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CHIRP Podcasts
Podcasts on the topic of “Mick R” 36 results
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 The Bollweevils Interview
Daryl Wilson is the lead singer of the seminal Chicago punk band The Bollweevils. Formed in 1989, the group has released many records and been through many iterations over the decades, but as Daryl shares in this interview with Features Department Co-Director Mick R, their latest album Essential is the best that the band has ever sounded. Tune in to hear how the record came together over the course of more than a decade, the band's awesome relationship with local punk label Red Scare, and why they'll never change their style.
"It's our coming out party, to say 'Here's The Bollweevils!' ... it epitomizes how far we've come... and you can hear it now in how it sounds, better than before." - Daryl Wilson, discussing the decision to re-record thier classic song "Bottomless Pit" for their new record Essential.
Essential is out on Red Scare.
The Bollweevils will be playing a record release show with the Brokedowns on 5/27 at the Chop Shop.
Produced by Mick R.
Image Credit: Paul Catani
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Artist Interviews Fire-Toolz Interview
Fire-Toolz is an experimental music project from Chicago-based producer, composer, and multi-instrumentalist Angel Marcloid. In this interview with Features Co-Director Mick R., she discusses how her spiritualism informs her work, responses to her latest album I am upset because I see something that is not there, and her complicated relationship with vaporwave.
I am upset because I see something that is not there is out on Hausu Mountain Records.
"My earliest memories are of people not really knowing what to do with me. I'm used to not being understood. That's always been really hard for me, but I can't be inauthentic and conform, or else I feel like I'm suffocating." - Angel Marcloid
Produced by Mick R.
Image Credit: Eliza Janus
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Artist Interviews Screaming Females Interview
DIY and punk trio Screaming Females have pioneered an uncommon path through the underground and the larger music business since their inception almost twenty years ago. They've released their eighth studio album this year, titled Desire Pathway, now out on Doni Govani records. Ahead of their Chicago stop on their spring tour, vocalist and lead guitarist Marissa Paternoster and drummer Jarrett Dougherty talked with Features Co-Director Mick R. about the state of their creative process and its democratic underpinnings, the contributions of producer Matt Bayles to their latest record and their steady and supportive relationship with Don Giovanni Records.
Find Desire Pathway at https://www.dongiovannirecords.com/
If you're truly having like a democratic creative process where everyone gets to chip in their two cents, you're never going to get exactly what you like, or might absolutely desire. But the whole beauty of being in a band is that ... you come up with something together that you never even expected. - Marissa Paternoster.
Produced by Mick R.
Image Credit: Krista Schlueter
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Artist Interviews Doom Flower Interview
Doom Flower is a stormy and conceptual anti-folk and trip-hop band based in Chicago. Features Co-Director Mick R. caught up with vocalist Jess Price and bassist Bobby Burg to talk about how the band came together, the moods and secrets contained in the songs off their latest LP Limestone Ritual, and the significance of Jess's retro, digital camera to the group's aesthetics and visuals.
Limestone Ritual is available on Bobby Burg's own 'Record Label.'
"I like that comparison [of our music] to a big storm. I think often times when it storms, there's kind of a sense of it coming, the mood changes, things quiet a little bit as color of the sky changes, the smell change. And so that's kind of a fun comparison as far as your senses being confused or like just having your attention taken over for a little bit." - Jess Price
Produced by Mick R.
Photo Credit: Collin Bunting
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Artist Interviews Defcee Interview
This week, Features co-director Mick R speaks with Chicago rapper and poetry teacher, Adam Levin aka Defcee. They discuss the parallels between poetry and hip hop, the genesis of the style of his flow, his influences, his dream collaboration with producer Blockhead, and the naming of his album For All Debts Public and Private.
"I just wanted to be honest and open about those struggles I have as well, because I can be as superhuman as I want to be on the microphone, but at the end of the day, if I'm not being vulnerable in my music as well, there's nothing to distinguish it from the next rapper who thinks they're the best out there." - Defcee
Photo Credit: Michael Salisbury
Produced by Jessi D.
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Artist Interviews Ester Interview
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Anna Holmquist is the leader of Chicago based indie folk group Ester. They have released a stand alone double single Red Rover / Change is Allowed in January 2023. Features Co-Director Mick R. caught up with Anna to talk about the origins of their band, the role of humor in their music, and some of their earliest concert going experiences.
"[I used to think that it] wouldn't make sense for me to do things that are louder or wouldn't make sense for me to do things that were a little less serious or whatever. But I realized that the music I write is the music I write and whether that is something that is on the quieter range of things or something that is a little louder, or maybe sillier, it's all stuff that is Ester because I'm creating." - Anna Holmquist
Produced by Mick R.
Photo Credit: Ash Dye
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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 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 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.
Photo Credit: Discussing the Sun
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Artist Interviews Liska Interview
Liska is a Chicago-based singer and songwriter with a fun and bright DIY sound. She talks with Features Co-Director Mick R about her latest EP La Boom, her greatest influences, and what it was like growing up in a family of professional musicians.
Liska will be playing a special Halloween show at Golden Dagger in Chicago with Modern Nun and TheUpDowns on October 30, 2022. Tickets can be found at goldendagger.com.
La Boom was self produced and released.
"I like to think of myself as super badass, but I know that I do not come off that way. Because I'm always thinking like, 'Wow, I'm really giving like 'Scorpio Rising' death glares,' and then everyone's like, 'You're so cute!' ... So I've now leaned into that." - Liska
Produced by Mick R.
Image Credit: Matt Allen
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Artist Interviews Chicago Research Interview
Conversation with Blake Karlson of local label Chicago Research, talking about the collaborative origins of the label, its aesthetics and focus on local music, why it's coming to an end, and Blake's new record store, Signal Records, located at 3156 W. Diversey Ave.
"I think the project [Chicago Research] was successful in what I initially wanted it to be was just archiving a very specific point in time from a very specific place, because we only released stuff that was in Chicago." - Blake Karlson
Produced by Mick R.
Image by Chicago Research
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Artist Interviews Mike Reed Interview
Mike Reed is a respected jazz drummer and one of the many people who makes Pitchfork Festival and the Chicago Jazz Festival happen each year. In this episode of the CHIRP Radio Artist Interview Series, he talks with Features Co-Director Mick R. about the founding of Pitchfork Fest, the legacy of the Chicago Jazz Fest, and details what he has planned next for his many solo projects.
"It's about music, and music discovery... that's still first and foremost what we do." - Mike Reed, on Pitchfork Fest
Produced by Mick R.
Photo Credit: Mike Reed
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Artist Interviews Jeff Parker Interview
Jeff Parker is a guitarist and composer, famous for his jazz session work and his contributions to the Chicago band Tortoise. After his performance at Pitchfork Fest in July 2022, he returned home and took a call from his home studio from features co-director Mick R. They talked about his performance at Pitchfork and chatted about the origins and creation of his 2021 solo album, Forfolks. It's a wonderful and warm conversation that we hope you'll enjoy.
"The New Breed was a kind of posthumous tribute to my father. Suite for Max Brown was the kind of tribute to my mom, who's still around. And Forfolks is for all of us. It's for the folks." - Jeff Parker
Produced by Mick R.
Photo Credit: Jeff Parker
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Artist Interviews Zvrra Interview
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Zvrra is a Chicago producer and game developer who makes techno and dark ambient music inspired by fantasy RPGs and video games soundtracks. Mick R checked in with this innovative artist to learn more about her work and what games inspire it.
Zvrra's latest album Solace can be found on Bandcamp.
"I try to capture that early 2000s electronic vibe and kind of merge it with a modern sound." - Zvrra
Produced by Mick R.
Photo Credit: Zvrra
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Artist Interviews Quin Kirchner Interview
This week, Features co-director Mick R. catches up with Chicago-based percussionist Quin Kirchner while on tour with Ryley Walker in Europe. They discuss adapting to a variety of styles of music in the bands he plays with, the conversational art of improvisation, and the creative processes of making accessible excerpts for his release Concentric Orbits, a duo with France-based pianist Rob Clearfield.
"It's so important to listen and to be aware of what the other musicians you're playing with are saying and where they're coming from because it is a conversation." - Quin Kirchner
Produced by Jessi D.
Photo Credit: Lizzie Kirchner
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Artist Interviews Flung Interview
Kashika is Flung, an Oakland polyrhythmic and experimental music project that bridges the worlds of poetry and sample-based music. They have a new album dropping this summer called Apricot Angel, and in this interview they speak with Features co-director Mick R. about how the new album came together, how Kashika translates their songs to a live setting, the enduring influence of Zimbabwean Shona Marimba on their music, and more.
Flung will be playing the Hideout on July 2, 2022. Information can be found at https://hideoutchicago.com/
Apricot Angel will be out on Citrus City on Citrus City on August 19, 2022.
"Once the songs going you're part of it and you have to stay with it and you have to attend to it, and even if something falls away, you still have to get back on it and give it what you can" - Kashika
Produced by Mick R.
Photo credit: Jordan White
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Artist Interviews Arcadia Grey Interview
This week, Features co-director Mick R. speaks with Nat Breeden of Arcadia Grey, a formerly Indianapolis-based and now Chicago-based emo/pop punk band. They discuss Arcadia Grey's surprising influences, the rise of fifth-wave emo during the pandemic, and the maturation of the band's sound on their upcoming sophomore album.
"Once our music is out there, it isn't our music anymore, it isn't our art anymore, it's the people who listen to it and how they want to interepret it. I think, looking back, on the process of making the art, I think it's a good idea to have someone else create it with their own intentions in mind, and have the audience intrepret it. I think that's cool. I think that's what we try to strive for in our music." - Nat Breeden
Produced by Jessi D.
Photo Credit: V. Sidaugaite
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Artist Interviews Jennifer Hall Interview
Jennifer Hall is a Chicago based singer who has released a string of powerful singles over the course of 2021 and 2022. Features co-director Mick R. caught up with her to talk about her upcoming EP, the inspiration for her recent singles, her work with producer Noah Leger of Disappears, and her many past collaborations.
"I have been incredibly lucky to have music as an outlet, both in listening and creating... it's been a wonderful escape and a great friend in tough times." - Jennifer Hall
Production by Mick R.
Photo credit: Matthew Hollis
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Artist Interviews Cloakroom Interview
Cloakroom is an experimental post-metal and space rock group out of Northwest Indiana, comprised of vocalist and guitarist Doyle Martin, bassist Bobby Markos, and drummer Tim Remis. They have an album out on Relapse titled Dissolution Wave that envisions a future dystopia without art. Check out Features Co-Director Mick R's conversation with Markos about the ideas that inspired the album and why Cloakroom's sound will never stop evolving and expanding.
Get Dissolution Wave from Relapse Records.
"The art of Earth is the source of vibrance of humanity... Without it, the world would be a dark place... I don't want to think about Earth without Art." - Bobby Markos
Production by Mick R.
Image Credit: Vin Romero
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Artist Interviews Woody Goss Interview
This week, Features Co-Director Mick R speaks with Woody Goss, a Chicagoland native who is best known as the pianist and composer of Vulfpeck. Goss discusses his latest solo album, Rainbow Beach, which is a real beach in the South Shore neighborhood, and how a rare birding experience there shaped the visual theme of the album, the lore behind Carolina parakeets and their inclusion in Rainbow Beach's album artwork, and his fruitful year of birdwatching.
"I wanted to make something relaxing. [...] Booker T and the MGs had this song called 'Sunday Sermon' that I had been listening to for a few years and I put this song on whenever I just wanted to just chill out, and I was like, 'man, I want more music like this.' And so that was kind of an inspiration. I need more music with just a live single and a piano just grooving." - Woody Goss
Produced by Mick R
Photo Credit: Erin Ayalp
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