Hello and welcome to another edition of REPLY ALT, the only newsletter about music ever to exist. Thanks to everyone who bought a copy of the zine I put on sale last week. They sold out way, wayyyy faster than I’d expected, so apologies if you didn’t get one but my insecurity rendered me incapable of printing literally a single copy more than I did.
Today’s newsletter is once again a podcast. Please see previous episodes with Jonah Ray, Sarah Tudzin [Illuminati Hotties], David Anthony, Chris Farren, Lauren Denitzio [Worriers], Todd Taylor [Razorcake], and Jenny Owen Youngs.
They’re all on Spotify and Apple for your listening pleasure.
Today’s guest is the one of the most talented songwriters currently walking the earth, Laura Stevenson. We talked a bit about settling into motherhood, songwriting, shitty haircuts, and growing up on Long Island. We also spitballed the premise for an Encino Man sequel entitled Ensequel Man (Hollywood producers, get at us! We can literally have a draft done by this afternoon!).
Since it’s getting an expanded reissue this year, we also did a little reminiscing about her 2011 album Sit Resist, which I once listed as one of my ten favorite albums of the last decade.
Laura writes such beautifully intricate music, but I do worry that it gets lost that she is also equally hilarious. I remember seeing her in Baltimore years ago and the crowd was pin-drop silent as she performed one of her many intensely vulnerable songs about the imperfections of the human condition. Then, after she finished and everyone applauded, she said, “Thank you, that was an ICP song.” So I hope her humor comes through here!
OK stop reading and start listening!
Oh, and also, I always usually like to use my own photos for REPLY ALT but since I couldn’t find any of Laura and me that were not thoroughly embarrassing and unfit for internet consumption, she sent me the above photo, as taken by Em Dubin.
Oh, and also also, I routinely give Laura’s NPR Tiny Desk concert a rewatch. So intimate and so lovely. And while pregnant! If you haven’t seen…
Listen to Laura Stevenson.
Follow me on all the internet stuff.
Twitter | Instagram | Website
At Home with Laura Stevenson