Wayland is the author of "The Lake Michigan Mothman: High Strangeness in the Midwest".

Featured Music by Noah Gabriel

heykiller sits down with Toaster to discuss all the different programing that Young Chicago Authors has to offer the City of Chicago.

Presented by Young Chicago Authors (YCA), Founded in 2001 by Kevin Coval, Anna West and a group of educators, Louder Than A Bomb (LTAB) celebrates its 20th year with a festival that honors the vibrancy, diversity and energy of Chicago’s young writers while showcasing local talents and engaging very necessary intergenerational cross city dialogue.

What started with a handful of teams in the basement Chopin Theater has grown into over 5 weeks of over 100 competitive bouts and special events with hundreds of participants. Now, more than 13 cities across the country and Canada use the LTAB Chicago model to educate and organize.

This year for our theme we are channeling the spirit of the late great Muhammad Ali who in 1975 was invited to give the commencement ceremony speech at Harvard University. Ali, known for his outspoken and humorous rhetoric, spoke candidly about community. At the end of this speech, an audience member asked for a poem to which Ali responded, “Me. We.”

LTAB and YCA is cited by well-known Chicago artists, including, Jamila Woods, Jose Olivarez, Fatimah Asghar, Saba Pivot, and Noname as the awakening of their artistic abilities and source for their success.

More About Young Chicago Authors (YCA)

The heart of YCA’s mission is the idea that everyone is an expert of their own experience. We ask the question, “Where are you from?” and the answers lead to an investigation of the worlds we inhabit, and the places and people around us that provide ingredients for our poetic inquiries. Our practice encourages a deep kind of listening that leads to radical empathy. We believe that youth voices must be at the center of civic discourse, from classrooms to city hall.

Every year, YCA serves at least 9,000 young people in the Chicago area through various workshops, residencies and projects in writing, publication, journalism and performance education.

BONZIE calls into the show to discuss her music as she quietly works on her latest album!

“BONZIE has released her second full-length album called Zone on Nine. Fully written and produced by Ferraro herself, it features performances by Adrian Utley of Portishead, Nate Walcott of Bright Eyes, and co-production with Jonathan Wilson (Father John Misty, Conor Oberst) and Ali Chant (Perfume Genius, Youth Lagoon).”

Hex sits down with Dr. Daniel López who just became the President of Harold Washington Community College in Chicago.

Dr. Daniel López, Jr. was named President of Harold Washington College on December 5, 2019 by the City Colleges of Chicago (CCC) Board of Trustees. Located in the heart of Chicago's Loop, Harold Washington College serves more than 12,000 students in credit and continuing education programs, more than 70 percent of which are Latino or African American students. Harold Washington College is City Colleges' Center of Excellence for business, entrepreneurship, and professional services.

Dr. López has dedicated more than 25 years to Illinois higher education in a variety of leadership and management roles. Throughout his career, Dr. López has been involved with leading academic and student affairs units at public and private higher education institutions with a laser focus on student success. He has previously held positions at Harold Washington College, Illinois State University, Lake Forest College and Northeastern University.

Hex sits down with Dr. Daniel López who just became the President of Harold Washington Community College in Chicago.

Dr. Daniel López, Jr. was named President of Harold Washington College on December 5, 2019 by the City Colleges of Chicago (CCC) Board of Trustees. Located in the heart of Chicago's Loop, Harold Washington College serves more than 12,000 students in credit and continuing education programs, more than 70 percent of which are Latino or African American students. Harold Washington College is City Colleges' Center of Excellence for business, entrepreneurship, and professional services.

Dr. López has dedicated more than 25 years to Illinois higher education in a variety of leadership and management roles. Throughout his career, Dr. López has been involved with leading academic and student affairs units at public and private higher education institutions with a laser focus on student success. He has previously held positions at Harold Washington College, Illinois State University, Lake Forest College and Northeastern University.

Tonic Freight Train was founded with one goal in mind: love and connection through music. That remains the foundation that keeps the name alive today and invites anyone to come join this ever growing family to help bring good vibes and funk-inspired rock to the masses.

Since they started, Tonic Freight Train has been seen playing shows in and around the Chicago area at venues such as The Subterranean, Bottom Lounge, The Beat Kitchen, and The Arcada Theater. Presenting a new sound that taps into a melting pot of influences which will capture any music fan’s attention, there’s something for everyone. Passionate vocals, catchy riffs, funky grooves, and spreading love through music is what Tonic Freight Train is all about.

heykiller sits down with Cinchel to discuss his songwriting process!

i am cinchel and i have been practicing drone/ambient music for about 20years. when i started i had only a delay pedal, a 4-track tape recorder and a guitar. over the years i have acquired many more guitars and pedals and expanded my recording setup to computer. All of which has allowed me to explore extreme layering and manipulation of sound. While I do have a lot solo work recorded, I also enjoy collaboration. I have a duet recording out on Scripts records https://scriptsrecords.bandcamp.com/album/cinchel-akosuen-2 with Akosuen (billie howard) on violin. There is also the band Mirror of Nature which is an abstract drone/jazz trio i’m in with Neil Jendon and Mike Weis, we have one recording out on Muzan

Abellism sits down with Danielle of Impulsive Hearts to talk about their vinyl release!!!

Impulsive Hearts is Danielle Sines. She sings, shouts, plays guitar and synth, and records noises on tape recorders. She likes melodies that remind her of summertime.

Dan Julian: drums

Jess LeMaster: violin

Doug Hoyer: bass, guitar, keys, vocals

Fallon McDermott: saxophone

For fans of Best Coast, The Pretenders, Beach House, Alvvays, The Beach Boys, The Beths, Dum Dum Girls, Bully and you

3/19 @SleepingVillage

Abellism sits down with Danielle of Impulsive Hearts to talk about their vinyl release!!!

Impulsive Hearts is Danielle Sines. She sings, shouts, plays guitar and synth, and records noises on tape recorders. She likes melodies that remind her of summertime.

Dan Julian: drums

Jess LeMaster: violin

Doug Hoyer: bass, guitar, keys, vocals

Fallon McDermott: saxophone

For fans of Best Coast, The Pretenders, Beach House, Alvvays, The Beach Boys, The Beths, Dum Dum Girls, Bully and you

3/19 @SleepingVillage

heykiller sits down with Holly to talk about their music, and gets treated to a live song!!

Hailed as “pure innovators of old-school soul in a modern-day musical landscape” by These Days, Chicago-based Holly, imparts an alternative take on the city’s rich musical history by fusing elements of blues, jazz, and soul with a contemporary flair. Influenced by the stirring vocals of Sam Cooke and Leon Bridges, as well as the indie rock stylings of Wilco and Whitney, Holly, has erupted onto the scene with a sound as vibrant and welcoming as the members that comprise it.

Formed by Tanner Bednar (vocals), Brandon Couture (guitar), Peter Giere (keyboard), Rafe Soto (drums), and Dominic Zeier (bass) Holly, was born in the summer of 2018 and went on to independently release their debut EP Letters from Lawndale that September.

Since then, Holly, has opened for several nationally touring bands, garnered radio time on esteemed stations — such as 93XRT, WKQX, WGN, and WBEZ — and they’ve been televised on America’s longest-running music television program, JBTV.

In 2019 Holly, has continued to define and hone their unique sound through constant live performances and the recording of their next album, done in conjunction with award-winning producers Nick Boyd, of Royal Mountain Records, and Mark Needham, whose highlighted work includes The Killers, Fleetwood Mac, and The 1975, among others.