This week, Features contributor Bobby Evers speaks with Minneapolis-based singer, rapper, musician, and writer Dessa. They discuss her newest self-produced singles, the early days of the winter 2025 ICE invasion in Minnesota, her experiences collaborating with the Minnesota Orchestra, and her upcoming work on writing her first novel. 

"Remember to react with a proportionate degree of surprise and indignity, and hopefully to step up and do something to help your neighbors and the people who are affected." - Dessa

Editor's Note: this interview was recorded before the murders of Renée Good and Alex Pretti by ICE agents in Minnesota. Please check Dessa's Instagram account for her statements on the current situation in Minnesota and updates on her fundraising efforts for the Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota.

Produced by Jessi D.

Photo Credit: Athel Rogers

This week, Features director Jessi D spoke with Jannese Espino, Christian Ovalle, Yeshi Regalado, and Zach Riedler of Chicago's own La Rosa Noir at Riot Fest in September 2025. La Rosa Noir was one of three up-and-coming local artists from the Little Village and North Lawndale neighborhoods selected to be added to the Riot Fest lineup by community submission. They discuss the emotional process from submission to acceptance to finally playing the stage at the festival, their self-made genre "midwest surf," and their cultural heritages shining through in their art. 

"Being Hispanic, Latino, Latin American, Chicano - we're such a prideful people naturally. And I feel like it's always going to bleed through whatever we create." - Yeshi Regalado

Produced by Jessi D.

Photo Credit: Jessi D

This week, Features contributor Safiya Ratliff speaks with B and K of Chicago-based Black queer punk outfit Bussy Kween Power Trip. They discuss their newest LP, Coming With The Strap, being queer and Black in the Chicago music scene and how it's changed from when they were teens seeing shows to now, and the policy of no new white friends.

"Every time we play a show and a young Black person comes up to us and is like, it's so good to see you guys on stage, I'm like, this is why we do it. Because I didn't get to see that growing up, I don't think I ever saw in my years and years of going to shows a Black front woman let alone an alternative band with only Black people in it." - B

Photo Credit: Torreé Marcel

Produced by Brian Szpak.

This week, Features contributor Sophia Ramirez speaks with Thymme Jones and Jeff Libersher of Chicago-based progressive rock ensemble Cheer-Accident. They discuss the recent release of their 26th album, Admission, the band's history stretching back to 1981, boundary-pushing in various genres, and their forays in Chicago public access television.

"If it's about questioning things and pushing boundaries and forging your own path, I'm all about it." - Thymme Jones

Produced by Sophia Ramirez.

Photo Credit: Evan Jenkins

You can read a transcript of this interview here.

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

Read a transcript of this interview here.

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

You can read a transcript of the interview here.

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.