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John Norris on Muck Rack

John Norris

Verified
(He/Him)
New York
As seen in: Hearst, The New York Times, Yahoo Entertainment, Yahoo Life, Aol, Billboard, POLITICO, The Daily Beast, VICE, Entertainment Weekly, Flipboard and
Covers:  Music, culture, politics, social activism, LGBTQ+ issues, media, tech
Doesn't Cover: Most retro or backward-looking pieces, with very few exceptions.
Retrophobe. Writes @ GQ; Billboard; Stereogum; DailyBeast; Esquire; PAPER Ex: MTV News; Fuse; VICE Soc francophile. NYer 4ever. The world only spins forward.
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John Norris’s Journalist Portfolio

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Lucy Bedroque & kuru Enter Their Next Era

Lucy Bedroque & kuru Enter Their Next Era

V Magazine — Ahead of their double bill at Brooklyn's Music Hall of Williamsburg, two of young hip-hop's coolest talk new (kuru's 'Backstage hologram') and upcoming music (Lucy's eagerly awaited 'c'); fans biting each other (literally) at their shows; their colorful style, Asian influences, straddling genres and avoiding anxiety induced by the panopticon of the internet.
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FINNEAS on Scoring the New Season of 'BEEF,' Speaking Out & Whether There's an EGOT in His Future

FINNEAS on Scoring the New Season of 'BEEF,' Speaking Out & Whether There's an EGOT in His Future

Billboard — I spoke to the insanely talented FINNEAS on the project that occupied the majority of his past year: scoring season two of 'BEEF, the Netflix anthology about vegeance, redemption and social injustice. On the latter point, we also talked about his refreshing willingness to use his voice, online and in IRL to speak out about the world, an activism that too few of his 20-something musical peers share. We also got into the possibility of his winning an Emmy for 'BEEF', which would take him 3/4 of the way to an EGOT before he turns 30, and got a (brief) comment on his superstar sister Billie Eilish's next LP.
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SoFaygo Is Back in the Mix and Feeling the Love

SoFaygo Is Back in the Mix and Feeling the Love

V Magazine — The COVID-era breakout prince of Cactus Jack was gone too long, but he's back to reclaim a spot in Gen Z rap's hierarchy. Between last fall's mixtape MANIA and a recent packed-out tour to support it, he's in a good place, and we sat down at New York's Gramercy Theatre. "Don't call it a comeback," Faygo says. "It's a return."
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EsDeeKid Brought the Heat to a Freezing Bowery and Bushwick

EsDeeKid Brought the Heat to a Freezing Bowery and Bushwick

PAPER Magazine — The masked breakout rapper from Liverpool, EsDeeKid, played his first New York shows and delivered on the buzz. On two freezing nights I made it to the shows in Manhattan and Brooklyn to feel the heat, look at what's made EDK blow up, and consider how long the masking can continue.
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With 'Cutthroat,' shame Take No Prisoners

With 'Cutthroat,' shame Take No Prisoners

Stereogum — Talking to the irresistible London post-punk band about their fourth and latest album, the fun and fiery 'Cutthroat.' We talk about the characters that populate it (mostly scoundrels, real and imagined), the energy brought to the project by no-nonsense producer John Congleton, its preference for "paradoxes" over easy moralizing, and its ethos, in the words of front man Charlie Steen, of "passion as an act of rebellion."
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Quannnic's Quasi-Shoegaze: Sweeping Tales of Tortured Souls

Quannnic's Quasi-Shoegaze: Sweeping Tales of Tortured Souls

VMAN / V Magazine — My conversation with the young singer-songwriter-producer on their powerful, PTSD-informed third LP Warbrained, touring with legends Slowdive, and bringing swag to normally fashion-averse indie rock.
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On Rock-Inspired 'Rest In Bass,' Che Changes Up

On Rock-Inspired 'Rest In Bass,' Che Changes Up

VMAN / V Magazine — A few weeks before the release of his second studio LP, the highly anticipated 'Rest In Bass' I talked to new-gen hip-hop's lovable eccentric about the rock inspirations on the new album, including Korn, Rob Zombie and Marilyn Manson; his recent problems with leaked music -- a common dilemma for young rappers; and a stylistic move away from the bright and trippy colors of last year and 'Sayso Says' into something darker and maybe just a little...goth.
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EKKSTACY Gets Candid About Substance Abuse, His New Relationship & Going for a 'Full Band' Sound ...

EKKSTACY Gets Candid About Substance Abuse, His New Relationship & Going for a 'Full Band' Sound ...

Billboard — I talked to the Vancouver singer-songwriter EKKSTACY about his new album 'FOREVER,' and itss move toward a new band-centric sound, away from the bedroom indie that defined his earlier releases. We discuss new relationships -- one musical and the other personal; his penchant for hard partying and the toll drink and drugs have taken at times; and how more than ever he's looking forward with a sense of hope and purpose.
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Jane Remover Comes In Hot

Jane Remover Comes In Hot

PAPER Magazine — A freewheeling conversation with the jersey-born-Chicago-based digi-punk-producer-singer-songwriter and savant Jane Remover, about their ferocious third album 'Revengeseekerz.' We talk Jane's tendency to work in a reactive way to their previous work, and how 'Revengeseekerz' was the most "fun" they have had making music in a long time. Included: the record's remarkably fast writing and recording process, what 'revenge' means in the context of the record, and its flailing, 'Kill Bill' influences, Jane setting themself on fire for the album's dramatic cover art, and a mutual admiration exchange about an old friend of mine who is an unlikely inspiration to the 21-year-old artist: George Michael.
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Eem Triplin Is In A Lane Of His Own

Eem Triplin Is In A Lane Of His Own

Stereogum — A Q&A with Eem Triplin, the affable Pennsylvania artist and producer who may be Gen Z and a rapper, but is hardly what's generally thought of as a "Gen Z Rapper." Far from being a rage rap disciple of Playboi Carti who looks to Future and punk bands for inspo, Eem, as evidenced on his recently released debut LP 'Melody of a Memory' looks more to R&B and soul. He also lives differently than many in his ago cohort -- opting to stay away for the time being from the expenses and temptations of LA, and remain in his native PA. Another thing that hasn't changed since he began making music: women, and his complicated history of relationships, continue to be his main musical topic. We talked about it all over lunch in New York.
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Muni Talks: Singer-Songwriter Muni Long's Star, Now in its Third Act, is Still Rising

Muni Talks: Singer-Songwriter Muni Long's Star, Now in its Third Act, is Still Rising

Billboard — I wrote for Billboard and Honda Stage about the multi-talented Muni Long, now on her third and biggest career chapter yet.The prodigious talent discusses her process, her 'bootcamp' come-up, and the importance of 'me' time
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OsamaSon Is Riding High on Rap's New Wave

OsamaSon Is Riding High on Rap's New Wave

PAPER Magazine — Had an extended talk with one of the preeminent names in Gen Z hip-hop, OsamaSon. We talked about the infamous series of leaks he's been subjected to from 2024 into early this year, and how nevertheless he persisted and released his celebrated third album 'Jump Out' and solidified his place atop the new wave. Also on the conversational agenda: his approach to lyrics, steering away from drugs in music and life, avoiding beefs, and whether there's modeling in his future.
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At The Grammys, Old Heads Are Holding Back Rock and Rap

At The Grammys, Old Heads Are Holding Back Rock and Rap

Stereogum — At the 67th Grammy Awards, youth was served -- at least in pop. In the rock and rap categories? Not so much. For Stereogum's Sounding Board, I wrote about how those two massive genres are in a sense stuck in the past when it comes to "Music's Biggest Night."
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Band To Watch: High.

Band To Watch: High.

Stereogum — Sat down with New Jersey's hazy alt-rockers High. to talk about whether they are, in fact, shoegaze, their suburbans and winding come-up, singer Christian Castan's cathartic songwriting, and the sparkling new High. EP 'Come Back Down.'
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NLE Choppa Is More Than Meets the Eye | Playgirl

NLE Choppa Is More Than Meets the Eye | Playgirl

Playgirl — A conversation with rapper-singer-actor-and more NLE Choppa about his 2024 Slut Szn, anchored by the most sexed-up crowd-pleasing party song of last year, "Slut Me Out 2." We also cover his multi-faceted career, the role of strong women in his life and the world, his reflections on a dis by Complex, and a career that is a marathon, not a sprint.
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"So Many Feelings:" Meet Nettspend, Gen-Z's Underground Savior

"So Many Feelings:" Meet Nettspend, Gen-Z's Underground Savior

Interview Magazine — There's not been any more talked-about, photographed, lauded and polarizing new star to emerge in underground hip-hop over the past year than 17-year old "Badassfuckingkid" Nettspend. He's flown through the air over California hills, bounced around a basement in "Fuck Swag" with Lyrical Lemonade's Cole Bennett, modeled for Marc Jacobs, cavorted in Tokyo with squeeze Mazzy Joya and more. But December was the biggest month of his still-young career, with the release of the much-anticipated 'BAFK' mixtape and his first headlining tour. I caught up with the blond Messiah, who's usually not a big talker, to chat about the moment he's having, for Interview.
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Armed With His Best Album Yet, Rich Amiri Is 'War Ready'

Armed With His Best Album Yet, Rich Amiri Is 'War Ready'

Stereogum — The young rapper talks 'War Ready,' his long-gestating follow-up to 'Ghetto Fabulous,' enduring the haters, expanding his sound and his team of collaborators, and that 'XXL' incident, in which he walked out on a cypher, a decision about which he has "absolutely" no regrets.
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Omar Rudberg On Speaking Up and Showing Out

Omar Rudberg On Speaking Up and Showing Out

PAPER Magazine — A conversation with the Swedish-Venezuelan boyband star-turned-Netflix-'Young Royals' heartthrob-turned-solo-dazzler on his recent EP 'Every Night Fantasy,' and his first-ever New York solo show, at which Omarmania was in full effect. Also on the table: speaking up on socio-politics, moving into a newly glam and liberated image, his love of Chappell Roan, the legacy of 'Royals' and what he's got in store for 2025.
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JOBA Returns, In A New Light

JOBA Returns, In A New Light

VMAN / V Magazine — Two years after the end of Brockhampton, fan favorite JOBA returns with a solo debut LP on which he embraces his legal name, 'Russell Boring,' We discussed the record's bold, jazzy new sound, how the musician has passed through dark times to find not only an artistic way forward that is true to his roots, but maybe most importantly, has arrived at a zen new perspective on life
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Putting the BigX in Xanadu: Texas' BigXthaPlug Takes Brooklyn at Billboard's Hip-Hop Live

Putting the BigX in Xanadu: Texas' BigXthaPlug Takes Brooklyn at Billboard's Hip-Hop Live

Billboard — The Big Stepper from Dallas took over Brooklyn as part of Billboard's Hip-Hop Live as BigXthaPlug, recently named Amazon Music's Breakthrough Artist took the stage at the eye-popping roller disco-turned-music-venue Xanadu. The big man with the booming flow and verses about early struggles to newfound riches tore through a set that ranged from his most recent single "The Largest" to the 2021 twanger that put him on the national map, "Texas"
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Fontaines D.C. on How The Cure, 'Akira' & 'Being In a Better Place' Inspired Its Glorious New Alb...

Fontaines D.C. on How The Cure, 'Akira' & 'Being In a Better Place' Inspired Its Glorious New Alb...

Billboard — A lengthy sit-down with Grian Chatten, the thoughtful and restlessly creative frontman of the 2020's most essential post-punk band Fontaines DC, who made a major sonic and stylistic shift on their glorious fourth LP, 'Romance": a "full f---ing turn" as Chatten puts it. We discuss the genesis of that evolution, the switch to a new producer, veteran James Ford, and the creation of songs that come from a place of finding connection, "romance" of some form, as a refuge, something to believe in (even if it's delusional) in an increasingly broken world. 'Romance' is a strong contender for Album of the Year.
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Band To Watch: Been Stellar

Band To Watch: Been Stellar

Stereogum — A backyard conversation in Bushwick, Brooklyn with Been Stellar, whose 'Scream From New York, NY' is one of the finest debut albums of 2024. We talk their NYU beginnings, evolving sound and resistance to genre labels, their embrace from the UK and beyond-niche ambitions.
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Skaiwater Talks Online Ignorance, Lil Nas X & Making Their Soulful, Danceable New Album

Skaiwater Talks Online Ignorance, Lil Nas X & Making Their Soulful, Danceable New Album

Billboard — After a nearly year-long hiatus, skaiwater --- the charismatic rapper, singer and producer from Nottingham, England -- has relocated to Los Angeles, is embracing nonbinary life in an unbothered way, has a constant companion in an adorable cockapoo called Biggi, and most importantly has released a stellar new LP: an exploration of "areas of Black dance music" but "with a punk sensibility." Skai and i had a fun conversation about it all.
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Indie Rock Survivors DIIV Bring Shoegaze For the Revolution

Indie Rock Survivors DIIV Bring Shoegaze For the Revolution

Esquire — I talked to all four members of 21st century indie rock essentials DIIV about their fiercely ethical approach to being a band, the unflinching progressive politics that are shot through the glorious, unsettling shoegaze of their fourth album, 'Frog In Boiling Water,' fatherhood for singer and lyricist Cole Smith, and more.
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