ISSUE #42 MMUSICMAG.COM SPOTLIGHT Chris Crisman Jeff Fasano

DAWES The L.A. folk-rockers get down to basics

on their latest Griffi n Goldsmith, Taylor Goldsmith, Wylie Gelber, Tay Strathairn

EARLIER THIS YEAR, DAWES HAD THE relationships with these people, whether or It’s that sort of connection with listeners honor of being one of David Letterman’s not they have it with us.” that Dawes sought to establish with All fi nal musical guests. After the L.A. quartet It’s never been diffi cult to fi gure out Your Favorite Bands, recorded in Nashville performed its new single “Things Happen,” the what musicians are important to Dawes. with producer David Rawlings (Old Crow legendary Late Show host joked that he was The band—Goldsmith, his brother Griffi n on Medicine Show, Gillian Welch). The record joining the group—an idea that just might fl y. drums, bassist Wylie Gelber and keyboardist follows Goldsmith’s involvement with the New “If he wants to come hang out, sure,” Tay Strathairn—specializes in warm and Basement Tapes—the supergroup assembled says lead vocalist-guitarist-songwriter Taylor familiar ’70s-style folk rock, the artisanal- by T Bone Burnett in 2014 to put music Goldsmith. “He’s always talking about the grade California stuff exemplifi ed by artists like to unearthed lyrics. Goldsmith drums. I wonder if he plays.” and Crosby, Stills and Nash. says he was inspired by the spontaneity Goldsmith doesn’t sound especially Although some of his favorite bands of those sessions. The result isn’t a huge broken up about Dave leaving the airwaves, probably broke up before the 29-year-old departure from the band’s previous output, but separation issues are relevant—and on Goldsmith was born, he has experienced but Goldsmith believes you can work within the title track of Dawes’ fourth album, All musical loss. He still remembers how he felt well-established classic-rock parameters Your Favorite Bands, Goldsmith offers in 2003 when indie hero Elliott Smith was and still make music that changes lives. perhaps the most meaningful blessing he found dead of an apparent suicide. “I found “We’ve always wanted our fans to be can imagine: “May all your favorite bands myself crying, and I was blown away that I concerned with the songs—but also the stay together.” was so impacted by it,” Goldsmith says. “I playing. We take pride in being able to “The art we bring into our lives is such a had an understanding of Elliott Smith that express ourselves with an instrument in ways big part of who we are,” Goldsmith says. “The was probably inaccurate, but he still meant you can’t do with words.” musicians we’re fans of, we have personal something to me on a personal level.” —Kenneth Partridge

MIGUEL His new set: a little collaboration, a little solitude and a little crazy

“CRAZY IS SUBJECTIVE,” SAYS MIGUEL. THE CALIFORNIA- based R&B singer, songwriter and producer is in London explaining the concept behind his third album, Wildheart. He wants to dispel any confusion about its title. There’s good, life-enhancing crazy, and then there’s plain, energy-sucking crazy-crazy. Wildheart is about the former. ISSUE #42“It takesM MUSIC a little crazy & wild-heartedness MUSICIANS to ignoreMAGAZINE all the bull programming we deal with on a day-to-day basis from the media or society,” Miguel says. “It’s about knowing what you want from life, knowing who you are, knowing what you stand for, and living by that.” Given that Miguel, born Miguel Jontel Pimentel, will turn 30 in

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