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The CHIRP Blog
CHIRP Radio writesHappy Memorial Day Weekend From CHIRP Radio
All of us at 107.1 FM CHIRP Radio wish you a happy, healthy, and safe Memorial Day weekend.
If you are a veteran or know of a veteran in need of servcies (including housing assistance, employment assistance, and counseling), contact the Chicago Office of Veterans Affairs via their Web site or by phone at 312-743-0720.
Nikki Stout writesThe Times They Are Uncertain
Turning over the record, I find myself performing a ritual I have done thousands of times, yet the moment strikes me as being grounding in a way that I can only describe as resonant.
Music always has been, and always will be, in part, about connection. It is community through tempo and synapse. The pulse of time, history, and location reflects parts of ourselves back onto us.
It’s never been easier to access music we love, and yet it’s also never been more imperative to distance ourselves from physical community for its – and our – own sake. In these dissonant times, I have been taking a more traditional approach to music consumption. Allowing myself to fully submerge into full records, cover to cover, side to side, and having the space to explore discographies with the depth and intention I have always dreamed of has been a journey of immense comfort.
In a way, this is taking what is, for many of us, a majority digital experience and turning it analog – even if in these moments we are still streaming. There is no convenient skip track button to get to the point when, “This is all over,” whatever that may mean. There is no pause button, either. We’re driving ever-forward into anxious uncertainty.
What we do have is the option to slow down. We have the sudden gift of time to explore the proverbial liner notes of the actions we take in the face of crisis. And really, there has never been a tonic to manipulate the warping of time as strong as music. We travel by it, we depend on it to get us through a workout, we escape into it when the weight of time becomes too much to bear. We outrun both each other and ourselves through soundtracks of our own choosing.
Applying this art of escapism to our circumstances is worthwhile in ways that are impactful now and in the future. In an exploration of connection at a distance, swimming in lyrics and melody allows us to feel seen. It imparts onto us the wisdom that the minutiae of the human experience is not only capable of being understood, it can be sculpted into sine waves and scales that give us goosebumps and heavy eyelids.
In this way, we have never been closer. In taking the time to listen – not just to hear, but to truly listen – we are allowing ourselves to be opened up to who, how, and what we really are. It creates a space of empathy, of understanding, and of healing.
“When this is all over,” is an unknown. What remains, though, is the fact that we are given the choice to align ourselves with the artists who see and know us. For those of us who have the means, supporting local artists through Bandcamp, direct merchandise purchases, or in some cases their GoFundMes is increasingly vital for the continuation of this work. We must allow this moment to change us; and we must leverage our privilege to let the work continue. A future bloom is drawing near, but it is our responsibility to sow the seeds.
DJ Mick writesShelter in Sound With CHIRP Radio!
Miss live music? Miss going to shows? Miss regular updates and interviews from your favorite artist? Us too.
The Shelter in Place order issued by Governor Pritzker in March hit the Chicago music scene hard. Like elsewhere in the world, artists and entertainment workers have been forced to cancel tours, live performances, and suspend operations. Whie we've all had to hunker down until further notice, the media cycle spins in a cyclone around us.
Lucky for us, local musicians have continued to make art, while local venues have taken steps to support their employees and the scene while shuttered. To help showcase the efforts of some of our favorite artists and venues, the CHIRP Features team has created a new series as part of our Artist Interview Program called Shelter in Sound.
Eddie writes6 Songs About “April”
by Eddie Sayago
As we are halfway through April (I know, it doesn’t feel like it.), I noticed how many songs there are about the month (or the woman named after the month). Here are 6 songs about the month that some enjoy while other wish it could end so summer will arrive. (There's no rush, it's not like you have places to go right now.)
“April” by Beach Bunny
April is a weird month in Chicago. It’s technically spring and yet snow always falls at some point. (There was a snowstorm just two days after we had a sunny day with a high of 80 degrees last week.) But at some point, we always miss that special someone. “Are you out there somewhere?/What are you up to?” It should be weird to still pine for and miss someone who is no longer a part of your life, and that it’s alright to feel this way. Beach Bunny lets you know that it’s alright to feel whatever you’re feeling right now. It’s a weird time for all of us.
Eddie writesTake Two: “I Can Change” (LCD Soundsystem Vs. Ezra Furman)
written by Eddie Sayago
There is a chance that you have come across a song (or two, or so many more) that you enjoy and did not realize that it's either been covered by someone else or is a cover itself. We hope that this series allows you to appreciate both the original and the covers they have inspired, and to seek out and enjoy new music in the process.
"You are encouraged to look up the original versions if you're never heard them. They blew my mind." - Ezra Furman, on the joy of song covers
Last year, Ezra Furman released an exclusive EP, Songs by Others, that had seven different takes on seven songs from different parts of rock 'n' roll. While any of the songs could have been featured here, one cover stands out in particular, especially since this time 10 years ago, many of us were eagerly anticipating the new album from the original creators of "I Can Change."
The Original: "I Can Change" by LCD Soundsystem (2010)
Exactly a decade ago, James Murphy and Co. released what was then their final album, This Is Happening, an album that would become one of the best of the year, if not the 2010s. Literally the center (track 5 of 9) of a record filled with Murphy's emotions no amount of synthesizers can hide, both vocals and synths blend together instead of competing with one another for the ears of the listener. "I Can Change" is the perfect song for a soundtrack to 2010, a year that feels and looks like it took place a lot longer than 10 years ago.