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First Time: First Break - Jitesh Jaggi
Jitesh Jaggi is a recent immigrant storyteller, poet, and dancer from India, currently living in Chicago.
He ended his career in Finance one day when he lost all his data that he forgot to save on an Excel sheet, and realized that he just didn't care. That tipping point led to him becoming a writer and he is currently working on a book of essays. A two-time Moth StorySlam winner and a producer for the Story Collider, he also coaches clients in telling their stories.
You can reach out to him at jaggi.jitesh@gmail.com. He loves writing bios because he can refer to himself in the third person. Jitesh can be easily bribed with books and chocolates.
The First Time is hosted by Jenn Sodini. Produced by Bobby Evers and Julie Mueller. Podcast produced by Andy Vasoyan. Recorded by Tony Baker.
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Artist Interviews Ariel Zetina Interview
This week, Features director Jessi D met up with Ariel Zetina at Pitchfork Music Festival between weather delays in a park field house in Union Park. Ariel is a Chicago-based producer and DJ and made her official Pitchfork debut at this year's festival. They discuss the ensemble nature of her 2022 album, Cyclorama, what inspired her to become a DJ and her ascension to resident DJ at Smartbar, and planning her Pitchfork live show, complete with dancers and costume design.
"I think my favorite thing is being able to get things to flow and move in the chaos of it all. The music doesn't stop for a number of hours, you have to be on your toes and live in the moment." - Ariel Zetina on why she loves DJing.
Produced by Jessi D.
Photo Credit: Alexa Viscius
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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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