Artist Interviews SuperKnova Interview

This week, Jessi D speaks with formerly Chicago and now New York-based queer pop artist, Ellie Kim aka SuperKnova. They discuss her newest release, superuniverse, and the intentionallity behind the art design for the album, her new production skills, the importance of working with an all female, LGBTQ, and/or person of color creative team, and her journey of studying music to medicine and back to music.

"Of course I'm going to assert myself here, of course I'm going to take up this space, of course I'm going to create a better world where I envision myself for who I am, and I'm worthy as anyone else to take up this space." - Ellie Kim

Produced by Jessi D.

Photo Credit: Lili Fang

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Artist Interviews NaturoSynth Interview

NaturoSynth is spread out around the Midwest at the moment, but they owe their roots to Chicago. Comprised of four members, some family, and some long-time friends, they aim to assemble an authentic, cool, and '80s-inspired mix to light up your summer. Features Co-Director Mick R caught up with the future-funk and psych-pop group to talk about their humble origins, their style and influences, and experience collaborating long-distance. 

Listen their latest EP In Control on Spotify. 

Follow NaturoSynth on Tik Tok at @naturosynth 

The way we started, our name, NaturoSynth, it was a reflection of the types of sounds we wanted to create. Natural meaning natural acoustic sounds, combined with artificial sounds, like synths. - Pranav Joshi 

Produced by Mick R. 

Image Credit: Zain Siddiqui

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Artist Interviews Mitch Clem Interview

This week, Features contributor Ronald Pagan speaks with punk cartoonist Mitch Clem about his recent compendium of his long running autobiographical webcomic, My Stupid Life. They discuss the differences between being online now versus the mid-aughts, looking back on past work with a modern eye, and what in  means to be a sell out these days. 

My Stupid Life is available on Silver Sprocket.

"Through punk rock, I had discovered DIY and the idea of, hey, if there's a show you wanna see and there isn't anything cool happening in your town, you can book the show yourself. If you're creative in some way, if you're a writer or a musician and you want to make art, then make it. And just put it out yourself." - Mitch Clem

Produced by Jessi D.

Photo Credit: Mitch Clem

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Artist Interviews Neptune’s Core Interview

This week, Features contributor Alyssa Edes speaks with Sofie Richter, Hannah Richter, Jackie Cywinski, and Kaitlin Cywinski of Neptune's Core, a Chicago-based indie rock band made up of two sets of sisters. They discuss using Voice Memos to build out the beginnings of their songs, post-Midwestern tornado musical inspiration, looking at songwriting from an architectural perspective, and listening to CHIRP Radio before school. 

"I remember so clearly the first time we performed at an informal open mic at Old Town School of Folk Music. And it felt so magical to be playing music and expressing myself with my best friends." Kaitlin Cywinski

"Adding onto Kaitlin, I feel like there's kind of a confidence in each other and I think being sisters and being best friends we understand each other and we can kind of almost predict what the other person's gonna do, predict how they'll feel after something. We're kinda telepathic in a sense." - Sofie Richter

Produced by Alyssa Edes

Photo Credit: Samantha Monendo

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Artist Interviews Triple Fast Action Interview

This week, Features contributor and DJ Mike Nikolich speaks with Brian St. Clair of legendary Chicago-based indie and alt-rock group Triple Fast Action. They discuss their mid-90s origins and eventual breakup, their newly released collection of 37 rare and unreleased tracks and the process behind bringing the old tech up to spec for rerelease, and their deep connections to Local H and Veruca Salt. 

"It turned into this idea with Justin Wexler from Forge Again Records: why don't we put out something prior to all of our stuff while we try to get the rights to put out 'Broadcaster' as a proper reissue? So this is kind of a segue between our two albums that we want to release with Forge Again Records, but it's such a long process trying to get those rights back from Capitol, so we had to do something in the interim." -Brian St. Clair

Produced by Mike Nikolich.

Photo Credit: Marci Rogal

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