With the release of major-label debut What Will We Be (Warner Bros.), Devendra Banhart proves once again he has the potential to be one of his generation’s major players. His voice, with its careening vibrato and fuse-blowing intensity, sounds something like Marc Bolan’s, but his repertoire may be more all over the map than anyone making records today. He combines a love of arcane folk music with hard-rocking psychedelia and an ability to sing beautifully in English or Spanish, a skill he learned growing up in Caracas, Venezuela. He refers to himself, jokingly, as a “fake hippie,” but he appears to be the real thing, a refreshing return to the revolutionary thinking that once seemed capable of changing the course of human events. Who’s to say it couldn’t happen again? Banhart will be guest editing magnetmagazine.com all week. Read our Q&A with him.
Asa Irons
Asa Irons‘ voice says it all, a prime example of what the word “music” means in Hindi: “that which breaks the silence.”
“Abacus” (download):
https://magnetmagazine.com/audio/Abacus.mp3
Happy Birthday
Happy Birthday is the new band of Kyle Thomas from Feathers and Witch. Sooooo good! And a new addition to the inimitable and life-saving/changing Sub Pop label. We love Happy Birthday so much and are beyond stooooooked to be touring with them.
Little Joy
Little Joy (pictured) is truly—and as impossible as it may seem that I’m not biased, I truly believe—one of the greatest bands of all time!
“No One’s Better Sake” (download):
https://magnetmagazine.com/audio/NoOnesBetterSake.mp3
