CHIRP's exclusive artist interviews, conducted on-location and produced entirely by CHIRP volunteers. Subscribe to the feed to receive new interviews with local and national acts every week.

Artist Interviews Battles

The members of Battles had endured an interesting year leading into their performance at July’s Pitchfork Music Festival. Handling the departure of vocalist Tyondai Braxton, planning an international tour and releasing the follow up to 2007’s acclaimed Mirrored were all still fresh memories. It couldn’t have been easy for or Ian Williams, Dave Konopka and John Stanier, yet they continue make it look that way.

Shortly following their exhilarant Pitchfork performance, the three members joined CHIRP Radio’s Blake Burkhart for a conversation about such topics as: venue vs. festival crowds, collaborating with Gary Numan, and the nature of over-stimulation from the internet.

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Artist Interviews Friendly Fires

XL’s Friendly Fires are an indie band from the UK who combine disco-pop, dance-punk, and electro-rock into an infectiously upbeat new-rave style. They took a short break from dancing to hang out backstage at Lollapalooza with CHIRP DJ Dylan Peterson. Swapping stories of respective Elijah Wood sightings, escaping seasonal trappings on tour, and fun alternatives to suicidal behavior are all discussed in an exclusive CHIRP podcast.

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Artist Interviews David Bazan Interview

Although David Bazan cut his teeth in Pedro the Lion, his recent work as a solo recording artist has enabled him to stretch his musical wings as well as find new ways to connect with his fans. He embarked on a living room tour in advance of Strange Negotiations. Bazan performed solo in small, intimate venues (often fans’ literal living rooms) and traveled alone, sleeping in his van.

CHIRP Radio’s DJ Mandrew interviewed Bazan after his Chicago show at an art gallery in Pilsen back in March. Bazan explained why, after over fifteen years in the music business, this type of DIY touring can be more engaging, successful, and fulfilling than taking a full band on the road to large rock venues.

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Artist Interviews Kurt Vile

Kurt Vile is a singer-songwriter from Philadelphia. His latest album Smoke Ring for My Halo is one of the most acclaimed releases of the year.

CHIRP DJ Dylan Peterson caught a few minutes with Kurt at the Pitchfork Music Festival, where they talked about his role in The War on Drugs, fun finds at the CHIRP Record Fair, the sax-rock revival, and his hair.

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Artist Interviews Cut Copy

The Australian quartet Cut Copy (Modular Records) bends genres of pop, indie rock and dance into a spectacle of sound that has stretched the globe. Amidst their most recent world tour in promotion of their third full length album Zonoscope; members Tim Hoey (Guitar) and Mitchell Scott (Drums) joined CHIRP Radio’s Blake Burkhart for an interview backstage at Chicago’s classic Riviera Theatre.

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