Common Tones

More about the book

For the past 30 years, Alan Licht has been a key figure in New York's art and music scenes, recognized for his dry wit, deep knowledge, and unique perspective as a guitarist in experimental music and underground rock. A graduate of Vassar College in 1990, Licht had already published significant articles on minimalist composers and collaborated with notable artists like Rashied Ali and Thurston Moore. In 1999, he became a regular contributor to the British magazine the Wire, while also writing for various publications, from art glossies to underground fanzines. This collection features a selection of previously unpublished interviews, many conducted while Licht was writing his influential profiles, along with extended conversations, untranscribed public exchanges, and new dialogues created for this volume. Even the notoriously elusive Lou Reed was impressed by Licht's interviewing skills. The book includes interviews with a diverse range of artists, such as Vito Acconci, ANOHNI, Cory Arcangel, Matthew Barney, Glenn Branca, Rhys Chatham, Tony Conrad, and many others, showcasing Licht's ability to engage with adventurous figures across genres.