Music Therapy with Jessica Risker

In this episode of Music Therapy, I talk with Chicago musician Mia Joy. We talk about growing up in her musical family, being a music teacher, her new single and upcoming album, using music as a way to cope with emotions, Mia’s experience with depression and therapy, connecting with her label Fire Talk Records, and more!!

Listen to Mia Joy: https://miajoy.bandcamp.com/album/spirit-tamer

Visit: https://jessicarisker.com/

In this episode, I talk with Claudia Ferme of Claude! We talk about her new EP "Enactor", the covidwinter blues, her songwriting process, comparing to others on social media, a new album she is working on, and more!

Listen to Claude: https://girlclaude.bandcamp.com/album/enactor

Visit https://jessicarisker.com/

In this episode of Music Therapy I talk with Dave Vettraino of @publichouserecs ! Dave talks about his new solo album “Exercise” coming out this Friday via @firetalkrecs , how he’s developed his recording studio over the years, advice for bands coming in to a studio to record, how it’s been sort of nice to get a little break this year, and more!

Something messed up with the audio at the end of the interview so it cuts off abruptly, but all the good stuff is there.  To answer Dave's question  - I am fine!

https://davevettraino.bandcamp.com/album/exercise

https://jessicarisker.com/

In this episode of Music Therapy I interview therapist Malory Dahl of Chicago Counseling Center about Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). Malory does an incredible job of sharing the symptoms of SAD, why some people experience SAD, ways to treat SAD at home, when to see a therapist for SAD, and how to differentiate SAD from generalized depression or COVID related mood changes.

Learn more about Malory: https://www.instagram.com/malorydahlwellness/

Visit my website: jessicarisker.com

In this episode of Music Therapy, I talk with Chicago musician Adele Nicholas of Axons. Adele talks about her work as a lawyer, her active community involvement, her creative process, feeling anxious about releasing albums, her soon-to-be-released album about two creative bank robbers (based on true events!) and more!

https://axons.bandcamp.com/

https://jessicarisker.com/

In this interview, I talk with Angel Marcloid aka Fire-Toolz! Angel talks about making her music into a career, getting salty on Twitter, her experiences in therapy, Eckhart Tolle and other spiritual teachings, how she’s coping during the pandemic, and more!

Fire-Toolz: https://fire-toolz.bandcamp.com/

In this episode of Music Therapy, Brianna Tong of Chicago band Cordoba talks about Cordoba’s new album "Specter", music and activism, dealing with the uncertainty of the pandemic, feeling pressure to be creative during quarantine, how she’s been coping through all this, and more!

Listen to Cordoba: https://cordoba.bandcamp.com/

In this episode of Music Therapy, I talk with Isabel Cristina of Half Gringa! Izzy talks about her new album, touring, not thinking too far in the future about her career, how her artistic practice is changing this year, the ways she approaches songwriting, what she finds helpful about therapy, how she uses CBT techniques and mindfulness to challenge negative thoughts, and more!

Listen to Half Gringa: https://www.halfgringa.com/

Visit jessicarisker.com

In this episode of Music Therapy, Roy Kinsey talks about his work as a librarian in Humboldt Park,  finishing a new album earlier this year and how the pandemic affected the release, how his identity and productivity are intertwined, his creativity the past few months, his thoughts on substance use and addiction during quarantine, and much more!

In this episode of Music Therapy, I talk with Mick Fansler of The Curls.  Mick talks about his current daily life during quarantine, social media and anxiety, how the quarantine has shifted his relationship with his music career, ambition, what it’s like to be in a band with his wife, what keeps him moving forward during the quarantine, and more!

Listen to The Curls: https://thecurls.bandcamp.com/