“I feel like I’m looking a little bit more outward now,” confesses Brian Christinzio, aka BC Camplight. And with good reason. He talks to KLOF Mag about “A Sober Conversation”, his fifth album for Bella Union in a decade, his seventh overall, which has been universally acclaimed, praised not just for his songwriting chops and musicianship, but also its subject matter.

Thirty years ago this month, Will Oldham released his third full-length album, Viva Last Blues, under the moniker Palace Music. Oldham proved that a DIY aesthetic could be married with American folk traditions to create something new and profound. The album’s lasting impact is not about its specific sound but about its radical artistic ethos: a record doesn’t need to be pristine to be a timeless masterpiece.

New Orleans-based artist Thomas Dollbaum returns with his latest EP, Drive All Night, a six-song collection, out on September 26th via Dear Life Records. Inspired by a personal journey, Dollbaum excavates and reconstructs a sense of place from his past. The EP marks a poignant reintroduction to a stirring and singular voice on the southern landscape; watch the music video for his lead single “Angus Valley”.

This week’s Monday Morning Brew playlist features music from Mama’s Broke, Joseph Decosimo, DUG, Ian Humberstone, Lewis McLaughlin & Beth Malcolm, Dean Johnson, The Deep Dark Woods, James Yorkton & Nina Persson, Madi Diaz, Brad Klolodner, Sally Anne Morgan, Cameron Knowler, Paper Wings, Early James, Lucy Dacus, Jeff Tweedy, Cut Worms, Chantal Acda, P.S. Lucas & Florent Manevoh, The Desoto Caucus, Heron, Pharis & Jason Romero, and New Dangerfield.

Ustad Noor Bakhsh plays End of the Road this month; his debut album, ‘Jingul,’ was a breathtaking journey through sound and history. This Benju maestro’s music, from Pakistan’s Makran Coast, masterfully blends influences from Africa, Persia, and Arabia. Joined by Jamadar Goharam and Rahmdil on the traditional Damburag, watch them performing ‘Sanj’, a tune composed by the legendary Bilawal Belgium.

KLOF Mag’s Gareth Thompson chats to Pneumatic Tubes, aka Jesse Chandler (Midlake and Mercury Rev), about his new album ‘Runner’s High’, referencing “a feeling you can’t get on drugs.” He shares that when he started running, “It coincided with the birth of my first child, my daughter Nico. It’s strange that my dad began running when my mom was pregnant with me.”

Chicago Underground Duo’s Hyperglyph is a stunning return, a masterful fusion of free jazz and otherworldly exploration. Rob Mazurek’s trumpet and synthesizers blend with Chad Taylor’s percussion, creating a relentless, vibrant album that feels both familiar and entirely new. It’s an exhilarating, multi-layered work of pure invention.

In an exclusive interview, Irish musician Brigid Mae Power discusses her unique approach to creating art. She explores her intuitive recording process, which embraces the unpolished and emotionally direct. Power delves into her philosophy of music-making, the importance of authenticity over perfection, the challenges of creating emotionally honest music in the contemporary landscape, and staying grounded when coming up against challenges and barriers.

A profound and meditative forty-minute journey, Nathan Salsburg’s solo acoustic guitar album, Ipsa Corpora, is a testament to his creative and technical prowess. This deeply personal work challenges genre norms as Salsburg’s masterful playing explores moods from the melancholic to bucolic joy, with every note meticulously crafted for a captivating listening experience.

Weirs’ new album, Diamond Grove, captures a moment in time by embracing the unique sonic imperfections of its recording site. The lead single, “I Want to Die Easy,” features vocals recorded with the natural two-second reverb of a farm silo, creating a hauntingly timeless sound that merges traditional hymns with contemporary experimentalism.

Merlyn Driver’s new single ‘Cururu’ is a captivating sonic journey, built around the unedited soundscape of South American frogs. Taken from his debut solo album, It Was Also Sometimes Daylight, due October 10th, 2025, Driver continues to blend acoustic folk with the rhythms of the natural world. This raw, intimate meditation on life and nature is a must-listen for fans of ambient and folk music.

Jake Winstrom’s third album, RAZZMATAZZ!, is a masterclass in musical restraint. The former frontman of Tenderhooks opts for a stripped-back sound, allowing ten tightly written songs to shine. From the fingerstyle guitar of “This Blue Note” to the Springsteen-esque rock of “One More for the Moon,” Winstrom confidently explores new sonic territory. This is a fresh, clean, and deliberate album that’s a pleasure to hear.