Radio One Chicago

South Side Chicago Native, Professor Mic son of a DJ and a music enthusiast grew up in a art filled environment. With the help of high school friends, Mic was encouraged to create more and soon the WWNNN collective had music on major blogs Habits really cultivated into a lifestyle when Professor Mic, friend IamN9ne of GUDBULL ent started BullzWin Studios.

Radio One Chicago airs live every Thursday from 6p to 8p cst on 88.7f, wluw.org

Tautologic began in 1997 when Ethan Sellers and Pat Buzby had finished college. Sellers, a vocalist, keyboardist and guitarist, was assembling a new band with friends from his years at the University of Chicago. Buzby, a drummer, had studied at Oberlin and was planning his next move when he read an ad Sellers placed on a progressive rock discussion group. The band took shape and was gigging and recording by the winter of 1998.

Sellers and Buzby shared a love of 70’s progressive rock, but also wanted to bring contemporary and eclectic influences into the music rather than reproducing old sounds. The early lineups of the band lacked lead guitar, leading them to use their string arrangement skills to give the songs much of their character. Pointed, humorous lyrics and stories of the strange characters in abundance around the South Side of Chicago also linked many of Tautologic’s songs.

West Is North, East Is South, the band’s debut CD, captured this era. It received critical acclaim in the U.S. and Europe upon its release in 2000. The band’s next recording, The Basement Sessions, arrived in 2002 and showed the band experimenting with funk influences, and introducing lead guitar into the mix.

Also in 2002, Sellers staged a multimedia piece, At the Apartment, featuring songs from the Basement Sessions and other Tautologic material. In 2005, the band put on a second theatrical piece, Psychle. Sellers finished producing a recording of these newer songs in 2007, but financial setbacks forced him to archive the CD, Re:Psychle, for a decade.

With many of the early members of the group finishing their studies in Chicago and moving on to other states, Sellers and Buzby needed to build new band lineups in the 2000’s. Bassist Nathan Britsch began working with them in the early part of that decade, saxophonist Chris Greene and violinist/vocalist Emily Albright joined in the mid-00’s, and newest member guitarist Jay Montana arrived in 2010. Re:Psychle also includes prominent contributions from former band members, including guitarist Aaron Weistrop, violinist Jeff Yang and vocalist Jennifer Justice.

In the late 2000’s, Sellers began a new career as a leader of bands in various styles, including Irish music, Cajun and bluegrass, which is still ongoing. Buzby and other members of Tautologic participate in these groups whenever possible. Finally, at the end of 2017, the time is right for a release of Re:Psychle, and Tautologic’s return to a more active schedule.

Radio One Chicago airs live every Thursday night from 6p to 8p on 88.7f, wluw.org

April 26th, 2018 - Mr. Pope by Radio One Chicago

Calling Todd Kessler a singer/songwriter simply wouldn’t do him justice. The rising folk-rock star is the consummate storyteller, with a remarkable ability to take listeners on a winding, wonderful, and introspective journey through the depths of the human experience.

Kessler’s highly anticipated new album, About Memory, was released on November 3, 2017. The album finds Kessler going back to his roots, producing a timeless folk sound with hints of alt-rock and classic Americana.Recorded in Los Angeles at New Monkey Studio (made famous by Elliot Smith), About Memory was produced by Marc Daniel Nelson (Fleetwood Mac, Colbie Caillat) and Ran Jackson (Katy Perry, Goo Goo Dolls) and mastered by Eric Boulanger, who has worked with industry titans like Adele, Green Day, and Neil Young.

“When a songwriter can tell a story that is specific to them, yet allows the listener to hear him or herself in it, that’s the pinnacle for me,” shares Kessler.

To date, Kessler has released two singles from About Memory: “Old Fashioned Way” and “The Letter.” Born and raised in the Chicago suburbs, Kessler graduated from the University of Illinois with a degree in Music Theory and Composition. Shortly after graduating, he released his first LP, We Are the Musicmakers. In 2012, Kessler formed Todd Kessler and The New Folk, and they released their first album, Sea Fever, which was produced by Manny Sanchez (Patrick Stump, Umphrees McGee). The album’s release was supported with a lengthy residency at Schubas Tavern, but as it happened, Kessler missed part of the residency when he was chosen as part of Team Ceelo on NBC’s The Voice.

Gaining exposure from The Voice, Todd Kessler and the New Folk began touring more, playing festivals like Summerfest, Taste of Chicago and Mile of Music. Between 2013 and 2015, the band worked on new material and released two singles: “Exactly Where I Should Be” and “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas.” But, as members of the New Folk began getting married and having children, life on the road became arduous. Eventually, the New Folk agreed to a break, disbanding indefinitely to spend time with their families.

Influenced by artists like Paul Simon, Fleetwood Mac, Ryan Adams and David Gray, Kessler continues to evolve into the bold storyteller he’s always wanted to be.“I like to call myself a realistic optimist,” says Kessler. “I will always tend to see the bright side of things but don’t shy away when things get real.”

Radio One Chicago airs live every Thursday night from 6p to 8p cst on 88.7f, wluw.org

April 26th, 2018 - Mr. Pope by Radio One Chicago

Calling Todd Kessler a singer/songwriter simply wouldn’t do him justice. The rising folk-rock star is the consummate storyteller, with a remarkable ability to take listeners on a winding, wonderful, and introspective journey through the depths of the human experience.

Kessler’s highly anticipated new album, About Memory, was released on November 3, 2017. The album finds Kessler going back to his roots, producing a timeless folk sound with hints of alt-rock and classic Americana.Recorded in Los Angeles at New Monkey Studio (made famous by Elliot Smith), About Memory was produced by Marc Daniel Nelson (Fleetwood Mac, Colbie Caillat) and Ran Jackson (Katy Perry, Goo Goo Dolls) and mastered by Eric Boulanger, who has worked with industry titans like Adele, Green Day, and Neil Young.

“When a songwriter can tell a story that is specific to them, yet allows the listener to hear him or herself in it, that’s the pinnacle for me,” shares Kessler.

To date, Kessler has released two singles from About Memory: “Old Fashioned Way” and “The Letter.” Born and raised in the Chicago suburbs, Kessler graduated from the University of Illinois with a degree in Music Theory and Composition. Shortly after graduating, he released his first LP, We Are the Musicmakers. In 2012, Kessler formed Todd Kessler and The New Folk, and they released their first album, Sea Fever, which was produced by Manny Sanchez (Patrick Stump, Umphrees McGee). The album’s release was supported with a lengthy residency at Schubas Tavern, but as it happened, Kessler missed part of the residency when he was chosen as part of Team Ceelo on NBC’s The Voice.

Gaining exposure from The Voice, Todd Kessler and the New Folk began touring more, playing festivals like Summerfest, Taste of Chicago and Mile of Music. Between 2013 and 2015, the band worked on new material and released two singles: “Exactly Where I Should Be” and “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas.” But, as members of the New Folk began getting married and having children, life on the road became arduous. Eventually, the New Folk agreed to a break, disbanding indefinitely to spend time with their families.

Influenced by artists like Paul Simon, Fleetwood Mac, Ryan Adams and David Gray, Kessler continues to evolve into the bold storyteller he’s always wanted to be.“I like to call myself a realistic optimist,” says Kessler. “I will always tend to see the bright side of things but don’t shy away when things get real.”

Radio One Chicago airs live every Thursday night from 6p to 8p cst on 88.7f, wluw.org

I go by the name of shye aka shyecitymycity originally born in Nigeria then moved to Southside of Chicago bout 92-93…father born in Nigeria and mother from the south side of chicago…Started rapping in high school freestyling and people use to say I can rap..then I went away to college and I entered a talent show for $500 and won…from then on we been grinding and never looked back…I released a project called I got bangaz vol. 1 on dat piff in 2009…after that was working with a producer that had to leave town and took all my music with him…so I had to start back over and find a new way to get my music out…we actually had vol. 2…3…done and ready to be released…I have done lotes of shows in the city of Chicago and opened up for major artists. we just released a single called squad on all platforms for the fans. we are currently working on a mixtape call off-n-running coming this summer. we about to release another single called lifestyle, a street anthem.

Radio One Chicago airs live every Thursday night from 6p to 8p cst on 88.7f, wluw.org

The Right Now’s pop-meets-soul sound is more than a vehicle for Stefanie Berecz’s captivating voice. The celebration of thoughtful, catchy songwriting and intricate arrangements evokes a subtle sophistication in the tradition of Quincy Jones’ 70s and 80s masterpieces. Since 2008 the band has toured much of the United States and released three acclaimed albums, racking up placements in television, national commercials, and the multi-million-selling video game Watch Dogs.

The Right Now’s Chicago roots permeate their music and performances: breezy horn lines sit atop soul grooves old and new, all while Berecz elevates one audience after another with her “classic yet contemporary voice” (Philadelphia Inquirer). College radio stations from Asheville to Seattle put 2012’s Gets Over You on the CMJ charts, and critics nationwide have championed TRN as “the real deal” (Pittsburgh City Paper). The seven-piece band landed an official Record Store Day release in 2012—all 750 copies sold out immediately—and collaborated with New York label Deep&Disco on a remix project. The Right Now has opened for Fitz & The Tantrums, George Clinton & Parliament/Funkadelic, Rebirth Brass Band, Bettye LaVette, Lee Fields, and many others along the way.

The newest album Starlight examines a complicated world through the eyes of the fighter, the lover, the philosopher, the addict, the mother. It covers musical ground as diverse as the city that spawned TRN: dance beat elation, synth-pop grandeur, intimate ballads, and gritty soul. Buoyed by fuzzed-out guitars and a menacing drum beat, Berecz relates a tale of corruption and innocence lost in “Everything is Broken:”

No one ever told him

No one ever showed him

Underneath the gold trim

Everything was broken

Starlight hit the streets in February 2017 to critical acclaim. NPR’s Sound Opinions hailed Berecz’s performance as “stronger…than Adele” while others dubbed the songs “insanely infectious and incredibly well crafted” (Tomorrow’s Verse). The Right Now played two sold out headlining shows in Chicago in addition to tour dates all over the Midwest and East Coast.

Both on Starlight and in their acclaimed live shows, Berecz and The Right Now confront the darkness of modern times head on, utilizing their music as a beacon to navigate to safer ground. The band continues to tour behind Starlight in 2018.

Radio One Chicago airs every Thursday night from 6p to 8p cst on 88.7f, wluw.org

The Right Now’s pop-meets-soul sound is more than a vehicle for Stefanie Berecz’s captivating voice. The celebration of thoughtful, catchy songwriting and intricate arrangements evokes a subtle sophistication in the tradition of Quincy Jones’ 70s and 80s masterpieces. Since 2008 the band has toured much of the United States and released three acclaimed albums, racking up placements in television, national commercials, and the multi-million-selling video game Watch Dogs.

The Right Now’s Chicago roots permeate their music and performances: breezy horn lines sit atop soul grooves old and new, all while Berecz elevates one audience after another with her “classic yet contemporary voice” (Philadelphia Inquirer). College radio stations from Asheville to Seattle put 2012’s Gets Over You on the CMJ charts, and critics nationwide have championed TRN as “the real deal” (Pittsburgh City Paper). The seven-piece band landed an official Record Store Day release in 2012—all 750 copies sold out immediately—and collaborated with New York label Deep&Disco on a remix project. The Right Now has opened for Fitz & The Tantrums, George Clinton & Parliament/Funkadelic, Rebirth Brass Band, Bettye LaVette, Lee Fields, and many others along the way.

The newest album Starlight examines a complicated world through the eyes of the fighter, the lover, the philosopher, the addict, the mother. It covers musical ground as diverse as the city that spawned TRN: dance beat elation, synth-pop grandeur, intimate ballads, and gritty soul. Buoyed by fuzzed-out guitars and a menacing drum beat, Berecz relates a tale of corruption and innocence lost in “Everything is Broken:”

No one ever told him

No one ever showed him

Underneath the gold trim

Everything was broken

Starlight hit the streets in February 2017 to critical acclaim. NPR’s Sound Opinions hailed Berecz’s performance as “stronger…than Adele” while others dubbed the songs “insanely infectious and incredibly well crafted” (Tomorrow’s Verse). The Right Now played two sold out headlining shows in Chicago in addition to tour dates all over the Midwest and East Coast.

Both on Starlight and in their acclaimed live shows, Berecz and The Right Now confront the darkness of modern times head on, utilizing their music as a beacon to navigate to safer ground. The band continues to tour behind Starlight in 2018.

Radio One Chicago airs every Thursday night from 6p to 8p cst on 88.7f, wluw.org

I go by the name of shye aka shyecitymycity originally born in Nigeria then moved to Southside of Chicago bout 92-93…father born in Nigeria and mother from the south side of chicago…Started rapping in high school freestyling and people use to say I can rap..then I went away to college and I entered a talent show for $500 and won…from then on we been grinding and never looked back…I released a project called I got bangaz vol. 1 on dat piff in 2009…after that was working with a producer that had to leave town and took all my music with him…so I had to start back over and find a new way to get my music out…we actually had vol. 2…3…done and ready to be released…I have done lotes of shows in the city of Chicago and opened up for major artists. we just released a single called squad on all platforms for the fans. we are currently working on a mixtape call off-n-running coming this summer. we about to release another single called lifestyle, a street anthem.

Radio One Chicago airs live every Thursday night from 6p to 8p cst on 88.7f, wluw.org