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Every Song We Played in Our Madonna Cover Set

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Welcome to SOUND ADVICE, Interview's weekly playlist series, where musicians, artists, friends, rivals, and collaborators share the songs currently inspiring them. Recent editions have spotlighted playlists from Petra Collins, Eli, and Eera. For the magazine's Summer 2026 cover story, Madonna stepped into the persona of De De, a lively, larger than life woman who loved prosecco, wore her hair big, and played The Stones at full volume. Every memorable character needs the right music, and De De came together through a collaboration between Madonna, Interview's Mel Ottenberg, and lighting technician David López Osuna. With tracks from David Bowie, The Doors, and T. Rex helping shape the mood, De De found her rhythm. Check out the playlist that helped bring the character to life below.

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Weezer Creates a Playlist for Surviving Heartbreak

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Welcome to SOUND ADVICE, the weekly home for playlists assembled by the friends, rivals and romantic interests of Interview. Recent editions have featured selections from After, Soulwax, and 1LDK. Taking over this week is the much loved rock quartet Weezer. After building a catalog that includes the color themed albums Blue, Green, Red, White, Teal, and Black, the Los Angeles group is expanding its palette once again with a new release titled Gold. The record blends carefully constructed pop melodies with rough edged rock energy, recalling the sound of the band’s earliest years. Before unveiling their first album in four years and beginning a North American tour, the members created a collection of personal favorites and overlooked gems for us. Moving from Beethoven sonatas to classic Van Halen tracks from the 1980s, their choices reflect the wide ranging tastes of the musicians themselves. They then answered our questionnaire, revealing what they listen to before taking the stage, clearing up their views on ghosting, and explaining what they really make of Gen Z.

What do you listen to before hitting the stage?

SCOTT SHRINER: I usually do not listen to music before we play. I do vocal warmups and go through any of the songs in our set that need practicing.

RIVERS CUOMO: Nature sounds, like birds and creeks and waterfalls.

 
 

Dream fifth member of the band, dead or alive?

PATRICK WILSON: 4 is plenty!

CUOMO: Matt Sharp

Weezer sits on a roof.

Favorite album: Blue, Green, Red, White, Teal, Black or Gold?

SHRINER: Fave color album is Red.

One of your songs off the new album is titled “Don’t Make It Weird.” What’s the fastest way someone can make things weird?

BRIAN BELL: I think ghosting someone ranks up there with weird and abhorrent behavior.

CUOMO: Say the first thing that pops into your mind.

Weezer poses dressed in jungle safari gear.

Which song is going to surprise longtime fans the most?

CUOMO: “C.E.O.” because we interpolate ourselves.

BELL: The song that will surprise most Weezer fans is “The Show Must Go On.” It’s a good driving song, and while it might sound familiar, it will also take you to very unexpected places.

Which artist are you streaming the most right now?

CUOMO: Binaural beats.

Weezer poses in a living room.

Which city has the most unhinged Weezer fans?

SHRINER: I’m going with Mexico City for most unhinged W fans.

Thoughts on Gen Z?

CUOMO: They value different kinds of people.

WILSON: They’re great! Two of my kids are Gen Z! The way I’m like, “No, because same!”

Pick three words to describe this new album:

WILSON: Analog, feel, dimensional.

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