The Big Read

The Big Read – Amyl and The Sniffers: “It’s rough, raw and anything can happen”

Amyl and The Sniffers are THE MOST exciting live band on the planet right now. On the day of their biggest UK show to date, Thomas Smith meets the Melbourne misfits to talk about their pub-punk revolution, breast milk shooters and hitting out – literally – at gropey fans.

The Big Read – Kacey Musgraves: “I really have seen a few UFOs…”

Country music is having a moment, and it's thanks in no small part to Kacey Musgraves, the acid-dropping, UFO-spotting, Coachella-punking queen of the rodeo. Kevin EG Perry meets her in Palm Springs, California, to talk about her transformative 'Golden Hour' album, her socially progressive lyrics and her dream of working with Daft Punk.

Public Enemy’s Chuck D: “When we first came to the UK, we wanted to spill blood on the stage.”

Today, Chuck D descends on the UK with old-school hip hop heroes De La Soul and Wu Tang Clan for the Gods Of Rap tour. At 59, the Public Enemy frontman has more than earned that title, via a string of era-defining albums, his unwavering political voice and tracks that are unimpeachable hip hop classics. Kevin EG Perry headed to Chuck's campaign room in California to find him plotting his European offensive.

The Big Read – Mac DeMarco: Even Cowboys Get The Blues

Once known for his outrageous onstage antics and cult-leader-like effect on his followers, Mac DeMarco has, of late, settled into a hermit-like existence in Los Angeles. The result is 'Here Comes The Cowboy', an album of minimal, sparse and intimate songs, which is out next week. Kevin EG Perry heads to Mac's gaff for drinks, chat and barbecue and hears how music's most chilled-out man somehow cooled it down even more.

The Big Read – Loyle Carner: “All the best things about me come from my ADHD”

Loyle Carner's debut album was much lauded by critics, but it was the south London boy's wholesome extra-curricular activities – running a cookery school for kids with ADHD – which helped him become somewhat of a national treasure. As he releases his follow-up record, 'Not Waving But Drowning', Nick Levine meets him for a chat about mental health, music and his good ol' mum.

The Big Read – Headie One: “If you make a mistake, you’ve got to move quickly”

Headie One is the highest-charting drill rapper ever, thanks to ‘18Hunna’, his collaboration with Dave, and he's a story of success in a fractured society. Yet The Daily Mail demonises drill and police shut down its artists’ shows. “They think it’s not natural for someone from a council estate to have a high income,” he tells Jordan Bassett. “They want you to be on the other end of society”.

The Big Read – Black Honey: “Ladylike can go fuck itself”

Brighton rockers Black Honey are a band of dandy dreamers living the DIY dream on a shoestring – but the album they're working on, with strings and horns and 'Parisian noir' inspiration – sees them reaching for the sky. As they play NME's Girls To The Front, Elizabeth Aubrey meets them to hear how ADHD, Billie Eilish and a hatred of the pop world forged their sound and fuels their work.

The Big Read – The Specials and Saffiyah Khan: “What we said has reached people – and that’s the only important thing”

Celebrating their 40th anniversary and back with a chart-topping third album, 'Encore', The Specials are still pushing the boundaries of social and racial injustice – with a little help from a new recruit. Dan Stubbs meets one of Britain's most iconic bands and collaborator Saffiyah Khan, activist, model and all-round badass, ahead of their major UK tour.

The Big Read – Juice Wrld: “The rap game is so motherfucking soft now”

He went from unknown Illinois teen to Billboard-topping emo-rap icon in under a year

The Big Read – Dolly Parton: “I take care of business”

To Miley Cyrus, she's godmother. To the rest of us, she's The Godmother. Country legend Dolly Parton has enjoyed an unparalleled career, and won over the hearts of a younger generation when she stormed Glastonbury in 2014. As her musical 9 To 5 opened in the West End, Leonie Cooper sat down to talk over Parton's phenomenal life.
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