedy and acting to New York City and then to Los Angeles, where she would meet her Insecure co-star and the show’s co-creator, Issa Rae. The rest, as they say, is history.

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Q&AJake UittiInterview Magazine