81355 (pronounced “bless”) is a collaboration between three of the Indianapolis music scene’s elder statesmen: Sirius Blvck, Sean Oreo Jones, and David Moose Adamson. While the three have worked together in the past, this is the first instance in which they have bonded together from conception to execution. This four song set is WFYI’s first Small Studio Session for 2023.

Set List:

Bright Side of the Sun

Tears Come Down

Burnt Sky

Thumbs UP

Band Members and Instruments:

Moose Adamson – Sampler and Vox

Oreo Jones – Vox

Sirius Blvck – Vox

Sharlene Birdsong – Bass

Dimitri Morris – Guitar

Pat Okerson – Drums

Cairo Jag’s three piece band delivers a compact, high impact yet smooth blend of heavy and melodic psych rock in this four song set from WFYI’s Small Studio Sessions. The lyrics and intensity channel the frustrations, challenges, and joys of playing in a heavy original rock band out of Indy – working hard to pave their way through the Midwest. The band’s latest release is the EP “New Winds.”

Set list: 

Lost In Commotion 

New Winds

Hard Living Free

Mantis

Band members & instruments:

Curt Turner – Guitar/Vocals

Nolan Schockman – Drums

Joe Wise – Bass

Eric Salazar holds a B.M. in Clarinet Performance from Ball State University and an M.M. in Clarinet Performance from Bowling Green State University.  He currently serves as Director of Community Engagement and Artist Liaison for Classical Music Indy where he manages, books, and promotes over a hundred and fifty performance events a year in Central Indiana.

Eric says his purpose for writing music is to create art that challenges standards, unites audiences of uncommon backgrounds, and connects souls through creative understanding.

Salazar pioneers the New Classical genre. He takes his classical training and fuses together modern electronics with classical instruments, blending ancient styles with present musical trends. Salazar’s connective approach to performing wins the hearts of audiences as he guides them through explorations of raw emotion. Eric Salazar is a Pereira 3D Artist. He plays on a Pereira 3D printed barrel and bell, and 3D printed ligature.

In this three song session, listen in for contemplative and ambient clarinet compositions, combined with electronic looping of sounds that Salazar gathered throughout the country at beaches and other serene spots.

Set List:

Once Upon A Tide

And Then I Found Myself

Lost Soul

Pianist Monika Herzig and guitarist Peter Kienle have been playing jazz music in Indiana for over 30 years. Herzig and Kienle are married, and reside together in Bloomington.

Their latest musical collaboration was inspired by WTIU’s “Singing Winds: The Life and Works of T.C. Steele”, a documentary on the life of the famous Hoosier impressionist painter.

Set List:

A Blue Guitarist on the Porch

The Hill Country

Morning by the Stream

Band Members & Instruments:

Monika Herzig – Keyboard

Peter Kienle – Guitar

Queen Delphine and her Crown Jewels band play soulful Chicago and southern soul style blues across Indiana, with a focus on their hometown, Indianapolis. With inspiration from blues legends like Koko Taylor, Queen Delphine’s soaring vocals blend perfectly along a seasoned and talented band. Queen Delphine and The Crown Jewels present a well-rounded blues sound that is comfortably familiar and fun, along with the delightful edge of Queen Delphine’s clever and humorous lyrics.

Set List:

My Cat Got Nine Lives

Splenda Daddy

Southern Soul Blues

Indianapolis based Karate, Guns & Tanning, is an incendiary blast of psychedelic-tinged post-punk, shoegaze, and dream-pop.

Set list:

Glassy

Artifacts

White Nights

Bass, lead vocals – Valerie Green

Guitar, vocals – Joy Caroline Mills 

Drums/Percussion – Daniel Guajardo

Small Studio Sessions Crew:

Chris Elberfeld, Scott McAlister, Jeff Hinton, Adam Gross, Melissa Davis, Roxanna Caldwell, Kyle Travers

Interview by: Kyle Long    

Editor: Joshua Lozinak

Addie Kosten is a singer, songwriter, performer, and self-described “weird bird” with music that layers orchestral synths, acoustic loops, and vocal polyphony. Her mission is to create songs that ignite a fire in others.

Addie’s message of self-love and acceptance and to never stop dreaming shows up in the passion and magic of her high energy music. Addie Kosten is joined by a dynamic band of Indianapolis based musicians for this four song set.

Set List:

Airplanes

Still Right Here

Undelivered

Minimum Wage

Addie Kosten – Vocals

Kristen Bales – Keys

Adam Shuntich – Guitar

Jacob Powell – Drums

Mr. Kinetik and Rusty Redenbacher are a dynamic duo based in Indianapolis. Both musicians are well known to Indianapolis music fans, as funky music emcees, producers, and DJs. As a band, Mr. Kinetik and Rusty Redenbacher perform with a talented group of Indy all-star musicians, The Movement, to add some extra soul to the mix. When they combine on-stage, The Professor and The Hustler bring all their energy with them and are committed to giving a fantastic performance.

Reggie Bishop – keys

Will Robinson – bass

Clint Breeze – drums

Rusty Redenbacher – vocals

Mr. Kinetik – vocals

Set List: 

Magic

Black Hole Rap

Another Journey

Over

Cashin In

Dana Skully and The Tiger Sharks are this month’s featured Small Studio Sessions artists. They’re an Indianapolis-based band that describe their sound as “dream pop punk to make your brain cry”. The group is led by 23-year-old singer-songwriter Dana Skully. WFYI’s Kyle Long spoke with Dana after their performance for Small Studio Sessions.

Set List:

The J – walking Dead

Chloe

Toaster

Mother’s Day

Awful House

Mamas (don’t let your babies grow up to be proud boys)

You Will Not Destroy Me

The Palace is a band that defies traditional genre categories but might be found where rock and soul collide. Dynamic front man Ray Francis leads a band centered in a larger-than-life live performance. 

You can find their music on all streaming platforms, other show dates and information on their Instagram @thepalace.band, or their website thepalaceband.com.

Song list - 

1. Likes of You

2. Disco James

3. Carousels 

4. Waves

5. Whatcha’ma Call’em