State of Sound

Our guest for this episode, Ellie Jackson, joined us for 88Nine’s State of Sound concert lineup in November. The Milwaukee artist's songs deliver a determined vulnerability and emotional exploration through guitars, stories, amplification, and a careful balance of harmony and dissonance.

88Nine music director Erin Wolf spoke with Jackson about “China Lights," her ode to a dissolved relationship in which she learns to read energy more deeply and slow down just a little, but doesn’t let the past freeze her from moving forward.

Dark Psychic is a two-piece dance-rock band from Milwaukee founded by Clark Rendall and Nathan Greene. Rendall’s drum tracks and bass loops bring to mind synth-pop and disco, while Greene’s guitar tones and melodies evoke new wave and post-punk.

Recent influences include Kylie Minogue, Depeche Mode, Twin Peaks and, of course, ABBA. Their newest tracks shed the veil of pandemic pessimist grunge in favor of a lighter, brighter, more celebratory vibe.

In this episode, 88Nine music director Erin Wolf speaks with Rendall about Dark Psychic’s capitalist gripe / working class anthem – and one of their most danceable songs yet – “No One Wants to Work Anymore."

Our guest, Milwaukee’s Rat Bath, joined us for 88Nine’s State of Sound concert showcase in November. This band of all transgender individuals reclaim queer-coded villains from their childhood as heroes in their storytelling. They describe their sound as "Post-Everything Rat Core" but have also been called Bubble Grunge, Alternative Emo, Dirt Americana and Melodic Hardcore. 

Whichever way you slice it, they are fast and loud and have a unique ability to seamlessly blend influences. 88Nine music director Erin Wolf talks with Fred Kenyon about “I Eat My Enemies,” Rat Bath’s poem-inspired song delving into imposter syndrome.

Our guest, Alberto Kanost of Bear in the Forest, joined us for 88Nine’s State of Sound lineup in November. His songs howl with spiritualism built around folk music in the oldest, barest sense: joy and pain and a guitar coming together. In this episode, 88nine music director Erin Wolf speaks with Alberto about Bear In the Forest’s introspectively confident song, “Clear Clean Water.”

Our guest — Bobby Flowers of Hello, Face — joined us for 88Nine’s State of Sound lineup in October. Flowers and three of his fellow musicians formed the band after growing up in the Milwaukee music scene playing in beloved groups like Maritime, The Championship, Carolina and The Benjamins. Hello, Face has an emotional-yet-euphonious sound they suggest sounds best played loudly in a bar on repeat — a decadent blend of heavy guitar riffs, sweet melodic harmony and head-nodding beats.

88Nine music director Erin Wolf spoke with Flowers about Hello, Face’s more intimate, sucker punch of a song, “No One Else.” Listen to their full conversation, as well as part of Hello, Face’s set from the State of Sound live show.

This week’s guest, Cozy Danger, joined us for 88Nine’s State of Sound lineup in October. Described as a “downbeat message in an upbeat package,” the Milwaukee band offers up jangly surf garage as a sugar-coated dose of introverted reality — a cheery, up-tempo performance punctuated by themes that expose scars with a sense of timid optimism.

88Nine music director Erin Wolf talks with Cozy Danger drummer and co-lead vocalist Jake Brandt about “Lucid Dreams,” a track that explores taking control back from one’s subconscious. It’s the band’s second official single from their just-released album Orange Feels and something you’ll hear Thursday night at X-Ray Arcade, where Cozy Danger will support Bowvee, Well + Good and Creature Weather for a 7 p.m. show.

This week’s guest, Caley Conway, joined us for 88Nine’s State of Sound lineup in October. She’s a trailblazer of the Midwest music community and brings a keen examination of love, co-dependence, self and struggle to her songs. No sound or texture is off-limits, and synths, omnichords, horns, keys and guitars adorn every nuance.

On this episode, Caley talks with 88Nine music director Erin Wolf about themes of familial ties and fated future glances on her song “Singing Never.”

This week’s guest, Sean Lehner of Fuzzysurf, joined us for 88Nine’s State of Sound lineup in October. Known for blending jangly guitars, bouncy keyboards and tight harmonies, Fuzzysurf’s songs are peppered with hooks and witty lyrics that explore themes of modern life, love and the occasional societal critique (all without taking anything too seriously).

Lehner talked with 88Nine music director Erin Wolf about the inspiration behind Fuzzysurf’s song “Doghouse” — a wry look at that crazy little thing called love.

Imagine a musical fusion that transports you back to the neon-lit dance floors of the ’80s, where Italo Disco and HI-NRG (high energy) reigned supreme. Sonic time travel like that requires talent — two talents, actually.

Bonnie Drinkard is the captivating vocalist from Detroit’s country-folk sensation Drinkard Sisters. Producer Martin Defatte (better known as Tron Jovi) is one-half of Milwaukee noise-rap duo Guerrilla Ghost. This unlikely pairing is the heart and soul of Diamond Life, a musical pact that bridges genres and blends influences as the past and future collide on the dance floor.

On this episode of the State of Sound podcast, Bonnie and 88Nine music director Erin Wolf talk about Diamond Life’s bouncy, ’80s-infused “pep talk” jam “Matador” — a track about pattern recognition and positive changes, bolstered by an army of vocal layers and synths.

Video Sex Priest was formed by Liv Mueller and Bill Backes after they spent time playing together in iconic Milwaukee rock band The Lovelies in the ’90s and early 2000s. The two initially bonded over their mutual love of new wave, dark wave, post-punk and rock.

On this episode, Mueller talks about their dark and impactful song “Salt,” which centers on the dualities that drive our lives and shatter perceived reality: sun vs. darkness, right vs. wrong and beyond.