In June, I was on an Indie Week panel called “Indie Music Journalism: Navigating a Shifting Landscape” with with Creem’s Fred Pessaro and That Good Sh*t’s Annabelle Klein-Zilles, led by former Billboard editor Bill Werde. When Bill opened the discussion up for questions, a woman asked about the future of media given the reported rise in illiteracy in America. I have a lot to say about this and will do so in a separate feature, but aside from the very obvious need for credibly sourced, fact-based media, I told her that I believe in storytelling and, based on history, great stories will always endure.
This year SPIN turned 40 and we honored our commitment to four decades of great storytelling through our cultural past, present, and future stories. Since we went back in print in 2024, the print team has been producing some of the incredible investigative and deep-dive journalism SPIN has always been known for.
With the exception of a few noted print-to-site pieces, below you’ll find my annual highlight roundup of 12 months on SPIN.com.
January
I started the year off with my annual Rock Hall letter, this one for the great Tracy Chapman. (Previous letters were for The Go-Go’s, Sinéad O’Connor, Tori Amos, and Indigo Girls). Let’s try and recognize great artists while they’re alive.
Brendan Hay launched his series highlighting independent radio stations called Left of the Dial. SPIN launched our first annual list of the most influential people in the music business, The 25 Most Influential People In Music of 2025.
Feature highlights include Xzibit, Snow Wife, Victoria Canal, Pussy Riot, Ambrose Akinmusire, Justin Tranter (for our songwriter series), and a really cool conversation between writer Cary Baker and musician Jesse Ahern on busking. Our editors chose their Best and Worst Songs of 1985.
Associate Editor Charles Moss wrote an APB to the idiot scammers posing as SPIN editors, charging innocent people money in exchange for SPIN features (these are NOT SPIN editors). We now have a page designated to report these loser criminals. SPIN does not charge for feature interviews.
January cover story: Manuel Turizo written by Charles Moss
February
Since 2000, SPIN Founder Bob Guccione Jr. (and our returning, Acting Editor in Chief since the beginning of 2022) has known one of America’s most notorious prisoners, Mike Wood, who wrote a column, Letter From Prison, for Bob’s GEAR magazine. Wood has now been in prsion for 47 years, stemming from a murder conviction in the ’70s and compounded by his resistance to authority (to put it mildly) while incarcerated. Bob interviewed Mike over the course of several weeks for an eye-opening look at life behind bars for our feature “Life in Hell.”
On much lighter notes, check out our features on Frank Black, Inhaler, Punk Rock Love Songs, Bartees Strange, Gavin Rossdale’s Cheesecake Recipe, and the everlasting question of what your band T-shirts say about you.
February cover story: Cordae written by Kyle Eustice
March
In March, Tori Amos released a children’s book called Tori and the Muses, which tells the fictionalized, fantastical tale of her child prodigy years. It’s a gorgeous book, and the accompanying soundtrack is magical and beautiful. I included it in our editors’ list of favorite albums of the year. Read my interview with Tori about the book here.
Other must-reads from the month are TOKiMONSTA, Jason Isbell, Role Model, Indy Yelich, M.anifest, musician Ziggy Alberts’s top surfing spots.
March cover story: Cigarettes After Sex written by Lily Moayeri
April
Storytelling is an art, and Lily Moayeri has the gift. Some of her pieces this month were so moving—all were must-reads. Some highlights are L.A. Guns, Domino Kirke, and Andy Bell.
Stephen Deusner did an interview with Teddy Swims that was one of the best of the year, and Steve Hochman did an interview with musician and activist Youssou N’Dour that should be required reading.
Ellen Alaverdyan (of @ellenplaysbass) interviewed her idol Bootsy Collins while she was just 12 years old.
Spring cover story: Rufus Du Sol (via the print issue) written by Charles Moss
May
I spoke with writer Brendan Hay about how fun it would be to have his 9-year-old twins, Clark and Chloe, review their first concert: They Might Be Giants. Like the great parent he is, Brendan had responsibly reared these kids on TMBG’s music and they were ready for the task. However…the evening went slightly awry, which made for a terrible experience and some damn fine storytelling—and most honest and heartfelt review I’ve ever read.
Highlights: Goose, Adam Duritz, Simple Minds, Fito Paez, Sparks.
May cover story: BLOND:ISH written by Lily Moayeri
June
It’s possible you’ve never heard of indie band Death Pill, a trio who originally met in their native Ukraine, and were eventually geographically torn apart by war, but continued to create music together from three different continents. Reed Jackson interviewed the band and did an incredible job of making their inspirational story shine.
Other interview highlights are Alex Warren, Ting Tings, Belinda, Jeff Goldblum, SG Goodman, Jerskin Fendrix, Netón Vega. I interviewed author (and former SPIN news editor) Selena Fragassi about her new book on Alanis Morissette’s Jagged Little Pill (I also wrote the foreword for the book).
Summer print cover story: Jelly Roll written by Arsenio Orteza
July
Pretty sure I’ve interviewed Dropkick Murphys’ Ken Casey more than any other musician. This time, it was for DKM’s newest album, For the People, an anthem for our divided times.
Feature highlights this month: Sublime, 311, Post Animal, J Balvin, Young Dirty Bastard, and Eyedress, and our staff came together to write a list of songs for peace.
I launched a Deep Cut Friday series and wrote an opinion piece about all the ridiculous controversy over the 1982 film The Last American Virgin.
July cover story: LINKIN PARK written by Steve Appleford
August
Film writer Nick Bell’s interview with renowned composer Gustavo Santaolalla powerfully commemorates the 20-year anniversary of Brokeback Mountain. This feature is deep and beautiful.
Interview highlights: Superchunk, deadmou5, Cha Wa, Mau y Ricky.
September
I read a lot of books, and Debbie Gibson’s memoir was one of my favorites of the year. She’s a great interview, really down to earth and candid.
Features and profiles: Our editors’ picks for Best Albums of ’95, Bryan Adams, Shirley Manson, Suede, Beauty School Dropout, Haute & Freddy, BABYMETAL, King Princess, October London, Ruston Kelly, Seth McFarlane. I interviewed Mark Laita, creator of YouTube’s ‘Soft White Underbelly.’
September cover story: Wolf Alice written by Steve Appleford
October
In October, I had the pleasure of speaking to a music journalism class taught by one of the best writers in the business, Stephen Deusner. His author page should be studied in every music journalism class.
I didn’t know Ace Frehley, but I had a great interview with him for his 5 Albums I Can’t Live Without feature last year. Much of that conversation wasn’t about albums, but how he loved life. I published it as a tribute to his sudden passing.
I wrote three features this month: Taylor Momsen, Robert Finley, and Daniel Ash.
Other great interviews: Richard Ashcroft, Foxy Shazam, Pierce the Veil, Yellowcard, Rob Thomas, Latin Mafia. Selena Fragassi did a phenomenal profile on Japanese superstar Ado (who has never revealed her face or identity to the public.)
The fall print issue released a tribute cover to Kurt Cobain.
November
The print team did this incredible list of the 40 Greatest Musicians of the Last 40 Years. I had nothing to do with it (other than writing two of the entries), but it’s so good I had to include it here.
Feature highlights include The Charlatans, Portugal. The Man, The Last Dinner Party, a Replacements Let It Be tribute piece, and Trueno. I did a profile of visual artist Susan Weinthaler.
November cover story: Stephen Wilson Jr. written by Stephen Deusner
December
I interviewed Taylor Momsen twice near the end of the year for two very different articles. For the site, we discussed where she is now in her life, how she’s grown—and yet still the same. For the year-end print issue, we talked about the new holiday album (and more).
Other highlights are Green Day’s Mike Dirnt, songwriter Amy Allen, Mon Laferte, Azam Ali, and a deep dive into the making of Run DMC’s “Christmas in Hollis.”
December cover story: Chance the Rapper written by Matt Thompson (via the print issue)
