Artist Interviews Mike Reed Interview

Mike Reed is a respected jazz drummer and one of the many people who makes Pitchfork Festival and the Chicago Jazz Festival happen each year. In this episode of the CHIRP Radio Artist Interview Series, he talks with Features Co-Director Mick R. about the founding of Pitchfork Fest, the legacy of the Chicago Jazz Fest, and details what he has planned next for his many solo projects.

"It's about music, and music discovery...  that's still first and foremost what we do." - Mike Reed, on Pitchfork Fest

Produced by Mick R. 

Photo Credit: Mike Reed

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Artist Interviews Bev Rage & the Drinks Interview

This week, Features contributor Ronald Pagan speaks with Bev Rage of Chicago's own queer garage pop band, Bev Rage & the Drinks. They discuss their upcoming full length album, Exes and Hexes, the expansion of their member lineup, the refining of their sound while retaining their sense of humor, queer diversity in the music scene in Chicago, and the importance of showcasing their humor and being a highly visual band in the form of music videos.

"Everything I write on this album is either coming from a true place or an exaggerated piece of truth that happened in my real life. I find most of my lyric writing comes from real life things that I've experienced. So everything you hear on this album, it's all real." - Bev Rage

Produced by Adalyn Staats.

Photo Credit: Dan Jarvis

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Artist Interviews Jeff Parker Interview

Jeff Parker is a guitarist and composer, famous for his jazz session work and his contributions to the Chicago band Tortoise. After his performance at Pitchfork Fest in July 2022, he returned home and took a call from his home studio from features co-director Mick R. They talked about his performance at Pitchfork and chatted about the origins and creation of his 2021 solo album, Forfolks. It's a wonderful and warm conversation that we hope you'll enjoy. 

"The New Breed was a kind of posthumous tribute to my father. Suite for Max Brown was the kind of tribute to my mom, who's still around. And Forfolks is for all of us. It's for the folks." - Jeff Parker

Produced by Mick R. 
Photo Credit: Jeff Parker 

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Artist Interviews Zvrra Interview

Zvrra is a Chicago producer and game developer who makes techno and dark ambient music inspired by fantasy RPGs and video games soundtracks. Mick R checked in with this innovative artist to learn more about her work and what games inspire it. 

Zvrra's latest album Solace can be found on Bandcamp. 

Zvrra also streams on Twitch. 

"I try to capture that early 2000s electronic vibe and kind of merge it with a modern sound." - Zvrra

Produced by Mick R. 

Photo Credit: Zvrra

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Artist Interviews Josh Kantor Interview

This one is for all you baseball fans. Josh Kantor is a former Chicago resident and current organist for the Boston Red Sox. CHIRP DJ and Features contributor Mike Nikolich caught up with Josh to talk about the saga that resulted in him becoming the owner of Nacy Faust's organ, an instrument that she used to delight White Sox fans for many many years. The story starts with an auction and culminates in a cross-country tour featuring Kelly Hogan of the Decemberists, Max Crawford of Poi Dog Pondering and Robbie Fulks player Gerald Dowd. Also in this interview, Mike and Josh cover Josh's work with Hot Stove Cool Music and his many rock band side projects. 

"Keep the repertoire current, keep updating, keep learning the new pop songs, it's more work than just kind of sticking to what you already know. But it's well worth it." - Josh Kantor

Produced by Mike Nikolich

Photo Credit: Adam Glanzman

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