Pop Fuss

Danny Ayala joins the show! We caught up with him just hours before kicking off his West Coast tour in support of his album Only Fools Love Again.
In this episode, we talk about how his songwriting process has evolved over the years, revisit his first project Dr. Danny, and hear what he thinks his next record might sound like. We also get into what it’s like hearing new songs from The Lemon Twigs for the first time as a member of their touring band — and what it was like performing on late-night TV with appearances on Fallon, Colbert, and Conan.
Then we switch gears and dive into Danny’s love of 2000s emo — especially My Chemical Romance — where he fronts a tribute band.
Follow Danny @drdannymusic and grab his LP from reminderrecords.com
Follow @popfusspod for today’s best power pop artists!

Some chapters don’t close —they fight for one more verse.
Donnie Vie joins us at a pivotal crossroads: a new deal with Wicked Cool Records — and what he calls his last real shot.
We talk legacy.The music still waiting to be made.And the years that nearly pushed him away from it all.
Donnie opens up about the battles he’s faced, the moments he thought he was done for good — and how this unexpected opportunity pulled him back from closing the door on music entirely.
We also revisit the induction of Enuff Z'Nuff into the Illinois Rock & Roll Museum — and what it was like reuniting with Chip for the first time in years.
As the unmistakable voice behind Enuff Z'Nuff, Donnie helped define an era of glam-tinged power pop, earning heavy MTV rotation and a fiercely loyal cult following.
Grab the 45 vinyl single of “Plain Jane” and look out for the full release of Beautiful Things — available through Wicked Cool Records or at donnievie.com.
Follow Donnie on Insta @donnievieofficial1
 
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Andrew Devin — aka TORTURETWINN — joins the show!
We talk obsession, atmosphere, and the pull of music that refuses to let go — including his decision to leave the corporate world behind and fully embrace the art. Many first discovered TORTURETWINN through his striking covers of classic alternative and goth icons like The Cure, which quickly earned him thousands of followers. But it’s his original music where everything locks into place — brooding, melodic, and unmistakably his own.
Follow @torturetwinn and visit torturetwinn.com for vinyl, merch, and more.
Follow @popfusspod for today’s coolest emerging artists — and a few beloved veterans along the way.

NEW EPISODE and GIVEAWAY!
Alt pop duo Pony joins the show to discuss their brilliant new LP "Clearly Cursed!" And you can win a vinyl copy!
 
Toronto's Pony have been churning out infectious indie pop with grungy guitars for several years, and now they return with their best album yet! Matty and Sam discuss the origins of the album title, several real life paranormal experiences they have had, their songwriting process, and songs they've already written for the next album. It's a fun conversation with this engaging duo. 
 
** RULES FOR ENTRY**
You can win a vinyl copy of the new album courtesy of @takethistoheartrecords (domestic US only)
1) Follow Pop Fuss on Instagram @popfusspod
2) Leave a review on Apple Podcasts or rate on Spotify
3) screenshot that and DM Pop Fuss on Instagram
 
That's it! A winner will drawn a week from the day this episode has dropped.
 
Follow the band @ponytheband and order merch at takethistoheartrecords.store
 
Follow Pop Fuss across social media for today's raddest bands!

🎙️ Brazilian pop sensations Banda AL9 join the show!
After racking up 2.5 million followers with their stunning harmonies, these brothers are bringing classic pop back in a big way. Inspired by The Beatles and the golden era of melody-driven songwriting, Banda AL9 are proof that timeless hooks never go out of style.
Fresh off signing their first label deal, they’re now setting their sights on America. We talk Beatles influence, praise from legends like Stevie Van Zandt, Justin Hawkins (The Darkness), and Steve Aoki, and their first live U.S. appearance!
 
Follow the brothers @bandaal9official and their label @wickedcoolrecords
 
Check out @popfusspod for today's best emerging artists!

It’s a class reunion! 🎓For Episode 114, we’re joined by the guys from Ridel High!
The band signed to A&M Records in 1998, and now they’ve unearthed a collection of demos and unreleased songs from that era. We dig into those rediscovered tracks, revisit the band’s history, and talk about what the L.A. scene was really like back then.
Kevin Ridel is the voice and songwriter behind ’90s power-pop favorites Ridel High and later AM Radio. He got his start in the ’80s fronting Avant Garde alongside a pre-Weezer Rivers Cuomo and has remained a fixture of the L.A. music scene ever since.
Steve Coulter, drummer for Ridel High, is also an author and editor under the name S.W. Lauden. Beyond playing in the scene, he’s helped document it—co-editing the power-pop anthology Go All the Way, curating the Generation Blue oral history project, and writing the must-read Substack Remember the Lightning.
📲 Follow the band @ridel_high on Insta
🎶 Follow Pop Fuss on Instagram @popfusspod for today’s coolest power-pop heroes—both new and classic

Spandex and sugar hooks! In this round table, Linus of Hollywood and comedian/writer Courtney Cronin join us to nerd out on the glam rock era ('85 to '92) and the hooks under the hairspray! It's a fun conversation that will keep your head bangin' and toes tappin'!
Find our chat wherever you get your favorite podcasts, just search "Pop Fuss."
Follow @linusdotson - solo artist, and member of Able Machines and Nerf Herder
Check out @courtcrodold - comedian and writer
Follow Pop Fuss on Instagram @popfusspod for today's best in alt pop, indie rock and power pop artists!

Hannah Duckworth joins the show!
 
Blending pop, indie rock, and pop-punk, Hannah burst onto the scene in 2023 with high-energy songs packed with hooks and attitude. Her debut EP, I Swear I’ll Bite!, dropped just a few months ago and delivers a sound that feels instantly radio-ready.
We talk about her decision to shift her life toward music, what’s coming next with her upcoming EP, and some standout live experiences.
🎧 Catch our chat wherever you get your podcasts — just search Pop Fuss!
 
RIYL: Paramore, Taylor Swift, Avril Lavigne, Michelle Branch
 
Follow Hannah on Instagram @hannah_duckworth and TikTok @hannahduckworthmusic
 
Check out today's brightest pop artists on Instagram @popfusspod

Dear Boy joins Pop Fuss!
Benjamin Gray stops by to talk early musical influences, the band’s recent run with the Psychedelic Furs, and lots of deep-dive conversation around their new LP, Celebrator. We also get into some exciting possibilities for 2026 regarding more music! Catch our conversation wherever you get your podcasts - just search "Pop Fuss!"
 
Be sure to follow the band @dearboyofficial and check out their website dearboyofficial.com for tour dates and merch!
 
Follow Pop Fuss on Instagram @popfusspod for today's best alt pop artists!

🎙️ Our latest obsession, Bellvie, joins the show!
Hailing from Sweden, Bellvie may be a young, emerging band with just a handful of songs out so far — but you’d never know it from the sound. Their melodic indie pop feels assured, polished, and far beyond their years. With crystalline songs that recall The Sundays meeting CHVRCHES, Bellvie already sound like a band that’s been doing this for a long time.
🎧 Catch our chat wherever you get your podcasts — just search Pop Fuss!
Follow the band on Insta @bellviemusic and check them out on the web at bellviemusic.com
 
Follow Pop Fuss on Instagram @popfusspod for today's best emerging bands and some amazing veterans!