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 Wire

Since 1977, Wire has been reinventing its sound through experimentation – even though they emerged out of the British punk scene, they always resisted categorization. In 2002, they started their own record and distribution label and have continued their evolution towards elder pioneers that are still restless and curious.

In the following interview, CHIRP DJ Erik Roldan sat down with Wire’s lead singer Colin Newman to talk about their history, their future and what makes them so special.

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Artist Interviews Architecture in Helsinki

 Architecture in Helsinki shows are high energy alt-pop extravaganzas. Their catchy melodies and fun, playful lyrics create an environment where it’s welcomed and encouraged to both smile and dance around like a kid; and this Monday night (11/21) at the Metro, CHIRP Welcomes Architecture in Helsinki back to Chicago.

AiH frontman Cameron Bird sat down with CHIRP Radio’s Blake Burkhart for a chat about the visual nature of his band, his admiration of Grace Jones and a recent moment in his career that he considers a “massive honor.”

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Artist Interviews Tim Kinsella

Best known as the front man of Cap’n Jazz and Joan of Arc, Tim Kinsella is now a published author. His first novel, The Karaoke Singer’s Guide to Self-Defense, was published by Chicago’s own Featherproof Books.

Kinsella invited CHIRP DJ Dylan Peterson over to his apartment to talk about his latest projects, including Joan of Arc’s live soundtrack to Charlie Chaplin’s His New Job at the Chicago Book Expo in Uptown.

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Artist Interviews Art Brut

Eddie Argos will always let you know what’s on his mind. Throw on any of Art Brut’s first 3 albums, or visit his Twitter page, and take in an endless slurry of his thoughts as they come to him.

Now on their fourth full length album Brilliant! Tragic!, Eddie did something he had never done before as Art Brut’s frontman: he started singing, an idea he got from an indie rock legend.

CHIRP’s own Blake Burkhart had a chance to talk with Eddie about lyrics, tweets and comics.

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Artist Interviews Washed Out

Ernest Greene, better known as Washed Out, is one of the torch bearers of the Chillwave movement. His 2011 Sub Pop release Within and Without debuted to heavy rotation on CHIRP and garnered him an opening slot on Cut Copy’s North American tour.

CHIRP DJ Dylan Peterson caught some time with Ernest backstage at The Riviera, where they discussed New Age philosophy, his genre’s role in cannabis culture, and why Roger Waters shouldn’t devalue bedroom pop.

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