Paul Myers

Paul Myers is a Toronto, Canada-born, Berkeley, California-based journalist, musician and songwriter, and the author of three music biographies including A Wizard A True Star: Todd Rundgren In The Studio (Jawbone Press, 2010). He is also one-half of San Francisco music duo, The Paul & John.

Paul Myers

Correspondence Course: John Moe Is Deconstructing Pop Culture, One Letter At A Time

John Moe’s letters have imagined conversations between Luke and Darth, posited conspiracy theories around Gilligan’s Island and searched for answers to Hotel California’s eternal mysteries.

The Soothsayer: How Paddy Chayefsky’s “Network” Accidentally Predicted The Mad (As Hell) Future Of Cable News

Dave Itzkoff talks about uncovering the life of mad- and prescient-as-hell writer Paddy Chayefsky.

Aloha It’s Me: Todd Rundgren On How To Open An Authentic Hawaiian Tiki Bar

Todd and Michele Rundgren talk about their decades-long relationship with Hawaii, culminating in the creation of an authentic tiki bar.

Choirstarters: Toronto’s Choir! Choir! Choir! Sings The Praises Of A (Social-Media-Assisted) Real-World Experience

Inspired by Argentina’s peñas (and helped along by technology), Toronto’s Choir! Choir! Choir! created an analogue experience that’s caught the attention of the music world’s biggest names.

The State, Reunited For A Comedy Re-issue

The influential sketch comedy troupe, The State, reissues a forgotten U.S. travel guide for a digital world that has finally caught up to them.

Meet The Third Man: The Producer Who Orchestrated A Roots/Elvis Costello Collaboration

Steven Mandel, the co-producer of Elvis Costello and The Roots’ Wise Up Ghost, on dream projects, guerrilla tactics, and the magic of mistakes.

Why ABC’s Grand Ole Soap Opry ”Nashville” Feels So Damn Real

A crackerjack team of writers and actors and bona fide Nashville denizens make big hair and big drama sound at least as believable as Taylor Swift’s lyrics.

Go Fund Yourself: Sam Phillips Talks About Subscriptions, Crowdfunding, And Why We Still Need Corporations

Sam Phillips has been a master of reinvention over a platform- and genre-spanning career as well as a pioneer in audience-participation music models. Here, she talks about her new album and evolution of both independent and corporate-backed music.

A Super Graphic Look At The Whole Universe Of Comics

Tim Leong talks about mapping imaginary worlds with his book, Super Graphic.

Ghosts In The Machines: Can A Legendary Piece Of Gear Make Music Magic?

Recording artists from Dave Grohl and Phoenix to your local indie band seek That Elusive Quality promised by magic rooms and pre-loved gear. But are they wasting their time?

“Our Nixon”: Home Movies From The Original Over-Sharers

Seized footage from a group of powerful, camera-happy insiders provides a never-before-seen picture of the Nixon years.

A Belated Honor For Dave Smith, The Man With MIDI Touch

The Grammys provided some late-career recognition for a music pioneer.

How Rock And Comedy Can Win The Internet: An Infographical Guide

Fred Armisen, Aimee Mann, Marc Maron, Ben Gibbard, and Tom Scharpling on why serious artists make hilarious videos: Funny gets the clicks.

DJ Questlove On How To Rock Your New Year’s Eve Party

Of course, the Roots frontman/DJ/producer/walking music encyclopedia notes there are “certain liberties I’m allowed to take because of my Questlove-ness,” but he’s got some hardcore insight on how to get your own party started. Plus: can’t miss dance floor fillas!

Does Twitter Kill TV Comedy? Writers From “The Daily Show,” “SNL,” “Fallon” And Others Sound Off

Social media is a firehose of material, but what happens when some hack in that stream beats you to a one-liner?

Nile Rodgers On How To Collaborate With Anyone, Even Madonna

He’s made landmark albums for David Bowie, Duran Duran, Daft Punk, Diana Ross, and more. Here’s how he finds his place, even in a superstar’s galaxy.

Daryl Hall’s New Mobile Home

Unlike pop and soul icons who rest on their legacies, Daryl Hall broke new ground with his web show Live From Daryl’s House, which invited musicians–and viewers–into his tricked-out barn. Now the blond half of Hall & Oates is haulin’ his homeboys (and girls) out on the road.

Ideas

Synthetic rhino horns are supposed to disrupt poaching. Will they work?

Impact investing is booming–but not nearly enough to make radical change

This real estate company figured out a simple way to offer the homeless a house and a job

Entertainment

Trump inadvertently gets Twitter to explain why rape often goes unreported

Michel Gondry’s no-bs trick to getting the best out of Jim Carrey for “Kidding”

Fast Company Innovation Festival adds Pharrell Williams, Jennifer Garner

Co.Design

PSA: These 1,400 museums are free tomorrow

The ice cream of the future is here, and it has a nipple

Amazon wants to be all around you–even in your microwave

Fast Company

Your startup is failing, now what?

Synthetic rhino horns are supposed to disrupt poaching. Will they work?

NYT: Rod Rosenstein proposed taping Trump, using 25th Amendment