This week, Features contributor Matty G speaks with Chicago-based artist Jessica Risker. They discuss her first full-length album in seven years, Calendar Year, how the leading single from the album "City Hours" is the "dystopian apex" of the album, and the podcast project born out of the pandemic that combines her musicianship with her therapist career, "Music Therapy with Jessica Risker."

"There's always a gap between what you imagine something you make could be and then your capacity to actually pull that off. And even though there's certainly more room for growth, I really feel like this is my best work." - Jessica Risker on her new album

Jessica Risker will play an album release show for Calendar Year at Constellation on September 5th.

Produced by Jessi D.

Photo Credit: Rachel Winslow

For a transcript of this interview, please visit the blog.

This week, Features contributor Noah Haynes speaks with Quinn Dugan, Ruby O'Brien, and Theo Williams of Chicago-based three-piece UNIFLORA. They discuss pushing themselves in new directions on their latest album, More Gums Than Teeth, their creativel influences from detective novels to Animal Collective, and how their sound will evolve once they graduate high school.

"I think being a young band is kind of part of the allure, but I think at a certain point it'll switch over and it'll just be, oh people just like us 'cause we make good music." Ruby O'Brien, UNIFLORA

Produced by Noah Haynes.

Photo Credit: Carlos Lowenstein

For a transcript of this interview, please visit the blog.

This week, Features contributor Liz Mason speaks with Chicago-based hip hop artist Amanu, aka Spiderface. They discuss the futuristic concept album Kaiju Green that takes place in a post-apocalyptic Chicago, the hip hop collective Greenlights Music groupchat, and his exploration of the relationship between technology and everyday life.

"Don't give in to despair. Find that thing, whatever that thing is that gives you joy and light, and embrace that and fight." - Amanu aka Spiderface

Produced by Liz Mason.

Photo Credit: Johno Rose

For a transcript of this interview, visit the blog.

This week, Features contributor Sophia Ramirez speaks with K.O. Weakley aka TYGKO and Cam Stacey, co-owners and co-founders of DIY music venue, Bookclub in Chicago's Lakeview neighborhood. They discuss their DIY roots and the journey to go legit, the built in community-based ethos in the former Elbo Room space, and K.O.'s music project, TYGKO.

"I also love that we are talking about it as an evolution because I do literally refer to OG Bookclub as Charmander and legit Bookclub as Charmeleon for the Pokemon fans. What's the Charizard version? You'll have to wait and see." - Cam Stacey

Produced by Sophia Ramirez.

Photo Credit: Bookclub

For a transcript of this interview, visit the blog.

This week, Features director Marjorie Alford speaks with Chicago based rock'n'roller of the apocalypse Laila Eskin of Heet Deth. They discuss Heet Deth’s birth in a hot practice space one fateful September afternoon in 2019 where Laila tuned her guitar to “almost a fart” and never looked back, the story behind Heet Deth’s unique look as they leaned into “the new bad future”, the writing of Heet Deth’s sophomore album Bad Reading, and what’s next for the band as the hunt for a new drummer unfolds.

“I doomscroll because I'm looking for answers. Or relief. Or connection. But the thing that kind of heels doomscrolling is being actually connected to the people outside. Or just being outside. Or just throwing my phone.” - Laila Eskin of Heet Deth

Bad Reading is out now on all music platforms.

Produced by Marjorie Alford.

Photo Credit: Heet Deth

This week, Features contributor Dillon Woodward speaks with pop violinist Lapis Stone AKA LapiOnTheBeat. They discuss the origins of the name LapiOnTheBeat, Lapi's genre-blending and genre-creating style, the new single You Got Me, life as a street performer, and Lapi's goals as an artist.

"This is something that is a fixture in culture. Street musicians - artists in general - we do provide something. Whether it's a service or a product, it is valuable." - LapiOnTheBeat

LapiOnTheBeat's mixtape The Populator will be released June 29th exclusively for download and streaming only on Bandcamp.

Photo Credit: Anton D.

Produced by Marjorie Alford.

For a transcript of this interview, visit the blog.

Andy Friedman is a CHIRP DJ whose show airs Monday afternoons from 3-6 PM, and is a longtime broadcaster and marketer. Andy's roots are in radio. He worked as a news reporter and anchor for stations on the west coast in the 90s. Andy covered earthquakes, fires, riots, and court cases including the O.J. Simpson murder trial.

Since moving to Chicago in 1999, Andy has worked for CBS Radio, iHeartMedia, and the Tribune among others. Today, Andy lives in North Center with his wife Jen and, when not volunteering for CHIRP, spends time on random marketing projects.

The First Time is a live lit and music series recorded at Martyrs in Chicago's North Center neighborhood. Each reader tells a true first tale, followed by any cover of the storyteller's choosing, performed by our house band, The First Time Three.

The First Time is hosted by Jenn Sodini. Production by Andy Vasoyan and Executive Producer Bobby Evers. Podcast produced by Andy Vasoyan. Recorded by Tony Baker.

This week, Features contributor Safiya Ratliff speaks with Tara Shedor of Chicago-based rock 'n' rollers Everyday Specials. They discuss the creation of their new EP Doggy Bag and the various dog references contained within, their college-era battle of the bands musical roots, and writing songs about the socialist values of now-defunct car manufacturer Saturn.

"Politics are infused in everything. I feel like it comes through and we want our songs to, you know, actually remark about the world in addition to being fun. And we're out here having fun, but we're having fun in blazing fires around us, right?" - Tara Shedor of Everyday Specials

Photo Credit: Tom Moffitt

Produced by Brian Szpak.

For a transcript of this interview, visit the blog.