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 Mission of Burma

Though pioneers of post-punk, Mission of Burma are slow to admit their influential place in indie rock history. CHIRP DJ Blake Burkhart sat down with the band before their 2012 show at Lincoln Hall to discuss their journeys over the past three decades, staying angsty in chillwave times, and the freakiest surprise of their career. Mission of Burma released Unsound in 2012 on Fire Records.

(Produced by Eugene Cabanban)

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Artist Interviews Matthew Dear

Matthew Dear is a prolific producer, remixer, and the co-founder of electronic label Ghostly International. In 2012 he released Beams on said label, and toured the world in support of it. CHIRP's Jenn Rourke caught up with Matthew before his Chicago stop at Lincoln Hall. They discussed his musical roots in New York, working in the city versus the country, and bouncing back from Hurricane Sandy.

(produced by Jenn Rourke)

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Artist Interviews Justice

French electro duo Justice headlined Lollapalooza in 2012 and caught up with CHIRP's Dylan Peterson before a headlining show at the Congress Theater. Backstage with Gaspard Augé and Xavier de Rosnay, they discussed the power of the cross, making art without apology, and the delicate process of successfully executing a live Justice set. The group's second live album, "Access All Arenas," releases in 2013.

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Artist Interviews Cains & Abels

Chicago rock group Cains & Abels released their second full-length album My Life Is Easy on Whistler Records in March 2012. Life Is Easy represents an honest, beautifully crafted tale of nature-inspired lyrics rooted in stories of struggle.

Katie Owens sat down with David Sampson & Josh Ippel over beer, sans koozies, in a River North loft to delve into the meaning of C/A’s stories illustrated on their latest album, discuss hearing silence, and discover what makes their lives easy.

(produced by Ben Sutherland)

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Artist Interviews JC Brooks and The Uptown Sound

Chicago’s high energy group JC Brooks and the Uptown Sound have wowed audiences all over the city with their brand of soulful rock. They’ve made a name for themselves as a vivacious live act that could rival the most spirited in Chicago or anywhere else. This reputation has sent them touring the US and internationally, picking up some very famous admirers and acquaintances along the way. Listen to CHIRP Radio’s Blake Burkhart as he interviewed the guys backstage at Lollapalooza 2012. JC Brooks and the Uptown Sound headlined one of the Metro’s 30th anniversary shows on November 21st, 2012.

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