• Home
  • About
  • Upcoming Album Releases
  • 2025 Artists to Watch
  • Get Involved
  • Pitching Us
  • Contact
  • Bio Services
Atwood Magazine - For the Love of Music For the Love of Music
  • New Music Releases
  • Recent
  • Features
  • Interviews
  • Editor’s Picks
  • Reviews
    • Our Take
    • Debuts
    • Videos
    • Live
  • Columns
    • Premieres
    • Today’s Song
    • Weekly Roundup
    • Music You Should Know
    • Nostalgia Tracks
Ben Niesen

Ben Niesen

An insane man moonlighting as a respectable member of society from Portland, Oregon. A rock ‘n’ roller since his mother first spun The Police’s “Roxanne,” Ben is a lover of all things rock, soul, funk, jazz, blues, electronic and alternative hip-hop. Perhaps it’s easier to list what he doesn’t like: most "gangster" rap, country-western and modern metal disagrees with his stomach. Once upon a time, a friend told him to write about music. So he started doing that under the title of a Willie Bobo cover by Santana. Now he wonders about what Stu McKenzie has for breakfast, why John Congleton is the best damn record producer this side of the millennium, and just how Common came to be his favorite hip-hop star. He’s been working on that last one for nearly a decade now. No answers as of yet.

Oneohtrix Point Never © Joseph Buscarello
A Casual Ramble, Columns, Concerts, Music, ReviewsApril 29, 2024<April 30, 2024

A Casual Ramble: Oneohtrix Point Never Live at Portland’s Wonder Ballroom

Angie McMahon © Ben Niesen
A Casual Ramble, Columns, Concerts, MusicMarch 27, 2024<March 27, 2024

A Casual Ramble: Trusting in the Universe With Angie McMahon, Live at Portland’s Star Theater

The Murlocs © Izzie Austin
Features, Interviews, MusicJuly 19, 2023<July 19, 2023

Living Under a Rock: A Long-Overdue Conversation With The Murlocs

John Oates © Sean Hagwell
Features, Interviews, MusicNovember 11, 2022<November 6, 2022

Pushin’ That Rock: A Casual Conversation with John Oates

Portola Music Festival 2022 lineup
A Casual Ramble, Music, Previews, ReviewsSeptember 23, 2022<September 23, 2022

A Casual Portola Festival Preview: Charli XCX, Yves Tumor, Jamie xx, Kelly Lee Owens, L’Impératrice, & More!

FEELS © Ben Niesen
MusicSeptember 7, 2022<September 7, 2022

A Casual Ramble: The Hot, the Sweaty, and the Bittersweet FEELS at Pickathon 2022

Freakscene - The Story of Dinosaur Jr.
A Casual Ramble, Columns, MusicAugust 30, 2022<March 2, 2025

A Casual Ramble: Mumbling Through a Freak Scene

Odesza live © Ben Niesen
A Casual Ramble, Columns, MusicAugust 4, 2022<August 4, 2022

A Casual Ramble: Meandering Towards the Last Goodbye in Seattle… Or Was It?

Spoon Benders © Ben Niesen
Features, Interviews, MusicAugust 2, 2022<August 2, 2022

Right Behind You: A Conversation with Portland’s Resident Spoon Benders

French Cassettes (L-R): Scott Huerta, Rob Mills, Andy St. James, Mac Bunch
A Casual Ramble, Columns, Interviews, MusicJuly 5, 2022<July 5, 2022

A Casual Ramble: Summer, the California Sound, and French Cassettes’ ‘Rolodex’

Geese © Daniel Topete
Features, Interviews, MusicJune 28, 2022<June 28, 2022

Opportunity’s Knocking: A Conversation with New York City’s Geese

Warpaint © 2022 7.5
Music, Our Take, ReviewsMay 27, 2022<May 27, 2022

Our Take: Warpaint Get Under Our Skin with ‘Radiate Like This’

Bloc Party © Wunmi Onibudo
Features, Interviews, MusicMay 19, 2022<May 19, 2022

“Jaws Underneath Your Feet”: A Conversation with Bloc Party’s Kele Okereke

Omnium Gatherum - King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard 7
Music, Our Take, ReviewsMay 5, 2022<May 5, 2022

Our Take: King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard Put on a Bazaar Consortium for ‘Omnium Gatherum’

Treefort Music Fest team © Matthew Wordell
Festival, Music, ReviewsApril 28, 2022<April 28, 2022

Out of the Wilderness: Treefort After Covid-19

Posts pagination
1 2 3 … 5

Recent Posts

  • Video Premiere: Spitting Blood & Seeing Stars with j solomon’s “RUBBER BAND” June 24, 2025
  • “Hope Is Local”: An Essay by Ali Rosa-Salas for Black Music Month June 24, 2025
  • “Lingering, Reflective, & Raw”: Ginger Winn Opens Up About the Grief & Growth of ‘Freeze Frame’ June 24, 2025
  • Today’s Song: Hudson Thames Surrenders to Love in “Wrong,” a Raw, Honest, & Soul-Baring Confession June 24, 2025
  • Premiere: West Virginia’s Of the Dell Blend ‘60s Style with Appalachian Charm on “Yes I Will,” a Love Song Full of Grit and Grace June 23, 2025
  • Interview: All Roads Lead to West 22nd June 23, 2025
  • Interview: Introducing Thelma & James, the Americana Duo Turning Heartache into Harmony & Taking Nashville by Storm June 23, 2025
  • “I can’t get my mind off loving you”: The Happy Fits Unleash a Feel-Good, Full-Body Anthem of Love in “Everything You Do” June 23, 2025
  • Today’s Song: Alex Warren and Jelly Roll Unleash a Generational Battle Cry with “Bloodline” June 22, 2025
  • Editor’s Picks 125: NoMBe, Sheléa, Nectar Woode, Nxdia, Jahnah Camille, & Hannah Jadagu! June 20, 2025
ABOUT US
PITCHING US
Privacy policy
GET INVOLVED!

Disclaimer: Atwood Magazine is a publication dedicated to celebrating fresh voices in music, culture, and the arts. The views and opinions expressed in our articles, reviews, and interviews are those of the individual writers and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Atwood Magazine as a whole.

© Atwood Magazine 2024 For the Love of Music
Back to top
  • New Music Releases
  • Recent
  • Features
  • Interviews
  • Editor’s Picks
  • Reviews
    • Our Take
    • Debuts
    • Videos
    • Live
  • Columns
    • Premieres
    • Today’s Song
    • Weekly Roundup
    • Music You Should Know
    • Nostalgia Tracks
  • Home
  • About
  • Upcoming Album Releases
  • 2025 Artists to Watch
  • Get Involved
  • Pitching Us
  • Contact
  • Bio Services