Pet Politics

The second Monday of every month, we profile artists with furry friends to find out how animals can act as muses.

PET POLITICSAmelia Bushell Talks Grim Streaker, Belle Mare, and her Extra Special Pup

Amelia with her punk band Grim Streaker. Amelia Bushell is one of Brooklyn's most versatile frontwomen. You can catch her powerful yelps and hollers in hardcore band Grim Streaker, surf some dream-pop vibes with her duo Belle Mare, or hear an intimate and melodic serenade from her latest project...

Natalie Kirch

SUO's Saara Untracht-Oakner on Juggling Hats and Raising Pups

SUO photo by Monika Oliver. Saara Untracht-Oakner is a woman who wears many hats on the Brooklyn scene: musician, visual artist, booker, DJ, and model. Perhaps best known as guitarist in BOYTOY (co-founded and c0-fronted with college buddy Glenn Van Dyke), she has also made guest appearances in...

Natalie Kirch

PET POLITICSColin Lord of HYPEMOM Talks New Music and Becoming a Cat Dad

Before I introduce our next interviewee, I want to take a moment to dedicate this month’s interview to three incredible artists we lost over the past couple of months: David Berman, Daniel Johnston, and Ocasek. Without David Berman, this column would not have a title. For those who are unaware,...

Natalie Kirch

PET POLITICSChatting with Pittie Parent and Longtime Vegan Sadie Dupuis of Speedy Ortiz

Sadie Dupuis is a shredder with a cause. An artist through-and-through, Sadie is a prolific songwriter, poet, and visual artist. She’s the imagination and voice behind the innovative and ever-evolving rock group Speedy Ortiz, who are fresh off a tour with Interpol. Sadie also releases solo work as...

Natalie Kirch

PET POLITICSEliza Black of Gesserit Talks Turtles, Cats, and Solo Songwriting

Eliza and Lazer (all photos courtesy of Eliza Black unless otherwise noted). Eliza Black has the haunting, resounding voice of a fallen angel. With her low, slow, speaking voice - not quite a drawl but dripping a bit of Texas, her large, melancholy eyes, endearing gap-toothed grin, thick waves,...

Natalie Kirch

PET POLITICSRandy Ojeda of Cigar City Proves Every Manager Needs a Little Mojo

Randy Ojeda is the laid-back guy wearing glasses and a baseball cap at all the rock shows, whose warm presence is most acutely felt as he entices you to grab a beer with him even though you just met. He's is an easy-going, music-loving people person through and through. But Randy is also a shrewd...

Natalie Kirch

PET POLITICSAna Becker gets CATTY with Bruce Kittowitz and a New Band

Ana Asnes Becker has been a staple in the Brooklyn music scene for quite some time now. Like many of our interviewees, Ana is quite Renaissance woman: beauty, brains, a big personality, and loads of talent. A few years ago, she left her job at The Wall Street Journal to pursue her music career full...

Natalie Kirch

PET POLITICSTwo Lovebirds and a Little Honey Form the Core of Synthpop Band The Values

This month, I got to hear from Evan Zwisler and Mason Taub, founders of Brooklyn’s electro-indie-pop group The Values. Mason and Evan take the forefront as a duo—Mason working her deep and vibrant vocals along with the keys and Evan grooving on guitar and backing vocals—to pay homage to timeless...

Natalie Kirch

PET POLITICSMeet Sundance Kidd, Brooklyn's Rock 'n' Roll Cat Sitter

Sundance Kidd shreds on guitar, bass, and the mic. Ze never misses a note on guitar and seems to automatically learn any song by ear. You may have seen them in a whole slew of Brooklyn’s rock bands as of late, such as Gesserit and Darkwing. Ze has also made numerous guest pop-up guest appearances...

Natalie Kirch

PET POLITICSDIY Legend Jan Terri On the Late Great Denny and her New Pup Pal JoJo

Jan Terri is the original DIY music queen. Although she started off as a drummer, Jan quickly began a prolific career in songwriting. Her tracks come in a variety of genres: rock, jazz, pop, country. Jan’s music also spans across a wide range of emotions, from the sentimental “Losing You,” to her...

Natalie Kirch

PET POLITICSKelly Knapp's Love of Noise (and Cats)

Love Bugs: Kelly and She Ra (all photos courtesy of Kelly Knapp). When Shakespeare wrote "And though she be but little, she is fierce," he could have very well been talking about Kelly Knapp if it wasn't for the centuries that separate them. As the brains and arm grease behind events booking...

Natalie Kirch

PET POLITICSHannah Teeter on Her Transformation From Vet's GRL to Def.GRL

Hannah Teeter is sweet as pie in person and vicious as hell on the drum kit. She pairs her innately optimistic nature with her wicked energy to form a stage persona entirely singular. Hannah first started playing drums five years ago after forming the band Def.GRLS with buddies Craig Martinson and...

Natalie Kirch