This week, DJ Ninja speaks with OK Cool, a Chicago-based indie rock duo comprised of Bridget Stiebris and Haley Blomquist Waller. They discuss the creation process and communication themes behind their new LP, Chit Chat, finally touring outside of the midwest, continuing to be two best buds making music together, and all of their thoughts and feelings about Panic! At The Disco.

"This record is a result of us just continuing to give ourselves grace in trying and failing and trying and succeeding." - Bridget Stiebris

Produced by DJ Ninja.

Photo Credit: Tracy Conoboy

Mia Henry is the founder and CEO of Freedom Lifted, which offers leadership development through online learning, training, and facilitation.  Mia has created educational spaces and practical tools to support just and ethical leadership for hundreds of organizations and more than 10,000 individuals.

Mia has deep experience leading organizations committed to promoting justice and equity, previously serving as Executive Director of the Arcus Center for Social Justice Leadership at Kalamazoo College and founding director of the Chicago Freedom School. From 2011 - 2022, she also designed and led 29 educational travel tours to Civil Rights sites in the Deep South.

A graduate of Rutgers University and the University of Pennsylvania, Mia has also been educated by the family dinner table, her parents' bookshelves, her Black ancestors who resisted, and people working for justice and demanding dignity around the world.

IG: miahenry

The First Time is hosted by Jenn Sodini. Directed by Bobby Evers. Podcast produced by Jim Mulvaney. Recorded by Tony Baker. 

A born silly goose, Kloie Louise (xe/xem/xyr) is a crafty creative and budding storyteller. Originally from Minneapolis, xe wrote a poorly reviewed and attended play for the Minnesota Fringe Festival at 19. Like the Sagittarius xe are, Kloie lived abroad in Turkey and Switzerland and traveled to many if not a pretentious amount of countries—but unfortunately can only speak English. From San Antonio to Memphis, Kloie has now landed in Chicago. Kloie is also a visual artist, painting a range of images from fat femmes to whimsical still lives. You can view xyr work on Instagram, at art festivals, and then maybe your home??? Bringing xyr unique pov and an unfortunately large amount of stories to tell, Kloie hopes to share experiences that help xem feel seen and connected to others.

IG: k.k.louise

The First Time is hosted by Jenn Sodini. Directed by Bobby Evers. Podcast produced by Jim Mulvaney. Recorded by Tony Baker. 

This week, Features contributor Liz Mason speaks with Mike Odd, manager of Drive Thru Metal group Mac Sabbath, based in Los Angeles but born from the bowels of Outer Space. They discuss the honor of playing the Weird Al stage at this year's upcoming Riot Fest, transcending the "parody band" label, how drive thru metal is intended to keep you away from the drive thru, and their serious merch game.

"So if you think that you're experiencing it by watching a video on YouTube or something, I got to tell you that every single person that I've ever talked to that's seen it for the first time, whether it be an agent or a club owner or a fan, they've all said, 'oh, I thought I knew what it was, but I had no idea it was going to be like this.'" - Mike Odd on Mac Sabbath's theatrical live performances

Mac Sabbath will be playing the Weird Al stage at Riot Fest on Friday, September 19th, and Reggie's on Thursday, September 18th.

Read a transcript of the interview here.

Produced by Liz Mason.

Photo Credit: Jeremy Saffer

This week, Features contributor Dillon Woodward speaks with Nickole Regala, Frankie Sripada, and Sophia Williams of Chicago-based psych rock band Daisychain. They discuss the creation of their first full-length album, All In A Name, working with powerhouse producer Sylvia Massy, and creating a safe space in their shows being a female-fronted rock band in a male-dominated scene.

"We get on stage, we want to be just a powerful force." - Nickole Regala of Daisychain

Produced by Jessi D.

Photo Credit: Vicki Holda

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