Jason Schwartzman of The Fantastic Mr. Fox

Jason Schwartzman Bored to Death, Rushmore and Fantastic Mr. Fox star sits down with ARTISTdirect.com editor and Dolor author Rick Florino for this exclusive playlist interview…

A Taste:

The Beach Boys, Arctic Monkeys, Julian Casablancas

Every sly fox needs a fully loaded iPod.

That’s just a fact of forest life. So what was The Fantastic Mr. Fox star Jason Schwartzman listening to in order to get into the character of Ash the fox?

“The first thing that I ever do when I get to work on a character is make his playlist. It helps me a lot to know what my character would listen to. I’ll only listen to that music the whole time I’m working. For Ash, I was listening to The Beach Boys,” says Schwartzman with a big smile.

There’s definitely a classic vibe to the film balancing humor and whimsy perfectly. So The Beach Boys definitely serves as the perfect soundtrack!

Schwartzman continues, “I’d compare this movie to Smile by The Beach Boys because it’s a combination of beauty and a little bit of spookiness.”

Jason’s musical palette extends beyond The Beach Boys as well. He sat down with ARTISTdirect.com editor and Dolor author Rick Florino for this exclusive interview about what’s on his personal playlist. Check out Jason’s playlist below and don’t miss The Fantastic Mr. Fox in theaters everywhere November 25, 2009!
Read more »

Ninja Assassin Star Rain

Ninja Assassin star Rain shares what he was listening to on set with ARTISTdirect.com editor and Dolor author Rick Florino in this exclusive feature…

A Taste:

Wu-Tang Clan, Rain

“He makes a good ninja,” James McTeigue exclaims about Ninja Assassin star Rain.

Rain became the film’s titular character fully. His performance is killer in more ways than one—becoming a full on action god in most scenes. Rain also put himself through hell to prepare for and play through those bombastic action sequences. “It was hard,” he laughs with a smile.

It was worth all it though, as Ninja Assassin is one of the year’s best action flicks. There’s a distinctly kinetic musical style fueling the bloodlust. Rain showed ARTISTdirect.com editor and Dolor author Rick Florino what he was listening to on set to get ready in this exclusive feature.

Check out the playlist below and don’t miss Ninja Assassin in theaters this Wednesday November 25!

Rain’s Playlist:

1. Wu-Tang Clan
Read more »

Ninja Assassin Director James McTeigue

Ninja Assassin director James McTeigue gives ARTISTdirect.com editor and Dolor author Rick Florino an exclusive look at what he’s spinning in this playlist feature…

A Taste:

Nick Cave, MC Rock Star

James McTeigue knows what it takes to be a good ninja.

About maintaining the kinetic energy on the set of his phenomenal new action flick Ninja Assassin, the director explains, “Obviously doing complicated martial arts takes a lot of time and a lot of energy. I think if the people at the core are really into it and want to do great martial arts, they keep the energy up. It was great in this case!”

Ninja Assassin is everything that a ninja movie should be—artful, nonstop and brilliantly bloody. There’s also an underlying sense of perpetual rhythm that fuels each and every action sequence. The film flows more like a record than a movie with each choptastic moment screeching like a guitar.

McTeigue laughs, “If Ninja Assassin were an album it would be some sort of rap crossed with Nevermind the Bollocks by The Sex Pistols—that kind of crazy energy [Laughs].”

In order to go deeper into the musical nature of the film, McTeigue sat down with ARTISTdirect.com editor and Dolor author Rick Florino for this exclusive interview about the music in Ninja Assassin and what he’s listening to.
Read more »

Phoenix

Phoenix vocalist Thomas Mars shares his playlist with ARTISTdirect.com editor and Dolor author Rick Florino in this exclusive interview…

A Taste:

The Dirty Projectors, Chet Baker

Phoenix has taken the indie rock world by storm. However, most importantly, they have the validation of the cast of The Hangover [Check out our exclusive video interview to see that…].

Right now, they continue to dazzle audiences across the U.S. and beyond in support of their phenomenal new album, Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix. It’s a swirling melodic masterwork worthy of your time. What went into Wolfgang? Well, we talked to vocalist Thomas Mars in this exclusive interview about what’s on his playlist.

Thomas shared his playlist with ARTISTdirect.com editor and Dolor author Rick Florino. Check it out below and don’t miss Phoenix!

Thomas Mars’ Playlist:
Read more »

Powerman 5000

In this exclusive feature, Powerman 5000 frontman Spider One gives ARTISTdirect.com editor and Dolor author Rick Florino an exclusive look at what was spinning in his iPod when he was making Somewhere on the Other Side of Nowhere….

A Taste:

Justice, Daft Punk, Peaches

You can’t properly go to outer space without a good chunk of electronica on your iPod. Just ask Powerman 5000’s Spider One.

In order to get into that galactic mindset that makes Somewhere on the Other Side of Nowhere so damn epic, he spent a lot of time cranking the best and brightest names in modern electronic music. Spider one shared his playlist with ARTISTdirect.com editor and Dolor author Rick Florino in this exclusive feature. Check it out below and be sure to pick up Powerman 5000’s latest album, Somewhere on the Other Side of Nowhere available everywhere now!

Spider One’s Playlist:

1. Justice

2. Daft Punk

3. Peaches

I’m not listening to much. After a show when I’m on the bus, I’ll put a movie in. When we were making the record, the last music I dove into was stuff like Justice, Daft Punk, Peaches, trying to get a handle on that world and bring a little bit of that vibe into what we were doing.
Read more »

Hyro da Hero

Hyro da Hero gives ARTISTdirect.com editor and Dolor author Rick Florino an exclusive look at what’s on his playlist…

A Taste:

2pac, Pantera, Stone Temple Pilots, Z-Ro, Michael Jackson

Rock n’ roll needed a gangsta.

For a long time, there’s been a void for a badass with real attitude, swagger and talent to step in and take over. Houston-born, L.A.-based MC Hyro da Hero seized the moment, and he’s ready for both hip hop and rock supremacy.

Hyro is armed with a fiery flow and a rock n’ roll intensity that makes his “gangsta rock” simply explosive. Looking at his playlist, it’s clear that Hyro knows his shit when it comes to both rock and rap. He opened up his iTunes for ARTISTdirect.com editor and Dolor author Rick Florino in this exclusive feature. Check out Hyro’s playlist below and be sure to keep your eyes on him…see his video for “Dirty South Rock” below!

Hyro da Hero’s Playlist:

1. Hyro da Hero — “Dirty South Rock”

One must always listen to something amazing to start the day!

See the video here!

2. 2pac — “Nothin’ to Lose”

I love this track! I can’t find it in good quality so I always listen to it on Youtube.
Read more »