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 Elijah Berlow Interview

This week, Marjorie Alford speaks with Chicago-based songwriter and multi-instrumentalist folk musician Elijah Berlow. They discuss his east coast roots, love songwriting process, how Chicago has helped his collaboration process, and choosing to perform under his own name to be as much of himself as possible.

"I think what draws me most to writing music is you're just kind of picking up signals throughout your existence, if that makes sense. Like these layers or sounds already exist in you or outside of you, and I have to think that writing about them for me over the years has been like an antennae, a manifesting output of these signals. So I think that's what really draws me in." - Elijah Berlow

Produced by Alyssa Edes.

Photo Credit: Lena Jackson

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Artist Interviews Jeff Rosenstock & Laura Stevenson Interview

DIY punk mainstays Jeff Rosenstock & Laura Stevenson are good friends and great collaborators. They've released their second EP of Neil Young covers this year titled, Younger Still. Features Contributor Matty G was able to catch up with the dashing duo to talk about their work together, their favorite Neil Young songs, and what they love most about Chicago. 

Jeff & Laura will be playing Lincoln Hall in Chicago this Friday, December 9th, 2022. 

Younger Still is out on Polyvinyl Recordings. 

"We're friends and we encourage each other and that hasn't really changed... I think that makes for a good collaborative process. And yeah, I guess we have gotten better at music. But also maybe our ideas aren't as cool anymore because we're older." - Jeff Rosenstock

Produced by Adalyn Staats. 

Image Credit: Dan Ozzi.

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Artist Interviews Chaepter Interview

This week, Features Co-Director Mick R speaks with Chicago-based R&B and pop artist and producer, Chaepter. They discuss his midwestern roots, his new and first full-length album where he does it all, Kicking the Cat, his desire to create "Midwest Gothic" aesthetic in his work, how his Catholic childhood shapes him as an artist and person, and of course, what "kicking the cat" means.

"I think I've always really liked Gothic literature as a whole and then how it pertains to the region, like Southern Gothics. [...] I kind of wanted to create something that could be categorized as a "Midwest Gothic." Something that pulls from our geography and our region. What it feels like to live in, kind of like a wasteland. I think a lot of people can relate, especially growing up in central Illinois, there is nothing out there. A lot of it is just gone. It used to be this big beautiful prairie, which is such a cool ecosystem, just got turned into a monoculture. Corn and soybeans. And it just feels empty sometimes. And I wanted to create something that kinda reflected that feeling and how geography can reflect how we feel inside. [...] And some of those midwestern values; honesty, vulnerability, I wanted that to be in there..." - Chaepter

Produced by Mick R.

Photo Credit: Vanessa Valadez

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Artist Interviews Iceage Interview

This week, Features contributor Lee Gomez speaks with Dan Kjær Nielsen, Elias Bender Rønnenfelt, Jakob Tvilling Pless, Johan Surrballe Wieth, and Casper Morilla of Danish post-punk band Iceage. They discuss their recent release, a compilation album of b-sides and outtakes, Shake the Feeling, touring in America, and their favorite things to eat and drink when visiting Chicago.

"I was really talking in broad strokes about humanity as a whole. I think that's just a reference to the headspace that I was in when I was writing lyrics for it." - Elias Bender Rønnenfelt, in repsonse to Iceage's headspace in creating their 2021 LP "Seek Shelter."

Produced by Adalyn Staats.

Photo Credit: Soren Lynggaard

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Artist Interviews Discussing the Sun Interview

Discussing the Sun is an emo pop group that combines the talents of Chicago-based singer/songwriter Mars and Cleveland hip-hop producer (Leave) Nelson B. Features Co-Director Mick R catches up with them to talk about their new album Feel It All, as well as how the band came together, how they pushed each other to break new ground through their collaboration, and the personal nature of the project's lyrics. 

Feel It All is out on Lonely Ghosty Records. 

"[Discussing the Sun] lead me into being able to see all of [my emotions] as valid and necessary and crucial for my survival. And at the end, I got to this point where [I was] like, 'Okay, I'm just gonna feel this because I need to...'" - Mars

Produced by Mick R. 

Image courtesy of the artist. 

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