Small Studio Sessions

Singer-songwriter Joy Caroline Mills presents WFYI's first Small Studio from Home. Mills just released a layered and lush new single, Episodic Bliss. The solo track explores her battle with mental health, in the midst of a global pandemic. Mills filmed the session outdoors at her childhood home, near Fishers, Indiana. You can find more of Joy's music at joycarolinemills.com.

Set List:

Why Do You

Episodic Bliss

Our latest Small Studio Session was recorded before the pandemic, but singer-songwriter Okara Imani still taps into the healing power of music with feelings of peace, contemplation, and reflection in her Small Studio Session. Stay tuned right after the five song solo set for an interview with Okara Imani from WFYI’s Cultural Manifesto host, Kyle Long.

Set List:

The Call

Plans

Kundalini

How Many Times

Just Happy to be Here

Lani and the Tramps play a multi-genre blend of rock, pop, Americana, soul, and blues. The unifying message of the band is love - and sharing that feeling through their music. Listen in to this four-song set and stay tuned right after for an interview with the band.

Set List:

Rewire

Once I Was A Gypsy

Butterfly

Hey You

Lani Williams (Lead Vocals, Guitar) Kevin Hood (Percussion), Wade Terry (Guitar), Roger Osburn (Bass and Vocals)

ameriKKKen entered NPR's 2019 Tiny Desk Contest, and we noticed her powerful performance at WFYI. The musician and college student is our latest Small Studio Sessions artist. Her name reflects her slogan Knowledge and Kindness is Key, as she takes negatives and turns them into positives. ameriKKKen's performance captures an artist searching for a career breakout, and a young person searching for meaning in a chaotic world. Stay tuned after the three song set for an introduction to ameriKKKen from Cultural Manifesto host, Kyle Long.

Vocals - ameriKKKen

Keyboards - Dominique Lewis

Set List: Prideful, Swimming, The Come Up

Our first Small Studio Session of 2020 features Indianapolis native Josh Kaufman. In 2014 he won Season 6 of The Voice, which launched his national musical career. Kaufman has since circled back to his love of writing and playing his own music - which embraces blues, soul, jazz and funk. Josh is joined by friend and musical collaborator Cliff Ritchey in this four song set. Right after the music, WFYI’s Jill Ditmire talks with Kaufman about some of the changes he has experienced since he first took the professional plunge.

Set List:

Levity

Lie to Me

Won’t You See Me

One More Night (featuring Cliff Ritchey)

Joshua Powell plays inventive psych rock across the country, and counts over 800 live shows in the past several years. Along with his band, "The Great Train Robbery," these Indy-based artists are proving it's possible to be full time, working musicians in the city. This three song session includes tracks from Powell's latest album, "PSYCHO/TROPIC."

Set List:

Mandala in Reverse

'59 Tomahawk

chakra #6

Band Members: Joshua Powell, Adam Shuntich, Josh Townsend, Ricky Olmos, Colin Oakley

Our Small Studio band this month features the high energy sound of the group Pavel & Direct Contact. This Latin Jazz and Salsa ensemble is led by pianist Pavel Polanco-Safadit and backed by an outstanding band of musicians. Stay tuned right after the session, as WFYI's Jill Ditmire talks with Pavel about his passion for music when it comes to performing, recording, and teaching.

Set List:

1. Cha-Cha Blues

2. Oye Mamacita

3. Al Rojovivo

4. Rush Hour

Musicians:

Pavel Polanco-Safadit - Keyboard, vocals David Allee - Trumpet Rob Dixon - Sax Steve Dokken - Bass Leah Crane - Vocals Raul Padro - Timbales Pedro Fernandez - Congas

Rock band Moxxie is October 2019's Small Studio Session featured act. The band describes their melodic music as Bubble-Grunge. Stay tuned right after the three song set, as WFYI's Jill Ditmire talks with the four women of Moxxie about what it's like to make their own music in a mostly male dominated field.

Set List:

1. Hollywood

2. Give It To Me

3. Gonna Be Something

Musicians - Joy Mills (lead guitar), Rocky Rodriguez (drums), Jessie Phelps (lead vocals, guitar), Valerie Green (bass)

He calls himself an outlaw rocker yet country music is in his blood. Shooter Jennings is the son of Waylon Jennings and Jessi Colter. He has several solo albums but says his true passion is creating projects for other performers. He won a Grammy this year for producing Brandi Carlile's latest record. Shooter Jennings is our September Small Studio Sessions performer.

Set List:

Living In A Minor Key

Fast Horses & Good Hideouts

Musicians:

Shooter Jennings

John Schreffler - Guitar Aubrey Richmond - Fiddle

Michael Raintree describes his music as "experimental R&B." He's created a unique soundscape for the project, featuring distorted layers of synthesizers and drum machines with heavily-processed vocals. Raintree is joined by Sirius Blvck for the second song of the session. Stay tuned right after the four song set for an interview with Michael Raintree / Oreo Jones from WFYI's Kyle Long.

Set List:

1. Sunkiss

2. Cute Drunk (featuring Sirius Blvck)

3. Alive & Well

4. Nosebleeder

Musicians: Michael Raintree "Oreo Jones", Mark Tester, Brian Allen, David "Moose" Adamson, Patrick Okerson, and featuring Sirius Blvck