ifitbeyourwill S05E02 • Ben Woods of The Golden Dregs

Dive into the rich musical journey of Ben Woods, the talented frontman of The Golden Dregs, as he explores the evolution of his sound and songwriting. From his early inspirations in Cornwall’s vibrant garage punk scene to the thoughtful lyrics of his latest album "Godspeed," Ben shares heartfelt insights on creativity, collaboration, and resilience amidst the challenges of the music industry.

We discuss how experiences shape artistic expression, the various influences that crafted his unique sound, and the importance of fostering a collaborative environment in music creation. As Ben's journey unfolds, he candidly reflects on the trials he faced and how they shaped his artistic vision.

Listeners will walk away with a deeper appreciation of the artistry behind songwriting and be inspired by Ben's dedication to his craft. Tune in to discover the stories behind the songs and what the future holds for The Golden Dregs. You won’t want to miss this engaging conversation!

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https://thegoldendregs.com/

A charming, hook-filled track, ‘The Company of Strangers’ is richly layered, blending folk-tinged guitars with playful piano riffs and lush harmonies. But with its gentle melodies come profound reflections on urban life, as Ben wryly delivers lyrics like: “Maybe it’s time I was taken out to pasture / since lately I’ve been getting it wrong”.

Of their new single, Ben says: “The Company of Strangers is a business empire into which one might invest their best life years, best health, best thoughts, every last hour of daylight in the winter months, to expire, become surplus to requirement, served notice, redundant. The Company doesn’t care about you but you are better than that. Godspeed The Company.”

Mappe Of • Happiness In The Singularity • 2025

https://mappeof.netlify.app/#

With a brand new track, “Happiness In The Singularity,” released today via Paper Bag Records, Mappe Of is stepping into the post-apocalyptic musical space. Within the modern tradition of post-apocalyptic art—perhaps even post-earth-as-we-know-it art— definitely post-pandemic - there's an increasingly tangible feeling like these works are no longer fictitious, but are instead a very real and present depiction of our lives on this planet. And yet, these works are most often defined by hope, and resilience, comradery, and faith. They pose to us, one of the most difficult questions we can face: Can we continue in the face of oblivion?

“Happiness in the Singularity” is a cyborg of a song, marrying pieces of the real with the ethereal in a shimmering, stuttering-then-smooth 7/8 waltz through a graveyard of VHS memories and corrupted .mp4 files. Theres a piano part playing counter to the artificial pings and clicks that swirl around—it feels as if one is in an existential behind-the-scenes control room. With the song, Mappe Of is imploring us to preserve our sanity and ourselves.

Shura • Richardson ft. Cassandra Jenkins • 2025

"Putting a magnifying glass up to her emotions... "Recognise" is a really beautiful track."

– NPR All Songs Considered

"Equal parts tender, broken, hopeful and searching. There’s pain here, but the uplifting feeling of putting your life back together also shines through, because in the end, this process of exploring her mental, emotional landscape became a joyous one."

– PAPER

A lyric on “Richardson” cuts to the core of the album’s solitary feeling. “I got too down around my friends,” Shura sings over a laid-back groove adorned with soft guitar licks and flurries of keys. It was the first song written for the record, and it was also – by circumstance, but also fittingly – the first song she’s written at home alone on an acoustic guitar since she was a kid. Featuring Cassandra Jenkins, whose album An Overview on Phenomenal Nature was one of the few Shura could listen to during that period of high stress, the track brings her sadness full circle; Jenkins’ voice accompanying hers in lush harmony the same way it did back then.

Shura says: “I fell in love with Cassandra's record at a low point in my life. It felt like an armchair I could crawl into. It accompanied me on long walks I took around my apartment in Greenpoint. I always knew I wanted to work with Cassandra on something. After a few conversations it became obvious to the both of us that it had to be this song. That Cassandra would accompany me here. A song about walking, thinking, and trying to find comfort somewhere, as Cassandra’s voice accompanied me on those walks then.”

Miya Folick • "Felicity” • 2025

It is the only song which was not originally written on acoustic guitar. Instead, Miya wrote it in collaboration with Jared Solomon (Remi Wolf, Lola Young), and layered synths and woodwinds atop of traditional instrumentation. The song points to the lesser-known definition of the word felicity: “finding appropriate expression for one’s thoughts,” which, Miya says, is “a cornerstone of the album: putting language to how I feel, which I didn’t do for so long because I didn’t know it was a feeling I was allowed to have.” Apt articulation, “Felicity” suggests, promises to bring us into closer connection with those we love, and with ourselves.

Folick is both audacious and hauntingly profound on Erotica Veronica, her psychosexual, psychosensual masterstroke: a kaleidoscopic portrait of self-realization and integration. There is a dilemma that haunts the record. There is a partner on the receiving end of these confessions. The song and the album seem to wonder: what is the right thing to do when your desires are more complex than the narrow channel our culture allows? “The album is about being queer within a heteronormative relationship structure and within a heteronormative society, but it’s also just about desire and eroticism in general. I don’t think we give each other enough room to explore freely and figure out our own right paths,” she says. FEMM

MOVIELAND • Then & Now • 2024

Vancouver’s Movieland is a cult shoegaze trio from the early '90s, blending melancholic melodies with lush, textured soundscapes. Their early recordings are being re-issued as Then & Now (2024) with new music to follow in Now & Then (2025) on 604 Records.

ifitbeyourwill S05E01 • Niko Kapetan of Friko

Niko Kapetan of Friko joins us to kick off our fifth season, sharing an incredible journey from the inception of his musical passion to his current creative explorations. Imagine being a child, watching The Beatles' "Love" in Las Vegas, and having that moment light a fire within you—that's where Nico's story begins. Nico talks about his evolution from playing piano and drums to discovering the guitar as a powerful tool for songwriting during his high school days. His collaboration with drummer Bailey Minzenberger marks a significant turn towards a more interactive and collective approach in his recent projects.

We also delve into the emotional rollercoaster that inspired one of Nico's impactful records, highlighting themes of defeat and resilience born from his warehouse work during the pandemic. The heartfelt simplicity of the song "Until I'm with You Again" shines through as a beacon of genuine artistic expression. Nico recounts unforgettable moments from playing festivals like Bonnaroo, performing at a packed Metro in Chicago, and connecting with audiences in Asia, illustrating music's profound power as a universal language. Nico shares his excitement for new music and hints at another album coming in 2025, promising continued growth and artistic exploration.

https://whoisfriko.com/

Arenas • All the Best Ones • 2025

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Indie rock band Arenas announces the release of their highly anticipated debut album, Truth Come Alive on March 5th, 2025. The Toronto-based group, known for their fusion of emotive lyricism and dynamic rhythms, continue to push boundaries with a fresh take on indie and alternative rock, blending heartfelt storytelling with bold, energetic soundscapes.

Produced by Graham Walsh (Holy Fuck, July Talk, and Sam Roberts Band) and mastered by Justin Perkins (The Replacements, The Gaslight Anthem, Screeching Weasel) the LP emphasises the band’s growing maturity and confidence. Lead vocalist and drummer Michael Scott elaborates on the inspiration behind the focus track:

"The album and focus track both grew out of a really patient process- they both started to become about the writing process itself, and how tricky details can be when you get stuck in the mire of decision making.”

Ben Kweller • Dollar Store (feat. Waxahatchee) • 2025

https://www.instagram.com/benkweller

Ben Kweller has shared a video for the second song from his soon-to-be-released album Cover The Mirrors, his first new music since the sudden passing of his 16-year-old son Dorian Zev in 2023. “Dollar Store (Feat. Waxahatchee)” was written with Modern Love Child and features vocals by Waxahatchee’s Katie Crutchfield. The song is a ‘90s nostalgia gut punch that feels like something you heard on the late-night radio as a teen alone in your bedroom.

Califone • The Villager's Companion • 2025

califonemusic.com

Like a passenger riding shotgun on a road trip, The Villagers Companion offers its own unique perspective and story to tell. Featuring tracks recorded alongside last year’s acclaimed villagers, TVC captures the miles between the start and destination—the faded gas station pit stops, the plastic saint statue stuck to the dashboard for safe travels or luck. It embodies the essence of the journey without the burden of driving—the experience of the ride itself.

Perfume Genius • It's a Mirror • 2025

perfumegenius.org

Dutch Mustard • Thank You (Live for Propeller Sessions) • 2025

Netherlands-born, London-based Dutch Mustard marries a blend of ethereal dream-pop and 90s alt-rock with timeless shoegaze touches. The overall soundscape layers abstract drones and washes with bouncing psych-infused guitar lines, whilst SJ’s vocals drift between a borderline whisper and heaven-directed lung-bursts.

https://linktr.ee/DutchMustard

“A rousing, triumphant ode to individuality and empowerment” NOTION

“Dutch Mustard make listeners feel hope for the future of rock” The Grammys 

"Accomplished" – Iggy Pop - BBC 6 Music

 “totally infectious" Jack Saunders - BBC Radio 1 

“ethereal thumper” DORK 

 “Dreamy alt-rock” The Line of Best Fit  “lush and beautiful” CLASH

Animal Scream • Slow Down • 2025

Animal Scream are Pittsburgh Doom Pop artists founded by Chad Monticue & Josh Sickels, joined by multi-instrumentalist Caleb Pogyor. The band combines sound design with a psych-pop psychedelia that’s dark and cinematic, a noir-tinted sound in thrall to the eternal groove. Influences vary from David Lynch, MF DOOM, Radiohead, Beach House and ’60s reggae to woozy film scores carving out nocturnal soundscapes for the alienated and brokenhearted. Currently, Animal Scream is gearing up to release singles from their EP Otherworldy Pictures (Out February 14).

Real Sickies • Tirage • 2025

Edmonton’s pop-punk powerhouse Real Sickies are set to release their fifth full-length album, Under a Plastic Bag, on March 14, 2025, via Stomp Records. The album’s first advance single, “Triage,” is out now, offering an electrifying glimpse into the band’s knack for blending raw punk energy with sharp, melodic hooks. Known for their relentless touring and infectious anthems, Real Sickies have cemented their status as a standout act in the global punk scene, with even Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day calling them his favorite Canadian punk band.

https://stomprecords.com/bands/real-sickies/

Tindersticks • Soft Tissue • 2025

Website

“From ‘70s soul to glowing strings, the cult outfit continue to illuminate the fringes of pop music,
celebrating the beauty in small things”  – The Guardian ★★★★ “Album Of The Week” 

"Beautifully arranged and bursting with drama and emotion… They are a band with a catalog worth getting lost in and Soft Tissue stands as one of their finest moments." – AllMusic ★★★★

"One of their best… It works so well that it’s hard to believe it took Tindersticks 30 years to make a record like this."
– BrooklynVegan, Indie Basement #1 Album of the Week

“Tindersticks singer/songwriter Stuart A. Staples is the consummate baroque pop singer.” 
– Vogue

Steel Wool • Fading • 2025

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"Instead of burying anxieties behind the haze, Steel Wool sit theirs right over its surface." - rcmndedlisten

"...the Los Angeles-based outfit’s debut single sees them subtly pushing the boundaries of shoegaze…" - Joy of Violent Movement

"...reverberates with slow, plodding, buzzy stadium guitars and huge, brooding crooner vocals." - Merry-Go-Round Magazine

Ducks Ltd. • Full Performance (Live on KEXP) • 2024

https://www.ducksltd.co/

http://KEXP.ORG presents Ducks Ltd. performing live in the KEXP studio. Recorded July 18, 2024.

Dean Wareham • "That's the Price of Loving Me” • 2025

New Order • Lonesome Tonight Live at The Hacienda • 1983

https://www.neworder.com/

I walk along the street

I look into your eyes

I'm pleasant when we meet

I'm there when you go home

How many times before

Could you tell I didn't care?

When you turned your back on me

I knew we'd get nowhere

Do you believe in youth

The history of all truth

A heart that's left at home

Becomes a heart of stone

Avery Friedman • ‘New Thing’ • 2025

 

Friedman had always felt that songwriting was just something that other people did until she was pushed by a transcendent live music experience and a traumatic mugging to seek catharsis through music. Playing her first show in July 2024, she soon shared stages with h. pruz, Dead Gowns, and Sister., and she impressed the latter’s James Chrisman enough that he offered to record her debut album. The result was ‘New Thing,’ a sonically deep and layered debut that sees Friedman explore her trauma and queerness with a raw open-heartedness inspired by artists like Adrianne Lenker, Squirrel Flower, and Babehoven. 

The lead single, “Flowers Fell,” is an ode to transitional stages that uses the changing seasons to demonstrate the growth Friedman has experienced by finally immersing herself in her art. The song’s tense guitar bursts offer an illustration of resistance before a starry-eyed chorus blooms, and Friedman sings, “The flowers fell off when I was asleep / But that’s okay, ‘cause now it’s all green,” as she finds acceptance and resilience in the face of change.

“The opening melody for “Flowers Fell” came to me on a headphone-less walk home one night down Greene Avenue in Brooklyn. I had noticed that the flowers that once lined the branches had been replaced by leaves -- seemingly in the blink of an eye. I was briefly disappointed until I considered that the petals had made way for something more sustainable – and equally full of life.  The song became a meditation on the concept of place – how things of our surroundings like ‘sidewalks,’ and ‘balconies’ and ‘trees,’ can act as fixed backdrops upon which we measure our personal evolutions (and the evolutions of our relationships) across the span of many seasons.” – Avery Friedman 

Magana • ‘Bad News’ • 2025

 

“The sound of late-night emotional fragility writ large…Recalling Torres and Sharon Van Etten at their most intimate moments…Magana’s parched vocal is a complete heartbreaker.” – THE LINE OF BEST FIT

“Magana wades through earth and space on Teeth.” – POST-TRASH

“Teeth is a testimony to one’s bravery in facing what they have always feared, and trying to find a way to escape from one’s own isolation.” – KRUI

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"This EP is the last of what I think of as an interconnected trio of releases. Teeth was made for spring, a period of growth. It was expansive and exploring. Dreams was made for fall. It was about dusk, the dawning of the restful months. Bad News is made for that period of time between the end of winter and the beginning of spring. Stillness before movement. Each song is about the period of time right before a transition: the realization that change is coming or that it needs to come. As the most lyrically driven of the releases, it is mostly about storytelling. I think of each track as a vignette of a moment in time for four different stories." – Jeni Magaña

frog • 1000 Variations on the Same Song • 2025

“If the rest of the album sounds like this single, then I’m in. “MIXTAPE LINER NOTES
VAR. VII” is lo-fi greatness, the first verse name-dropping both My Chemical Romance and Big Star (taste). In the chorus, Daniel Bateman sings poignantly, “I can’t justify it, it isn’t rational/ I get high and cry it over broken Casios.” Amazing stuff!” – STEREOGUM

"Daniel’s humdrum American portraiture and embodiment of passionate persistence have defined Frog’s sound for nearly a decade, and on Grog, a brotherly bond encourages those songwriting traits to get louder, bolder, and weirder without sacrificing any of the heart." – PITCHFORK

"...a distinct, off-kilter personality that’s just slightly off in the best way possible. The end results are riveting—or should I say ribbeting?" – BANDCAMP DAILY

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