Musoscribe’s Best of 2025: Interviews
I paused to count ‘em up recently, and realized that I have conducted over 1,300 interviews. More than 1,100 of those have been with music artists. Most every one has been an enriching and rewarding experience for me, and I hope the same is true for them and anyone reading the resulting features. This year my top five are as follow:
John McLaughlin
This was my third time interviewing the virtuoso musician, and he was every bit as candid and engaging as ever. We spoke mostly about his pioneering world fusion band Shakti.
McLuhan
This obscure jazz-prog outfit from Chicago made but one album. But what an album it is!
Ben Folds
A hero of mine, Folds is supremely talented and creative in a number of fields. And he stands up for what’s right. We chatted this year and I made two features out of it. The link above is one; the other’s here.
Adrian Younge
Younge is so creatively busy, he almost makes Steven Wilson look lazy. We spoke about Something About April III, the concluding part of his trilogy of mind movies. A second feature drawn from our chat is here.
The Cranberries
Dolores O’Riordan sadly left us a few years back, but a deluxe reissue of her band’s most celebrated release shines the spotlight on her (and their) work. I spoke with band and producer, and once again made two stories out of it all. Here’s the second one.
HAPPY NEW YEAR.
About the Author
Bill Kopp
With a background in marketing and advertising, Bill Kopp got his professional start writing for Trouser Press. After a stint as Editor-in-chief for a national music magazine, Bill launched Musoscribe in 2009, and has published new content every business day since then (and every single day for several years). The more than 5000 interviews, essays, and reviews on Musoscribe reflect Bill's keen interest in American musical forms, most notably rock, jazz, and soul. His work features a special emphasis on reissues and vinyl. Bill's work also appears in many other outlets both online and in print. He regularly hosts lecture/discussions on artists and albums of historical importance (including monthly events Music to Your Ears and Music Movie Mondays), and is a frequent guest on music-focused radio programs and podcasts. In Spring 2023 he taught a history of Rock 'n' Roll at UNC Asheville's College for Seniors. He also researches and authors liner notes for album reissues -- some 40 to date -- and co-produced a reissue of jazz legend Julian "Cannonball" Adderley's final album. His first book, Reinventing Pink Floyd: From Syd Barrett to The Dark Side of the Moon was published by Rowman & Littlefield in 2018, and in paperback in 2019. His second book, Disturbing the Peace: 415 Records and the Rise of New Wave, was published in 2021 by HoZac Books. His third book, What's the Big Idea: 30 Great Concept Albums is available now. Read even more about him here.