Indie 102.3 Sessions

Back in November 2023, Host Alisha Sweeney joined Scottish trio Young Fathers in their dressing room before they opened for Depeche Mode at Ball Arena on their massive US tour. The band's 2023 album, their fourth, Heavy Heavy was nominated for the Mercury Prize in music---a prestigious UK title that they first were nominated for AND WON in 2014! They also just made history in their home country by winning their third Scottish Album of the Year award being praised for its raw energy and emotional depth! Members Alloysious Massaquoi, Kayus Bankole and G. Hastings talked with Alisha for our show Live Cuts about recording their new record during lockdown, their bond which started when they were teenagers, and they also share some of their favorite live moments from performing at festivals last summer.

When you have the chance to have a chat with one of the most accomplished producers in popular music today, you drop what you're doing and prep a few questions. Afternoon host Jason Thomas spoke with songwriter / super producer / frontman / all-around nice guy Jack Antonoff recently and a few of the things they touched on was how important Jack's local music scene was to him growing up, production techniques, and how special playing at Red Rocks can be.

They were voted your favorite Local 303 act of 2023, and we invited them to the Performance Studio for a chat and a killer set of original music, here's IPECAC! Local Music Director Alisha Sweeney sits down with the band to talk their 2023 self-titled EP and a tease on the EP that's to come, the band's childhood origins, and being inspired by fellow Colorado musicians. Stick around to hear some brand new, unreleased songs. Turn it up!

Songs performed:

"Everyone Deserves Love"

"IPECAC"

"Here on Business"

"5th and Grime"

After hearing soul singer Abraham Alexander fill a room with is sweet, powerful vocals you wouldn't believe that he didn't start singing until only 7 years ago. One of the moments that started his whirlwind career was being in the right time and place. He recounts being in the studio recording with Leon Bridges on his debut album. Now he's released his debut album into the world Sea/Songs (Dualtone Music Group). Watch or listen as Abraham Alexander talks with Host Alisha Sweeney about never losing childhood joy during his early years living in Greece, some of the most powerful stories behind his standout tracks, and how the full body of work embarks on a journey of growing up with his brothers and the time they spent together.

If you've had a chance to see rapper Genesis Owusu live, you might describe his performance as electric, heart-pounding, explosive. Fans got to witness all of that and more in the intimate venue of Globe Hall in Denver on a crisp November evening. We, here in the Indie Lounge, get a special performance from Genesis Owusu ahead of that show. He performs new tracks from his genre-less third LP STRUGGLER and sits down with Host Will Carlan.

Songs performed:

"Leaving The Light"

"Tied Up!"

"Stay Blessed"

Denver based singer-songwriter Jordin Dearinger committed himself to an impressive feat over the summer of 2023: put out an original new song every single Friday. "What is for me is creating and connecting through music," he told us in the exclusive interview. Before reaching the goal, he sat down with us back in Pride Month to talk about his background in music and growing within the Colorado music community and to play a few of those brand new tunes.

Songs performed:

1. "Heavy"

2. "Want Me Back"

Indie rock band Wildermiss may have made the move from Denver to Nashville recently, but the band hasn't lost that love for their hometown while being embraced by a new music scene. While on the road, Wildermiss has tried out new music and has received flows of positive support. Known for their joyous live shows and their catchy tunes, Wildermiss dominates their Live Session ahead of a headlining show at Infinity Park on September 23. Watch as their exclusive interview and hear brand new singles off their upcoming album Levitate (October 23).

Like many musicians, Denver band Kiltro had to pivot creatively during the pandemic. Isolation and chaos gave birth to the exploratory sound band members Chris Bowers Castillo and Will Parkhill produced on their 2023 album Underbelly. Freshly signed to national label 7S (along with Colorado bands Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats and Wildermiss), Kiltro has been touring the US making themselves known and developing a unique live show to encapsulate the intimate and introspective sounds from their latest body of work. Watch as they perform dynamic arrangements of their singles off the new album and chat with Host Will Carlan about their growth.

Miya Folick talks her new album Roach and the catharsis of moving through feelings of heartbreak and over coming toxic cycles.

Born outside of Boston and now Loveland based, band Mystee made their debut in the Indie Lounge back in April. The frontwoman and founder, Ilana Held, told us this wasn't her first music project. Held ventured to Cardiff, Wales for a songwriting Masters program. While there she did what any musician would typically do: she formed a band. The band created songs and performed gigs, but eventually it came to a halt when Held was deported for violating her visa. This isn't the only wild story that led to Mystee's origins. Watch this latest session with the Local 303 alum to hear more about her and the band's pursuits and listen to some of their latest tunes stripped down.