CHIRP Radio Podcasts

This week, Liz Mason speaks with Chicago-raised Latina DJ and Producer Christine Gutierrez and E of Dark Chisme, a Seattle-based dark wave band. They discuss Christine's DJ career in Seattle and how it led to the inspiration behind their performing name, the emotional guidance behind when to write in English and when to write in Spanish, and their comics and zine publishing studio, Really Easy Press. "I am huge on mariachis and Mexican traditional singers, and I love the way that they sing out loud and you can just feel it in their soul what they're singing. I wanted to capture that in the music." - Christine Gutierrez Produced by Liz Mason. Photo Credit: Bella Petro

This week, Features co-director Marjorie Alford speaks with Darren Keen of Chicago one-man electronic band PROBLEMS. They discuss the genesis of his project PROBLEMS, Darren's transplant journey from Nebraska to New York back to Nebraska before finally landing here in Chicago, his booking company Personal Space Booking and their upcoming all day fest Personal Space Lost Weekend, the importance sobriety played in his music career and life, and taking over booking for The Burlington. Coming here to Chicago with some sobriety under my belt and working here in the scene ... doing what I do now it's the realization of a dream I couldn't have had otherwise." - Darren Keen of PROBLEMS on sobriety. Catch PROBLEMS this Sunday, 01/26 at CHIRP Night at the Whistler, alongside Speed Babes. Produced by: Marjorie Alford Photo Credit: PROBLEMS

This week, Features co-director Marjorie Alford speaks with Renn Fontana and Lex of Chicago based post-hardcore band Rat Chasm. They discuss the singles Sorry Carly and Wasteland Centerfold, the recording of their album First Feed while Lex was still aclimating to the band, and the struggles of growing up queer. First Feed is out now. Catch Rat Chasm live February 20th at Empty Bliss. Produced by Marjorie Alford. Photo Credit: Cori Knox

This week, Features contributor Josset Yarbrough speaks with Kathy Patino, aka Girl K. They discuss her songwriting process behind her newest release, My Future, her collaboration with Chicago Argentine HEARTGAZE, and her inspriation move from indie rock to glamorous pop. "I don't know if it's necessarily my dream to be a famous musician, but music itself is my dream and I just want people to hear what I'm making, and I want to have fun making it." - Kathy Patino aka Girl K Produced by Brian Szpak. Photo Credit: Alicia Patiño

This week, Features contributor Matty G speaks with Ari and Nate of Chicago-based indie rock group Billy Joel Jr. They discuss their first EP, Rubberhose, the diversity of their band and therefore sound, and of course, their love of the Beatles. "I like the question of diversity, right? Having a diverse sound, we also have diverse members from different parts of the world and the country that kind of come together in Chicago, almost like an analogy for the larger melting pot of Chicago." - Nate Dorian of Billy Joel Jr. Produced by DJ Ninja. Photo Credit: Bailey Radnitzer

This week, Features contributor Sophia Ramirez speaks with Emily Haden Lee, a singer-songwriter and artist originally from Missouri who is now based in Chicago. They discuss her new album, The Woman I Would Be, and how her pregnancy has affected its release, how her grief surrounding the loss of her father and brother have shaped her writing, and collaborating with her husband on the album. "I think I'm glad that I have finished this album before I'm having a child and moving into this new chapter of mine [...] Releasing this music, I feel like I'm sort of releasing that time in my life." - Emily Haden Lee Produced by Sophia Ramirez. Photo Credit: Sarah Elizabeth Larson

This week, Features director Marjorie Alford speaks with Angel Lunetta of Chicago-based ethereal experimental metal band Alenia. They discuss the band’s inception and current line-up, their song writing process, Angel’s one woman production company Voodoo Masochist Productions, and advice for artists looking to break into the scene. "I think it’s very important to be patient with yourself because being an artist, any type of artist, is a whole process." - Angel Lunetta of Alenia Produced by Marjorie Alford. Photo Credit: 106 Fever

This week, Features contributor Liz Mason speaks with vocalist and multidisciplinary artist Shami of Mother Fortune, a Chicago-based five-piece hip hop cooperative. They discuss Shami's elaborate and intentional stage presence, the band's collaborative songwriting process, and his work on the online sex positive zine, Zig Zag Sex Mag. "I'm just fortunate to be one of the gears in this clock that is Chicago music." - Shami of Mother Fortune Produced by Liz Mason. Photo Credit: Lex Vasquez

This week, Features contributor Sophia Ramirez speaks with multi-instrumentalist, composer, educator, recording artist & hearing conservation advocate Joel Styzens. They discuss the collections of quiet moments that make up his newest release, Resonance, and how his battle with tinnitus helped him discover his voice as a composer. "Sometimes the smallest moments can sometimes be the most powerful, or the most moving or inspiring." - Joel Styzens Produced by Sophia Ramirez. Photo Credit: Sarah Boudreau Joel is performing October 16th at the Cliff Dwellers in Chicago and November 2nd at The Blue Strawberry in St. Louis, MO.

This week, Features contributor Michal Gliszewski talks with Jay Post & Jimmi Gordon of Chicago based experimental hip-hop group OutPastMidnight. They discuss Jay and Jimmy's fated meeting in poetry club in high school, how a love of the literary arts built the foundation for OutPastMidnight, the importance of open mics for the community, and the in-and-outs of their latest album Super Stereo Brothers. "I feel like a lot of the poetry culture in this city - gave life to the mundane. So you're able to write what's under your nose and make it something people can relate to." - Jay Post of OutPastMidnight Produced by Brian Szpak. Photo Credit: Dan Merlo

This week, Features contributor Alyssa Edes speaks with Jen Dot of the newly reunited and Chicago-based beastii. They discuss their newest LP, Follower, Jen's book Hit Girls: Women of Punk in the USA, 1975-1983 that covers the women who started Punk music, and her unlikely sources of inspiration for songwriting, like lyrics she wrote as a seven year old. "This is actually the first album I've conceptualized since I wrote the book, and since I was immersed in those artists' work. I'm being my authentic self, but I'm also carrying a torch." - Jen Dot of beastii Produced by Alyssa Edes. Photo Credit: Chris Nightengale

This week, Features director Marjorie Alford speaks with Chicago based experimental pop artist Chris Misch-Bloxdorf who performs under the name Artie Do Good. They discuss the history of the name Artie and the intentional ambiguity of "Do Good", the genesis of his current project Socialist Dance Party an homage to Chicago's labor roots, how the algorithm blessed Chris with information on the IWW one fateful afternoon, and the singles Bread and Roses and Three Miles Down. “We all deserve the things that bring us comfort, and things that we need to live and exist in this world, but also we all deserve to live and enjoy the world for all it has to offer. “ Artie Do Good. Socialist Dance Party is available Labor Day 2024. Produced by Marjorie Alford. Photo Credit: Kenneth Charles Leftridge Jr.

This week, Features contributor Josset Yarbrough speaks with Nicole Mitchell about her newest collaboration, Bamako​*​Chicago Sound System and how it materialized as if a dream came true, the collision of musical languages that represent Chicago, and their shared love of the flute. "We think of the flute as being pretty, flowery, sweet, [..] optimistic, joyful - which is funny because I guess my personality is kind of like that too. My range as a vocalist is pretty much the same range as the flute - I can go really high. So I started incorporating my voice with the flute. This also gave me the feeling of leaving evidence that a woman was here." - Nicole Mitchell Nicole Mitchell is a groundbreaking improvisational jazz flutist, composer, poet, author, and educator. Her vast musical career started with Samana, which was the first all female ensemble from the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians. She also founded the group's Black Earth Ensemble, Black Earth Strings, Black Earth Sway, Sonic Projections, and Ice Crystal. Produced by DJ Ninja. Photo Credit: Mário J. Negrão

This week, Features contributor Alyssa Edes talks with Chicago-based artist Miranda Winters AKA Mandy, about her debut solo album Lawn Girl. They discuss the genesis of Lawn Girl which took material from her past and finally laid it to rest, The song Mickey’s Dead Things about losing early life friendships, her cover of Jimmy Webb’s Now That I’m a Woman from The Last Unicorn, the importance of an all female band, and the routes we take to try to get back to our most authentic and vulnerable selves of early life. “Obviously the best way forward is to analyze your past.” - Miranda Winters of Mandy. Miranda Winters is a song-writer and musician best known for her role as the indomitable vocalist / guitarist of Chicago powerhouse, Melkbelly. Drawing on deep roots as a song-writer in Chicago DIY, Winters continues to evolve a signature sound by pursuing her music as a solo artist. Catch Mandy live August 30th at Sleeping Village. Produced by Alyssa Edes. Photo Credit: Mandy

This week, Features contributor Connor Broderick speaks with Chicago-based vocalist, guitarist, composer, and poet Hannah Frances. They discuss her new album, Keeper Of The Shepherd, and the grief that shaped the creation of the album, the different chapters of her life informing her writing process, and the push and pull of being a solitary person and learning to lean on others. "I treated it a bit like a thesis. I was like, I know what I am actively working with in terms of processing, emotional processing." - Hannah Frances on the writing of her new album, Keep of The Shepherd. Produced by Brian Szpak Photo Credit: Eleanor Petry

This week Features co-director Marjorie Alford talks with cartoonist Bianca Xunise about their graphic novel Punk Rock Karaoke. The two discuss the confusion of early adulthood, finding grace for the people you love, how a lack of representation in the media lead to Bianca filling that void for themself, and most importantly, punk rock. "I put so much of my heart and my own punk experiences into this story that I want to sit with it. I want to be with this beautiful piece of art that I made." - Bianca Xunise, on why they won't be rushing into their next project. Bianca Xunise is a cartoonist based out of Chicago, Illinois. Their work primarily focuses on the plight, joy, and daily struggles of misfits within the black community. In 2017 Xunise earned an Ignatz for Promising New Talent for their comic Say Her Name, an autobiographical story of police brutality and social justice. In 2020 Xunise earned their second Ignatz for their contribution to Be Gay, Do Comics published by IDW. Xunise has collaborated with Vogue, The Washington Post, The Nib, and Believer Magazine. They are also a contributor to the book How We Fight Supremacy: A Field Guide to Black Resistance along with Ta-Nehisi Coates, Tarana Burk, and Harry Belafonte. Bianca became the first nationally syndicated non-binary cartoonist when they joined the comic strip Six Chix in 2020 as their first black creator. Punk Rock Karaoke is out now! This interview features songs highlighted in Punk Rock Karaoke. Tracks included: Lake Shore Drive - The Cell Phones Waiting Room - Fugazi I am A Poseur - X-Ray Spex Photo Credit: Bianca Xunise

This week, Features contributor Michal Gliszewski speaks with Jake Hennessy (drums), Matt Coglianese (bass), and Derek Dare (guitar and vocals) of Chicago based soulful-psychedelic group Zoofunkyou. They talk about the band's ten year history, keeping things fresh over the years by reworking old songs with new members, learning to write collaboratively, and sourcing inspiration through live music. Produced by Jack Deubner and Jenn Rourke. Photo Credit: Zoofunkyou

This week, Features contributor Daniel Edelstein speaks with Chicago-based pianist, producer, and teacher, Cesar Pino aka C3zr. They discuss his most recent full-length release, Round Voyage, the joy of connecting and collaborating with fellow artists, the jazz lounge, Opus, that he runs with his father and mentor, and his beloved keytar. "That's the beauty of it... music is music, and so I just try to challenge myself and reach into different corners of musical spectrum." - Cesar Pino, aka C3zr Produced by: Jessi D Photo Credit: Vanessa Valadez

This week, Features Co-Director Marjorie Alford speaks with musical director Laura Hall. They discuss her 20+ year career in music, her friendship with Lisa McQueen that lead to the creation of the Phony Award Winning musical series, last year's run of improvised Little Shop of Horrors, her 20 seasons on Whose Line Is It Anyway?, and the creation of improv karaoke backing tracks to help others grow this unique skillset. "It's fun that it's challenging." Laura Hall on improvising music The latest Phony Award winning show Improvised A Chorus Line opens Sunday May 19th/ Produced by Marjorie Alford Photo Credit: Greg Crowder

This week, Features co-director Jessi D speaks with Carrie Shemanski and Crispin Torres of Chicago-based surf rock band Wolfman. They discuss how they met through performing in various cover bands across Chicago, taking a risk and shredding with new friends, recording their debut five-song EP The Wolfman Agenda at Electrical Audio, and the upcoming Shemanskifest, a celebration of Carrie's birthday in which she tries to perform in as many bands as possible. "So here we are with my band - I couldn't believe it. I was like, people who know how to play instruments also want to play my songs? What a dream!" - Carrie Shemanski Wolfman will be debuting their new EP at Shemanskifest on Friday, March 29, 2024 at the Burlington Bar. Produced by Jessi D. Photo Credit: Fotio