This week for the CHIRP Radio Podcast, Features Co-Director Mick R. speaks with Steve Von Till of the seminal experimental sludge metal and hardcore punk band, Neurosis. Tune in to hear Steve discuss the making of his new solo album No Wilderness Deep Enough, the inspiration behind his first book of poetry Harvestman: 23 Untitled Poems and Collected Lyrics, and the challenges of teaching fourth-graders via distance learning.

No Wilderness Deep Enough is out August 7th via Neurot Recordings. 

Harvestman: 23 Untitled Poems and Collected Lyrics is out August 7th via Astrophil Press. 

Produced by Mick R. 

Theodore Hahn is a designer, writer and semi-professional glutton living in Chicago. Like any sane human with a beating heart, he loves dogs and fried chicken. People who have literally nothing else going on in their lives may check out his work at the83k.substack.com.

The First Time is CHIRP Radio’s Live Lit and Music series. It pairs a reader’s personal story about a specific "first time" -- a different "first" for each show -- with a song performance. This unique structure allows the story to resonate with audience members as they experience the accompanying song covered by The First Time Four. The band takes special care to perform unexpected song arrangements, so it is hard to tell which the audience enjoys more: the story or the song.

The First Time is produced and directed by Julie Mueller with Assistant Producers Bobby Evers, Hadas Werman and Host Jenn Sodini. Podcast recorded and produced by Jenn Rourke. Engineering by Tony Baker.

This week for the CHIRP Radio podcast, features contributor Eddie spoke with Jess of Chicago-based indie folk band Tenci about how she formed the band, her recent streaming performances and the reception of her band’s latest album, My Heart is An Open Field out via Keeled Scales.

Produced by Eddie Sayago.

Photo Credit: Rachel Azzi Lessing

For this week’s episode of the CHIRP Radio Podcast we have Marjorie Alford in conversation with songwriter and frontman of Young Man in a Hurry, Matt Baron. Tune in to hear this very engaging conversation, where they discuss how Matt recruited his dermatologist into his band, his work with the project Future Hits, teaching through music, and structuring time for art, play, and creativity.

Note: This interview was recorded before IL’s Shelter in Place order in March of this year.

Produced by Matt Barr

Photo by Sally Blood

Jen B. Larson plays in the band beastii and contributes music writing to Victim of Time, 50Thirdand3rd, Please Kill Me, and more. She also draws comics and authors fiction for Pulp Oddyssey, Earth's first newspaper from outer space. During the day, she teaches special education at an arts high school in Chicago, and at night and on the weekends, spends whatever free time she has researching for and drafting her first book. You can find links to most of her work at [url=http://www.disappearingmedia.com]http://www.disappearingmedia.com[/url]

The First Time is CHIRP Radio’s Live Lit and Music series. It pairs a reader’s personal story about a specific "first time" -- a different "first" for each show -- with a song performance. This unique structure allows the story to resonate with audience members as they experience the accompanying song covered by The First Time Four. The band takes special care to perform unexpected song arrangements, so it is hard to tell which the audience enjoys more: the story or the song.

The First Time is produced and directed by Julie Mueller with Assistant Producers Bobby Evers, Hadas Werman and Host Jenn Sodini. Podcast recorded and produced by Jenn Rourke. Engineering by Tony Baker.

This week for the CHIRP Radio podcast, features contributor Eddie spoke with local pop-soul band Holly, about how they came up with their name, their approach to songwriting, and their various musical influences.

Note: This interview was recorded before IL’s Shelter in Place order in March of this year.

Produced by Eddie Sayago

Ines Bellina is a writer, storyteller, and bon vivant. She has performed in shows all over town like Is this a Thing, You're Being Ridiculous at Steppenwolf, Story Club, Miss Spoken, and the Chicago Women's Funny Festival. Her writing has also appeared in Block Club Chicago, The Takeout, The A.V. Club, and more. She is currently working on a contemporary YA novel that combines her hatred of Catholic school with her love of high school musicals.

The First Time is CHIRP Radio’s Live Lit and Music series. It pairs a reader’s personal story about a specific "first time" -- a different "first" for each show -- with a song performance. This unique structure allows the story to resonate with audience members as they experience the accompanying song covered by The First Time Four. The band takes special care to perform unexpected song arrangements, so it is hard to tell which the audience enjoys more: the story or the song.

The First Time is produced and directed by Julie Mueller with Assistant Producer Bobby Evers and Host Jenn Sodini. Podcast recorded and produced by Jenn Rourke. Engineering by Tony Baker.

Like you, the CHIRP Features team is staying home to help flatten the curve! We are shifting our programming to present a new series in our Artist Interview Program. Shelter In Sound features interviews with artists and local music related tastemakers on what they are doing right now during this global pandemic. Tune in to learn how some of your favorite folx are managing and staying creative while hunkered down.

For the final episode of CHIRP’s limited series Shelter in Sound, Features Co-Director Mick R (@thasoundblog) spoke with Chicago-local, avant-garde cellist Alison Chesley aka Helen Money (@Helen_Money), about hosting music lessons over Zoom, her work with metal and drone musicians, and the themes of her latest album, Atomic. Alison is thoughtful and perceptive in her answers, and we hope that you will enjoy this delightful conversation and insight into her work. Atomic is out via Thrill Jockey Records.

Production: Mick R

Photo Credit: Alison Chesley

Karen Clanton is an attorney whose law degree did not stifle the English major lurking within. She has forged a career as a writer in the legal profession, where she has led complex editorial projects in securities law, women's history and diversity. Karen currently works in a large law firm in the area of Diversity & Inclusion. She is a single mom living on the South Side of Chicago chronicling her adventures through stories told on her back porch (or at the kitchen table when it's cold outside) that end up being heard on stages across the city.

The First Time is CHIRP Radio’s Live Lit and Music series. It pairs a reader’s personal story about a specific "first time" -- a different "first" for each show -- with a song performance. This unique structure allows the story to resonate with audience members as they experience the accompanying song covered by The First Time Four. The band takes special care to perform unexpected song arrangements, so it is hard to tell which the audience enjoys more: the story or the song.

The First Time is produced and directed by Julie Mueller with Assistant Producer Bobby Evers and Host Jenn Sodini. Podcast recorded and produced by Jenn Rourke. Engineering by Tony Baker.

Like you, the CHIRP Features team is staying home to help flatten the curve! We are shifting our programming to present a new series in our Artist Interview Program. Shelter In Sound features interviews with artists and local music related tastemakers on what they are doing right now during this global pandemic. Tune in to learn how some of your favorite folx are managing and staying creative while hunkered down.

For this week's Shelter In Sound, Features Co-Director Jessi D spoke with Kyle LaValley, the Talent Buyer for new-kid-on-the-block venue Sleeping Village. They discuss Sleeping Village's quick pivot to curbside pick up, keeping an active presence on social media, participating in CIVL and NIVA to save and support local and national live music venues, and the quirks of the Chicago music scene. This podcast features tracks from local artists Superknova, Meat Wave, Ratboys, and Whitney, who have all made an appearance on Sleeping Village's stage.

Produced by Jessi D